Estate Planning

Protect what you cherish. Provide for those you love. Plan with confidence.

Estate planning aligns your wishes with clear actions,


so your assets are managed and transferred in a way that ensures the lowest possible emotional and financial burden for your family. We coordinate documents, titling, beneficiaries, tax strategy, and administration to help ensure your plan works when it matters most.

Why do you need an estate plan?

Clarity today. Continuity tomorrow.

A thoughtful plan gives you control over distributions, protects loved ones, and can minimize estate-related taxes while naming the right people to act when you can’t. Our Family CFO model coordinates the legal, tax, investment, and trust elements so everything works together.

Control and protection

Decide who receives what, how, and when.

Tax awareness

Strategies to reduce potential estate/gift tax exposure where applicable.

Less burden on family

Clear roles for executors, trustees, and guardians; fewer surprises.

How we work together

From intentions to implementation

  1. Discovery goals

  2. Document strategy

  3. Tax and gifting design

  4. Implementation and funding

  5. Reviews and updates

Core documents and foundations

The essentials most families need

Will & Pour-Over Will

Revocable Living Trust

Durable Power of Attorney

Healthcare Directives / Living Will

Proper Titling & Beneficiary Designations

Resource Download:

An introduction to estate planning documents and decisions that give you peace of mind.

Download Estate Planning Basics

Advanced Estate Planning

Planning for estates above exemption thresholds or unique needs

When wealth levels or goals indicate exposure to federal estate tax—or when specialized objectives arise—advanced strategies can help reduce taxes, protect assets, and support multi-generational planning and philanthropy. (Note: suitability depends on your situation and current law.)

Lifetime gifting and annual exclusion

Irrevocable trusts

GRATs & QPRTs

Dynasty / multi-generational trusts

Charitable Trusts

Planning for families and future generations

Thoughtful structures for children and heirs

Trusts can delay or shape access, provide professional management, and address special circumstances (such as spendthrift concerns, special needs). Consider Generation-Skipping Trust (GST) implications for multi-generational transfers; advanced planning may be required.

  • Special Needs Trusts - protect benefits while providing supplemental support
  • Guardianship and trustee roles - clarify authority and succession

Business owners and complex assets

Succession with intention

For closely held businesses, real estate, and alternative assets, coordinated planning (buy-sell agreements, trusts, family entities) can aid continuity and tax efficiency while clarifying decision-making for the next generation.

  • Family LLCs / Partnerships - control, valuation discounts, liability
  • Coordinating with your corporate team, CPA, and counsel - Moneta-led integration

Philanthropy strategy

Align your giving with your values

From donor-advised funds to charitable trusts, we help design tax-aware strategies that reflect your family’s values, with implementation coordinated across your advisory team.

Digital assets and modern considerations

Don’t forget what lives online

Include instructions and authority for managing digital accounts, IP, and cryptocurrency. Name stewards and documenting access in line with applicable law.

Trust services integration

When a corporate trustee makes sense

When your plan requires ongoing fiduciary administration, Moneta Trust can serve as corporate trustee—coordinated with your Family CFO—to carry out your intent with clarity and care.

Explore Trust Services

FAQs

Common questions we hear


Do I need a revocable trust?

It depends on your state, goals, and privacy needs; many clients benefit from trust-based plans.

How often should I update my plan?

Review at major life events and when laws change.

Am I a candidate for advanced strategies?

If your net worth may exceed the federal exemption, advanced options may help.

YOUR NEXT STEP

The best time is now

Life's biggest moments—selling a business, retiring, receiving an inheritance, or planning your legacy—are easier and more rewarding when you have a Family CFO in your corner before they happen. With Moneta, you're prepared for every opportunity and challenge, with a strategic plan already in place and a trusted guide ready to help you make confident decisions. The best time to start is now.

Latest Insights