Trust & Estate Planning Consulting Services – Expert Guidance

The four main types of trusts are revocable living trusts (flexible, can be changed during your lifetime), irrevocable trusts (permanent, offer stronger asset protection and tax benefits), testamentary trusts (created through your will after death), and special needs trusts (designed to support beneficiaries with disabilities without jeopardizing government benefits). Each serves distinct purposes depending on your goals for control, tax efficiency, asset protection, and beneficiary needs. Sentinel works with estate attorneys to help you select and structure the trust type that best aligns with your family's circumstances and long-term intentions.

Yes. Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy—it's for anyone who wants control over what happens to their assets, healthcare decisions, and dependents. Without a plan, state laws dictate asset distribution and guardianship, which may not align with your wishes. Basic estate planning includes wills, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. At Sentinel, we focus on the 98% of estate planning that doesn't require a lawyer, organizing accounts, insurance policies, and ownership structures to ensure your wishes are honored efficiently and affordably, regardless of asset size.

Estate tax minimization involves strategic use of trusts, gifting strategies, and coordinated withdrawal planning across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts. Techniques include leveraging the federal estate tax exemption, establishing irrevocable trusts, making annual exclusion gifts, and implementing charitable giving strategies like Qualified Charitable Distributions. Sentinel coordinates your estate with current IRS rules, analyzing your full financial picture to develop tax-efficient transfer strategies. We also model Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, and multi-generational trust structures to help preserve more of your wealth for the people and causes you care about.

A will is a legal document that directs asset distribution after death, appoints guardians for minor children, and names an executor. It goes through probate, a public court process that can be time-consuming and costly. A trust, by contrast, holds and manages assets during your lifetime and beyond, avoiding probate for faster, private transfers. Trusts offer greater control over distribution timing and conditions, asset protection, and tax planning opportunities. Sentinel reviews both instruments to ensure consistency and alignment, helping clients understand when a trust may offer strategic advantages over a will alone.

Review your estate plan every 3-5 years or after major life events—marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant asset changes, relocation to a new state, or changes in tax law. Outdated beneficiary designations, asset titling, or trust terms can lead to unintended distributions and tax inefficiencies. Sentinel monitors your estate plan alongside your overall financial strategy, ensuring titling, beneficiaries, wills, and trusts remain consistent with your current circumstances and goals. Regular reviews ensure your plan evolves with your life, protecting your legacy and minimizing legal or tax complications for your heirs.

Dying without an estate plan means state intestacy laws determine asset distribution, guardianship of minor children, and estate administration—often in ways you wouldn't choose. The probate process becomes longer, more expensive, and entirely public. Family disputes may arise, and your estate may face higher taxes and legal fees. Without designated powers of attorney or healthcare directives, courts may appoint decision-makers if you become incapacitated. Sentinel helps clients avoid these risks by establishing clear, legally sound estate plans that ensure assets transfer efficiently, privately, and according to your wishes, not default state statutes.

While simple estates may use DIY tools for basic wills, most families benefit from professional guidance to avoid costly mistakes in beneficiary designations, asset titling, tax strategies, and trust structures. Estate planning involves coordination across legal, financial, and tax dimensions—errors can lead to probate delays, tax inefficiencies, or unintended disinheritance. Sentinel specializes in the 98% of estate planning that doesn't require a lawyer, organizing your accounts, insurance, and ownership structures for efficient transfers. For complex situations involving large estates, blended families, or special needs, we collaborate with estate attorneys to ensure comprehensive, legally sound planning.

Special needs trusts (SNTs) protect assets for beneficiaries with disabilities while preserving eligibility for government benefits like SSI and Medicaid. A properly structured SNT supplements—not replaces—public assistance, covering expenses like education, recreation, therapy, and quality-of-life enhancements. Sentinel has 25 years of experience working with families requiring lifelong support, coordinating with estate attorneys and care planners to design trusts that provide financial security without jeopardizing benefits. We also help families plan for long-term care, guardianship, and multi-generational wealth transfers that protect both the individual with special needs and the broader family legacy.