We know the task of reflecting on your whole life, and the legacy you have worked towards can be overwhelming, but with the right trusted financial partner, planning for your family’s future to mirror all that you are, and all that you have accomplished, can be life-affirming.

Preserving your family values for your future generations, and ensuring your assets go to those closest to you and in accordance with your wishes is achievable through strategy design and planning.

In addition to providing you with the right expertise to plan, our goal is to organize the vital details of your life that are often overlooked. That includes the most important aspect of estate planning — thoroughly and accurately documenting your wishes with your loved ones.

Every estate plan should include these essential legal documents:

• A will – to detail how your assets are to be distributed on your death
• A Power of Attorney for Personal Property – to assign someone to make financial decisions on your behalf, if you cannot
• A power of Attorney for Personal Care – to authorize someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, if you cannot.

Your loved ones and all that you’ve worked for and accumulated during your lifetime matter most, and the most effective way to prepare and protect your family is by establishing a trust within your overall estate plan.

In addition to giving you the confidence of knowing what will happen to your estate, the use of a well-designed trust can potentially exclude or reduce probate, a lengthy and expensive process. A trust can also avoid the judicial appointment of a guardian in the event of incapacity. Additionally, some trusts provide for long-term care or education for children or grandchildren, while others can benefit a favorite charity.

Make your mark with planned giving. Rooted and grounded in your community, charitable giving can be an important and very worthy part of your financial and estate plan. With the right strategy, you can integrate your overall wealth management strategy today with designations within your plan that enable you to continue supporting and contributing towards the charities and causes you love, now and in the future.

We explore the various options at your disposal in regard to charitable giving as part of your financial plan, explaining each option’s level of control and tax benefits. For example, some options provide immediate or future tax deductions to you, while others can provide a continuous income stream to your chosen charities.

We will provide recommendations that benefit you now, your heirs, the charities you want to support, and shape the way you wish to be remembered.

Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. Raymond James financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.