How do I setup my investment tree?

[Brian Orr]

Hey BP,

I feel like I'm doing something wrong, or not quite optimal, and I have a question that sort of requires a CPA, attorney, insurance and investor insight. I've consulted all but I seem to be running in circles with different perspectives. Maybe you all can help provide some experience:

I'm working on estate planning and just set up a family trust. I'm trying to find the best way to (re)organize my holdings and set up the correct structure for moving forward.

I have two properties in 2 LLC's right now with partners (they're aware and ok with title switch. so is the bank), and another LLC as my investment company. My thought is the trust becomes the single member in the investment company and then that LLC becomes the member in property LLC's. I would transact all business through the investment company and bill the property LLC's if needed but I'm unsure if that makes sense (like which name does the property insurance go in? How many tax returns do I need to prepare?)

So the question is, would streamlining this in any way affect the asset protection being that the tree all points back to the investment company which is single member LLC of the trust? It seems simple enough and I can't wrap my head around it being any different than I as an individual at the top of the tree, but it feels like it is leaning into series LLC territory which is currently not allowed in NC.

And if you skip to just this part - Experienced investors: What is the best way to create a Family Trust and LLC structure for investing capital in real estate, brokerage, crypto, etc?