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Tag: wills

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What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts After You Pass Away?

When we pass away, our social media accounts, repositories of personal memories, interactions, and expressions, don’t just vanish. Each platform has unique policies for handling the profiles of deceased users, from erasing them to turning them into memorial sites. It’s crucial for us to know these options to ensure our digital legacies are managed according to our wishes.

Platform Policies for Deceased Users

As of April 2024, here’s what you can expect from the major social media platforms:

  • Facebook: Users can choose to either permanently close their account or transform it into a memorial page where friends can continue posting memories. Facebook allows you to assign a “Legacy Contact” who can manage the memorialized profile by changing profile pictures and responding to friend requests, but they cannot access private messages.
  • Instagram: Similar to Facebook, Instagram offers options to either memorialize an account or have it permanently deleted. Memorialized accounts feature a “Remembering” label and are removed from public spaces like the Explore section. Proof of death must be provided to enact these changes.
  • TikTok: Currently, TikTok allows the deactivation of a deceased user’s account upon request by family members or legal representatives, provided they can show proof of death. There is no option to memorialize accounts at this time.
  • X (formerly Twitter): X permits family members to close a deceased user’s account by submitting necessary documentation, which leads to the permanent deletion of the account without a memorialization option.
  • YouTube: Managed by Google, YouTube falls under the Inactive Account Manager policy, which lets users set directives for their account in case of prolonged inactivity. Options include sharing data with trusted contacts or deleting the account altogether.
  • LinkedIn: Immediate family members or colleagues can request the removal of a deceased user’s profile by providing proof of death. LinkedIn focuses on maintaining a professional environment and does not offer a memorial option.

Managing Your Digital Afterlife

Directly logging into a deceased person’s social media account is generally discouraged due to privacy and security concerns. Instead, platforms require family members to follow specific procedures, providing the necessary documents to either close or memorialize accounts. This process can be cumbersome and emotionally taxing.

However, preparing in advance can make it easier for your loved ones. By consulting with an estate planning lawyer, you can create a digital asset plan that details your preferences for each account, whether to close or memorialize them.

Role of Estate Planning Attorneys

A competent estate planning attorney can guide you in drafting a comprehensive digital asset plan, appointing an executor, and preparing all necessary legal documentation to empower your executor to act on your behalf with digital platforms. They can also suggest secure methods to store your account information, ensuring it remains accessible yet protected until needed.

Our Commitment to Your Legacy

At Peaceful Warrior Law, we do more than just draft documents. We understand your unique needs and help you plan thoroughly, ensuring no detail is overlooked, including your digital footprint. Our approach prevents the stress and confusion often associated with managing digital legacies.

To find out more about how we can help you craft a plan that includes your digital assets, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office today.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We are dedicated to ensuring that you make informed, empowered decisions about your legacy and the well-being of your loved ones. Join us for a Family Wealth Planning Session to become more financially organized and confident in the choices you make for yourself and your family.

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As an Estate Planning Attorney, I often take on the role of “Money Protector.” The reason being is that an estate plan is the effective management and distribution of assets on behalf of a person during their incapacity or at their death. Over 70% of Americans don’t have an estate plan in place, which means their family is paying tens of thousands of dollars to the government at their death, all of which can be avoided.

Over the many years of counseling clients, these are the 6 things, that I would never do, as a Money Protection Attorney:

THING 1: I would never leave anything to my kids when I die, instead I would leave everything to a trust where my kids are named as the beneficiary on that trust.

By opting to create a living trust and have your trust own your assets, whereby your kids are named as the beneficiaries on that trust, provides several advantages. The three main advantages that leaving your assets to a trust can provide are: 1) Control; 2) Creditor and Asset Protection; 3) Tax Strategies.

  1. Control: Creating a trust and naming your kids as the beneficiaries of the trust, as opposed to just having a Will or not having a plan in place at all, allows you to have more control over your assets, even after your death. You can specify how and when the assets are to be distributed, which can be especially beneficial if you have concerns about the maturity or financial management skills of your children at the time of your passing.
  2. Creditor and Asset Protection: A trust can provide protection for the assets from creditors, legal judgments, or divorces that your children might experience. This is because the assets are not in your children’s names directly but in the trust.
  3. Tax Strategies: A proactive plan that includes a trust whereby assets are held in the trust and then distributed to your kids allows you to structure your trust in a way that can minimize estate taxes, thereby preserving more of your wealth for your beneficiaries under current tax laws.

THING 2: I would never name my minor children as beneficiaries on my life insurance accounts, instead I would set up a trust and designate my trust as the beneficiary of my life insurance accounts and name my kids as the beneficiary of the trust.

Naming minor children directly as beneficiaries on life insurance policies or other financial accounts often presents several practical and legal challenges. Here’s why it might be more advantageous to set up a trust and name the trust as the beneficiary, with your children as the beneficiaries of that trust:

  1. Legal Limitations for Minors: Minors cannot legally control property or finances until they reach the age of majority (18 in most states). If you pass away when your children are still minors and they are direct beneficiaries, the court will typically appoint a guardian to manage the funds until they reach adulthood. This process can be time-consuming, costly, and might not necessarily align with your intentions for the management of the funds.
  2. Control Over the Funds: By using a trust, you can specify exactly how and when the money should be distributed to your children. This can include stipulations for education, health, maintenance, and support, or dispersing funds at certain ages or milestones, like graduating from college. This helps ensure the money is used in a way that benefits their long-term well-being.
  3. Protection from Creditors and Divorce: Assets held in a trust are generally protected from the beneficiaries’ creditors, legal judgments, or divorce settlements. This protection helps ensure that the assets are preserved for the intended purpose of supporting your children, rather than being vulnerable to external claims.
  4. Avoiding Probate and Privacy: Trusts can help bypass the probate process, which is public and can be lengthy and expensive. By having the trust as the beneficiary, the disbursement of life insurance proceeds can be handled privately and swiftly according to the terms you’ve established.
  5. Tax Considerations: Depending on the size of your estate and the structure of the trust, there can be significant tax advantages to using a trust to manage and distribute your assets, including life insurance payouts.

