Tax Reduction Strategies / Estate Planning
Step 1 – We gather the necessary data to ensure a thorough understanding of your situation. This becomes the basics for the creation of a financial model, which is used to evaluate your current financial situation. It will show your current asset allocation, your net worth, how it is positioned to change, your cash flow, income and estate tax liability, and other items. We will review your Wills, Trusts, life, disability and long-term-care insurance, and any other documents you have.
Step 2 – Next we develop your personal financial objectives. Frequently, our clients say “It’s to make sure that I have income I cannot outlive. Secondarily, to leave a legacy for my family and/or my community.” Often it’s more complex and involves thinking about things you have never been asked or considered.
Step 3 – Then we identify gaps, as well as missed opportunities that we see in your current plans. This is a process of reconciling the likely outcomes based upon your current arrangements, with your desired outcome as described in your objective. This is where the full benefit of the planning process becomes apparent. Issues you never thought of and problems and objectives you never realized existed will be clearly identified.
Step 4 – Next we develop recommendations ... specific strategies for implementation. Equipped with the pros and cons of each and the economic model to determine their impact, you will be in a position to determine which ones are appropriate for you. The agreed upon strategies will be in writing in a comprehensive report.
Step 5 – Then we begin implementation. This is where your other advisors will be most instrumental. You will have a game plan, a specific course of action to take to your attorney. Armed with this information he/she will be in a position as never before, to help you. This outcome is the result of helping you crystallize your objectives in writing.
Step 6 – We offer an ongoing review process. At least annually, an update of your plan should be done to encompass any changes in the economy and the tax law, as well as in your personal situation and objectives.
We have expertise in the areas of:
- Tax Reduction Strategies
- Will and Trust Designs
- Optimal Property Titling and Beneficiary Designations
- Gifting Strategies and Legacy Planning
- Asset Protection Strategies
- Insurance Analysis
- Qualified Plan Distributions
- Charitable Plans and Foundations
- Stock Options and Company Benefit Distributions