Wealth and Law

Brent chats about how AI can be used in estate planning now. He discusses its current limitations and dangers associated with AI-Emboldened Advisers. He also discusses the future outlook of AI and how advisers can remain relevant.

Brent chats about the many non-probate transfers. He explains the ownership rights, tax treatment, what happens at death, and issues during lifetime. He also explains pitfalls to plan for. In the episode, he describes joint accounts, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, beneficiary deeds, transferable on death, payable on death, and beneficiary designations.

In this episode, Brent talks about the importance of good writing. He offers tips on how to write well, and, in particular, how to edit well. He shares the importance of audience, levels of editing, and using lists. He then gives you a checklist to use in formal writing. Good writing is often a sign…

Brent chats with Naomita Yadav about the basics of qualified terminable interest property trusts (QTIP Trusts). They explain the key features, how to use them in planning, and some important foot faults to avoid. Naomita also explains the difference between a QTIP Trust and a SLAT.

Brent chats with Chris Siegle about how to make non-grantor trusts income tax efficient. They talk about normal QTIP and Bypass Trusts, how those trusts might be made grantor trusts, what powers and authority to think about, and other planning tips.

In this episode, Brent introduces you to Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs). He explains the transfer tax context, how the trust is formed, its special income tax treatment, and the planning uses for IDGTs.

Brent chats with Griffin Bridgers about how non-residents of Colorado can plan when they own real estate there. They discuss the income and capital gains treatment of the property. They also talk about how to do proper estate planning in that context. Finally, they describe the relevant federal tax issues.

Brent chats about the many different Charitable Remainder Trusts, from CRATs, CRUTs, NICRUTs, NIMCRUTs, to Flip CRUTs. He explains the taxation, typical ways they are used, and how they function. He also explains some of their technical requirements so you understand what they can and cannot do.

Brent chats about the challenge of large IRAs, especially for wealthy individuals. He discusses how to plan for estate tax on those accounts, the Secure Act changes, and the tax costs to understand. He then explains Roth conversions, when they make sense, and how traditional and Roth accounts might be stretched through a Charitable Remainder…

Brent chats about the top things he is discussing with clients and projects he is working on currently. He discusses the Corporate Transparency Act, reviewing older trust documents and updating them, and reviewing older family entity documents. He talks about the merits of addressing those issues now. Then he shares projects he is working on…

Brent chats with Alicyn McLeod about all the bad tax advice circulating on social media. They talk about why it is appealing, though ultimately wrong, and what tax professionals can do to counter it.

Brent chats with Shauna A. Wekherlien (the Tax Goddess) about how to do income tax planning with the possible sunset of the Trump tax cuts in 2026. They discuss their thinking on the possibility of the sunset happening, how to view changing laws, and ways to try to have your cake and eat it too.…

Brent discusses how the sunset of the estate tax exemption in 2026 will also effect non-citizen non-residents of the US significantly (NRAs). He explains how the estate tax treaties work and how the math under some of the treaties could change in 2026 in a way that makes an NRA who is currently safe from…

If you can only listen to one podcast about crypto currency in estate planning, make it this one. Brent chats with Karin Pragnley and Ross Bruch about the details. They get into how crypto has changed over time, the challenges of managing it and administering it, and specific techniques where it is useful for planning.…

Brent chats with John Stephens about how adding equities can de-risk an investment portfolio. They then talk about how that strategy can be used within the goals an investor has for their life. In the end, money is a tool to live, so they discuss how to think about using investing to support the life…

Brent chats with Ashley Francis about artificial intelligence and how it can be used in many ways to improve your business. They talk about its efficiencies, its limitations (so far), and how it can help take emotion out of difficult tasks. Ashley provides use cases and explains the current environment of AI.

Brent chats with Gary Fletcher about the now effective Corporate Transparency Act. They talk about what the act requires in 2024 for existing reporting companies, how to comply, bugs in the system, and what might be next. They give useful tips on how to understand the Act and make sure you and your clients are…

Brent chats with John Briggs, who returns to the podcast to discuss his upcoming book, The 3.3 Rule: The New Workday Standard of Creating More by Working Less. They discuss how John has grown his team, tips on managing people to be effective operators, and how a more balances day can increase outputs.