THING 3: I would never add my childrens’ name to my home to get around medicaid recovery. Instead I would put my home in a medicaid asset protection trust and my children would be the benefits of that trust.

Adding your children’s names directly to the deed of your home might seem like a straightforward way to manage estate planning and Medicaid planning, but it can lead to several significant issues, particularly regarding Medicaid asset recovery. Here’s why it’s often a better strategy to establish a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) instead:

  1. Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT): A better alternative might be to place the home into a MAPT, naming your children as beneficiaries. This type of trust is designed to own assets like your home while allowing you to retain some benefits, such as living in the home. Here’s why it’s effective:
    • Protection from Estate Recovery: Assets in a MAPT are typically protected from Medicaid’s estate recovery, as the assets technically no longer belong to you.
    • Maintaining Medicaid Eligibility: Since the assets in a MAPT are not considered yours for Medicaid eligibility purposes (assuming the trust is irrevocable and properly set up before the look-back period), it helps in maintaining eligibility for Medicaid.
    • Control and Management: With a MAPT, you can appoint a trustee who manages the trust according to the terms you’ve set, providing a structured way to handle the property and other assets without exposing them to the risks associated with direct ownership by children.

Setting up a MAPT can be complex and requires careful planning and timing to ensure compliance with Medicaid rules and to achieve your estate planning goals effectively. It’s crucial to work with an attorney who is familiar in Medicaid planning and trusts to ensure that the structure of the trust meets legal requirements and aligns with your objectives.

THING 4: I would never add my children’s name to my deed as a way to get around probate court. Instead I would put my home in a living trust and my children would be beneficiary of that trust.

Adding your children’s names to the deed of your home as a way to avoid probate can seem like a simple solution, but it has several potential pitfalls and legal complexities. Here’s why adding your children’s name to the deed can pose several problems:

  1. Legal and Financial Risks: When you add your children to the deed, they become part-owners of the property immediately. This exposure means that any financial difficulties, legal problems, or liabilities they face (such as divorces, bankruptcies, or lawsuits) could threaten the home. Creditors could potentially place liens on the property or seek to recover debts through your children’s ownership interest.
  2. Loss of Control: By adding your children to the deed, you dilute your control over the property. Major decisions such as selling or refinancing the property would require their consent, which could limit your flexibility and autonomy, particularly if there are disagreements or if logistical issues arise, such as a child living far away or being unresponsive.
  3. Potential Gift Tax Consequences: Transferring part ownership of your home to your children is considered a gift for tax purposes and may trigger federal gift tax liabilities if the value of the share exceeds the annual gift tax exclusion amount.
  4. Capital Gains Tax Implications for Children: If your children are added to the deed and later sell the property after your death, they might not qualify for the full homeowner’s capital gains exclusion typically available when selling a primary residence. This could result in a significant capital gains tax if the home has appreciated in value.

THING 5: I would never make my kids go through probate court — instead I would create a living trust which would avoid probate court.

Probate Court is the State’s plan for you if you don’t have an estate plan created for yourself. If you die with assets titled in your name, such as the deed to your real estate, the title of your bank accounts and investment accounts, or a single member owned business, you are leaving your family to have to go to probate court. Probate court can be thought of as the court’s supervision of transfer of ownership.

A more structured and safer way to avoid probate and ensure smooth transfer of your property after your death is to set up a trust, such as a revocable living trust. Here’s why:

  • Avoids Probate: The property in the trust does not go through probate, which can expedite the distribution process to your beneficiaries and keep it private.
  • Full Control During Lifetime: You can maintain control over the property as the trustee of your trust. This arrangement allows you to manage, sell, or refinance the property as you see fit during your lifetime.
  • Protection from Creditors and Lawsuits: Since the trust owns the property, your children’s creditors or legal issues typically cannot affect the home.
  • Stepped-Up Basis: Upon your death, your children can benefit from a stepped-up basis for tax purposes, potentially reducing capital gains taxes if they sell the property.
  • Flexibility and Specific Terms: You can specify in the trust document how and when your children will inherit the property, allowing you to address any concerns about their maturity, financial management skills, or other personal circumstances

THING 6: I would never create a Will and make my kids go through Probate Court. Instead I would create a living trust which would avoid probate court.

Probate Court is also the process in which the court validates your Will and distributes a decedent’s assets. In other words, if all your family has is a Will, they WILL be going through probate court.

A Will alone is not sufficient to keep your family out of probate court. A trust is.

BONUS TIP: I would never leave this earth without a good plan in place to protect my loved ones.

A comprehensive estate plan includes the following:

  1. A Revocable Living Trust
  2. A Pour-Over Will
  3. Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney
  4. HIPAA authorizations
  5. Funeral Instructions
  6. Minor’s Guardian Nominations
  7. Fully Funded Trust and Updated Beneficiary Designations

The question you need to ask yourself is: What experience do I want the people who I love to have to go through in order to become owners of the assets I want to transfer to them?

It’s crucial to remember that estate planning is about more than just documents; it’s about informed decisions that shape your future and the future of your family. To take your financial organization to the next level and make the best choices for your loved ones. Click here to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session™ with us. Mention this article, and you can access this valuable $750 session at no charge.

As always, we’re here to support you on your journey toward financial security and peace of mind. Financial planning is a dynamic process, and with the right strategies in place, you can confidently navigate the ever-changing financial landscape and achieve your long-term goals.

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HOW MANY TIMES HAS ONE OF YOUR CLIENTS ASKED YOU “HOW SHOULD I TAKE TITLE TO MY NEW HOME?”

As an estate planning attorney, navigating clients through this pivotal question becomes a crucial aspect of our service. A correctly titled property is not just a matter of legal compliance; it’s a strategic move to ensure the financial security and wishes of the property owners are honored.

Realtors play a pivotal role in not just finding the perfect home for clients but also in navigating the intricate pathways of home ownership. One question that frequently arises, yet is often underestimated in its complexity, is, “How should I take title to my new home?” This question extends beyond the closing of a deal and delves into the realms of legal compliance, financial security, and estate planning. As a realtor, equipping yourself with knowledge on this subject isn’t just adding another feather to your cap—it’s about becoming an indispensable resource to your clients.

Realtors: You have the opportunity to make sure that your clients have all the benefits of rightly titled property and they will definitely thank you for it.

WHY IS TITLING PROPERTY CORRECTLY SO IMPORTANT TO HOMEOWNERS?

The Importance of Correct Titling:

The foundation of estate planning is control. Homeowners want assurance that their wishes, especially regarding their property, will be respected and executed.

If Titled Incorrectly:

If titled incorrectly, the property owner cannot control what happens to the property after he dies; second, if titled incorrectly, the heirs can lose the property to creditors, the government, or even an ex-spouse; third, if titled incorrectly, the heirs will have to pay capital gain on the sale of the property.  

THREE COMMON WAYS TO HOLD TITLE 

JOINT TENANCY:  

The worst part about joint tenancy is the owner who dies first cannot control what happens to the property after his or death.  Joint Tenancy ensures that there will be a probate upon the death of the second joint tenant.  Finally, the surviving joint tenant will pay capital gain on one-half of the property after the death of one joint tenant.

 

COMMUNITY PROPERTY:  

Possibly the most common way for married couples to own property, Community Property causes half of the property owned as community property to be probated upon the first death and the whole property must be probated upon the second death.  Probate is not fun- it is time consuming and costly!  

 

COMMUNITY PROPERTY WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP:  

Like joint tenancy, CPw/ROS is a he who dies last wins situation, because the surviving owner controls the disposition of the property on her death.

 

THE FOURTH AND BEST WAY TO OWN PROPERTY – A REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST:  

Realtors: Present this option as a comprehensive solution, offering control, protection, and tax efficiency. It’s an avenue to sidestep probate, maintain privacy, and ensure a seamless transfer of the estate.

The best way for your homeowners to own their property is in a revocable living trust.  

  • A properly drafted and funded trust will avoid time consuming, expensive and public probate upon the first death and the second death.  
  • A revocable living trust will make sure that the right people receive the property after the death of both owners and that it doesn’t go to creditors, predators, or future spouses.  
  • Property received by the heirs can usually be sold free of any capital gain tax and can be protected from creditors and predators of the heirs.

Empowering Conversations with Knowledge:

Your role as a realtor is evolving. Clients are looking for more than property listings—they are seeking informed guidance. By understanding the implications of each title option, you can engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with your clients, positioning yourself as a trusted advisor.

Revocable living trusts extend beyond financial savings, morphing into a protective shield for the property and its intended beneficiaries. In a world where creditors and predators lurk, having a well-structured trust is akin to building a fortress around the estate. It’s an assurance that the property will transition according to the explicit wishes of the owners.

The Realtor’s Advantage with Revocable Living Trusts:

Revocable living trusts stand out for their multifaceted benefits. Educate your clients about this option; explain how it enhances control, minimizes tax liabilities, and acts as a shield against third-party claims. When clients realize you’re not just about the sale but genuinely invested in their long-term welfare, your reputation and relationships will be solidified.

Conclusion:

In the competitive world of real estate, the realtors who stand out are those who offer value beyond the conventional services. Equip yourself with the knowledge of property titling, and transform each client interaction into an opportunity for empowerment. You’re not just helping clients buy a property—you’re guiding them to secure their legacy, and in doing so, you’re building your legacy as a realtor of distinction. Your informed advice on property titling won’t just close deals; it will open doors to enduring client relationships, referrals, and a reputation anchored in trust and expertise.

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Introduction

California’s Proposition 19, passed by voters in November 2020 and implemented on February 16, 2021, has redrawn the landscape of real estate taxation and inheritance. With these significant changes, estate planning strategies must evolve to encompass the new tax implications for inherited properties.

Before Prop 19: Property owners could pass their primary residences, and up to $1 million of other property, to their children (or grandchildren if both parents are deceased) without triggering a reassessment of the property’s value for tax purposes Cal. Const. art. XIII A, § 2.

The Mechanics of Proposition 19

Tax Base Transfer

Under Proposition 19, homeowners aged 55 or older, severely disabled, or victims of natural disasters are allowed to transfer their property tax base to a replacement residence up to three times California Board of Equalization.

Example:

Jane, a 57-year-old homeowner, decides to downsize. Thanks to Proposition 19, she can move from her family home in Silicon Valley to a smaller property in San Diego without experiencing a hike in her property tax, even though the market value of the new home is higher.

Before Prop 19:
  • Parents could transfer primary residences to their children without a change in the property tax base. They could also transfer up to $1 million of assessed value in other properties, like vacation homes or rental properties.
After Prop 19:
  • The property tax base can only be transferred if the child uses the inherited property as their primary residence, and there’s now a cap on the assessed value exclusion. Vacation homes or rental properties do not receive the basis transfer.

Inheritance Rules

The proposition modifies the rules around the inheritance of property tax bases California Legislature.

Implications for Estate Planning

1. Impact on Heirs

a) Increased Taxes:

Heirs inheriting properties that are not used as their primary residence or exceed the value exclusion cap will face higher property taxes, which could make inheriting and maintaining such properties financially unsustainable.

Example 1:

  • Before Prop 19: Alex’s parents leave him a family home with an assessed value of $500,000. Regardless of whether Alex decides to live there, rents it out, or leaves it vacant, the property’s assessed value for tax purposes remains $500,000.
  • After Prop 19: If Alex decides not to live in the inherited home, the property will be reassessed at its current market value, which could be significantly higher, leading to an increase in property taxes.

Example 2:

  • Before Prop 19: Sarah inherits her parents’ primary residence and a vacation home with a combined assessed value of $1.5 million. Neither property’s assessed value is reassessed for property tax purposes.
  • After Prop 19: Only the primary residence may be excluded from reassessment, and only if Sarah uses it as her own primary residence. The vacation home would be reassessed at current market value.
b) Selling Inherited Properties:

Given the new tax burdens, heirs may be compelled to sell inherited properties, a shift that could impact family legacies and long-term estate planning strategies.

Example:

Maria, who inherits her parents’ $2 million family home where the property tax is based on a $500,000 assessed value, will face a reassessment if she doesn’t move into the home. The increased property tax could make it financially challenging for Maria to keep the home, prompting a sale.

Implications for Estate Planning Strategies

a. Review and Update:

Individuals and families need to revisit their estate plans to accommodate these changes, especially those plans that include leaving homes to children.

b. Gifting Properties:

Some might consider gifting properties to their heirs before death to circumvent the new rules, though this comes with its own tax implications.

c. Trust Adjustments:

Estate planners will need to consider adjustments to trusts to optimize for the new tax landscape and minimize the financial impact on heirs.

Financial Planning Intersection

Wealth Management:

For wealthier individuals, the intersection of estate planning and financial planning becomes critical. The impact of Prop 19 may require diversifying assets or finding alternative methods to transfer wealth while minimizing tax impacts.

Real Estate Decisions

Downsizing:

Older adults might consider the implications of Prop 19 in their decisions to downsize or relocate, balancing the benefits of transferring their tax base with the limitations imposed on their heirs.

Adjusting Inheritance Strategies

Prop 19 limits the transfer of low property tax bases for inherited properties unless used as a primary residence by the heir, and even then, it is subject to a new value cap.

Example:

Mark inherited a property valued at $2 million from his parents. The original tax base was $500,000. Under Prop 19, if Mark does not use the property as his primary residence, the property will be reassessed at its current market value, leading to a significant increase in annual property taxes.

Navigating the Legal Terrain

Legal Citations

Prop 19 alters the application of sections 2.1 and 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution, impacting the reassessment rules of transferred property between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren if the parents are deceased California Legislature.

Expert Consultation

The complexity of the proposition underscores the necessity of consulting with estate planning attorneys to revise and adapt existing plans, ensuring that they align with the new tax landscape while optimizing asset preservation and minimizing tax liabilities.

Conclusion

The implementation of Proposition 19 is a pivotal development with profound implications for real estate owners and heirs in California. It necessitates an in-depth review and, potentially, a comprehensive revision of estate plans to navigate the new tax implications effectively. Armed with informed insights and strategic adjustments, property owners can transition from reactive postures to proactive planning, turning the challenges of Proposition 19 into opportunities for optimized estate management and asset transitions.

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July is National Family Reunion Month and the perfect time to reconnect with family from near and far, share life’s updates, and reminisce about the wonderful memories you share together. If you’re getting together with family this month, it’s also a perfect time to talk to your loved ones about your shared goals, family resources, and the legacy you want to leave behind for the next generation.

You might think that estate planning is too somber a topic for a happy family reunion, but it can actually be an opportunity to bring you closer to your loved ones by giving everyone time to speak openly about their wishes for the family and can help everyone feel unified by working together toward the family’s future wellbeing.

Not sure how to bring up estate planning in a way that makes your family feel empowered? Keep reading to learn how to navigate the conversation without scaring away party guests!

Invite Your Loved Ones to the Conversation In Advance

No one wants to be that party guest who won’t stop talking about a sad news story or their personal troubles. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to share the good and the bad with our loved ones, but pushing a mellow topic at a happy occasion is sure to dampen the mood and turn off the other guests.

Instead of bringing up the topic on the spot at your reunion, reach out to your relatives in advance and let them know that you’d like to set aside some time during the reunion to talk about your family’s legacy and how you can work together to take care of each other in the future.

Everyone likes to feel they’re being looked after and that their input in family matters is wanted and valued. Any ongoing concerns with your family, such as an aging relative’s declining memory or your upcoming knee surgery, are great lead-ins to bring up the topic in a way that feels natural.

If anyone is resistant to the idea of talking about estate planning, don’t push them. Instead, keep your energy warm and empathetic, and keep the invitation to the discussion open in case they change their mind.

Be Vulnerable and Explain Why Estate Planning Is Important to You

Assure everyone that the goal of the conversation is to make sure the family’s future security and well-being are taken care of no matter what happens – not to try and pry into anyone’s finances, health, or relationships. Instead, it’s about ensuring everyone’s wishes are clearly understood and respected, and not about finding out how much money someone stands to inherit.

Be sure to tell your family that talking about these issues now is also a good way to avoid future conflict and expense. When family members don’t clearly understand the reasoning behind one another’s planning choices, it’s likely to breed conflict, resentment, and even costly legal battles in the future.

Instead, tell your loved ones that you’d like to start the conversation about estate planning early and continue it as an open dialogue with the whole family for years to come. Positioning the conversation as one about planning for the future health and well-being of your family rather than as a conversation about dividing assets at someone’s death will help your relatives will feel more at ease, and some may even be eager to be involved in the conversation.

If you haven’t yet handled your own planning, now would be a great time to start. You can have the conversation with your loved ones by sharing about your personal experience and how handling your own estate planning has helped you to think more deeply about what matters to you, how you want to live out the rest of your life, and how you’d love to share this experience with your whole family.

Set a Time and Place for the Conversation

Rather than trying to find the right moment to bring up the topic, set a time and a place with your family in advance of the get-together. Be sure to schedule a specific time, but don’t feel like the meeting invite needs to sound too serious or foreboding. Asking if everyone can meet around the fire pit at 6:00 pm or meet at your house for coffee at 9:00 am is perfect.

I also recommend giving everyone an end time for the discussion as well. By doing this, your loved ones will know what to expect and won’t feel worried that the conversation will eat up too much of their time.

Setting boundaries for the conversation will also help motivate members of your family to participate and stay on topic.

To make things even easier, come to the meeting with a list of the most important points you’d like to cover and encourage your family members to do the same. But keep the list short so you don’t go over the time you’ve set aside for the discussion.

If there are too many things to cover in the time allotted, that’s okay. Talk about the most important topics and agree as a family to get together again on a specific date either in person, on the phone, or via video chat to continue the discussion and flesh out any details that were left for later.

Focus on Your Family’s Legacy

While talking to your loved ones about estate planning, remember to talk about your family’s legacy and your desire to pass on your cumulative stories, memories, values, and lessons to the younger generation and beyond. A family reunion is a wonderful way to come together, and estate planning can be an amazing tool for memorializing your family’s most important assets – your human assets.

You and your loved ones have generations of stories, traditions, and triumphs worth protecting and celebrating. Let your family know that estate planning isn’t just about planning for death – it’s also about planning ahead so you can enjoy your life to the fullest knowing that everything and everyone you love will be taken care of if you become ill or when you die.

For my clients, it’s also a unique opportunity to capture your family’s most valued memories and stories through a process I call the Family Wealth Legacy Interview. During the interview, I help my clients record the things that mean the most to them and the things they want to pass on that are far more valuable than money.

What would be more precious than being able to share and watch this recording of our loved ones at future family reunions for generations to come?

If you would like more advice on how to talk to your family about estate planning or are interested in beginning your own estate planning journey so you can ensure your family is taken care of and share your personal planning experience with your family, give me a call at (858) 427-0539.

It’s my passion to guide you through every stage of planning your life and legacy, and when there’s an opportunity for an entire family to come together on their estate planning goals, love and happiness are bound to follow

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

858-427-0539

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Including a trust as part of your estate plan is a smart decision. It allows you to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and distribute your assets to your loved ones while also providing them with a lifetime of asset protection, if you choose it for them. But, here’s the thing you might not know, and is critically important to remember: simply creating a trust is not enough. For your trust to work, it has to be funded properly and may need to be updated over time.

Funding your trust means transferring ownership of your assets from your own name into the name of your trust. This can include bank accounts, investments, real estate, and other valuable possessions.

By funding your trust properly, you ensure your assets are managed according to the terms of your trust and will be distributed according to your wishes when you die or if you become incapacitated.

But, if you fail to fund your trust, it becomes nothing more than an empty vessel. Your assets won’t be protected or distributed as intended, at least partially defeating the purpose of creating a trust in the first place! While your assets can still get into your trust and be governed by your trust after your death, that means that your family still goes to court to get your assets there, and that’s a costly endeavor.

To make sure your trust works for you, avoid these funding fiascos and work with an attorney who will ensure that everything that needs to get into your trust does.

Forgetting to Update Your Account Beneficiaries

Many people mistakenly believe that a will or trust alone is enough to dictate how their financial accounts should be distributed after they die. However, this isn’t the case. Without proper beneficiary designations on your accounts, your wishes may not be honored and your assets could end up in the wrong hands.

Remember, the beneficiaries you designate on your accounts supersede any instructions in your will or trust, so this step is vitally important. 

Take a moment to review your various accounts, such as bank accounts, retirement plans, and life insurance policies. Ensure that each account has your trust named as your designated beneficiary, unless you’ve made different plans for that specific account.

When you’re working with a lawyer, make sure your lawyer has a plan for each one of your beneficiary-designated assets, communicates that plan to you, and that the two of you decide who will handle updating your beneficiary designations. Then, make sure you review your beneficiary designations annually. In our office, we support our clients to do all of this with well-documented asset inventories, and a regular review process built into all of our plans.

Your Attorney Didn’t Move Your Home Into Your Trust

For many of us, our home is our most important and valuable asset. But if your attorney doesn’t deed your home into your trust, your home won’t be included under the terms of your trust if you become incapacitated or pass away.

That means your home could end up going through the long and expensive probate court process in order to be managed during an illness or passed on to your loved ones after you die. If you own a $300,000 home, that means your family could lose up to $15,000 or more just to transfer your home to your trust and then distribute your home pursuant to the terms of the trust – and that’s not including any other assets that would have to go through probate.

A knowledgeable estate planning attorney shouldn’t miss this step, but it happens. And if you’re using a DIY service online to create a trust without the help of any attorney at all, it’s bound to happen!

That’s why it’s so important to work with a lawyer who takes the time to make sure every asset you own is in your trust before they say their farewells.

Not Reviewing Your Plan and Accounts Every Three Years

You might wonder how not reviewing your estate plan every few years could really make your plan worthless. Well, the good news is that failing to review your plan is unlikely to completely eliminate the benefits it provides you because an estate plan is made up of a number of moving parts, not just a will or a trust.

But, failing to keep your financial assets up to date and aligned with your estate plan can result in huge issues for you and your family and can even make the trust you invested in worth little more than the paper it’s printed on!

That’s because your trust can’t control any assets that don’t have the trust listed as the owner or beneficiary. By reviewing your accounts every 3 years, you can help catch any accounts that don’t have your trust listed in this way.

For example, it’s very common for clients to open a new bank account and forget to open the account in the name of their trust or add their trust as a beneficiary.

Thankfully, by comparing my clients’ financial accounts to their estate plan at least every 3 years, I’m able to catch simple oversights like this that could cause their assets to be completely left out of their trust.

Make Sure All of Your Assets Are Included In Your Plan with Help From Your Personal Family Lawyer

Getting your legal documents in place is an important step, but it’s equally important to know that the documents themselves are not magic solutions (as magical as they may seem!). Merely creating a trust or naming beneficiaries on your accounts doesn’t guarantee that your wishes will be carried out unless all of the pieces of your plan are coordinated to work together.

If you aren’t experienced in the area of estate planning, trying to coordinate all these pieces yourself can be a recipe for disaster.

That’s why I work closely with my clients to not only create documents but to create a comprehensive plan that accounts for all of your assets and how each one needs to be titled to make sure your plan works for you the way you intended.

Plus, I offer my clients a free review of their plans and financial accounts every three years to ensure that their plans accurately reflect their lives and their wishes for their assets and loved ones.

If you want to know more about my process for funding your trust and making sure nothing is ever left out of your plan, reach out to me at (858) 427-0539. I can’t wait to hear from you.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

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Vacations are a time to relax, unwind, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. But before you set off on your adventure, it’s essential to ensure that your legal affairs are in order so you can fully relax during your travels.

Can’t imagine doing one more thing before you take some much-needed time away?

Don’t worry! I’m here to guide you through these important tasks so you can enjoy your vacation worry-free. Plus, these steps only take a little time to complete and can provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have made proper arrangements if the unexpected happens to you or your family while you’re away.

Let’s dive in! (No pool puns intended!)

1.     Create Powers of Attorney

Whether you’re traveling overseas or just a few hours away, it’s crucial to have powers of attorney in place for both health care and financial matters before you leave.

A healthcare power of attorney designates someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated during your vacation. While no one plans to become incapacitated, a slip on the diving board, an injury while boating, or a parasite caught from local cuisine can happen.

Similarly, a financial power of attorney empowers a trusted individual to manage your financial affairs for you. With a financial power of attorney, you can give someone the authority to manage your investments or pay your bills away while you’re gone, or just have it as a safety net in case you become incapacitated or can’t be reached while traveling.

By having these documents prepared ahead of time, you can ensure that no matter what hiccups you run into on your travels, your wishes for your health will be respected and your financial affairs will be handled according to your instructions, even when you’re away.

2.    Nominate Permanent Legal Guardians for Your Kids

As a parent, naming a permanent guardian for your children is one of the most important decisions you can make. While it’s a difficult topic to consider, designating a permanent legal guardian ensures that your children will be cared for by someone you trust if the unexpected happens while you’re on vacation.

It’s a good idea to take a little time to choose someone who shares your values, loves your children, and is willing to take on the responsibility of raising them. However, anyone you trust to raise your kids is a better choice than leaving the decision up to a judge who doesn’t know you or your family.

By documenting your chosen guardian, you make sure your children will be cared for by someone who loves them and knows them if the unthinkable happens to you, and you can always update your choice at any time in the future as your children and their relationships change over time.

3.    Designate Short-Term Guardians for Your Kids

In addition to naming a permanent guardian, it’s equally crucial to designate short-term legal guardians for your children. Short-term guardians step in when the permanent guardian lives far away, or in case of a short-term, immediate emergency.

You can give multiple people the authority to be your child’s short-term guardian, including relatives, neighbors, or nannies. When planning a vacation, it’s a good idea to name any adults who your child will be staying with while traveling with you or staying home.

For example, if your child is spending the week at their grandparents’ house, you should name their grandparents as short-term guardians and give them medical power of attorney for your minor child. If your child is traveling with you, naming any adult travel companions as short-term guardians and giving them medical powers of attorney is a wise choice in case a guardian or medical POA is needed for your child while on your trip.

Discuss this arrangement with the individuals you’ve chosen and make sure they’re aware of their roles and responsibilities. By establishing short-term guardians and medical POAs, you can ensure that your children are well-cared for in the event of an emergency.

4.    Tell the People You Trust About Your Plans

Last but not least, make sure that the people you trust know about your travel plans and the preparations you’ve made, including where you’ll be staying and how to get in contact with you.

Let them know about any legal documents you’ve put in place, and how to access them if needed. Share this information with your chosen guardians, family members, and close friends. By keeping everyone in the loop, you can ensure that your wishes are known and your loved ones can act swiftly and effectively in case of an emergency.

You should also provide your loved ones with my contact information in case they need copies of your powers of attorney or kids’ guardianship documents or need them delivered digitally.

Estate Planning for The Life (And Vacation) You Deserve

As you pack your bags and prepare for your vacation, don’t overlook the importance of handling your legal affairs. Taking the time to create powers of attorney, permanent and short-term legal guardians for your children, and communicating your plans to trusted individuals can provide you with peace of mind and save your family incredible stress if there’s an emergency while you’re away.

To ensure that these documents are prepared correctly and in accordance with your state’s laws, I encourage you to contact me at (858) 427-0539. I start by guiding all of my clients through a unique process I call the Family Wealth Planning Session. During the session, I get to know you and your family on a personal level and review exactly what you own and who you love to make sure everything and everyone is protected and cared for in the best way possible when you pass away or if you become incapacitated.

If we find that things wouldn’t go the way you wanted if something happened to you, I can help you create a custom estate plan that leaves no rock unturned.

Don’t let the joy of vacation be overshadowed by the “what if’s.” Contact me today to learn more.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

858-427-0539

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Get ready for an interesting twist in the world of legal and business news. You may already be familiar with the upcoming Corporate Transparency Act, set to kick in next year. If you aren’t, it’s time to get in the know because it could impact you, and if it does, you’ll need support.

Starting January 1, 2024, every small business will be obligated to submit an annual report revealing the names of their major owners. Now, here’s where it gets intriguing. If you happen to have a trust that holds partial or full ownership in a business, that business might be required to disclose private details about your trust, including details about the name of your trustee or beneficiaries, in your annual corporate report to the government. But how do you figure out if your trust needs to be reported?

What Is the Purpose of the Corporate Transparency Act and What Does It Require?

Enacted in 2020 and set to take effect on January 1, 2024, this Act aims to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing schemes involving “shell” corporations—companies that exist merely on paper and don’t engage in actual business or trade (like “Vamonos Pest” in Breaking Bad).

Under this Act, small companies will now have to disclose the names of any owners who hold 25% or more ownership in the company, as well as any individuals who exercise significant control over the company’s activities. The goal is to identify and expose shell corporations that are frequently involved in money laundering, as such illicit activities tend to occur within small businesses rather than large corporations.

To comply with the requirements, businesses must submit an annual report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) containing the following details about each owner or controller:

  • Business name
  • Current business address
  • State in which the business was formed and its Entity Identification Number (EIN)
  • Owner/controller’s name, birth date, and address
  •  Photocopy of a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) of every direct or indirect owner or controller of the company

Failing to file an annual report could result in serious repercussions, from paying a fine of $500 for every day the report is late up to imprisonment for two years.

Does My Trust Need to Be Disclosed?

