Wills, trusts and powers of attorney
We help you see which documents you have, what may be missing and what to bring to your estate attorney, so your plan covers both your legacy and your own care.
Estate planning
Legacy · Family
60-second checkIs your legacy plan ready?Take the Legacy Readiness Check →
Leaving a Legacy? Make Sure It Goes Where You Intend.
You spent a lifetime building what you have. A few documents, a few forms and one honest family conversation decide whether it reaches the people and causes you care about, smoothly, with less lost to taxes and fewer hard questions for your family.
- Check that every beneficiary form matches your wishes
- Help your heirs keep more after taxes
- Spare your family delays, confusion and conflict
Every session is free. No pressure, no obligation. In Orlando or by video.
Your Wishes
Followed
Followed
Less Tax
for Heirs
for Heirs
Less Family
Stress
Stress
Values, Not Just
Valuables
Valuables
The part most families miss
Most of what you own passes by forms, not by your will
Your IRA, 401(k), life insurance and many bank accounts go to whoever is named on the beneficiary form, no matter what your will says.
That is why a legacy plan is more than a will. It is your documents, every beneficiary form, how each account and your home are titled, and how your heirs will be taxed, all telling the same story. When they disagree, families can face court delays, surprise taxes and hard feelings at the worst possible time.
Common legacy mistakes we help families avoid
- A beneficiary form that still names an ex-spouse or a parent who has passed
- Naming “my estate” as beneficiary, which can send an account through probate
- Leaving a large pre-tax IRA with no plan for the taxes your children will owe
- Adding a child to a deed or account without understanding the risks
- No plan for a minor, or for a loved one who needs help managing money
- Never telling family where the documents are or who to call
Rules that shape what your family receives
Four facts every legacy plan should start with
Good news first: most Florida families will never owe estate tax. The bigger risks are income taxes for your heirs and forms that do not match your wishes.
$0Florida has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax
$15 millionfederal estate tax exemption per person in 2026, so most families owe no federal estate tax
10 yearshow long most adult children have to empty an inherited IRA, often during their highest-earning years
Forms firstbeneficiary designations generally override what your will says
Federal estate tax figures can change with new laws. The 10-year rule applies to most non-spouse beneficiaries of IRAs and workplace plans; spouses and certain other heirs have different options. Sources: IRS estate tax, IRS required minimum distributions. Your own situation may differ.
Your legacy roadmap
Five steps to leave a legacy the way you intend
Work through them in order. Most families can finish the first three in a few weeks.
- Step 1
Decide what matters
- Who you want to provide for
- Causes you want to support
- Anyone who may need help managing money
- What you want your family to remember
- Step 2
Put the documents in place
- A will, and a trust if it fits your needs
- Durable power of attorney
- Health care surrogate and living will
- Reviewed with an estate attorney
- Step 3
Line up forms and titles
- Check every beneficiary form
- Name contingent beneficiaries
- Review account and home titles
- Make sure it all matches your will
- Step 4
Plan for your heirs’ taxes
- Know which accounts are pre-tax, Roth or after-tax
- Plan for the 10-year inherited IRA rule
- Consider giving to charity from pre-tax accounts
- Coordinate with your tax professional
- Step 5
Talk with your family
- Share your wishes while you can explain them
- Tell them where documents are
- Consider a letter of your values and stories
- Review after any big life change
60-second legacy readiness check
Is your legacy plan ready?
Answer eight quick questions. You will see what is in place and what could cause trouble for your family later. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. I have a current will, and my family knows where to find it.
2. I have a durable power of attorney and healthcare directives in place.
3. I have checked every beneficiary form in the last two years.
4. My beneficiary forms match what my will or trust says.
5. I know how my heirs would be taxed on my retirement accounts.
6. I know which of my assets would go through probate.
7. My family knows my wishes and who to call.
8. I have a plan so a long health event does not use up what I want to leave.
Answer all eight to see your result. 0 of 8 answered.
What a legacy review covers
Five pieces that have to work together
When these pieces agree with each other, your family gets a clear path. When they do not, the conflict usually shows up later, after it is too late to fix.
Forms and titles that match
We review every beneficiary form and how your accounts and home are titled, then check them against your will so nothing passes by accident.
Florida estate planning guideLeave more, lose less
Different accounts are taxed very differently when inherited. Planning which money goes to whom, and giving to charity from pre-tax accounts, can help your heirs keep more. Roth conversions are taxable in the year of conversion and may not be appropriate for everyone.
Tax-efficient strategiesA legacy that arrives on time
Life insurance can provide money to your family quickly, and the death benefit is generally free of income tax. It can also help cover final costs or even out what each child receives.
Life insurance optionsProtect it from a health event
A long illness or care need can use up savings you meant to leave. Planning for long-term care helps protect both you and the legacy you want to pass on.
Healthcare planningNot sure your forms match?
Bring your will and your latest beneficiary forms. We will check them side by side and show you anything that does not line up.
Book a Free Legacy Review
What your family is left to handle
The difference a plan makes for the people you love
Without a plan
- Family searches for documents and passwords
- Old beneficiary forms send money to the wrong person
- Some accounts wait months in probate
- Children face a large tax bill on an inherited IRA
- Siblings are left guessing what you would have wanted
With a legacy plan
- One folder, one list and one person to call
- Every form matches your wishes
- Many accounts pass directly to the people you named
- Heirs have a plan for taxes before they inherit
- Your family hears your wishes from you
How a free legacy review works
Three simple steps, no pressure
Bring what you have
Your will or trust, recent beneficiary forms and account statements. If you are not sure what you have, that is a fine place to start.
We check it side by side
Documents, beneficiaries, titles and taxes, compared against your wishes, in plain English. In Orlando or by video.
You get a clear list
What matches, what does not and what to take to your attorney or tax professional. We coordinate with them so nothing falls through the cracks.
Your guide
Hi, I’m Roger Fishel.
I have seen what happens when a family inherits a plan nobody explained, and when they inherit one that was clear. The second is a gift. I help you line up every piece of your plan, work with your attorney and tax professional, and make sure your wishes are easy for your family to follow.
- 20+ years guiding retirement decisions
- Independent since 2021, not tied to any one company
- One person who coordinates with your CPA and attorney
Free resources
Not ready to talk yet? Start here.
GuideFlorida Estate and Legacy PlanningWills, trusts, homestead rules and the mistakes that can cost your family.
CalculatorTax Bomb CalculatorSee how large the pre-tax accounts your heirs may inherit could grow.
Free quoteLife Insurance QuoteCompare coverage that could leave money to your family quickly.
PlanningEstate Planning BasicsThe four core documents and how they fit together in Florida.
Questions
Leaving a legacy: common questions
What does it mean to leave a legacy?
Leaving a legacy means making sure what you have built, and what you stand for, reaches the people and causes you care about. It includes your will and other documents, the beneficiary forms on your accounts and insurance, how your heirs will be taxed and the conversations that help your family understand your wishes.
Do beneficiary designations override a will?
Generally, yes. Accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s and life insurance pass to the person named on the beneficiary form, even if your will says something different. That is why every beneficiary form should be reviewed and kept in line with your will or trust, especially after a marriage, divorce, birth or death in the family.
Does Florida have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
No. Florida has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. The federal estate tax applies only to estates above the federal exemption, which is $15 million per person in 2026, so most families will not owe it. Laws can change, so it is worth reviewing your plan from time to time.
How are heirs taxed on an inherited IRA?
Withdrawals from an inherited traditional IRA are generally taxed as income to the person who inherits it. Most adult children and other non-spouse heirs must empty the account within 10 years, often during their peak earning years. Qualified withdrawals from an inherited Roth IRA are generally tax-free. Roth conversions are taxable in the year of conversion and may not be appropriate for everyone. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice.
Do I need a will or a trust in Florida?
It depends on your family, your property and your goals. A will names who receives your property and who will handle your estate, but it usually goes through probate. A revocable living trust can help many assets pass without probate and can be helpful if you own property in more than one state. An estate planning attorney can recommend what fits, and we coordinate with them so your accounts and beneficiaries match.
What is probate and how can my family avoid delays?
Probate is the court process that settles an estate and transfers property under a will or state law. It can take months and its records are public. Assets with a named beneficiary, payable-on-death or transfer-on-death accounts, jointly owned property and assets held in a trust can often pass outside probate. Each option has tradeoffs, so review them with your attorney.
How do I talk to my children about an inheritance?
Start with your values and wishes rather than dollar amounts. Explain who will handle what, where your documents are and who to call. Many families find a short family meeting, or a written letter that shares your stories and reasons, prevents confusion and hurt feelings later.
How much does a legacy review cost?
Nothing. Every session is free, with no pressure and no obligation. Bring your will and your latest beneficiary forms, in Orlando or by video, and we will check them side by side and show you anything that does not line up.
Your next step
Your legacy is more than what you leave. It is how you leave it.
In one free conversation, see whether your documents, forms and wishes all line up, and what to fix while you still can. No pressure and no obligation.
Book My Free Legacy ReviewPrefer to talk now? Call (407) 974-7100
