Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder

By estateplanningbeyondthebinder

Estate Planning Beyond the Binder breaks down essential information about protecting your loved ones and assets through effective estate planning. The show makes estate planning simple and doable f

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FAQs about Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder:

How many episodes does Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.

Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder episodes:

January 21, 2026 Digital Assets in Estate Planning: Protecting Your Online Life
Episode Summary:
In this eye-opening episode, Brian Chew reveals why digital assets are the most overlooked part of modern estate planning. From cryptocurrency worth six figures to priceless family photos in the cloud, Brian explains the critical difference between legal authority and practical access, why many platforms have no “death department,” and actionable steps every family can take today to prevent permanent loss.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 – Show Introduction
00:50 – What Counts as a Digital Asset Today
02:00 – Lost Forever: What Happens Without Access (Crypto Nightmare)
03:30 – Priceless Photos & Videos – They’re Gone Too If You Don’t Plan
05:00 – PayPal, Venmo, Online Banks – Legal vs. Practical Recovery
07:30 – Why Most Platforms Have No Beneficiary Option (Yet)
09:00 – Real Client Stories: Coinbase Says “We Have No Idea Who’s in Charge”
10:30 – Step One Every Listener Can Do Today: Inventory Your Digital Life
12:00 – Password Managers vs. Paper: Security Trade-Offs After the LA Fires
14:30 – The One Thing Worse Than No Plan? A Plan That Doesn’t Work
15:30 – Closing Resources
About the Show:
"Estate Planning Beyond the Binder with Brian Chew" goes deeper than documents to protect families, businesses, and legacies. Brian Chew delivers 25+ years of real-world strategies so nothing you’ve built is left to chance.
...more
17min
January 07, 2026 Planning for Incapacity: Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives Explained (Video)
Episode Summary:
In this vital episode, Brian Chew shifts the focus from death to incapacity, explaining why every adult over 18 needs planning in place today. The discussion covers legal incapacity triggers, HIPAA barriers, the critical difference between powers of attorney and court-ordered conservatorships, healthcare directives vs. living wills, why DNRs rarely work in emergencies, and how proper documents spare families chaos and heartbreak.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:50 - What Legal Incapacity Really Means (Even Car Accidents)
02:00 - HIPAA Roadblock: No Documents = No Information
04:00 - Why Spouses & Parents Are NOT Automatically Authorized
05:30 - Power of Attorney vs. Conservatorship (Choice vs. Court)
08:00 - Financial POA vs. Healthcare Directive (Durable Is Essential)
10:00 - Living Will Explained: End-of-Life Wishes Inside the Directive
12:30 - It’s Not a DNR: Why Paramedics Will Always Resuscitate
14:00 - Choosing Your Decision-Maker: The Most Personal Choice
15:30 - When & Why to Update (Relationships Change, Kids Grow Up)
17:00 - Closing Resources
About the Show:
"Estate Planning Beyond the Binder with Brian Chew" goes deeper than documents to protect families, businesses, and legacies. Brian Chew delivers 25+ years of real-world strategies so nothing you’ve built is left to chance.
...more
19min
January 07, 2026 Planning for Incapacity: Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives Explained
Episode Summary:
In this vital episode, Brian Chew shifts the focus from death to incapacity, explaining why every adult over 18 needs planning in place today. The discussion covers legal incapacity triggers, HIPAA barriers, the critical difference between powers of attorney and court-ordered conservatorships, healthcare directives vs. living wills, why DNRs rarely work in emergencies, and how proper documents spare families chaos and heartbreak.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:50 - What Legal Incapacity Really Means (Even Car Accidents)
02:00 - HIPAA Roadblock: No Documents = No Information
04:00 - Why Spouses & Parents Are NOT Automatically Authorized
05:30 - Power of Attorney vs. Conservatorship (Choice vs. Court)
08:00 - Financial POA vs. Healthcare Directive (Durable Is Essential)
10:00 - Living Will Explained: End-of-Life Wishes Inside the Directive
12:30 - It’s Not a DNR: Why Paramedics Will Always Resuscitate
14:00 - Choosing Your Decision-Maker: The Most Personal Choice
15:30 - When & Why to Update (Relationships Change, Kids Grow Up)
17:00 - Closing Resources
About the Show:
"Estate Planning Beyond the Binder with Brian Chew" goes deeper than documents to protect families, businesses, and legacies. Brian Chew delivers 25+ years of real-world strategies so nothing you’ve built is left to chance.
...more
19min
December 24, 2025 Business Succession Planning: Passing the Torch the Right Way
Episode Summary:
In this critical episode, Brian Chew explains why every business owner needs a succession plan—whether retirement is decades away or tomorrow is uncertain. The discussion separates estate planning (who takes control) from succession planning (what they do next), explores the three exit options (close, sell, or continue), and stresses documenting institutional knowledge, buy-sell agreements, and the surprising tax advantages of a step-up in basis.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
01:00 - Why Start Succession Planning Now (Not Just for Retirement)
02:30 - What Happens Without a Plan: Chaos and Lost Value
05:00 - Step 1: Estate Plan – Who Instantly Takes Control via Trust
07:00 - Step 2: Succession Plan – What They Actually Do on Day One
08:30 - Three Exit Paths: Liquidate, Sell, or Keep Running
10:00 - Biggest Mistake: Keeping Everything in Your Head
12:00 - Coaching Families: Who’s Involved and Who’s Ready?
14:00 - Key Legal Tools: Buy-Sell Agreements and Operating Agreements
15:00 - Tax Surprise: Death Is Usually a Tax-Elimination Event (Step-Up in Basis)
17:00 - Closing Resources

