News Archives - EverPar Advisors

Mapping Out Your 2026 Tax Planning Opportunities

How our proactive planning throughout the year helps navigate tax changes and uncover opportunities others may miss

By Ken Petrashek, EverPar Wealth Management

Key Takeaways:

When should I start thinking about 2026 taxes? We’re already on it. Early-year planning gives us the most options and the best chance to implement strategies that require time.
What’s the biggest tax change for 2026? A new senior bonus deduction adds $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples aged 65+, significantly increasing standard deductions for qualifying seniors.
Why does year-round tax planning matter? Many tax strategies require months to implement. Waiting until December leaves you reacting instead of planning, often missing opportunities entirely.

Tax planning rarely comes down to a single decision or a single moment. More often, it’s a series of smaller conversations spread across the year, each one building on the last.

That’s why we think about taxes year-round. Not because it’s exciting dinner conversation, but because timing is important and proactive planning can give you options instead of regrets.

This year, that timing matters more than usual. Several changes are scheduled for 2026, including a few that could open meaningful opportunities for your family, and one that may reshape how charitable giving fits into your plan.

Here’s what’s shifting, and how our approach to year-round tax planning can make your financial decisions feel a lot more intentional.

Setting Your Foundation Early in the Year

Early in the year, one of the most useful signals we look at is how the prior tax year actually ended. One simple question usually gets us there: Did you receive a refund, or did you owe? There’s no “right” answer, but it tells us a lot.

I had a client last year who mentioned they were consistently receiving refunds of $12,000–$14,000. They thought of it as a forced savings account for vacations. But when we looked closer, it became clear they were overpaying taxes throughout the year, which is essentially giving the IRS an interest-free loan.

Because they were retired and living primarily off IRA withdrawals, we adjusted their withholding so that money stayed in their hands throughout the year instead. Same net outcome, with far more flexibility and more control over their cash flow.

That kind of refinement is what early-year planning is designed for. During this season, we focus on:

Reviewing the prior year with purpose. Were there surprises? Unexpected income, missed deductions, or a tax bill that felt out of step with expectations?
Identifying life changes. Marriage, a new child, a home purchase, or a business transition often create planning opportunities.
Aligning taxes with your broader goals. Retirement contributions, education funding, charitable giving, and long-term family plans should all work together, not in isolation.
Adjusting estimated tax payments. If you pay quarterly, we base those payments on current projections rather than simply repeating last year’s numbers.

New for 2026: Understanding the Senior Bonus Deduction

If you’re 65 or approaching it, this change is worth our attention. You’ve always received an extra standard deduction once you reach 65—$2,000 for single filers, $3,200 for married couples. Starting with your 2025 tax return (filed this April), there’s an additional bonus available through 2028:

Single filers 65+: An extra $6,000 on top of the existing extra deduction
Married couples (both 65+): An extra $12,000

Here’s what that looks like in practice for 2025:

Single filer, 65 or older:
– Standard deduction: $15,750
– Extra standard deduction for 65+: $2,000
– Senior Bonus Deduction: $6,000
Total deductions: $23,750

Married filing jointly, both 65 or older:
– Standard deduction: $31,500
– Extra standard deduction for 65+: $3,200
– Senior Bonus Deduction: $12,000
Total deductions: $46,700

That’s substantial tax savings, but there are income phase-out ranges:

Married filing jointly: Phase-out begins at $150,000 AGI, eliminated completely at $250,000 AGI
Single filers: Phase-out begins at $75,000 AGI, eliminated completely at $175,000 AGI

If you’re approaching these thresholds, early-year planning gives us months to explore strategies that might help manage your adjusted gross income and preserve some or all of this deduction. By the time December arrives, many of those options are off the table.

New for 2026: Standard Deduction Amounts

For 2026, the baseline standard deduction is also shifting upward:

Single filers: $16,100
Married filing jointly: $32,200

For most of you, this means itemizing still won’t make sense, a trend that’s continued since 2017 when the standard deduction increased significantly.

Checking in on Your Mid-Year Progress

By mid-year, we’ll be comparing your actual income trajectory against the projections we discussed in January. Sometimes everything’s tracking exactly as expected. Sometimes life throws a curveball, like a higher bonus than anticipated, an unexpected inheritance, or a business sale that moved faster than planned.

When your income is running higher than expected, we might talk about accelerating retirement contributions or exploring tax-loss harvesting opportunities. If it’s lower, we might adjust your estimated payments to avoid overpaying unnecessarily. If you’re behind on maximizing your 401(k) or considering catch-up contributions, mid-year gives us time to increase deferrals gradually rather than trying to front-load everything in the final quarter.

This is also when we look for tax-loss harvesting opportunities in your portfolio, or conversely, whether it makes sense to realize some gains strategically if you have the capacity to take on a bit more taxation in a lower-income year

New for 2026: Increased SALT Deduction Cap

The state and local tax (SALT) deduction (which includes property taxes) has been capped at $10,000 since 2017. That cap is now $40,000 through 2030, then reverts to $10,000.

For most of you, this won’t drastically change your situation. But if you own property in multiple states or have family members in high-tax areas like California, New York, or Texas, this increase could be meaningful. Early-year planning gives us time to evaluate whether itemizing makes sense now when it didn’t before.

Late-Year Tax Strategies We Explore Together

By the time we reach the final quarter, we’re not scrambling to invent a strategy from scratch. Because we’ve been planning together since January, we’re executing a plan we’ve been refining all year.

Here are the strategies we typically focus on in the final quarter:

Retirement Funding

We’ll make sure you’ve maximized contributions to your 401(k), IRA, or SEP before year-end. If you’re self-employed or a business owner, this is critical and something we monitor closely throughout the year.

Capital Gains Planning

We can also potentially offset gains with losses or strategically realize gains if you’re in a lower tax bracket this year.

I’m currently working with a client who has a highly concentrated corporate stock position. The tax burden to sell would be significant, but since his income needs are met through more diversified investments, we’reexploring ways to reduce this exposure while satisfying his philanthropic interests. He’s considering gifting shares to family members and charitable organizations, which allows him to use his wealth intentionally without incurring unnecessary tax expenses.

Roth Conversions

This is one of the most common strategies we implement in the final quarter. Converting traditional IRA funds to a Roth means paying ordinary income tax now, but those funds grow tax-free for life. The key is understanding your tax burden for the year so we can help you make an informed decision about how much to convert.

Sometimes we aim to stay within a certain marginal tax bracket. Other times, we’re more focused on helping you understand the consequences so you can decide what makes sense for your situation.

New for 2026: Charitable Giving

If charitable giving is part of your financial picture, we want to talk about this sooner rather than later, so you know all your options and can give intentionally.

Starting in 2026, you’ll only be able to deduct charitable donations exceeding 0.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Let’s break down what this means with an example:

Imagine your AGI is $100,000
$100,000 × 0.005 = $500 (not deductible)

If you donate $1,200 during the year, you subtract the $500 exclusion, so only $700 of your $1,200 donation is deductible.

This applies to cash donations, appreciated stock gifts, and contributions to charitable organizations. If you’ve been consistently charitable (tithing at church, supporting nonprofits) this change can significantly reduce your deductibility.

We’re bringing this into our early-year conversations because it’s not just a tax question. For families where charitable giving reflects deeply held values, being told that giving is suddenly “worth less” from a tax perspective can feel discouraging. If this resonates with your situation, let’s discuss it in our next conversation.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect as We Navigate 2026 Together

As we move through the year, we’ll continue our regular planning conversations with the 2026 tax changes in mind.

If you’re approaching 65, we’ll make sure you’re positioned to take advantage of the senior bonus deduction.
If charitable giving is important to you, we’ll discuss whether accelerating donations into 2025 makes sense.
And if you have questions about how any of these changes affect your specific situation, we’re always here to talk through them.

