Absolute Trust Talk

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

In this episode of “Absolute Trust Talk,” Kirsten talks to Maureen Richardson, Certified Financial Planner and sole practitioner at Richardson Elite Financial Strategies. Richardson is also Amazon bestselling author of “‘Til Money Do Us Part: Financial Planning for Couples.” 

The topic of conversation is, of course, financial planning, but not just any financial planning, the focus here is on couples. Maureen highlights how money is not necessarily the root of the problem and addresses the missed or overwhelming signs that a partner ignores and the reluctance that couples have to sitting down and laying ALL their cards out on the table.

Maureen shares how her book was born out of the real-life personal experience of being married to a financially irresponsible spouse, and even though she was financially savvy as a person in finance, it destroyed her marriage and her life. Richardson shares how to get the ball rolling when it comes to planning and also weighs in on what to do if you're already married and in a financial bind.

Big Three From Episode # 01:

1. It’s not about the MONEY itself
2. Leave no skeletons in the closet, talk about EVERYTHING in your financial history
3. Get organized, make a plan

Time stamped show notes:

3:32 – It’s not about the money it’s about the values – Money is the symptom

4:35 – Who cares if you’re in finance! What’s going on at home?

6:20 – Maureen talks about the why behind her book, “Till Money Do Us Part”

8:45 – The topics that couples overlook when they are heading to the alter

9:32 – The top two things couples should disclose during the financial discussion

11:45 – Did you know poor credit = this?

13:10 – Now that everything’s out on the table, what do we do next?

15:37 – How are you protected? Maureen had three people discover this about not having the proper insurance when needed.

16:45 – Do this now!

17:25 – What if you’re already married and in trouble?

18:22 – The number one thing you need to track to get out of trouble.

Episode # 01 Freebie:

When you think about planning for marriage what comes to mind? Planning a big wedding, going on your honeymoon, finding a place to live, building a family… the list goes on. But, when it comes down to it, finances are behind it all, right? There’s no magic fairy dust, no magic eraser, your financial history follows you right to the altar. Did you sit down with your partner and hash out the details? Did you reveal debt, your taxes, your insurance even? If you don’t talk about it before you tie the knot, when will you? When you’re in line to see the divorce lawyer? In “ ’Til Money Do Us Part” Maureen Richardson breaks it all down and walks you through a productive and healthy discussion of money. Money is difficult to talk about, which is the reason why money is the leading cause of marital problems and divorce. People seem to think that by ignoring money, it will somehow work itself out. It doesn’t. You don’t need to be a financial genius. You don’t need to have a ton of money. You just need to be smart, know the warning signs and address them before it’s too late. “’Till Money Do Us Part” is simple, relevant and straight to the point, and we’ve got a special excerpt just for you. Click here to download your free chapter and if that leaves you wanting MORE get this bestseller on Amazon now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/162865032X/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode:

'Til Money Do Us Part: Financial Planning for Couples

Visit Maureen’s Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/TilMoneyDoUsPart/ to keep up with the latest resources and articles all about managing finances in a relationship.

Use Quicken to track every single expense for your spending plan!

Ask Amy

Welcome to the Thought-Provoking Absolute Trust Talk Podcast with Kirsten Howe, officially launching April 16, 2018.

Estate Planning, Business, and Financial Wellness -- Preparing for the Future Type of Talk Whenever and Wherever You Want It or Need It Most

Absolute Trust Talk brings you the best tips, tactics, stories, and strategies that help you to make educated and informed planning decisions for your future. Each episode delivers relatable, easy-to-consume advice on vital aspects of the ever-evolving legal landscape that makes up the estate planning and financial wellness industry.  

Educating at every step. Absolute Trust Talk is not your run of the mill general counsel show filled with legal jargon that doesn’t resonate. Through her 20+ years of practice, Absolute Trust Counsel managing attorney Kirsten Howe found herself working with clients who were confused and overwhelmed by the complexity of estate planning and saw a need to help clients with education and specific client-centered estate planning services. Now Kirsten is taking her expertise and experience to a new level; she is on a mission to bring a thought-provoking and approachable, friendly voice not only to estate planning, but to a wide variety of business and financial wellness topics. Through a series of podcasts, Kirsten will connect with like-minded business professionals and work to coach and encourage listeners to make educated and informed planning decisions. Preparing for the future doesn’t have to be stressful or hard, but it does have to be smart.