Legacy. It’s not a word to throw around lightly—it’s the echo of your hard work, decisions, and dreams. Your estate represents years of effort, financial discipline, and love poured into your family’s future. But without a plan, the vision of what you leave behind can quickly dissolve into chaos. Taxes, disputes, and unintended consequences could be the legacy no one wants. At Black Belyea Private Wealth Management, we work with you to ensure your estate becomes a source of pride and security for generations to come, not a point of contention.
What Is Estate Planning?
Think of estate planning as the master plan for your life’s work. A will might assign assets, but a true estate plan does more—it’s a living, breathing strategy designed to grow with you and evolve as circumstances change.
What happens if life throws an unexpected curveball? A health issue, for example, could leave you unable to make decisions. Who steps in then? Estate planning doesn’t leave those questions unanswered. It establishes a framework for clarity, whether it’s managing healthcare, designating a power of attorney, or specifying who oversees your finances when you cannot.
A strong estate plan isn’t reactive—it’s proactive. It addresses asset distribution, protects your wealth, and ensures your wishes guide every decision.
Wills and Estate Planning
A will is where many people stop, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Think of it as the map’s legend—useful, but incomplete without the details that make everything work together.
A will might direct who inherits the family home, but it doesn’t answer pressing questions like: How are taxes covered? What if heirs disagree over selling or keeping the property? Estate planning fills in those blanks, using tools like trusts to manage tax implications and distribute assets over time.
At Black Belyea Private Wealth Management, we act as your Saint John-based financial advisor and financial planner to take a bird’s-eye view, integrating your will into a broader plan that addresses contingencies and ensures no gaps are left unaddressed.
Estate Tax Planning
What’s the point of growing wealth if the government takes a disproportionate share before your family can benefit? Without planning, taxes can siphon off large portions of your estate—capital gains, probate fees, and estate taxes can take a heavy toll.
We focus on strategies that minimize those losses. Trusts, for instance, can delay or reduce taxes while keeping assets within your family. Charitable giving not only amplifies your impact on causes you care about but also reduces the taxable portion of your estate.
With a tailored plan, you can decide where your wealth goes—not tax policies.
Life Insurance: Liquidity When It Matters Most
Life insurance may seem like a basic tool, but in estate planning, it’s transformative. For example, if you own a significant property, your family could be forced to sell it just to pay the tax bill. Life insurance prevents this scenario, providing a tax-free lump sum to cover taxes, settle debts, and ensure your estate isn’t drained by avoidable expenses.
Even if you think your life insurance needs ended with retirement, re-evaluating your policy could make all the difference. It’s a financial buffer that ensures your loved ones receive the full benefit of your estate without compromise.
Intergenerational Wealth Transfer: More Than Just Inheritance
Transferring wealth isn’t as simple as splitting assets. Intergenerational wealth transfer is about empowering the next generation to manage, preserve, and grow what you’ve built. Without preparation, even substantial inheritances can be squandered.
We help families navigate these conversations, building plans that prioritize education and responsibility. Trusts can establish conditions for access, ensuring heirs are ready to handle their inheritance wisely.
Charitable Giving: Leaving a Legacy That Matters
Your estate can do more than enrich your family—it can reflect your values and leave a broader impact. Charitable giving strategies, such as donor-advised funds or charitable remainder trusts, allow you to support causes close to your heart while reducing taxes.
Whether it’s funding scholarships, advancing research, or preserving the environment, your generosity can become a lasting testament to your beliefs.
Estate Planning Services
Planning an estate isn’t something you do once and forget. Life changes—marriages, divorces, new grandchildren, or shifts in financial circumstances—all require revisiting your strategy.
At Black Belyea Private Wealth Management, we build estate plans that adapt, ensuring they remain as dynamic as the lives they’re built to protect. Our approach is simple: clarity, protection, and peace of mind. Let’s create something that gives you confidence in the future, no matter what it holds.