Five Key Takeaways From the 2026 Heckerling Conference

The 60th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning conference held last month, delivered expert insights to delegates on planning effectively in an ever-changing political, economic and legal environment.

The JTC and South Dakota Trust Company teams hosted a luncheon for over 350 delegates, which provided an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals, clients and friends. During the luncheon, the team offered valuable insights into current industry topics and future developments. These included topics such as:

1. Strategic Planning for the Great Wealth Transfer

The Great Wealth Transfer represents one of the most significant financial shifts in history, with an estimated $124 trillion projected to move from older generations to younger by 2048. This unprecedented transfer of assets highlights the need for proactive and strategic estate planning. Families and advisers must carefully consider how to structure inheritances, minimise tax exposures and preserve wealth through multiple generations. In addition, this shift brings new challenges, including managing family dynamics, preparing heirs for financial responsibility and ensuring that legacies are maintained in accordance with family values and objectives.

2. Modern Trust Structures and Directed Trusts

Modern trusts represent a shift away from traditional trusts that focused on quick distributions, instead emphasising long-term asset preservation to better serve family wealth over generations. Directed trusts, meanwhile, are becoming increasingly popular for their administrative model, which offers enhanced flexibility, allows families greater control over investments and distributions and reduces fiduciary liability for trustees.

3. Adapting to Demographic and Governance Shifts

Population trends are significantly shaping the landscape of estate planning, as Millennials have now surpassed previous generations to become the largest adult demographic in the United States. Currently, Millennials control approximately 8.5% of the nation’s wealth, and this figure is expected to grow substantially as they inherit assets from Baby Boomers in the coming years. This generational shift creates new opportunities for implementing dynasty trusts and enhanced family governance structures. Advisers are increasingly focusing on educating younger family members about wealth stewardship and involving them in long-term planning decisions, ensuring that family values, legacy, and financial goals are preserved across multiple generations.

4. Why Favourable Jurisdictions Matter in Trust Planning

As trust disputes impact a growing number of families with 58% of U.S. adults having experienced or knowing someone involved in such conflicts, selecting the right trust jurisdiction has become increasingly important. States like South Dakota, Delaware and Wyoming have emerged as top choices because they offer robust privacy protections, flexible trust laws and strong legal safeguards for trustees and beneficiaries. By establishing trusts in these jurisdictions, families can better shield their wealth from public scrutiny, enhance asset protection, reduce potential legal exposure and ultimately ensure greater control and stability in the administration of their estates.

5. Innovative Structures for Wealth Protection and Trust Administration

For high-net-worth families, Private Family Trust Companies offer tailored governance, privacy and investment flexibility, while trusts with spendthrift clauses can protect assets from divorce-related risks. South Dakota’s unique Special Purpose Entities provide enhanced governance, liability protection and ties to favourable trust jurisdictions while Private Label Trust services are a cost-effective way for firms to deliver trust administration without heavy regulatory burdens and high cost.

To find out more about any of these topics contact Jim Paladino, Matt Tobin or Al W. King III directly.