Legacy Planning

The Importance of Legacy Planning

How Legacy Planning and Estate Planning go Hand-In-Hand

The terms “legacy planning” and “estate planning” are often used interchangeably. Over time, estate planning has come to refer to the transfer of assets and personal belongings following someone’s death, while legacy planning includes financial bequests as well as a strategy for passing along one’s personal values and closely held beliefs. The following are several reasons it’s important to establish a legacy planning strategy. 

#1 – A legacy plan can help protect your values

Many individuals that have worked hard are in a high tax brackets and have built some wealth with large capital gains.  They often wish to pass along their resources to the next generation. Will your loved ones remain motivated to work hard and pursue their own career interests if they receive a financial windfall? 

The legacy planning process provides several opportunities to pass along your religious and charitable values, your work ethic as well as your financial assets while achieving tax benefits and streams of income to future generations. You with the help of your attorney may decide to create specific trusts to encourage hard work while also financially supporting your family’s next generation. Proper legacy planning can ensure your assets are available to support — but not fully enable — your loved ones’ financial independence. 

#2 – A legacy plan can encourage a spirit of giving in future generations

A great way to support the charitable causes that matter most to you is by bequeathing assets as part of your estate plan. However, if you wish to pass along a legacy of giving to next generation, you may want to consider incorporating a donor-advised fund (DAF) rather than making a direct gift. 

DAFs allow you to name a qualified entity who can decide how to distribute grants from the account. This provides a great opportunity to talk with your children or grandchildren about the importance of giving to charities and your desire to make a lasting impact on the causes that matter to you or your loved ones. Not only can this practice encourage your family to become more charitably minded but it can also give then a direct vehicle with which to make an impact. 

#3 – A legacy plan can be useful while you’re alive

If you become incapacitated and can no longer make decisions for yourself, having a solid legacy and estate plan in place can help protect your interests (as your plan will designate a trusted individual to step in and make decisions on your behalf). Without a proper plan, your family or friends may have to go to court to gain the authority to act on your behalf, and there’s no guarantee that the person acting in this role is the person you would have chosen to do so. 

#4 – A legacy plan can protect your family’s privacy

In many jurisdictions, wills are considered public record, meaning anyone can see who was designated as an heir in your will. At the very least, this can cause your family to be bombarded with advertisements from companies trying to sell their services. Proper legacy planning can protect your privacy and the privacy of your family members. 

Are you ready to implement your legacy planning strategy? Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC can work with your attorney to help. We work with clients to implement custom legacy and estate planning strategies that help protect their families and leave a lasting legacy for the people and causes that matter most. If you’d like help establishing a legacy plan, or with any other financial matter, please schedule a call.    

This commentary is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice, and does not constitute an attorney/client relationship. Past performance of any market results is no assurance of future performance. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. 

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Fee-based financial planning and investment advisory services are offered by Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the States of Nebraska and Texas. The ADV Part 2 of Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC is available upon request.  All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representations as to its accuracy or completeness. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser, tax professional or attorney prior to implementation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The presence of this web site shall in no way be construed or interpreted as a solicitation to sell or offer to sell investment advisory services, securities product, service or investment strategy to any residents of any State other than the State of Nebraska or where otherwise legally permitted. Legal services offered through Peatrowsky Law, LLC and Dennis G. Peatrowsky are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions. Exclusive rights to this material belongs to Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. Unauthorized use of the material is prohibited.

TD Ameritrade, Inc. is one of the firms that we use to custody our client assets. TD Ameritrade, Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC, and the other entities named are separate and unaffiliated firms, and are not responsible for each other’s services or policies. TD Ameritrade does not endorse or recommend any advisor and the use of the TD Ameritrade logo does not represent the endorsement or recommendation of any advisor. Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade Institutional, Division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Used with permission.

© Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. All rights reserved.

Check the background of our Firm and Professionals on https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/

Fee-based financial planning and investment advisory services are offered by Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the States of Nebraska and Texas. The ADV Part 2 of Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC is available upon request.  All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representations as to its accuracy or completeness. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser, tax professional or attorney prior to implementation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The presence of this web site shall in no way be construed or interpreted as a solicitation to sell or offer to sell investment advisory services, securities product, service or investment strategy to any residents of any State other than the State of Nebraska or where otherwise legally permitted. Legal services offered through Peatrowsky Law, LLC and Dennis G. Peatrowsky are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions. Exclusive rights to this material belongs to Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. Unauthorized use of the material is prohibited.

TD Ameritrade, Inc. is one of the firms that we use to custody our client assets. TD Ameritrade, Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC, and the other entities named are separate and unaffiliated firms, and are not responsible for each other’s services or policies. TD Ameritrade does not endorse or recommend any advisor and the use of the TD Ameritrade logo does not represent the endorsement or recommendation of any advisor. Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade Institutional, Division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Used with permission.

© Virtue Wealth Counsel, LLC. All rights reserved.

Check the background of our Firm and Professionals on https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/