That’s the benefit of year-round planning: You’re never wondering whether you’re missing something or whether you should have acted sooner. We’re monitoring these changes on your behalf and bringing them into our conversations when they’re relevant to your goals.

If something about 2026’s tax changes caught your attention or you’d like to discuss how they might affect your family specifically, reach out to us—we’re always here.

And if you’re not yet working with EverPar but are wondering what it would feel like to have a trusted partner thinking through these decisions with you, we’d welcome that conversation. Schedule a complimentary Foundation Session to explore whether our approach to wealth management aligns with what you’re looking for.

EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where EverPar and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment.
All investments include a risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. The principal risks of EverPar strategies are disclosed in the publicly available Form ADV Part 2A.

Your Guide to Healthcare Costs in Retirement: Why Early Conversations Matter Most

Planning for your future healthcare needs isn’t just preparation; it’s protection for what matters most.

By Craig Silberg, EverPar Wealth Management

Key Takeaways:

Why does retirement healthcare planning matter before age 55? One major illness can be financially devastating. Early planning lets you prepare with confidence and focus on healing instead of financial stress when it matters most.
How often should we discuss healthcare in our financial plan? Healthcare planning isn’t a one-time conversation. We weave it into regular planning discussions as your life and circumstances evolve.
What’s one of the biggest mistakes business owners make with healthcare planning? Failing to plan for the loss of a key employee or family income earner, which can be a major risk to both business operations and your family’s security.

Most people think they’re bulletproof until something happens around them.

A neighbor receives news no one is ever ready for. A colleague steps away to focus on their health. A family member’s illness brings worry, uncertainty, and financial questions that can ripple through an entire family. These experiences can feel overwhelming, and they often arrive without warning.

In our work together, I’ve seen firsthand how early, thoughtful planning for healthcare costs in retirement can mean the difference between financial stress and the ability to focus entirely on what truly matters: healing and family.

Why Healthcare Planning Belongs in Every Financial Conversation

If I could have every client understand one thing about healthcare costs in retirement before they turn 55, it would be this:

One illness could be very costly, financially and emotionally. Not having to deal with the financial aspect because we took the time to plan allows you to focus on healing, which is the most important thing.

I was reminded of this recently by a longtime friend who became a client this past year. We were moving thoughtfully through estate planning and setting up a few LLCs, and nothing felt rushed until a sudden cancer diagnosis changed everything overnight. In a moment, timelines collapsed. Every decision carried more weight, because we needed to complete the work before a major medical procedure scheduled for January.

When something like that happens, the world shifts. You don’t want to be thinking about paperwork or legal details; you want to focus on getting through the day, on the people you love, and on what comes next. Thankfully, we had already begun planning, so we weren’t starting from fear or chaos. I called his attorney that morning and said, “Let’s get going. We need to take care of this.” And we did.

How We Talk About Healthcare Costs Together

In the moments that matter most, financial planning isn’t really about money at all; it’s about being able to show up for yourself and for the people you love. Our role is to help you understand your options early, revisit them often, and adjust as your life evolves, so nothing ever feels rushed or overwhelming.

We look at the big picture

Healthcare isn’t treated as a separate topic or a one-off conversation.

As we work through your comprehensive financial plan, healthcare naturally comes into the discussion alongside Social Security timing, income planning, and retirement cash flow. We’re always looking at how these pieces fit together, so your healthcare choices support the life you’re planning, not the other way around.

We get specific

As you move closer to retirement—often in your 60s—the questions become more concrete, and so do our conversations.

We’ll talk through things like:

Whether Medicare alone is sufficient for your situation
What type of supplemental coverage might make sense
If and when long-term care insurance should be part of the picture

There’s no checklist we’re trying to force you through. We’ll always explain our perspective, answer your questions, and make sure you understand the tradeoffs.

For example, we typically recommend traditional Medicare paired with a supplement rather than Medicare Advantage plans. We’ve seen too many challenges with Advantage plans, and we believe keeping Medicare and supplementing it provides more flexibility and fewer surprises.

We keep the conversation going

What makes our approach at EverPar different is that healthcare planning doesn’t disappear once a decision is made.

Through our regular monthly communication, these topics stay part of an ongoing dialogue about what’s happening in your life. Most of our conversations aren’t about short-term market movements, but about planning, priorities, and what’s on your mind.

Special Considerations for Business Owners and High Earners

If you’re a business owner or the primary earner in your family, your health carries even more weight. It connects directly to your business, your income, and the people who depend on you.

An illness or injury can ripple outward quickly, affecting cash flow, daily operations, and financial stability at home. That’s why we plan early, looking at ways to protect what you’ve built and reduce the strain a potential health event could place on both your work and your family.

For many high earners in their 40s and 50s, strong employer or company coverage can make these concerns feel far off. Yet this stage of life offers a valuable window to prepare. When that coverage eventually ends, you’ll need your own healthcare solution, and having clarity ahead of time makes the transition steadier and less stressful.

We’re Here to Help You Prepare for Every Possibility

Healthcare planning in retirement is rarely urgent, until suddenly it is.

The difference between crisis and calm is almost always preparation done earlier, when decisions could be made thoughtfully. When the unexpected arrives, you know that the hard work has already been done, and that you’re not facing it alone.

If you have any new questions about your Medicare strategy, long-term care considerations, or how healthcare costs fit into your retirement projections recently, let’s make time to connect. Your circumstances may have shifted, or new considerations may have emerged. We’re always happy to talk these things through.

And if you’re reading this and haven’t yet worked with an advisor who integrates healthcare planning into every stage of retirement, we invite you to start that conversation with us in a complimentary Foundation Session. A thoughtful discussion today can spare you unnecessary stress later, and help ensure that when life changes, your plan is ready to support you.

EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where EverPar and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment.
All investments include a risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. The principal risks of EverPar strategies are disclosed in the publicly available Form ADV Part 2A.

Strategic Giving: Three Ways to Give More Intentionally in 2026

The planning conversations designed to help you give more while strengthening your financial plan

By Tim Koski, CIMA®, EverPar Wealth Management

Key Takeaways:

What’s the difference between a donor advised fund and a foundation? Both offer tax benefits in the year you contribute, but foundations often work better for families seeking multi-generational involvement and lasting legacy.
How do you choose which assets to give to charity? We evaluate securities through two lenses: embedded capital gains and how well they fit your current portfolio allocation.
What does success look like beyond tax savings? Together, we can model the potential impact on your financial plan. We also often help facilitate family conversations about values and legacy.

Some of our most meaningful conversations start simply: “We’ve been giving to charity for years, but we’re wondering if there’s a better way to do this.”

Many people give generously—tithing at church, responding to fundraising requests, and supporting causes that matter to them. But these gifts often happen without much planning around timing, tax efficiency, or long-term impact. In our work with clients, we’ve found that a more thoughtful approach to charitable giving can create opportunities for more impact with less tax drag.

Strategic Giving Tools: Three Approaches We Often Explore

When we talk about strategic giving, we’re usually discussing one of three main approaches, depending on your situation and goals: Donor-advised funds, private foundations, and QCDs.

With each of these options, the gift is irrevocable in the year you make it. You receive the deduction that year, and the funds can be managed and distributed over time according to your wishes.

Donor Advised Funds: Flexibility With Tax Efficiency

For many clients, a donor advised fund (DAF) is the most practical tool. Here’s what we typically see: You might give $50,000 to $100,000 annually to various charities, usually by writing checks throughout the year as requests come in or as needs arise.

With a donor advised fund, you can consolidate multiple years of giving into one tax year. You contribute the full amount to the fund to be invested and grow tax-free, taking the charitable deduction that year. Then, you can distribute the money to specific charities over subsequent years, giving you more control over the timing of your gifts.

