Estate planning and retirement planning used to live in separate worlds. One focused on what happens after you’re gone, the other on how you live once you stop working. But according to a recent ThinkAdvisor article, those lines are blurring.

Melanie Schnoll Begun of Morgan Stanley shared that families often face unexpected events like sudden deaths, divorces, or inheritance disputes. While no plan can prevent every conflict, a well-crafted legacy plan can help avoid the worst outcomes, including long legal battles that drain assets and strain family relationships.

The article also highlighted insights from Steve Parrish of the American College of Financial Services, who says problems often arise when a client’s estate planning team and retirement advisors aren’t aligned. When those professionals work in silos, clients can receive conflicting advice about how to protect and pass on their wealth.

Parrish believes estate planning should be part of the bigger financial picture. Issues like taxes on inherited IRAs, planning for possible incapacity, or coordinating wealth transfers don’t fall neatly into just “retirement” or “estate” categories anymore, they overlap.

The good news? Clients now expect their advisors and attorneys to collaborate. With today’s planning tools and better coordination between professionals, it’s easier to align retirement goals with legacy plans and create a smoother, more thoughtful strategy for the future.

At Rhodes Law Firm, we understand that estate planning isn’t just about documents. It’s about protecting your family, your assets, and your long-term goals. If you’re ready to build a plan that works for both your retirement and your legacy, we’re here to help.