Some online legal services have made it easier than ever to draft a will and create a power of attorney or power of healthcare. Some even can set up a trust.
A few clicks, a modest fee, and you have a document. Problem solved. Well, maybe…
But a few documents in place and a well-constructed estate strategy are not the same thing.
What an online form does well is capture information you already know, such as your name, your assets, or your beneficiaries.
What it can’t do is ask the questions you haven’t thought of asking. What happens if a beneficiary passes before you do? Have you considered how an inheritance might affect a child who is still navigating financial challenges? Is your business structured in a way that allows it to be transferred?
These are not obscure edge cases. They come up in a variety of ways in a variety of families’ situations.
A professional who specializes in estate management has often guided people through similar circumstances and brings something no template can replicate: perspective. They know where best-laid plans can unravel. They’ve seen the conversations families wished they’d had before it was too late. A professional also can work closely with an estate attorney and tax advisors, who may be needed to create documents to support your estate plan.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
The goal of any well-structured legacy strategy is not simply to distribute assets. It should also reflect your actual wishes, protect the people you care about, and help manage the complications left behind.
A form can record your answers.
A professional can help you find the right questions.
cfc Advisers Estate Planning
Many people do not just want to make their assets last a lifetime; you may want to leave a legacy for your heirs. We can assist you in articulating your estate planning needs and help to coordinate the work of other professionals who may be needed, including attorneys and CPAs.
Estate Services Offered
- Legacy & Goals: Assistance in articulating estate goals to help create a strategy that allows assets to be passed on according to wishes.
- Trust Services: Guidance on the advantages and limitations of living trusts to manage and control estate distribution.
- Professional Coordination: Collaboration with attorneys and CPAs to implement necessary legal documents.
- Risk Management & Tax Strategy: Analyzing estate risks and developing strategies with an eye on tax strategies.
If you’re early in the estate process, we can help. If you already have a strategy, consider bouncing some of your ideas off us. We’d welcome the opportunity to hear what you’re thinking.