About the Show:
"Estate Planning Beyond the Binder with Brian Chew" goes deeper than documents to protect families, businesses, and legacies. Brian Chew delivers 25+ years of real-world strategies so nothing you’ve built is left to chance.
...more
19min
December 10, 2025Estate Planning During Divorce: What You Need to Know
Episode Summary
Divorce doesn’t just change your personal life — it changes your estate plan. In this episode of Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew, Managing Partner at OC Wills and Trusts, explains how divorce impacts wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and guardianship choices. He breaks down why updating your documents during or immediately after divorce is critical to avoid leaving an ex-spouse in charge of your finances, health care decisions, or inheritance.
Brian also covers what happens to joint trusts, how beneficiary designations work after divorce, and why community property laws in California complicate matters further. With over 25 years of experience guiding families, Brian provides clear advice on how to protect your legacy and your loved ones during this major life transition.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why divorce makes updating your estate plan essential

The risks of leaving an ex-spouse in charge of finances or health care decisions

How divorce affects wills, trusts, and powers of attorney

What happens to beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance

Why joint trusts don’t work after divorce and what to do instead

The role of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements in estate planning

How California’s community property rules complicate asset distribution

When to update your plan: during divorce proceedings vs. after finalization
Key Timestamps
01:15 – Why divorce requires immediate updates to estate planning documents
03:40 – The risks of leaving your ex in control of medical or financial decisions
06:00 – What happens to joint trusts once assets are split
08:20 – Updating retirement accounts, life insurance, and beneficiary designations
10:45 – How prenuptial and postnuptial agreements affect estate plans
13:00 – Community property vs. separate property in California
15:00 – Why updating your plan during divorce is sometimes urgent
About the Show
Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder is a podcast dedicated to simplifying estate planning for families in California. Featuring attorney Brian Chew, managing partner at OC Wills and Trusts, the show provides expert insights into trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies. Through clear explanations and practical advice, the podcast empowers listeners to secure their family’s financial future and build lasting legacies.
...more
18min
November 26, 2025Special Needs Trusts: Protecting a Loved One Without Jeopardizing Benefits
Episode Summary
In this episode of Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew, Managing Partner of OC Wills and Trusts, discusses how families can plan for children or loved ones with special needs. He explains how a properly designed special needs trust allows families to provide financial support without disqualifying their loved one from essential government benefits such as SSI and Medi-Cal. Brian also covers the differences between first-party and third-party special needs trusts, common mistakes families make, and the critical importance of choosing the right trustee.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
What a special needs trust is and how it protects government benefits

The difference between first-party and third-party special needs trusts

Why advance planning avoids Medi-Cal “payback” provisions

How funds in a special needs trust can be used to improve quality of life

The challenges of selecting the right trustee and why it matters

When to set up a standalone special needs trust versus adding a trust provision

How extended family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) can contribute without jeopardizing benefits

Why logistics and care planning are just as important as financial planning

Key Timestamps
01:20 – What a special needs trust is and how it works
04:45 – Difference between third-party and first-party special needs trusts
07:30 – How trust funds can be used without affecting SSI or Medi-Cal
10:15 – The biggest challenge: choosing the right trustee
13:40 – How other relatives can contribute safely to a special needs trust
15:20 – Why planning ahead prevents Medi-Cal payback
17:10 – Advice for families feeling overwhelmed by the process

About the Show
Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder is a podcast dedicated to simplifying estate planning for families in California. Featuring attorney Brian Chew, managing partner at OC Wills and Trusts, the show provides expert insights into trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies. Through clear explanations and practical advice, the podcast empowers listeners to secure their family’s financial future and build lasting legacies.
...more
19min
November 12, 2025What Happens If You Die Without an Estate Plan in California
Episode Summary
In this episode of Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew, Managing Partner at OC Wills and Trusts, explains what it truly means to die “intestate” in California. Brian breaks down how state law distributes assets, why probate can be so costly and time-consuming, and the common misconceptions about what happens when you don’t leave behind a plan. He also shares the critical differences between a will and a trust, why online legal documents often fall short, and the simple questions you should ask yourself to start building an effective estate plan.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
What “dying intestate” means in California

How state law decides who inherits your assets

Why probate can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take 1–2 years

