For example, a 25-year-old who invests $2,000 a year for eight years and never invests an additional dollar can accumulate more by the age of 65 than a 35-year-old who invests $2,000 a year for 32 years, even though the 35-year-old invests four times as muc

Comprehensive Financial Planning Steven collaborates with attorneys, CPAs and financial advisers to design tax-efficient solutions that preserve and protect multigenerational wealth. Steven Bowles, CLU®, is the founder of Catalyst Advisory, an independent wealth transfer and estate planning advisory firm. Heirs can benefit equally from a pool of assets without dividing and splitting everything apart, which often results in lost value. This may involve a family LLC, a trust or shared governance of family assets. Dividing assets, especially illiquid ones like real estate and businesses, often forces a sale. Estate planning typically involves splitting everything evenly among the heirs, so they can do with their inheritance as they please. Invest in insurance to protect family wealth But families who successfully preserve their wealth typically spend more time and energy on tax strategy and protecting their wealth than selecting the right investments. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Permanent life insurance can be a good diversification play, offering protection along with cash value and an investment component. It provides excellent liquidity so your heirs can pay taxes without selling probate prevention planning assets (very important if you own a business or a real estate portfolio). In this environment, it is essential to be strategic, calculated and prepared to protect the family assets and take full advantage of the opportunities availabl

Prepare for Open Enrollment If you’re a business owner, you may also benefit from reviewing the documents every business owner needs so that your estate plan aligns with your business continuity planning. We can help you review your current documents, clarify who you want to inherit what when, evaluate whether adding or updating a trust makes sense and coordinate your estate plan with your overall financial and tax strategy. If your estate is relatively simple and you’re comfortable with beneficiaries inheriting outright, a well‑drafted will, powers of attorney and up‑to‑date beneficiary designations may be enough to start. If an asset is accidentally left outside the bucket at death, the pour-over will directs that probate prevention planning asset into the revocable living trust. How do a revocable living trust and a pour-over will work together? A last will and testament, or will, is a relatively simple and cost-effective estate planning documen

Choosing your retirement benefits The presentations on this link provide an overview of UC retirement benefits, examples of retirement benefits calculations and information about steps to retire from UC. Beyond the financial considerations involved in preparing for retirement, there are a myriad of factors to consider as retirement age nears. For example, a 25-year-old who invests $2,000 a year for eight years and never invests an additional dollar can accumulate more by the age of 65 than a 35-year-old who invests $2,000 a probate prevention planning year for 32 years, even though the 35-year-old invests four times as much. Compounding of earnings is so great that those who start saving for retirement in their 20s can accumulate large account balances with relatively small regular investments. Preparing for Retirement presentati

"A financial professional understands all the ramifications involved in long-term wealth preservation and legacy building." It’s critical for affluent individuals and families to work with a financial professional who can help protect their wealth both now and in the future. This makes estate planning essential for everyone, regardless of the size of the estate. Without a clearly defined estate plan, assets could end up in probate, and the courts might decide how they’re distributed. But if your family has more complex needs, or you have a business or investment property, it's important to work with an estate planning attorney. Understanding Wealth Preservation Strategi

You’re on the lookout for the best investment products, and we are too. If you have a will, life insurance, beneficiary designations and an asset inventory, and followed other typical estate planning advice, you might feel like you're all set. Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose. If you are planning to give assets to future generations, an economic downturn might be the perfect time to accomplish the transfer. All assets above the lifetime exemption amount for gift/estate taxes will be subject to a 40% tax when transferred to the probate prevention planning next generatio