Absolute Trust Talk

Ever open a closet drawer only to discover something from your past that's long since been rendered obsolete? More often than not, this obsolescence comes by virtue of outdated technology — or, in the case of clothing, because of a shift in what's considered fashionable. Think VHS players, a Sony Walkman . . . parachute pants.

While you probably wouldn't expect to find any such relics within the realm of estate planning, they might just exist there too. If you're married, an excellent case in point is the AB trust you've been holding onto for quite some time — maybe without even knowing it. And like those archaic electronic devices or that "of its time" fashion, it may be time to kick it to the curb.

At one time, AB Trusts were very common. They harnessed a specifically designed structure to minimize exposure to the California estate tax laws that included a surprisingly low exemption — as low as $1 million dollars. So, if a couple had a worth of $2 million and one spouse died, the remaining spouse was often saddled with a substantial estate tax liability.

But, in 2013, those estate tax laws changed dramatically. That exemption mentioned above was bumped up by a multiple of more than 12 times — meaning that it now shielded a far greater number of estates from estate tax liability and, for many couples, also rendered their AB Trust obsolete.

Are you one of these couples? Tune into the latest episode of Absolute Trust Talk to find out. Kirsten Howe and associate attorney, Madison Gunn, will take a close look at AB Trusts, including the reasons why they became such a "go-to" strategy for so many married couples, why this type of trust can be more trouble than they're worth for some, and how they still offer specific protection that may make them invaluable for a few others.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• Why AB Trusts were often the perfect fit for married couples based on the estate tax laws in place about a decade ago.
• How the AB Trust got its name — including Kirsten's take on the trust's naming origin.
• The specific requirements of an AB Trust. These requirements entail a considerable amount of legal and accounting work at a certain point, and extra costs come with that.
• The primary consideration that must be made to determine whether or not an AB Trust is still the best option for you.
• Some scenarios that can play out in the absence of an AB trust. These scenarios may make an AB Trust your best option despite its requirements.
• Why, if you haven't updated your trust in the past decade, you should make an appointment with your trust attorney ASAP.

And more.

Despite those changes to California estate tax laws, many couples still retain an AB Trust that will profoundly impact how their estate is maintained in the event one spouse dies. It's our goal for you to walk away with a clear understanding of this sometimes misunderstood — and potentially outdated — estate tax strategy.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

California's Proposition 19 was passed as a constitutional amendment about two years ago amid quite a bit of confusion. A large part of this stemmed from the misleading rationale that positioned it mainly as a means to extend a financial lifeline to Californians whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or other natural disasters. This paved the way for them to transfer their property tax base to a new home in any of California's 58 counties and thus rebuild their lives after such a tragedy.

Obscuring things further were also some takebacks from the homeowner benefits offered, which largely replaced — Proposition 58. These takebacks from Proposition 58 centered mainly on the property tax benefits available when a primary residence was passed from parent to child. Now, it only covers the primary residency or family home. If it is transferred to a child, that child must make it their primary residency within one year after the transfer, and the property must remain their primary residence. Any other type of move will essentially trigger a reassessment. And many clients are still surprised about this.

Luckily the Board of Equalization has come out with clarifications and guidance on how Prop. 19 is supposed to work. So, if you're wondering if the proposition has been a net gain or a bust, we are taking a closer look at both the good, the bad, and reviewing the new instruction in this episode of Absolute Trust Talk. Kirsten and Madison will weigh in on the proposition's changes, what those changes mean for the citizens of California, and share some insights from the impacts we've been seeing with our clients here at Absolute Trust Counsel.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• The enhanced property tax benefits that Proposition 19 now provides to homeowners over 55 or who have been victims of a natural disaster.
• The benefits that California homeowners lost when Proposition 58 gave way to Proposition 19 — they're pretty substantial.
• The Board of Equalization's part in overseeing property tax administration and how some recent changes have left the agency behind the eight ball.
• How a commonly misunderstood part of the tax reassessment process can leave some family members with a property tax bill, they hadn't bargained for.
• What the Board of Equalization now says about the parent/child property tax exclusion if one inheriting child decides to buy siblings out of a deceased parent's primary residence.
• Why this legislation reflects California's push toward ADUs and how they're favored over other forms of multi-unit residences.

And more.

