Estate Planning Advisors

ARE YOUR WILLS, TRUST, AND ESTATE PLANNING HELPING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL LEGACY?

EP Wealth Advisors Helps Build Your Estate Plan by Focusing on the Wishes You Want Fulfilled

Your EP Wealth Advisor is with you every step of the way to develop an estate plan that is integrated with your wealth management goals. As your financial quarterback, we coordinate and plan for all your estate plan needs, from trust considerations and legal documents such as wills and powers of attorney, to planning for specific goals like charitable giving, caring for special needs family members and coordinating our insights and advice with your outside estate attorney, or professionally managing the distribution of your estate with EP Wealth Private Trust.

WHAT IS ESTATE PLANNING?

How a Financial Advisor Can Help Plan Your Estate

Estate planning is all about leaving the financial legacy you want to those that are most important to you. Regardless of how much money you have, a solid estate plan helps you define your legacy goals, whether it’s providing for your family’s future, supporting a cause you’re passionate about, or another personal dream. We work with you to determine the best way to preserve, manage, and distribute your assets during your life and after death, including providing gifts and bequests to your heirs, while minimizing your estate taxes.

We can also help you plan financially for the unexpected should you be unable to make financial and medical decisions for yourself. For example, your estate plan should include advanced healthcare directives and a healthcare proxy so that, if you become incapacitated, someone you trust can make medical decisions as per your wishes. Should you die before your children reach age 18, you can name a guardian in your estate plan if their other parent cannot care for them.

FULFILL YOUR LEGACY WITH AN ESTATE PLAN

An Estate Planning Process That Captures Your Unique Legacy Needs

A well-designed estate plan gives you peace of mind by addressing your concerns and providing important benefits:

Ensure accurate and timely distribution of assets: Without a will and an estate plan, your assets may be subject to the court's decisions and may involve a potentially lengthy process known as probate.
Maintain privacy: Avoiding probate means that your assets and distribution do not become public record.
Protect your assets: If you are no longer there or unable to speak for yourself, your wishes will have been legally recorded.
Reduce potential taxes: Utilizing appropriate insurance, gifting, and asset transfer strategies can help reduce the impact of taxes on your estate.

DISCOVER

CREATE

IMPLEMENT

MONITOR

Your estate attorney will prepare your estate plan documents (should you need one, referrals are available upon request)^*
We follow up with you and your attorney to check on the progress of your plan and assist as needed.
Once your plan has been executed, digital copies of your estate planning documents can be stored in your EP Wealth Personal Financial website vault for ease of future access.

We follow up with you and your attorney to check on the progress of your plan and assist as needed.
Your estate attorney will prepare your estate plan documents (should you need one, referrals are available upon request)^*
Once your plan has been executed, digital copies of your estate planning documents can be stored in your EP Wealth Personal Financial website vault for ease of future access.

Once your plan has been executed, digital copies of your estate planning documents can be stored in your EP Wealth Personal Financial website vault for ease of future access.
Your estate attorney will prepare your estate plan documents (should you need one, referrals are available upon request)^*
We follow up with you and your attorney to check on the progress of your plan and assist as needed.

Your estate attorney will prepare your estate plan documents (should you need one, referrals are available upon request)^*
We follow up with you and your attorney to check on the progress of your plan and assist as needed.
Once your plan has been executed, digital copies of your estate planning documents can be stored in your EP Wealth Personal Financial website vault for ease of future access.

*EP Wealth Advisors is not in the business of providing legal analysis or advice. Please consult an attorney regarding all legal matters. Referred attorneys do not engage in estate-related litigation and are not employees, partners, or agents of EP Wealth Advisors.

CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE ESTATE PLAN

Why a Financial Planner is a Key Player in the Estate Planning Process

Along with your attorney, accountant, and other professionals such as a life insurance specialist, a financial advisor can prove to be a key team member when it comes to creating your estate plan.