Brent chats with Victoria Richardson about all things art and collectibles. They swap fund stories about clients’ amazing collections, discuss how to properly value these items, and dig into the IRS view of taxing valuable personal property.

Brent chats with Julian Zebot about why families tend to fight. It isn’t always just about money. They explore the common reasons for fights, how to resolve them, and typical procedures when courts are involved.

Brent discusses some of the hottest topics in tax and trust planning. He talks about oral arguments before the US Supreme Court in the Moore case, Senator Wyden’s proposed (again) billionaire tax, and trust planning options in light of higher interest rates. He also dispels a few urban legends relating to guessing about other people’s…

Brent discusses passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). He explains what they are, how they can appear in surprising places, their complex taxation, and gives tactical ideas about how to deal with these assets.

This is a throw-back to a past episode where Brent and Rachel Sass discuss the history, structure, mechanics, and incredible utility of trusts. They explain where trusts come from, why they are so helpful in our current system, and how they are used in estate planning.

Brent chats with Amy Vetter about using her Business, Balance & Bliss method to identify, manage, and overcome the negative effects of stress. The conversation is wide ranging and Amy provides specific insight into how these normal human challenges can help anyone–professionals and their clients. The lessons shared reach beyond professional life to give listeners…

Brent talks about crypto and NFTs. He discusses the unique challenges of planning with these assets, including electronic asset laws, document preparation, taxation, valuation, and the fact they are bearer assets. He then discusses what he thinks the future holds, speculating about NFTs for physical things such as real estate rights, private equity, and trusts.

In an era where the digital transformation has made its mark on every industry, how does it influence the realm of estate planning? This episode delves deep into the technological integration within distributed estate planning practices – those that span across multiple jurisdictions and even internationally.

Brent chats with Jessica Goedtel about the unique challenges faced when doing financial planning for sex workers. They talk about building trust, creating a plan, managing volatile income streams. While focused on sex workers, many of the lessons relate to financial planning for any entrepreneurial individual.

Brent chats with Matt Schmidt about the causes and cures for stress in professional life. They discuss the factors that are causing you stress and how experts, and they personally, suggest taking action to reduce stress. Of course, there is no cure for stress. They point out how to therefore harness stress to make it…

Brent chats about the sovereign citizen movement and how federal courts reject their arguments. He provides a TikTok example of their arguments and then shares language from federal court cases showing exactly how wrong the sovereign citizens are. Short story: you don’t want to be one and you definitely don’t want to play one in…

Brent explains how to make good intrafamily loans, especially in a volatile interest rate environment. He discusses the relevant interest rates, how the length of a loan effects the outcomes, and how to use tiered loans for even better results.

Brent chats with Brad Barrett about the essence of retirement and the art of fostering positive and prosperous relationships with money. They delve into the complexities of redefining retirement in the modern context and provide insights into the strategies for creating meaningful financial relationships. They also talk about setting goals that are meaningful.

Brent chats with Martin Shenkman about spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs). The discuss the many variations of these important estate planning options, from irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), traditional SLATs, special power of appointment trusts (SPATs), and domestic asset protection trusts (DAPTs). They explain the pros and cons of each and have lots of laughs…

In this episode, Brent has a compelling conversation with Sam Swift, delving into recent market developments and providing invaluable insights for making well-informed planning decisions amidst market volatility. They discuss the psychological aspects influencing decision-making, learn effective strategies to minimize errors, and discover ways to maintain goal consistency while adapting to the ebb and flow…

Welcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, T.J. Ryan chats with Brent about Wills, the oldest estate planning documents. They discuss what they are, how they work, and why they are…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Jenna Rubin chats with Brent about durable powers of attorney for finances. They discuss what…

Welcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Emily Kile chats with Brent about possibly the most important estate planning document: the health care power of attorney and living will. They discuss…

Welcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Deborah Plum chats with Brent about the revocable trusts. She answers the what, how, and why questions relating to these prevalent estate planning tools.…

Welcome to the 2023 Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. First up, Rachel Sass chats with Brent about the different fiduciary roles within estate planning, how they work, what they do, and how they interact. You will…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Anna N’Jie-Konte and Keith Beverly, owners of Re-Envision Wealth, to discuss the secrets to creating strategic generational wealth. They provide effective strategies essential to helping clients grow and keep their wealth across generations. Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is the President and Director of…

