Estate planning isn’t just about creating a will or naming beneficiaries. It’s about making thoughtful decisions to protect your assets, provide for your loved ones, and reduce unnecessary stress down the road. To do this right, it often takes more than one professional. While we handle the legal side of your estate plan, a financial advisor can provide support in managing your money and long-term financial goals. When both sides work together, your plan becomes stronger, more complete, and better suited to reflect your wishes—now and in the future.
How Financial Advisors Support Your Estate Planning Goals
A financial advisor can play an important role in helping you build and maintain a solid foundation for your estate plan. They’re there to guide you through the financial side of things—helping you understand what you have, where it’s going, and how to protect it over time.
Financial advisors can help you:
- Track and manage investment accounts
- Review and adjust retirement plans
- Create tax-smart strategies for growing your assets
- Plan for long-term care and insurance needs
They look at the big picture of your financial life and help you make decisions that align with your estate planning goals. When you know where your money stands, it’s easier for us to design a legal structure—such as a trust or will—that works alongside it. Together, we help you move from planning to peace of mind.
What We Handle vs. What a Financial Advisor Handles
There’s often some confusion about the difference between what we do as estate planning attorneys and what financial advisors take care of. In simple terms, we handle the legal documents and make sure your wishes are carried out according to California law. A financial advisor manages the value of what you own.
Here’s how that division usually works:
- We handle: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, probate avoidance strategies, and beneficiary designations.
- They handle: investment strategies, retirement income planning, insurance, and overall wealth management.
Both roles are important, but they’re not the same. When we work together, we can help ensure your estate plan is both legally sound and financially smart. That means fewer surprises, fewer gaps, and a smoother process for you and your loved ones.
Why Communication Between Your Legal and Financial Teams Matters
Even the best estate plan can fall short if your legal and financial teams aren’t on the same page. Miscommunication—or no communication at all—can lead to missed opportunities, tax problems, or even unintended consequences when assets are transferred.
For example, if an investment account isn’t properly titled or a trust isn’t fully funded, it can throw your whole plan off course. That’s why we encourage our clients to allow us to coordinate with their financial advisors. Open communication helps us:
- Ensure assets are titled properly
- Keep beneficiary designations consistent
- Adjust plans when your finances or family situations change
- This teamwork ensures your goals stay clear and consistent throughout.
This teamwork ensures your goals stay clear and consistent throughout. We don’t just prepare documents—we want your plan to work the way you intend.
How We Work With Financial Advisors to Support You
You don’t need to choose between legal advice and financial guidance—we’re here to work with your financial advisor, not compete with them. We’ve collaborated with many financial professionals over the years and know how valuable their insight can be to your overall plan.
If you already have someone managing your finances, we’ll be happy to communicate directly with them to make sure everything lines up. If you don’t, we can point you toward professionals we trust. Either way, our job is to make the process smooth, personal, and centered on your goals.
Build a Stronger Plan With the Right Support
An effective estate plan often involves more than one voice. When legal and financial guidance work hand in hand, your plan has a stronger foundation. If you already have a financial advisor—or need help finding one—OC Wills & Trust Attorneys is here to help. Contact us today to get started.
