Episode 14 | How to Build a Lasting Financial Legacy with Peter Culver

Listen Now

Listen On

Episode Notes

Are you truly prepared to secure your financial future and leave behind a lasting legacy? In this episode of the Buried in Work podcast, host Adam Zuckerman talks with Peter Culver, co-founder of Freedom Family Office, about how to simplify estate planning and ensure your family’s future is protected. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone seeking financial security, Peter shares expert insights on tax reduction strategies, wealth management, and the crucial role of life insurance in estate planning. Learn how to use life insurance to safeguard your assets, reduce taxes, and ensure a seamless wealth transfer to your heirs. This episode is packed with actionable tips to help you protect your wealth, create an effective estate plan, and build a financial legacy that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• Freedom Family Office Approach: Focusing on business owners, Freedom Family Office provides financial planning, investment management, tax reduction strategies, and estate planning, all with a personalized vision of creating an “ideal life.”
• Estate Planning Simplified: Peter breaks down the essential steps to prepare a comprehensive estate plan that ensures your family’s future is secure, including the critical role of having a will and how life insurance can be used as an estate planning tool.
• Tax Reduction Strategies: Learn why reducing taxes can be more effective in growing wealth than finding high-return investments, and how even those with moderate incomes can take advantage of these strategies.
• Avoiding Common Mistakes: Peter shares practical advice on avoiding common estate planning mistakes, such as neglecting to update wills or creating inadequate buy-sell agreements for business owners.
• Living Rich Beyond Money: Peter emphasizes that true wealth is about more than just financial assets—it’s about living a life aligned with your personal values and ensuring your legacy reflects that.

Show links:

• Connect with Peter Culver: peter@freedomfamilyoffice.com
• Website: https://freedomfamilyoffice.com

About Peter Culver

With over 25 years of experience in wealth management, Peter is responsible for building a custom wealth plan for each client. He begins with a detailed review of their current asset allocation, fees and performance, which culminates in a tailored strategy that realizes their goals and values. With experience in estate planning and facilitating family meetings, his presence among our firm is appreciated by all who work with him.

After graduating from Yale University and the University of Connecticut School of Law, Peter practiced law in New York City and Connecticut for 12 years. His law practice led him into the wealth management field, where he represented trust companies and other financial institutions. He then served as Co-Founder and President of Sachem Trust, located in Greenwich, CT and later as President of State Street Bank and Trust Company of CT. For 14 years, he served as Senior Wealth Director at BNY Mellon in New York City.

Peter’s passion is working directly with individuals and families to reach their personal and financial goals. He offers his clients deep experience in all facets of wealth management: financial and estate planning, investments and insurance, family dynamics and wealth transfer. To this technical expertise, he adds the ability to see the big picture and to integrate all the components into a cohesive plan. To both clients and other advisors, Peter is known as optimistic, an excellent listener and extremely responsive.

Education and Professional Distinctions:

• BA, Yale University (Cum Laude)
• JD, University of Connecticut School of Law (With Honors)
• Trust and Estate Practitioner Designation (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)
• #1 Client Advisor in BNY Mellon’s Wealth Management Group for 8 years
• Selected to BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s Platinum Circle (Top 10 Client Advisors nationwide) for all 6 years of its existence
• Selected 3 times for BNY Mellon’s Chairman’s Council (Top 50 Advisors worldwide)
• Past President, New York City Estate Planning Council

Community Service:

• Member, Professional Advisory Committee – Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Member, Planned Giving Advisory Council – Museum of Modern Art
• Board Chairman – Arts Horizons
• Board Chairman – Interfaith Housing Corporation
• Board Member – Long Wharf Theater
• Member — Board of Finance (Guilford, CT)
• Various Church Leadership Positions
• Hockey and Soccer Coach

Personal:

• Married, with 4 children.
• When he isn’t spending time with his family, Peter enjoys running, swimming, biking, hiking, golf, gardening, reading, crossword puzzles and mysteries.
• Peter lives in New York City and Avon, CT.

Other Buried in Work Podcast Episodes