Topic: Legacy Planning

  • Protect Your Legacy – Review and Understand Your Beneficiary Designations Today

    When it comes to estate planning, your beneficiary designations are one of the most critical yet often overlooked components. These designations determine how your assets—such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and annuities—are distributed upon your passing. Beneficiary designations often supersede other estate documents, making it essential to ensure they are accurate and up to date.

    Understanding the Key Difference: Per Capita vs. Per Stirpes
    When naming individual beneficiaries, two terms that frequently come up in this context are “per stirpes” and “per capita”. While these terms may seem similar, they represent very different ways of dividing an inheritance among your heirs.

    What is “Per Stirpes”?
    The term per stirpes translates to “by branch” and refers to dividing an estate among the branches of a family. This method ensures that if an heir predeceases you, their share will be passed on to their descendants. In other words, per stirpes keeps the inheritance within a specific family line.

    Example: If you have three children, but one of them passes away before you, the deceased child’s share would be divided equally among their children (your grandchildren). The remaining two children would each receive their full share, and the deceased child’s share would be inherited by their descendants.

    What is “Per Capita”?
    Per capita, on the other hand, translates to “by head.” This distribution method divides the estate equally among all living heirs, regardless of their family branch. If one of your heirs passes away before you, their share does not get passed on to their descendants. Instead, the estate is divided equally among the remaining living heirs.

    Example: If you have four children, but one predeceases you, the remaining three children would share the full estate equally. The children of the deceased heir would not receive anything, as the division happens equally among the surviving heirs.

    While the difference between these two options may seem subtle, the impact on your loved ones can be significant. Choosing the wrong option—or failing to clarify your preference—could lead to unintended consequences, disputes among heirs, or even legal challenges.

    Why Review Your Beneficiary Designations Now?
    Life rarely stands still. Over time, your family dynamic and financial situation can shift. Perhaps you’ve welcomed new children or grandchildren, experienced a marriage or divorce, or lost a loved one. Each of these changes could alter how you want your assets to be distributed.

    Outdated or incorrect beneficiary designations can result in assets being distributed contrary to your intentions. For example:

    • A former spouse could unintentionally remain the beneficiary of a retirement account. If there is a per stirpes designation, any new children of the ex-spouse could stand to inherit a portion of the assets, in addition to your own.
    • A child or grandchild born after you last updated your beneficiary designations could be left out entirely when using a per capita designation.

    Without a clear understanding of per capita versus per stirpes, your heirs may not receive the inheritance you intended for them.

    Which Method Should You Choose?
    Choosing between per stirpes and per capita depends on your family dynamics and the goals you have for your estate. Here are a few considerations:

    Per Stirpes: This method is often ideal for families with multiple generations or if you want to ensure that your descendants (grandchildren, for example) are taken care of. If your family includes children and grandchildren, per stirpes guarantees that each branch of your family is represented.

    Per Capita: This method works best for families where you want an equal division of assets among the surviving heirs. It’s particularly useful if you prefer to ensure that all living heirs receive an equal share, regardless of how many generations are involved or descendants of a particular family line there are.

    How Confluence Financial Partners Can Help
    Your Wealth Manager can help you gather all your account and policy documents, check the names of the beneficiaries listed, the percentages assigned to each, and whether the designation is per capita or per stirpes. Furthermore, we can prepare a report summarizing the disposition of your estate to make sure it aligns with your wishes.

    Ready to Make Changes?
    Estate planning is complex, and small details can make a big difference. You may need to consult with your existing attorney to update your plan or your wealth manager can make an introduction to a qualified professional to draft a new one. Our team is here to help you navigate these decisions and help ensure your legacy is preserved. Call us today to schedule a personalized beneficiary review. Let’s work together to help ensure your estate plan reflects your current wishes and protects your family’s future. Don’t leave it to chance—act now to avoid unintended surprises tomorrow. Your peace of mind is worth it, and your loved ones will thank you.

    Chuck Zuzak
    About the Author

    Chuck joins Confluence Financial Partners with 13 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as Director of Financial Planning at JFS Wealth Advisors. At a fundamental level, Chuck’s passion for financial planning stems from the desire to help clients connect their personal values and purpose with their financial resources.

    Pittsburgh

    412-391-0377
    chuck.zuzak@confluencefp.com
    Email Chuck Zuzak

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    Chuck Zuzak

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  • How to Nurture Moneywise Children

    Teach your children to treasure their financial legacy.

    Most parents appreciate the importance of traditional education in their child’s development considering the obvious intellectual and social benefits. Yet all too many forget that a financial education is also crucial for ensuring their offspring’s long-term well-being.The good news is it’s never too early or too late to begin sharing your financial wisdom and experiences with your family. By taking the time to teach your children the value of money, you’ll have the comfort of knowing they’ll understand how to care for their own financial legacy when the time comes.

    An Essential Skill

    Like reading, financial literacy is an essential skill, but unfortunately, it’s not typically taught in school. Rather, it’s up to parents to pass on their financial knowledge to ensure the next generation is capable of taking care of the wealth they’ve built.

    Pre-kindergarten age is a great time to introduce the basics, including the idea that you must work to earn money in order to pay for items and services, as well as the value of different coins and bills. As they get a little older, your child can start doing chores and earning an allowance. Help them go through the motions of saving up for something they’d like to buy and deciding whether or not it’s a worthwhile purchase.

    With pre-teens and teenagers, there are several other steps you can take, such as helping them open a savings account with their earnings from chores, babysitting or other jobs. Share your own tips on managing a budget and introduce them to the concept of investing and saving for retirement. Simply being transparent with your children about the realities and costs of living can go a long way in preparing them for the future.

    Sharing Your Financial Legacy

    While products such as trusts and wills can help ensure your wishes are carried out, they can’t give your heirs the true understanding of how to save, grow and spend money wisely. In fact, if your children are going to receive a sizable inheritance, they may get overwhelmed by sudden wealth without a solid foundation to rely on. It’s also a good idea to introduce your children, when they’re ready, to your financial advisor and other professional partners, so they’ll know where to find expert guidance when dealing with money issues.

    Next Steps

    • Write out a sample budget with your children, explaining the expenses you have each month, such as utilities and groceries
    • Help them open a savings or checking account
    • Schedule a time for them to join you for a meeting with your financial advisor

    Family and Life Events

    August 14, 2019

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    Katie Montagazzi

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  • Make Lasting Memories by Savoring Life’s Simple Joys

    Make Lasting Memories by Savoring Life’s Simple Joys

    While extravagant vacations are great, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make meaningful memories with your loved ones. A slow morning on the first day of summer. Baking cookies with the littles. A great meal surrounded by close friends or family. The best memories come in all shapes and sizes, both planned and unplanned. And while there’s nothing like going on that vacation you’ve been looking forward to for months, sometimes it’s the small, unexpected delights that stay with us the longest.

    So how can you lead a life with more moments worth savoring? Here are a few tips to help you get started.

    Focus on the Little Things

    There’s nothing wrong with a bucket list full of exotic travel destinations or goals to buy that yacht or plan a big family reunion. After all, helping you work toward those goals is what a well-planned life is all about. Still, that’s usually not our day-to-day life. There are so many moments in between those grander experiences that are opportunities to explore smaller joys that, when added together, can be just as memorable or fulfilling as a big trip.

    Start by picturing your perfect day. What do you do or eat? Who and what do you see? Perhaps it’s reading a book, listening to music or getting outside. Maybe you want to spend more time with close friends. After thinking it over, consider how to bring a few of those elements into your regular routine.

    For example, maybe you want to get outside and see one of your friends more often. Consider putting a weekly date on the calendar with them to go for a walk, helping you fulfill both goals. Or perhaps you want to spend more time with your grandkids and also do more at-home cooking. Can the kids help? It could turn into an opportunity to not only spend time together, but for you to share some of your skills and insights with the next generation – doing something as simple as making a pizza.

    When trying to find ways to bring the whole family together, consider what everyone is most interested in. Do your kids or grandkids have favorite activities you can do together? Maybe it’s going to an escape room or planning a watch party for their favorite show. Better yet, take turns choosing the plans for a monthly get-together. Experiences are a great way to connect and they make excellent gifts, too.

