Estate planning involves much more than transferring property at death or moving assets to avoid estate taxes. Wise estate planning involves preparing heirs for wealth and preparing wealth for heirs. Preparing heirs involves passing on values before the value of the estate is passed on to children or other beneficiaries. Preparing wealth involves putting in place business succession plans to transfers ownership, cash flow, management, and control at the right time to the right people in the right way.

At Family Office Law, we believe that the drafting of estate planning documents must start with design. We involve the CPA, lawyers and other professionals in process focused on teamwork. As explained at www.vfos.com/RolesGoals, we see to clarify the roles of each planning professional, establish clear goals, and track all next actions using highly secure web-based project management software.

When advisers work together with clear written plans, we can avoid the tragedies that often result in the loss of family wealth in just 1 or 2 generations. The article at www.vfos.com/Generations explains how we help families successfully pass on their values before they pass on the value of their estates. We show how money spent on taxes can be redirected to charity without reducing wealth available for retirement or bequests to children.

Our unique, comprehensive approach is what sets our firm apart. Our law firm works with 5 affiliated firms to provide "one-stop planning." To see more about how FOL integrates with 5 affiliated companies, please visit www.vfos.com/6firms and www.vfos.com/Rubix.

We are attorneys and planners with experience developed since 1978. During the last 40 years, we have developed solutions for all types of basic planning, generational planning, special needs planning, elder law planning, charitable planning, life insurance protection, and integrated family wealth planning. Here are some strategy flyers (from www.BestToolsManual.info) that explain more:

• Communicate your core values in a Family Legacy Video.
• Zero-out estate taxes using a Testamentary Charitable  Lead Trust ("TCLAT")
• Sell appreciated assets tax-free with a Charitable Remainder Trust ("CRT")
• Pass on your business to the next generation with a business succession plan.
• See how to generate the most tax-efficient lifetime income with an income tax diagnostic.
• Add incentive provisions to your Revocable Living Trust to motivate heirs
• Integrate numbers  and other data from a 100+ page plan on a single flowchart in a Family Wealth Blueprint.
• See how planning benefits are far greater than planning costs in a Value Proposition Letter