Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the estate planning process work?
The S.T.E.P.™ Signature Trust Process is a structured, specialist-led system designed to guide you through every stage of creating and implementing your estate plan:
- First, you speak with a Certified Estate Planning Consultant (CEPC) who introduces the process and determines the right path forward.
- Next, a Client Intake Specialist (CIS) conducts a discovery call to understand your family, assets, and planning goals.
- Your estate plan is then created in a guided session with a Trust Creation Specialist (TCS), where your documents are prepared, reviewed, and notarized.
- Afterward, a Trust Funding Specialist (TFS) ensures your assets are properly transferred into the trust.
- Throughout the process, a Client Relationship Specialist (CRS) oversees your experience and remains your primary point of contact moving forward.
Q: How do I know which package is right for me?
That's exactly what your Client Intake Specialist is there to help you determine. During your discovery call, they'll ask about your family structure, assets, life stage, and goals and walk you through which S.T.E.P.™ package is the right fit.
As a general guide:
Retirement Estate Plan: Retirees and pre-retirees focused on preserving and transferring wealth
Young Family Estate Plan: Individuals and couples with children in their asset-building years
Blended Family Estate Plan: Couples with children from previous relationships who need clear provisions for both families
Business Owner Estate Plan: Business owners who need personal and business interests coordinated into one plan
Young Adult Estate Plan: Adults 18+ who need financial and medical powers of attorney in place
First Responder Estate Plan: Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement professionals with occupation-specific planning needs
Trust Review & Optimization Plan: Anyone with an existing trust who wants to confirm it's funded, current, and will actually work
Trust Restatement Plan: Individuals and families with an existing trust that needs to be fully rebuilt around their current assets, family, and wishes
Not sure where you land? Start by filling out our intake form and we'll help you find the right path.
Q: How long does the process take?
Your estate plan is typically created and notarized during a single guided session that takes as little as two hours.
After your meeting, the funding stage begins, where assets are aligned with the trust.
That portion generally takes about five days, depending on the amount of assets and institutions involved.
Q: Do I have to come into the office, or can I do this from home?
Everything is completed virtually from your home.
Meetings are conducted online through Microsoft Teams, and the trust creation session, document review, and notarization all take place during that guided meeting.
Q: What happens after the plan creation meeting?
After your estate plan is created and notarized, your documents are securely uploaded to your personal digital vault.
From there, your Trust Funding Specialist helps ensure your accounts and assets are properly aligned with your trust. While your Client Relationship Specialist schedules your first annual review and remains available for any questions moving forward.
Q: How does notarization work if everything is done virtually?
During your trust creation meeting, notarization is coordinated through a secure remote online notarization (R.O.N) system, allowing documents to be legally notarized during the session.
If you live in a state that does not permit remote notarization, we will coordinate an in-person notary for your documents while keeping the rest of the process virtual.
Q: Do I need to prepare anything before my meeting?
Before your trust creation session, you’ll complete a brief intake and balance form so our team can review your family structure, assets, and goals in advance.
This allows your specialist to prepare ahead of time so the session runs efficiently.
Q: Is the estate plan still legally valid if it's done this way?
Yes. Your documents are prepared and notarized in accordance with applicable legal requirements.The virtual format simply makes the process more efficient.
It does not change the legal validity ofthe documents.
Q: Are there ongoing fees?
After your estate plan is created, you're enrolled in our ongoing education program at no additional cost. This includes life-stage-specific monthly webinars, articles, and resources, as well as access to annual reviews.
If your plan requires a formal update or restatement down the road, our team will walk you through your options at that time.
Q: Can you also set up a meeting with my family to explain the plan?
Yes, and we'd encourage it. At no additional cost, we can arrange a complimentary family meeting after your estate plan is complete.
This is a separate virtual session where we walk your spouse, children, or other loved ones through what the plan contains and what it means for them.
Too often, families are left surprised or confused after a loved one passes because no one ever explained the plan. We think that's avoidable, and we're here to help bridge that conversation.
Q: Where are my documents stored after they’re created?
Once your estate plan is complete and notarized, your documents are uploaded to a personal, secure digital vault through Wealth.com.
Your plan lives in one place, accessible whenever you need it, and ready to be updated as your life changes.
Q: Can my family access my documents if something happens to me?
Yes. You can grant access to trusted individuals so they can retrieve the documents if necessary. This ensures your executor, trustees, or named beneficiaries can access and act on your plan when the time comes.
We also strongly recommend the optional family meeting (see above) so your loved ones understand your plan and how to gain access to it (before they ever need it).
Q: Do estate plans ever need to be updated?
Yes. Estate plans should be reviewed periodically and updated after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, relocation, major asset purchase, or significant asset changes.
Your Client Relationship Specialist can guide you through the appropriate next steps.
Q: How does the funding process work?
Creating an estate plan is only half the job.
Funding it is what makes it work. A trust only controls the assets that are properly titled or designated under it. If your home, bank accounts, or investment accounts are never transferred into the trust, they may still go through probate, regardless of what your trust says.
After your creation session, your Trust Funding Specialist provides a clear funding plan and follows up over the next five days to confirm that every account is correctly aligned.
Q: What if I already have a trust?
Having a trust in place is a great start, but it doesn't guarantee your plan will work as intended. Over time, trusts can become outdated, unfunded, or misaligned with your current assets and wishes.
Our Trust Review & Optimization Plan is specifically designed for this situation. We review your existing trust (funding status, account titling, beneficiary designations, and distribution terms) and give you a clear picture of whether your plan is solid and whether it still functions properly and aligns with current laws and your goals.
If your current trust needs a complete rebuild due to changes in finances, locations, laws, or family situations, our Trust Restatement Plan fully restates every core document. In a single guided session, we’ll ensure updated provisions, current asset structures, and legal language are aligned to your life today.
Q: When should someone create an estate plan?
The honest answer: now.
Most people put it off because they think they need more money, more time, or a more complicated life to justify it. None of that is true. If you're an adult over the age of 18 with people or assets you care about, the right time to plan is before something happens, not after.
Estate planning isn't about wealth. It's about ensuring your wishes are documented, your loved ones are protected, and the people you trust are empowered to act on your behalf if they ever need to.
Q: How do I get started?
The first step is to schedule a consultation with one of our Certified Estate Planning Advisors. From here, he/she will review your goals, family situation and current assets. From their, we guide you through the S.T.E.P. process.
Q: What happens after my trust is created?
After your trust is completed, S.T.E.P. helps ensure assets are coordinated properly and provides a family meeting so everyone understands the plan. As life changes, your estate plan can evolve as well.
Q: What does it mean to "fund" a trust?
Funding a trust means transferring assets such as real estate, bank accounts, or investment accounts into the name of the trust so that it functions as intended. S.T.E.P.TM guides families through this process.
Q: How long does the S.T.E.P.™ process take?
Most families can complete the S.T.E.P.TM process in a very short period of time through a series of online, Advisor guided meetings. The exact timeline depends on your personal situation and how quickly documents and information are provided. Generally, the trust creation and notarization meeting take less than 2 hours, from the comfort of your home.
Q: Do I really need a trust?
Many families benefit from having a trust because it helps ensure assets are distributed smoothly and privately. It can also provide guidance to your loved ones and help avoid the court process known as probate.
Q: What is a revocable trust?
A Revocable Trust is a legal structure that allows your assets to be managed and distributed according to your wishes while helping your family avoid probate and unnecessary delays. It provides clarity and control over how your estate is handled.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is here to help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps.
