In this episode, I speak with Kelila Heller, co-founder of Assisted Living Connections, an expert who helps families place their loved ones in assisted living and other similar type communities. We talk about one of life’s toughest transitions: finding the right care for an aging parent or loved one.

Kelila, her partner Tami Podell, and their team have helped hundreds of families across Ventura and LA County navigate the emotional, financial, and logistical challenges of senior care—from independent living to memory care, assisted living, and beyond. With warmth, honesty, and deep expertise (including helping my family more than once), Kelila shares real-world guidance for making confident decisions during a stressful time.

🗝️ What You’ll Learn:

• When is the right time to start planning for senior care?

• Assisted living vs. in-home care—what’s the real cost?

• What are the types of senior care: independent, assisted, memory care, and residential board and care?

• How do families pay for care: Social Security, long-term care insurance, reverse mortgage, VA benefits, and more

• What red flags to look for when deciding if it’s time to seek help

• How a senior placement advisor can make all the difference in finding the right fit

• How socialization, safety, and mental health factor into senior care decisions

• Why proximity to family members is crucial—and what happens if you wait too long

💡 Key Quotes:

“You don’t have to hire us—our services are free. We’re like a real estate agent for senior living.”

“Planning early gives you options. Waiting until there’s a crisis limits them.”

—Kelila Heller

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Website: www.assistedlivingconnections.com

• Phone: 888-800-1811

• Coverage Area: Ventura & West LA County (with referrals available nationwide)

• Nonprofit Partner: Senior Concerns

In this episode we deviate from the focus on real estate and inheritance. I speak with business continuity expert David Gering of Business Resilience Solutions to discuss how individuals and businesses can prepare for disasters and disruptions. With over 15 years of experience, David shares practical insights into risk management, disaster preparedness, and business recovery. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or simply looking to be better prepared, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you navigate uncertain times.

✅ David’s Background & Experience – How his firsthand experience with earthquakes, wildfires, and business disruptions shaped his career. ✅ Mindset & Disaster Readiness – Why preparation is critical and how stress impacts decision-making. ✅ Evacuation Planning – The importance of go bags, checklists, and what to do before leaving your home in a crisis. ✅ Lessons from Recent Wildfires – How wildfires have changed over the years and why modern fires are harder to fight. ✅ Communication During Disasters – Why cell phones may fail and how to establish alternative communication plans. ✅ Earthquake Preparedness – The impact of aftershocks and key takeaways from the Northridge Earthquake. ✅ Business Continuity Planning – How businesses can prepare for major disruptions by focusing on three key impact areas. ✅ Recommended Resources & Apps – Tools for staying informed and managing emergencies effectively.

• Always have a go bag ready at home and in your car.

• Plan for multiple disaster scenarios—fires, earthquakes, power outages, etc.

• Use checklists to ensure you don’t forget essential items during an evacuation.

• Consider signing up for emergency alert systems (VC Alert, Alert LA County, Notify LA).

• Download useful apps such as Watch Duty (wildfire tracking), MyShake (earthquake alerts), and Audacy (radio streaming during emergencies).

• Businesses should create business recovery plans focusing on data/system loss, loss of workplace, and loss of personnel.

• Have alternative communication methods, such as out-of-state contacts and text-based messaging.

• Invest in a generator or backup battery to sustain critical power needs.

📌 Emergency Alert Systems:

• Ventura County Alerts: ReadyVenturaCounty.org/VC-alert

• LA County Alerts: Alert.LACounty.gov

• Notify LA: Emergency.LACity.gov/NotifyLA

📌 Recommended Apps:

• Watch Duty (wildfire alerts)

• MyShake (earthquake warnings)

• Audacy (radio streaming for real-time news)

📌 Mass Notification Platforms for Businesses:

• AlertMedia.com

• Everbridge.com

• OnSolve.com

📞 Phone: 805-630-9731 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: ResilienceBCM.com

Preparation is key to ensuring safety and business continuity during disasters. By taking proactive steps today, you can improve your resilience and peace of mind. If you have questions or need professional guidance on business continuity planning, reach out to David Gering for expert advice.

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode, I sit down with David Schneider, a seasoned estate planning attorney, to discuss the crucial aspects of estate planning. We explore common mistakes, the importance of having a trust, and how failing to plan can cost families tens of thousands of dollars. David shares real-life cases, explaining why estate planning is essential for every homeowner and how proper preparation avoids probate, delays, and unnecessary expenses.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Every Homeowner Needs an Estate Plan

• In California, probate proceedings apply if a homeowner passes away with assets over $184,500.
• Probate is time-consuming and costly, eating up tens of thousands of dollars from estates.
• A revocable living trust ensures assets pass smoothly without probate delays.

2. Common Pitfalls in Estate Planning

• Not Funding the Trust: Many people create a trust but fail to transfer their home and assets into it. Without proper funding, the trust is useless.
• Failing to Update the Trust: Life changes (marriage, children, property purchases) require updates. Outdated trusts can cause legal issues.
• Misunderstanding Successor Trustees: Picking multiple co-trustees can cause family conflicts. It’s often best to appoint one responsible person.

3. The Hidden Costs of Probate

• Attorney fees and executor fees are calculated based on the gross value of an estate, not the net equity.
• On a $1 million estate, probate fees alone can exceed $40,000.
• Personal representatives can charge the same amount as attorneys, doubling the cost.

4. Avoiding Legal Roadblocks

• If a homeowner becomes incapacitated (e.g., dementia), their spouse cannot automatically sell the home unless it's in a trust.
• Power of Attorney does not cover real estate transactions after incapacity unless properly structured.
• Naming a guardian for minor children is critical to ensure their care in case of an untimely death.

5. Administering a Trust: What Happens After Someone Passes?

• Successor trustees must follow California probate code, which includes formal notifications and legal procedures.
• Mistakes in trust administration can lead to lawsuits and prolonged court battles.
• Working with an estate planning attorney simplifies the process and ensures compliance.

Final Thoughts & Action Steps:

• If you’ve refinanced your home, check that your property is still in your trust. Lenders often remove it during refinancing.
• Estate planning is not just for the elderly—every homeowner should have a trust in place.
• Review and update your estate plan every 5-10 years or after major life events.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

David Schneider

https://www.drs-law.com/

(805) 374-8777

Honored to be interviewed by Wayne Baxter of One Capital Management. Wayne and I discuss all the benefits of buying a home in the Conejo Valley. We also discuss what is going on in the homeowners insurance market in general and in the area. If you have thoughts of buying a home in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Agoura, Oak Park or Westlake Village, this episode is for you!

Simi Valley Unified Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jason Peplinski discusses the challenges the District is facing with the pandemic and budget cuts. Will we have a full return to the classroom? A hybrid model with alternating attendance days? Full distance learning? Dr. Peplinski discusses all the variables being considered and what orders are needed be followed. 

As we find ourselves working from home, Dina Braverman from Organizing Concepts and Designs offers tips on best practices in organizing your home work space. Dina also helps people prepare their home for sale, whether with de-cluttering, organizing, packing and even staging!

Dina's specialty is helping people organize! We hope you have a lot of takeaways that you can implement right now!

Dina has only 5 star reviews on Google, and can be reached at (310) 560-5060 or https://organizingconceptsanddesigns.com

Technology seems to be a timely subject and this episode features specialist Dan Natarelli from MSP Pros. We cover tips for working remotely, setting up an effective workspace, security and protecting your data and network, tips for hosting an online meeting, how to set up a redundant system in case your WiFi goes down and, channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw, backing up!

Do you rent a home? Do you rent a commercial property for your business? Do you own a residential or commercial property and want to know what new rights your tenants may have and options you have during this state of emergency? Please join the conversation with Don Lanson of Manfredi Levine and Janice Miller of Miller Haga as we discuss the new and changing landscape of landlord and tenants rights, as well as ways to keep relationships smooth. Because, at some point we will be on the other side of this pandemic! 

Our mindset and beliefs are challenged every day. Jeffrey Saad has a way about him, how he thinks and acts that produces energy and enthusiasm. I'm hoping our conversation will uplift you, even if you don't feel you need it, and perhaps offer new ways to approach your day. Maybe even offer you a "pick me up." I've known Jeffrey for years and have seen him present many times, and he is someone I will never get tired of being around and hearing from, and I hope you'll feel the same after listing.

Greg Spaulding, from Turnkey Advisory, share his expertise regarding both consumer and business credit. Greg's specialty is helping business owners establish credit under their business name, to separate it from their personal business. In this episode we discuss what consumers should know steps they should take to monitor their credit, the different FICO scores available, changes the federal government instituted on credit reporting and late payments, and how to build up business credit.

You can access a free credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action where you can monitor your credit weekly during this pandemic.