Legacy Planning

Leave a Lasting Gift for the People and Causes You Love

A legacy isn't just what you leave behind — it's the intentionality with which you leave it.


Too many families discover after a loved one's passing that the financial legacy they expected:

  • Didn't transfer as intended
  • Was reduced by taxes
  • Created confusion or conflict


At D.S. Drelich & Associates, legacy planning helps ensure what you've built reaches the people and causes you care about most.Our advisors work alongside your estate planning attorney and CPA to bring every piece of your strategy into alignment.

Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations on:


  • Retirement accounts
  • Life insurance policies
  • Annuities


Override your will.



We conduct comprehensive reviews to ensure designations are current, coordinated, and aligned with your goals.

Wills and Trusts Coordination

We work directly with your estate planning attorney to ensure:

  • Financial accounts
  • Insurance policies
  • Investment assets


Support and align with your legal documents.

  • We also help clients understand the differences between wills and revocable living trusts.

Generational Wealth Transfer

Whether transferring wealth to children, grandchildren, or future generations, we help structure strategies that may reduce tax exposure and preserve your intent.


Strategies may include:

  • Gifting programs
  • Irrevocable trusts
  • Custodial accounts
  • 529 education plans


Life Insurance for Legacy

Life insurance remains one of the most tax-efficient tools for transferring wealth.


A properly structured policy can:


  • Provide income-tax-free benefits to heirs
  • Fund charitable giving goals
  • Equalize estates among beneficiaries

Charitable Giving Strategies

For clients who want part of their legacy to support charitable causes, we help evaluate:


  • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
  • Donor-Advised Funds
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts


And other tax-efficient giving strategies.

  • Do I need a will or a trust?

    Many people benefit from having both.


    A will directs how probate assets are distributed.


    A revocable living trust allows assets to pass outside of probate, helping preserve privacy and potentially reducing delays.


    We coordinate with your estate attorney to ensure your financial assets support your legal plan.

  • What happens to my retirement accounts when I die?

    Retirement accounts pass by beneficiary designation, not through your will.


    Beneficiaries must follow inherited IRA and retirement account distribution rules, including those impacted by the SECURE Act.


    We help ensure beneficiary designations are structured thoughtfully.

  • How do I start the legacy planning process?

    The first step is a conversation.


    We review:


    • Financial accounts
    • Insurance policies
    • Existing estate documents

    Then identify gaps and coordinate with your attorney and CPA to implement a comprehensive legacy strategy.

5 Simple Steps to a Successful Retirement: Make Your Retirement a Blockbuster

5 Simple Steps to a Successful Retirement: Make Your Retirement a Blockbuster

Do you have doubts about your ability to reach your retirement goals? Are you less than confident about certain aspects of your retirement strategy? Here’s the good news…there’s always time to adjust your plan and get back on track. You can take your retirement strategy from flop to blockbuster with these simple strategies.