As a first step, EP Wealth advisors will provide a one-on-one financial health assessment to determine the overall state of your finances. Our comprehensive estate planning services include a review of a wide range of topics, including:

Revocable Living Trusts (including trust restatements and amendments)
Pour Over Wills
Durable Powers of Attorney

Advanced Health Care Directive or Living Will (depending on the state)
Certificates of Trust
Real Estate Transfers

Life Insurance Trusts
Minor's Trusts
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
EP Wealth Private Trust

ESTATE PLANNING IS PART
OF FINANCIAL PLANNING

EP Wealth Can Help You Integrate Your Estate Plan into Your Long-Term Financial Strategy

Estate planning should protect your assets. It can reduce the tax impact on your assets once you have departed. By creating a living trust as part of your estate plan, you can keep your estate from going through the probate process. This maintains your privacy and that of your heirs. Asset protection planning can help keep your property out of the hands of creditors.

At EP Wealth Advisors, we offer tax planning services that are key to estate planning, including potentially minimizing any tax burden for your heirs. Click here for more financial education resources and to learn about other life transition planning services.

WHO WILL CARRY OUT YOUR WISHES

EP Wealth Private Trust Is a Fiduciary Who Will Manage The Distribution of Assets in Your Trust

Many people choose a trusted friend, family member, or associate to act as the trustee of their estate – this is known as being an individual trustee. While this arrangement may work for some, there are times to consider choosing a corporate trustee to manage the distribution of assets. During this potentially stressful time, a corporate trustee, like EP Wealth Private Trust, can relieve a family’s burden, help maintain family unity, or steward the assets over a long period of time as stipulated in the trust. A corporate trustee is a fiduciary whose only obligation is to execute the trust as it is designed.

IS YOUR ESTATE PLAN IN ORDER?

Learn What Boxes to Tick to Get Your Legacy Affairs Taken Care of

Many people have a will, which is vitally important, but they may not have made decisions about how their wealth will be managed after they're gone. Your estate plan is in order if you have made a last will and testament and named a trusted executor, as well as:

Made an inventory of all assets held solely in your name.
Collected documents showing asset ownership.
Considered whether a living trust suits your needs.
Made arrangements for your digital assets.
Prepared for any estate tax obligations.

EP Wealth Advisors can answer general estate inquiries, and conduct estate plan reviews. EP Wealth Advisors does not provide legal advice or analysis. We coordinate our insights and advice with your outside estate attorney. For any legal matters, you must consult an attorney. We can refer you to estate planning attorneys upon request. Referred attorneys do not engage in estate-related litigation and are not employees, agents, or partners of EP Wealth Advisors.

HOW MUCH DOES ESTATE PLANNING COST?

Your EP Wealth Advisor Can Talk You Through the Full Range of Our Services

EP Wealth Advisors may cover some or all of the costs of preparation of foundational estate planning documents for select clients when using one of the independent attorneys we have contracted with for estate plans. Estate planning services are offered exclusively to those receiving fee-based wealth management. These estate planning services are not available to hourly-only clients. Available estate planning services are driven by the amount of assets under management, as well as the attorney hours required, which may vary with the complexity of the assets and objectives involved. Your EP Wealth Advisor can provide details.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I UPDATE MY
ESTATE PLAN?

Your Financial Advisor Is Here to Help You Adjust to Life Changes

Estate plans are not set in stone. When life changes occur, your estate plan will require updating. We recommend reviewing your estate plan at least every five years, or whenever a major life shift unfolds, such as:

Death of a spouse or beneficiary
Marriage

Divorce
A new child
Tax law changes

Significant asset changes
Relocation

Contact EP Wealth Advisors today to connect with a trust and will advisor and schedule a financial portfolio review.

Legacy Planning for Complex Family Dynamics

Estate planning can become more complex in situations that involve blended families, estranged heirs, children from prior marriages, or unmarried partners. At EP Wealth, we work with clients to address these nuances early and integrate them into their broader estate and wealth management strategies.

Our team helps you assess beneficiary designations, structure trusts to support long-term stewardship, and coordinate your documents with your goals. Whether you’re working with an estate attorney or need a referral, our role is to provide clarity and help guide decisions with the full picture in mind.

Some of the ways we support clients with complex family dynamics include:

Helping clients explore trust structures with conditional or phased distributions to support financial maturity
Designing estate plans that consider the needs of children from multiple marriages
Discussing the use of discretionary trusts or third-party trustees to help minimize family conflict
Considering planning options for unmarried partners or nontraditional beneficiaries who may not be protected under default inheritance laws
Addressing long-term care or financial support needs for aging parents or dependent adult children
Collaborating with attorneys to help clients avoid unintended disinheritance due to default state rules

Every estate plan reflects a unique combination of goals, assets, and family relationships. If you're ready to take the next step, you can find an advisor in your area to start the conversation.

