Archive for August 2025
When Clients Name You as Trustee or Executor: What Every Advisor Should Know Before Saying Yes
If you’re a trusted advisor—whether a financial advisor, CPA, or attorney—you’ve likely had a client say the words that feel like the ultimate compliment: “I’d like you to be my trustee (or executor).” On the surface, it’s a testament to your relationship and reputation. Your client sees you as responsible, capable, and trustworthy enough to…
Read MoreThe AI Risk in Estate Planning: Digital Assets, Deepfakes, and Data Theft
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from science fiction to everyday reality, touching nearly every aspect of our lives—from how we bank and invest to how we communicate with family and store important documents. For estate planning, this technological leap brings both opportunity and risk. While AI can streamline processes and provide helpful insights, it…
Read MoreAvoiding Funding Gaps: Why Most Trusts Fail Without Advisor Oversight
You’ve taken the time to create a trust to protect your family, minimize taxes, and avoid probate. But here’s the hard truth: a trust that isn’t fully funded is like an empty safe—it can’t protect what isn’t inside. Most trusts fail not because of the legal language, but because assets are never properly retitled or…
Read MoreWhat Happens When Siblings Disagree About “What Mom Would Have Wanted”
Families often imagine that settling a loved one’s affairs will bring everyone together. In reality, it’s often the opposite: long-simmering differences can surface, and well-meaning siblings can find themselves in a standoff over “what Mom would have wanted.” It’s a phrase that’s meant to honor a parent’s wishes—but without clear guidance, it can quickly turn…
Read MoreThe 5 Most Common Gaps We See in Existing Estate Plans
Creating an estate plan is a vital step in protecting your family and your legacy. But having a plan doesn’t always mean you’re fully protected. Many families come to us thinking their estate plan is “done,” only for us to uncover gaps that could lead to confusion, unintended taxes, or even court involvement. Over the…
Read MoreWho Protects Your Protector? Preparing Your Successor Trustee for Success
When you create a trust, you put a great deal of thought into choosing the right successor trustee—the person who will step in to manage your affairs and carry out your wishes if you can’t. This person is your protector: the one who safeguards your assets, looks out for your beneficiaries, and ensures your legacy…
Read MoreThe Secret Side of Your Trust: What It Can Do During Your Lifetime
When most people think of a trust, they imagine it as a document that “activates” only after they pass away—something that manages who gets what and when. But that’s only part of the story. What many families don’t realize is that a properly structured and maintained trust is far more than a posthumous plan. In…
Read MoreThe Peace-of-Mind Portfolio: How to Pair Your Trust with Insurance, Benefits, and Lifestyle Planning
Creating a trust is an important milestone in protecting your family and your legacy. But here’s the truth many people don’t realize: a trust on its own is only part of the bigger picture. True peace of mind comes when your estate plan, insurance coverage, benefits, and day-to-day lifestyle planning work together as a cohesive…
Read MoreLove, Life, and the Dreams That Keep Us Moving Forward
August has always held a quiet significance for me, but this year it feels especially tender. On August 26th, Carolyn and I will celebrate our wedding anniversary—a date that always nudges me to slow down and reflect on the journey of love, life, and the dreams that keep our hearts beating a little faster. Marriage,…
Read MoreThe Overlooked Veterans Benefits That Can Help Your Clients Pay for Care
When working with clients who are aging or supporting aging family members, the cost of long-term care is often one of the biggest concerns. For veterans and their surviving spouses, there are valuable benefits that often go overlooked—benefits that can significantly offset the cost of in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home expenses. As an…
Read MoreWhy Estate Planning Is Really a Team Sport (and How Advisors Can Lead the Team)
As advisors, we know estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about people. A client’s wishes are only as strong as the team behind them. And in today’s world, where laws change, family dynamics shift, and assets are increasingly complex, the “team sport” nature of estate planning has never been clearer. Clients rarely realize it, but…
Read MoreVeterans Aid & Attendance: The Benefit No One Told You About
For many veterans and their families, the cost of long-term care—whether at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility—can feel overwhelming. What many don’t realize is that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a little-known benefit that can provide real financial relief: Aid & Attendance (A&A). What Is Aid & Attendance?…
Read MoreAI Can Predict Your Financial Life—But It Can’t Protect Your Family
Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere—from the apps that manage our spending to the platforms predicting market trends. If you’ve used a budgeting app, retirement calculator, or even asked an AI tool to project your financial future, you’ve already experienced its power. AI can forecast your cash flow, suggest investment moves, and even predict the probability…
Read MoreWith California’s New Medi‑Cal Rules, Review Is Key—Even If We Don’t Have All the Answers (Yet)
If there’s one thing you can count on with Medi‑Cal, it’s that the rules will change. California has recently rolled out updates to Medi‑Cal, including eligibility expansions and changes to long‑term care planning. While these updates may bring new opportunities, they also create uncertainty. The truth is, we don’t have all the answers yet—but we…
Read MoreWhen Probate Becomes Necessary—Even With a Trust in Place
Many people create a living trust to avoid probate—a process that can be lengthy, public, and costly. And it’s true: a properly funded trust is one of the most effective ways to keep your estate out of probate court. But here’s a reality that surprises many families: probate can still become necessary, even when a…
Read MoreWhy Your Kids Need to Know More Than “Call My Lawyer”
Estate planning gives families peace of mind, but too often, it leaves children with just one instruction: “If something happens, call my lawyer.” On the surface, that might feel like enough—after all, your lawyer knows your plan and has the documents. But when life throws a curveball, your children will need more than a phone…
Read MoreThe Most Meaningful Marks We Leave Are the Ones We’ll Never See
Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on the quiet, invisible ways our lives touch others—how so much of what we leave behind in this world may never carry our name or be known to us at all. We grow up believing that impact looks like something big: accomplishments, accolades, or milestones we can point to as…
Read MoreThe Courage to Begin Again
Some of the best chapters of my life started with a deep breath and a small, brave step. When I think about the moments that shaped me most, they often weren’t the days that went according to plan. They weren’t the victories or the times everything felt easy. Instead, they were the in-between moments—the days…
Read More3 Clues That a Family Meeting Could Save Your Client Years of Conflict
When it comes to estate planning, most clients assume the documents alone are enough to protect their wishes and keep their family out of conflict. But as advisors, attorneys, or fiduciaries know all too well, the paperwork is just the beginning. Family conflict rarely starts with the legal documents themselves—it begins with assumptions, secrets, and…
Read MoreAdvisors as First Responders: Helping Clients Navigate a Sudden Death
No matter how well a family plans, nothing can fully prepare them for the shock of an unexpected death. In those first overwhelming hours and days, families often turn to the people they trust most—not just loved ones, but also the advisors who have walked alongside them in building their financial, legal, and personal plans.…
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