Estate planning is an essential process that allows individuals to proactively manage their financial affairs and secure a smooth transfer of assets to their loved ones upon their passing. While estate planning will enable you to distribute your wealth according to your wishes, it can also raise concerns regarding unequal inheritances.
Unequal inheritances can lead to family disputes and strained relationships. However, enlisting the advice of a reputable wealth management firm can help you navigate these challenges. This blog will dive into unequal inheritances and how an estate plan can help safeguard your assets. Here’s what you should know:
A common misconception is that estate planning is solely reserved for wealthy or elderly individuals. In fact, according to the 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Study, only 1 in 3 Americans have an estate plan. However, regardless of the size of your assets or age, everyone can benefit from having an estate plan.
Because an estate plan goes beyond distributing wealth, it's a comprehensive strategy that ensures your family is cared for and prevented from picking up the pieces after you pass away. Here are some reasons why having an estate plan can be beneficial:
By creating an estate plan with the assistance of a trusted wealth manager, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones will be well cared for and the legacy you leave behind will be in accordance with your wishes.
Many Americans don’t realize just how much inflation affects estate planning. This is primarily because people don’t know how much things cost until it’s time to spend money. The assets in your estate plan should also grow over time, so you should keep an eye on whether it’s actually growing or not.
Inflation is a general increase in prices that results in a decrease in our purchasing power. Inflation particularly affects your estate plan when the value of your assets grows at a smaller rate than the rate of inflation, which devalues the estate.
Having a solid estate plan in place ensures you, your beneficiaries, and your assets are protected during economic downturns. Inflation is something that is largely predictable and quantifiable, which means it can be accounted for in an investment strategy.
Include qualified professionals such as wealth preservation managers and attorneys in your planning as they can give advice, present options, and suggest course corrections to make your retirement and estate plan work to its full potential.
Unequal inheritances can occur for various reasons, including family dynamics, personal relationships, and individual circumstances. The prevalence of equal inheritances has decreased over time. Data from the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study reveals that the proportion of parents over 50 who reported treating their children unequally in their wills increased significantly from 16% to nearly 35% between 1995 and 2010.
This shift highlights a growing trend of unequal inheritances and underscores the importance of understanding the factors contributing to this change in estate planning practices. Some individuals may wish to reward children who have shown greater responsibility or support family members with specific needs. Others may prioritize philanthropic efforts or want to account for previous financial gifts or loans given to certain family members.
Additionally, when determining unequal inheritances, past financial gifts or loans given to specific family members can be considered. This approach ensures that previous financial support is recognized and balanced against the final distribution of assets, allowing for fairness and reciprocity among beneficiaries.
By working closely with a wealth management firm like NJM, you can ensure your estate plan is well-planned and bullet-proof. We can help you create a balanced approach that reflects your values and intentions, fostering harmony and understanding among your beneficiaries.
A reputable wealth management firm can assist you in navigating the complexities of estate planning and unequal inheritances. At NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies, our wealth managers can help you analyze your unique circumstances, understand the potential implications of unequal distributions, and guide you in structuring your estate plan to achieve your objectives.
NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies has extensive experience providing estate planning services tailored to individual needs. Our professionals will work closely with you to understand your family dynamics and financial circumstances. They will help you develop a customized estate plan that considers your goals while ensuring legal compliance.
Addressing the topic of unequal inheritances can be challenging for families. NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies is a neutral mediator facilitating open discussions among family members. By providing an unbiased perspective and guiding the conversation, we can help family members understand your reasoning behind the distribution of assets and work towards a mutual consensus.
Unequal inheritances may have tax implications that need to be carefully considered. NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies can analyze your estate plan to optimize tax efficiency, potentially minimizing the tax burden on beneficiaries while maximizing the estate's overall value. We can also help you explore strategies such as trusts, charitable giving, and lifetime gifting to achieve your goals while reducing tax liabilities.
From inflation to relocating, life is dynamic, and circumstances change over time.
Significant personal life events include births, deaths, divorces, or financial cases. NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies can assist in regularly reviewing and updating your estate plan to ensure it remains aligned with your wishes. By keeping your estate plan current, you can adapt to evolving family dynamics and maintain fairness among beneficiaries.
Estate planning is a critical process that requires thoughtful consideration when unequal inheritances are involved. With our help, you can achieve peace of mind knowing that your wealth will be distributed according to your wishes, fostering family harmony for generations.
Nicolas J. McLeod and NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies offer various services, including estate planning and unequal inheritances. With Nicolas being a second-generation Wealth Preservation professional with nearly 20 years of experience, clients can trust the experience & knowledge provided.
At NJM Wealth Preservation Strategies, our commitment to core values has resulted in a track record free of any consumer complaints. We take pride in maintaining high professionalism and integrity in all our interactions.