“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffett
Plan for tomorrow, protect what matters today
Estate planning is more than just writing a will — it’s about making your intentions clear, reducing uncertainty for your loved ones, and protecting the wealth you’ve worked hard to build. Without a solid plan, even simple estates can get caught in costly delays, unnecessary taxes, or family disagreements.
At Suttle Crossland, we help you get ahead of those risks by building an estate strategy that’s proactive, personal, and fully integrated into the rest of your financial life. We’ll talk through what you own, what matters most, and who you want to take care of — then help coordinate the professionals and paperwork needed to make that vision a reality.
We don’t draft legal documents, but we do work closely with your attorney and tax advisor to make sure everything is aligned and intentional. And because life is always changing, we’ll be here to revisit your plan over time and ensure it keeps up with your evolving goals, relationships, and assets.
Estate planning doesn’t have to be intimidating — it just has to be done with care.
Practical Guidance, Real Support
Review & Update Existing Estate Plans
Already have documents? We’ll help you review them through a financial lens — identifying outdated provisions, beneficiary issues, or gaps that could create confusion later.
Find the Right Legal Partner
When your needs go beyond simple documents, we can introduce you to experienced estate planning attorneys and help you prepare for those conversations to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
Keep Everything Aligned
We help integrate your estate plan with your investments, retirement accounts, and tax strategy — ensuring beneficiaries, account titling, and long-term goals all work together.
Create a New Plan with Confidence
If you’re starting from scratch, we can guide you through the process of building an estate plan — from outlining your goals to connecting you with the right tools and professionals to put it in place.
Navigate Advanced Strategies
For clients with more complex needs, we offer support for gifting, charitable planning, and legacy strategies — using modern tools and professional collaboration to bring it all together.
Modern Tools, Expert Guidance
We incorporate digital platforms to streamline document creation and collaboration, while providing ongoing oversight to ensure everything fits within your financial plan.
Supporting Trustees with Investment Guidance
A trust document lays out the rules — but it’s the trustee’s job to carry them out. That often means managing assets, overseeing distributions, and making judgment calls about how to apply the trust’s intent. Whether you’ve named a family member, a friend, or a professional trustee, they don’t have to go it alone.
At Suttle Crossland, we work alongside trustees to provide the financial guidance and investment management they need to administer the trust with confidence. That includes designing and managing a portfolio that aligns with the trust’s goals, helping ensure distributions are sustainable, and serving as a sounding board when questions arise.
Even if we’re not named in the legal documents, we’re often the long-term partner helping the trustee fulfill your legacy — with clarity, consistency, and care.
Why It Matters More Than You Think
Estate planning is one of the most overlooked — and most meaningful — parts of a financial plan. It’s easy to postpone, but the impact of having (or not having) a plan shows up when it matters most: when your loved ones are grieving, facing hard decisions, or trying to untangle assets and intentions.
With a thoughtful estate plan, you remove uncertainty. You give your family clarity. You ensure your wishes are honored, and your values live on — through the people, causes, or community that mattered most to you.
It’s not just about protecting money. It’s about protecting people.
A strong plan doesn’t just distribute assets — it communicates priorities, avoids conflict, and leaves behind something more meaningful than a balance sheet. That’s why we treat estate planning as a cornerstone of your financial life, not a check-the-box exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
A will outlines your wishes, but it must go through probate — a public, sometimes slow and expensive process. A revocable living trust can bypass probate, offer privacy, and allow for more control over how and when assets are distributed. It’s especially useful if you own real estate, have a blended family, or want to make things simpler for your heirs.
Yes. While we don’t draft legal documents, we guide you through the process from start to finish. That includes helping you clarify your goals, decide which documents you’ll need, and connect with qualified professionals to get everything in place. We also help make sure your financial accounts and beneficiary designations reflect your plan.
Maybe. If it’s been a few years since your documents were created — or if there’s been a major life change like a marriage, divorce, new child, or change in assets — it’s worth taking a closer look. Even well-crafted plans can become outdated over time.
We’ll help you review what’s in place and identify any gaps, inconsistencies, or updates that may be needed to reflect your current goals.
We act as the financial point of contact, helping coordinate between your attorney, CPA, and trustee when needed. While we don’t provide legal advice, we often support the investment side of the plan — making sure the assets are managed in line with your goals and the trust’s requirements.
Yes, and it should. Your estate plan and your investment strategy go hand in hand. We help ensure your accounts are titled correctly, your beneficiaries are up to date, and your assets are managed with your long-term legacy in mind. Estate planning isn’t just legal work — it’s a financial strategy too.
Sooner than most people think. Estate planning isn’t just for retirees or people with large estates — it’s about making decisions in advance, so your wishes are clear and legally recognized.
If you have dependents, own property, or simply want to avoid putting your family in a tough spot, it’s a good time to start. The earlier you put a plan in place, the easier it is to update over time
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