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Estate Planning Coordination: A Practical Guide

  • Parkview Partners Capital Management
  • Oct 14
  • 3 min read

Estate planning coordination is about bringing your financial advisor, attorney, and CPA together under one unified strategy. Rather than treating your estate plan as a collection of isolated documents, this approach emphasizes collaboration—ensuring your legal, financial, and tax structures all align toward one clear objective: protecting your legacy.


Why Coordinated Estate Planning Matters


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Many individuals believe having a will or trust is enough. In reality, even the most carefully drafted legal documents can fail to achieve your goals if your advisory team isn’t communicating. When each professional works independently, key details—like funding a trust or updating beneficiary designations—can be overlooked, creating unintended consequences.


Example: A trust might be properly written but never funded, or a retirement account beneficiary form could contradict your will. Without alignment, these gaps can undermine even the most thoughtful estate plan.


The Risk of Disconnection:


  • Lost tax-saving opportunities

  • Conflicting legal documents

  • Family disputes or probate delays

  • Increased administrative costs


A coordinated estate plan transforms disjointed actions into a cohesive wealth transfer strategy that adapts to life’s changes.


Building Your Estate Planning Team


An effective plan depends on assembling the right professionals who work collaboratively, not in silos.


Core Team Members


  • Estate Planning Attorney: Drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; helps to ensure legal compliance.

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA): Structures tax-efficient strategies and manages estate, gift, and income tax implications.

  • Financial Advisor: Connects your estate plan to your broader financial life, coordinating investments and liquidity planning.


When these professionals collaborate, they can identify gaps or redundancies that might otherwise go unnoticed.


Designating a "Quarterback" for Coordination


Having a central point of contact—often your financial advisor—keeps the process organized. This “quarterback” schedules meetings, manages communication, and ensures all parties are working from the same plan.


Implementation Steps:


  • Ask About Team Experience: When selecting advisors, ask how they collaborate with other professionals.

  • Hold a Kickoff Meeting: Get your attorney, CPA, and advisor in the same room to align on goals and expectations.


Authorize Information Sharing: Sign necessary permissions so your professionals can communicate openly and securely.


Defining Your Personal and Financial Goals


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Every estate plan starts with purpose. Beyond tax and legal mechanics, it should reflect your values, relationships, and long-term wishes.


Tools for Clarifying Intent


  • Letter of Intent: A non-legal document that explains the “why” behind your estate decisions. It can express family values, reasoning for distributions, and care wishes for dependents.

  • Goals Discovery Meeting: Conducted with your financial advisor to define priorities like education funding, philanthropy, or special needs planning.


This personalized layer helps ensure your family and fiduciaries understand not just what your plan says, but why it says it.


Aligning Legal Documents and Financial Accounts


Once goals are clear, your team should perform a comprehensive review of all estate-related documents and accounts to ensure they work together.


Key Steps:


  • Verify Beneficiary Designations: Confirm all retirement accounts, life insurance, and annuities match your current intentions.

  • Check Asset Titling: Review property deeds and account registrations for alignment with your estate plan.

  • Fund Your Trusts: Ensure assets are properly retitled into trusts where applicable.

  • Review Powers of Attorney: Confirm they grant appropriate authority and remain current.


Even one outdated form can disrupt your legacy plan, so synchronization is essential.


Keeping Your Plan Current


An estate plan is a living strategy—not a one-time document. Regular reviews help ensure your plan remains effective as life, laws, and financial circumstances evolve.


Recommended Review Frequency:


  • Comprehensive team meeting every 3–5 years

  • Immediate review after major events such as: - Marriage, divorce, or new family members - Sale or purchase of significant assets - Business succession or inheritance

  • Changes in estate or tax law


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Common Questions About Estate Plan Coordination


**💰 How much does coordinated estate planning cost?**It depends on your estate’s complexity and the professionals involved. Coordination often reduces long-term costs by minimizing taxes, probate fees, and errors.


**⏱️ When is the right time to start?**Now. Life events—such as marriage, home ownership, or retirement—make estate planning more urgent, but it’s never too early to establish a foundation.


**⚖️ Do I really need an attorney?**Yes. While DIY tools exist, working with a qualified estate planning attorney ensures documents comply with state law and integrate correctly with financial and tax plans.


The Blueprint for a Unified Estate Plan


Coordinated estate planning is the blueprint that transforms individual documents into a unified legacy strategy. When your legal, tax, and investment professionals collaborate, you gain confidence that every element of your estate plan supports your goals and values.



Investment advice offered through Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., a registered investment advisor. Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC and Parkview Partners Capital Management are separate entities. Neither Stratos nor Parkview Partners Capital Management provides legal or tax advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Please consult with your professional advisors before taking any action. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.


 
 
 
Financial Advisor, Investment Advisor, High Net Worth, Wealth Management, Tax Planning, Risk Management, Financial Coordination, Retirement Planning, Charitable Giving, Columbus Ohio, Parkview Partners Capital Management

291 East Livingston Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215


Phone: (614) 427-2132

Fax: (614) 427-2132

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