    Commit to Unplugging

    Social media has given us unprecedented access to loved ones near and far, and it’s made it easier than ever to share our lives (for better or for worse). But while it makes capturing a moment so easy, social media can also put extra pressure on ourselves and our experiences to be and look perfect – making it that much harder to cultivate and cherish authentic memories.

    Moreover, according to Psychology Today, the average American has five social media accounts and spends an hour and 20 minutes each day browsing their feeds. That’s more than 37 hours every month! Imagine the memories we could create over a year with that time.

    If you’ve found yourself getting sucked into social media, consider taking a break or limiting the time you spend scrolling. Time management apps and new settings on phones allow you to set timers so you receive an alert when you’ve gone over your allotted time on specific apps.

    Learn to Be Present

    It’s hard to fully take in a great moment when we’re distracted, whether by our never-ending to-do list or our phone. Learning how to quiet our mind for even short periods of time can leave us open for moments of serendipity and spontaneity. Perhaps you run into a friend at the grocery store and decide to catch up over lunch, or spot a bed of flowers in full bloom while on a walk – both things you may have missed while checking your phone or worrying over all the errands on your list.

    Meditation has been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety while improving our concentration. And with several popular apps out there with guided meditations, it’s never been easier to give it a try. While some require subscriptions, most offer a free trial so you can see how you like it before making a commitment.

    Enjoy the Moments Worth Living For

    Living for the moment is all about applying that stop-and-smell-the-roses mindset to your daily life. That way, even when you aren’t cruising the Mediterranean or celebrating your birthday with a bash, you might just stumble upon a few more exciting moments and soak up some extra memories along the way.

    Sources: Psychology Today; Huffington Post

    Raymond James is not affiliated with any organizations mentioned.

    Family and Life Events

    June 26, 2019

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    Katie Montagazzi

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  • Is Your Family Financially Prepared for the Unexpected?

    If you were gone tomorrow, would your family be financially OK?

    That is a jarring question, and one that most of us try to avoid.

    As difficult as this scenario is to consider, however, we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be able to answer the question with certainty.

    Below are some points to consider:

    • Estate Plan
      • Do you have up to date wills, trusts, and other applicable documents? Have you gone through the documents in the past 5 years? What has changed since they were written? Is it time for an update?
      • Does your estate plan help and encourage family collaboration while safeguarding relationships? Many a family has been torn apart by disputes regarding an inheritance.
    • Life Insurance
      • Do you have life insurance in place? Is it enough so that your spouse and children would not have to worry about money when you are gone?
      • We can’t control very much in this situation, but we can control the windfall that our dependents would receive if we die unexpectedly.
    • Communication
      • Do your loved ones know the structure of your estate plan? Do they know what your expectations are for the money? If you have young children, this may be a conversation to have with your spouse and the person who would be the legal guardian for your children. If you have adult children, this could be a family meeting where the plan is fleshed out in more detail.
      • Studies show that aging parents have a difficult time bringing up finances with their children. This is understandable, but it needs to happen at some point. Your adult children can handle it, and the risks of them knowing how much money the family has pale in comparison to the burden that an unexpected inheritance can be.
    • The Things No One Thinks About
      • Passwords, document locations, lock boxes, safe combinations, utilities, iPhone lock codes, and anything else that your loved ones would need.
      • If you knew you weren’t going to wake up tomorrow, what information would your loved ones need to handle everything? Consider a tool like everplans to help with this.
    • Trusted Person
      • Is there someone in your life whom trust to be there for your family if something happens to you? We work with many clients who view us as that person who they trust to be across the table from their spouse should this situation arise. We are often one of the first calls that is made, because we know where everything is and we’ve helped clients through this before.

    So, we ask again.

    If you were gone tomorrow, would your family be financially ok?

    If you aren’t sure, take time to reflect. We at Confluence Financial Partners have been helping clients answer that question in the affirmative for decades, and we would be honored to be able to help you as well. We know this isn’t a pleasant thing to work through, but it’s worth it, and you owe it to those you love.

