From Strategy to Legacy: Building a Comprehensive Estate Plan in the $30M Exemption Era
Written by Ryan Anderson, Sr. Partner and Private Wealth Advisor, and Mike Bleck, Partner and Sr. Estate Planning Advisor The permanent $15M per person federal estate tax exemption changes the estate planning landscape—but for families at or above $30M, the stakes remain high. Every dollar over the exemption faces a 40% tax, and without planning, the IRS could become one of your largest heirs.
Written by Ryan Anderson, Sr. Partner and Private Wealth Advisor, and Mike Bleck, Partner and Sr. Estate Planning Advisor
The permanent $15M per person federal estate tax exemption changes the estate planning landscape—but for families at or above $30M, the stakes remain high. Every dollar over the exemption faces a 40% tax, and without planning, the IRS could become one of your largest heirs.
Over this series, we explored:
- ILITs. Estate tax-free liquidity for heirs.
- SLATs, GRATs, and CRATs. Flexible trusts for moving appreciation out.
- Early-Stage Gifting. Locking in low valuations for family business transfers.
- IDGTs. Freezing estate value while shifting future growth.
- FLPs. Combining control and valuation discounts.
- QPRTs. Transferring residences at reduced tax cost.
The Common Thread
These strategies all:
- Move growth outside your estate.
- Provide flexibility to meet income, control, and philanthropic goals.
- Require careful coordination between legal, tax, and investment advisors.
Why Planning Still Matters
With no looming sunset, there’s time for thoughtful, phased implementation—but waiting often means missing the optimal valuation or market conditions for transfers.
Blue Trust’s Role
We specialize in integrating these advanced strategies into comprehensive wealth plans, aligning:
- Investment management.
- Tax strategy.
- Family legacy planning.
- Charitable giving.
Our goal: help you protect, grow, and purposefully deploy your wealth into the Kingdom across generations.
What Could Be Your Next Step?
If your net worth is approaching or exceeding $30M:
- Schedule a comprehensive estate strategy review.
- Model the tax impact of doing nothing vs. implementing key strategies.
- Create a timeline for phased execution while markets and valuations are favorable.
Your legacy is more than a number—it’s the impact your wealth can have for generations and in eternity. Let’s ensure it’s directed by your vision, not by tax law default.
Ryan Anderson is a private wealth advisor and senior partner in Blue Trust’s Private Wealth division, serving clients in Houston and Dallas. Ryan works with individuals, families, foundations, and business owners on financial planning, charitable giving strategies, and long-term wealth stewardship, with particular experience advising physicians, entrepreneurs, and energy industry professionals.
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