ESTATE PLANNING FOR ARIZONA FAMILIES
A couple from near Kierland Commons in Scottsdale came in last month because their attorney told them to “update beneficiaries” on their retirement accounts. They’d been married 12 years, had two kids, and had never changed the beneficiaries from their previous marriages. If either of them died, their ex-spouses would’ve inherited everythingโtheir house, retirement accounts, life insuranceโwhile their current spouse and kids got nothing.
This happens all the time. People think estate planning is just wills and trusts, but nobody tells them about the beneficiary designations that override everything. Arizona is a community property state, which adds another layer of complexity most people don’t understand.
Estate planning isn’t about being richโit’s about making sure your assets go where you want them to go without unnecessary taxes, probate delays, or family drama. From longtime homeowners in Moon Valley to families who’ve built equity near Red Mountain in Mesa and established communities like Litchfield Park near The Wigwam, we work with Arizona families to coordinate estate plans that actually protect what you’ve built. That means reviewing beneficiaries (most are outdated or wrong), working with your attorney to fund trusts properly, and making sure your wealth transfers efficiently to the next generation.
We’re not attorneys and we don’t draft documents, but we coordinate with your estate attorney to make sure the financial pieces line up correctly. Because a great estate plan on paper means nothing if your beneficiaries are wrong or your trust isn’t funded.
Beneficiary Designation Review
Most people set their beneficiaries once and never look at them again. Beneficiary designations override your will, so if they’re wrong, your money goes to the wrong people. We review all your beneficiary designations and make sure they’re correct and coordinated with your estate plan.
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Estate Planning Coordination
You paid an attorney to draft a will and trust, but is it actually coordinated with your financial accounts? We work with your Arizona estate attorney to make sure your financial accounts, insurance policies, and beneficiary designations align with your estate documents.
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Trust Funding Strategies
Having a trust is great. Having an unfunded trust is useless. We help Arizona families fund their trusts correctly by retitling assets and making sure the right accounts flow through the trust and the right accounts bypass it.
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Legacy Planning
Legacy planning is about deciding what you want your wealth to accomplish after you’re goneโsupporting your family, funding education, helping causes you care about. We help Phoenix families think through how they want to structure their legacy beyond just leaving money.
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Charitable Giving Strategies
If you want to support charities, there are smart ways to do it and expensive ways to do it. We help Phoenix families give back in a tax-efficient way through donor-advised funds, appreciated stock donations, and charitable bequests.
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