In this episode, Brent talks to Darren Case, a partner at Tiffany & Bosco and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). They discuss the challenges and opportunities for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families in today’s complex and uncertain environment. Together, they explore intricate financial aspects like the trends around interest rates,…

Brent chats about how discounts abound in transfer tax planning (estate and gift tax)! Although sometimes discounts come from ownership of entities, like FLPs, that is not always the case. Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Private Annuities, and Remainder Purchase Marital Trusts, all use discounts that are required in the…

Brent talks about online estate and trust document services. He explains why it isn’t “planning,” the difference between these online services and actual legal services, and how they are deceptively marketed to the masses. Brent also describes the historical context for the current structure and the need for access to legal services. In a buyer…

Brent discusses buy-sell agreements for small or family businesses. He explains how they work, the different versions (buy-sell, cross-purchase, dual), who they should apply to, and how they can be structure for payments. These agreements help preserve generational wealth in small businesses by clearly defining the economics between owners and the owners’ families. They also…

Brent chats with Ashley Francis about the emergence of ChatGPT and how it can improve your business. They discuss the technology, how to use ChatGPT, where they foresee it going, and whether it will replace professional service providers. They also offer practical tips on how to start integrating it into your business now.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreIn this episode of our podcast, “How Financial Planning is Like Fly Fishing,” Brent is joined by seasoned financial advisor Doug Nelson. Brent and Doug dive deep into how different asset classes with varying time horizons can be key components of a successful financial plan, and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreIn this episode, Brent sits down with Kyla Denanyoh, the host of the successful podcast, You Are A Lawyer. Kyla shares her experience on how she built and sustained her audience while working. She provides tips on how to start and grow your own podcast, and…

Brent discusses the latest topics in international estate planning. As an estate planner, it is crucial to keep in mind that your clients are human, with concerns about managing incapacity and death, regardless of their citizenship or residency status. However, for world travelers, the complexity of estate planning increases significantly. Brent discusses five things to…

Brent chats with Geoff Grenert, the founder of Cypress Strategies, about how to optimize your decision making process around personal wealth. Geoff has been working with affluent families and businesses since 1997, helping them achieve their goals and objectives. He is a nationally-recognized expert in the design and acquisition of large life insurance policies, and…

Join Brent and Mykail James as they discuss the art of being financially savvy. Together, they dive deep into the topic of mastering the art of being financially savvy. Mykail shares her expertise on budgeting and provides valuable insights on how to control your personal finances. Brent and Mykail also explore the psychology of money…

Brent chats with Alex Sonkin about building and operating virtual family offices. They talk about how accountants can focus on their largest clients, provide high level planning, and leverage the unique relationships they have to growth strong family office services.

Brent chats about bias in one’s analysis. He discusses how to spot it, gives reasons for why we all have bias in the way we analyze problems, and how to prevent it.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Reetu Pepoff about the ins and outs of international tax planning for cross border estate planning clients. They discuss the different income, gift, and estate tax rules and common ways to effectively plan. Reetu Pepoff is an Assistant General Counsel and Senior Vice…

Brent chats with Rachel Sass about the U.S. Supreme Court case Bittner v. U.S., where the Court decided the non-willfulness penalties for FBARs is $10,000 per filing, not per account. This case changed the IRS’s long-time position. Brent and Rachel discuss the case, the reasoning, what it means for FBARs, and what they expect in…

Brent chats about whether having a podcast is a good idea. He shares how to think about starting one, the equipment he uses, and generally gives you a how-to guide on hosting and running a podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Tony Yu about estate planning for Chinese clients. They talk about the culture, what motivates investments in the US, and special considerations from a trust and tax perspective. Tony is the owner of DSG Trust Law. He graduated cum laude from UCLA with…

