In episode eleven of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes award-winning Remax Accord Real Estate Broker Mark Shaw into the studio. Mark has been serving Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for more than 19 years and, even though he spent some time as a teacher, you could say his career started back in the 60’s & 70’s when he was helping his father pass out flyers and set up open house signs.

Mark is well-versed in the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market, and Kirsten wastes no time digging in. During this podcast, Mark and Kirsten discuss why buying and selling in the Bay Area is so unusual right now and how the cash purchase of a home is influencing the marketplace.

Later, Mark weighs in on some surprising statistics and trends that are influencing aspects of the local market, and also, shares some advice to sellers on some essential tasks that need to be done before putting your home on the market. Download this resource here! 

Big Three From Episode #011:

What the clients are thinking:

1. Can I trust you?
2. Are you good at what you do?
3. Do you care about my needs and me?

Time-stamped Show Notes:

2:00 – What is making the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market so high? Can a seller name their price?

3:12 – The average buyer spends this much time searching for homes before they contact a realtor.

3:40 – Does the amount of cash buyers have to spend on housing distort the market?

6:15 – Why the number of years people are staying in their homes (not moving) is increasing.

8:30 – What are the main reasons people move?

11:40 – How is the buyer’s market trending?

16:42 – This is a huge determining factor in real estate sales.

22:11 – In the current market. what do sellers have to do to get their house sold?

26:14 – It might seem all dollars and cents, but home buying has much more to do with this.

Episode #011 Freebie: 13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety

Taking care of a property can be a lot of work, and some maintenance issues will obviously take priority over others. However, when it comes to your home’s safety, there are easy, low-cost, DIY projects we neglect because they are either not at the top of the list or not top of mind. Absolute Trust Talk guest Mark Shaw has generously offered to share his resource “13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety” to ATT’s audience. Shaw created this resource to be a tool to simplify target issues and help you focus on simple, common-sense tasks to keep your home safe. He has broken these projects down so they are easy to commit to doing one or two per month to maintain a safe home environment.

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Herb Thomas, founder and principal fiduciary of Herb Thomas and Associates. Herb has a big passion for people, which is shown through his extensive experience serving families throughout California with special needs trusts, public benefits counseling and advocacy, trust/estate administration, and conservatorships. He is also a board member of the Behavioral Intervention Association, which is a nonprofit dedicated to providing intervention services to children diagnosed with autism and their families.

During his conversation with Kirsten, Herb touches on what a professional fiduciary is and what makes the job right for someone who has “experienced a little bit of life.” He addresses why it’s essential for a family to look outside immediate members to a resource such as a professional fiduciary. He also provides actionable guidelines and tips for planning around the proper execution of a Special Needs Trust – everything from organization to the rest of the team involved.

Herb later weighs in on the biggest responsibilities expected of a special needs trustee and how to get started with a licensed professional fiduciary.

Big Three From Episode #010:

1. Choose a trustee wisely – they are the main ingredient of a successful trust.
2. Have a financial plan set up before you start.
3. Choose the rest of the team wisely.

Time-stamped Show Notes

2:25 – What does it mean to be a licensed professional fiduciary?

4:22 – A professional fiduciary can serve in these various roles.

9:30 – What challenges are faced when administering a special needs trust?

12:41 – Here is why special needs trusts are important – the benefits, and why it’s needed.

15:08 – Here is why you should consider using a professional fiduciary.

24:50 – What is the process to hire a professional fiduciary? How do we find you?

25:47 – Herb discusses who he works with on the trust administration, other than just the beneficiary.

29:40 – Herb highlights the most significant responsibilities of a Special Needs Trustee – consider this when you are deciding whom to choose for your trustee.

Episode #010 Freebie: Special Needs Trust Tools – “Trustee Can Purchase” + What to Ask When Hiring a Professional Fiduciary

Assets are important to everyone, whether you have the resources or not. In the case of a special needs trust, the job of a licensed professional fiduciary or trustee is to help protect those assets for as long as possible and to use them solely for the benefit of the beneficiary. It’s vital, going into this process, to have goals to help you achieve what needs to be done for the recipient. To accompany this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, guest Herb Thomas put together a couple of tools to help you get started. “Trustee Can Purchase” is a guide to help the trustee understand what can be purchased for the benefit of the beneficiary. In addition, Herb provided a list of interview questions to ask when you are hiring a professional fiduciary. Above all else, you want to make sure the beneficiary is taken care of adequately and that their needs are met for the rest of their life.

Download these free tools here!

Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned In This Episode:

PFAC – https://pfac-pro.org

Professional Fiduciary Bureau of California – http://fiduciary.ca.gov

HerbThomas.com

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes trust and estate litigator Denise E. Chambliss from Tri-Valley law firm Hoge, Fenton.

During their discussion, Denise and Kirsten hone in on the specifics of trust and estate litigation with an emphasis on elder abuse and undue influence. Kirsten highlights that elder abuse is an epidemic, it’s happening everywhere, and it’s often happening right under our noses. In response, Denise defines, characterizes, and zeros in on how best to defend those abused and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Top Three from Episode #009:

1. If you suspect something in regard to elder abuse, say something.
2. It’s not just happening with family members.
3. Elder abuse is a crime.

Time-stamped Show Notes:

3:00 – Denise defines and characterizes elder abuse

6:23 – How does undue influence fit in?

7:55 – Elder abuse is considered these two types of crimes

8:45 – Family members aren’t the only ones who abuse the elderly

11:30 – How hard is it to prove elder abuse in court?

12:17 – How does decision making factor into a case?

14:00 – How does a No Contest Clause fit into the elder abuse arena?

16:07 – What would make a No Contest Clause more effective?

17:12 – How to avoid litigation

21:15 – Denise shares what other areas elder abuse can crop up in

Episode #009 Freebie: Discussion About the Dreaded No Contest Clause

Denise works hard as a trust and estate litigator to help protect and defend those who might not understand what’s happening to them anymore but also to educate and protect the trustees, executors, and beneficiaries who are involved. A big part of that is speaking out and educating others on the myriad of ever-changing laws in this field. One that has an impact on the issue of elder abuse is the No Contest Clause. It is an intriguing element to many people, yet they don’t know how to navigate it in order to use it to their best advantage. In a recent article authored by Denise, she details the history of and changes to the law, what became of the“Safe Harbor” provisions, and the best practices for an enforceable No Contest Clause combined with a disinheritance. This is essential information everyone should know when it comes to effective estate planning, and Denise is giving you exclusive access! Click here to download the discussion!

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes special needs financial planning expert Jon Elfin into the studio. Jon has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry and focuses on processes and expertise to help clients understand their options and more importantly take action when it comes to building and preserving wealth for families with special needs dependents.

Jon and Kirsten break down what exactly special needs planning encompasses and discuss the processes that Jon goes through with each of his clients. More importantly, Jon discusses a few of the biggest mistakes he sees when clients come into his practice and also highlights effective strategies that a special needs family can take now in securing the future of their dependents. As Jon is also a parent of a special needs child, throughout the interview he weaves in topics of transitional life experience from his own personal perspective.

Big Three From Episode #008:

1. Start early
2. Don’t be overwhelmed
3. Utilize your resources!

Time-stamped Show Notes:

1:50 – What exactly is Special Needs Planning?

2:48 – How Jon got into Special Needs Planning

4:00 – The complexities of Special Needs Planning

7:00 – Jon highlights common mistakes he’s come across in his practice when working with clients

8:05 – Jon and Kirsten discuss a few of the biggest benefits/acronyms that people miss

10:42 – Kirsten discusses Special Needs Planning from the estate planning point of view and a special provision that should be put in all estate plans

11:37 – Jon addresses why ages 18 and 22 are important ages for special needs people

13:30 – Jon defines “transition class” and its extreme importance

15:35 – What a regional center is and how it helps special needs families plan the next step.

16:20 – Don’t leave all the money for a special needs family member to a sibling!

20:14 – A special needs person can save money in these accounts too – Big win for the disability community

25:15 – The other important strategy for special needs individuals according to Jon is life insurance 

Episode #008 Freebie:

No matter where you are in your journey as a special needs family know that there are things that can be done to help build and protect the future of your special needs dependent. During this episode, Jon mentioned a few of the common mistakes well-intentioned special needs families make. To help educate listeners on what to look for he outlined and is exclusively sharing with us a few more! In addition, Jon is also offering a FREE 90-minute consultation. So if you’re a special needs parent or caretaker who is worried or doesn’t know where to start, call Jon. He will cover all of the basics and see if he can be of further service in making your special needs life transitions go as smoothly as possible.

Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode:

Special Olympics

Sunflower Hill

Disability benefits 101 - https://ca.db101.org/

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Walnut Creek family attorney Ariel Brownell Lee into the studio. 

During her conversation with Kirsten, Ariel touches on all aspects of a prenuptial agreement. While discussing the pros and cons, Ariel reveals just how much a prenup can, and can’t, protect. Kirsten and Ariel explore the overlap between estate planning and divorce by examining community property, characterization of assets, and the protection a postnup can offer married couples years into their marriage.

