For many individuals, the purchase of life insurance is designed to mitigate risks including replacing income in the event of a premature death, leaving a legacy for heirs, and providing a source of liquidity for the payment of estate taxes. For those focused on the last of those risks—providing a source of liquidity for estate taxes—it can be particularly beneficial to consider using an irrevocable life insurance trust to own their life insurance policies. Listen as Dolly Donnelly, director of Wealth Strategies for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, discusses what an irrevocable life insurance trust is and when you might consider using one.

Often, financial conversations focus on wealth accumulation. However, sustainability is also an important consideration at each stage of your financial life. It requires planning, discipline of following a budget, and the ability to adapt your plan as your life changes. In this episode, Laura Russo, senior wealth & fiduciary planning analyst for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offers her insights on creating a financial plan that is built to last.

In general, the portion of a decedent’s estate value in excess of an exempt amount is taxed at a federal rate of 40%. When a decedent’s estate includes a significant and illiquid business asset, the administrator is often faced with making a decision on how to pay a very large tax bill within a very short window of time. It is important to know when a potential deferral of payment is applicable and the potential financing options for payment of the estate taxes. In this podcast, Lisa Ligas, national director of wealth strategies for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offers her insights.

2025 is shaping up to be a critical year for tax planning. Many individuals took a wait and see approach to the potential expiration of some provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Now that we have a better understanding of the priorities of the current administration, it’s time to be proactive and help you  understand your options and prepare you for when the law does change at the end of the year. Listen as Alvina Lo, chief wealth strategist, shares her insights. 

Many individuals own vacation homes in addition to their primary residences. Frequently, these properties not only have significant economic value but also hold sentimental value. For this reason, incorporating them into an overall wealth and estate plan is critical. Select a plan that is appropriate for your situation. In today’s episode, Matthew Lee, director of Wealth Strategies for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory® helps answer the question, how can holding a vacation home in a limited liability company enhance an overall estate plan?

The passage of the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provides some much desired clarity on how the tax landscape for individuals and businesses will look beginning on January 1, 2026. While we are continuing to unpack this new tax bill and its ramifications, Josh Landsman, senior wealth strategist for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offers outlines key takeaways along with some planning considerations in the areas or personal income tax, business tax, and estate tax.

With historically high exemptions from federal estate and gift taxes, many families are turning to funding personal trusts to protect and preserve their family endowments for future generations. Unfortunately, beneficiaries receiving significant inheritances may not be sufficiently prepared to inherit family wealth. A personal trust can help families who want their heirs to receive more than financial benefits from their wealth. In this podcast, Jeff Wolken, national director of Delaware trust planning for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory,® offers his insights on how to prepare your family through the use of a beneficiary well-being trust, a new trust feature in the state of Delaware.  

With historically high exemptions from federal estate and gift taxes, many families are turning to funding personal trusts to protect and preserve their family endowments for future generations. Unfortunately, beneficiaries receiving significant inheritances may not be sufficiently prepared to inherit family wealth. A personal trust can help families who want their heirs to receive more than financial benefits from their wealth. In this podcast, Jeff Wolken, national director of Delaware trust planning for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory,® offers his insights on how to prepare your family through the use of a beneficiary well-being trust, a new trust feature in the state of Delaware.  

There are several strategies to consider when looking to save on income taxes. One strategy involves lessening your amount of gross income, which comprises five methods, or pillars: deferral, exclusion, elimination, offsetting, and character of income. In this podcast, Tom Kelley, national director of income tax planning for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory,® offers his insights on how each of these pillars can help mitigate your tax burden. 

The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to reflect and reassess. And, for many, it’s also about making resolutions for personal improvement. But don’t forget about your financial health. Ensuring your wealth plan is in order is one of the most impactful ways to set yourself up for financial success and peace of mind this year. Alvina Lo, chief wealth strategist for Wilmington  Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offers her insights.