Where are your clients located?

Our office is in Media, PA. We serve families and business owners across Delaware County, Greater Philadelphia, South Jersey, Delaware and nationwide.

Estate and Trust Planning | Brinker Simpson

When Your Business Is Part of Your Estate

For owners of closely held businesses, the business is often the largest asset in the estate. That makes valuation, gifting and succession part of the same conversation.

We work with your attorney and financial advisor to model the tax impact of your plan, time and structure gifts and prepare gift, estate and trust returns. We also update the plan as the law and your family change.

Estate Plan Review

Modeling the estate tax impact of your current plan and identifying gaps before they become expensive.

Gifting Strategy

Timing and structuring lifetime gifts of cash, investments or business interests, including annual exclusion and lifetime exemption planning.

Trust Tax Returns

Preparing fiduciary income tax returns and advising trustees on distributions and their tax impact.

Gift and Estate Tax Returns

Preparing Forms 709 and 706 and coordinating the valuations that support them.

Succession Coordination

Lining up your estate plan with your business succession plan, buy-sell agreement and valuation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a CPA if I already have an estate attorney?

Yes. Your attorney drafts the documents. We model the tax impact, prepare the gift, estate and trust returns, and coordinate the valuations that support them. The plan works best when both are involved.

When do I need to file a gift tax return?

Generally when gifts to any one person in a year exceed the annual exclusion, or when you give interests that need to be valued, such as shares of a family business. A properly disclosed return also starts the clock on the IRS review period for that gift.

How does a business valuation fit into estate planning?

Gifts and transfers of business interests are reported at fair market value, so the valuation supports the return. Learn more about business valuations.

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Trump Accounts: New IRS Gift Tax Guidance for 2026

Section 530A accounts, also known as “Trump accounts,” are available for contributions as of July 4, 2026. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, these custodial, tax-advantaged accounts can be ...

Tax Planning • Tax Compliance • Estate and Succession Planning

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When Your Wealth Is Your Business: Estate Planning That Keeps Up

For owners of closely held businesses, estate planning is rarely just about transferring wealth. When most of an individual's net worth is tied to the business itself, decisions about taxes, ...

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Step-Up in Basis: A Powerful Estate Planning Tool

Inheriting assets from a loved one can come with a significant, but often misunderstood, tax benefit known as the step-up in basis. This provision can reduce or eliminate capital gains tax on ...

Tax Planning • Real Estate and Construction • Valuation • Tax Compliance • Estate and Succession Planning • Guide

Estate and Trust Planning

When Your Business Is Part of Your Estate

What We Do