The Great Wealth Transfer Part 2: Strategies for Your Family's Next Chapter
In this episode:
00:00 – 07:22: Intro and Bridging the “Why” to “How”
07:23 – 13:10: Busting Estate Planning Myths
13:11 – 21:59: Estate Tax Exemptions, Attorneys and Probate
22:00 – 31:18: Types of Trust Structures
31:19 – 36:42: Navigating Gifting and Gifting Limits
36:43 – 40:01: Preparing Children for Wealth
40:02 – 45:04: The Great Wealth Transfer’s Impact on Women
45:05 – 50:24: Building Your Advisory Team
In Part 1, host and SVP Wealth Fiduciary Advisor, Kelly Mould alongside SVP Director of Wealth Strategy, Joe Maier and SVP Private Client Banking Leader, Jackie Ruppel explored the why behind the Great Wealth Transfer — family values, emotional dynamics and the conversations families need to have before any legal document is ever drafted. Part 2 goes further, tackling the how: The specific tools, structures and team dynamics that ensure your wealth reaches the ones that matter to you most.
5 Key Takeaways
1. The “how” is the execution of the “why”
Every trust structure, gifting strategy and legal document should flow directly from a family's defined values and intended impact. Joe says when the "why" is clear, the technical tools almost select themselves. Families that skip the values conversation and jump straight to documents end up with paperwork that doesn't reflect what they actually want.
2. Your estate plan is never done
One of the biggest myths Joe and Jackie address is the "set it and forget it" approach to estate planning. Life changes — children grow, relationships evolve, tax laws shift — and your documents need to keep pace. A plan drafted when your kids were minors may be dangerously outdated when they're adults with their own assets and families.
3. The estate tax window may be closing
The current estate tax exemption — approximately $15 million per person, $30 million per couple — is the highest it has been since 2000. It is widely expected to sunset or be reduced. Families who assume they don't need to act now may face a dramatically different tax landscape in the near future, with millions less to transfer.
4. Trusts aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy
Jackie notes that the word "trust" alone scares many clients away, who assume it's reserved for the ultra-high-net-worth. Joe demystifies the core distinction: Revocable trusts give flexibility and avoid probate whereas irrevocable trusts provide asset protection, estate tax savings and governance. The right structure depends entirely on a family's values and goals.
5. Your advisory team should be advocates
Jackie reframes the advisory team as "a team of advocates" — professionals who champion a family's "why," not just manage their assets. Joe adds a clear red flag: If an advisor leads with jargon and acronyms before explaining the human impact behind them, they're probably the wrong fit. The right team listens first, then plans.
A successful wealth transfer strategy is built on preparation, communication and advisors who advocate for your “why.” If this episode series resonated with you, take the next step and connect with an advisor today.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best trust for passing on wealth depends on your family's values, goals and financial situation. A revocable trust offers flexibility: You maintain control of your assets during your lifetime, you can make changes as circumstances evolve and your family avoids probate when you pass. An irrevocable trust trades that flexibility for stronger protections including asset protection, potential estate tax savings and governance structures that guide how wealth is used across generations.
Many families assume trusts are reserved for the ultra-wealthy. They're not. Families with a home, retirement savings and life insurance often benefit from a trust structure, even if their total assets fall well below the estate tax exemption. The key question isn't "how much do I have?" It's "what do I want this wealth to accomplish for my family?" A fiduciary advisor can help you match the right trust type to that answer.
You should review your estate plan at least every three to five years and immediately after any major life event. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, business sales, moves to a new state and significant changes in asset value all warrant a fresh look at your documents.
Tax law changes matter just as much. The estate and gift tax exemption landscape has shifted significantly in recent years and a plan drafted under previous rules may no longer reflect your best strategy. A document that was right when your children were minors could be dangerously outdated now that they're adults with their own assets and families. The most common mistake families make isn't failing to create an estate plan — it's an outdated one.
In 2026, you can give up to $19,000 per person, per year, without triggering federal gift tax or needing to file a gift tax return. Married couples can combine their exclusions with gifts up to $19,000 per person, per year without triggering federal gift tax or needing to file a gift tax return. These annual gifts do not count against your lifetime estate and gift tax exemption.
Beyond the annual exclusion, you also have a lifetime gift and estate tax exemption of $15 million per individual (or $30 million per married couple as of 2026). This means you can transfer up to $15 million during your lifetime or at death. Gifts that exceed the $19,000 annual threshold reduce that lifetime exemption but don't necessarily result in tax owed today.
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