Mike MilliganFounder and CEO, 1.oak Financial · Founder and CEO, 1.oak Financial

January Estate Planning Top Hits

27 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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In this excerpt, Mike Milligan challenges the common belief that trusts are only for the ultra‑wealthy. He explains that a well‑crafted trust can give anyone control over how and when their assets are distributed, making it especially valuable for families with minor children, beneficiaries with special needs, or concerns about a heir’s financial maturity. Milligan introduces the concept of “control from the grave,” describing how trusts allow a person to maintain post‑humous oversight of their legacy, ensuring that money is managed responsibly even after they’re gone.

Chapters

Can trust funds be useful even if you're not ultra wealthy? Is it just for the ultra wealthy?
Many people think trusts are just for the benefit of billionaires or really wealthy millionaires. They're not though. A well-crafted trust gives you control over how and when your money is distributed. Especially helpful if you have minor children or your beneficiaries are minor kids or beneficiaries with special needs, or you have concerns about your family's financial wherewithal to handle the money. So we want people, uh, trusts do leave a legacy with a string attached. We used to call this, when I was at Campbell University studying trust management, we used to call it control from the grave. Right. Is what a trust does. And if, if you still need to maintain some control if you're not here, or you, especially for minor kids or those who can't handle the money for themselves, a trust is essential.