Asset Protection & Estate Planning

Ensuring your family wealth protection for generations to come

Effective family wealth protection strategies are essential in today’s complex financial and legal landscape. Without a well-structured plan, your family’s wealth can be vulnerable to a range of threats including creditors, legal disputes, and inefficient tax structures.

Family wealth protection is a strategic approach aimed at preserving and managing family assets across generations. This involves employing various legal structures and strategies to safeguard assets from potential threats such as creditors, litigation, and unforeseen financial challenges. Effective wealth protection ensures that family wealth is not only preserved but also optimally utilised to benefit current and future generations.

Implementing robust strategies ensures that your assets are not only safeguarded but also managed and transferred efficiently to future generations. These strategies provide peace of mind, financial stability, and continuity, securing your family’s legacy against unforeseen challenges.

WHO IS WEALTH PROTECTION FOR?

Anyone looking to protect future generations

Blended families

Children with disabilities or special needs

Parents with estranged children

Those worried their will may be contested

HOW CAN WE HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WEALTH?

By employing these ten essential strategies, families can create a comprehensive family wealth protection plan that not only safeguards assets but also ensures their effective management and transfer to future generations. Each strategy is designed to address specific risks and provide robust protection, making the families financial future resilient and secure.

Family Protection Trusts offer significant asset protection and estate planning benefits. They shield family wealth from creditors and legal disputes, ensuring that assets are managed and distributed according to the family’s wishes, providing long-term security for beneficiaries.

Effective business and family succession planning ensures a seamless transition of wealth, including business ownership and management. This strategy protects the family and business’s value and operational continuity, establishing a strong foundation for future wealth.

Customised shareholder agreements prevent disputes by clearly outlining the rights and obligations of shareholders. These agreements provide mechanisms for resolving conflicts and protecting the interests of all parties involved, ensuring smooth business operations.

Founding shareholder constitutions establish the governance framework for family- owned businesses. They define roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes, ensuring the business operates smoothly across generations.

Leading Member Discretionary Trusts empower a principal family member to guide and control the trust. This structure ensures consistent decision-making aligned with the family’s long-term goals and values, based on a model inspired by the British Royal Family.

SMSFs offer significant tax benefits and greater control over retirement savings. Proper guidance in establishing and managing SMSFs maximises their benefits and ensures compliance with regulations, contributing to overall family wealth protection.

Wills with testamentary trusts provide enhanced asset protection and tax planning opportunities. These trusts come into effect upon the testator’s death, offering flexibility in asset distribution and protection against potential claims. They are particularly effective in shielding assets from family law disputes.

Unpaid Present Entitlement Protectors safeguard trust distributions by transferring them to a Leading Member or Family Protection Trust. This strategy prevents creditors from accessing trust assets, maintaining the integrity of the trust and ensuring long-term protection.

Strategic business structuring, including the use of trusts and corporate entities, protects personal and family assets from business liabilities. This approach minimises risk and enhances asset protection, particularly through the use of separate Intellectual Property companies owned by Family Protection Trusts.

Family constitutions formalise the family’s vision, values, and governance principles. They provide a framework for decision-making, conflict resolution, and the management of family wealth, ensuring that the family’s legacy and values are preserved across generations.

5 Benefits of Implementing Family Wealth Protection

Protection from Creditors and Legal Claims

Effective use of trusts and corporate structures shields family assets from potential creditors and legal disputes, ensuring that wealth remains within the family.

Tax Efficiency

Strategic estate planning and the use of testamentary and discretionary trusts can result in significant tax savings, maximising the wealth passed on to future generations.

Preservation of Family Harmony

Clear estate planning reduces the likelihood of disputes among family members, as the distribution of assets is clearly defined and managed according to the testator’s wishes.

Control Over Asset Distribution

Trust structures provide flexibility and control over how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance, ensuring that assets are used wisely and according to the family’s long-term plans.

Continuity and Stability

Ensuring that key assets, businesses, and properties are managed through trusts and corporate structures provides continuity and stability in asset management, safeguarding the family’s financial future.

Book an Appointment with our Asset Protection Team to protect your family wealth protection for generations to come.

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DISCLAIMER: Fusion Financial Solutions Pty Ltd ABN 12 123 723 642 is an Authorised Representative of Count Financial Ltd ABN 19 001 974 625 AFSL No. 227232 which is 85% owned by CountPlus Limited ABN 111 26 990 832 (CountPlus) of Level 8, 1 Chifley Square, Sydney 2000 NSW and 15% owned by Count Member Firm Pty Ltd ACN 633 983 490 of Level 8, 1 Chifley Square, Sydney 2000 NSW. CountPlus is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Count Member Firm Pty Ltd is owned by Count Member Firm DT Pty Ltd ACN 633 956 073 which holds the assets under a discretionary trust for certain beneficiaries including potentially some corporate authorised representatives of Count Financial Ltd. The information on this web page is not advice and is intended to provide general information only. It does not take into account your individual needs, objectives or personal circumstances.

Information on this website is based on current regulatory requirements and laws, which may be subject to change. While care has been taken in the preparation of this information, no liability is accepted by Count, its related entities, agents and employees for any loss arising from reliance on information within.