Brent discusses some of the less wise “advice” circulating on TikTok recently, including MPI (maximum premium insurance), 401(k)s as a hoax, using trusts to shelter income, and LLCs as the business deduction savior. He digs into each, breaking down how they fall short of their promises.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Rachel Sass about alternative ways to use family limited partnerships (FLPS) beyond gifting and estate tax planning. They discuss (1) preferred partnerships, (2) holding companies, (3) family business governance, (4) cross-border bridges, and (5) income tax basis planning. Rachel is an attorney at…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Doug Nelson about how financial planning is just like fly fishing. They analogize the two, including picking the correct fly, preparing your gear, and how to remain flexible in changing conditions. All these tools are essential for both activities, and Brent and Doug…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Alex Wells about how to start your new business. They discuss key issues like (1) deciding which business to start, (2) hiring great people, (3) creating good culture, and (4) scaling through marketing and business development. Alex Wells is the Co-Founder of Imprint…

Brent chats with Ronnie Deaver about how professionals can grow their business through intentional marketing and sales. Though these aren’t skills learned in school, Ronnie explains how they can be learned, how important sales are, and scaling to meet your business goals Ronnie is CEO of NoBull Marketing, a lawyer-exclusive marketing agency that specializes in…

Now what happens? After the 2022 election split control of Congress, what’s next? Brent chats about possible tax law changes, what to anticipate, and where the most change is likely to happen before 2024.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Rachel Sass about how to close out 2022 and make 2023 a success. They discuss 401(k) and IRA contributions, charitable giving, loss harvesting, and talking about money and finances with family. Rachel Sass is an experienced estate and tax planning attorney in Arizona. …

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week’s episode is a rewind of a popular conversation Brent had with Rachel Sass about planning for vacation homes. With so many people traveling for the holidays, this conversation reminds of the hazards and opportunities available when leaving a vacation home to family. Rachel Sass…

Brent chats with Jonathon Morrison about how to optimize charitable lead annuity trusts. They talk about the mechanics, running the numbers, and the many tax benefits for charitable clients. A senior partner and Best Lawyers® honoree, Jonathon Morrison’s practice is focused on tax, business and estate planning for clients with large or complex estates. Jonathon…

Brent chats with Bessi Graham about how businesses can provide meaningful change in the world while making a profit. They discuss finding meaning, working with intention, and building teams around your vision. Bessi is the co-founder of Benefit Capital and The Difference Incubator (TDi).  As an investor, entrepreneur, business owner, company director, speaker and writer,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with John Briggs about how companies can grow in a smart way. They discuss cash flow management, paying yourself, hiring, and how to build effective teams. John is the CEO and Founder of Incite Tax and the author of Profit First For Microgyms. His…

Brent and Tracy Coenen chat about finding fraud in businesses and divorce, helping people in difficult moments, and red flags of fraudulent financial activities.

