Professional Services
Estate Planning & Trusts
for Licensed & Financial Professionals
Concentrated wealth, career-long liability exposure, and complex firm ownership make professional estate planning a specialty of its own.
A CPA's, attorney's, engineer's, or financial advisor's estate plan looks very different from a typical family plan. Beyond wills and guardianship, the plan must coordinate professional liability, firm ownership rules, deferred compensation, disability scenarios, and often significant real estate and concentrated investment positions. We design integrated plans that protect the practice, preserve wealth across generations, and reflect each professional's personal priorities.
What We Deliver
Core Estate Plan
The foundation — done right, with profession-appropriate provisions built in.
- Revocable Living Trust funded during your lifetime
- Pour-over will and guardianship designations
- Durable financial power of attorney
- Medical directive and HIPAA release
Asset Protection Trusts
Licensed and financial professionals face career-long liability exposure. Irrevocable trusts create meaningful protection when designed properly.
- Domestic Asset Protection Trust strategies
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
- Offshore structures for qualifying clients
Practice & Business Integration
Your firm interest and real estate must be reflected in the plan — and in the buy-sell.
- Mandatory buyout on death coordinated with ILIT
- Real-estate LLC ownership in trust
- Ineligible-heir protections for licensed firms
- Retirement plan and deferred-comp beneficiary design
Tax & Legacy Planning
For professionals with significant wealth, federal estate-tax planning is a multi-million-dollar decision.
- Lifetime gifting and GRATs
- Dynasty trusts and GST planning
- Charitable remainder and lead trusts
- Coordination with CPA and wealth advisor
Our Process
Discovery
Full inventory of firm interests, real estate, retirement, insurance, and personal priorities.
Design & Draft
Integrated plan reviewed with you, your CPA, and your advisor before signing.
Fund & Maintain
We move the right assets into the right trusts — and keep the plan current as your life changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions our clients ask most.
Why do licensed and financial professionals need estate planning different from the standard family plan?+
CPAs, attorneys, engineers, and financial advisors face concentrated wealth, ongoing professional liability exposure, firm ownership rules specific to their boards, significant retirement and deferred-comp balances, and frequently real estate or concentrated investment positions. A generic plan misses each of these profession-specific issues.
Will an irrevocable trust actually protect me from professional liability claims?+
Properly designed and funded irrevocable trusts — especially Domestic Asset Protection Trusts and SLATs — can provide meaningful protection against future, non-existing claims. They are not retroactive shields and must be established well before any claim arises.
How does my firm interest pass at death?+
For licensed firms that restrict non-licensed ownership (law, CPA, engineering), the interest cannot pass to a non-licensed heir. A buy-sell agreement — funded by life insurance held in an ILIT — is the standard solution: the firm buys out the interest at death, and the family receives cash instead of ownership.
Do I need federal estate-tax planning?+
The federal estate-tax exemption is historically high but scheduled to decline. Professionals with estates approaching or exceeding the exemption should consider lifetime gifting, SLATs, and GRATs while current limits are available.
What happens to my retirement accounts at death?+
IRAs, 401(k)s, and deferred-compensation balances pass by beneficiary designation — not by will or trust. We coordinate beneficiary designations, retirement-plan trusts, and SECURE-Act distribution planning so these assets don't accelerate taxes or miss planning opportunities.
Ready to Protect Your Future?
Take the first step toward securing your legacy. Schedule a free consultation with our experienced team or contact us today to discuss your legal needs.
Call us directly: (888) 517-4575