Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s estate planning story highlights an important lesson: having a plan is not enough if the promises and protections in it are never carried out. From life insurance and retirement accounts to protecting children and reviewing beneficiary designations, here’s what I would have done differently to help make sure his family’s plan actually worked when they needed it. READ MORE
Posts Categorized: Trusts
Q4 Business Planning Checklist: What to Review Before October
Q4 is closer than it feels. August is the ideal time for business owners to review their Legal, Insurance, Financial, and Tax systems, identify gaps, and make important decisions before year-end deadlines create unnecessary pressure. READ MORE
Make-A-Will Month Is Here. But a Will Isn’t a Plan.
August is Make-A-Will Month, but a will alone isn’t a complete estate plan. Learn what a will can and cannot do, why parents need more protection for their children, and how a Life & Legacy Plan can help your family prepare for both life and death. READ MORE
Friends Don’t Let Friends Go Without an Estate Plan
Most people don’t have an estate plan, and someone you love is probably one of them. This August, National Make-A-Will Month is the perfect opportunity to start the conversation. Learn how to talk to a friend about estate planning without sounding morbid or judgmental, and discover why helping someone you love create a plan can be one of the most meaningful things you do for them. 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
Divorce Doesn’t Update Your Estate Plan: Here’s What Does
Many divorced parents assume their divorce decree takes care of everything. It doesn’t. Learn why estate planning after divorce is essential to protect your children, update beneficiaries, and ensure your wishes are carried out. READ MORE
Blended Families, Family Businesses: Why the Plan Has to Be Intentional
Business owners in blended families face unique planning challenges. Without a coordinated estate and succession plan, default legal rules can create unintended consequences, family conflict, and uncertainty about the future of the business. Learn why intentional planning is critical to protecting the people and the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build. READ MORE
The Father the Law Doesn’t See: What Stepfathers and Father Figures Need to Know
Many stepfathers and father figures spend years raising, supporting, and loving children who are not legally their own. Yet without proper estate planning, the law may not recognize the family they’ve built. Learn how wills, guardianship designations, healthcare authorizations, and trust planning can help protect your role and ensure the people you care about are provided for. READ MORE