Later, Ariel weighs in on what couples heading for divorce should think about and offers actionable tips and tools.

Big Three From Episode # 007:

1. Have the uncomfortable conversations with your spouse
2. Plan ahead, even if it seems like something you don’t need to think about, you do.
3. Always seek counsel. Don’t try and do the work on your own. It’s more efficient to do it right the first time than to hire someone to clean up your mistakes.

Time-stamped Show Notes

2:55 – What kinds of couples need a prenuptial agreement?

3:50 – Ariel talks about the pros of a prenup

4:20 – Ariel talks about the cons of a prenup

5:30 – Ariel and Kirsten discuss what a prenup protects

6:15 – Spousal support gets tricky here – don’t think you need it, but do you?

8:09 – Ariel highlights the things a prenup doesn’t protect

9:09 – Kirsten talks about community property, the magic number 8 and post nuptial agreements

10:59 – What’s the difference between prenups and postnups?

12:02 – How to ensure your prenup is enforceable – hint: the answer isn’t online.

14:30 – Ariel roadmaps what a divorce looks like with a prenup and without a prenup

19:00 – What should couples think about when they are heading for divorce?

24:06 – What does child custody look like in divorce?

27:54 – What are other custody disputes?

33:13 – Ariel talks ladies in law

Episode # 007 Freebie:

Heading for divorce is an emotional time and getting your head in the game is not always the easiest. Your judgment is probably clouded whether or not the separation is mutual. If you are heading down this road, it’s time to get started and get ahead of the game. Family lawyer and Absolute Trust Talk guest Ariel Brownell Lee has put together a free pre-divorce checklist and roadmap. These take a bit of guesswork out of your future. From issues to consider, to documents to gather, Ariel provides and a broad overview of what to expect from filing to judgment. Ariel hopes these tools will bring a little bit of support and a little bit of certainty to you about starting the process. 

Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in this Episode:

A Seat at the Table: http://cwlseatatthetable.blogspot.com

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Walnut Creek Financial Planner Ora Citron into the studio. For Ora, financial planning is a way to make a difference for individuals in our community, directly and meaningfully, by taking responsibility for helping clients create a path to the future based on their personal goals.

During her discussion with Kirsten, Ora shares with listeners what financial planning really is, and hint, it’s not all about the money. Ora highlights that for a majority of her clients, financial planning makes a huge difference by relieving stress and creating clarity. Financial planners can bring new and different resources to the table. Ora and Kirsten also discuss the biggest misconceptions in financial planning, and Ora weighs in on complex and often misunderstood topics like social security and long-term care.

Later, Ora also shares that a large part of her focus, and a subspecialty of her firm, is working with women in transition. Whether it’s retirement, divorce, or widowhood, it’s important to educate women, relieving stress and creating clarity in very emotionally difficult times.

Big Three From Episode #06:

1. Financial Planners bring new ideas to the table, things you have never even heard about.
2. It’s not solely about the money
3. Don’t leave your future to guesswork!

Time-stamped Show Notes: 

2:36 – The Basics: What do financial planners do?

3:45 – What difference does financial planning make for a client?

4:40 – Retirement isn’t the only goal that a financial planner can help someone achieve

5:39 – Medicare, people know about it, but they don’t know these facts

6:35 – Why can’t someone just do it on his or her own? There is Google, right?

8:40 – Ora discusses the one piece of financial planning that is most critical to a financial planner’s success with clients

15:33 – Ora highlights a subspecialty of her practice – working with women in transition

16:44 – What’s makes working with women clientele different?

18:20 – Social Security planning is something that should not be dismissed. Here’s why…

26:14 – Ora discusses her approach to long-term care in financial planning

29:04 – Isn’t long-term care planning just for the wealthy?

30:52– Ora highlights the biggest misconceptions that she see’s with clients and in general

Episode #006 Freebie: Risk Tolerance Assessment

You’ve found a good financial planner, someone, you’re comfortable working with, but that’s only half the battle. You want to feel comfortable with what they are doing for you and your money. A crucial piece of successful financial planning is risk analysis because it defines the risk you’re willing to take with your money. Walnut Creek financial planner Ora Citron swears by one tool that she uses with her clients, Riskalyze. Riskalyze is an online questionnaire with practical questions to assess how comfortable you are with taking risks. It makes you think about what you would realistically do, how content you are with that and what adjustments need to be made in your financial plan, so you meet all of your goals. Ora is offering Absolute Trust Talk listeners exclusive access to this questionnaire so that you too can see where your risk tolerance lies. 

Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode:

The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis

In this episode, Kirsten talks to Denae Budde, managing shareholder of Budde Law Group, a niche practice that focuses in on handling either transactions or litigation in the real estate and business.

