Who We Serve
Significant Wealth Events
When life delivers a transformative financial event — a business sale, IPO, inheritance, or windfall — the decisions you make in the first 90 days determine whether that wealth is preserved or eroded. We help you plan before, during, and after.
The Challenge
Why Timing Is Everything
Most wealth events have a critical planning window — often before the event occurs. Once a business sale closes, once stock vests, once a settlement is received, many of the most powerful legal and tax strategies are no longer available.
Our role is to be in the room before the event happens. We work with your financial advisors, CPAs, and investment managers to structure a comprehensive legal framework that minimizes taxes, protects assets, and ensures your wealth endures across generations.
As a dually licensed Attorney and CPA, Darryl V. Pratt brings a rare perspective to these events — seeing both the legal and financial implications simultaneously, which prevents costly blind spots.
Common Triggers
- Business sale or acquisition
- IPO, SPAC, or equity liquidity
- Large inheritance or trust distribution
- Lottery or legal settlement
- Real estate portfolio sale
- Divorce involving complex assets
- Retirement with $5M+ assets
Planning By Event Type
Tailored Strategies for Every Scenario
Business Sale or Exit
Selling a business is often the single largest financial event of your lifetime. The legal, tax, and estate implications are enormous — and irreversible if not planned in advance.
Key Strategies
- Pre-sale entity restructuring
- Tax-efficient deal structuring
- Irrevocable trust strategies before closing
- Post-sale asset protection planning
- Spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs)
IPO or Equity Liquidity Event
When restricted stock, options, or carried interest suddenly becomes liquid, the planning window is narrow. We help you act before the taxable event.
Key Strategies
- Pre-IPO trust planning
- Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs)
- Charitable remainder trusts for concentrated stock
- Diversification strategies
- Estate freeze techniques
Large Inheritance
Receiving a substantial inheritance requires immediate legal and financial structuring to protect those assets from creditors, divorce, and unnecessary taxation.
Key Strategies
- Standalone inheritance trust
- Generation-skipping transfer (GST) planning
- Beneficiary-controlled trust conversion
- Asset protection structuring
- Tax-efficient investment positioning
Lottery or Windfall
Sudden windfalls create unique legal exposure. Without immediate planning, a significant portion can be lost to taxes, creditors, or poor financial decisions.
Key Strategies
- Anonymous claim strategies (where available)
- Irrevocable trust creation before claiming
- Asset protection from creditors and lawsuits
- Family gifting strategies within exemption limits
- Long-term wealth preservation planning
Real Estate Portfolio Liquidation
Selling investment properties, farmland, or commercial real estate portfolios triggers complex capital gains, depreciation recapture, and estate planning considerations.
Key Strategies
- 1031 exchange planning and alternatives
- Installment sale structuring
- Charitable remainder trust strategies
- Estate tax freeze before sale
- Multi-generational property transfer
Legal Settlement or Award
Whether from litigation, insurance, or structured settlements, large legal awards require careful planning to minimize taxes and protect the proceeds long-term.
Key Strategies
- Structured settlement analysis
- Special needs trust (if applicable)
- Tax treatment optimization
- Asset protection from future claims
- Investment and distribution planning
Our Process
How We Work With You
Pre-Event Assessment
We evaluate the upcoming event's legal, tax, and estate implications before it happens.
Strategy Design
We design a custom legal framework — trusts, entities, and structures — tailored to the event.
Coordinated Execution
We work alongside your CPA, financial advisor, and deal team to ensure seamless implementation.
Post-Event Protection
After the event, we ensure assets are properly titled, protected, and positioned for the long term.
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