Ascent insightsPersonal legacy planning

Ultra high net worth families have a vested interest in maintaining generational wealth. Here are six estate planning strategies to explore.

It can feel overwhelming to your teenager when they’re suddenly responsible for their finances and healthcare decisions. Learn about the actions you and they should take to set them up for success.

Inheriting real estate can be a gift to your heirs—but clear communication and forward planning is critical to avoid turning family property into a financial burden for them.

Families with significant wealth should have a comprehensive strategy for intergenerational wealth transfer. A key part of that is building family capital, which involves educating family members and ensuring they’re aligned on its wealth preservation philosophy.

Choosing your trust situs—where your irrevocable trust will be administered—is key to tax efficiency, asset protection, privacy and establishing a lasting legacy.

Wills and estate plans lay out who will benefit from your wealth after you’re gone. A financial legacy letter explains why you made these decisions. Here’s how to write one.

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act raised estate tax exemption levels significantly, but it’s due to sunset in 2025. Congress could act to maintain them, but you should plan now for any outcome.

There are key emotional and financial factors to consider before loaning or gifting money to your adult children.

Managing tax liabilities is a key element in preserving wealth. A rising rate environment can be a good time to revisit your estate planning and tax strategies.

A look at cybersecurity and online fraud protection strategies that individuals and family offices can use to protect their assets.

With Ascent’s help, a real estate developer revealed the wealth he’d built to his family and worked together to create a financial plan for the future.

Family secrets are not uncommon. These “skeletons" can launch potentially challenging but necessary conversations to redefine their family values and goals.

Establishing shared family values is essential to your family’s long-term financial wellness.

Every family tree is full of amazing female role models. Oral history can be an effective way to record their stories and raise the profile of the women in your family.

The emotional stages of inheritance often parallel the five stages of grief. Understanding how they correlate, and specifically how to move past the guilt stage, can help you find peace with your inheritance and focus on the future.

The best place to start engaging and educating family members of all ages and attitudes toward money is with what matters most: values.

Signing a prenup is one of many decisions to make when getting engaged. It may not be the most romantic part of wedding planning, but it can be a very practical decision for both parties.

A variety of factors can impact how you distribute your estate to your beneficiaries. Doing so fairly and equitably may require some creative thinking.

These steps can help you create a legacy plan that both reflects your values and incorporates tax-efficient ways to transfer your assets.