How the Wealthy Pass Down FortunesAnd How You Can Too

EstateSmart estate planning can save your heirs time, money, and stress. Here’s where to start.A real estate sign is shown at a home for sale in Houston, Jan. 13, 2021. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via APThe Associated Press3/4/2026|Updated: 3/4/2026Death and taxes may be inevitable. A big bill for your heirs is not.The rich have made an art of avoiding taxes and making sure their wealth passes down effortlessly to the next generation. But the tricks they use—to expedite payouts to heirs and avoid handing money to the government—can also work for people with far more modest estates.