Al G.'s family almost lost the farm once. Now Al is confident that their vineyards will flourish for generations to come.

When Al's father passed away, the IRS demanded 13 million in cash. Because their assets were invested in farming operations, paying the estate taxes was a burden that could have destroyed the family's livelihood. Al vowed then and there that his children would never face such a crushing tax bill.

Today, the family vineyards and orange groves still stretch to the horizon. Every morning Al emerges from his modest home and walks the land. Although he has the means to travel anywhere, this is his destination of choice.

For Al and his wife Rosemary, the largest table grape growers in California, the farm is more than a business -- it is a way of life. Although they have never measured success in terms of net worth, they are passionate about preserving their life's work for their children and grandchildren. They also have a strong desire to incorporate their current support of Christian ministries into their financial planning to ensure that it continues for years to come.

Ashton Group has worked to help Al and Rosemary accomplish their goals. Our team designed a two-tiered tax mitigation strategy that included the Family Wealth Trust™. As a result, their estate and income tax liabilities have been significantly reduced, and they have completely avoided the generation-skipping transfer tax.

To protect client confidentiality in the above case study, full names are not disclosed.