Since a trust can own a business or a share of a business, trusts are also involved in the Corporate Transparency Act, but under more limited circumstances.

So how do you know if your trust information will need to be disclosed?

The new rule applies to any company that is created by filing a formation document with the Secretary of State or a similar office, such as corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs).

Non-profits, publicly traded companies, and regulated companies like banks and investment advisors are exempt from the rule. Large companies are also exempt if they have 20 or more full-time employees in the US and generate $5 million in sales. So, if your trust owns a share of any of these types of companies, it doesn’t need to be reported.

If you have an LLC or corporation you created but aren’t actively using to run a business, that company is exempt from reporting due to its inactivity, so your trust wouldn’t be reported in that instance, either.

But if your trust owns a share of a small, for-profit company (like a small family business or local investment), the beneficial owner of the trust will need to be reported to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

The beneficial owner is the person or people who benefit from the trust or have the power to make major decisions about the trust assets. Depending on how your trust is written, this is usually the trustee, but it can also be the beneficiaries of your trust.

Make sure to contact us at (858) 427-0539 to have your trust reviewed before 2024 to make sure you report the correct beneficial owner of your trust.

Does the Corporate Transparency Act Affect My Trust’s Asset Protection?

One of the best things about creating a trust is that it provides you and your family with an extra level of privacy and provides asset protection from divorce or lawsuits for your trust’s beneficiaries after you’re gone.

Thankfully, having a trust that owns a business or a share of a business doesn’t take away from the trust’s ability to provide asset protection to your heirs.

While the new Corporate Transparency Act rule reduces some of the privacy benefits that come with owning assets in a trust, the names of your trust, trustees, and beneficiaries aren’t made public and are only used by the government for the specific purpose of investigating financial crimes.

Because of this, trusts remain an excellent tool for providing privacy, avoiding probate, and setting up your family with a lifetime of asset protection and financial security.

Guidance for Your Family Now and For Years to Come

If you have a trust or are curious about creating an estate plan for your family, you may be wondering how changes in the law will affect your plan in the future and how you can possibly plan for them.

Unlike many estate planning attorneys who serve their clients once and never see them again, I see estate planning as a life-long relationship. Your life and the world around you are constantly changing, and your estate plan should too.

That’s why I keep my clients informed about any changes in the law that may affect their estate plan and offer to review your plan for free every three years to make sure that your plan still works for you just as well as it did on the day you created it.

If you’re ready to create a custom plan for the ones you love or have questions about how the Corporate Transparency Act might affect you, give me a call today.

I can’t wait to serve you now and for years to come.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

858-427-0539

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Last week we started the discussion of why it’s so important for LGBTQ+ families to invest in custom estate planning. While major strides for LGBTQ+ rights have been made in recent years, estate planning law is still written with hetero, cisgender couples in mind, which means that your wishes and your rights may not be respected when you die or if you become incapacitated without proper planning in place.

This week, I’m covering two more reasons why every LGBTQ+ family needs custom estate planning.

And if you missed last week’s blog, make sure to read it here to get the full scoop.

Let’s get started!

Most Traditional Lawyers Aren’t Well Equipped to Serve LGBTQ+ Families

Although same-gender and LGBTQ+ relationships are more publicly recognized now than ever, creating effective estate plans for LGBTQ+ clients is still new territory for many traditional lawyers.

Some lawyers simply lack experience serving LGBTQ+ families because these families didn’t have the same rights as cisgender couples until just eight years ago – and while that’s nearly a decade, it’s only a fraction of most lawyers’ practicing careers. For traditional lawyers who are in their 30th year of practice, new developments in LGBTQ+ planning are still fairly foreign.

The same is true for many LGBTQ+ families. In addition to same-gender marriage being relatively new, many LGBTQ+ families haven’t pursued estate planning due to a lack of knowledge about its importance or its availability to them. After all, only 30% of American adults have an estate plan (yikes!), and only a small portion of that 30% are in a LGBTQ+ relationship.

For lawyers who create cookie-cutter plans for their clients (which is more lawyers than you’d like to think), the amount of custom estate planning language necessary to make an effective plan for an LGBTQ+ family is more than many lawyers know how to do or want to do.

That leaves a shocking number of traditional attorneys who simply aren’t prepared or experienced enough to serve LGBTQ+ families in a way that creates effective plans and also honors their family and their legacy.

Sadly, some traditional lawyers don’t feel comfortable serving LGBTQ+ families and don’t even accept them as clients!

Because of this, it’s crucial to work with an attorney who isn’t just comfortable working with LGBTQ+ families, but is passionate about getting to know your family on a personal level and creating a plan that celebrates all that you’ve done and all that you hope for your family in the future.

Keep Your Kids with the Ones They Love

If you’re in an LGBTQ+ relationship, you know that family isn’t just about bloodlines – it’s also about your chosen family and the bond and love you share for each other.

And if you have children, you know that ensuring their well-being and protection is of the utmost importance.

In the event that something happens to you, it’s crucial to have a plan in place that addresses who will be your children’s legal guardian, and this is especially true if the children in your family aren’t biologically related to one of the parents, such as step-children or children born to same-sex parents who aren’t married.

Not only can these situations create some unique legal planning, but LGBTQ+ parents may also face resistance from family members who may not support children living with a biologically unrelated guardian or an LGBTQ+ guardian, whether you and your partner were married or not.

Similarly, if your family is resistant to certain lifestyle or parenting choices you’ve made – such as gender fluidity in how you raise your child or the topics you discuss within your family – it’s incredibly important to name guardians who align with your beliefs and who will honor your wishes for how you want your children to be raised.

Legal Guardians Are Even More Important for LGBTQ+ Families

To avoid potential disputes and ensure the continuity of care for your children, it’s essential to designate legal guardians for your children explicitly in your estate plan. By doing so, you can legally establish who you want to care for your children in your absence regardless of the guardian’s relationship to your children or their sexual orientation.

By documenting who you would want to raise your children clearly and legally, you help ensure that your children will always be raised by the people you choose and the people your children love.

