Trust and Estate Planning
TRUST AND ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES THAT PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS
One of the top benefits of trust and estate planning is maintaining control over your assets. It’s much better to plan and articulate how you want your wealth to be distributed than to leave those decisions to someone else or fate.
At Mercadien, we help you create and implement a plan that reflects your personal values. Turn to us and we’ll organize your financial records, manage the tax implications, and assist you in all the necessary administration. We’re here to help you minimize any tax liabilities and maximize your wealth while figuring out the best course of action for your beneficiaries.
Trust and estate planning takes a team of professionals. Our clients tell us they feel confident knowing our same people are always there, year after year. We know how important it is for our clients to experience consistency and continuity when it comes to their family’s affairs. We’ve worked with many of our clients for decades and that gives us unparalleled knowledge and insight into their needs.
Your plan is comprised of living, breathing documents that need regular upkeep – we encourage our clients to review their plan at least once every five years. We’ll work with your other advisors collaboratively to develop an integrated plan and help you communicate that plan to your family members. We do this through a series of conversations, while providing helpful visual reports, charts and graphs that you can disseminate and use as a reference.
PEACE OF MIND
Estate laws are constantly changing – in particular, New Jersey’s recent changes to the estate tax – and it’s our job to help you navigate similar regulatory nuances as they emerge. While we don’t bog you down with details, we do strike a balance of sharing important information so you can make the most informed decisions possible. Of course, we’ll be with you through every change – big or small.
We recognize that thinking about what happens after your death can be scary and uncomfortable. We also know that making sure your quality of life remains comfortable and secure while you age and setting aside resources for your family is paramount to feeling confident in your estate planning affairs. That’s why we always tailor our course of action to your unique needs and situation. Rest assured, privacy and sensitivity in handling your matters are always at the forefront of any discussion or interaction.
No family or individual is alike; we listen to your goals, ask you questions, and will engage you in ongoing discussions to make sure you feel comfortable in how we move forward. Whether that’s advising on setting up and structuring trusts or helping you with the significant task of choosing a trustee or executor, you can depend on us.
OUR TRUST AND ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES INCLUDE
- Reviewing wills and other planning documents from a tax and administrative perspective
- Providing an estate plan checkup and estate plan reviews
- Advising on trust structure and practical mechanics
- Planning for education and retirement needs
- Developing insurance and gifting strategies
- Preparation of estate and gift tax returns
- Preparation of fiduciary income tax returns
- Distribution planning and management
- Formal and informal estate and trust accountings
- Trustee and executor support services
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Mercer County Estate Planning Council
- Bucks County Estate Planning Council
- Philadelphia Estate Planning Council
- Greater New Jersey Estate Planning Council