Estate and legacy planning for Texas families
We coordinate documents with your attorney, align beneficiaries and account titling, and plan for taxes so your assets transfer smoothly to loved ones and charities according to your wishes.
Preparing For The Future
What an estate plan really does
Estate planning is about taking care of people and keeping your intentions clear. Wealth Solutions helps organize documents with your attorney, align accounts and beneficiaries, and connect legacy goals to your financial plan. We guide Texas families in Austin, The Woodlands, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi so assets pass efficiently and privately when possible. When taxes or income planning intersect, we bring in tax planning and your broader financial planning to keep everything coordinated.
Active management vs. passive
Why we choose active oversight
Index funds have a place, but retirees in Texas often benefit from active decisions that balance income needs with risk. We don’t chase every market move; we make informed adjustments to manage drawdowns and capture opportunity. This hands-on approach is led by Richard Blair and reflected in our proprietary funds as well as individual securities where appropriate.
From paperwork to portfolio in one plan
How the rollover works
Review your accounts
We inventory plans and balances, including any 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE, or governmental 457 assets, plus employer stock considerations.
Compare options
Keep funds in the old plan, roll to a new employer plan, or move to an IRA. We outline costs, creditor protections, and flexibility.
Choose IRA and investments
If an IRA is best, we set up the account and design an allocation that fits your broader plan.
Handle the paperwork
We coordinate a trustee-to-trustee transfer to avoid withholding and the 60-day rule.
Reinvest and align
Once assets arrive, we implement the strategy and connect it to your household plan in your client portal.
Advice, coordination, and follow-through
Our Role In Your Estate Plan
Attorneys draft wills and trusts. We help you decide what you need, gather financial details, and ensure beneficiary designations and account titles match the legal documents. We also map how accounts should transfer to reduce delays and confusion for your family.
Small details with big impact
Beneficiaries & Titling
We review beneficiaries on IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance, and transfer-on-death accounts, especially after life events. We also discuss titling options for property and accounts so the right people receive the right assets with minimal court involvement. When liquidity for heirs is important, we may coordinate with insurance and annuities to meet timing needs.
Trust options to consider
Trusts & Special Strategies
Some families benefit from a revocable living trust to streamline transfers. Others consider irrevocable trusts or special-needs provisions. We explain trade-offs, run projections, and coordinate with your attorney if a trust fits your goals.
Strategies for taxes and process
Minimizing Taxes & Probate
Texas has no state estate tax, and many families are below the federal threshold. We still plan for income tax on inherited IRAs, required timelines for heirs, and ways to reduce probate exposure with correct beneficiary and TOD setups.
Charitable and family priorities
Give with purpose and confidence
If giving is part of your legacy, we evaluate donor-advised funds, QCDs from IRAs, and planned gifts that fit your values and timeline. For deeper tactics around philanthropy, explore charitable giving to align impact and tax benefits.
Disclaimer
Our firm does not offer legal advice. Consult your legal advisor regarding your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequent Questions on Tax Planning
What are the tax rules on investment advisory fees now?
Since recent tax law changes, most individuals cannot deduct investment advisory fees on Schedule A. However, certain entities and trusts may still deduct them, and paying eligible fees from an IRA can effectively use pre-tax dollars. We’ll show the most efficient way to handle fees in your situation and coordinate with your CPA.
Should I do a Roth conversion this year or wait?
It depends on your current and future tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA thresholds, and timing of Social Security and RMDs. We typically model partial conversions in lower-income years or after market pullbacks to reduce the tax cost and improve future tax-free flexibility.
How do Qualified Charitable Distributions lower my taxes?
If you are at least 70½, a QCD lets you send money directly from an IRA to a qualified charity. The amount can count toward your RMD but is excluded from your adjusted gross income, which may help with Medicare brackets and the taxation of Social Security. We handle the paperwork and confirm eligibility.
What is the best way to manage capital gains each year?
We review taxable accounts to harvest losses that offset gains, realize long-term gains in lower brackets when available, and avoid short-term gains where possible. We also use asset location and holding periods to keep your after-tax return on track.
How can I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges in retirement?
IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. We plan withdrawals, Roth conversions, and capital gains with those thresholds in mind, sometimes spreading income across years or using QCDs so your MAGI stays in a target range.