When it comes to Estate Planning, we offer the “Three Step Strategy™.” The Three Step Strategy™ recognizes that estate planning has to deal with all three parts of the estate process and uniquely ties all three parts together.
1. First, Develop An Estate Plan With Counseling Oriented Planning Partners
Step 1 is a very thorough and detailed design that is the beginning of an ongoing process and a lifelong relationship with a trusted advisor. An integral part of a successful estate plan is the funding or titling of the estate plan. We place the assets of the family in the names of the trustees of the estate plan to ensure that the estate plan will work.
2. Second, Commit To A Continuing Maintenance & Education Plan
Step 2 educates clients that estate planning is a lifelong process and provides a formal program to allow education and updates to your estate plan via a modest annual retainer.
Traditional estate planners have not provided formal assistance in this stage. Clients rarely contact their attorney because they (1) are unaware of needed legal changes, (2) thought estate planning was a onetime event, or (3) are unclear on the cost of updates to the plan.
Things change, we know that. The Three Step Strategy™ is a cost effective way to make sure that change doesn’t make your plan obsolete.
3. Finally, Secure Appropriate Assistance Upon Death to Transfer Wealth & Wisdom
Traditionally, many survivors have little knowledge about what to do to administer their loved one’s estate. In addition, the plan itself may be out of date and the loved ones rarely have control over the cost of administration because it was not previously discussed.
When a client successfully uses Steps 1 & 2 of the Three Step Strategy™, Step 3‘s administration is smoother and less expensive because the estate plan is up to date, family members are educated, and the costs of settlement are predetermined because of agreements made between our firm and the client prior to the client’s death.