Naples-based wealth management firm encourages affluent families and business owners to examine tax-efficient wealth transfers, sophisticated trust structures and the evolving role of life insurance in estate planning.
NAPLES, FL – November 6, 2026 — For families who have spent decades building substantial wealth, one of the most important financial questions may not be how much they accumulate, but how much they ultimately preserve for future generations.
PFS Wealth Management Group, an independent wealth management firm headquartered in Naples, Florida, is encouraging high-net-worth individuals, retirees and business owners to take a closer look at advanced estate planning strategies that may help reduce unnecessary tax exposure, address liquidity needs and preserve family legacies.
“Building wealth requires discipline, patience and thoughtful decision-making. Preserving it for the next generation requires an entirely different level of planning,” said Vincent A. Virga, Founder and CEO of PFS Wealth Management Group and host of NBC Southwest Florida’s The S.M.A.R.T. Approach to Retirement.
“Too often, families assume that having a will or living trust means their estate planning is complete. In reality, those documents may represent only one piece of a much larger financial picture.”
Beyond Traditional Estate Planning
For 2026, the federal estate and gift tax basic exclusion amount is $15 million per individual. ¹ However, significant asset appreciation, concentrated investment positions, privately held businesses and complex family circumstances can make long-term wealth transfer planning important even for households below that threshold.
PFS identifies several advanced strategies that may warrant evaluation as part of a coordinated estate plan.
These include Dynasty Trusts, which may support multigenerational wealth transfers; Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), which may help families transfer future asset appreciation outside a donor’s taxable estate; and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs), which may provide estate liquidity while potentially excluding policy proceeds from the insured’s taxable estate.
Life insurance may also play an important role in business succession planning, particularly when family wealth is concentrated in privately held businesses or other assets that cannot easily be converted to cash.
“Life insurance is often misunderstood as simply a death benefit,” Virga explained. “For certain affluent families, when properly structured and coordinated with legal and tax professionals, it can serve a much broader purpose in estate planning.”
Retirement Accounts and Business Interests Deserve Special Attention
Traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts can present additional tax considerations for heirs, particularly because many non-spouse beneficiaries must distribute inherited retirement accounts within ten years.
Coordinating beneficiary designations, evaluating Roth conversion opportunities and reviewing charitable strategies may help families better understand the potential tax consequences of transferring these assets.
Similarly, business owners may benefit from reviewing succession arrangements, ownership structures and strategies for transferring rapidly appreciating assets.
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Virga also encourages families to distinguish current tax law from potential future legislative changes.
“Tax laws will continue to evolve. The objective should be to establish a thoughtful strategy today that provides flexibility for tomorrow,” he said.
Preserving More Than Financial Wealth
Virga believes successful estate planning involves more than minimizing taxes.
In his books, The S.M.A.R.T. Approach to Life and Stocks and Bonds: Not Just About the Market, he explores the importance of disciplined decision-making, financial stewardship and building a meaningful legacy.
“We can spend a lifetime accumulating assets, but if we fail to pass along the wisdom and values that helped create that wealth, we may be overlooking one of the most important parts of our legacy,” Virga said.
PFS Wealth Management Group encourages affluent families to periodically review their estate plans with their financial, legal and tax professionals to determine whether existing arrangements continue to reflect their circumstances and long-term objectives.
For additional information, visit pfswealthgroup.com/contact or call (239) 241-9633.
About Vincent A. Virga:
Vincent A. Virga is an author, financial advisor and host of NBC Southwest Florida’s The S.M.A.R.T. Approach to Retirement. With more than three decades of experience in financial services, Virga has dedicated his career to educating individuals and families about retirement, investing, taxes, healthcare, estate planning and legacy. His newest book, Stocks and Bonds: Not Just About the Market, explores how timeless biblical wisdom can provide a practical framework for modern financial decision-making.
Media Interviews:
Vincent A. Virga is available for television, radio, podcast, print and digital interviews discussing biblical wisdom and modern finance, faith and financial literacy, investor behavior, stewardship, retirement, legacy, the role of wise counsel and the personal story that inspired Stocks and Bonds: Not Just About the Market.