Brent and Dror Futter discuss the numerous challenges family offices face when investing in private equity–from lack of understanding typical terms to inadequate measures of potential investments. They suggest ways family offices can improve their PE activities for increased success.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Stacy Francis about helping women make strategic money decisions after a divorce. They also chat about her charity, Savvy Ladies, that helps underprivileged women with personal finance. Brent and Stacy also focus on strategies to make wise decisions about personal wealth when going…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Randy Crabtree chat about how people can use energy efficiency tax credits that were expanded under the Inflation Reduction Act. Specifically, they focus on Sections 45L and 179D, relating to energy efficient real estate development. They also discuss developing a niche accounting practice and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Toby Mathis about strategies for business ownership. They cover the difference between corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. They also talk about how trusts can be used to enhance owner protections in a business structure. Toby Mathis is a 25-year tax attorney and founding partner…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Gary Fletcher about the soon-to-be-effective Corporate Transparency Act. The Act requires most business entities (old and new) to report the identity of organizers and beneficial owners to the US Department of Treasury. Once the Act is effective, it will have far reaching affects…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Rachel Sass discuss Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouniard, giving away his interest in the company to charity. They talk about gifts to 501(c)(4)s, the income tax implications, and estate tax savings. They also speculate about how to structure transfers of this kind. Rachel Sass is…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Kristopher Flammang about personal finance after the pandemic. They discuss what has changed, what is the same, and how to plan moving forward. They also suggest ideas for staying on course with you money goals. Kris is a co-founder of LPF Financial Advisors.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Nicholle Overkamp about how to make wise money and business decisions. They focus on creating good habits, implementing systems, and unique issues for women. Nicholle Overkamp, MBA, ChFC, CDFA, is a personal finance expert and business coach for women. She’s the Founder and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Richard Claywell joins the podcast to discuss business valuations. He and Brent chat about the important elements to a good valuation report, how to improve value to sell a company, and ways valuations are manipulated. J. Richard Claywell, CPA, ABV, ASA, CBA, ICVS, CVA,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Gray Edmonson about business succession planning. They discuss how to plan for a change in ownership, common options, and how to structure a successful transaction from one generation to another. Gray Edmonson is a Partner at Edmondson Sage Allen, PLLC  in Oxford, Mississippi.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Rachel Sass about the Inflation Reduction Act. They discuss the corporate minimum tax, stock buy-back tax, health insurance changes, and tax credits for EVs. They also get into extra funding for the IRS and how tax professionals are excited about it. Rachel Sass…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreAugust is National Make a Will Month! Only 48% of American adults have a will, so this week, Brent chats about the need for people to make a will and resources (even some free ones) that people can take advantage of to get one. If you…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, T.J. Ryan chats with Brent about Wills, the oldest estate planning documents. They discuss what…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Jenna Rubin chats with Brent about durable powers of attorney for finances. They discuss what…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Emily Kile chats with Brent about possibly the most important estate planning document: the health…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Deborah Plum chats with Brent about the revocable trusts. She answers the what, how, and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWelcome to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. First up, Rachel Sass chats with Brent about the different fiduciary roles within estate planning, how they work, what…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent talks with Cary Stamp about the ins and outs of life insurance for non-Americans. They talk about special insurability, income tax, and estate tax considerations. They also discuss tips for structuring the ownership and investment options within life insurance. Cary Stamp is the CEO of…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent discusses how inflation is not a death knell to wealth transfer planning. He describes interest rate sensitive techniques, which perform better with higher interest rates, and underlying assumptions during inflationary periods that help planning. If you are enjoying the podcast please SUBSCRIBE and leave a…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with T.J. Ryan about how to choose a trustee in a blended family. They discuss the challenges of those types of families, potential conflict points, and offer ideas to resolve issues before they begin. T.J. Ryan is a trust and probate litigation and estate…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats about estate tax (and some income tax) risks to foreigners owning real estate in the United States. He explains the strange rules about direct ownership, surprising results at death, and some options to avoid estate tax issues. It is common for foreigners to purchase…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Penny Phillips about how she is building the modern registered investment advisory firm, what it takes to prioritize clients, and how advisors can connect with clients. They also rib lawyers and laugh about common excuses to stay off social media. Penny Phillips has…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent rewinds one of our most popular episodes with Kyle Larson and Lily Styrmoe of TCI Wealth Advisors. They go over their top tips for how younger individuals and families can begin building the generational wealth that they’ve dreamed of. Kyle Larson is a a CFP,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Deborah Plum about techniques to maximize wealth transfers in a low market, low interest environment. They talk about GRATs, sales to IDGTs, intrafamily loans, and CLATs. They also speculate about market volatility and other things. Deborah is an attorney at Rimon, P.C. Deborah…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent discusses the proposed regulations under the SECURE Act. He explains the rules relating to trusts as IRA beneficiaries, how they change existing rules, and what they mean for trust planning.