Incorporating Charitable Giving into Your Estate Plan

Philanthropy can be a meaningful part of the legacy you leave behind. Whether you give regularly during your lifetime or are considering a significant future gift, EP Wealth helps you explore charitable strategies that align with your values and financial priorities.

Our charitable giving services are designed to integrate seamlessly with your broader planning strategy, in collaboration with attorneys, CPAs, and other members of your advisory team.

Some common charitable planning vehicles and strategies include:

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Allow you to make a charitable contribution now and recommend grants over time
Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs): Provide income during your lifetime or a set term, with the remainder going to a charitable organization
Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs): Provide income to charity for a specified period, with remaining assets passing to heirs
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): Let individuals age 70½ or older donate directly from IRAs to charity, potentially reducing taxable income
Gifting appreciated assets: Such as stocks or real estate, to avoid capital gains and support charitable goals
Bequests through wills or trusts: Direct future gifts to organizations as part of your estate plan

If giving is part of the legacy you hope to leave, our estate and wealth planning teams can help you define the most suitable approach for your family and the organizations you care about.

Business Succession and Estate Integration

For business owners, succession and estate planning are deeply connected. At EP Wealth, we help clients look beyond business operations and address how ownership, liquidity events, or leadership transitions affect their personal financial and estate goals.

Whether you’re planning a sale, transferring equity to family members, or executing a buy-sell agreement, we can help align those strategies with your broader estate framework. This includes reviewing how trusts, insurance, and liquidity planning may be used to reduce tax exposure or prepare for future ownership changes.

Working with a financial advisor for estate planning can help business owners put their wealth to work supporting what matters most, long after a succession takes place.

Estate Planning for Digital Assets

Today’s estates often include more than real estate or investment accounts. Digital assets—everything from online banking credentials and cloud storage to cryptocurrency and domain names—can be difficult to inventory and even harder to access if not addressed in advance.

EP Wealth helps clients take stock of these assets, think through access and ownership questions, and determine where they should be included in legal documents. We also work with estate attorneys to develop strategies that take into account changing laws and the specific rules that digital platforms use to manage access after a user’s death.

While digital assets may not be as visible as traditional holdings, making provisions for them can potentially help minimize complications and gaps in your estate plan. Our team brings these considerations into the planning process to help avoid potential issues down the line.

Navigating Estate Planning Conversations with Family

Many clients have clear intentions for their estate, but struggle with how to communicate those plans to their family. At EP Wealth, we help facilitate or prepare you for those conversations so your decisions are more likely to be understood and respected.

We guide clients on how to present their estate plan in a way that reduces confusion and emotional friction. This might include walking through your trust structure with future trustees, or simply sharing your rationale with adult children in advance.

A trust financial advisor at EP Wealth can offer ongoing guidance as you communicate your plans to family members, helping to navigate sensitive topics with professionalism and care.

Estate Planning Pitfalls to Avoid

Our wealth management estate planning services include a comprehensive review to help you potentially avoid common pitfalls, such as:

Naming outdated or unavailable beneficiaries
Creating a trust but not funding it with assets
Overlooking state-specific tax or probate considerations
Failing to align financial accounts with legal documents
Neglecting to plan for digital access or succession in business interests

We help clients integrate will and estate planning strategies into their broader financial plans, so everything works together with consistency. Our estate planning advisors work with you, your attorney, and other professionals to help build a plan that reflects your values and adapts to your life.

Thorough Document Review: Every engagement begins with a detailed review of estate planning documents to identify gaps, outdated provisions, or opportunities for optimization.

Attorney Collaboration: Clients are offered no-cost informational meetings with EPWA’s experienced estate planning professionals. EPWA professionals prepare an Action Plan and coordinate with outside, unbiased, confidential drafting attorneys. When using a partnering drafting attorney, EPWA covers the cost of estate planning documents for eligible Clients.