Nearly every piece of passed legislation brings some unforeseen and often unintended consequences, but in several ways, Proposition 19 is unique. A large part of this distinction comes from its jurisdiction over homeowner tax protection. So, if you're a California homeowner who plans to leave a primary residence to your children, listen in, as these changes will directly affect your — and their — financial future.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

For most of us — especially those nearing retirement age or are already there — our home is our most valuable asset, so it's impossible not to focus on the many factors that affect its worth. While prices tend to go up over time, it's short-term, as of late, that have caused some rather dramatic changes.

When the pandemic hit, the primary residence became a hot commodity. Why? Because people were spending 24/7 in their homes, working, and living in one space. In the Bay Area, that caused a roughly 20% appreciation in specific areas like Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. A stark contrast to the typical national average of 3.6% per year. Most recently, we've seen the Fed hike the interest rates, which caused another 20% increase.

With all that said, we can't help but wonder where things stand in the Bay Area housing market now and what we have to look forward to in the coming year. To get an insider's perspective, we're thrilled to welcome long-time Bay Area resident and RE/MAX real estate veteran Mark Shaw, a returning guest, to the show.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• Just how profoundly the real estate industry was affected when Covid first struck
• Several of the far-reaching effects that have resulted from the rise of the remote workforce
• The catalysts behind the Bay Area housing market's meteoric rise
• Why, despite some of the economic indicators we're now seeing, a repeat of the 2008 crash is very unlikely
• How financial and psychological factors have now combined to create an unusually tight home inventory

And more.

At Absolute Trust Counsel, we've seen the ever-changing market significantly affect our client's financial plans over the years. We hope you will join us as we discuss what the current market landscape means for first-time buyers and sellers, and what might be coming next.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

The quest to follow a client's wishes will always top the list of priorities for any conscientious estate attorney — keeping all parties concerned out of court likely runs not far behind — and while there's no failsafe way to ensure that priority #2 is 100% achieved, having an honest and open communication among family members about your estate plan is the best way to stack the odds in your favor.

The subject of estate planning can make family members feel a little uneasy, even when some of its most obvious aspects are often left unspoken. For example, where to find the estate planning documents needed to carry out your wishes and the location of the assets to be distributed to your heirs as you see fit. This can lead to confusion, especially when emotions are already at a fever pitch. The chasms it can create among family members can last a LONG time — sometimes even permanently.

Notifying your family members of your wishes as clearly as possible is the best way to avoid surprises and the potential fallout that might result from them. And while it's a great idea to get family input on several aspects of your estate plan, this input shouldn't be the only factor in shaping your decisions. You shouldn't have to ask your children for permission to create your estate plan as you see fit.

With all this in mind, planning your estate, so things go as smoothly as possible when it comes time to carry out your wishes seems pretty challenging, doesn't it? It often is, but let's see if we can make it a little less daunting. Join us for a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, as Kirsten Howe and associate attorney, Madison Gunn, take a closer look at several ways to take the surprise element out of estate planning to reduce the chances of resentment that can drive a wedge between family members.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• How our migration to the digital age has added an extra challenge to conveying your wishes to family members
• Why deciding on the right trustee — as well as knowing who it SHOULDN'T be — is so crucial
• The important conversation that should come even before you sit down with family members to discuss your estate plan
• Why making ALL of your wishes known — including those for end-of-life care — is such a kindness to your survivors
• A few of the commonly encountered assets that are especially prone to triggering hard feelings and resentment

And more.

There is no single right way to plan for the distribution of your estate's assets when you're no longer around. Just as every family is different, so are the relationships between its family members. But, making sure that the essential details of your estate plan are properly discussed can go a long way toward keeping peace and harmony in the future.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

Since, for nearly everyone, a home mortgage represents the biggest — and most important — loan of all, rising interest rates have made home buying more of a challenge. But if you happen to be a prospective homeowner, that's no reason to give up. The connection between the Fed raising interest rates and experiencing more pain in your wallet when you apply for a home loan is often misunderstood — the relationship isn't quite as direct as you might expect. And while you can't help but notice that home loan rates are higher than they were just a few months back, from a historical perspective, they're still pretty low. More importantly, there's some upside to the recent shifts in the home loan market that you might not have already considered.

Sound more encouraging? Then join us for our milestone 100th episode of Absolute Trust Talk as we speak to Janice Nugent, a certified mortgage planning specialist with Compass Mortgage Advisors. With more than 15 years of experience in this capacity, Janice is not only well-qualified to weigh in on current home loan market conditions, but during that time, she's also made it a priority to help her clients build wealth, financial freedom and pursue their life goals by leveraging intelligent mortgage, cash flow, and home equity strategies.

