Guard More Than Money: Preserve Your Legacy
Estate planning for high-net-worth families
For affluent households, estate planning is more than deciding “who gets what.” It’s about limiting taxes, protecting beneficiaries, and shaping a legacy that lasts.
At FMD Wealth Advisors, we help simplify complex choices so you can move forward with clarity, control, and confidence.
The estate-tax risk many families ignore
In 2024, the federal exemption is $13.61 million per person ($27.22 million for married couples). Amounts above those thresholds can face a 40% federal estate tax. And with the exemption expected to drop in 2026, far more families may be affected.
Without a plan, heirs can be forced to sell property, businesses, or investments at the wrong time just to cover taxes.
Trusts, gifts, and giving: tools for complex estates
Irrevocable trusts that shape and safeguard wealth
For sizable estates, irrevocable structures are often foundational. Options include:
Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
Dynasty Trusts
These can move appreciating assets outside your taxable estate, define how and when heirs receive wealth, and add protection from creditors and lawsuits.
Charitable strategies that reflect values—and reduce taxes
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) can help you:
Capture current-year deductions
Create lifetime income streams
Reduce the size of your taxable estate
Gifting that puts time on your side
Transferring assets during life can meaningfully lower future taxes. Consider:
Using the annual exclusion of $18,000 per recipient in 2024
Leveraging a portion of your lifetime exemption before 2026
Moving business or real-estate interests via Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and GRATs to apply valuation discounts
Why life insurance belongs in advanced plans
Properly structured coverage can supply tax-free liquidity to pay estate taxes—so heirs don’t need to sell key assets. It can also help balance inheritances when a child receives a business or property and others receive cash.
Costly missteps to avoid
Letting plans go stale after major life events
Relying only on a will when trusts are warranted
Leaving heirs unprepared to manage what they inherit
A well-built plan reduces confusion and administrative burden during an already difficult time.
Why high-net-worth families work with FMD Wealth Advisors
Fee-only fiduciary—no commissions or product sales
Specialists in advanced estate and tax strategies
Personalized education for you and your future stewards
Ongoing updates as tax laws and family needs evolve
Take the first step toward a smarter estate plan
You’ve worked hard to build wealth; now ensure it serves your family for generations.
Schedule a Free Assessment with an FMD Wealth Advisors CFP® professional. We’ll review your current plan, identify gaps, and design a strategy aligned with your goals, values, and legacy.
Disclosures: FMD Wealth Advisors LLC (“FMD Wealth Advisors”) is a Registered Investment Adviser.
This material is for general information only and is not individualized legal or tax advice. Consult your attorney and CPA regarding legal and tax matters specific to your circumstances. This content is intended to provide general information about FMD Wealth Advisors. It is not intended to offer or deliver investment advice in any way. Information regarding investment services is provided solely to gain an understanding of our investment philosophy, our strategies and to be able to contact us for further information.
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