Estate Planning

Services

Estate planning is a vital component of a comprehensive financial plan. The higher an individual’s net worth, the more complex the balance sheet, and the more unique the family dynamics, the greater the need for a well-designed estate plan. The ultimate function of an estate plan is to distribute assets according to your wishes upon incapacitation or death. For the most affluent families, though, an estate plan often does much more than simply distribute assets upon an individual’s death—it ensures the ongoing prosperity of all involved.

The StoryOne approach to estate planning

One of the core tenet of our approach to estate planning is that your intent drives the estate planning process and, ultimately the interpretation of the estate plan.

The estate plan design process involves crafting a comprehensive strategy that addresses every aspect of your estate, including asset distribution, tax minimization, legacy preservation, and charitable intent.

Once an estate plan is designed, the next step is implementation, which involves putting the necessary legal documents and legal structures in place to effectively execute the plan. This may include drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, as well as coordinating beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Estate plan implementation requires careful attention to detail and compliance with relevant laws and regulations to ensure that your wishes are accurately reflected and legally enforceable.

Benefits

At StoryOne, we use our unique StoryLens process to develop a thorough assessment of your financial situation, family dynamics, and personal goals. Based on this assessment, we will work with you to tailor a fully individualized plan that aligns with your mission, vision, values and goals … your higher purpose.

Trust administration is a critical component of your estate plan. Effective trust administration involves overseeing the assets held within the trust, making distributions to beneficiaries, and ensuring compliance with the terms of the trust agreement. This may require ongoing management of investments, coordination with financial institutions, and communication with beneficiaries to provide transparency and address any concerns or questions that may arise.

The StoryOne approach to trust administration

We believe having a single, multi-functional team that can coordinate these often-complex interactions is essential to ensure your wishes are carried out at every stage.

Establishing the most advantageous legal entity is another important consideration in estate planning, especially for individuals with complex financial situations and business interests.

Choosing the right legal structure for entities such as revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, limited partnerships, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC), partnerships, or corporations can have significant implications for tax efficiency, asset protection, and succession planning. Our estate planning and tax professionals can provide guidance on entity selection based on your unique circumstances and objectives, helping to optimize the estate plan and achieve the desired outcomes. Additionally, estate funding audits can help ensure that assets are properly titled and will transfer according to the terms of the estate plan, minimizing the potential for disputes or complications in the future.

Start your StoryOne Chapter Today

Contact us to see how our personalized, story-driven approach to wealth management can guide you toward achieving your financial goals.