Estate

Estate and
Legacy Planning

We help families with complex situations protect what they've built and pass it on with clarity, so the people and causes you care about are cared for long after you're gone.

Start The Process

Planning for the next generation starts with you

You've spent a lifetime building something: a home, a business, savings, a family. Now you want to make sure it's protected and passed on the way you intend, without leaving your children to sort out a tangle of accounts, taxes, and unanswered questions.

At Longview Insurance & Investments, we love working with thoughtful people who have complex situations. Maybe you have a blended family, a family business, property in more than one state, or charitable goals that matter deeply to you. Maybe you're caring for aging parents while also thinking about your grandchildren's future.

Whatever your situation, our job is to help you see the whole picture, coordinate the right professionals, and build a plan that reflects your values, not just your balance sheet.

Estate and legacy planning may be a fit if you:

• Want your wealth to support children, grandchildren or causes you care about

• Have a situation that doesn't fit a simple will

• Haven't reviewed your estate documents or beneficiaries in several years

• Worry about taxes, family conflict or long-term care costs shrinking what you leave behind

• Want someone to help your attorney, CPA and insurance work together

Common Situations We Help With

Complex families, complex questions

Blended families: Providing for a spouse and children from a previous marriage fairly, and in a way that keeps relationships intact.
Business owners: Planning for succession and making sure the business doesn't create tax or fairness problems for heirs.
Inherited or concentrated wealth: Managing assets you've received and deciding how to pass them on.
Charitable goals: Supporting the causes you care about during your lifetime and beyond, while considering tax-efficient ways to give.

Heirs who aren't ready: Structuring an inheritance for a young adult, a child with special needs, or a family member who may need guidance.
Aging parents and long-term care: Planning for care costs so they don't erode what you hope to pass on.
Outdated plans: Wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations written years ago that no longer match your family or the law.

Years of experience have prepared us to guide you through your life transitions.

How We Work

Your Plan, Coordinated

Estate planning involves many moving parts, and they work best when they work together. André acts as your quarterback, coordinating with a CPA and an estate attorney so your investments, insurance, taxes and legal documents all point in the same direction. If you already work with an attorney or CPA, we're glad to collaborate with them.

We also believe legacy planning is a family conversation. When it's helpful, we'll get to know your spouse and adult children, and can host a family meeting so everyone understands the plan and your wishes.

Our Process

1. Listen

We start with a conversation about your family, your goals and what you want your legacy to be.

2. Review

We look at your full picture: accounts, insurance, beneficiary designations, existing documents, and potential tax exposure.

3. Coordinate

We work with your CPA and estate attorney to explore strategies that fit your situation.

4. Implement

We help put the financial pieces in place, from account titling to insurance to investment strategy.

5. Revisit

Families change. We review your plan regularly and after major life events.

Q & A

We are here to answer your questions. Look through our frequently asked questions but remember we are available to meet with you about your particular situation.

How can I minimize taxes when transferring wealth to heirs and charities?

Taxes can significantly reduce the value of an estate, especially when it includes inherited assets, business interests or multiple beneficiaries. Strategies such as lifetime gifting, charitable remainder trusts and life insurance may help reduce the tax burden on your heirs. The right approach depends on your situation, so we coordinate with your CPA and estate attorney before any strategy is put in place.

How can a financial advisor help with legacy planning?

Estate and legacy planning isn't a solo effort. It touches nearly every part of your finances, from investments and insurance to taxes and legal documents. Longview Insurance & Investments works alongside a CPA and estate attorney to help you navigate these complexities and give you a holistic view of your finances, so every piece of your plan works together.

I have children from a previous marriage. What should I consider when planning my legacy?

Blended families often face challenges like unequal asset distribution, different financial needs among heirs, and potential conflict between a stepparent and biological children. Open communication and clear documentation can help prevent disputes. Trusts can be a useful way to manage inherited assets and make sure your spouse, children and even aging parents are provided for without creating resentment.

How can we protect our estate from long-term care costs and preserve assets for future generations?

Long-term care costs, such as nursing home expenses, can quickly deplete an estate and leave less for your heirs. Long-term care insurance, Medicaid planning and asset protection trusts are among the tools that may help protect your wealth. These strategies require careful timing and legal expertise to avoid penalties or disputes, which is why we plan them together with an estate attorney.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

It depends on your goals and your family. A will directs how assets pass through probate, while a trust can help avoid probate, keep matters private and control how and when heirs receive assets. Many families with blended households, minor or young adult heirs, or property in more than one state find a trust helpful. Your estate attorney can advise which documents fit your situation.

How often should I review my estate plan and beneficiary designations?

We recommend reviewing your plan every few years and after any major life event, such as a marriage, divorce, death, birth, move or significant change in assets. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance usually override your will, so keeping them current is one of the simplest ways to protect your legacy.

Let's Start the Conversation

Your legacy is about more than money. It's the values, security, and opportunities you pass on to the people you love. If you're ready to make sure your plan reflects what matters most, we'd love to hear your story.