Curated Insights
Resources
Educational Resources
Legacy Planning Topics
Select a topic below to explore CLG-curated educational content. Each section includes background reading and tools to help you prepare for your strategy session with our team.
Life Insurance Basics
Understand your protection options—from term coverage to permanent whole life—in plain language before your CLG conversation.
Estate & Legacy Planning
Wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and generational wealth transfer—the financial architecture behind every lasting legacy.
Retirement Income Planning
Build income that lasts. Explore annuities, tax diversification, and strategies CLG uses to create sustainable retirement income.
Business Owner Planning
Key person protection, executive benefits, and succession planning—CLG's specialty for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Protection Planning
Disability and long-term care coverage protect the income and independence you've built. Don't overlook these before it's too late.
Family & Education Planning
From 529 college savings plans to teaching the next generation about financial responsibility—building wealth that transfers.
Planning Tools
Calculators & Estimators
Use these tools to get a baseline picture before your CLG strategy session. Results are estimates—your CLG advisor will help turn the numbers into a real plan.
Financial Calculators
Life insurance needs, retirement income gap, compound growth, and more.
Financial Glossary
Plain-language definitions for every term you'll encounter in your planning journey.
Prepare for Your Meeting
Pre-Strategy Session Document Checklist
Gathering these documents before your CLG strategy session allows us to make the most of our time together and ensures we can build the most accurate financial strategy for your family or business.
Your Pre-Session Checklist
Click each item as you gather it. The more complete your file, the more powerful your strategy session will be.
Personal & Family Information
Government-issued photo ID
Driver's license or passport for all adults
Social Security numbers
For you, spouse/partner, and dependents
Birth certificates
For children and dependents you wish to include
Marriage or divorce certificate
If applicable—affects beneficiary structuring
Income & Employment
Last 2 years of tax returns
Federal 1040 (and business returns if applicable)
Recent pay stubs
Last 2–3 months for all household earners
W-2s and/or 1099s
Most recent tax year for all income sources
Social Security benefit statement
Download from ssa.gov—My Social Security portal
Pension or annuity statements
Current benefit amount and payout options
Real Estate & Liabilities
Mortgage statements
Current balance, rate, and payment info
Property deeds or titles
Primary residence and any investment/rental properties
Loan and debt statements
Auto, student, personal—balances and interest rates
Existing Insurance & Investments
Life insurance policy statements
All in-force policies—face amount, cash value, premiums
Investment & brokerage account statements
Most recent quarterly statements
Retirement account statements
401(k), IRA, Roth IRA—current balances and contribution rates
Employer benefits summary
Group life, disability, health—coverage amounts
Estate & Legal Documents
Current will or trust documents
Most recent signed version
Healthcare power of attorney
Or healthcare proxy/advance directive
Financial power of attorney
Current durable POA documentation
Beneficiary designations on file
From all retirement accounts and insurance policies
Business Owners (if applicable)
Business entity documents
Articles of incorporation, LLC operating agreement
Business tax returns (2 years)
Federal—K-1s, Schedule C, or corporate returns
Buy-sell agreement
If one exists—current signed version
Key employee list & compensation
Names, roles, and compensation for planning purposes
Don't have everything? That's okay—bring what you have. Your CLG advisor will help identify any gaps during your session. Nothing on this list is a barrier to getting started with CLG.
Institutional & University Partnerships
University & Institutional Partnership Checklist
If you represent a university, college, foundation, or alumni organization exploring a partnership with Charlotte Legacy Group, the information below will help us make the most of our first conversation—and ensure we arrive prepared to serve your institution well.
Partnership Preparation Checklist
Organized into two parts—what your institution can prepare, and what CLG will bring to the table.
Institutional Information
University mission statement
And current strategic plan if available
Advancement & fundraising priorities
Top 3 current goals for development
Key contacts identified for meeting
VP of Advancement, Development Director, Planned Giving Officer, Foundation Rep
Org chart for Advancement & Alumni Relations
Helpful for understanding decision-making structure
Endowment & Fundraising Data
Current endowment value & growth goals
Including any active endowment campaigns
Annual giving data
Alumni participation rate, number of donors, average gift size
Existing planned giving program overview
Number of commitments, estate gifts, legacy society info
Donor segmentation strategy
Who are your top giving segments and which are underdeveloped?
