When it comes to trust mapping or developing an estate distribution summary for a family, it is critical to align the family’s expectations with the level of overview they want to see. A list of best practices, an example of a simplified estate distribution summary, and a detailed trust map are provided as guidance. The goal is to have a one-page picture that gives as much information as is needed for a review of what is currently in place, or for a meeting to discuss what future planning makes sense to consider.
Life insurance is part of virtually all family and family office environments. It is utilized for short- and long-term planning, financial security for spouses, estate taxes and family business buy/sell planning. Often not well understood, life insurance can be easily relegated to the “back burner” – with potentially disastrous results. Auditing these assets can highlight unknown, time-sensitive risks, and increase financial leverage opportunities.The learning objectives include: