Reflecting on a Year of Client Successes
As another year comes to a close, we celebrate the meaningful ways we’ve been able to serve our clients. While we’ve continued providing highly personalized estate planning and trust administration services, we want to highlight some of our more specialized areas, which address concerns that are becoming increasingly common for our clients.
Helping Clients Transition to Professional Fiduciaries
One of the most significant trends we’ve seen this year involves helping clients transition from serving as their own trustee to appointing private professional fiduciaries. As many of our clients age or simply decide they no longer want to manage complex assets, they find peace of mind knowing a qualified professional can step in to handle those responsibilities.
We’ve been proud to introduce our clients to trusted fiduciaries whose sole occupation is managing estates, much like an accountant or attorney would in their own specialty. This change often lifts a tremendous weight off our clients’ shoulders, allowing them to focus on their health, family, and the enjoyment of life. We typically recommend a few professionals for our clients to interview, and it’s always gratifying when they find the right fit.
Eliminating Outdated Irrevocable Trusts
Another major focus this year has been helping clients eliminate or modify outdated irrevocable trusts that no longer serve their purpose. Many of these trusts, created before 2010, were designed for estate tax purposes that are no longer relevant under current laws. Unfortunately, keeping them in place can trigger unnecessary capital gains taxes, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Through both court petitions and non-court methods, we’ve helped clients dissolve or amend these trusts, saving them significant tax burdens. The cost of resolving the issue is often a fraction of the potential tax liability. If your estate plan or your parents’ trust was created before 2010, now is the DECEMBER 2025 perfect time to review it before an avoidable tax bill is due!
Property Tax Planning Under Proposition 19
We’ve also continued to assist families with property tax planning in light of Proposition 19. Our strategies have helped clients preserve low assessed values when transferring real property to the next generation. It’s an important step to keep family assets affordable and sustainable for years to come.
Personal Property Distribution With Technology
One unique project we worked on this year involved complex personal property distributions among heirs. What used to be a stressful, often months-long process is now streamlined using digital tools that help families catalog, value, and distribute personal property efficiently.
A Collaborative, Team-Based Approach
One of the developments we’re most proud of this year has been deepening our collaborations with other professionals, such as attorneys in other practice areas, CPAs, and financial advisors. Working together as a team ensures every aspect of a client’s financial and legal life is aligned. Whether that means forming LLCs for inherited real estate, addressing landlord-tenant matters, or reviewing beneficiary designations, this integrated approach saves our clients time and stress while producing the best outcomes.
As we close out the year, we’re grateful for the trust our clients place in us and excited for what’s ahead. Here’s to another year of thoughtful planning, meaningful connections, and helping families build lasting peace of mind.