Estate Planning Coordination

We’re Not Your Attorney. We’re Your Coordinator.

An estate plan is only as effective as the financial details behind it. Many families sign wills and trusts with an attorney, then never update the beneficiary designations, account titles, and asset decisions that determine how those documents actually work. JTL Wealth Partners helps close that gap.

We do not draft legal documents or give legal advice. Instead, we work alongside your estate planning attorney and CPA to make sure your financial accounts, investments, and insurance support your wishes. For families across Texas and in the other states we serve, that coordination brings clarity and peace of mind.

JTL Wealth Partners and LPL Financial do not provide legal or tax advice.

Why Coordination Matters

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance generally override what your will says. An outdated designation, such as an ex-spouse or a beneficiary who has since passed away, can send assets somewhere you never intended. Similarly, a revocable living trust only controls the assets that are titled to it. We review these details regularly and flag anything that does not match your plan.

State Rules We Keep in Mind

Estate planning rules vary by state. For Texas families, we coordinate these considerations with your Texas-licensed attorney:

• Community property: Texas is a community property state, which can affect how assets are owned and how they receive a step-up in cost basis at death.
• Independent administration: Texas allows a relatively streamlined probate process in many cases, which your attorney can help you plan for.
• Transfer on death deeds: Texas permits transfer on death deeds for real estate, which may help some families avoid probate on their home.
• Incapacity documents: Statutory durable powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, and directives to physicians are critical pieces of a complete plan.

Texas currently has no state estate or inheritance tax, but federal estate and gift tax rules may still apply to larger estates.

If you live in another state we serve, your state’s rules on property ownership, probate, and state estate or inheritance taxes may differ. We coordinate with an attorney licensed in your state so your accounts and documents work together.

Our Estate Coordination Process

• Inventory: We build a complete list of your accounts, insurance, real estate, and business interests, including how each is titled and who the beneficiaries are.
• Review: We compare that inventory with your estate documents and highlight gaps or conflicts.
• Coordinate: With your permission, we work with your attorney to recommend updates and help implement them, such as retitling accounts to a trust.
• Maintain: We revisit your plan after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, a business sale, or a move to another state.

Wealth Transfer and Charitable Legacy

Many of our clients want to help children and grandchildren or support causes they care about. We help you evaluate options to discuss with your attorney, such as annual exclusion gifts, education funding through 529 plans, trusts for heirs, and charitable vehicles like donor-advised funds. We also consider the tax treatment of inherited accounts: under current rules, most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty an inherited IRA within 10 years, which can create tax surprises without planning.

Business Owners: Succession Meets Estate Planning

For business owners, estate planning and succession planning are closely linked. Buy-sell agreements, life insurance funding, and plans for transferring ownership need to align with your personal estate documents. We help coordinate these pieces with your attorney and CPA.

Planning for Incapacity, Not Just Inheritance

Estate planning is often thought of as what happens after death, but planning for incapacity is just as important. If you became unable to manage your finances, who would pay the bills, handle your investments, or make healthcare decisions? We help make sure trusted people have access to the information they would need, that your powers of attorney are current and on file where they will be needed, and that your financial accounts are organized so a transition would be orderly. For families caring for aging parents, we can also help think through the financial side of those responsibilities.

Preparing the Next Generation

A plan works best when your family understands it. When appropriate, we can facilitate family meetings, in person or by video, to explain your plan, introduce heirs to your advisory team, and make the transition easier when the time comes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you write wills or trusts?

No. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. We coordinate with your estate planning attorney to make sure your financial accounts support your documents.

How often should I review my beneficiaries?

At least every few years and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a death in the family. We review them as part of our ongoing service.

Does Texas have an estate tax?

Texas does not currently have a state estate or inheritance tax. Federal estate and gift taxes may still apply to larger estates, and other states have their own rules; consult your attorney or CPA.

What is a transfer on death deed?

A transfer on death deed lets Texas homeowners name a beneficiary to receive real estate at death, which may avoid probate for that property. Your attorney can advise whether it fits your plan.

Can you work with my existing attorney?

Yes. We regularly coordinate with clients’ attorneys and CPAs, in Texas and in the other states we serve. If you need an attorney, we can provide introductions.

Make sure your accounts match your wishes. Book a complimentary discovery meeting or call 855-949-4400.