estate_planning

Estate Planning Client Care Program 

Keeping You Informed and Updated 

The law is always changing. They evolve and court decisions shift, often without your awareness. But at Gertsburg Licata, we make it our mission to stay updated on these changes. Our Estate Planning Client Care Program ensures that you remain informed about any legal modifications that could affect your revocable trust plan, retirement accounts, and more. With annual reviews and updates, we ensure that your estate plan works precisely as you intended, even in cases of disability. 

 

Adaptations to Family and Finances 

Tax and estate laws aren’t the only aspects affecting your plan. The Family Estate & Legacy Client Care Program™ also accommodates the ever-evolving dynamics of your family and financial situation. Whether you’re looking to add or remove beneficiaries, make changes to bequests or require any other adjustments to your trust, our program covers it. You won’t have to worry about unexpected legal fees for common family-related updates. 

 

Seamlessly Adding New Assets 

Transferring your assets into your trust, also known as funding, is a vital aspect of a successful estate plan. Our initial funding process sets the stage, but what about ongoing additions? When you acquire new accounts or assets, whether it’s a bank account, mutual fund or property, our program provides guidance on how to incorporate these into your trust. Your trust will remain aligned with your evolving financial portfolio, preventing probate and ensuring your trustee has access when needed. 

 

Accessible Client Portal 

Our Client Care Program offers you exclusive access to a secure Client Portal, available 24/7 through our website, gertsburglicata.com. This portal provides easy access to your essential legal documents, including your revocable living trust, retirement plan trust, durable powers of attorney, health care POAs and living wills. During challenging situations, like hospital stays, the portal allows you to download documents swiftly and effortlessly from any device with an internet connection. 

 

Empowering Communication 

The Client Portal offers more than just document access. You can record video messages to convey your thoughts, instructions and support to your loved ones. Additionally, the portal allows you to upload prepaid funeral arrangements and essential instructions, ensuring your wishes are known and followed. 

 

A Wealth of Tools & Resources 

Our commitment to your wellbeing extends beyond the documents. We offer free workshops for program members, covering trust and tax law updates and strategies for ensuring your estate plan meets your expectations. You’ll also gain access to books, podcasts and webinars by Partner and Director of Legal Operations, Connie Powall, Esq., covering a range of estate planning topics and valuable insights. 

 

Two Levels of Client Care 

We understand that not every client is the same, and because of this, we offer two levels of our Client Care Program. Choose the one that best suits your needs, whether it’s the Essential Client Care Program™ or the Elite Client Care Program™ for additional face-to-face consultations with our legal experts. The Elite level is ideal for clients with complex family or financial situations, ensuring your plan remains aligned with your changing circumstances. 

The Essential Client Care Program™ 

 Join the Essential Client Care Program™ to ensure your estate plan remains current, effective, and aligned with your family’s ever-evolving life. Your peace of mind is our top priority. 

Benefits 

The Essential Client Care Program provides a treasure trove of great benefits, such as: 

  • Exclusive workshops: review the latest estate, trust and tax law updates, ensuring that you make the most out of your estate plan.  
  • Access to valuable resources: Stay on top of legal changes and estate planning innovations to maximize your legacy with exclusive access to books, podcasts, seminars, whitepapers and other resources offering estate planning tips, insights and thoughts from Connie Powall, Esq and other leading industry experts. 
  • Annual Trust and Document Review: Each year, you’ll receive a comprehensive review of your estate planning documents. This includes your pour-over will, durable powers of attorney, health care POAs, and living will documents. You will receive a written report of what updates we recommend to ensure you , if any, should be made to stay in legal compliance and achieve your legacy goals. 
  • Up-to-Date Legal Compliance: In the event of a law change affecting your estate planning documents, we’ll promptly inform you and, where possible, create any necessary amendments to ensure your plan remains in compliance and up to date. 
  • Tailored Adjustments: We proactively inquire about any changes in your family or financial situation. This enables us to consider and implement adjustments to your plan, ensuring it aligns with your evolving circumstances. 
  • Seamless Asset Funding: If you’ve acquired new assets or accounts during the year, our expert guidance will assist you in correctly funding these assets into your trust where applicable. 
  • 24/7 Access: Your exclusive and personalized client portal is accessible to you around the clock. Conveniently retrieve your documents whenever you need them. 

Cost 

New clients receive their first 12 months of this program for free, billed annually each January 1st, with any remaining free months credited to your January 1st billing. 

  • Affordable pricing options are available: 
    • Single Client: $395/annually 
    • Married Client: $495/annually 

The Elite Client Care Program 

The Elite Client Care Program™ is geared towards those clients who desire and require an annual face-to-face consultation with the attorney and your Asset Alignment Coordinator. While the Essential Client Care Program™ works to keep your plan up to date, it does not include in-person conferences with your attorney and Funding Coordinator. 

Qualifications 

Is the Elite Program right for you? If you have one of these estate plans or family situations, then you should have annual face-to-face meetings with your attorney regarding your estate plan:  

  • A blended marriage and children not of that marriage; 
  • A beneficiary undergoing a divorce or financial difficulties or is experiencing significant health problems; 
  • Your named successor trustee/personal representative/agent under durable power of attorney or health care POA documents has a health situation or other extenuating circumstance;  
  • Your financial situation or types of assets that you own materially changes; 
  • Your health has changed; 
  • You changed financial advisors and/or professionals; 
  • You are considering making substantial gifts to your loved ones or to charities; 
  • Your plan contains a Retirement Plan Trust where, upon your death or the death of the survivor of you and your spouse, your IRA/401(k) names a continuing trust share for your loved ones; 
  • You are considering selling a closely-held business or have sold your business recently; 
  • You are considering purchasing a long-term care contract with a long-term care facility; 
  • You recently filed a Federal Gift Tax Return Form 709; 
  • You inherited amounts from a loved one either outright or in trust; 
  • You are financially supporting a loved one, including making gifts for medical and/or educational expenses; 
  • You are considering retirement; 
  • You are considering purchasing an annuity or life insurance product; 
  • You may receive deferred compensation; 
  • You are considering marriage or divorce; 
  • You have new children/grandchildren; or 
  • Any other significant development in your family, professional or financial development that affects your estate plan. 

If any one of these situations apply to you, then protect your legacy with the Elite Client Care Package that includes all of the Essential Program’s benefits plus the added bonus of an annual face-to-face meeting with your estate-planning attorney to advise you on your changing circumstances.  

Cost 

The annual fee for the Elite level is:   

  • Single Client: $595/annually 
  • Married Client: 695/annually 

You are not locked into one Program or another. You can always return to The Essential Client Care Program™ if you so desire, for future years.  

 

Next Steps: Choose Your Path 

Choose the Essential Client Care Program™ or the Elite Client Care Program™ to maintain a well-protected future for yourself and your loved ones. Complete The Family Estate & Legacy Program® registration form to ensure that the investment in your estate plan achieves its greatest value. We value our continuing relationship with you! If you are unsure which Client Care Program is right for you, consult with our Client Care Ambassador. 

 

At Gertsburg Licata, we are committed to providing a personalized and dedicated approach to your estate planning needs. Our programs are designed to ensure your estate plan remains current and aligned with your ever-evolving life. Contact our Client Care Ambassador for assistance in selecting the right program for you. Your peace of mind is our top priority.