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This article is actually a sermon (and a commercial). It’s directed at the typical reader (the owner of a family business; let’s call him Joe) who worked his buns off to accumulate some wealth.

Now Joe finds out that his unwelcome real partner is the IRS. Joe knows that sooner (during his life) or later (at his death), he must transfer his business and his other wealth. Normally, the transfer is to his family. The shock comes when Joe finds out that the highest bracket of the gift/estate tax is 55 percent (rate scheduled for 2011 and after). Imagine, the IRS has become the major partner, while Joe’s family is entitled to only a 45 percent share. This first tax tragedy is clearly the work of the ‘Tax Devil.’

So, Joe goes to the professional market — typically a lawyer, accountant, insurance consultant or banker — to get help in minimizing the Tax Devil’s economic havoc. Surprise! Almost every member of this marketplace is singularly focused on what he/she does in the estate planning (really death planning) process. The huge body of knowledge necessary to effectively deal with Joe’s wealth transfer problems has caused an inefficient marketplace. We have never met anyone, your column author included, who even claims to know it all.

Unfortunately the professional advisors in this marketplace just plain don’t share their clients (even though it’s clear that additional professional know-how is essential to help the client). Even the thought of sharing a client (and the resulting fees) is discouraged by the other partners in the firm. This is the second tax tragedy.

There are many wonderful and knowledgeable practitioners in the estate planning area in this country. They are not the problem. The problem is a combination of (1) the complexity of the law, (2) the requirement to have extensive knowledge of wills and trusts, multiple areas of the tax law, economics, insurance, the client’s business and often other areas of knowledge and (3) most of all, the inability or unwillingness of the professional to share an estate planning client with other professionals who have the knowledge he/she does not have.

What is Joe to do? A second opinion is usually the answer. But where should Joe go to another practitioner who doesn’t share clients? We (your authors) have struggled with Joe’s problem for years. We tried expanding our body of knowledge: our own and the office as a whole. Helpful. But no cigar. We were still a long way from knowing everything we should know to service Joe’s wealth transfer and estate planning needs.

One day the light went on. Why not a wealth-transfer network? A network of tax planners, business appraisers, lawyers, insurance consultants and others needed to help Joe in every aspect of his wealth transfer problems. After a number of years, we have in fact put together the wealth-transfer network. It has two simple functions: (1) help Joe put together a wealth transfer plan and an estate plan or (2) if Joe has already completed his plan, give him a second opinion.

Interestingly enough, the second opinion function is the most sought after. When should you consider a second opinion? Two reasons: (1) You are just plain uncomfortable with your current plan, (2) Your entire wealth is not being transferred-intact-to your family (the IRS is still going to get a share of your wealth pie).

For example, you are worth $4 million, then your family should get every dime of that $4 million (after all taxes, if any, are paid in full). If $40 million, your family gets the entire $40 million. Stop for a moment! Fill in your own number.

It is rare, very rare, that our network cannot create a plan to pass all your wealth (every dollar of it) to your family. Simply put, we have figured out how to neutralize the estate tax devil legally. And with the help of the Network, it’s easy.

Want to learn more about how the wealth-transfer network can solve your estate planning problems (includes retirement planning, business succession and how to maintain your lifestyle for as long as you live). Or maybe you would like a second opinion on your current estate plan. Send me (Irv Blackman) a fax at 847-674-5299 or call 239-417-9732.

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Irv Blackman is a certified public accountant who lives part-time on Marco Island and specializes in estate planning, business succession and asset protection. E-mail him at wealthy@blackmankallick.com or call 417-9732. His Web site is http://www.taxsecretsofthewealthy.com.