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Amy K. Kanyuk about trust decanting. They get into the benefits and risks of decanting, how they happen, and how the rules change from State-to-State. Amy K. Kanyuk is a Partner at McDonald & Kanyuk PLLC in Concord, NH. She concentrates her practice…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Joel Revill chat about crypto currencies and trust administrations. They dig into the regulatory environment, how crypto currencies perform in a traditional portfolio, and where DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) may change the future of businesses and trusts. Joel is the CEO and co-founder of…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Evan Unzelman about rolling over income interests in charitable remainder trusts. They talk about why these transactions can be tax beneficial and create flexibility for the right CRTs. Evan is the President of Sterling Foundation Management. Evan began with Sterling’s Family Office Concierge…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Doug Nelson about what has happened in the markets during the first few months of 2022, how to find the right advisors for young investors, and educating youth about starting and persisting in personal finance. Doug is an advisor and shareholder at TCI…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent discusses the limits of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs). He talks about existing statutory and case law limitations on their use and the IRS view in CCA 202152018 that potentially creates additional risk for practitioners. He also offers practical solutions to plan for these limitations.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent talks with Gary Fletcher about Arizona’s SALT deduction workaround, how to plan for it, and the life and death of Proposition 208. They also discuss Arizona’s Proposition 208 workarounds that are still the law. Gary Fletcher is an attorney and CPA at the firm Nystedt…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent discusses some of the highlights from the 2022 ACTEC Conference, including Build Back Better, Secure Act, Smaldino, Levine, CCA202152018, Corporate Transparency Act, and racial inequality.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent discusses the war in Ukraine, some of the issues and arguments that have arisen during the crisis, and how to help refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere. Resources for finding organizations helping refugees can be found at: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/us-resettlement-partners.html https://rcusa.org/members/ https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=4665#group-331 https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Patricia Annino about special considerations in estate planning for women. They discuss empowering women with education, getting them involved in the planning process, and keys to success. Patricia Annino is a partner in Rimon’s Trust and Estates Group. A nationally recognized authority on…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Reetu Pepoff discuss racial inequities in estate planning in the United States. They talk about the root causes of the issue, the wealth and planning gap, and what advisers can do to actively combat these problems. Reetu Pepoff is an Assistant General Counsel and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent chats with Frazer Rice about how to preserve generational wealth. They discuss strategies for communicating with clients about money, establishing a solid plan, and things advisors can do to maximize success. As a Regional Director for Pendleton Square Trust Company, Frazer focuses on building relationships…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent chats with Lily Styrmoe about sustainable investing and ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) investing. They discuss what these terms mean, changes in the market, performance of investments in this space, and ways to evaluate funds and companies from a sustainable investing perspective.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent discusses charitable remainder trusts. He covers how they are structured, what types of assets can be contributed (or not), how they operate, and their taxation. He also discusses different types of CRTs, from plain vanilla to Flip CRTs and net income with makeup…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the podcast Brent discusses how volatile markets, combined with low interest rates, can be a terrific time for wealth planning. He explains how asset valuations and interest rates work relative to each other for maximum wealth transfers in GRATs, sales to irrevocable grantor…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWhat’s happening in the markets this year? This week, Brent and Rachel sit down with Doug Nelson on the status of the investment markets over the last quarter and what we may expect in the coming months. Doug gets into rising interest rates, hedging against inflation,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreA new year calls for tuning up your finances! This week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Melanie Simons, the CEO of ReFrame Wealth, to discuss her top tips for getting on top of your finances for the new year.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWith the hot real estate market, we’re constantly hearing from clients about investing in real estate. So this week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel bring in Eric Freeman to discuss how to get into real estate investing. We get into acquiring funding,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent, Rachel, and Deborah get together to share a few New Year’s Resolutions that they suggest for anyone wanting to be better organized financially, personally, and as a company. Their suggestions include learning the importance of “expense ratios,” updating your estate plan, starting to…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreOver the weekend, the Build Back Better Act was dealt a devastating blow when Senator Manchin announced that he would not vote on the Act before the Christmas deadline. So what’s the fate of the Build Back Better Act and will we still see tax changes…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThe Britney Spears conservatorship is finally over…or is it? On this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, we’ll catch you up on all that’s happened in the highly publicized conservatorship proceedings and what may still be to come. If you are enjoying the podcast,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThere’s just a little more than three weeks left before the the end of the year–can you believe it? We know you’ve got a lot on your plate already with holiday shopping, family gatherings, etc., so on this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the podcast we share a few of our favorite highlights from the past 88 episodes. You will hear about vacation homes, trusts under the SECURE Act, planning in Mexico, Colombia, and Canada, forming a successful financial plan, and crypto currencies.

