Estate Planning: Transferring Wealth

Dear Readers,

Over the years, one of the most common topics I’m asked about is estate planning. Everywhere I go, parents and grandparents want to know how best to distribute their assets in a way that not only reflects their personal preferences and values, but also addresses the needs of their heirs.

In fact, the concerns are so universal that for this column I’m departing from the usual Q&A format in favor of combining the most popular questions into one discussion.

The interesting part of passing on wealth is that there are no set answers. What is right for one family could be completely off base for another. Historically, estate taxes played a major role in determining how and when to distribute wealth. However, with the estate tax exclusion set at $11.58 million (or $23.16 million for a couple) in 2020 and $11.7 million (or $23.4 million for a couple) in 2021 and portability between spouses, few people are subject to estate tax. Now, it seems, the personal side of estate planning generally overshadows tax avoidance.

Regardless of your tax status, I believe that the key to impactful wealth transfer is to view your estate as your legacy. As you contemplate your choices, I encourage you to think of your estate plan as your opportunity to help and protect the people you care about most, at the same time that you are passing on your priorities and values. I hope that the following guidelines will help you do just that.

Carefully explore your options

Modern families generally involve complex relationships, and the more unique your family dynamic, the more thoughtful you will likely need to be. So take your time. Work with an experienced estate attorney with whom you have rapport. It’s great to solicit the advice of friends, colleagues or loved ones, but when all is said and done, you should be true to yourself.

Understand the risks of dividing your estate unequally

If you divide your estate unequally between your children or grandchildren, you run the risk of communicating that you care about one more than the other, or that you support one’s life choices over another’s.

Therefore, while it may seem logical to provide extra assistance to a child with fewer resources or special needs, you need to balance that with the emotional message you send. And circumstances change; by the time your estate is fully distributed, your heirs’ financial situations may be very different than they are today.

If, after careful thought, you decide that unequal distribution is the best path, make a special effort to explain your reasoning to your heirs now. If you are honest about your reasons, hopefully they will understand.

Examine your reasons for maintaining control

We’ve all heard the phrase “controlling from the grave.” While it’s natural to want to control your money, control generally doesn’t work so well for people. If you fear that an heir will be irresponsible with his or her inheritance, by all means explore setting up a trust. I caution you, though, not to set conditions with the intention of controlling an heir’s personal life decisions. When all is said and done, this approach could backfire.

Consider gifting a portion now and more later

No doubt about it, gifting during your lifetime can be a powerful win-win. Not only do the recipients benefit from your generosity, but studies have shown that givers benefit in terms of psychological satisfaction. Money can’t buy happiness; but as it turns out, giving can.

I would be negligent, however, if I didn’t include one caveat: Never let your generosity threaten your financial security. There will be no joy for anyone if you later have to rely on the loved ones you tried to help.

Explain your decisions

Once you’ve created your plan, talk to your family. As much as you may believe that your decisions are clear and correct, don’t risk the potential for misunderstanding. Invite their questions and respond honestly. The dialogue that ensues may be as valuable as the financial resources you pass on.

Have a personal finance question? Email us at askcarrie@schwab.com. Carrie cannot respond to questions directly, but your topic may be considered for a future article. For Schwab account questions and general inquiries, contact Schwab.