Alumni & Community Profile
Alumni demographics overview
Total alumni population, age groups, geographic distribution
Top alumni engagement initiatives
Homecoming, conferences, career programs, student leadership events
Financial Literacy Priorities
Financial education topics of interest
Retirement, estate planning, wealth building, insurance, entrepreneurship, student loans
Target audience for programming
Students, alumni, faculty & staff, or a combination
Preferred program formats
Workshops, webinars, speaker series, lunch-and-learns
Compliance & Administrative
Gift acceptance policy
What types of gifts does the institution accept?
Vendor/partner approval requirements
Any procurement, legal, or compliance review steps
Branding & communication guidelines
Co-branding rules, approved messaging channels
Partnership Vision
Your definition of success at Year 1
What measurable outcomes matter most to your leadership?
Pilot program appetite
Is the institution open to starting with a focused pilot before full rollout?
Colleges, departments, or programs to prioritize
Which areas of campus should be engaged first?
Internal resources available
Staff, budget, time, and leadership support the institution can commit
Questions We'll Explore Together During the Meeting
What are your institution's top three fundraising priorities?
What obstacles prevent alumni from giving?
How should student and alumni engagement be measured?
What donor segments are currently underdeveloped?
What would success look like after one year? After five years?
Are you open to a pilot program before a full-scale rollout?
Not sure where to start? Bring your questions and your vision. Charlotte Legacy Group will come prepared with a partnership overview, planned giving framework, and financial literacy program options tailored to your institution. The conversation is the starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Legacy Planning
Questions our clients and prospects ask us most. If yours isn't here, reach out—we're always happy to talk.
What's the difference between term and whole life insurance?
Term life provides coverage for a set period (10, 20, or 30 years) at a lower premium—ideal for income replacement during your working years. Whole life is permanent, builds guaranteed cash value over time, and can serve as a cornerstone of a legacy plan. CLG helps you determine which—or what combination—fits your situation.
Do I need an estate plan if I'm not wealthy?
Absolutely. An estate plan is not about how much you have—it's about making sure what you have goes where you intend, without delay or court involvement. A will, proper beneficiary designations, and a healthcare power of attorney are essential for every adult.
How much life insurance do I actually need?
A common starting point is 10–12 times your annual income, but the right number depends on your debts, dependents, income replacement needs, and legacy goals. CLG builds a customized protection analysis as part of every strategy session.
What is an annuity, and is it right for me?
An annuity is a contract with an insurance company that converts a lump sum into a guaranteed income stream—either immediately or at a future date. They're not right for everyone, but for clients who want guaranteed income they cannot outlive, they can be a powerful tool.
What does CLG's financial planning process look like?
Our planning process is comprehensive and personalized—covering your protection needs, retirement income plan, estate wishes, and the values you want to pass forward. It's not a product. It's a plan built specifically for you, and every CLG client relationship begins with one.
How does long-term care insurance work?
Long-term care insurance helps cover the cost of assistance with daily activities—bathing, dressing, eating—if illness, disability, or aging makes it necessary. Without it, these costs can quickly erode the retirement savings and legacy assets you've spent decades building.
What if I'm a business owner — is my planning different?
Yes—significantly. Business owners face a unique intersection of personal and business financial risk. CLG specializes in business owner planning, including key person insurance, buy-sell agreement funding, executive bonus strategies, and succession planning.
A Note on External Links
Charlotte Legacy Group has curated these resources to help you learn and make informed financial decisions.
Some links may direct you to New York Life’s website, which may include options to schedule an appointment or connect with an agent.
Instead, when you’re ready to take the next step, bring your questions to us. We’d be honored to help you build your legacy.
Peggy's Pearl
"The best time to plan your legacy was yesterday. The second best time is today. Don't wait for the perfect moment—create it."
Have a question that isn't answered here? Our team is here to help.
No obligation. Always confidential.
Your legacy isn’t just about money. It’s about meaning.
We’re here to help you build both.
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