Tax Planning Integration: EPWA incorporates proactive tax planning into the estate strategy, including analysis of capital gains exposure, step-up in basis opportunities, charitable giving strategies, and income tax efficiency for beneficiaries.

Account Titling Coordination: In conjunction with the drafting attorney, EPWA facilitates proper titling of assets / accounts to ensure alignment with Trust(s).

Collaborative Experience: Estate planning is fully integrated with EPWA’s broader advisory platform. In addition to the Estate Planning and Tax Planning teams, Advisors work closely with Portfolio Strategists, Advanced Wealth Strategists, and the Financial Planning and Retirement Planning teams to support estate strategies that are aligned with investment goals, cash flow needs, and long-term legacy objectives.

Family Governance & Trustee Support: EPWA facilitates family governance meetings and provides successor trustees with clear, actionable guidance. This includes beneficiary education, tax support, and coordination of asset allocation and Federal estate tax planning in conjunction with external CPAs and accounting professionals.

Corporate Trustee Solution: For Clients seeking continuity and professionalism in trust administration, EP Wealth Private Trust offers a bifurcated trustee model. This structure allows EPWA to serve as a corporate trustee while maintaining the investment advisor relationship for the surviving spouse and beneficiaries —promoting consistency and familiarity during times of transition.

Disclosures:

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC is a Trust Representative Office of National Advisors Trust Company (NATC) and National Advisors Trust of South Dakota Inc. (NATSD) doing business as EP Wealth Private Trust.

All services described herein will be exclusively furnished by NAT doing business as EP Wealth Private Trust. Clients of EPWA who may benefit from the services described herein will be referred to NAT doing business as EP Wealth Private Trust.

EPWA is not a Trust Company and is not in the business of delivering trust services to any of its clients. Clients of EPWA that elect to hire EP Wealth Private Trust will do so using their individual discretion and assuming all risks of that decision. EPWA makes no representations or warranties as to the suitability, performance, or satisfaction of the services offered by or satisfaction of the services offered by NAT doing business as EP Wealth Private Trust.

Private Trustee services are delivered exclusively by National Trust Company doing business as EP Wealth Private Trust ("NAT"). Each EP Wealth Advisors client that elects to engage NAT for these services must enter into a separate servicing agreement with NAT that specifies services that will be delivered and the fees that will be charged by NAT. EP Wealth Advisors is not a Trust Company, is not in the business of serving as a trustee or providing trustee services.

National Advisor Trust (“NAT”), and any of its subsidiary businesses including any of its DBAs, is an independent entity and in no way under common ownership, control or otherwise affiliated with EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EPWA”). All services described herein will be exclusively furnished by NAT Doing Business As (“DBA”) EP Wealth Private Trust. Clients of EPWA will be referred to NAT DBA EP Wealth Private Trust if it is believed that the Trust Services offered by this entity can be of value to clients of EPWA. These clients will meet with NAT DBA EP Wealth Private Trust and would be presented with their service agreement. Clients of EPWA would independently review NAT’s Service Agreement and determine if they would like to engage them for their Trustee Services. EPWA is not a Trust Company and is not in the business of delivering Trustee Services to any of its clients. Clients of EPWA that elect to hire NAT will do so using their individual discretion and assuming all risks of that decision. EPWA makes no representations, guarantees or warranties to the suitability, performance, or satisfaction with the services offered by NAT.
Laws vary by state. The information presented herein is intended to be general in nature and may not apply to your state of domicile. Please consult local legal counsel to determine the best practices for your state.
Please consult with a CPA, tax professional, and/or attorney regarding your specific situation before implementing any of the strategies referenced directly or indirectly herein.
The free financial health assessment referenced here is limited to, and can only be provided to, individuals with $500,000 or more in investable assets. The health assessment is limited to an initial call or meeting with an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) of EP Wealth to discuss and assess your current financial situation and a subsequent follow-up meeting or call to share our thoughts. No additional services will be provided. EP Wealth Advisors’ obligation is limited to extending an offer to provide these services. It is the responsibility of the individual requesting the free health assessment to accept the service offered. No guarantee or warranty can be made that any of the information discussed or relayed in these meetings will be suitable or relevant. The free financial health assessment is limited in nature and is not intended to be regarded as an attempt to provide comprehensive financial advice.

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