Protecting Your Legacy Across Borders
At Gifford Roth, estate planning is about more than transferring assets: it’s about preserving your values, protecting those you care about, and ensuring your wealth endures across generations.
For our globally minded clients, estate planning is often complex, spanning multiple
jurisdictions, tax systems, and legal frameworks. We help bring clarity to that complexity,
guiding you with precision and discretion.
Why Estate Planning Matters
No matter how successful your wealth-building journey has been, the true measure of financial stewardship is how well it provides for others – not just today, but for years to come. Estate planning ensures that your intentions are fulfilled, your loved ones are supported, and your affairs are handled smoothly, regardless of where you or your beneficiaries reside.
A thoughtful estate plan helps you:
- Control how and when your assets are distributed
- Reduce or mitigate estate and inheritance tax exposure
- Protect beneficiaries from legal disputes or financial risk
- Support philanthropic goals with structure and intention
- Coordinate cross-border wealth transfer with clarity and care
In the spirit of ikigai – the Japanese concept of living with purpose – we approach estate planning as an opportunity to align your financial legacy with your deeper values.
Our Estate Planning Services
Every family is different, and so is every estate. Whether your situation is straightforward or multi-generational and international in scope, our estate planning services are tailored to your unique circumstances.
Estate Structuring & Wealth Transfer
We help you design an estate structure that reflects your wishes while navigating complex legal environments. Our services include:
- Guidance on wills, letters of wishes, and enduring powers of attorney
- Structuring of trusts, foundations, or holding entities
- Jurisdictional analysis of residency, domicile, and succession laws
- Asset protection strategies for heirs in different regions
We work collaboratively with your legal and tax advisors to ensure seamless implementation and compliance.
Cross-Border Tax Planning
International estate planning requires careful coordination to avoid unintended tax consequences. We help identify and plan around:
- Exposure to estate, inheritance, and gift taxes in multiple jurisdictions
- Double taxation risks and treaty optimisation opportunities
- Implications of holding assets in different countries or currencies
- Strategies to reduce taxable estates through gifting or charitable structures
Preserving wealth across generations means anticipating not only legal and familial concerns, but tax liabilities as well.
Retirement Income Structuring
Creating sustainable income in retirement requires careful planning. We help you:
- Identify and optimise income-producing assets
- Structure drawdown strategies that preserve capital
- Manage timing and sequencing of withdrawals
- Plan for currency conversions and local cost-of-living needs
Philanthropy & Legacy Initiatives
We help you express your values through charitable giving and legacy planning. Services include:
- Structuring donor-advised funds or charitable trusts
- International grantmaking and compliance support
- Family legacy discussions and education
- Integrating philanthropy into the broader estate strategy
Your legacy should speak not only to what you built, but what you stood for.
Our Process: Tailored, Discreet, Strategic
Estate planning is deeply personal. At Gifford Roth, we begin with listening and proceed with care:
- Discovery – We explore your goals, family structure, asset locations, and cross-border considerations.
- Analysis – We identify risks, inefficiencies, and planning opportunities based on current structures.
- Strategic Design – We create a bespoke estate plan with clear guidance and collaboration with your legal and tax teams.
- Implementation Support – We facilitate execution and can help coordinate with fiduciaries, trustees, and family members.
- Ongoing Review – Your circumstances may evolve. So should your estate plan. We review and update as needed.
Why Gifford Roth?
Estate planning demands not just technical competence, but cultural sensitivity, long-term thinking, and discretion. Our clients turn to us because we offer:
- Cross-border estate planning expertise, especially for expatriates and globally mobile families
- Independent fiduciary perspective, always prioritising your interests
- Coordination with international legal, tax, and trust professionals
- Long-term partnership built on trust, confidentiality, and integrity
We understand the challenges of managing a global estate, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing it’s in order.
Begin the Conversation Today
Your estate is more than a financial structure — it’s a reflection of your life, your relationships, and your values. Whether you are preparing for the future or updating an existing plan, Gifford Roth brings the insight, care, and global perspective to help you navigate the road ahead.