    Randy Holcombe
    About the Author

    The opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives is why Randy chose a career in wealth management. He is passionate about helping his clients achieve their goals and cut through the constant noise of the day-to-day financial markets.

    Grove City, Pittsburgh

    724-458-5233
    randall.holcombe@confluencefp.com
    Email Randy

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    Randy Holcombe

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  • The Collector’s Journey: How to Plan for the Legacy of Your Treasures

    As enthusiasts and collectors approach the later stages of their lives, the act of collecting takes on new dimensions. Some may be content to sell their collection and pass the proceeds on to heirs, but for others the treasures that have been amassed over the years are now an opportunity to leave a legacy that will continue to endure.

    Here are four considerations to help navigate this phase of your collecting journey:

    1. Legacy Planning and Succession Strategy

    If you haven’t already, start to incorporate your collection into your broader estate plan. Decide how your treasures will be managed, preserved, or passed on. Engage with experts who specialize in collectibles and estate management, particularly those well-versed in the tax implications of transferring collections.

    Consider which heirs will receive each item and why, taking into account their emotional significance and potential for instilling responsibility. If you aim to establish a philanthropic legacy, donating to a museum or organization aligned with your mission not only offers tax benefits but also ensures parts of your collection remain together.

    2. Balancing Emotional and Financial Value

    While financial considerations have likely played a role in your collecting journey, the emotional value of your treasures becomes increasingly significant as you near this phase. Embrace the joy and memories your collection evokes. If the next chapter is one that doesn’t fetch your estate the highest possible payout or the most optimal tax deduction, that can be OK if the destination fulfills your wishes and maximizes the emotional component of the transition.

    3. Philanthropy & Impact

    Consider the broader impact your collection can have. Some individuals opt for philanthropic endeavors that align with the themes of their collection. For example, a collector of classic cars may choose to donate his or her collection to an automobile museum that will display the vehicles and allow them to continue to provide joy for many. Donating items, contributing proceeds to charitable causes, or establishing cultural endowments can solidify your legacy as one that extends beyond material possessions.

    4. Don’t Forget Logistics

    Once you’ve established a robust plan for your collection, it’s crucial to have capable individuals ready to carry it out. For vehicles, consider arranging for an appraisal in advance or identify a trusted appraiser to guide those handling your estate. If you anticipate liquidating a coin collection after your passing, take the initiative to identify a reputable precious metals dealer beforehand. By personally selecting the third parties involved, you can alleviate the executor’s potential challenges in managing and distributing your collection.

    As your collecting journey matures, it evolves into a narrative of legacy and stewardship. It’s important to recognize that your collection signifies not just an investment, but a testament to the diverse experiences of your life. Take the necessary time and consider that at Confluence Financial Partners, we’re here to help. Collaborating with the right professionals can help ease the burden and ensure both your life and legacy are maximized.

    Randy Holcombe
    About the Author

    The opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives is why Randy chose a career in wealth management. He is passionate about helping his clients achieve their goals and cut through the constant noise of the day-to-day financial markets.

    Grove City, Pittsburgh

    724-458-5233
    randall.holcombe@confluencefp.com
    Email Randy

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    Randy Holcombe

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  • 529 Plans: Advanced Strategies for Education and Wealth Transfer

    When someone thinks about socking away money in a college fund for children or grandchildren, the first thing that comes to mind is a 529 plan – a savings plan for qualified educational expenses, which may include not only tuition, but also room and board, books, and other school supplies.  But did you know that a 529 can also be an attractive consideration for transferring generational wealth?

    The Basics:

    • Money invested in a 529 plan grows tax free and the growth is exempt from federal taxes upon withdrawal, as long as the funds are used for qualified educational expenses.
    • You can open up a 529 plan before you become a parent or grandparent, which provides a head start on building generational wealth that you can pass down to future family members.
    • You can open a 529 plan in your name and change the beneficiary later on; and you may open multiple 529 plans to save for the education of multiple children or grandchildren. 
    • Most plans have lifetime contribution limits of about $350,000 and up (annual and all-time contribution limits vary by state).
    • Expanded use of funds:  Money in a 529 plan can be used for education related expenses at any accredited college, community college or graduate school; for certified apprenticeship programs; for student loan repayment (student loan repayment has a $10,000 lifetime limit per 529 plan beneficiary and $10,000 per each of the beneficiary’s siblings); and for K-12 tuition expenses up to $10,000 per year.

    The Advanced:

    • Contributions are considered completed gifts.  You can annually give $18,000 (for 2024) per donor per beneficiary, or $36,000 per couple per beneficiary, without being subject to the gift tax.
    • “Super funding” – Contributions can be front-loaded, up to $85,000 (up to $170,000 for married couples)– or five years’ worth of contributions at once.  If you decide to do this, you can’t fund the account for the next four years.
    • You can name a trust as the account owner, which will give you control even after you’re gone.  Trustees can make decisions for the account that are advantageous to the beneficiaries and ensure your wishes for the account are carried out.
    • Contributions to a 529 plan reduce the taxable value of your estate and because contributions are treated as completed gifts, they are immediately removed from the donor’s estate and exempt from the current federal estate tax limit ($12.92 million per person or $25.84 million per couple).
    • Another new benefit starting 2024 (per Secure Act 2.0), it is now permissible to rollover up to a lifetime limit of $35,000 tax free from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA.  The money must be moved to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary of the 529 as opposed to the owner of the 529 account; and the account must have been in existence for at least 15 years. Only funds in the plan for at least 5 years are eligible for rollover. (Please note that annual Roth contribution limits will apply based on the rules included in the legislation and the IRS could interpret differently upon implementation.) 

    Whether you want to reap the ‘basic’ benefits of a 529 savings account, or want to discuss the ‘advanced’ benefits – the best approach is reaching out to your Confluence Wealth Manager or starting the conversation altogether. We look forward to helping you and your family with education planning in 2024.

    Zac Saunders
    About the Author

    Known for his professionalism and calming demeanor, Zac is focused on helping his clients reach their financial goals through comprehensive financial planning and unbiased guidance.  Zac and his team support and care for the overall financial well-being of their clients.

    Sewickley

    724-719-6609
    zac.saunders@confluencefp.com
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    Zac Saunders

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  • Multi-Generational Legacies: Communicating Your Estate Plan

    $96 Trillion is going to pass from one generation to the next over the coming 30 years.

    This is either going to go smoothly or poorly, and much of that answer will come down to estate planning.

    Your estate plan is a crucial aspect of securing your family’s future, and communicating this wealth plan effectively to your children is perhaps even more important.

    Here are 4 key strategies to help ensure your heirs are ready:

    1. Talk About It

    This might seem basic, but start the conversation early. Don’t wait for a crisis to discuss your estate plan. Start the conversation with your children while everyone is in good health and spirits. Choose a suitable time and place for the discussion, ensuring minimal distractions. This will allow your children to focus on the important matters at hand without feeling rushed or pressured.

    • Clarify Roles and Responsibilities

    Clearly communicate who will be responsible for executing your wishes and managing your affairs if you are unable to do so. If your adult children will be filling these roles, tell them. Don’t assume that your oldest child will understand why you made your middle child the executor. Explain your decisions and choices so that when the time comes there won’t be any confusion or hurt feelings.  

    • Educate Your Heirs on the Structure of Your Estate Plan

    You don’t have to share all of the details right away, but make a plan for bringing in the next generation into your financial picture. These discussions are difficult to begin in most households, but at some point you should consider letting your adult children know what you have and how all of it will be transferred. Eventually you should share detailed information about your assets, including properties, investments, and savings. Do you have a financial plan with your financial advisor? It would be wise to share it with your children.

    When in doubt, over communicate. You would be amazed at the disagreements that will come up after you are gone, many of which are due to a lack of direction and clarity on your part. Don’t assume your children will know what to do. Spell it out for them.

    • Address Potential Concerns and Questions

    You don’t have to share all of the details right away, but make a plan for bringing in the next generation into your financial picture. These discussions are difficult to begin in most households, but at some point you should consider letting your adult children know what you have and how all of it will be transferred. Eventually you should share detailed information about your assets, including properties, investments, and savings. Do you have a financial plan with your financial advisor? It would be wise to share it with your children.

    When in doubt, over communicate. You would be amazed at the disagreements that will come up after you are gone, many of which are due to a lack of direction and clarity on your part. Don’t assume your children will know what to do. Spell it out for them.

    Nobody likes to have these conversations, but they are important. We often talk at Confluence about helping our clients maximize their legacies, and typically children are the most important part of a legacy. We are here to help you facilitate meaningful conversations with the next generation that help you ensure your wealth impacts future generations positively. Don’t wait, the time to communicate is now.

    Randy Holcombe
    About the Author

    The opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives is why Randy chose a career in wealth management. He is passionate about helping his clients achieve their goals and cut through the constant noise of the day-to-day financial markets.

    Grove City, Pittsburgh

    724-458-5233
    randall.holcombe@confluencefp.com
    Email Randy

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    Randy Holcombe

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  • Maximize Your Legacy: The Great Wealth Transfer and Your Opportunities

    We’ve all heard the numbers. Over the next 30 years, an estimated $70-$90 trillion is going to pass from the Baby Boomers to the next generation. This will be a transfer of wealth the likes of which the world has never seen. Not only are the Baby Boomers the wealthiest generation ever to live, their wealth is broad and relatively spread out. Generally speaking, this is the first generation in which the middle class will play a significant role in the wealth transfer. While Boomers’ parents largely had pensions that ended at death, their children instead have sizable retirement accounts that will be passed down. Add that to the fact the American and global economies have massively expanded over the past 50 years, and we have a recipe for a wealth transfer for the ages.

    At Confluence Financial Partners, our mission is to help our clients maximize their lives and legacies. When it comes to legacy, the upcoming wealth transfer is an important issue for the majority of our clients. That means that a major part of our job is to help our clients, where appropriate, engage the next generation in hopes that the family legacy will continue. Studies have shown that 70% of families lose their wealth by the second generation, and 90% by the third. We want to help families avoid being part of this statistic, and instead build something that lasts.

    Here are four steps that you can take to help ensure that your legacy is secure.

    Consider a Multi-generational Advisory Relationship

    Over 50% of our clients are multigenerational, meaning we have family members in more than one generation who we are serving. Often children are clients with their parents from a young age, but as they become adults, they become more independent and establish their own relationship with us as their advisor. Another common situation is when clients refer their parents to us, forming a multigenerational relationship from the other direction. Still another way this happens is when adult children establish a relationship with us as their parents (who are clients already) age and it becomes even more important to all be on the same page.

    Even if you are not a Confluence client, we would encourage you to find an advisor and a firm that is making multi-generational wealth considerations a priority. Your advisor should help you bridge the gap between the wealth that you’ve built and the next generation for whom you hope that wealth will be a blessing. We have shepherded many families through this difficult period already, and the whole process is undoubtedly much easier if the parents and the children share the same advisor.

    Take Another Look at Your Estate Plan

    When was the last time you had your estate plan reviewed? If you are like most Americans, it’s probably been a few years. The typical estate plan is adequate for only a certain season of life, and it will need to be redone as children get older and circumstances change. Like a financial plan or an investment portfolio, an estate plan should be periodically updated as goals change. An estate plan update is almost always needed after a major life event such as a birth, a death, or a change in marital status.

    Sometimes an estate plan can be as simple as a pair of wills and power of attorney documents. More often, however, trusts should be involved and more careful consideration should be taken to help ensure that wishes are carried out. For example, what would happen in the event of a death or divorce of a child? If protections aren’t built into the estate plan, it’s possible that a parent’s wealth ends up with a child’s ex-spouse instead of the grandchildren. That is an avoidable scenario, but it’s important to ask the right questions and think critically about the key factors that will cause the plan to either be successful or not.

    We don’t have attorneys at Confluence, but we do have a robust process for reviewing your existing estate plan so that you understand your current situation. Once we learn where you are today, we can help educate you so that you are prepared when you speak to your attorney about updates. We work closely with our clients throughout the whole process and are there to help in every way we can.

    Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

    The primary reason that the wealth transfer could go poorly for the majority of families is a lack of communication. An inheritance can be a difficult subject to broach, especially for the first time. As a result, many families put these conversations off until it is too late. Don’t let that be your family.

    We find that most families assume that their children will handle the inheritance with ease, but that isn’t always the case. We’ve seen many situations in which the heirs were paralyzed by their newfound wealth and the responsibility that comes along with it. They don’t feel prepared to handle the wealth, and so it wears on them. Rather than enjoying the legacy that their parents worked so hard to build, they instead live in fear of losing it all. Fortunately, this can be remedied by simple and consistent communication. Imagine if those same heirs had been let in on the family wealth along the way. Imagine if they knew how the accounts and estate plan were structured. Most importantly, imagine if they understood their parent’s dreams and wishes around the wealth. Imagine they understood the values and expectations that go along with the wealth being transferred.

    One question we often ask our clients is this: Will your children still speak to each other after you are gone? Many clients take this for granted, but an estate plan that has not been communicated will inevitably lead to disagreements and fraught relationships. This is especially true in unique situations where the split is not even amongst the heirs, but money can cause even the most reasonable people to turn their backs on each other. Thankfully, again the odds of this happening can be greatly reduced with solid and consistent communication on the part of the wealth creators. Don’t leave ambiguities that can be interpreted. Make your wishes known and take the (sometimes) uncomfortable step of starting a pattern of communication.

    Have a Family Meeting

    One concrete way to start or solidify communication around the great wealth transfer is to have a family meeting. Ideally, this would lead to a regular cadence of meetings, but the first one is usually the hardest. These meetings can take many different forms, but they are typically initiated by the wealth creators of the family and include the adult children in the upcoming generation. Many families want to communicate better about important topics like their estate plan, financial expectations, and charitable goals, but they don’t know where to start. That’s where a family meeting can be a great opportunity to open important lines of communication.

    At Confluence, facilitating these family meetings is one of the most important things that we do. We regularly sit down with our client families at our office or their homes to help get everyone on the same page. We don’t believe this type of meeting should be only done in an emergency after a terminal diagnosis, although that may sometimes be necessary. Rather, we think it is essential to start thinking about this now, before there is a crisis of any kind. Communication around wealth transfer that is done while the whole family is focused and not in crisis is ideal because it prepares the family to be ready if or when the crisis does arrive.

    Conclusion

    The largest wealth transfer that the world has ever seen is coming. For many, it has already started. That transfer is going to go well for some families, but very poorly for many. At Confluence, we’ve made the next generation a priority, right down to the way we have structured our firm. Many advisors work as lone wolves, with no real succession plan or assurance of what will happen to the families they serve once the advisor retires. At Confluence, we are building a firm so that we can help not only our current clients, but their children and grandchildren as well. We work in teams, and we have advisors who are in their 70s all the way down to their 20s. We’ve made significant investments in growing the next generation of advisors so that our clients’ children and grandchildren can be confident in the Confluence of the future.

    As you read this today, we implore you to start thinking about what your next step may be towards making sure that your financial legacy is secure. Perhaps you need to have your estate plan reviewed, or you should make that call to your attorney that you’ve been putting off. Maybe you’ve been meaning to ask your advisor about a family meeting or considering introducing your parents or children to your financial team. Whatever the next step is for you on this journey, we ask you to take it. Your family will be grateful that you did.

    Confluence Wealth Services, Inc. d/b/a Confluence Financial Partners is a SEC-registered investment adviser. Confluence Financial Partners only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or notice filed or excluded or exempted from registration requirements. The security of electronic mail sent through the Internet is not guaranteed. All email sent to or from this address will be received or otherwise recorded by the Confluence Financial Partners corporate email system and is subject to archival, monitoring and/or review, by and/or disclosure to, someone other than the recipient. Confluence Financial Partners recommends you do not send confidential information to us via electronic mail, including social security numbers, account numbers, and personal identification numbers, unless properly encrypted. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available for your review upon request or by visiting the following link:https://live-confluencefp.pantheonsite.io/form-adv-2a/

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    Randy Holcombe

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