Legacy Blueprint: Plan It Forward

How can you turn a lifetime of saving into a retirement that supports your goals, protects your family, and creates a lasting legacy?

Mike Bascom welcomes Rebecca Irey, founder and CEO of Blue Skye Financial, to discuss why financial independence requires more than building a nest egg. Rebecca shares her approach to planning for retirement income, managing taxes, navigating Social Security and Medicare, and preparing for the financial changes that follow the loss of a spouse. Together, they explore how personalized planning and a coordinated team of advisors can help families and business owners make informed decisions about their future.

Key Takeaways:

• Financial independence means having the freedom and resources to make choices that reflect your personal goals.
• Proactive tax planning helps you understand how today’s financial decisions can affect your retirement income.
• Social Security decisions should account for both spouses and the financial needs of the surviving partner.
• Business owners should make saving for their own future part of their business planning.
• Your financial advisor, estate planning attorney, and tax professionals should work together to support your family’s goals.

Connect with Rebecca Irey:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blueskyebusiness/

https://blueskyefinancial.com/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

How can smart mortgage strategies and real estate ownership help you build wealth and create a stronger financial legacy?

In this episode of Legacy Blueprint: Plan It Forward, Mike Bascom sits down with Tom Hutchens, President of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, to explore the role real estate and strategic financing can play in long-term wealth building. Tom explains how non-QM mortgages can create opportunities for self-employed borrowers, entrepreneurs, retirees, and real estate investors who may not fit traditional lending guidelines. They also discuss using leverage to grow a real estate portfolio, why today's interest rate shouldn't necessarily dictate a long-term buying decision, the growing use of HELOCs, and why your mortgage strategy should work alongside your broader financial and estate plan.

Key Takeaways:

• Homeownership can be a powerful component of long-term wealth building, regardless of short-term changes in rates and market conditions.
• Non-QM mortgages can provide alternative financing options for self-employed borrowers and business owners whose tax returns may not fully reflect their ability to repay a loan.
• Strategic use of mortgage leverage can allow real estate investors to access equity and expand their property portfolios rather than tying up all their available capital.
• Interest rates are only one factor in a real estate decision, and borrowers should also consider affordability, location, long-term goals, and potential future refinancing opportunities.
• Mortgage decisions should be considered alongside financial and estate planning because real estate financing can affect both the wealth you build and the assets you ultimately leave behind.

Connect with Tom Hutchens

https://angeloakms.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhutchens/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

How can you ensure that the wealth you’ve built passes on more than just money to the next generation?

Building a meaningful legacy requires thinking beyond dollars and assets. In this episode, Mike Bascom sits down with Patrick Renn, founder and president of Renn Wealth Management Group and author of Finding Your Money’s Greater Purpose: How to Make Your Legacy Count, to explore how thoughtful financial, estate, and charitable planning can help families put their wealth to work with purpose. Patrick shares lessons from more than 50 years in financial planning, including strategies for charitable giving, business succession, family communication, life insurance, and preparing younger generations to become responsible stewards of wealth. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: families should strive to pass along their values along with their valuables.

Key Takeaways:

• True wealth is about more than accumulating assets; it is also about creating an impact that reflects your values.
• Families can strengthen their legacy by intentionally passing their values along with their valuables.
• Strategic charitable giving can support meaningful causes while becoming part of a broader financial and estate plan.
• Business owners should establish continuity and succession plans before an unexpected event forces others to make those decisions for them.
• Open family conversations about money, philanthropy, stewardship, and inheritance can better prepare younger generations to manage the legacy they will eventually receive.

Connect with Patrick Renn

https://x.com/RennWealthMgmt

https://www.rennwealth.com/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

Could unresolved tax issues today create financial problems for your family and your legacy tomorrow?

CPA Denson Pepper joins Mike Bascom to explore the important connection between tax planning, retirement, and leaving a strong financial legacy. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, Denson discusses the risks of unfiled tax returns, dealing with IRS debt, preparing for retirement, keeping important financial records organized, and avoiding tax problems that could eventually fall to your loved ones. The conversation also highlights why proactive planning—and coordination between CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and other professionals—can help protect what you've worked hard to build.

Key Takeaways:

• Unfiled tax returns and unresolved IRS issues can become more difficult over time and may create serious complications as retirement approaches.
• Outstanding tax obligations can affect an estate and may need to be resolved before remaining assets can be distributed to beneficiaries.
• Staying current on taxes and realistically managing repayment plans can help prevent existing tax problems from becoming even larger.
• Families should keep important tax, real estate, trust, and estate documents organized so loved ones aren't left reconstructing their financial history.
• Proactive retirement and tax planning, including making the most of available retirement plans, can play an important role in building and protecting a lasting financial legacy.

Connect with Denson Pepper:

https://densonpeppercpa.com/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

What are the biggest retirement planning mistakes people make, and how can you avoid them before they jeopardize your financial future?

Retirement planning is about much more than building a nest egg—it’s about creating a strategy that gives you confidence, flexibility, and peace of mind. In this episode of Legacy Blueprint: Plan It Forward, host Mike Bascom sits down with wealth management professional Kassi Hyde to discuss the common mistakes that can derail even the best retirement plans. From understanding spending habits and coordinating with trusted professionals to reviewing estate plans and embracing the trade-offs behind every financial decision, Kassi shares practical guidance to help families build a retirement strategy that truly supports their long-term goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Successful retirement planning is about preparing for life, not just accumulating money.
• Every financial decision involves trade-offs, and understanding them leads to more confident choices.
• Coordinating your financial advisor, estate planning attorney, CPA, and insurance professionals creates stronger long-term outcomes.
• Regularly reviewing your investments, beneficiaries, estate documents, and spending can help you avoid costly mistakes.
• Starting your financial planning early gives you more flexibility, more opportunities, and greater peace of mind.

Connect with Kassi Hyde:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/khyde1/

https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/advisors/kassi-hyde/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

What are the critical, often-overlooked logistical and financial hurdles families face when transitioning a loved one to in-home care—and how can proactive planning prevent a crisis?

In this episode, host Mike Bascom sits down with Kevin Levinsky, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Whole Care Caregivers, to pull back the curtain on the complex world of long-term care planning. Drawing from his background in corporate logistics and operations, Kevin shares invaluable insights on why preparing for aging parents must happen long before a health crisis occurs. From navigating the surprisingly lengthy timelines of Medicaid approvals to facilitating sensitive but necessary conversations at the family dinner table, this episode serves as a practical, compassionate roadmap to securing peace of mind and preserving your family's legacy.

Key Takeaways:

• Proactive care planning must begin early to avoid the compounding stress of scrambling for medical, legal, and financial approvals during an active family crisis.
• Navigating public assistance programs like Medicaid is highly administrative and can easily take six to nine months to fully activate for in-home care services.
• Effective estate planning must look beyond legal documents to include open conversations with aging loved ones about their personal goals and preferences for aging in place versus entering a facility.
• Long-term care costs change over time, requiring families to budget dynamically for specialized care needs rather than assuming a flat rate for life.
• Successful caregiving relies on structured coordination, where clear, continuous two-way communication between family members, advisors, and care providers is vital.

Connect with Kevin Levinsky:

https://wholecarecaregivers.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-levinsky-a137238/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

How can pricing your expertise correctly help you build a more valuable business, attract better clients, and leave a stronger legacy for your family?

In this episode of Legacy Blueprint: Plan It Forward, Mike Bascom sits down with pricing and valuation strategist John Ray to explore why so many professionals undervalue their expertise and how that mindset can limit both business growth and long-term wealth. John shares practical insights on pricing with confidence, communicating value, building a sustainable business, and creating a legacy that extends beyond financial success. Whether you're an attorney, consultant, CPA, coach, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers actionable strategies to increase your business's value while serving clients with greater purpose and impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn why pricing should be treated as a strategic business function rather than an afterthought.
• Discover how a generosity mindset can help you communicate your value without feeling salesy.
• Understand why pricing power is one of the biggest drivers of business valuation and long-term wealth.
• Find out how charging what you're worth can attract better-fit clients and create a more sustainable business.
• See how building a valuable business today can strengthen the financial legacy you leave for your family.

Connect with John Ray

johnray.co

linkedin.com/in/johnray1

pricevaluejourneypodcast.com

thegenerositymindset.com

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

What are the essential estate planning steps you should take before downsizing your home?

