Heirloom Consultants: Simplifying Estate Administration and Legacy Planning for Southeast Michigan

Estate administration and legacy planning can be overwhelming, especially for those navigating the loss of a loved one. This is where Heirloom Consultants steps in, offering comprehensive trustee services and legacy planning to ease the burden on families and trustees. Founded by Karen Schultz-Tarnopol in 2023 after 30 years of experience in estate administration and real estate, the company seeks to “evolve the trustee experience” by providing end-to-end support for families and individuals handling estates. Based in Southeast Michigan, Heirloom Consultants provides specialized services, including pet trusts, with a commitment to serving all clients, including the LGBTQ+ community.

Bridging the Gap: Stress-Free, Comprehensive Trustee Support for Estate Management

Heirloom Consultants officially began operations in April 2024, but its roots stretch back to Karen Schultz-Tarnopol’s three-decade-long career in real estate and estate administration. Karen founded the business with a mission to fill a gap in the market: the lack of comprehensive, hands-on support for trustees and personal representatives. Many individuals suddenly find themselves in the position of trustee, often while grieving, without knowing where to begin or how to navigate the complex legal, financial, and logistical responsibilities that come with estate management.

Heirloom Consultants steps in to provide a single point of contact for all estate-related needs, simplifying a process that can otherwise span 400-500 hours and take months or even years to complete. Karen’s goal is to remove the administrative stress from trustees so they can focus on what matters most—honoring their loved one’s legacy.

Heirloom Consultants Offers Comprehensive Trustee Services, Legacy Planning, and Pet Trusts for Peace of Mind

Heirloom Consultants specializes in a variety of trustee services and legacy planning. Some of the core offerings include:

1. Comprehensive Trustee Support: This includes everything from estate management to real estate services, such as selling homes, conducting estate sales, donating belongings, and valuing assets. The company also takes care of more granular tasks like closing accounts, navigating finances, and coordinating with lawyers and accountants to ensure every aspect of the estate is handled properly.
2. Legacy Planning: For clients who want to get their affairs in order while they are still alive, Heirloom Consultants offers legacy planning services. This includes organizing and digitizing estate information so that trustees have everything in one place when the time comes to manage the estate.
3. Pet Trusts: For pet owners worried about their pets’ future, Heirloom Consultants offers pet trust services. In partnership with Long Road Retreat, a dog sanctuary, the company helps clients establish trusts to ensure their pets are cared for after they pass. This unique service is particularly important to individuals who consider their pets family members.

While Heirloom Consultants primarily serves Southeast Michigan, the company can also manage non-real estate matters in estates across the United States, giving clients flexibility and peace of mind, no matter where they are located.

Serving Seniors, the Sandwich Generation, and New Trustees with Expert Estate Management Support

Heirloom Consultants caters to a diverse range of clients, but their primary audience includes:

• Seniors: Those who want to get their estates in order and ensure a smooth process for their families when they pass.
• The “sandwich generation” (ages 45-65): Individuals who are juggling the responsibility of caring for both their aging parents and their own families, often unexpectedly becoming trustees.
• Anyone becoming a trustee: The company also serves those who unexpectedly find themselves responsible for managing an estate and need professional support to navigate the complex process.

Holistic Estate Administration: Comprehensive Services and Empathetic Support Under One Roof

What sets Heirloom Consultants apart from other firms is its comprehensive, end-to-end approach to estate administration. Unlike most companies that specialize in one area of trustee services, Heirloom Consultants offers a holistic solution. Whether it’s selling real estate, managing legal documents, valuing assets, or even planning for the care of a pet, clients only need to interact with one point of contact.

Karen’s unique background in both real estate and trustee services allows her to offer expertise that spans multiple fields. This rare combination gives clients the confidence that all aspects of their estate will be handled with precision and care. Karen’s personal experience with loss also informs her empathetic approach to her work, making her particularly sensitive to the needs of grieving families.

Karen Schultz-Tarnopol’s Personal Journey Inspires Empathetic Estate Planning at Heirloom Consultants

Karen Schultz-Tarnopol brings a deeply personal touch to Heirloom Consultants. Her own experiences with loss and estate planning give her an empathetic understanding of her clients’ needs. She advocates for normalizing conversations about death and estate planning, recognizing that these discussions, though difficult, are necessary for ensuring a smooth process later on.

Outside of her professional life, Karen enjoys spending time outdoors. She is passionate about paddleboarding, photography, and chasing sunsets, activities that help her find balance and clarity.

Heirloom Consultants Revolutionizes Estate Administration with Comprehensive and Compassionate Legacy Planning

Heirloom Consultants is changing the way estate administration and legacy planning are approached by offering comprehensive, compassionate, and personalized services to families in Southeast Michigan. With a unique focus on pet trusts and support for clients from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community, Karen Schultz-Tarnopol and her team are committed to simplifying a difficult process, allowing trustees to focus on what matters most: preserving their loved one’s legacy.