Stephanie Seiffert blends her knowledge of trusts and estates law and experience with implementing investment strategies to develop sophisticated estate plans for individuals and their families as well as to provide fiduciary counsel to financial institutions.
My practice is focused on assisting families with the transmission and preservation of wealth for future generations as well as working with corporations and individuals to fulfill their fiduciary duties.
Whether developing a succession plan for a business, drafting a trust for the family cottage or creating an income and estate tax efficient estate plan, I work closely with clients to bring their estate planning goals to fruition. Most recently, I have been decanting antiquated trusts to trusts with provisions that are more compatible with modern tax minimization strategies. Also, I have developed a gifting strategy to assist a high-net-worth client with achieving goals of both a charitable nature and also preserving wealth for future generations of his family.
Being tasked with fiduciary responsibilities requires a disciplined investment strategy as well as an innate ability to develop and maintain relationships with families through multiple generations. With my past experience of being employed by a large financial institution, I have a keen understanding of challenges faced by corporate fiduciaries as well as the interworkings of their trust departments. This experience has been vital to my success in negotiations with corporate fiduciaries and beneficiaries of trusts with the goal of coming to a global resolution.
Despite the complexities involved with estate planning, I find clients crave simplification. To that end, I actively seek to include creative and flexible provisions in my estate planning documents to provide understandable, tax efficient solutions that will be successful both now and in the future.
Rochester Business Journal | December 17, 2021
This story, as part of the publication’s special report on trusts & estates, quotes Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert on several key considerations for clients when entering into an irrevocable trust, most notably, understanding the balance between having control over the trust and its tax benefits.
Rochester Business Journal | November 18, 2021
Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert and associate Brian Roth contributed this article on end-of-year key considerations when reviewing one’s estate planning documents, gifting techniques, tax withholdings, and tax elections, especially in light of the proposed income tax changes to fund President Biden’s agenda.
The Daily Record | August 27, 2021
Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert has been named to the publication’s “Power 20 Trusts & Estates 2021” list. The accolade also includes a short Q&A article on Stephanie’s legal practice and her outlook on the industry, challenges faced during the pandemic, and her community impact and involvement.
Rochester Business Journal | August 13, 2021
Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert and associate Brian Roth contributed this column outlining the Biden administration’s proposed changes to the current income, estate and gift tax regime, their impacts on tax payers, and steps individuals can proactively take in their estate planning to better position themselves midway through the year.
Rochester Business Journal | December 18, 2020
Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert was quoted in this article for her outlook on estate taxes amid the pandemic and end-of-year best practices for estate planning.
Rochester Business Journal | December 18, 2020
Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert contributed this article for her outlook on estate and gift tax strategies amid the incoming Biden administration, from a state and federal perspective.
Rochester Business Journal | November 06, 2020
In this article on the possible changes the new year may bring to the federal tax system, Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert was quoted for her outlook on the importance of being flexible in one’s investment portfolio and taking advantage of the current tax policies.
Rochester Business Journal | December 27, 2019
This article features Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert discussing the value of having a trusted advisor who can help navigate the complexities of a trust and estates plan.
University of Miami School of Law, J.D.
College of Wooster, B.A.
New York
Stephanie is an executive board member, treasurer and chair of the Investment Committee of the YWCA of Rochester, a member of the Women’s Council Board (an affiliate of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce), the 2016 co-chair of the Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Award, a board member of Heritage Christian Services Foundation, a member of the Nominations Committee for Asbury First United Methodist Church, the Executive Committee of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester, the Monroe County Bar Association (Trusts and Estates Committee), and the New York State Bar Association.
