Many families invest time and money in creating an estate plan, then assume the work is done. But if account titling and beneficiary designations don't match the documents, the plan may not work as intended. We make sure every piece is aligned.
A couple in their early 60s came to us after updating their wills and trusts with an attorney several years earlier. They believed their estate plan was buttoned up. But when we conducted our review, we found a different story: their revocable trust had never been funded, retirement accounts still named a deceased parent as a contingent beneficiary, and a sizable brokerage account was titled individually rather than in the trust—meaning it would have gone through probate despite all their careful planning.
Working alongside their estate attorney, we brought everything into alignment.
We helped them retitle taxable accounts and real estate into their revocable trust, ensuring those assets would pass privately and efficiently, outside of probate.
We updated primary and contingent beneficiaries across their 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance policies so designations matched the intentions spelled out in their documents.
We coordinated beneficiary strategies with their broader tax picture, structuring retirement account designations to give their children flexibility under current inheritance rules.
We built an annual estate review into their plan, so future account changes, job transitions, or family events never leave the estate plan out of sync again.
Today, the couple has confidence that their wishes—not outdated paperwork—will determine how their legacy is passed on.
DISCLOSURES:
The scenarios described are illustrative and reflect composite situations based on actual client experiences, with identifying details and figures changed. They are provided for informational purposes only, are not representative of the experience of all clients, are not a guarantee of future results, and individual results will vary based on each client's specific circumstances.
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
Consilio Wealth Advisors, LLC ("CWA") is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Registration does not imply any particular level of skill or training. CWA provides investment advisory services to clients nationally and notice-files in those states where notice filing is required. CWA renders individualized responses to persons in a particular state only after complying with all applicable regulatory requirements, or pursuant to an applicable exemption or exclusion.
