Estate Planning

A pillar of your personal financial plan

Who will benefit from your legacy?

Life is finite, but the financial legacy you leave behind has the potential to impact your loved ones for generations to come. Taking the right steps now can help ensure your assets are protected and your plan is followed to the last detail.

Beyond Wealth Survey

Wealth transfer preparedness

A Closer Look at Key Documents

Leave direction, not doubt

The right documents—updated and revisited regularly—can help ensure the details of your future legacy are aligned with your current wishes.

  • Will

    Designates how your assets are distributed upon your death and identifies the parties involved in the settlement of your estate

  • Healthcare power of attorney

    Authorizes a designee to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you're unable to make those decisions

  • Power of attorney

    Grants another person authority to conduct your financial affairs when you're unable to do so on your own

  • Revocable trust agreement

    Provides trust instructions for your intended beneficiaries and can be altered at any time while you're mentally able

Titling Assets

How to protect your legacy for your loved ones

The proper titling of assets is an overlooked component of a comprehensive estate plan. Taking these steps can help you pass on your legacy in the manner you intend.

Align with your estate plan

Your assets should be titled in a manner consistent with your wealth transfer objectives, asset protection needs and intent for beneficiaries.

Check asset titling

Ensuring your assets are titled properly can mitigate losses during your lifetime and reduce obstacles for your loved ones after you pass.

Minimize vulnerability

Improper titles can leave your wealth exposed. Meet with your attorney and financial team to explore how your titles can help protect you from creditors and litigation.

Seek professional legal advice

It's important to partner with a qualified legal professional who can help establish your core documents and properly title and protect your assets.

Review regularly

Life changes—and your titles should change with it. Review them regularly with your attorney, CPA and financial team to prevent gaps in your tax or wealth strategy.

Estate Planning FAQ

People often ask us

Anyone can benefit from a documented estate plan—especially individuals with complex family dynamics, closely held businesses or significant charitable goals.

An estate plan can help direct your assets to your intended beneficiaries, including family members, loved ones and charitable organizations. Additional benefits include privacy for your estate and family at the time of your passing and mitigation of the probate process.

Estate Planning Insights

A few insights for your estate plan

This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, specific investment strategy, recommendation or solicitation to purchase or sell any security or insurance product, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Please consult with your legal or tax advisor regarding the particular facts and circumstances of your situation prior to making any financial decision. While we believe that the information presented is from reliable sources, we do not represent, warrant or guarantee that it is accurate or complete.

Third parties mentioned are not affiliated with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.

Links to third-party websites may have a privacy policy different from First Citizens Bank and may provide less security than this website. First Citizens Bank and its affiliates are not responsible for the products, services and content on any third-party website.

The information provided should not be considered as tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor.

Your investments in securities and insurance products and services are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency and may lose value.  They are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by any bank or bank affiliate and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amounts invested. There is no guarantee that a strategy will achieve its objective.

About the Entities, Brands and Services Offered: First Citizens Wealth™ (FCW) is a marketing brand of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a bank holding company. The following affiliates of First Citizens BancShares are the entities through which FCW products are offered. Brokerage products and services are offered through First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. ("FCIS"), a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through FCIS, First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and SVB Wealth LLC, all SEC registered investment advisors. Certain brokerage and advisory products and services may not be available from all investment professionals, in all jurisdictions or to all investors. Insurance products and services are offered through FCIS, a licensed insurance agency. Banking, lending, trust products and services, and certain insurance products and services are offered by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Member FDIC, and an Equal Housing Lender, and SVB, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. icon: sys-ehl

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