Most people assume that a will is the cornerstone of estate planning.
But in reality, the most powerful estate plans today are being built around trusts—and for good reason.

Trusts go beyond a simple transfer of assets. They offer:
✅ Protection
✅ Control
✅ Flexibility
✅ Continuity
✅ Privacy

Let’s explore how trusts work as the engine room of a holistic estate plan—and how you can use both a living and testamentary trust to cover all your bases.

⚙️ Trusts = Control + Protection

A trust allows you to set clear rules:

• Who gets what

• When do they receive it

• Under what conditions

• And who manages the process

Unlike a will, which takes effect only upon death and requires probate, trusts can be structured to work during your lifetime, providing peace of mind and legal certainty.

🟢 Use a Living Trust for Lifetime Control

A Living Trust (Inter Vivos Trust) is established while you're alive.

It’s ideal for:

• Transferring key assets now (like investments, real estate, or insurance proceeds)

• Avoiding probate delays

• Planning for incapacity or disability

• Keeping distributions private—especially for confidential or sensitive beneficiaries

✅ You retain the ability to revise, revoke, or update the trust structure while you’re still alive.

⚰️ Use a Testamentary Trust for Long-Term Distribution

A Testamentary Trust is created through your will and only takes effect after your passing and probate.

It’s ideal for:

• Beneficiaries who are young, vulnerable, or inexperienced

• Managing inheritance in stages

• A cost-effective trust solution for non-urgent distributions

• Estate scenarios where privacy is less critical

✅ Great for asset types that don’t need immediate transfer or control.

🔁 Combine Both for a Strategic Estate Plan

You don’t have to choose one or the other.

In fact, many high-net-worth individuals and professionals use both: