About Me

Planning for Retirement: Key Steps to Take

"They truly have a vested interest in my financial goals and they take their time going over any questions I may have. "They think outside the box, are always coming up with solutions that I never thought of (or did my other advisors) and they are always there and ready to spend the time with me to explore options."4 I have 100% confidence that my advisors at EP Wealth have my best interests at the forefront of all decisions made."3 "Having gone through a significant life change, I have needed financial guidance on everything from handling my children's college expenses to planning for retiremen


Providing this level of guidance in advance is a way to foster long-term family harmony and avoid potential legal entanglements between beneficiaries. It’s important to consider potential conflicts that could develop long after you’re gone, such as one of the beneficiaries wanting to sell their ownership stake in the future. Remember that tax avoidance is not the only objective of your legacy strategy and may be less important than other objectives. Talk to your tax and financial professionals to learn what your options may be, and evaluate the strategies that you feel make the most sense for you. But before you make specific decisions about what’s best for your wealth, it’s wise to spend time considering what it is you really want to see happen with it.
A key component of planning your legacy is ensuring that the right assets go to the right people or charities at the right time while incurring the least amount of tax. To be custom-matched with a fiduciary you can trust to provide personalized planning and support, take advantage of our advisor matching program today. Although many https://livingtrustlivingwillavoidprobate.com/ people equate legacy planning with generational wealth transfer, a holistic approach to legacy planning can address financial, legal, and personal aspirations in a cohesive plan. Limiting the amount of control beneficiaries will have over assets can help prevent those who are less experienced with managing money from making major financial mistakes. You’ll need to consider both your immediate heirs and future generations, creating a tax-smart plan for wealth transfer that will allow your vision and values to live on long after you’re gone. For family legacy planning support, reach out to a team member using the form below.
Your Legacy, Your Contr


Compare the cost of living in your current home to potential places you would move to when you retire. Use USAGov's benefit finder tool to find retirement benefits that may help with living expenses, health care, medications, and more. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. Finally, remember that the earlier you start planning for retirement, the more likely you are to reach your goals.
Individual Healthca


Most California families benefit from having both a revocable living trust and a pour-over will. Funding a California revocable living trust means https://livingtrustlivingwillavoidprobate.com/ transferring ownership of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, and investments, from your individual name into the trust’s name. A complete California estate plan includes a pour-over will (to catch assets not transferred to the trust), a durable power of attorney for financial matters, an advance healthcare directive, and a HIPAA authorization.
Key Roles in a Revocable Living Tru


As Dustin explained, exemption planning isn’t just a legal technicality, it’s the first line of defense. This advertising service may result in the introduction to or acquisition of clients. It is not intended to provide any tax or legal advice or provide the basis for any financial decision


Your successor trustee is the person or institution who manages your trust assets if you become incapacitated or https://livingtrustlivingwillavoidprobate.com/ after you pass away. At that point, no one, including the successor trustee or beneficiaries, can alter the trust’s distribution instructions. These include retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s), vehicles, health savings accounts, and assets that already have valid beneficiary designations. Certain assets should generally not be transferred into a California revocable living trust. The federal estate tax exemption for 2026 is $15,000,000 per individual, or $30,000,000 for married couples, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025. However, it can work alongside other strategies, such as irrevocable trusts, charitable planning, or lifetime gifting, to minimize taxes for higher-net-worth familie


And you’ll be in a better position to know what to do every step of the way - how much to save, how to invest, and when to make lifestyle and budget adjustments to reflect new life circumstances or goals. From there, you can build out your retirement plan and start taking clear steps toward your goals. If you know you need to pull $4,000 per month ($48,000 per year) from savings, you can use the 25 times recommendation as a starting point to work backward and find your goal retirement savings amoun