Estate planning for every stage of your life.
A review of your documents, beneficiaries and accounts, coordinated with your estate attorney.
Take the Estate AssessmentHow Do I Get Started?
How ready is your estate?
Nine questions. About two minutes. You receive a readiness score and the areas worth a closer look.
A solid foundation. Trust funding, healthcare directives, homestead and document location are worth reviewing.
Every part of your estate, one plan.
Wills and Trusts
The core documents that say who receives what, and who is in charge.
Healthcare Directives
Health care surrogate, living will and HIPAA release, to document your medical wishes.
Powers of Attorney
Naming a trusted person to handle finances if needed.
Beneficiaries and Titling
Account forms and ownership reviewed against your will and trust.
Wealth Transfer Strategy
Gifting and trust design designed with taxes for your heirs in mind.
Charitable Giving
Qualified charitable distributions, donor-advised funds and gifts in your plan.
Florida Homestead
A review of homestead rules and how your home is titled.
Planning for the Spouse Who Remains
A review of income, taxes and accounts for the spouse who remains.
Business Succession Planning
Exit timing, buy-sell agreements and valuation.
Passing wealth to the people you choose.
A thoughtful transfer plan can help your assets pass to the people you choose, in the way you intend. We work with you and your estate attorney to coordinate gifting, trusts and beneficiary designations, with attention to estate taxes, probate and the needs of each heir.
Preserving and protecting what you have built.
Tax-Efficient Wealth Preservation
Taxes can quietly erode what you have built. We look at your investments, trusts and estate plan together, considering approaches such as Roth conversions, charitable remainder trusts and asset location, to help manage taxes over time for you and your family.
- Roth conversions. Moving IRA dollars to Roth in lower tax years.
- Withdrawal order. Choosing which accounts to draw from first.
- Step-up in basis. Considering which assets to hold for heirs.
- Charitable strategies. Qualified charitable distributions and donor-advised funds.
- Annual exclusion gifts. Gifts within the yearly federal limit.
Protection
- Titling and homestead. Reviewing ownership and Florida homestead protection.
- Umbrella and liability. Reviewing coverage limits against your assets.
- Long-term care. Considering how care costs could be paid.
- Trust structures. Trusts that may add control and protection.
- Beneficiary reviews. Checking forms on a regular schedule.
Planning across generations.
Trusts can help sustain wealth across generations. We work with your estate attorney to coordinate structures such as dynasty trusts and generation-skipping trusts, which are designed to help manage estate taxes and protect assets over time. They can also set thoughtful guidelines for how family wealth is used and passed on. Each strategy is shaped around your long-term wishes for your family.
Request your copy
The Estate Planning Workbook. Forty-six pages, at your own pace.
Three simple steps.
Begin
Take the assessment or request the workbook.
Fill in what matters
Note your accounts, documents and wishes. Estimates are fine.
Review it together
Sit down with us, in person or by video. We coordinate with your estate attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What are estate planning services?
Estate planning services help you organize how your assets, health care and finances will be handled during your lifetime and after. This usually includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and beneficiary designations. We prepare the financial picture and coordinate with your estate attorney, since Retirement Wealth Advisors does not practice law.
What are family trust planning services?
Family trust planning services help you decide whether a trust fits your family and how it should hold your assets. A trust can set out who receives what and when, and may help avoid probate if it is properly funded. Your estate attorney drafts the trust, and we help align your accounts with it.
Who needs estate and trust services?
Most adults with savings, a home or family can benefit from estate and trust services. They are especially useful for people nearing or in retirement, blended families, those with property in more than one state, and anyone whose documents are more than a few years old.
How does estate planning help business owners?
For business owners, estate planning can help define what happens to the business if you step away, sell or pass it on. Common tools include buy-sell agreements, a recent valuation and key-person coverage. This is optional and only applies if you own a business.
What is asset protection in estate planning?
Asset protection in estate planning means arranging ownership and coverage to help reduce exposure to creditors and lawsuits. In Florida this often includes homestead protection, how accounts are titled, umbrella liability coverage and certain trust structures. Your estate attorney can advise on what applies to you.
What is an advance directive and why do I need one?
An advance directive is a set of documents that records your medical wishes and names who can speak for you if you cannot. In Florida it typically includes a designation of health care surrogate and a living will, and a HIPAA release lets that person access your medical information. Your estate attorney prepares these documents.
How often should I update my estate plan?
A review every three to five years is a common guideline, and sooner after a major life change. Marriage, a move, a new grandchild, the sale of a business or a change in health are all good reasons to look again.
What is future wealth planning?
Future wealth planning looks at how your assets may support you over time and eventually pass to the people and causes you choose. It brings together investments, taxes, gifting and beneficiary choices. We review these pieces together and coordinate with your estate attorney and tax professional.
When do I need power of attorney documents?
You need power of attorney documents before they are needed, while you are able to sign them. A durable power of attorney names someone to handle your finances if you cannot. Your estate attorney prepares the document, and we help confirm your financial institutions will accept it.
How do I get started?
239-288-1575
In person in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Bonita Springs, or by video.
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