The surprising truth about probate—even in uncontested cases

Why a will alone does not avoid probate

The risks of unfunded trusts and online legal documents

The three key questions to answer before starting your estate plan

Why estate planning is ultimately about making life easier for loved ones

Key Timestamps
01:10 – What “intestate” means and how California distributes assets
04:45 – Why probate adds major costs and delays, even when uncontested
07:20 – How owning a home makes probate especially expensive
10:05 – The difference between wills and trusts in avoiding probate
13:40 – Why unfunded trusts and online documents often fail families
15:10 – The three questions that drive every estate plan: who do you love, who do you trust, and how much do you trust them
17:00 – Why estate planning is really about caring for the people you love

About the Show
Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder is a podcast dedicated to simplifying estate planning for families in California. Featuring attorney Brian Chew, managing partner at OC Wills and Trusts, the show provides expert insights into trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies. Through clear explanations and practical advice, the podcast empowers listeners to secure their family’s financial future and build lasting legacies.
...more
19min
October 29, 2025Blended Families, Second Marriages & Your Estate Plan
Episode Summary
In this episode of Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew, managing partner of OC Wills and Trusts, explores the unique estate planning challenges that come with blended families and second marriages. From stepchildren and separate property to prenuptial agreements and trust structures, Brian shares strategies to help protect both your spouse and your children while minimizing conflict.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why blended families face unique estate planning complications

The risks of relying on moral obligations versus legal protections

How trusts can safeguard children from being disinherited

The role of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements in estate planning

Common mistakes families make when remarrying without updating their plans

Why real estate (the family home) is often the most difficult asset to plan around

Options for ensuring fairness while protecting your legacy

Key Timestamps
01:15 – Why estate planning for blended families is more complex than traditional families
04:20 – Common mistakes in second marriages and how to avoid them
07:45 – Protecting children’s inheritance while supporting a surviving spouse
10:15 – The role of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements in dividing assets
12:50 – The importance of updating your estate plan after remarriage
15:00 – Why the family home often creates the most conflict
17:30 – Choosing trustees and preventing family disputes

About the Show
Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder is a podcast dedicated to simplifying estate planning for families in California. Featuring attorney Brian Chew, managing partner at OC Wills and Trusts, the show provides expert insights into trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies. Through clear explanations and practical advice, the podcast empowers listeners to secure their family’s financial future and build lasting legacies.
...more
20min
October 15, 2025Medi-Cal Planning in California: How to Protect Your Home and Stay Eligible for Care
Episode Summary
In this episode of Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew breaks down the complex world of Medi-Cal planning for California families. He explains how seniors can protect their homes and assets while still qualifying for long-term care benefits. Brian clears up common misconceptions, discusses the 30-month look-back period, and shares practical strategies for avoiding costly mistakes.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
What Medi-Cal is and how it helps cover long-term care costs

The difference between nursing homes, assisted living, and board-and-care facilities

Asset and income rules for Medi-Cal eligibility

How the 30-month look-back period works in California

Common mistakes families make when transferring property or assets

How revocable and irrevocable trusts impact Medi-Cal and estate recovery

Why planning ahead is key to protecting your home and preserving family wealth

Key Timestamps
00:02:00 – What Medi-Cal covers and how it differs from Medicare
00:05:00 – Assets you can keep and the $2,000 financial limit explained
00:07:30 – Understanding California’s 30-month look-back period
00:10:00 – The role of trusts in Medi-Cal planning and estate recovery
00:13:00 – When and how to start planning for long-term care costs
00:15:00 – Analyzing assets and choosing the right strategy for your family

About the Show
Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder is a podcast dedicated to simplifying estate planning for families in California. Featuring attorney Brian Chew, managing partner at OC Wills and Trusts, the show provides expert insights into trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies. Through clear explanations and practical advice, the podcast empowers listeners to secure their family’s financial future and build lasting legacies.
...more
19min
October 02, 2025Who Do You Trust? Picking the Right People for Your Estate Plan
Episode Summary
Your estate plan is only as strong as the people you choose to carry it out. From trustees to guardians to powers of attorney, these roles require judgment, honesty, and responsibility. In this episode, Brian Chew explains how to select the right people, what qualities matter most, and the common mistakes families make when making these important decisions.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why trust and good judgment are the top qualities to look for

The risks of automatically naming the oldest child as trustee

Political and family dynamics to consider when appointing decision-makers

Pros and cons of naming co-trustees

The most important factors in selecting guardians for minor children

When it makes sense to use a professional trustee or corporate fiduciary

How and when you can change your choices later on

Key Timestamps
00:01:30 – Why trustees operate with little oversight and why trust is critical
00:03:50 – Beyond trust: the importance of good judgment
00:05:00 – Family politics and risks of naming the oldest child by default
00:07:15 – Why co-trustees can create more conflict than resolution
00:09:45 – Choosing guardians for minor children
00:12:20 – How to amend or update trustee and guardian appointments
00:14:30 – The dangers of picking the wrong person to serve
00:15:30 – When to consider a professional trustee or corporate fiduciary

Show Description
Choosing the right people to carry out your estate plan is one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of planning. In this episode, Brian Chew shares practical insights on how to select trustees, guardians, and powers of attorney. He explains the traits that matter most, the family dynamics that can create conflict, and why sometimes a professional or corporate trustee may be the best option.
...more
19min

FAQs about Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder:

How many episodes does Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.