This “bunching” strategy becomes particularly valuable in years when your income is higher than usual (perhaps from a business sale, significant bonus, or large capital gain).

By concentrating charitable contributions in a high-income year, you can potentially offset some of that tax impact.

Note: For many clients, annual giving falls well below IRS limits (60% of AGI for cash contributions, 30% for securities). But in years with concentrated charitable giving or significant income events, understanding these thresholds becomes part of the planning conversation.

Private Foundations: When Legacy Involves the Next Generation

For families with significant charitable intent (typically considering contributions of $1 million or more), we sometimes explore private foundations. These require more structure and ongoing administrative work—annual tax filings, formal governance, legal compliance—and come with additional costs that can run $5,000 to $15,000 annually.

So why consider a foundation instead of a donor-advised fund? Control and involvement. With a foundation, you can:

Employ family members and compensate them for legitimate foundation work
Maintain complete control over investment decisions
Create formal structures that involve multiple generations in grant-making decisions

These vehicles become particularly valuable in teaching younger family members about stewardship, values, and impact.

Qualified Charitable Distributions: A Smarter Way to Satisfy RMDs

If you’re 70½ or older and taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA, there’s another charitable strategy worth considering: qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).

Rather than taking an RMD, paying income tax on it, and then writing a check to charity, a QCD allows you to transfer funds directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. The amount sent to charity counts toward satisfying your RMD, but it is not included in your taxable income.

Once IRA dollars are distributed to you personally, they’re generally taxed as ordinary income. By giving directly from the IRA instead, you’re effectively using pre-tax dollars to support the causes you care about—reducing your tax bill while meeting your distribution requirement.

QCDs can be especially helpful for retirees who:

Don’t itemize deductions
Want to reduce adjusted gross income (AGI)
Are already giving charitably each year

It’s a relatively straightforward tactic, but when coordinated properly, it can make your required distributions work harder for both your financial plan and your philanthropic goals.

QCDs must be made directly from an IRA to a qualified charity and are subject to IRS rules and annual limits. The maximum annual limit, which was $105,000 in 2024 and $108,000 in 2025, increases to $111,000 per individual in 2026 due to inflation indexing under the SECURE 2.0 Act.

The Asset Selection Conversation: What Do You Give?

Once we’ve determined the right vehicle, the next question is: Which assets should you contribute?

This is where strategic giving intersects with portfolio management. We’re typically helping you look at two things:

First, we identify securities with significant appreciation. If you’ve held a stock for years and it’s grown substantially, there’s an unrealized capital gain sitting there. Contributing that asset to charity lets you avoid the capital gains tax you’d otherwise pay if you sold it.
Second, we consider how that security fits within your overall portfolio. Maybe it’s grown so large that it no longer aligns with your target allocation. Or perhaps it’s not performing as well as it once did, and you’vebeen looking for an opportunity to reposition.

When both factors align, providing a large embedded gain and a security that doesn’t fit your portfolio going forward, that’s often the asset we’ll consider contributing. You give the full dollar to charity, we can reallocate within the charitable account without tax consequences, and your portfolio moves closer to its intended structure.

Recently, a client asked me exactly this question while reviewing his holdings. We walked through his portfolio together, identifying appreciated positions and weighing them against his long-term allocation targets. The conversation wasn’t just about maximizing the charitable deduction; it was about making a move that strengthened both his giving and his investment strategy.

What Success Looks Like Beyond Tax Savings

Strategic giving isn’t just a tax play. The real value shows up in a few different ways.

In Your Financial Plan

Money is finite. You can spend it, give it, or lose it to taxes. When we show you the difference between various approaches, you can see how strategic giving affects your long-term wealth trajectory and your ability to meet other goals, whether that’s passing assets to the next generation or maintaining your lifestyle in retirement.

Through Family Engagement

One of the less tangible but equally important measures of success is bringing family members (especially the next generation) into these conversations earlier rather than later.

Instead of accumulating wealth in silence and having your children discover your values and priorities only after you’re gone, strategic giving creates opportunities to talk about what matters:

What causes are important to our family?
What kind of impact do we want to have?
How do we think about balancing our own needs with helping others?

These aren’t easy conversations, but they’re valuable ones. When families use charitable giving as a way to articulate shared values, it often strengthens relationships and helps to create continuity across generations.

With Intentionality

Finally, intentional giving means moving from reactive to proactive. Instead of responding to every fundraising request or writing checks as they come up, you’re making deliberate decisions about timing, amounts, and recipients.

That doesn’t mean you can’t be generous or spontaneous. It just means you’re thinking ahead and planning around your giving in the same way you plan around other financial priorities.

Supporting You Through Comprehensive Care

Strategic giving isn’t a separate planning exercise. It’s woven into everything else we’re working on together: tax planning, portfolio management, estate planning, and family wealth transitions. When done well, it strengthens all of those areas simultaneously.

If you’d like to revisit your charitable giving strategy or explore whether any of these approaches might work for your situation, let’s talk. We can walk through your current giving pattern and see if there are opportunities to create more impact with the same resources.

And if you’re not yet working with EverPar Wealth Management, we invite you to learn more about our approach to comprehensive wealth planning in a complimentary Foundation Session. With EverPar, strategic giving is just one piece of helping you build and preserve what matters most.

Reference: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf

EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Diversification does not ensure profit or guarantee against loss. Past performance shown is not indicative of future results, which could differ substantially. An investment in the private investments involves significant risks and is suitable only for those persons who can bear the economic risk of loss of their entire investment and who have limited need for liquidity in their investment. There can be no assurance that the investment will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the private investment carries with it the inherent risks associated with the underlying investments. Each prospective investor should carefully review the Confidential Offering Memorandum and Limited Partnership Agreements before investing. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.

Giving Back: Why We’re Choosing Impact This Holiday Season

Because real change happens when gratitude becomes more than words.

As we head into the holidays, we find ourselves feeling deeply grateful for you, the trust you’ve placed in us, and the privilege of being part of your family’s journey.

We’ve spent this past year helping families like yours think about where legacy and charitable giving intersect: what you’ll leave behind, how your wealth will serve the people you love for generations, and why it all matters.

The truth is, legacy isn’t just about preserving what you have. It’s about deciding what gratitude really looks like when it’s more than just words.

That’s why this year, instead of sending our usual holiday gifts, we’ve chosen to make donations in your honor to three local organizations doing extraordinary work right here in our community. These are organizations that are creating their own kind of legacy by giving families the chance to become stable, thriving households that break cycles and build better futures.

Family & Children’s Services: The Small Things That Aren’t Small at All

For over a century, Family & Children’s Services has been showing up for vulnerable children and struggling families across Tulsa. They run more than 70 programs, from crisis hotlines and trauma counseling to addiction recovery support.

This winter, we’re supporting their work to provide warm coats, blankets, and everyday essentials to families who are stretching every dollar just to get by.

Mental Health Association: Turning “Someday” Into “Today”

Stability has to come first. Everything else builds from there.

That’s the whole philosophy behind the Mental Health Association Oklahoma’s Housing First approach. We’re supporting their move-in kit program, which provides blankets, linens, groceries, and cleaning supplies for families while helping them move into safe, affordable apartments. Eighty percent of these units serve lower-income families, and the rest are specifically set aside to prevent homelessness before it starts.

Lindsey House: Rewriting the Ending

Lindsey House exists for mothers and children who’ve lived through things none of us should have to imagine, including domestic violence and addiction.

What distinguishes Lindsey House is their focus on breaking the cycle of poverty for good. Their program goes far beyond providing shelter. Mothers learn essential life skills, financial literacy, and workplace proficiency. By the time families complete the program, they will have reduced or eliminated debt, stabilized employment, and secured safe, affordable housing.

The work being done there isn’t just changing individual lives; it’s altering generational trajectories and helping ensure that children who arrive in crisis can leave with hope and opportunity.

