Advisor Highlight: Rhonda L. Griswold, Legacy Beyond Wealth
Beyond Wealth
For more than 30 years, Rhonda L. Griswold has helped Hawai‘i families plan for the future by protecting assets and clarifying what’s most meaningful to them.
A leader in the Trusts & Estates practice at Cades Schutte LLP, Rhonda advises her clients on everything from foundational wills and trusts to complex strategies involving closely held businesses, multigenerational trusts, charitable planning, and tax considerations. She is also highly regarded for her experience in probate and trust litigation, guiding families and fiduciaries through difficult disputes with care.
Over the course of her career, Rhonda has seen the motivations behind estate planning evolve. “When I first started practicing, the estate tax exemption was very low. For many families in Hawai‘i, even modest estates could trigger tax concerns,” she explains. “Charitable giving was often part of the strategy because of that.”
Today, with higher exemption thresholds, Rhonda sees a different factor. “For most clients, charitable decisions aren’t about taxes anymore. They’re about values,” Rhonda says. “The question becomes: What good do I want to do? What message do I want to send?”
Modeling Values for the Next Generation
Rhonda begins with what nearly every client shares: a desire to care for family, children, and grandchildren. From there, she broadens the conversation.
“In addition to the financial legacy you’re leaving for your loved ones, you might think about the kind of example you want to set,” she tells clients. “If giving has been important to you during your lifetime, including it in your plan sends a personal message.”
Some families arrive with long-standing charitable commitments. Others know they want to help but may not be sure where to begin. For those clients, Rhonda often partners with Hawai‘i Community Foundation. “If someone is mission-driven rather than focused on a specific nonprofit, [HCF] is an excellent fit, with knowledge across a range of community needs and organizations.”
Rhonda is particularly enthusiastic about donor advised funds as a way to involve families across generations. “You can bring your children into the conversation and empower them to carry that work forward.” Education is a common area of focus; as the first college graduate in her family, Rhonda understands firsthand how transformative opportunity can be.
“I see many clients who want to create scholarships because education changed their own lives,” Rhonda says.
She’s currently working with one such client to establish scholarships in Hawai‘i as well as internationally, for underprivileged students abroad. The planning process has been a complex, multiyear effort to ensure the scholarship’s structure aligns with her client’s vision.
“I admire the commitment,” says Rhonda. “It’s one thing to simply write a check. Instead, this client is willing to take the time to build something intentional and lasting.”
Rhonda is equally inspired by families of more modest means who include charitable gifts in their plans. “Not just high-net-worth individuals want to give back. Seeing ‘mom and pop’ clients make room for generosity in their estate plan is especially moving.”
A Privilege Across Generations
Beyond just the technical work, what resonates most for Rhonda are the relationships she’s built over her career.
“It’s such a privilege to practice,” Rhonda says. “We walk alongside clients through marriages, having children and grandchildren… I’ve worked with multiple generations of families. To be part of that history is extraordinary.”
For Rhonda, estate planning is ultimately about stewardship of family and community. Though tax laws may change, the desire to care for loved ones and create pathways for future generations is enduring. By helping clients turn their intentions into action, Rhonda continues to shape legacies that extend far beyond wealth.
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