Estate and Legacy Planning With a Coordinated Approach

Planning Ahead for Your Family’s Future

Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy—it’s about making sure what you have goes where you want and that your family is supported through life transitions. At Crane Capital Management, we provide estate planning coordination by working alongside attorneys to implement wills, trusts, and other legal documents. Proactive planning is essential even for families below federal exemption levels. Our goal is to help keep your financial plan aligned with your wishes, so your legacy reflects both your values and your assets.

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What We Do (and Don’t Do) – Coordinating the Legal and Financial Pieces

We don’t draft legal documents—that’s the role of your attorney. Instead, we help you clarify your goals and coordinate with your estate attorney so your financial accounts and beneficiaries align with your broader estate plan. By working with your legal team, we help reduce gaps between the financial and legal sides of estate planning This includes:


  • Reviewing beneficiary designations on accounts and insurance.
  • Planning for how IRAs, pensions, or life insurance benefits will pass to heirs.
  • Ensuring liquidity is available to cover taxes or expenses.
  • Coordinating asset titling, such as joint ownership or trusts.
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Planning Beyond Assets Alone

Estate planning is often about transferring wealth, while legacy planning considers the broader impact. Whether your legacy is a family cabin near Lake Minnetonka, a business you’ve built, or charitable causes you care about, we help integrate these priorities into your financial plan. We guide families through conversations about the values they want to pass on, as well as practical strategies such as:


  • Charitable giving through Donor Advised Funds or appreciated stock gifts.
  • Creating 529 accounts for grandchildren to support education.
  • Structuring inheritances to avoid overwhelming heirs with sudden wealth.
  • Coordinating succession plans for family businesses.

Keeping Your Plan Current With Life’s Changes

Estate plans aren’t static. Marriages, births, divorces, and new properties all require updates. We review estate plans regularly with clients to make sure legal documents, beneficiaries, and financial strategies remain aligned. For clients with property in multiple states—whether a family cabin in Wisconsin or a winter home in Florida—we help coordinate across jurisdictions to avoid unnecessary probate complications.

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Estate & Legacy FAQs

  • What documents are included in a basic estate plan?

    Most families need a will, healthcare directive, power of attorney, and updated beneficiaries at minimum. Some may benefit from trusts for smoother transfers.

  • How is legacy planning different from estate planning?

    Estate planning manages the legal transfer of assets, while legacy planning considers the broader impact—values, education, charitable intent, and family preparedness.

  • What about estate taxes?

    We coordinate with attorneys and CPAs to prepare strategies for families near or above that threshold.

  • Do you serve as executors or trustees?

    We don’t typically serve in those roles, but we work closely with executors and trustees to keep the transition process as seamless as possible.

Leave Your Legacy With Confidence

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