In this special episode, Kanani Briggs, Lead Agent and Mentor at The Curtin Team and guide for individuals navigating the downsizing journey, sits down with Mike Bascom, Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney at Bascom Law. Together, they explore why estate planning is an essential part of preparing for life's next chapter, from organizing important documents to ensuring your wishes are clearly documented before making a move. Drawing on his extensive experience in estate planning, trusts, and elder law, Mike shares practical strategies for avoiding common pitfalls and protecting both your assets and your family's peace of mind. This episode is a must-listen for retirees, older adults, and their families who want to simplify the downsizing process while making informed decisions for the future.

Key Takeaways:

● Review or create your estate plan before you downsize. Downsizing is the ideal time to ensure your wills, powers of attorney, and other legal documents accurately reflect your current wishes.

● Don't wait for a health crisis to start planning. Many families delay estate planning until an emergency occurs, but taking action early gives you greater control over important decisions.

● Simplify your life by organizing important records. Gathering financial documents, legal paperwork, passwords, and key account information into one accessible location makes life significantly easier for your loved ones.

● Thoughtful planning can prevent family conflict. Clearly documenting how sentimental belongings and assets should be distributed helps reduce misunderstandings and disputes among heirs.

● Downsizing is about planning for your future, not giving up your past. Making the move while you're still able to choose where and how you live allows you to enjoy the next stage of life on your own terms.

Connect with Kanani Briggs

www.curtinteam.com/agents/kanani-briggs

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kananibriggs/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

What does it mean to take a protection-first approach to financial planning?

CJ Francis-Eronini, managing partner at YU Financial, brings a deeply personal and practical perspective to financial planning, legacy protection, and multi-generational wealth building. Drawing on his background as a software developer and technical project manager, he approaches finances like a system that can be “debugged” and rebuilt into a flexible, customized blueprint rather than a one-size-fits-all product. He believes financial planning should be durable enough to withstand life’s setbacks, using “can’t lose” strategies, clear communication, and tools like wills, trusts, and insurance to protect what families have worked hard to build. For CJ, true wealth is not just about growth, but about creating an ironclad legacy that helps future generations thrive with confidence and clarity.

Key Takeaways

• YU Financial centers every plan around a client’s personal “why,” aiming to make people feel understood, cared for, and empowered rather than just presented with numbers.
• Discipline and structure help guide clients toward consistent long-term retirement and investment habits.
• The “protection first” philosophy, emphasizing that estate plans are only strong if the underlying assets are protected through insurance and other safeguards before focusing on growth.
• Attorney partnerships are essential because lawyers create the legal structures, like trusts, estate plans, Medicaid planning, and asset-transfer arrangements, that financial professionals cannot provide.
• Sustainable multi-generational wealth comes from balancing growth with protection, avoiding quick-win high-risk strategies, and regularly taking stock of assets, performance, and needed support.

Connect with CJ Francis-Eronini

https://www.yufinancial.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-j-francis-eronini/

https://www.youtube.com/@yufinancial/featured

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/

How can a bucket strategy help in balancing short-term liquidity needs with long-term investment goals?

Robert Amato, a seasoned financial planner with a career spanning over 25 years, is well-versed in guiding young professionals through the intricacies of financial planning. As the founder of Compass Wealth Management and holding credentials such as CFP and CIMA, Amato emphasizes the necessity for young individuals to engage in comprehensive financial planning early in their careers. He believes that a clear understanding of one's financial situation and long-term goals, combined with strategic risk management, can significantly enhance financial decision-making and mitigate future complexities. Central to his philosophy is the use of a bucket strategy, which balances short-term liquidity needs with long-term investment objectives, ensuring young professionals are well-prepared for a stable financial future.

Key Takeaways:

•  Obtaining CFP and CIMA certifications early enhances ability to provide exceptional value to clients.

• Understanding and managing financial risks is crucial for protecting legacy and financial future.

• Early financial planning is key for young professionals to achieve long-term financial success.

• Detailed financial planning helps clients understand current situation and make informed decisions.

• Balancing short-term volatility with long-term goals through bucket strategy is important for financial success.

Connect with Robert Amato:

https://www.compasswm.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-amato-cfp%C2%AE-cima%C2%AE-4b282635/

Connect with Mike Bascom:

https://bascomlaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebascom/