The team approach to estate planning is the only approach to an effective plan.
Particularly in the design phase, but also with implementation, estate planning is best done as a team effort of individuals from several disciplines.
The core team consists of an estate planning attorney (preferably one with additional training in tax), a certified public accountant (CPA), and a financial advisor.
The team may also include an insurance professional, a professional trustee, and a professional appraiser.
The team obviously works best when communication flows freely; however, because of the attorney’s duty of confidentiality and concerns about maintaining attorney-client privilege, the attorney is more limited in communicating with other team members except to the extent necessary and authorized by the client.
