Step 01
Pressure-Test
Walk the existing plan against three exit valuations. Find where it bends and where it breaks.
Estate & Legacy
Plans that survive the business u2014 and the valuation pressure that follows.
Most estate plans were drafted before the liquidity event made every assumption wrong. We pressure-test yours against three exit valuations u2014 and rebuild what needs rebuilding.
Why Most Estate Plans Break
The plan was right for the balance sheet it was drafted on.
When a closely-held business sells, every assumption underlying the original estate plan changes. Liquidity replaces illiquidity. Future appreciation moves from the business to the portfolio. Tax brackets shift. The plan that worked at $5M illiquid doesn't work at $15M liquid.
The Estate Review
Six points where most plans need rebuilding.
Drawn from real engagement patterns u2014 these are the structural revisions Cooper Norman Wealth most often recommends in the first ninety days.
Step 02
Trust Structure
Are existing trusts the right vehicles for a post-sale balance sheet? Often: no. Often: needs rebuilding.
Step 03
Gifting Windows
Annual exclusion + lifetime exemption strategy across multi-year horizon, coordinated with sale timing.
Step 04
Generation-Skipping
GST exemption strategy for owners with adult children and grandchildren.
Step 05
Charitable Integration
CRTs, CLATs, DAFs u2014 when each makes sense and when each is overkill.
Step 06
Document Refresh
Power of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary designations. The plumbing that keeps the plan executable.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about estate planning.
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Do you draft estate documents?
No. Legal documents u2014 wills, trusts, powers of attorney u2014 are drafted by qualified attorneys. We coordinate the strategy and pressure-test the structure; we partner with your estate attorney (or recommend one) for the actual drafting.
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When should I update my estate plan?
At minimum: every five years, after any major liquidity event, after marriage / divorce / death in the family, and after major changes in tax law. We flag the trigger points and coordinate the rebuild.
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What if my estate is under the federal exemption?
Estate planning isn't only about federal estate tax. State estate taxes, asset-protection structures, business succession, and family governance still need attention. The exemption is one variable among many.