Lestna Retirement

Lestna Retirement We help people to protect their wealth and maximize the lasting impact of their legacy.

Lestna Retirement is a CEFEX-certified financial services company that provides holistic wealth planning services to individuals and families who are passionate about charitable giving. Our specialty is creating financial and estate planning strategies that protect your assets from unnecessary risks and facilitate the transfer of assets to your heirs and charities in a tax-efficient manner.

04/10/2026

Having strong insurance feels like you’ve checked the box. But even a $5 million policy doesn’t always protect everything you’ve built.

In this video, Vitaly explains how protection really works beyond insurance and why some plans quietly leave major gaps. You’ll see how to better protect your assets and make sure your plan actually holds up when it matters most.

If you have insurance and meaningful net worth, this is worth your time.

12/16/2025

A lot of parents want to help their kids by gifting stock or real estate while they’re still here to see them enjoy it. But here’s the part almost no one realizes: the timing of that gift can quietly change how much tax your children end up paying. Two families can make the exact same generous gift and still end up with completely different tax outcomes.

In this video, Vitaly explains why gifting appreciated assets during your lifetime can sometimes create a tax bill your children never needed to pay and why, in other cases, gifting is actually the smarter move. You’ll learn how this decision really works, how step-up in basis affects what your kids keep, and how to make choices that protect the wealth you’ve built for the people you love.
If you own stock or real estate you plan to pass down someday, this is worth watching.

12/10/2025

Most people think their year-end planning is “done” once the gifts are decided and the paperwork is signed… but that’s not how the IRS sees it. If those gifts, transfers, or trust contributions don’t settle before December 31, they don’t count for the year - no matter when you initiated them. That surprise hits many retirees every January.

In this video, Vitaly explains the deadlines that matter most, why these delays happen, and how to make sure your gifts, trust funding, and charitable plans actually work the way you intended. It’s a simple way to protect what you’ve built and keep your legacy on track.

12/03/2025

A lot of people are planning to make their year-end charitable gifts the same way they always do… but starting in 2026, the rules change in a way that quietly reduces how much of your donation is tax-deductible. Even generous families could lose thousands in deductions simply because they gave the “old” way.

In this video, Vitaly explains what the new law actually does, why it matters for anyone who gives to charity, and how acting before December 31st can help you keep more of your wealth working for the life you've built - while still supporting the causes you care about. If you’re planning to give before year-end, this is worth your time.

11/26/2025

Many parents try to help their kids financially, but a simple mistake in how the gift is handled can turn generosity into a tax problem. All it takes is one overlooked rule, like using the wrong account or missing a year-end deadline, to trigger Form 709 requirements or quietly reduce the exemption your family will need when settling your estate.

In this video, Vitaly explains the hidden gift tax traps most parents don’t even know exist and how a few small adjustments can protect your wealth, your exemption, and the legacy you want to leave behind. If you make gifts to your kids or grandkids, this is absolutely worth your time.

11/19/2025

You’ve spent decades building real wealth, maybe in a single stock that took off, a rental property that skyrocketed in value, or a business you poured your life into. And now you know you should diversify… but the tax bill is brutal. Selling could cost you hundreds of thousands, even seven figures, before your money ever goes back to work.

Most people stop right there. They feel stuck. But you don’t have to be.

In this video, Vitaly breaks down how a Charitable Remainder Trust lets you diversify tax-free, turn that concentrated asset into reliable income, and generate significantly more lifetime income than selling outright. He also explains the real trade-off, part of what’s left eventually goes to charity and why that can still leave your family with more.

If a big tax bill has been paralyzing your decision, this gives you a clear, practical path forward.

11/12/2025

You probably think your living trust is protecting your family but what if it’s quietly setting them up for a $100,000 problem?

In this video, Vitaly explains the seven biggest myths about revocable living trusts and why even a “funded” trust can still fail. You’ll see how to fix hidden risks, so your plan actually works when your family needs it most.

If you already have a trust, this is worth your time.

11/05/2025

You set up a Bypass Trust years ago to protect your family and save on taxes. Smart move back then. But if your trust was written before 2018, it might now be doing the opposite, quietly taxing your kids.

In this video, Vitaly explains how these once-smart Bypass (or AB/Credit Shelter) Trusts can lose the second step-up in basis and create unnecessary capital-gains taxes when your heirs sell your assets. You’ll learn how to tell if your trust has this problem and how to fix it before it drains your legacy.

10/29/2025

Most people set up trusts to protect their family's wealth and avoid probate. But here's what almost no one realizes: trusts can hit the highest tax bracket in America—37%—on just $15,650 of income. That's barely anything, yet it can trigger massive tax bills that eat away at what you've worked so hard to build.

In this video, Vitaly shares exactly who pays taxes when your trust earns income and how to use distributions to legally cut your family's tax bill. You'll understand why retaining income inside a trust can cost your heirs over $120,000 in a decade and the simple coordination steps that keep more wealth working for the life you've built and the legacy you want to leave.

10/22/2025

Think updating your trust after a divorce means your ex is completely out of the picture? This is the mistake that keeps me up at night.

I’ve seen how an old beneficiary form or a forgotten power of attorney can leave an ex in charge of a $1 million life insurance policy or able to make medical decisions on your behalf. The financial and emotional fallout for your children can be heartbreaking.

In this video, I walk you through the three critical updates most families miss after divorce - so your legacy goes to the people you love, not to a past chapter.

10/01/2025

That new $40K SALT deduction may sound like a win, but for many retirees it quietly shrinks to just $10K. That $30,000 loss doesn’t just raise taxes - it drains retirement income and leaves less for your family’s future.

In this video, Vitaly explains why this happens and how retirees can protect their deduction, lower taxes, and keep more wealth working for the life and legacy they’ve built.

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180 N Stetson Avenue #3500
Chicago, IL
60601

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