Otherwise, you leave space for relatives who don’t agree with your beliefs to try to take over the position of guardian and raise your children in a way you wouldn’t agree with – possibly even keeping them away from the other parent figures in their life.

Choose a Lawyer Who Understands and Honors Your Unique Family

Finding a lawyer who truly understands your unique situation is crucial in making sure your loved ones are taken care of by people who love and respect them, regardless of biology or sexual orientation. You deserve a plan that celebrates your love, family, and future.

This Pride Month, celebrate all that you are by protecting everything you love. I understand the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ families face. That’s why I don’t practice law in the traditional way.

Instead, I put heart at the center of my practice – making sure to truly get to know you, your loved ones, and your needs so you can not only protect your family and document your wishes but create a legacy and a story for your loved ones that they’ll cherish for years to come.

To learn more about how I serve LGBTQ+ families differently, schedule a free 15-minute discovery call.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

858-427-0539

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If you’re going to take investment and estate planning advice from anyone, Warren Buffett is likely one you want to consider. As one of the most successful investors in history, his track record speaks for itself. However, his wisdom goes beyond picking stocks and making money.

At this year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting, Buffett shared several pieces of financial advice but also provided insights on the importance of personal growth and estate planning when seeking to grow wealth. While many of us may feel overwhelmed by the thought of estate planning or building our wealth, Buffett’s advice reminds us of two key but simple steps we can take to create financial and generational wealth.

Focus on Your Human Assets to Build Your Wealth and Your Legacy

In almost every interview Buffett provides, he stresses the importance of investing in yourself. “The best thing you can do is to be exceptionally good at something,” said Buffett. “Whatever abilities you have can’t be taken away from you. They can’t actually be inflated away from you. So the best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it’s not taxed at all.”

Your earning power is the greatest determiner of your financial well-being, and the one thing you can count on no matter what’s happening in the external economic environment. If you have a highly valuable skill, and you know how to get paid well for that skill, market your services, and sell your services to those who need them, you’ll never have to worry about money. That doesn’t mean you won’t worry about money; but it does mean you don’t have to worry about money.

If you don’t have a highly valuable skill or if you have a skill that will soon be replaced by AI, that’s the first place for you to invest. You may need to get retrained, or uplevel your skills to be more human or relational so you can use AI, but not compete with it, and all that may take investment. Don’t shy away from investing in additional training to get even better at your service, or even get the additional support to learn to market and sell your services. Those investments will always pay off, whereas the stock market is out of your control.

Investing in yourself not only leads to financial success, but also personal fulfillment and a clear sense of purpose that will organically become your legacy. At the end of the day, you likely won’t be remembered for your financial success (though it’s a nice bonus if you are!). Even Warren Buffett, who is renowned for his wealth and investment skill, is even more often acclaimed for his wisdom, humility, and generosity than for his money.

Raising Kids Well is Key in Effective Wealth Planning

During a Q&A session with an estate planning attorney, Buffett stressed the importance of talking to your children about your estate planning well before your death. Buffett stated, “If the children are grown when the will is read to them and it’s the first they’ve heard about what the deceased thought about things, the parents have made a terrible mistake.”

Leaving your family in the dark about your personal and financial wishes until you die or become incapacitated due to an accident or illness can lead to large amounts of confusion and conflict among family members. If you don’t want to leave a mess, don’t wait to talk to the people you love.

As we recommend and build into our Life & Legacy Planning Process, Buffett recommends involving your heirs in the planning process. By doing so, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your wishes are understood and respected far in advance. Additionally, this provides an opportunity to discuss your values and beliefs with your heirs, which can have a lasting impact on their lives. Buffett expressed that if you really want your heirs to act responsibly with their inheritance, you must live out your values and instill them in your heirs.

How to Start the Conversation About Estate Planning With Your Heirs

So how do you start the conversation about estate planning with your heirs? We recommend you do it directly and with an invitation to meet with you and your lawyer together. This is something we love to do with our clients, and we’d love to support your family in this way too. You might say something like: “I want to make sure that we’re all taken care of, both now and in the future. That’s why I’d like to talk to you about my wishes for our family resources, and how we can ensure that everything is handled smoothly when I can’t be here.”

If your loved ones aren’t immediately open to having a conversation about estate planning with you or are resistant to how you want your assets managed after your death, don’t worry. Talking about estate planning can be uncomfortable at first, but as you normalize the topic, the conversation will become easier and more open.

Or, if you’re worried that filling your heirs in on what they’ll receive will cause harm, please call us at (858) 427-0539. This is a place we can really help by supporting you to get prepared to have a conversation with your heirs and also supporting them to be ready to receive their inheritance.

When you talk money and inheritance with your heirs during your lifetime, you have the opportunity to truly pass on not just the money, but your values too. If you wait until you’re incapacitated or have died, it’s simply too late.

Finally, if you’re the future heir of a parent who hasn’t yet talked with you about estate planning, you can jumpstart the conversation by getting your own planning done, and then talking with your parents about the choices you made, why you made them, and letting them know you’d like to help them feel comfortable talking to you about the choices they’re making. If you aren’t sure how to handle any of this, please reach out to us at (858) 427-0539.

Thoughtful Guidance to Build Your Personal and Financial Life and Legacy

Warren Buffett’s advice on building and preserving wealth is timeless and valuable no matter the size of your family or your estate. By involving your heirs in your estate planning and investing in yourself, you can set yourself and your loved ones up for long-term financial success and create a legacy that spans not only through your life but through the generations that follow you.

If you aren’t sure where to start or how to talk about your wishes with your family, reach out to me. I’d be happy to guide you and your loved ones through the process of creating an estate plan that focuses on the needs and hearts of everyone it involves, so you can build a life you love today knowing that your loved ones and your community will be impacted by your legacy for years to come.

To learn more about my heart-centered approach to estate planning, reach out to me to learn about my Family Wealth Planning Session process.

This article is a service of Brittany Cohen, Personal Family Lawyer. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you’ll get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

[email protected]

858-427-0539