Living Trust & Estate Planning
Trust & Will Estate Planning
We begin with a plain language map of what you own and who you are protecting. Then we choose the simplest trust or combination of trusts that gets it done. We focus first on flexibility through revocable trusts, then layer in irrevocable structures when tax or asset protection benefits justify it.
Common trust designs include the following:
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts can move growth out of the estate while keeping flexibility for a married couple.
- Grantor retained annuity trusts can transfer appreciation on concentrated positions with low gift impact.
- Intentionally defective grantor trusts pair well with sales of private business interests.
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts provide tax-efficient liquidity for estate costs.
- Dynasty-style trusts can keep family assets protected across generations when that aligns with your philosophy.
Protect Your Money With a Trust
At EWA, we keep the human side front and center. We draft distribution standards to support education, health, a reasonable lifestyle, and entrepreneurship while still requiring responsibility. Trustees are selected with care and are often a mix of family and corporate, so there is accountability and continuity. We take into consideration the Situs and governing law so that administration and taxes are handled well.
Be Aware of Funding
Finally, we keep the plan alive. Your EWA team monitors law changes and coordinates and schedules periodic reviews. The result is a trust plan that is clear, protective, and easy for your family to operate when they need it most.
Is Our Wealth Management Approach the Right Fit for You?
- We serve high-net-worth individuals and families with $1 million or more in investable assets.
- We have particular expertise supporting households in the $10–$100 million range who face complex financial structures, liquidity events, and multi-generational dynamics.
- We do not offer standalone tax preparation or insurance services. All services are fully integrated under one advisory fee:
Protect Your Money With a Trust
EWA has a way of simplifying complicated structures to make them work. A well-designed trust turns your intentions into action—so your money keeps working for the people and causes you care about most. With offices based in Pittsburgh, we serve clients both locally and across the U.S. Request an appointment now.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many cases, yes.
A will directs where assets go at death, but it does not avoid probate, provide ongoing control, or protect beneficiaries from creditors or poor financial decisions. A properly structured trust can provide privacy, continuity, asset protection, and tax efficiency.
For high-net-worth families, trusts often serve as the backbone of multi-generational planning—not just a legal document, but a coordinated strategy.
For most high-net-worth families, a revocable living trust serves as the foundation of the estate plan. We almost always incorporate a revocable trust to provide probate avoidance, privacy, centralized asset management, and smoother administration.
From there, we evaluate whether layering in additional irrevocable structures creates meaningful tax or asset protection benefits.
Common advanced structures may include:
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs) to move growth outside the taxable estate while preserving spousal access
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) to transfer appreciation from concentrated stock or private business interests
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs) for strategic sales of closely held business assets
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) for estate liquidity and tax-efficient wealth transfer
- Dynasty trusts to preserve and protect family assets across generations
The structure is never selected for complexity alone. It is selected to align with your net worth, tax exposure, family dynamics, and long-term vision.
A trust without aligned investment strategy often fails its purpose.
We integrate the trust’s objectives with a disciplined investment policy so trustees can fulfill their fiduciary duty confidently. Asset allocation, liquidity needs, tax efficiency, and distribution standards are coordinated within the broader household portfolio.
This ensures the trust functions as intended—not just legally, but practically.
Most estate plans fail not because of design—but because of improper funding.
We assist with retitling accounts, updating deeds, aligning beneficiary designations, and ensuring trust ownership is properly executed. Without this step, assets may bypass the trust entirely.
Proper funding ensures your intentions translate into action when your family needs clarity most.
Advanced trust planning is typically appropriate for individuals and families with significant assets, business interests, or estate tax exposure.
We specialize in serving $10–$100 million households navigating liquidity events, concentrated positions, and multi-generational wealth transfer. For these families, proactive trust planning protects both financial assets and family relationships.