ESTATE PLANNER

Yes, You need a P.L.A.N.

We’ll help you to stop delaying and finally get your ESTATE PLAN done for you and your family.

Book your 15 min intro call

We help you create your Estate Plan using our simple 5-Step System

We know that one of the reasons many people have not completed their plan is because it seems so daunting, but it doesn’t have to be - if you take it step by step. Our 5-Step System is designed to guide you through each step  so that you feel less overwhelmed and more in control. We communicate openly and as much as you need throughout the process to keep you informed and to make sure you understand the decisions you’ve made.

See our services here.

STEP 1 – Schedule 15 Minute Introduction Call

Now you’re STARTING TO PLAN. This 15 minute meeting is an introduction to how we serve you and your family. It allows you to ask questions and for us to get to know each other as we prepare to work together towards your goals of planning to protect your assets and your family.

STEP 2 – Attend your P.L.A.N Design Meeting

CREATING A PLAN. When we say “PLAN” we mean Protect your Legacy Assets and family Name. During the “Estate PLAN Design Meeting” we will discuss your unique family dynamics, your assets and your goals with the purpose of developing a plan of protection for you and your family that will keep you and your family out of court and conflict. We will also educate you about the relevant laws, the benefits of having a comprehensive estate plan and the pitfalls of having no plan or an inadequate plan. Read more about this important step in this helpful guide. [INSERT LINK]

STEP 3 – Document Review

LETS FINALIZE THE PLAN

I will send you a draft of your documents to review. But not to worry, I include an easy to follow video that takes you through each document and tells you what important items to look for. Then if you have any questions or want to change something, you’ll let me know. Depending on how significant there may be charge, but usually not. If everything is OK, you’ll let me know and we’ll move to

STEP 4 – Attend your Signing Ceremony

YES! THE PLAN COMES TOGETHER. At this in person meeting, we will sign the documents that were created as part of your estate plan. If you have a trust based plan, we also discuss funding and the timeline for that to be completed. Expect this meeting to take 45 minutes.

STEP 5 – Deliver Estate Plan Documents

PLAN EXECUTED After a final review to ensure that all the documents have been signed, witnessed and notarize, we will deliver physical and electronic copies of your documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is estate planning?

Estate planning is simply the process of organizing your affairs during your lifetime so that your people and property are protected after your passing. It involves making decisions about how you want your assets to be handled and ensuring that your wishes are carried out effectively. Beyond just distributing assets, estate planning also involves considerations such as minimizing taxes, providing for the care of minor children or other dependents, planning for incapacity, and ensuring that your healthcare and financial decisions are made according to your preferences.

How much does it cost?

It depends! Estate planning is not one size fits all, so it’s hard for us to give you a quote without knowing more about you. Even if you believe your situation is relatively simple, there are likely nuances you are not considering. We discuss our fees and process at length in the PLAN Design Meeting, after we have counseled you on all your options. At that time, you will choose the plan that is in line with what you want to pay.

We offer flat fees as opposed to billing by the hour, so you know exactly what your investment will be. Finally, we will only recommend planning with us if the amount you would save by doing an estate plan is greater than our fee.

Do you work with clients in all 50 states?

Estate planning is an area of law that is state-specific. That means you should work with an attorney licensed in the state in which you reside. I’m licensed in New York and New Jersey. If you live in New York or New Jersey, we can prepare your estate planning documents. If you do not, message us, and we will be happy to refer you to an attorney licensed in your state.

What are the initial steps to get started?

Simply schedule your 15 Minute Introduction Call.

Do I need a will or a trust?

You have two options with your estate planning: a Will-based plan, or a Living Trust-based plan.

Unfortunately, even a simple will is still subject to the expense and delays of probate. It’s not the complexity of the document itself that causes the time and expense, it’s the probate process. For this reason, most of our clients choose to create a living trust instead of a will, which is designed for simplicity and to avoid the probate process completely.

However, as part of an overall, comprehensive estate plan, a special “pour-over” will is used to appoint guardians for any minor children alive at your death.

A Living Trust is a document where you appoint a chosen individual to manage your assets should you become incapacitated and distribute them to your family at your death. It is almost always preferable to a will because it is designed to avoid the time, expense, and publicity of probate, which a will cannot avoid. It comes as a surprise to many of our clients that wills do not avoid probate court—they guarantee it!

We go over the differences between a Will and a Living Trust in depth during the PLAN Design Meeting. Ultimately, the decision is yours.