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High-net-worth investors face unique opportunities and challenges when it comes to growing and transferring wealth.
Investment returns often take center stage, but after-tax results and thoughtful estate planning can be equally, if not more important, in determining your long-term financial legacy.
A tax-efficient approach aligns portfolio management with estate planning strategies, ensuring that your wealth benefits both you and future generations.
Taxes are one of the largest expenses for wealthy investors. Without deliberate planning, they can erode portfolio growth and limit the value ultimately transferred to heirs or philanthropic causes. Tax-smart portfolio management strategies include:
Balance high-tax assets (bonds, REITs, K-1s) with long-term equities that benefit from capital gains rates. Managing this mix is essential to reducing tax drag.
Place income-producing assets in tax-deferred accounts; keep equities in taxable accounts for efficient compounding.
Use tax-loss harvesting to offset gains; donate appreciated securities for deductions and no capital gains.
Systematic gifting transfers assets out of your estate while allowing future appreciation to occur in the hands of your heirs. As of 2025, individuals may gift up to $19,000 per recipient annually without reducing their lifetime exemption.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), charitable trusts, and private foundations can provide dual benefits: reducing current income tax liability and creating a lasting philanthropic legacy.
Vehicles such as Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) can shift assets outside your taxable estate while retaining access or control features.
The most powerful results come when investment management and estate planning are not treated in isolation, but as complementary disciplines.
Placing growth-oriented assets inside a trust allows future appreciation to occur outside your taxable estate, directly reducing potential estate taxes.
Coordinating tax-loss harvesting with charitable giving can amplify the impact of both strategies.
By ensuring your portfolio includes the right level of liquidity, you create flexibility for your estate: taxes and expenses can be covered without the need to sell long-term or illiquid assets.
For high-net-worth investors, creating wealth is only part of the journey. Preserving it, through tax-efficient investing, and passing it on strategically, through estate planning, are equally important.
By integrating these approaches, you can maximize after-tax returns, minimize transfer costs, and ensure your legacy reflects both financial strength and personal values.
At True North Wealth Advisors, we bring 25 years of institutional investment expertise to individuals, families, and mission-driven organizations.
Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, building lasting wealth, or stewarding assets for future generations, we provide clear guidance, tailored strategies, and a trusted partnership to help you move forward with confidence.
Let’s explore how we can work together to chart the right path for your financial future.
For 25 years, I held senior investment and leadership roles at some of the world’s leading global asset managers. Throughout my career I had the privilege of advising institutional investors on how to meet their investment goals — whether it was a Fortune 500 company managing billions in pension assets for its employees, or a sovereign government stewarding surplus wealth for the future of its citizens.
The work always began the same way: by listening. Understanding each client’s unique challenges and objectives laid the foundation for an investment strategy that aligned with their goals. That process — rooted in trust, collaboration, and insight — wasn’t just about building a portfolio. It was about building a lasting partnership.
Over the course of my career, I’ve led investment teams responsible for designing and managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios, while also serving as the primary advisor to boards, committees, and executives making complex financial decisions. That dual perspective-operator and partner, strategist and listener—taught me that exceptional outcomes happen when investment insight and client understanding are fully integrated.
At True North Wealth Advisors, we bring 25 years of institutional investment expertise to individuals, families, and mission-driven organizations.
Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, building lasting wealth, or stewarding assets for future generations, we provide clear guidance, tailored strategies, and a trusted partnership to help you move forward with confidence.
Let’s explore how we can work together to chart the right path for your financial future.
Investment advisory services are offered through CS Planning Corp., an SEC registered investment adviser.Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. The information provided does not take into account specific objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific individual. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, investment, or advisory service.
Past performance is not indicative of future results; all investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Opinions expressed reflect our judgment as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.
Advisory services are offered only to clients or prospective clients where CS Planning Corp. doing business as True North Wealth Advisors and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered unless a client service agreement is in place. For advice pertaining to your specific situation, please consult with a qualified professional.