💥 Gaps Created by Siloed Advisors

(That Only Show Up at Death, Divorce, or Audit)

⚖️ 1. Business Lawyer

Delivers: LLC, S-Corp, FLP, incorporation

Inadvertent Gaps:

• No succession planning (death/disability clause missing)

• No mention of gift tax exposure or transfer strategies

• Operating agreement lacks estate transition language

• Ownership remains in personal name — pulled into estate

• Doesn’t coordinate with CPA or estate planner on entity impact

🧾 2. CPA / Accountant

Delivers: Tax filings, entity elections, bookkeeping

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Doesn’t file Form 709 for gifted shares or insurance premiums

• Misses gift tax, estate tax, and valuation planning

• Treats FLP or LLC as compliant without validating substance

• Doesn’t coordinate with trust to shift income/assets

• Assumes lawyer structured things correctly — rarely double-checks

💰 3. Financial Advisor

Delivers: Investments, retirement planning, wealth building

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Titles accounts in personal name instead of trust

• Doesn't coordinate with attorney or CPA on beneficiary designations

• Creates IRAs or 401(k)s without reviewing estate/tax implications

• Recommends gifting assets without verifying legal structure

• Fails to manage tax-bracket planning in conjunction with estate plan

📜 4. Estate Planning Lawyer

Delivers: Wills, trusts, POAs

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Drafts revocable trust but doesn’t ensure it’s funded

• Doesn’t file gift tax returns or notify CPA

• Ignores business valuation, IP, or FLP planning

• Misses Crummey letter rules in ILITs

• Uses boilerplate templates with no asset-specific strategies

🏠 5. Realtor / Real Estate Agent

Delivers: Property acquisition and closings

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Titles home in joint tenancy or personal name (not trust)

• Fails to ask if clients have estate plan

• Doesn’t consider ownership structure for asset protection or step-up basis

• Adds spouse or kids to deed without tax implications review

🛡️ 6. Insurance Agent / Broker

Delivers: Life, disability, long-term care, and annuities

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Sets up life policy owned by insured — triggers estate tax

• Recommends ILIT but uses outdated forms or no legal review

• No Crummey notices = gift tax risk

• Premiums paid from personal or business account — pierces ILIT

• Doesn’t coordinate policy structure with estate plan

™️ 7. Trademark / IP Attorney

Delivers: Federal trademarks, copyrights, licensing

Inadvertent Gaps:

• Registers mark in personal name — goes through probate

• Doesn’t advise on transferring IP to trust/entity

• No royalty agreement = no valuation protection at death

• Leaves name/image rights exposed to estate tax or litigation