Legacy & Estate Planning That Protects Your Family and Your Wealth—Plan Yours with Confidence
Tax-Smart Legacy Planning to Preserve More of What You’ve Built
Estate planning is more than just having a will — it’s about protecting your family, preserving your wealth, and ensuring your legacy lives on according to your values. At Eight Peaks Wealth, we integrate estate planning into your broader financial and tax strategy to ensure everything works together. Whether you’re just getting started or need to revisit an existing plan, our LEGACYSCULPT™ process gives you clarity, confidence, and control over what comes next.
What’s Included in Our Estate Planning Support
We work alongside estate attorneys to make sure your financial and tax plans are fully aligned with your estate intentions. While we don’t draft legal documents ourselves, we guide you through the process and coordinate with your legal team — or connect you with one if needed.
LEGACYSCULPT™-Aligned Approach
We believe estate planning should be proactive, not reactive. That’s why it’s a core component of your LEGACYSCULPT™ roadmap — woven into your broader retirement, tax, and wealth strategy. Our goal isn’t just to help you plan for the end — it’s to help you shape the future you want for those you care about.
Our Estate Planning Services Include:
Comprehensive estate plan reviews and recommendations
Beneficiary designation review and optimization
Will and trust structure education
Guidance on powers of attorney and medical directives
Estate tax minimization strategies
Coordination with estate attorneys and CPAs
Asset titling analysis and alignment with your plan
Gifting strategies for family or charitable goals
Legacy discussions to reflect your values and intent
When to Talk About Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t just for retirees or high-net-worth families. Major life events like marriage, children, divorce, business changes, or inheriting assets should all trigger a fresh look. And even if you already have an estate plan, we’ll help make sure it’s still aligned with your goals.
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Estate Planning FAQs
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets distributed and who will care for minor children after you pass. A trust, on the other hand, allows you to transfer assets during your lifetime or after death and can help avoid probate, provide privacy, and offer greater control over asset distribution.
Do I need an estate plan if I’m not wealthy?
Yes. Estate planning isn’t just about money — it’s about making sure your family is cared for, your wishes are honored, and important decisions (like medical directives or guardianship) are made by people you trust.
Will my estate plan reduce taxes?
Potentially. With the right strategy, we can help minimize estate and gift taxes, reduce capital gains for heirs, and coordinate tax-smart gifting. This is where integrating tax planning into your estate strategy makes a real difference.
Can you help create or update my estate plan documents?
We don’t draft legal documents ourselves, but we guide you through the entire process and work closely with your estate attorney. If you don’t have one, we’ll connect you with a trusted professional.
How often should I review my estate plan?
We recommend reviewing your plan every 3–5 years or after a major life event like marriage, divorce, birth, death, relocation, or significant financial changes.
How can I include charitable giving in my estate plan?
Charitable giving can be incorporated through your will, a trust, beneficiary designations, or vehicles like donor-advised funds. We help you evaluate the most tax-efficient ways to support causes you care about — during your lifetime or as part of your legacy.
What’s the annual gift tax exclusion, and how does it work?
As of 2025, you can give up to $19,000 per year per recipient without using your lifetime estate and gift tax exemption or needing to file a gift tax return. Married couples can gift $38,000 per recipient. Strategic gifting can reduce your taxable estate while supporting loved ones now.
What is the federal estate tax exemption?
In 2025, the federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per person (or $27.98 million for married couples), meaning estates below that amount are not subject to federal estate tax. However, this historically high exemption is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025 — potentially dropping to around $6–7 million per person starting in 2026 unless new legislation is passed. If your estate may be affected by the upcoming reduction, now is the time to explore gifting strategies, trust structures, and other planning tools to reduce future tax exposure.