Ultra‑High Net Worth Estate Planning: 5 Must‑Have Strategies
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When your net worth exceeds $20 million in investable assets, estate planning requires far more than a standard will. With diverse holdings—ranging from closely held businesses to international real estate and layered trusts—your plan must be just as complex and carefully constructed as your portfolio.
Here are five key strategies every ultra-high net worth individual should consider to preserve wealth, ensure legacy continuity, and stay ahead of tax risks.
1. Understand the Full Scope of Your Wealth
True wealth planning begins with visibility. A holistic inventory of your assets—businesses, properties, accounts (domestic and offshore), intellectual property, and more—lays the groundwork for a tailored estate plan.
When you see the full picture, you can better assess risk, optimize structures, and align your estate with both personal values and long-term goals.
2. Build a Succession Plan for Your Businesses
Your business is more than an asset—it’s a legacy. Without a clear roadmap, even the most successful enterprise can falter during a leadership transition. A thoughtful succession plan should:
Designate who will step into key roles and under what conditions
Detail how ownership will transfer (outright, over time, via trusts, etc.)
Address operational continuity and decision-making authority
Putting these structures in place protects both your enterprise and your family’s future stability.
3. Leverage Philanthropic Vehicles
Charitable giving can advance both your values and your estate plan. Vehicles like these provide meaningful impact while maximizing tax advantages:
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) – A flexible, tax-efficient way to give over time
Charitable Lead Trusts – Provide charitable gifts now while preserving assets for heirs later
Private Foundations – Offer long-term control, tax deductions, and multigenerational involvement
Philanthropy can serve as both a tax strategy and a legacy-building tool.
4. Use Trusts to Protect Privacy and Streamline Inheritance
Trusts are essential tools for high-net-worth families—not only for tax efficiency but for discretion and control. Depending on your needs, you might use:
Revocable Trusts – Maintain control while alive, avoid probate after death
Irrevocable Trusts – Remove assets from your estate, shield them from certain taxes and liabilities
Trusts allow you to control when, how, and to whom distributions are made, while keeping sensitive information out of the public record.
5. Stay Ahead of Tax Pitfalls
Estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes can quickly erode multigenerational wealth if not planned for properly. As of 2025, the GST exemption sits at $13.99 million per individual—amounts beyond that may face a 40% tax rate.
Proactive strategies include:
Leveraging lifetime gifting to remain within exemption limits
Structuring trusts to optimize multi-generational tax savings
Staying updated on changes in tax law with trusted advisors
Tax landscapes shift. The right strategy today may need revisiting tomorrow.
Final Thought: Plan Beyond the Numbers
Your estate isn’t just a balance sheet—it’s the story of your life’s work, values, and relationships. Thoughtful planning gives you the power to shape that story for generations.
Book a complimentary legacy strategy session to explore the structures that can best preserve your wealth, protect your heirs, and honor your intentions.