Insights

Wealth Transfer & Estate Planning

Long-form writing from the Echelon Journal on this topic — planning, tax, estate, and the decisions that compound over a lifetime.

A couple sits on a couch reviewing beneficiary designation documents, with papers in hand and a coffee cup on the table.
When was the last time you looked at the beneficiary listed on your IRA or 401(k)? Most people can’t remember….

November 13, 2025

A silhouette of a family holding hands against a sunset backdrop symbolizes the concept of great wealth transfer across generations.
By 2048, an estimated $124 trillion will change hands in what economists call the Great Wealth Transfer . This unprecedented…

October 30, 2025

A miniature house and keys are in the foreground, with a financial graph and the phrase "Step-Up in Basis" overlaying an image of a person using a calculator.
Introduction If you’ve inherited real estate, a business, or a stock portfolio, you might have heard the term step-up in…

September 25, 2025

A high net worth financial advisor engages with a family, including a woman holding a mug and a young girl, while discussing information on a laptop.
Are you managing millions in assets but still using the same financial playbook from your wealth-building years? Today I’m sharing…

June 12, 2025

Two people shaking hands over a table with documents and a laptop, symbolizing a family limited partnership agreement.
If you own and operate a family business, a family limited partnership (FLP) or family limited liability company (FLLC) has…

February 17, 2025

A family sits at a table under an umbrella, with the child in the center holding papers, reflecting a sense of protection and focus on education as a form of enlightenment.
The primary reason for purchasing life insurance is to ensure that upon passing, our loved ones will have enough money…

February 17, 2025

A piece of paper with the words "Probate Law" highlights the legal process of probate.
When you die, all of the assets you leave behind are part of your estate. Your estate consists of your…

February 7, 2025

Three people sit at a table, engaged and smiling as they review documents related to an irrevocable life insurance trust.
One of the main reasons we buy life insurance is so our loved ones will have enough money to pay…

February 7, 2025

A person in a suit is signing legal documents related to a durable power of attorney at a desk.
A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a vital legal document that empowers someone you trust-referred to as your attorney-in-fact…

February 7, 2025

A person holding a pen closely examines a set of legal documents on a clipboard, relevant to college students.
Whether your child is going off to college, out into the work force, or splitting time between work and school,…

November 5, 2024

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