Safeguarding your legacy. Simplifying tomorrow.
Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t just about legal documents — it’s about peace of mind and continuity. At Somerset, we strive to help families navigate complexity, aiming to align your wealth with your values and support your legacy.
Why Estate Planning Matters
When estate planning is left to chance, even the best intentions can get lost in complexity — from unnecessary taxes to family disagreements or assets tied up in confusion. We believe that careful planning can reduce uncertainty and aim to help your wealth reflect your values for the next generation.
Our Approach to Estate Planning
Our CLARITIES process helps bring precision and structure to estate planning.
Conversation & Clarity
We begin by listening deeply. We ask questions like:
- What values guide your family?
- Who are the current and future stakeholders?
- What are your hopes, and what concerns keep you awake?
Mapping the Landscape
We examine your estate documents, asset mix, business interests, real estate holdings, beneficiary designations, tax posture, and liquidity needs. Together, we identify blind spots, friction points, and opportunities.
Strategy & Structure
Then, we design a blueprint that includes wills, trusts, gifting strategies, business-succession plans, philanthropic vehicles, and tax-efficient wealth-transfer frameworks. Our goal is a structure that serves life, not paperwork that obscures it.
Execution & Collaboration
We work with your attorney, CPA, and other advisors to implement the plan. From trust funding to entity formation or asset re-titling to legacy conversations, we help to make sure that practical steps match intent.
Stewardship & Review
Life evolves — and so should your estate plan. We provide ongoing review, adjustments for changed laws, family dynamics, or wealth events, and aim to ensure the plan remains aligned with your purpose and position.
What’s Included in our Estate Planning Services
- Estate-and-gift-tax strategy and wealth-transfer planning
- Wills, trusts, and beneficiary structure review
- Business succession and exit planning coordination
- Philanthropy and values-based giving strategy
- Special-needs planning, generational governance, and legacy frameworks
- Asset protection, liquidity planning, and legacy documentation organization
- Regular reviews and proactive updates rather than static “set-and-forget” documents
Are you looking for a succession planning financial advisor in South Carolina? We have a female-led team of financial advisors ready to help. Our offices in South Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama serve clients nationwide.
Why Clients Choose Somerset for Estate Planning
We work with a wide variety of communities, including special needs families, entrepreneurs, retirees, divorcees, and widows. We are proud to offer customized estate planning services tailored to the unique needs of each community we serve.
- Relational first. You’re more than assets — our work starts with your life, story, and intentions, not forms and checklists.
- Holistic integration. Estate planning lives inside your full financial world—investments, business, taxes, and family. We link the pieces.
- Clarity over complexity. We translate legal-ese into straightforward language and clearly defined steps.
- Steadiness through change. Whether tax laws shift, the business evolves, or the family grows, your plan adapts with you.
Typical Client Scenarios We Support
- A business owner preparing for succession or sale and wanting a seamless transfer of wealth and control.
- A couple with significant assets, philanthropy goals, and multi-generational intentions who seek clarity and alignment for their family’s future.
- An individual anticipating major liquidity events (inheritance, real estate sale, investment windfall) and needing to structure for the long term.
- A family with special-needs dependents, blended families, or complicated estate dynamics seeking thoughtful governance and protection.
Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions
How much does estate planning cost?
Costs vary depending on complexity — but the cost of not planning can be much greater (tax leakage, legal delays, familial uncertainty). Our aim is to align structure with value, not to create unnecessary overhead.
How often should I update my estate plan?
At minimum, plan to review every 3-5 years — or sooner if there’s a major life change (marriage, divorce, birth, business sale, relocation, tax law changes).
What if I don’t have a “traditional estate”?
Estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy. It’s about ensuring your assets, whatever size, pass in line with your intentions and values, not default rules or confusion.
Do you work with my attorney and CPA?
Yes. We don’t replace your professionals — we coordinate with them. Our role is to ensure your estate plan is integrated with your tax strategy, investment portfolio, business structure, and life goals.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in this study, please email
hello@somersetadvisory.com. We will publish our findings in mid-2024!
