Most people have something in place.
But very few have something that actually reflects their wishes, accounts for taxes, and coordinates with the rest of their financial life. That’s the gap we help close.
Estate Planning Services
from our South Carolina and Tennessee offices, serving clients nationwide.
Estate Plan Review & Coordination
Ensure your estate plan reflects your current goals, family circumstances, and financial situation, and coordinate with your attorney and tax professionals.
Services Include
- Estate plan reviews
- Coordination with estate planning attorneys
- Coordination with CPAs
- Recommendations after major life events
- Document organization and implementation guidance
Wealth Transfer & Legacy Planning
Create a strategy for transferring wealth to the people and causes you care about while reducing unnecessary complications
Services Include
- Legacy planning
- Multigenerational wealth planning
- Family wealth transfer strategies
- Charitable giving strategies
- Philanthropic planning
Trust & Beneficiary Planning
Review how your assets are titled and who receives them to help ensure your estate plan works as intended.
Services Include
- Trust planning coordination
- Beneficiary designation reviews
- Asset ownership and titling reviews
- Trust funding guidance
- Distribution planning
Estate Tax Planning
Identify strategies that may help preserve more of your estate for your beneficiaries.
Services Include
- Estate tax planning
- Lifetime gifting strategies
- Gift tax planning
- Generation-skipping planning
- Tax-efficient wealth transfer
Family & Special Circumstance Planning
Address planning needs that arise from changing family dynamics or unique personal situations.
Services Include
- Planning for minor children
- Blended family planning
- Special needs planning
- Healthcare directive coordination
- Powers of attorney coordination
Business Succession Planning
Develop a plan for your business's future that aligns with your personal estate and financial goals.
Services Include
- Business succession planning
- Ownership transition strategies
- Buy-sell agreement coordination
- Business valuation coordination
- Family business transition planning
Centaurus Financial, Inc. and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your own legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation.
Who Needs Estate Planning?
Business Owners
Protect your business and create a plan for ownership, succession, and the transfer of business assets.
Retirees
Review how your assets, healthcare decisions, and legacy plans will be managed as you move through retirement.
Inheritors
An inheritance can change your financial picture. Estate planning helps you integrate those assets into your long-term plans.
High-net-worth individuals
Larger estates often require more advanced planning to address taxes, trusts, charitable giving, and wealth transfer.
Families with children
Name guardians for minor children and establish how assets will be managed on their behalf if the unexpected happens.
Blended families
Balance the needs of a current spouse, children from previous relationships, and other beneficiaries with a clear estate plan.
Estate planning isn’t limited to these situations. If you’re unsure whether you need an estate plan or whether it’s time to update an existing one, we’re here to help you evaluate your options.
Estate Planning FAQs
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What is an estate plan?
An estate plan is the set of legal documents and decisions that determine how your assets are handled, who makes decisions on your behalf, and who is cared for if you become incapacitated or pass away. This typically includes a will, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and often a trust.
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Do I need an estate plan if I already have a will?
A will is an important piece, but it's usually not the whole picture. Most complete estate plans also include powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations that work together with your will. We can review what you have and identify any gaps.
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How does estate planning connect to my overall tax plan?
Estate planning and tax planning overlap more than most people realize. How you title assets, who you name as beneficiaries, and whether you use trusts can all affect the taxes your heirs eventually pay. We look at these together so one doesn't undermine the other.
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When should I update my estate plan?
As a general rule, revisit your estate plan every few years or after any major life change, including marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, a move to a new state, or a significant change in assets. An outdated plan can cause real problems if it no longer reflects your wishes.
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What happens to my assets if I don’t have a plan in place?
Without a plan, state law decides how your assets are distributed, which may not match what you would have chosen. This process, called intestate succession, can also take longer and cost more for your family. Having even a basic plan in place avoids leaving those decisions to the state.
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How does Cola Wealth work alongside my estate attorney?
We coordinate directly with your estate attorney to make sure your financial plan and legal documents are aligned. That includes reviewing beneficiary designations, account titling, and how your assets fit into the structure your attorney has built.
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What if I don't have an Estate Planning Attorney?
That's common, and we're happy to help. We work with a network of estate planning attorneys and can make an introduction based on your needs and location, then stay involved to make sure your financial plan and legal documents work together.