Janice has forged her career by looking out for her client's best interests — not only in the present, but farther down the road. She takes a well-rounded, holistic approach to her role and encourages her clients to look at a home loan purchase not just in terms of shelter or as an investment, but also in terms of how a pending purchase will affect other facets of their lives. She'll provide a fresh perspective on home ownership — whether for a primary residence or investment purposes — and give you a logic-based overview of the home loan market as it currently stands, as well as the opportunities that still exist for prospective home buyers. In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• The advantages of working with a mortgage broker versus working directly with a bank
• How the Fed's rate hikes affect mortgage interest rates — HINT: There's not as direct a connection as you might think
• The factors that home loan rates are actually tied to
• Why prospective home buyers need to consider how a home purchase will affect their life goals
• Some seldom discussed but very beneficial by-products of the recent home loan interest rate hikes

And more.

If you've been considering buying a home for some time — whether as a primary residence or as an investment — but now feel like the recent interest rate hikes have dashed your hopes of pursuing the American Dream, this episode will have you reconsidering your assumptions. Janice will discuss some programs you might be able to use to bring home ownership back within reach and explain why changes in the real estate market actually create some upside — especially for first-time buyers.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

Caring for someone with special needs is not only challenging but often isolating as well. The responsibilities that come with this role are emotionally heavy and offer no real "time off," so caretakers spend a big part of their lives feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of their everyday lives. These responsibilities are usually for the long haul, and a good deal of the strain that comes with being a caretaker for someone with special needs centers on making the proper long-term preparations. Future housing considerations certainly top that list.

When faced with significant challenges, we often research precedent — seeking effective solutions that have been tested and proven by others. But what if no such precedent is available? That's the situation Susan Riggle, our guest on the newest episode of Absolute Trust Talk, found herself in. The mother of twins — one of whom remains unable to say his own name, ask a question, or tie his shoe — Riggle began her journey to find an appropriate and effective housing solution for her special needs son in response to one very poignant question posed by his twin sister: "What's going to happen to Tommy when you're gone?"

Unable to provide an appropriate answer, Susan began researching her options. A state employee at the time, she had plenty of contacts to reach out to, but found that nobody had any real answers. And as it turned out, they still don't today. So, believing herself to be part of a small and isolated group of caretakers faced with this situation, Susan attended a conference in Los Angeles and found more than 400 people in attendance — all of whom were in search of the solution to this very same problem. The bonds that were forged during that 2013 meeting — and the networking that resulted — gave rise to Living Unlimited. A nonprofit centered on creating solutions for the lack of special needs housing.

As the Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Living Unlimited, Susan has found her journey ever since to be both immensely rewarding and often very demanding. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, she'll recount some of the substantial roadblocks she's faced, as well as the often-revolutionary approaches that Living Unlimited has created to provide special needs adults with a comfortable and rewarding housing situation that's capable of extending beyond the lives of their parents.

It's a very captivating episode — Susan refers to her time at the helm of Living Unlimited as a "labor of love" while at the same time freely admitting that she's not sure if she would have embarked on her journey had she known just how challenging it would be.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• The evolving challenges that make creative solutions to special needs housing so difficult to achieve
• How Living Unlimited puts its substantial experience to work to create viable special needs housing communities
• The revolutionary approaches that Living Unlimited has created and executed to solve these unique challenges
• How the families of special needs adults participate in the program
• Why Living Unlimited's approach to special needs housing is not only a more comprehensive solution than other options, but also offers more real-world practicality

And more.

If you're the parent of a special needs child — or are friends or family to someone who is — you likely know all too well about the myriad of difficulties that come with this role. Listen in as Susan provides invaluable insight into how families can solve their special needs housing challenges and explains how this can happen.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

Considering what might potentially hang in the balance, logic would suggest that when it comes time to prepare an estate plan, nearly all of us would stick to a "just the facts" approach, steering clear of secondhand and ill-conceived advice from friends or flat-out inaccurate information that's been handed down from generation to generation. But let's be honest, estate planning can have its complexities and be confusing, so often, the information we have from our peers might be all we have.

The problem is, when it comes time to put an estate plan into action, it's usually too late for do-overs. And, if that estate plan is built on faulty information or incomplete follow-through, the financial consequences can be substantial — even life-changing. Hard-earned assets that don't end up going to the intended beneficiaries, unintentional and seemingly harmless missteps that can result in legal action, and even woefully inadequate medical provisions at a point in life where they're needed the most.

We totally understand that there is a sense of uneasiness that often surrounds the subject of estate planning. Almost nothing reminds us of our own mortality, like sitting down and strategizing for our pending demise or incapacitation. So instead of putting in the all-important due diligence to get to the bottom of the realities of estate planning — or better yet, soliciting the guidance of a qualified professional — many of us take the path of least resistance and rely on often expedient but faulty information that can bring on those severe consequences down the line.

It's just too important a topic to rely on shortcuts, so in this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney, Madison Gunn, will not only examine some of the most common estate planning myths they've encountered in the course of their practices, but will also counter them with the actual legal facts.

These myths will range from thoroughly believable to seemingly irrational. Some you may have even accepted as fact a long time ago, while others might leave you scratching your head in disbelief. But they'll all have one thing in common — subscribing to them can lead to many problems down the line.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• How, despite the best of intentions, lack of follow-through can torpedo major elements of even the best estate plans
• The misunderstandings that surround the concept of common-law marriage (Hint: It's not even a thing in many states)
• Why irrevocable trusts aren't the panacea that many believe them to be
• The variety of circumstances that can lead details of your estate plan to be divulged to people you'd rather not know about it
• What is required of an aging parent when it comes time to update their estate plan
• Why estate planning is essential even for those who don't have heirs or have amassed valuable assets

And more.

With all the misinformation surrounding estate planning that's circulated over the years, it might be hard at times to separate fact from fiction, but we're here to help! Join Kirsten and Madison as they clear up some of the most common estate planning myths they've encountered during their careers and replace these falsehoods with actual facts.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

It's hard to deny that we now live in a celebrity-centric society. At one time, programming like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" seemed a novel concept. Now we're bombarded almost daily with content chronicling the everyday activities of celebrities of all kinds — including stars with no real claim to fame other than having amassed a large following on social media.

Our fascination with the rich and famous is hard to put down. We like to believe that our favorite celebrities are like us — they walk their dogs, go shopping, hit the gym, and live much like we do. That's probably why all that TMZ-style photo and video content centered on celebrities going on about their daily lives is such a mainstay of social media. It reinforces the notion that stars are very similar to us despite their wealth and fame.

Comforting as that may be, most of us — probably yourself included — also realize that, in some respects, celebrities are, in fact, nothing like us. After all, multi-million-dollar estates, exotic cars that cost more than many houses, entourages, and travel via private jet are luxuries that few of us get to experience.

Considering the financial resources at their disposal, you'd think that most celebrities would have a legion of financial experts at arm's reach to not only maximize their income but also build estate plans that leave nothing to chance when it comes time to transfer all that accumulated wealth to the heirs of their choosing.

As it turns out, that's often not the case. When it comes to estate planning, many celebrities are very much like us, either putting it off

entirely or dealing with it in a haphazard fashion. In our newest episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney, Madison Gunn, take a closer look at some of the surprising missteps — ranging from poor planning to outright avoidance — that many members of the rich and famous have made when planning for that time when they'll no longer be around.

A number of these situations will probably seem pretty familiar, yet the fallout from these celebrities either taking ill-conceived actions — or no action at all — can be substantial. Huge amounts of wealth that could have otherwise been shielded end up in the government coffers via taxation, heirs battling it out in court for years (literally), and some heirs being enriched to the extent that has led them down a tragic, and sometimes even fatal, path.

It's a bit of a departure from most of our ATC podcasts, but it still maintains a common thread. You'll hear stories about the rich and famous that are, at times, both sobering and entertaining, and yet there's no shortage of teachable moments included. Besides being better equipped to avoid estate planning mishaps, you'll also walk away from this podcast with a better idea of the right steps to take for a smoother process when planning and administering your estate.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• How, despite wealth and access to the best financial advice, celebrities often avoid the topic of estate planning altogether
• The challenges that come with estates that include music rights and other intellectual property
• Missteps by the rich and famous that have led to the government taking huge shares of estates at the expense of potential heirs
• How poor planning has led to heirs being enriched to the extent that they proved unable to handle
• Why having the best of intentions and communicating them to others is no substitute for a properly executed will
• The privacy implications of a celebrity dying intestate

And more.

Because so much wealth is usually at stake, we tend to assume that the rich and famous almost always take the necessary steps to ensure their estate plans reflect their intentions and are airtight. Unfortunately, this is often not true, but as you'll see, when celebrities either improvise with their estate plans — or take no action — the consequences can be enormous. The fallout may make for good tabloid fodder, but at the same time, it's sobering.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

Planning for the time when you'll no longer be around is a difficult topic for many of us to discuss. After all, who wants to be reminded of their own mortality? But, regardless of the discomfort, it's a topic that needs to be addressed. Avoiding it can only bring confusion and hostility among your heirs, and the possibility that your hard-earned assets won't be passed on as you would have intended.

When the administration of an estate plan involves the inheritance of a house, as many do, the potential for problems grows even greater. While most situations go smoothly, just as many don't, and the decisive factor between the two outcomes almost always boils down to how much forethought goes into the succession plan — who gets what when you're no longer here?

Because of the emotions almost always attached to a home, whether it's a primary residence or a vacation cabin — as well as the potential financial implications — deciding who will inherit your home and how it will be inherited is tricky territory to navigate. No two families share the same relationships among their members. When an asset as substantial as a property is involved, emotions can overtake logic, leading to tensions that can last for a long time. All the right "what ifs?" must be asked — regardless of how uncomfortable these questions might make everyone feel.

In our newest episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Madison Gunn will closely examine the many factors that should be considered when you're passing real estate on to your heirs. In their collective years of practice, they've encountered a wide variety of scenarios, and they'll be leveraging this experience to provide a unique perspective on this very important topic. In the process, they'll unearth a number of questions, many of which you may not have considered.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• Why careful planning is the key to the smooth administration of an estate plan
• How changes in the California tax code have had a profound impact on inheriting the family home
• The potential challenges a family home might carry when it comes time to pass it on to an heir (or heirs)
• Several potential scenarios where inheriting the family home can range from relatively simple, to downright complex
• How open, honest communication can prevent resentment and hostilities among heirs

And more.

If you're like most homeowners, the family home is by far your most valuable asset, so it's vital to ensure your property gets passed on as you see fit. This episode will give you a roadmap of the process, the factors that should be considered, the questions that must be asked, and how to facilitate good, honest communication among your heirs. Let's get started.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

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When planning for the ongoing needs of a special needs child or relative, there's quite an array of considerations that have to be made — some foreseen, some not. It's about far more than just paperwork — no two families are alike regarding their financial situation, the vision they hold for the future of their special needs child, or even the unique care requirements of that child.

These families do, however, tend to share one common purpose: that the parents are doing their best to replace themselves in the future when they're no longer around. After all, despite our best efforts, none of us live forever.

If this is a scenario that's in your future — or perhaps the future of someone you know — you probably already appreciate how easy it is to be overwhelmed by the process. And if there wasn't already enough complexity to deal with in terms of insurance, benefits, caregiving, education, etc., special needs care planning also carries an additional challenge you won't find when planning for the care of an elderly parent or relative — it can often be for the long term, as "special needs" isn't necessarily synonymous with a shorter life span.

To bring special needs care planning into sharper focus, we are thrilled to be speaking with Ann Koerner, CEO, and Founder of National Care Advisors, in a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk. Since 2008, they've provided consulting services for special needs families, attorneys, financial planners, and trustees who support individuals with complex care needs. As a result of her work with many national corporations, Ann possesses extensive business knowledge of case management, utilization review, third-party payers, workers' compensation, private insurance companies, and government resources. In addition to her special needs expertise, Ann holds a degree in nursing from Russell Sage College. She began her nursing practice as a public health nurse in New York and later with the City of Columbus Health Department.

Ann will be talking about the challenges that lie ahead for family members, including parents, siblings, and other relatives, when planning for the future of someone with special care needs. There's a lot to consider, from financial planning to living accommodations and day-to-day care.

In this episode, we're going to discuss:

• The most common scenarios that prompt a family to seek specialized outside help with special needs care planning
• How parents' initial assumptions when planning are often unrealistic
• The role that siblings usually prefer to play in special needs care planning
• Why failing to seek qualified outside help to save money often has the opposite effect
• The various ways that National Care Advisors can help families navigate the Special Needs Care Planning process

And more.

Whether special needs care planning is in your future, or you're already mid-process and experiencing more than a bit of frustration, this episode will put this often-complex planning in a clearer light. It will also raise questions you probably haven't even considered, so let's get started!