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel are joined again by Darren Case to discuss how they are planning around the proposed federal tax changes. There have been many changes in the last two months so they break it all down and how they see the year ending.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Rachel chat with Shauna A. Wekherlien, CPA, MTax, CTC, CTS (aka the Tax Goddess) about some of our favorite tax planning tips to SAVE TAXES before the end of the year. We discuss simple steps (like funding retirement accounts), expensing purchases, and more complex…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreHere we go again–another round of new tax proposals! The House recently released the newest version of the Reconciliation Bill (AKA the Build Back Better Act), which is quite a bit different from the original proposals released back in September. So this week on the Wealth…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent and Rachel chat with the incredible Carolyn McClanahan, M.D., CFP, about how to protect our loved ones and clients from Elder Abuse. We focus on the financial side of things. The conversation gets into discussing the issue, its prevalence, and practical ways it…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Rachel discuss several themes circulating in the media (conventional and social). First, they discuss the proposed Billionaire Tax and how it appears to look a lot like the existing PFIC rules. Second, they discuss the review of GRATs, IDGTs, valuation discounts, and CLATs used…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel chat with Doug Nelson on the status of the investment markets over the last quarter. Doug explains the nature of risk in investing, changes in perceptions of risk, the use of commodities to manage risk, and cryptocurrencies as a portion of…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent catches you up on what is happening in the news relating to the Reconciliation Bill, Democrat negotiations, planning for the year end, and the Pandora Papers. If you are enjoying the podcast, please SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW, and if you want to…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWhile Congress negotiates the terms of the Reconciliation Bill and what tax changes may be made this year, we (along with many other estate planning attorneys) have been burning the midnight oil and implementing plans for clients. On this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreJenna Rubin joins the podcast again to discuss Florida’s new directed trustee statute. She, Brent, and Rachel dig into the new law and talk about using trust protectors, structuring trusts to be effective, issues that can arise with directed trustees or trust protectors, and what the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent joins John Strohmeyer on John’s show, Tax Talk, to discuss the House Ways & Means Committee tax proposals, changes to estate planning, and what to expect in the future. They cover the proposals on the estate tax exemption, changes to the treatment of…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreIt’s the moment we’ve been waiting for all year! On Monday, September 13, 2021, the House Ways and Means Committee released their proposed tax changes. It’s a lengthy proposal–881 pages long to be exact–and it still has a way to go before Congress votes on it,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWe’ve talked a lot already about proposed tax law changes in the U.S. later this year. From potential changes to the federal estate and gift tax exemption amounts to capital gains rates, there’s a lot that Congress is debating. Our friends to the North (up in…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreCryptoassets are all the rage in 2021. From Bitcoin to NFTs (non-fungible tokens), many individuals and families now own cryptoassets–and depending on when they acquired the asset, the value could be massive. With cryptoassets still a new topic, there are many questions about how wealth and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreLinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok–there’s so many social media platforms these days, but how do you market yourself and your business on each one? This week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, we bring on Ieva Ernestovska, the Founder of SpurOn Media, to discuss how to best…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Martin Shenkman to discuss how to build a modern estate planning practice in today’s world. They discuss the role of technology in business and marketing and what steps someone should take to…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreHit me baby one more time–it’s another Britney Spears episode! There’s been a lot of movement in the Britney Spears conservatorship since we last spoke about this in March (if you didn’t catch that last episode, you can do so here). Since our last conversation about…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWe love talking about philanthropy and how individuals and families can incorporate charitable giving into their estate plans. As we’ve mentioned previously on the Wealth & Law Podcast, there are numerous ways that individuals and families can give to charity besides simply writing a check. One…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreCan you believe it that the year is already half over? This year, we’ve seen a lot of focus on a few main issues that have been popping up for our clients. So on this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, we break down…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWith the world starting to open up, individuals and families are starting to get out and travel again (finally!). So, this week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Danielle Desir to discuss all things related to personal finance and travel.