Case Study: Inheritance, Three Siblings & the Family Home

Supporting a family in decisions about the house, inherited IRAs, the brokerage split, and attorney-coordinated paperwork.

THE FAMILY STORY

Laura’s father passed away five years ago. Her mother lived safely at home with the help of in-home aides and family visits. With her mother’s recent passing, Laura and her brothers faced a second goodbye. Laura became executor (again), and hoped to keep decisions with her siblings calm and fair.

The questions started to pile up: What if we sell the house now, rent it for a year, or wait? What if one sibling wants their share of Mom’s brokerage account in cash and another prefers an in-kind transfer? What if I make a mistake because I don’t know the rules for an inherited IRA?

With her father's passing a few years ago, being executor was somewhat straightforward since most of the assets transferred to her mother. This inheritance from her mother (and the decisions to make with her brothers) brought her to Sachetta for a steadier way forward.
Inheritance Sell Family Home Sachetta sq

THE FAMILY PLAN

A calm, shared path that prioritized fair decisions, simple timelines, and kind conversations.

  1. House decision framework: A current valuation and step-up were documented, a clear keep/sell/rent comparison was shared, and a decision date with interim roles (mail, insurance, maintenance) was set so no one felt rushed.

  2. Inherited IRA & Roth strategy: A 10-year roadmap was matched to Laura’s life, easing off in near-term higher-income years and taking a bit more in lower-income retirement years. The smaller Roth was given room to grow and reserved for later years unless needs change.

  3. Brokerage account split: A plan to divide the remaining account in a mix of cash and in-kind transfers was outlined, with clear notes on what each choice meant for taxes and timing.

  4. Attorney coordination, not family errands: Probate steps, deed work, and beneficiary or titling updates flowed through the estate attorney, while Laura stayed informed without acting as go-between.

  5. Tax planning & preparation for Laura and her husband: A clear tax game plan connected the inheritance to their joint return, projecting brackets, coordinating estimates and withholdings, and preparing the return so surprises were avoided and decisions stayed paced.

ACTIONS IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS

The first 90 days focused on the few things that mattered most right away, at a steady pace.

  • Getting organized together: One shared checklist, a simple contact list, and a central place for documents and passwords including tax records so everyone knew what came next.

  • Information gathering for the house decision: A current valuation and step-up were documented, interim roles for mail, insurance, property taxes, and maintenance were assigned, and a calm decision date was set for later.

  • Inherited IRA initial roadmap: A 10-year outline was drafted that takes less in higher-income years and more in later lower-income years, with a note to revisit amounts after the first tax projection.

  • Brokerage account split options clarified: Cash versus in-kind paths were explained in plain language, with simple notes on what each choice means for taxes and timing. Decisions can wait. 

  • Attorney coordination and early tax work: Probate and deed steps began, and preparation started for required tax filings including final returns and the estate tax return.

RESULTS

The siblings agreed to sell the house on a shared timeline. IRA and Roth withdrawals followed a flexible, straightforward plan. The brokerage split was agreed and documented, with clear next steps. Paperwork ran through the attorney, not family group texts. Each month brought calm progress on the financial side so healing could continue on the family side.

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

 

If you’re sorting through an inheritance in the midst of loss, you don’t have to do it alone. A coordinated plan brings order, lowers the temperature on decisions, and keeps life moving at a pace that feels right.

  • Put accounts, roles, and timelines in one clear view.

  • Pace decisions so today’s needs are covered while tomorrow stays on track

  • Align planning and taxes under one roof, including inherited accounts

  • Keep documents current and let the attorney handle filings and deeds

  • Stay connected with brief check-ins so details move quietly in the background

Financial Planning for an Inheritance Sachetta

 

 

 

You bring your what-ifs.

We'll bring a plan. 

We’ll walk with you, at your pace—clear priorities now, steady guidance for what’s next.

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Inheritance Financial Planning

Read more about how Sachetta helps you make sense of an inheritance—organizing accounts, coordinating taxes, and setting calm next steps at a pace that fits your life.

Inheritance Financial Planning
Planning after losing a spouse Sachetta

Behind every financial plan is a real life—full of deadlines, family goals, and important decisions. This story reflects the kinds of challenges our clients bring to us, and how we build calm, clear strategies in response. While this story is fictional, the strategies are true to life.

Disclaimer: Action plans and results are shown for illustrative purposes only, are not indicative of any specific Sachetta client, and will vary based on each client’s individual circumstances and objectives.

Last updated October 2, 2025.