Do you have a desire to leave a legacy for your grandchildren? While the accumulation of wealth serves various purposes during your lifetime, many people also discover a deep personal satisfaction in using their wealth to support future generations of their family. If you’re planning the transfer of some of your assets to your grandchildren after you pass, trusts can be a great vehicle to do so. Gifting trusts to your grandchildren is not only a generous way to ensure their future well-being, but it also offers advantages for you as well, as it can diminish the size of your estate, consequently reducing the estate taxes payable after your passing.
Below, we will delve into greater detail on the three key benefits associated with transferring assets to your grandchildren through trusts.
#1. Gifting Trusts Provides the Opportunity for Tax-Free Gifting
When it comes to estate planning, it’s typical for people to seek out tax-efficient ways to pass on their legacy. Establishing trusts for your grandchildren can be a tax-savvy method for saving money on taxes. In 2023, individuals can gift up to $17,000 per recipient annually, or $34,000 for married couples. This means that if you remain within these amounts, you won’t be required to file a gift tax return with the IRS. For instance, if you have five grandchildren, you could contribute tax-free annual deposits to trusts for each of them, totaling up to $170,000 in tax-exempt gifts each year. Given the prevailing 40% estate tax rate, gifting trusts in this scenario could result in potential annual tax savings of up to $68,000.
Furthermore, the trust itself assumes the tax liability on any income generated by the trusts from your contributions, meaning you’re off the hook. This arrangement allows you to make tax-free deposits and watch your assets grow without immediate financial consequences.
SEE ALSO: Preparing Your Heirs for an Inheritance: 5 Tips
#2. Gifting Trusts Allows You to Maintain Control
One of the reasons estate planning is so important is because it gives you control over what happens to your assets after you pass. In the context of trusts, when you choose to gift your grandchildren assets in this manner, you gain the advantage of continuing to oversee the assets held in the trusts as the designated trustee.
Additionally, you also retain the power to determine the type of trust that best suits your objectives, whether it’s revocable or irrevocable. A revocable trust provides flexibility because it allows for alterations, modifications, or even cancellation by the trustee at any time. On the other hand, irrevocable trusts are unalterable once established. Both options hold merit when gifting trusts to transfer wealth to your grandchildren, as they empower you to dictate the terms governing the use of the funds.
#3. Gifting Trusts Ensures Privacy for Your Heirs
In the event that you leave assets to your heirs through legal documents such as a Last Will and Testament, your family is typically required to navigate the complex and often expensive process of Probate Court. This procedure can be time-consuming and is open to public scrutiny, allowing anyone to examine the size of your estate and the specifics of your gifts. By gifting trusts where grandchildren are named as beneficiaries, you can ensure they stay out of Probate Court, saving them both time and money while also safeguarding their financial privacy.
This approach offers two-fold advantages. Firstly, it provides a protective shield for your grandchildren against potential exploitation by individuals who may have ulterior motives. Secondly, it serves as a safeguard against any creditors or potential fraudulent actors. If preserving the confidentiality of your family’s financial matters is a priority, trusts stand out as a highly effective estate planning tool for transferring assets to your grandchildren.
SEE ALSO: Elevating Your Estate Plan: Advanced Techniques for High-Net-Worth Individuals
Final Thoughts on Gifting Trusts
The decision to pass on assets to your grandchildren is deeply personal and should be made after careful deliberation, taking all available options into account. Beyond deciding what kinds of assets to gift, it’s crucial to ensure that this generosity won’t jeopardize your own financial stability or future plans. If you wish to establish lasting legacies for your grandkids, it’s worth considering the many advantages that gifting via trusts offers, benefiting not only your current financial situation but also securing the future of your heirs.
If you would like to explore the possibilities of creating legacies for your grandchildren or other beneficiaries with the guidance of a professional financial advisor, we invite you to reach out to us today. At TriCapital Wealth Management, we specialize in comprehensive financial planning services and pride ourselves in using our expertise to help you achieve your individual financial and life objectives. We look forward to assisting you on your financial journey.