During her conversation with Kirsten, Denae discusses the rising trend of parent/child real estate transactions. Denae highlights some of the unique things that parents are doing to ensure their children are living in the home or area they want. Denae addresses some of the challenges and roadblocks that face these types of deals and offers effective strategies that can be used to make intrafamily real estate transactions more successful.

Top Two From Episode # 005:

1. See your attorney before any decisions are made
2. Communicate with your family members and loved ones – those the transaction could affect 

Time-stamped Show Notes:

2:04 – Kirsten and Denae discuss techniques regarding parent/child real estate transactions

3:50 – Denae shares the most challenging real estate transaction – house swapping – and highlights roadblocks of this type of deal

6:15 – Denae offers parents a reasonable alternative option to help parents help their children

6:55 – Kirsten and Denae discuss children purchasing the home that the parents are living in

7:40 – The best way to make this deal favorable if there is more than one child in the family

8:28 – Kirsten and Denae discuss the importance of family harmony and communication to aid in the smooth sailing of these types of deals

11:15 – Denae highlights an important point – make sure your landlord actually owns the property you are about to rent

13:19 – Kirsten and Denae discuss challenges surrounding commercial leases

15:40 – Denae gives advice of protection to those who own rental properties that are investment properties and not intrafamily rentals

17:56 – Kirsten and Denae discuss an LLC versus a Corporation

24:40 – Denae’s parting wisdom on business deals

Episode # 005 Freebie:

As a parent you’ll do anything for your child, but how far would you go to make sure your child has the type of home they want or is living in the location they want to be in? Many people jump in not wanting to spend the extra money on the front end to protect their transactions and make sure that no surprises arise. Absolute Trust Talk guest Denae Budde recommends talking to an attorney first and to remember that the upfront costs will save you more on the back end. Denae offers listeners this exclusive tool “Consider This – A Brief Guide to Owning and Renting Property,” that takes you through the considerations, questions like “How should we own our rental property?” and “What’s involved in setting up an LLC?” The guide lays out clear actionable steps and what you have to pull together to get started. In addition, she talks about things to consider when you’re thinking about leasing a property. 

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Certified Financial Transitionist® Gary Gardner into the studio. As part of the first graduating class of the Financial Transitionist Institute (a division of the Sudden Money Institute) Gary was drawn to the process that uses the “touchy, feely side of the brain,” as he likes to say – guiding clients through the transitions in life on a much higher emotional level.

Gary and Kirsten discuss the unique niche of the financial planning world that is financial transition. Gary highlights the importance of human relationship in this planning process and reveals that it is truly the why behind the what that drives people to cope and move through life transitions in various ways that he has observed over the years. Most importantly, Gary reveals that life transitions, whether the death of a loved one, retirement, a job change, etc., are NORMAL and it’s okay to ask for help to work through them on your own time and on your own terms.

Big Three From Episode # 004:

1. Transition, life changes, it’s NORMAL
2. Take a break, taking your time is OKAY
3. You’re not alone

Time-stamped Show Notes

2:16 – Gary talks about how his approach to financial planning is different from the norm and his evolution into a Certified Financial Transitionist®

3:45 – Implementation in a person’s life much more relevant with this type of coaching

8:09 – Gary shares research into the life transitions a widow goes through with the death of a spouse

10:24 – The spectrum of handling a huge life stressor

14:00 – Gary shares how his specialized approach helps move these transitions along for clients

17:27 – Gary discusses what happens during the first meeting with clients

20:14 – Gary’s number one question he asks his clients –What’s on your mind?

24:11 – Kirsten discusses the estate planning side of the process when working with recently widowed, grieving clients

25:26 – Gary recommends this mindset when approaching transition

27:50 – Gary breaks down the meaning behind DFZ – his resource tool

40:00 – How do you think about your own preparations for death?

Episode # 004 Freebie:

“The next time you find yourself wading through the quick sand I hope you’ll pull up the Decision Free Zone.” – Gary Gardner(CeFT)

No matter which life transition you’re in: whether it be the grieving over the death of a loved one, retirement, significant job change or if you’re just at a point in life where you just don’t know what to do, stop. Take a minute, breath, and pull up this tool. Dump your brain into the Now, Soon, and Later – no matter how silly or minute that thing in your brain might be – and get yourself to a point where you say okay, I can move forward from here.

Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Dick Wagner: Financial Planning 3.0: Evolving Our Relationships with Money

David Allen – Getting Things Done

Sudden Money Institute – Susan Bradley

Life&Wealth Advisors

Walnut Creek professional fiduciary dynamo Karen Fisher joins Kirsten in the studio for episode #003 of Absolute Trust Talk.

Kirsten highlights how many people just don’t know what a professional fiduciary is or that having someone outside the family to administer trusts and estates is even an option. Karen discusses the vast range of services that she offers, the processes that she goes through with clients and how one becomes a professional fiduciary. Karen also weighs in on the enormous benefits that come from having a professional fiduciary.

Big Three From Episode #003:

1. A professional fiduciary provides a number of services to clients when they are unable to do so for themselves
2. A professional fiduciary helps avoid conflict, cuts back on legal costs, and, is tax deductible!
3. A professional fiduciary provides peace of mind, things will get done smoothly, timely and right.

Time-stamped show notes:

3:20 – Many people don’t know what a professional fiduciary is, so, what is it? How can it help me with my estate, retirement or trust needs?

6:25 – Why not to name children or siblings as trustees

9:16 – Karen talks about the biggest complaint from a beneficiary

9:50 – Karen talks about the process of becoming a professional fiduciary

11:07 – Karen discusses how she maintains interaction and relationships with clients on a trust that is expected to last for many years

13:00 – How is a professional fiduciary a resource to special needs clients

13:51 – My legal fees go down if I use a professional? Yes! Here’s why…

17:15 – How a fiduciary sees the estate process

Episode # 03 Freebie:

Many people think that once they sign their estate documents and file them away, the job is done. That’s not necessarily true. As host Kirsten Howe likes to say, “The more bread crumbs you leave behind, the better.” What she means is the more you prepare your trustee and other decision makers to successfully implement your estate plan the better. There are always additional steps and more

to be done which can be overwhelming even in the best of circumstances. Whether you have a professional fiduciary or not Absolute Trust Talk guest Karen Fisher has the cheat sheet of all cheat sheets to help you and your loved ones prepare. And believe us when we say, they will love you even more for the extra steps and preparation.  

In this episode of “Absolute Trust Talk,” Kirsten talks to Geoff Zimmerman, Certified Financial Planner, Senior Advisor, and Chief Compliance Officer for Mosaic Financial Partners, Inc. Geoff is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most seasoned practitioners and concentrates on assisting both working and retired individuals and couples at the executive level prepare for major life transitions.

During their discussion, Geoff reveals his relatable anecdotes that describe the importance of why the individual pieces of one's finances should be integrated into a master plan. He shares real-life examples, observations and insights from his specialized life transition focus providing listeners with actionable tips and tools to help them understand how each element when properly coordinated works together to avoid adverse interactions.

Big Three From Episode # 002:

1. Individual planning parts might seem good, but how do they all work together?
2. Life transitions have SEVERAL moving parts, find an advisor that will ask the right questions and who will ask A LOT of questions
3. Look at the BIG picture

Time stamped show notes:

2:45 – Thanksgiving dinner anecdote paints picture on the integration of financial planning

4:49 – Kirsten asks Geoff to highlight examples of financial planning pieces that need to be considered in context of overall financial plan

5:10– Geoff talks real life example of setting up 529 plans

5:50 – Big picture, Geoff recommends asking these four questions when considering a 529

8:00 – Did you know that the 529 plan distributions may count as income for the student under certain conditions?

8:45 – Geoff discusses what moving parts need to be considered when a client is changing jobs

10:00 – When there’s a job transition there are benefit changes, retirement plan changes, accelerated expiration dates on stock options, moves to another state – tax implications

11:00 – Geoff mentions interesting life insurance observation that speaks to his life transition expertise

11:40 – Executive compensation, what restrictions are you up against when you leave a company?

13:40 – Geoff reveals his musical analogy for financial planning

16:50 – Geoff discusses and gives access to special tools just for listeners

21:25 – How estate planning affects the big picture

25:00 – How the new tax laws affect charitable gifts

26:55 – Geoff breaks down above the bar and below the bar deductions

30:05 – Geoff breaks down the different types of compensation professionals get and how that affects the big financial plan picture

37:25 – The one thing people can do to help improve financial life

Episode # 002 Freebie:

If you’re a busy, smart, successful person who needs help defining your goals, finding out the why behind your what, and the balance in your life, Geoff is giving us exclusive access to two of the worksheets he uses with his own clients. The Wheel of Life and Financial Satisfaction are intuitive worksheets to help gain clarity and pinpoint the areas in life that you feel confident in and those that need more of a prioritized focus moving forward. Click here to get your copy!

Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode:

Mosaic Financial Partners, Inc.

East Bay Regional Parks Foundation

East Bay Regional Parks Estate Planning Seminars