Naming a trust as the beneficiary of an IRA can provide valuable protection, but the SECURE Act changed the tax and distribution rules for inherited retirement accounts. California families should review whether their trust structure, beneficiary designations, and retirement planning still work together. READ MORE
Posts Categorized: Estate Planning
You Made a Will. Here’s What It Can’t Do.
You made a will, and that’s an important step. But a will alone may not protect your family from probate, incapacity, outdated beneficiary designations, or an unfunded trust. Here’s what your will can’t do and the next steps to consider for a more complete Life & Legacy Plan. READ MORE
Estate Planning for Business Owners: What Happens to Your Business If Something Happens to You?
If you own a business, having a will is only one small part of protecting what you have built. A complete plan should address what happens if you die or become incapacitated, who has authority to keep the business running, how your ownership interest will be handled, and how your family will be protected. READ MORE
Estate Planning After Marriage: Why Your Prenup, Trust, and Beneficiary Designations Need to Work Together
Getting married can change much more than your relationship status. Your prenuptial agreement, trust, beneficiary designations, insurance, and other financial arrangements need to work together so your estate plan still reflects the life and family you have today. READ MORE
Why a Will Is Not Enough: What a Complete California Estate Plan Should Include
A will is an important estate planning document, but it does not address everything your family may need. A complete California estate plan should also consider probate, incapacity, trusts, beneficiary designations, minor children, and how your loved ones will actually receive and manage an inheritance. READ MORE
How to Talk to Someone You Love About Estate Planning Without Making It Awkward
Talking to someone you love about estate planning can feel awkward, especially when you do not want to sound morbid or intrusive. A few practical, thoughtful ways of starting the conversation can make it easier for a parent, sibling, friend, or other loved one to finally take action. READ MORE
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for California Business Owners
The One Big Beautiful Bill created major federal tax changes for business owners, but California does not follow all of them. Understanding how bonus depreciation, the Qualified Business Income deduction, research expenses, and business interest rules affect both federal and California taxes can help you make better business decisions. READ MORE
Trump Accounts: What Every Parent of a Baby Born 2025–2028 Needs to Know
The new Trump Account gives eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 a federally funded $1,000 investment account—but that’s only the beginning. Learn how these new accounts work, who qualifies, and why they should be coordinated with your family’s estate plan to help protect your child’s future. READ MORE
Asset Protection Trusts for Business Owners: Getting It Done Before the Window Closes (Part 3)
The best time to protect your business and personal assets is before a lawsuit or creditor claim ever appears. Learn how an asset protection trust works across the legal, insurance, financial, and tax systems—and why waiting too long can leave everything you’ve built exposed. READ MORE
When Your Spouse Won’t Get on Board with Estate Planning: What to Do Now
When one spouse is ready for estate planning and the other isn’t, it’s easy to feel stuck. Learn why spouses resist planning, what legal risks come with waiting, and the practical steps you can take now to protect your family—even before you’re fully aligned. READ MORE
Asset Protection Trusts for Business Owners: Who Needs One and When to Act (Part 2)
Not every business owner needs an asset protection trust – but for those with growing personal wealth and increasing liability exposure, planning before a claim arises can make all the difference. Learn who should consider a lifetime asset protection trust, what life events should trigger the conversation, and why timing is one of the most important parts of protecting what you’ve built. READ MORE
What Happens to Debt When You Die: What Families Must Know
Many families assume they automatically inherit a loved one’s debt – but that’s not usually how it works. Learn when debt belongs to the estate, when survivors may be responsible, and how a comprehensive estate plan can help protect your family from unnecessary financial stress after a loss. READ MORE
Asset Protection Trusts for Business Owners: How They Work (Part 1)
Business success can also bring greater legal and financial risk. Learn how an asset protection trust may help business owners safeguard assets from future creditor claims and why proactive planning matters. READ MORE
Succession Planning: New Tax Law Limit Hits Small Trusts.
The new tax law permanently increases the federal estate tax exemption, but it also introduces a lesser-known rule that may increase taxes for many trusts. If your business succession plan includes a trust, now is the time to review whether it still works the way you intended. READ MORE
Your Heir Is Already in the Building: What Has to Be in Place Before the Transition Happens.
Many business owners assume their child will naturally take over the family business. But without proper succession planning, ownership disputes, probate delays, tax issues, and family conflict can threaten everything you’ve built. Learn what needs to be in place before the transition happens. READ MORE