Our Gratitude

Looking back on these three years since founding EverPar, what stands out most is the trust you’ve placed in us and the privilege of being part of your family’s story.

From our family to yours: Thank you. For your partnership, your trust, and for being the kind of people who understand that wealth is about more than accumulation; it’s about what you do with it.

Wishing you and your loved ones a truly joyful holiday season filled with laughter, rest, and the people who matter most.

To learn more about these organizations, visit Family & Children’s Services, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, and Lindsey House.

Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill: Key Tax Changes for High-Net-Worth Families

Your roadmap for income, business, and estate decisions under the OBBBA’s new tax rules

By Courtney Hoffman CFP®, AAMS™, EverPar Advisors

Key Takeaways:

What’s the most meaningful positive change for high earners? The top marginal tax rate stays at 37% instead of rising to 39.6%. This creates steady, predictable savings for high earners and offers valuable stability for long-term planning.
Where’s the biggest opportunity for wealth transfer? The federal estate and gift tax exemption will increase to $15M per person ($30M per couple) in 2026, offering a chance to protect more of your estate from the 40% estate tax and make strategic gifts or trust transfers.
What planning challenges should I be aware of in light of the OBBBA? The new charitable deduction floor, tighter AMT rules, and shifts tied to OBBBA tax brackets mean some families will see reduced deductions or higher tax exposure. Proactive planning can help you capture available benefits while avoiding surprises.

If you’re managing meaningful wealth across generations, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) creates both opportunities and considerations worth understanding now. Some provisions lower your tax burden, while others tighten deductions or expand AMT exposure. The key is knowing which pieces affect your family and how to respond thoughtfully.

These are the conversations we’re having with families right now (and what they could mean for your planning).

8 Questions (and Answers) About OBBBA Tax Brackets, Estate Exemptions, and What it All Means for You

One of the most meaningful changes in the Big Beautiful Bill is that the top marginal tax rate stays at 37%. It was scheduled to rise back to 39.6% in 2026, but the bill makes the lower rate permanent.

For high-earning families, that means ongoing, reliable savings rather than a sudden increase. It’s not a dramatic headline, but it does add up year after year.

Just as important, this provision creates stability. When the tax rules are consistent, we can plan with more confidence, whether that’s timing income, making retirement contributions, or coordinating long-term investment decisions.

2. What’s changing with estate and gift tax exemptions in 2026?

One of the biggest opportunities in the OBBBA is the higher federal estate and gift tax exemption. As of December 31, 2025, the exemption is $15 million per individual or $30 million for married couples.

In simple terms, more of your wealth can pass to the next generation without triggering the 40% federal estate tax. For families thinking multiple generations ahead, this exemption creates breathing room to structure trusts, make strategic gifts to adult children, or fund education for grandchildren, all while potentially keeping more wealth in the family.

3. Is the OBBBA raising the SALT deduction cap?

Yes, though there are a few important limitations to understand.

The state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap is being raised above the long-standing $10,000 limit. That’s meaningful for families who pay higher state income or property taxes.

However, two caveats matter:

The expanded deduction begins to phase out once your modified AGI exceeds $500,000.
The change is temporary; the cap is scheduled to drop back to $10,000 in 2030.

In other words, there’s a use-it-while-you-have-it window here, but it’s not unlimited. We’re helping you think about timing for major expenses and preparing for what happens when the cap comes back. The key is taking advantage of the benefit while it’s available, while keeping an eye on the longer horizon.

4. What’s the new charitable deduction floor?

This is one of the tougher changes in the Big Beautiful Bill, especially for families who give generously.

In 2026, your charitable deductions won’t start counting until your giving exceeds 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). For many donors, that means a smaller portion of your gifts will provide tax benefits.

There’s also a new cap on the value of itemized deductions. Even if you’re in the top 37% bracket, deductions may be valued at 35%. For example, if you have $1 million in itemized deductions, your tax benefit drops from $370,000 to $350,000—a meaningful difference over time.

Because of this, we’ve been proactive with charitably minded clients. For some families, it may make sense to accelerate 2025 giving. Others may benefit from charitable bunching or donor-advised funds to preserve both impact and tax efficiency.

Your generosity doesn’t change because of tax law, but how we structure that generosity can make a real difference in what you’re able to give over the years ahead.

5. How does the OBBBA’s pass-through deduction help business owners?

The 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction is now permanent under the Big Beautiful Bill, and if you own an S-corporation, partnership, or LLC, this may be a major win.

That deduction can lower the effective tax rate on business income by up to 7.4%. Making it permanent gives business owners the consistency they need for long-term planning.

This change can affect how you think about reinvesting in the business, setting compensation, and structuring growth. We work closely with you and your CPA to make sure you’re capturing the full value of this deduction and integrating it thoughtfully into the rest of your plan.

6. What is the 100% bonus depreciation provision?

This is another meaningful win for business owners. Under the Big Beautiful Bill, 100% bonus depreciation becomes permanent for assets acquired after January 19, 2025.

You can now deduct the full cost of qualifying purchases (equipment, vehicles, technology, and more) in the year you buy them, rather than spreading the deduction over several years. And beyond the near-term benefit, this provision can support faster upgrades, more R&D, and greater flexibility in how you invest in your company’s growth.

The key is timing. If you’re weighing significant equipment or technology purchases, the tax treatment may make this the right moment. We help you evaluate these decisions in the context of your broader financial plan.

7. Is AMT coming back stronger in 2026?

A Quick Refresher: What is the alternative minimum tax (AMT)?

Think of AMT as a backup tax calculation that kicks in when your deductions get too large. Under the new rules, more families will face it (especially those with significant itemized deductions or stock compensation). We track this throughout the year, so you’re never caught off guard.

Under the new law, the AMT exemption phase-out will begin at $1 million for joint filers, meaning more households will be pulled into AMT, even if you’re thoughtful about deductions. This especially affects people with large itemized deductions or incentive stock options, which we frequently see with executives and business owners.

Because these calculations interact with your investment strategy, estate plan, and business structure, we monitor your exposure throughout the year, not just at tax time.

8. How do I know what applies to my situation?

This is the question that matters most, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on your circumstances. Here’s a quick recap of the key changes we’re seeing across the board.

The positives:

Permanent 37% top OBBBA tax bracket (instead of reverting to 39.6%)
Estate and gift tax exemption of $15M per person / $30M per couple
Higher SALT deduction cap through 2030
Permanent 20% QBI deduction for pass-through business income
Permanent 100% bonus depreciation for business assets

The considerations:

New charitable deduction floor (0.5% of AGI starting in 2026)
Itemized deduction value cap (35% instead of 37%)
Tighter AMT, with more families pulled in
Some provisions are temporary
Wagering losses are now capped at 90% of winnings

Taken together, the Big Beautiful Bill is projected to save high-net-worth families 5–10% on federal taxes in the near term, especially through estate planning and business incentives. We work with you and your CPA to capture these benefits while navigating the new limitations, coordinating the details so nothing falls through the cracks.

Aligning Today’s Choices with Tomorrow’s Goals

The Big Beautiful Bill brings real opportunities and real planning considerations, often within the same provision. What matters most is understanding which changes apply to you and responding with strategy, not guesswork.

These decisions ripple across your taxes, estate plan, business, and charitable goals, and we’re here to help you navigate them with clarity and confidence. If any of these provisions raised new questions for you, or if there’s something we didn’t cover that’s on your mind, please reach out to your EverPar team. We’re always here to talk through what this means for your family.

If you’re not currently working with us, we invite you to explore our Foundation Session, a complimentary meeting designed to give you clarity on exactly these kinds of questions. Because your financial plan matters more than market predictions, and right now, it matters more than political headlines too.

References:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions

Meet the EverPar Team: Kerri, Bridgette, and Hunter

Get to know three talented EverPar professionals who share our commitment to personalized service and multi-generational thinking

At EverPar, growth isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about people.

Each individual who joins our team expands the expertise, heart, and perspective fueling every client relationship. That’s why we’re so thrilled to introduce three very important members of the EverPar family, Kerri Musgrove, Bridgette Hodge, and Hunter Breedlove.

Each brings a fresh spark and a shared commitment to what EverPar is all about: thoughtful partnership, personal connection, and a client experience that feels as human as it is smart.

Kerri Musgrove

Client Service Administrator | Client advocate, team cheerleader, travel enthusiast

Why EverPar? “I knew some of the EverPar people already and loved their overall outlook on working as a team. This is very different than the normal corporate structure, and I love that.”

Quick Snapshot
– Focus Areas: Client service operations and advisor support
– Experience: Brings years of high-touch service experience in financial operations
– Strengths: Humor, empathy, and collaboration

Kerri is the ultimate bridge-builder, connecting details, people, and processes with warmth and precision. In her role, she works closely with both advisors and clients to help ensure every service interaction feels seamless.

Known for her upbeat approach, Kerri leads with humor and heart, balancing efficiency with genuine care. She believes strong relationships start with respect—and that a little laughter never hurts.

Outside the Office

When she’s not helping clients, Kerri loves to travel abroad and is a proud, passionate supporter of the University of Oklahoma. Kerri is also a part of the Groovy Chicks, a friend group that’s traveled together for 30 years (complete with their own logo!).

Connect with Kerri

Bridgette Hodge

Client Service Administrator | Service guru, lifelong learner, road-trip adventurer

Why EverPar? “I’ve always worked for large corporations and was excited about joining a small, local firm. I’ve enjoyed being a part of a team and trying to contribute to a growing business.”

Quick Snapshot
– Focus Areas: Account maintenance, money movement, and alternative investments
– Experience: Background in large corporate financial institutions
– Strengths: Approachability, precision, and lifelong learning

Bridgette blends the structure of big-firm experience with the warmth of a community-minded professional. Her deep understanding of operational processes helps ensure clients’ needs are handled with accuracy, while her approachable demeanor makes complex requests feel easy.

After years in large corporate environments, Bridgette was drawn to EverPar’s smaller, more connected culture, where she could see the real impact of her work.

Lately, she’s been expanding her skills and perspective. “It’s been fun and challenging learning alternative investments,” she says. “It’s a language I’m still learning!”

Outside the Office

Away from the office, Bridgette loves spending time with her husband and taking their motorcycle on cross-country adventures. She and her husband have literally crossed the country on a motorcycle, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and every mile in between.

Connect with Bridgette

Hunter Breedlove

Investment Analyst | Numbers guy, client educator, Shake Shack fan

Why EverPar? “After meeting the team, I immediately recognized that this was a group of professionals with whom I would genuinely enjoy working with each day.”

Quick Snapshot
– Focus Areas: Portfolio management, research & due diligence, alternative investments
– Experience: Background in wealth management, including both boutique firms and large institutions.
– Strengths: Analytical depth, clear communication, and curiosity

Hunter brings a sharp analytical eye and a client-centered mindset to EverPar’s investment team. As a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, he’s responsible for managing portfolios, performing deep research on current and prospective investments, and helping clients understand the why behind their investment strategies.

Beyond the spreadsheets, Hunter’s a natural mentor, helping students and early professionals navigate career paths, and a firm believer in blending intellect with empathy in every client interaction.

Outside the Office

When he’s not researching markets or coaching clients through strategy conversations, Hunter loves spending quality time with his wife: watching TV, exploring new coffee shops, or cheering on the Pokes. He also once drove four hours just to eat at Shake Shack, which he proudly calls “the finest restaurant in the world.”

Connect with Hunter

A Partnership Built on Growth and Connection

As your needs evolve and your wealth grows across generations, we’re investing in the people and expertise necessary to serve you at the highest level.

From the moment you walk through our door and receive your perfect cup of coffee to the thoughtful portfolio management and proactive service you experience throughout your relationship with us, every detail matters. Kerri, Bridgette, and Hunter strengthen our ability to deliver on our promise to be your Forever Partners, standing by your family’s side through every transition and milestone.

This is what we mean when we say our privilege is to serve you.

If you have questions or would like to connect with any of our team members, we invite you to reach out. We’re here to support your financial journey today and for generations to come.

And if you’re not yet working with the EverPar family but want to learn more about our collaborative team approach, we invite you to join us for a Foundation Session. We’re always happy to discuss how our personalized, multi-generational approach can serve your unique needs.

The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor. This information is general in nature and should not be considered tax advice. Investors should consult with a qualified tax consultant as to their particular situation. EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where EverPar and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Real Estate in the Family Portfolio: How We Help Clients Think Beyond Primary Residences

Rethinking family real estate as part of a coordinated wealth, tax, and legacy strategy.

By David Ellis, EverPar Advisors

Key Takeaways:

How do you know if real estate belongs in your family’s portfolio? Start by asking whether it truly supports your goals for income, liquidity, and legacy.
What’s one way to simplify ownership without giving up returns? Consider private real estate funds. They provide diversified exposure without the daily work of direct property management.
Is international real estate a good idea? It depends. Every country has its own rules, so global investments require experienced legal, tax, and advisory coordination.

Real estate has a way of feeling personal. Maybe it’s the lake house that’s hosted years of family gatherings, the office building you’ve owned since your business’s early days, or the rental property you bought to create extra income. For many families, these properties represent more than financial value; they represent memories, milestones, and meaning.

But as your wealth grows more complex, the real question isn’t how much real estate you should own. It’s why you own it.

At EverPar, we spend a lot of time helping families answer that question. Because the truth is, real estate can either strengthen your broader plan or quietly complicate it. The key is understanding how each property fits into your goals for income, liquidity, tax efficiency, and legacy.

Deciding Whether Real Estate Belongs in the Portfolio: 3 Key Factors

Real estate is just one option among many for building and preserving family wealth. Before we talk about which properties or how much exposure, we need to understand:

Does this actually fit what you’re trying to accomplish?

We have to evaluate whether real estate investments align with your family’s wealth transfer and tax planning objectives, explore how they might fit into your broader financial plan, and assess potential returns they could offer.

Typically, we’ll start by looking at a few key factors:

What you already own. Most of our clients already have real estate holdings. A big part of our work is analyzing what you currently have and determining whether adding more makes sense or if diversifying into other areas better serves your family.
Your liquidity picture. Unlike stocks or bonds, you can’t simply sell real estate when you need cash. For families managing multiple trusts, businesses, and other entities, this matters a great deal. Are you looking for cash flow? Growth? Inflation protection? Each goal potentially points us in different directions.
The diversification factor. Many families we meet are concentrated in one type of real estate, such as office buildings or rental homes. We like to look at diversification by both geography and property type (multi-family, industrial, office, retail, etc.). Different sectors perform differently at different times, and over-concentration creates unnecessary risk.

Real estate can be a powerful tool for families, but only when it actually aligns with your goals and circumstances.

The Hidden Cost of Property Management: Time, Labor, and Complexity

One of the most common conversations I have with families about managing their real estate holdings starts the same way: “I’m just tired of dealing with it.”

Over time, the work that comes with owning and operating real estate (like filing tax returns, managing tenants, and making distributions to family members or investors) can start to feel more like a second full-time job than an investment. If you own multiple properties or entities, that administrative load compounds quickly.

When clients reach the point where they’re looking for more simplicity, that’s typically when we step in to help evaluate options.

Thinking Globally, Proceeding Carefully

If you’re looking outside the U.S., international real estate presents both opportunity and complexity. Each country has its own rules, and some restrict land ownership by Americans while others limit financing or impose additional taxes. Navigating this puzzle often requires coordination among:

Local legal counsel, to ensure compliance with property laws
Cross-border tax experts, to mitigate unexpected liabilities
Proactive advisors to align the investment with your family’s broader strategy and coordinate between these different professionals

In many cases, we find it’s more efficient (and often less expensive) to gain global exposure through private real estate funds rather than direct ownership abroad.

Finding a Different Path Through Private Funds

Often, transitioning away from direct ownership toward a private real estate fund can provide the same exposure to the asset class without the daily responsibility. These funds allow you to retain the benefits of diversification and potential income while freeing you from the operational side of property management.

Our goal here isn’t to talk you out of real estate; it’s to help ensure the asset supports your lifestyle and long-term strategy, not the other way around. Sometimes, simplifying the way you hold real estate can turn an illiquid, time-intensive asset into one that works for you, instead of one that demands more from you.

Aligning Real Estate with Family Legacy and Generational Goals

Not long ago, I worked with a family who had spent decades building an impressive real estate portfolio. They were proud of it (and rightfully so).

As part of their estate plan, they intended to pass several properties down to their children. But when we brought the next generation into the conversation, the kids surprised everyone: They didn’t want the properties. They lived in other states and had no desire to manage rentals or deal with upkeep.

That moment happens more often than you’d think. You might see your family real estate as a legacy, something built with care and meant to endure. But your children may value flexibility, liquidity, and simplicity over physical assets that come with tax filings, maintenance costs, and management stress.

That’s why one of the most important steps in multigenerational planning is having the conversation early. Ask your children how they feel about the properties you own. Would they want to manage them, share them, or sell them? Those answers can help you decide whether to restructure holdings, transition assets into income-producing funds, or sell and reinvest in something that better fits everyone’s needs.

Additional Considerations for Families with Multiple Business Entities

If you own multiple businesses or family entities, real estate can play a uniquely strategic role in your overall portfolio. It can provide stability, serve as a source of liquidity, and often becomes a key part of succession and tax planning.

But managing those pieces effectively requires coordination and clarity on how each property fits into your bigger picture. We help you work through these questions with a comprehensive view of your financial goals:

Cash Flow: Does your real estate provide stable income that supports other parts of the business or family entities?
Leverage: Are loans structured in a way that aligns with your liquidity and risk tolerance?
Taxes: Are there IRS provisions or trust structures that might allow for more tax-efficient transfers of property across generations?
Ownership Frameworks: Could LLCs, partnerships, or trusts help protect privacy, manage liability, and simplify future transitions?

When your real estate strategy is integrated with your business and estate plans, you can work toward preserving value while creating flexibility for the generations that follow.

The Current Real Estate Market: Finding Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World

When offices sat empty during the pandemic, properties that once felt stable suddenly looked uncertain. That moment made a lot of investors step back and ask, “What role should real estate really play for us going forward?”

Since then, different parts of the market tell very different stories. Student housing remains one of the most undersupplied sectors in the U.S., with campuses struggling to meet growing demand. Universities like Oklahoma State have seen students scrambling for housing, even being redirected off campus at the start of the semester. That kind of consistent demand can create a strong, long-term opportunity for families looking for income-producing investments that aren’t tied to traditional office or retail space.

Industrial real estate is another potential opportunity, fueled by the return of U.S. manufacturing and the ongoing need for logistics and distribution hubs. In both sectors, success still comes down to the fundamentals: location, access, and purpose.

Our job is to help you think strategically about where your family real estate belongs in today’s market. That means finding the right opportunities, avoiding overexposure in the wrong areas, and making sure each investment supports your goals for income, liquidity, and legacy.

Where Does Real Estate Fit into Your Family’s Bigger Picture?

Your real estate holdings are part of your family’s financial story. At EverPar, these are some of the most meaningful conversations we have with clients: exploring how to make each asset, including real estate, work in concert with the rest of your plan.

If you’d like to take a closer look at where your properties fit into your finances or if any new questions have come up, we’d be happy to continue that discussion with you.

If you’ve built meaningful real estate or business assets but aren’t sure how they fit into your long-term financial plan, our Foundation Session can help. This introductory meeting gives you a clear, objective view of how your wealth is structured, including how real estate, liquidity, and estate planning all connect. It’s a simple first step toward understanding whether your current plan truly reflects the life you’re building for your family.
Learn more about our Foundation Session.

This Fall, Let’s Make Sure Your Estate Plan Still Reflects Your Life

As seasons change, so do our families, goals, and lives. Is your estate plan keeping up?

By Courtney Hoffman CFP®, AAMS™, EverPar Advisors

Key Takeaways:

Why should I review my estate plan this fall? Because life changes faster than paperwork. A quick review can help ensure your plan reflects today’s reality.
What are the most common estate planning oversights? Families often don’t fully understand how documents flow, or they discover a trust wasn’t properly funded. Both can create avoidable complications.
What role does communication play in estate planning? Knowing where documents are stored and who holds what responsibility can be just as important as the documents themselves.

Fall has always felt like a natural time to pause and take stock. The air shifts, the pace changes, and there’s something about this season that invites us to look back on the year while preparing for what’s ahead. For many families, that rhythm of reflection extends to estate planning, too.

And if you’re like many families we work with, you’ve already done the heavy lifting. You’ve built trusts, created documents with a capable estate planning attorney, and set structures in place. But here’s what I’ve noticed over the years: Life can move faster than paperwork.

A grandchild is born. You start a new business venture. Family dynamics shift in ways you didn’t anticipate. These moments accumulate quietly, and before long, the documents sitting in your file may not quite match the life you’re living today.

Through years of coordinating these reviews, I’ve learned that it’s often the small gaps, not the big oversights, that create unnecessary complexity down the road. This is why fall is the perfect time to catch them—together.

What We See Most Often in Estate Planning for High-Net-Worth Families

When we review estate plans with families like yours, two common themes often surface. These aren’t failures of planning; they’re natural gaps that emerge as life unfolds.

#1: The process flow is fuzzy

You know you have trusts. You remember the general intent behind them. But if I asked you to walk me through exactly what happens when a triggering event occurs (a death, a milestone birthday, a business transition) could you map it out with confidence?

The answer is often “no,” and that’s completely understandable. Legal documents don’t translate easily into mental pictures. The mechanics of how assets move from one trust to another or from an entity to a person often remain abstract, even to people who carefully plan everything.

To help bring clarity to your unique situation and solve this puzzle, we partner with your estate planning attorney to create a flow-chart, so you can see your entire plan mapped out visually.

#2: Trusts aren’t always properly funded

This is another place where we see quiet gaps emerge. You may have gone through the process of creating a trust with your attorney, and on paper it looks complete. But in practice, not every asset always makes its way in.

The most common example? A home deed that was never actually transferred. We’ve pulled county records for families and discovered that a property is still titled in their individual name, not in the trust, meaning that when the time comes, it won’t move the way they intended.

That’s why part of our EverPlan process is to walk through your “big-ticket” items together. We’ll look at your home, your business interests, investment accounts, and any new assets you’ve acquired. Step by step, we confirm whether each one is properly titled and aligned with your estate plan.

Your Autumn Estate Planning Checklist

By the time October rolls around, most of us have our own rituals for getting ready for the months ahead. Maybe it’s pulling the sweaters out of storage, raking leaves, or prepping the house before winter sets in. Estate planning deserves the same kind of seasonal check-in, a practical ritual that protects what you’ve built and keeps it aligned with the life you’re living now.

When I sit down with families this time of year, here are the touchpoints we often walk through together:

Confirm successor trustees and executors are still appropriate

Perhaps a parent has aged significantly, or a sibling has passed away. Or maybe your children have matured into capable adults who could now serve in these roles. It’s worth confirming the people named still make sense for today.

Document any family changes

Has there been a birth, marriage, divorce, or death in your family this year? Even one event can shift how your estate plan functions!

Incorporate new assets

Did you purchase property this year? Start a business venture? Bring on new partners or adjust ownership structures? We check that each addition is woven into your estate plan.

Review any relevant tax and legislative updates

Laws shift and tax strategies evolve (especially for high-net-worth families with complex financial needs). Even when your personal situation stays the same, sometimes the landscape around estate planning changes enough to warrant us taking another look.

Consider charitable giving and annual gift tax exclusion strategies

Fall is also a natural time for us to think about year-end charitable contributions and tax strategies that align with both your values and your financial goals.

Confirm documents are stored securely and digital assets are accessible

Your family should know where to find your documents and how to access important digital accounts. This simple step can make an enormous difference during a difficult time.

Remember, you don’t have to tackle this checklist alone—we’re here to help coordinate with your other financial professionals and guide you through the process.

Bonus Checklist Item: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

One of the most important steps in estate planning isn’t in the documents themselves; it’s in the conversations around them. Families spend so much time building structures to protect what they’ve earned, but if no one knows where the documents are, who has what responsibility, or what’s changed in recent years, even the best-laid plans can create confusion.

That’s why we encourage you to use the natural gathering points of the season (around a Thanksgiving table, at a family celebration, or even during a quiet visit with loved ones) as opportunities to share. Talk about where your documents live, who’s been named to important roles, and how new milestones (like a marriage, birth, or business venture) fit into your broader estate plan.

These conversations don’t need to feel heavy or exhaustive. In fact, the simpler and clearer, the better. A few minutes of transparency today can prevent hours of stress and uncertainty later.

Protecting Today, Preparing for Tomorrow

At EverPar, our role is to quarterback this process, partnering with your estate attorney, verifying titling, and coordinating the moving pieces so nothing falls through the cracks.

Your estate plan was likely solid when it was created. But as fall reminds us, change is constant. These reviews aren’t about finding problems; they’re about confirming your plan still reflects the life you’re living and the legacy you hope to leave.

If you’d like to talk through your current estate structure or have questions about coordinating a review this fall, we’d be happy to continue that conversation. Our goal is to help ensure your estate plan reflects both the season you’re in today and the legacy you want to leave tomorrow.

If you’re wondering whether your estate plan is truly aligned with the life you’re living today, our Foundation Session is a thoughtful place to start. These reviews help families with complex wealth structures see clearly how their plans flow, confirm assets are titled correctly, and uncover small gaps before they create stress for future generations. Learn more about our Foundation Session.

Generational Wealth Transfers: Ways to work towards Optimizing Your Children’s Inheritance & Prepare Them for Success

A strategic approach designed to help prepare your children for the future

By: Michael Christian, CFA®, CAIA®, Founding Partner

Key Takeaways:

What are common tools for transferring wealth efficiently? Strategies like annual gifting, trusts, Roth IRA conversions, intra-family loans, and life insurance may help minimize taxes while protecting family assets.
What common mistakes can undermine wealth transfers? Families may fail to update estate plans, overlook beneficiary designations, neglect to use available exemptions, or avoid discussing plans with heirs, which can lead to disputes and unnecessary tax costs.
How do taxes affect wealth transfers? From federal estate and gift taxes to state inheritance taxes, the rules can significantly alter outcomes. Planning ahead can potentially help you avoid unnecessary liabilities.

Sometimes it can feel like the hardest part isn’t building wealth but figuring out the best way to transfer it to the next generation.

Often, successful generational wealth transfers don’t happen by accident. It requires intentional planning, from selecting the right tax-efficient structures to gradually shifting financial responsibility over time.

I currently work with a family where the father has been making every financial decision for decades. When we first started our relationship, his children were just reaching legal age. Today, nearly 15 years later, his children actively participate in investment decisions, confident in their ability to manage finances.

In my experience, what appeared to make the difference was starting the transition early and methodically. That process combined education, structured planning, and gradual responsibility shifts, helping preserve family harmony while building the next generation’s confidence.

Why Do Effective Strategies for Passing Along Wealth Matter?

With the Great Wealth Transfer underway, trillions of dollars are shifting from Baby Boomers to their heirs. Families are increasingly focused on transferring assets efficiently, minimizing taxes, and preserving family harmony. This process (often encompassed under estate planning), involves more than just writing a will—it often requires strategic foresight designed to help protect wealth from erosion through taxes, legal fees, or poor management.

In some circumstances, failing to account for estate taxes could leave heirs with significant liabilities, reducing the intended inheritance. Moreover, in blended families or those with special needs children, tailored strategies may help ensure equitable distribution and protection.

By planning with purpose, families can help create a lasting legacy. The focus isn’t just on transferring money, but doing so strategically, so it can arrive intact, efficiently, and in line with your family’s goals.

Generational Wealth Transfers: 5 Strategies aimed to Set Your Children Up for Success

Several methods exist for transferring wealth, each with unique advantages depending on family circumstances, asset types, and goals.

5 Strategies for Effective Generational Wealth Transfer | EverPar

1. Annual Gifting & Education Funding

One of the simplest approaches to transferring wealth is annual gifting. Under current IRS rules, parents can gift up to $19,000 per child annually without incurring gift taxes, or $38,000 if married and splitting gifts.¹ This strategy may reduce the taxable estate over time while allowing children to benefit immediately, perhaps for education or home purchases.

For larger transfers, parents can accelerate gifting into 529 plans for education, potentially front-loading five years’ worth of gifts tax-free when structured properly. Direct payments for tuition or medical expenses also typically bypass gift taxes, providing targeted support without diminishing the estate.

2. Trusts

Trusts offer control, protection, and tax efficiency, making them potentially suitable for passing wealth to children:

A revocable living trust is designed to allow parents to manage assets during their lifetime while avoiding probate upon death.
Irrevocable trusts, such as 2503(c) minor’s trusts, remove assets from the estate, which can reduce estate taxes while providing for children’s needs until they reach adulthood.
A discretionary trust is designed to let trustees distribute funds based on conditions like age milestones or educational achievements, preventing squandering of wealth.

For asset protection, trusts may help shield inheritances from creditors, divorce settlements, or poor financial decisions by the heirs. Trusts can potentially help to minimize income taxes on investments and defer capital gains, and in cases of minor children, they may help ensure funds are managed responsibly while avoiding court-supervised guardianships.

3. Intra-Family Loans

Intra-family loans provide another potential tax-efficient option. Parents can lend money to children at low interest rates—often the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR)—for purposes like buying a home or starting a business. If forgiven over time, these loans can effectively become gifts without immediate tax implications, though proper documentation is crucial to help avoid IRS scrutiny. This method can help foster financial independence while keeping wealth within the family.

4. Roth IRA Conversions

Roth IRA conversions are another common option for long-term wealth building. Parents can convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs, paying taxes upfront but allowing tax-free growth and withdrawals for heirs.

5. Advanced Strategies for Business Owners

For business owners, advanced strategies like grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) or family limited partnerships (FLPs) can be useful. These structures are designed to work by taking advantage of valuation discounts, often allowing you to transfer appreciating assets at below-market rates. The IRS recognizes that interests in family businesses or partnerships may have reduced value due to factors like lack of control or limited marketability. This usually means you can transfer more wealth using less of your lifetime gift tax exemption.

Potential Tax Implications in Wealth Transfers

Tax considerations are pivotal in 2025, with the federal estate tax exemption at $13.99 million per individual, or $27.98 million for couples.² Estates exceeding this face a 40% tax rate,³ but most families fall below, focusing instead on gift and income taxes. The lifetime gift tax exclusion aligns with the estate exemption, allowing substantial transfers without taxation if under the limit.

Are There State Inheritance Taxes?

State tax considerations can dramatically impact your family’s wealth transfer strategy, and these rules vary significantly across jurisdictions. While federal estate taxes affect relatively few families due to high exemption thresholds, several states impose their own inheritance or estate taxes with much lower exemptions.

Typically, one of the most valuable tax benefits in estate planning comes from the step-up in basis rules. When heirs inherit appreciated assets, those assets receive a “stepped-up basis” equal to their fair market value at the time of death. This is designed to effectively erase all capital gains that accumulated during the original owner’s lifetime, providing substantial tax relief for the next generation.

The Role of Life Insurance in Generational Wealth Transfers

Life insurance serves as a linchpin in many wealth transfer plans, offering liquidity, tax advantages, and leverage.

Permanent policies like whole-life accumulate cash value, which can be borrowed tax-free, while death benefits typically pass income- and estate-tax-free (if structured properly).

For families with illiquid assets like real estate, insurance may provide funds to cover estate taxes without forced sales.

Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) are designed to remove proceeds from the estate, which may help you avoid taxes while directing benefits to children.

This can be particularly useful for equalizing inheritances in families with uneven asset distribution, such as passing a business to one child while insuring equivalent value for others.

Common Mistakes

Despite best intentions, pitfalls abound, including:

Failing to create or update an estate plan, leading to intestacy laws dictating distribution, often causing family rifts.
Neglecting beneficiary designations on accounts like IRAs or life insurance can override wills, directing assets unintendedly.
Underutilizing exemptions, leaving estates vulnerable to taxes that could be mitigated through timely gifting.
Poor communication fostering resentment, while discussing plans openly aligns expectations and educates heirs on managing wealth.
Overlooking asset protection can expose inheritances to risks like lawsuits or divorce.
Finally, ignoring family dynamics—such as special needs or spendthrift children—can lead to inequitable outcomes; customized trusts address these.

Build Your Generational Legacy

Passing wealth from one generation to the next is one of the most meaningful (and complex) financial decisions families face. By leveraging strategies like gifting, trusts, and life insurance, while navigating tax rules and avoiding common errors, you may be better positioned to strategically pass down your hard-earned assets and empower future generations.

Whether you’re curious about advanced transfer techniques, concerned about upcoming tax changes, or want to discuss how your current strategy aligns with your evolving goals, we’d love to connect.

If you’re stepping into a family wealth stewardship role for the first time, our Foundation Session is designed specifically for your situation. These sessions may help individuals who are managing wealth that will impact generations understand their current position and develop a thoughtful approach to family financial leadership. Schedule a call to learn more.

¹https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/529-plans-questions-and-answers

²https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025

³https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025

Disclaimer:

Why your financial plan matters more than market predictions

By: Craig Silberg, Founding Partner at EverPar

Key Takeaways:

A solid financial plan can anchor you through market volatility.
Focus on what you can control, like asset allocation and spending.
Regular communication with your advisor helps prevent emotional investing decisions.
Measure financial success in decades, not quarters.

As we cross the halfway point of 2025, I find myself reflecting not on where the S&P 500 closed or what yields are doing but instead on the enduring power of generational wealth planning. As family wealth stewards, our clients understand that true financial success is measured in the legacy we build for the future, not short-term predictions.

Yes, the first half of the year brought plenty of confusion and uncertainty. Tariff discussions dominated headlines, geopolitical tensions created market volatility, and everyone seemed to have a prediction about what would happen next.

But here’s what we’ve learned from working with families across multiple market cycles: there’s always something new creating uncertainty. The headlines change, but the fundamental challenge remains, how do you stay focused on what truly matters for your family’s long-term wealth when the noise of daily market movements tries to pull your attention away?

The real challenge isn’t market volatility

What we’ve experienced over the past six months isn’t unique. Markets go through volatility regularly, and new concerns will always be on the horizon. The financial landscape is constantly shifting, whether due to trade policies, conflicts in the Middle East affecting oil prices, or economic data that doesn’t meet expectations.

The real challenge isn’t predicting these events, it’s managing your response to them. This is where the value of comprehensive financial planning becomes clear, and frankly, this is where we see the biggest difference between our clients and those who try to navigate their financial future alone.

Keeping a long-term perspective

At EverPar, we believe that a comprehensive financial strategy that’s been carefully crafted and consistently refined serves as your anchor in turbulent times. Then, when markets fluctuate and headlines create uncertainty, you can focus on staying aligned with your long-term vision for your family’s wealth.

We work with clients to develop detailed probability analyses that can help illustrate what rate of return a portfolio may need to work toward long-term goals (though no outcomes can be guaranteed). For example, if your plan requires a 5% average annual return over time, some years might underperform that benchmark while others will outperform. What matters is the long-term trajectory, not the daily fluctuations that dominate financial news.

For example, instead of looking at asset returns over the past year or two, we examine decades of return data to inform financial decisions. According to 97 years of market performance, stocks have outperformed other asset classes, making them a key piece of any retirement portfolio.^[1]

97-year period (1928-2024)
Investment	Average annual return
S&P 500 (with dividends)	9.96%
Baa corporate bonds	6.6%
10-year treasury bonds	4.8%
3-month treasury bills	3.4%

We believe that maintaining a long-term investment perspective can help investors stay focused on their goals during periods of market uncertainty, though all investments carry risk and there are no guarantees of positive returns.

The importance of regular communication

One pattern I’ve seen throughout market cycles is how the absence of regular communication with your advisory team can lead to emotional decision-making. Without ongoing dialogue, the daily noise of financial media may cause you to make moves you wouldn’t normally consider, like buying or selling assets at the wrong moments.

We recommend regular check-ins with your team that go beyond portfolio performance. This includes:

What’s happening in your life
How market events might be affecting your confidence
Whether any adjustments to your plan are warranted

In our experience, these conversations are essential to maintaining a coordinated financial strategy that continues serving your evolving needs.

How we can prepare for the unknown

The families we work with understand that if you’re in a fearful mindset, there will always be something to worry about. The key is maintaining perspective on what truly matters and focusing on what you can control for generational financial success.

This means focusing on:

Asst allocation – We evaluate approaches that align with your risk tolerance and time horizon rather than attempting to time market movements.
Spending vs. portfolio – We can discuss how your lifestyle goals can be sustainable, given your current and projected portfolio growth. This could mean having honest conversations about taking on additional portfolio risk, adjusting spending habits, or both.
Your complete financial picture – We can include assets that may be added later through business sales, inheritance, or other sources. Your plan should account for these possibilities while remaining flexible enough to adapt as circumstances change.

Start taking a decades-long perspective

When thinking about your financial future, financial plans and investment lifetimes can be measured in decades, not months or quarters. Some years will provide exceptional returns while other years will disappoint, but we can never be sure which years will fall into which category.

What we can control is our emotional response through detailed planning and regular communication with your advisory team. When market volatility inevitably creates fear, having done the analytical work upfront can provide the confidence to stay the course.

The second half of 2025 will bring new challenges and opportunities. The difference for EverPar clients is that they’ll face this uncertainty with a comprehensive plan, regular communication with their advisory team, and added confidence that comes with thoughtful preparation.

Sources:

^[1] https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/New_Home_Page/datafile/histretSP.html

¹ Investopedia, “S&P 500 Average Returns and Historical Performance.“

EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Diversification does not ensure profit or guarantee against loss. Past performance shown is not indicative of future results, which could differ substaintally. An investment in the private investments involves significant risks and is suitable only for those persons who can bear the economic risk of loss of their entire investment and who have limited need for liquidity in their investment. There can be no assurance that the investment will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the private investment carries with it the inherent risks associated with the underlying investments. Each prospective investor should carefully review the Confidential Offering Memorandum and Limited Partnership Agreements before investing. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.

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Build Your Generational Legacy

The real challenge isn’t market volatility

Keeping a long-term perspective

The importance of regular communication

How we can prepare for the unknown

Start taking a decades-long perspective

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