Legacy Estate Planning Services

FIS does not provide legal advice, however, as Estate Planning is an important part of a comprehensive financial plan, we do review our client’s estate plans and consult with their attorney – or recommend an attorney – to verify if the estate plan is best serving the client’s needs.

Estate planning may include:

Trusts

Every client’s situation is different in terms of assets, liabilities, location, market status, closely-held businesses, inheritance, and insurance, and more.  Utilizing or creating a specific trust is an effective way to minimize income and/or estate taxes.  FIS works closely with clients and their estate attorneys to help create trusts that are appropriate and best serve our clients’ needs.

Special Needs Trust

Special Needs Trusts enable clients to leave money to disabled loved ones without jeopardizing their governmental benefits.

Funds in a Special Needs Trust can significantly improve the quality of life of loved ones by underwriting costs associated with insurance, personal care attendants/escorts, and rehabilitation.

Gifting

Gifting is an effective estate-planning tool because it allows the gift giver to give as much money as he/she wants to whom he/she wants. Gifting is any transfer to an individual, either directly or indirectly, where full consideration is not received in return.

Making a gift or leaving an estate to one’s heir(s) does not ordinarily affect an individual’s federal income tax.  The value of gifts cannot be deducted, but the annual gift tax exclusion applies to each gift.

There are numerous forms to complete to correctly facilitate gifting.  FIS can help clients with gift planning so that they are able to take full advantage of minimizing their estate taxes.

Charitable Planning

A charitable trust can be set up to distribute income to the donor before or after death, allowing for a large tax write-off and the ability to donate to a client’s specified charity.

Minor Children & Education Planning

There are certain accounts that can be created for minors to avoid or minimize income taxes or to be used to fund educational expenses tax-free. These accounts include:

• Specific trusts

• 529 Plans

• Education IRAs

• UGMA/UTMA

• Minor Roth accounts

FIS is happy to provide additional information regarding each of these accounts to help determine the most appropriate choice for your family.

Multi-Generational Planning

Designing a lasting plan that will benefit a client’s children and even grandchildren is an important facet of the advice FIS provides.  FIS works with each client to determine the level and type of assets that are necessary to generate a lifetime of income.

Legacy Planning

Legacy planning allows clients to express their wishes in writing and ensure legal instruments are properly drafted.

This forward planning can alleviate the pressure and stress often felt by families while coping with a loss.  A comprehensive legacy plan will outline the last wishes of the deceased, specifying details relating to the funeral or memorial service as well as providing instructions on disbursement of personal property (jewelry, collectibles, furnishings, etc.).

Please schedule a meeting to discuss your Legacy or Estate Planning questions.