With this in mind, we will describe the basic features of a living trust, then describe the advantages and disadvantages of living trusts and wills. Whether or not a living trust is better for you than a will depends on whether or not the additional advantages are worth the cost. There is currently an interest in living trusts as a substitute for last wills (hereafter "will"


She was able to choose exactly which assets to transfer into the trust — those she thought would appreciate the most — and in doing so created more wealth for the trust beneficiaries than she expected, says Galvagna. In addition, a trust can offer valuable protections from potential lawsuits, creditors, divorces, transfer taxes and those who might prey on the wealthy. Adding a trust to your estate plans can help as you look to protect your family’s future — while also allowing you to maintain some control. A Lifetime Asset Protection Trust provides lasting security and long-term control over the destiny of your legacy. They may even gain limited power of appointment – allowing them to decide who inherits remaining assets upon their deat


Our estate planning advisors work with you, your attorney, and other professionals to help build a plan that reflects your values and adapts to your life. EP Wealth helps clients take stock of these assets, think through access and ownership questions, and determine where they should retirement income strategies be included in legal documents. Along with your attorney, accountant, and other professionals such as a life insurance specialist, a financial advisor can prove to be a key team member when it comes to creating your estate plan. The EP Wealth Advisors® team works with you to ensure your legacy wishes are fulfilled by integrating your objectives into a checklist that encompasses all four steps of our Peace of Mind Planning Model.
Preparing for your wealth transf


If you contribute to a 401(k), its flexibility gives you choices as you go through life. The Color of Money Risk Analysis assesses your financial picture and provides a roadmap to your overall risk preferences. We can help with individual health plans to fill the gaps before Medicare when they occur. We can assist you with Medicare supplemental insurance plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Part D Prescription Drug Plans. We are here to help you with your initial Medicare needs or to review your current coverage.
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A Family Protection Trust transfers assets to retirement income strategies your loved ones, so the assets are protected after the transfer from potential lawsuits, creditors, or divorce. There are many ways your beneficiaries could be forced to dispose of the assets you left them, including a divorce, lawsuits, or bankruptcy. The main reason to set up an asset protection trust is to ensure that the family’s financial security is not eroded by unexpected changes in circumstance


It’s important, however, to regularly review and update beneficiary designations to reflect your current wishes, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of children. It’s important to carefully consider the dynamics of your relationships and how joint ownership may affect your estate plan. While joint ownership is a useful tool for avoiding probate, it may not be appropriate in all situations. Additionally, joint ownership may complicate matters if the owners have different wishes regarding the distribution of assets. One of the advantages of joint ownership is that it avoids probate since the surviving owner takes immediate control of the property. Joint ownership of property is when property is owned jointly with rights of survivorship, ownership automatically passes to the surviving co-owner upon the death of the other part


In blended family situations, many parents want to provide for their children – and ensure that what they leave eventually passes to their grandchildren, not to their progeny’s future spouses, ex-spouses or unrelated heirs. Trust-Based Asset Protection Planning – The Bottom Line Although asset protection trusts must be irrevocable to safeguard the trust property, they still offer a great deal of flexibility and protection for your own property as well as property gifted to, or inherited by, your loved ones. Upon your death, your successor trustee can distribute the assets in the trust to your beneficiaries according to the terms in your trust document. If you’re concerned that your loved ones will be unable to manage an retirement income strategies inheritance, you can name a trustee to provide professional investment management and administration. Assets held in a Lifetime Asset Protection Trust remain separate property and are far more insulated from divorce claims. Working with a state-licensed estate planning attorney can ensure you create a legally valid family trust.
What are the pros and cons of asset protection trusts?
They’re often used to help reduce exposure to potential future liabilities, whether personal, professional, or related to high-risk investments. Once assets are transferred to the trust, they are generally managed by a third-party trustee according to the terms laid out in the trust agreement. For families with complex holdings, high visibility, or professional liability exposure, asset protection can be an important consideration within a broader estate planning strateg