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreOn this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Steve Gorin to discuss buy-sell and cross purchase agreements. They get into the similarities and differences between the two types of agreements, why one may be more tax-efficient than the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MorePlanning for retirement is one thing. But planning during retirement is another. This week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel are joined by Trey Andrew to discuss financial planning and retirement. They get into: Ways to bring in income during retirement, Utilizing the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel bring back Shiraz Ahmed to talk about cross border investing and retirement planning. They discuss the similarities and differences between common U.S. and Canadian retirement vehicles and back-door Roth IRAs. They also get into the Robinhood era of investing and when…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel are joined by Emily B. Kile to discuss Medicaid and long term care planning. They get into the basic requirements for Medicaid, and in particular, Arizona’s ALTCS program, other social security programs, and how individuals…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Rachel and Brent talk with Andrea Carr about tax planning in Hawaii. They cover the basics of Hawaii income tax and talk about the many traps for the unwary. In particular, they get into detail about the Hawaii tax credits for photovoltaic systems, the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent is joined by special co-host Gary Fletcher to discuss the Biden Administration’s “Green Book” (or budget proposal). They focus in on proposals to increase the capital gains rates, taxing transfers of capital assets, what the spousal and charitable exceptions might mean, and why…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, the ladies take over the show! Rachel sits down again with Deborah Plum to talk about our must have estate planning documents. Whether someone is worth $100,000 or $100 million, they go over the foundational documents to any…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Jamie Mendelsohn to discuss life insurance policies and the life settlement market. Many people may be surprised to learn that a life insurance policyholder can sell their existing policy to a third-party…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreSometimes, it just feels good to get something off of your chest. So this week on the Wealth and Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel are going over the things that grind our gears. From billionaire profiling, to “simplified” tax laws, to everyone’s favorite–the IRS, we highlight…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWe hardly ever focus on a particular Internal Revenue Code Section on the Wealth & Law Podcast, but we think that Section 2104(b) deserves to be special. In our opinion, this is one of the most nerve-racking sections in the Code for non-residents and non-citizens. Brent…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThe Biden tax plan has gotten a lot of attention lately as there are quite a few ambitious proposed changes to the tax laws that could have far reaching impacts for individuals and businesses. While the current plans are in the early stages and it is…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWe love talking about charitable giving on the Wealth & Law Podcast. In previous episodes, we’ve discussed how individuals and families can incorporate charitable giving into their estate and investment plans. On this week’s episode, Brent and Rachel bring back Deborah Plum to talk about how…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Deborah Plum to go over the ins and out of New York estate and tax law. They get into New York’s estate tax, the infamous estate “tax cliff”, and income tax rules.…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreOne of the most frequently asked questions we get from clients is: How can I incorporate charitable planning into my investment and estate plan? We love seeing clients with charitable intent and enjoy helping clients create lasting charitable legacies. So on this week’s episode of the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreGenerational wealth has been a major talking point on the Wealth & Law podcast. In prior episodes, Brent and Rachel have talked about how to preserve generational wealth and how to pass it on to future generations. This week, we dive into how to actually build…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreCan you believe that we are already wrapping up the first quarter of 2021 today? (Neither can we.) This week on the Wealth and Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel bring back Doug Nelson, of TCI Wealth Advisors, to discuss the major events in the first quarter…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week on the Wealth and Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel talk with Matt Schmidt about attorney wellness. The legal and financial fields are infamously known as stressful fields of work, so Matt breaks down his top tips for how to maintain balance, be productive, and…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreCryptocurrency is becoming increasingly more popular with many investors saying that it is the way of the future. So on this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel sit down with Tyrone Ross Jr. to discuss all things related to cryptocurrency. They…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreWith a new stimulus package around the corner, you may be feeling anxious about whether you will receive a stimulus check. So on this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel breakdown who will qualify for stimulus checks under the current legislation,…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreOops, we did it again–we are talking about Britney Spears on the podcast. In the last couple of weeks, Britney Spears’ conservatorship has gained lots of attention after “Framing Britney Spears,” a new documentary by The New York Times, was released on FX and Hulu. With…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreAfter a year of sheltering at home, you are probably just as anxious as we are to get out and travel this summer (hopefully). With low interest rates right now, it is also one of the best times to purchase a vacation home. Although buying a…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent and Rachel answer the basic investment questions they hear from their friends and clients: What is an IRA or 401k? What are the differences between stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs? How does short-term and long-term investing work? What do you think about bitcoin?…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel chat with Rodrigo Castillo Cottin about US-Colombian cross border planning. Rodrigo explains the basics of Colombian tax and estate planning laws, gives helpful insights into key issues, and chats about how to be flexible in planning. Mr. Castillo Cottin opened the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel are joined by Anna N’Jie-Konte. Anna has decades of experience in financial planning and was the perfect person to talk to about generational wealth. As a first-generation American, Anna discusses the keys to building generational wealth. The three of them also…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel chat about community property. They explain what it is, how it works, what its tax benefits are, and they explain how one might be able get the tax benefits of community property event for property in a non-community property State. They…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThe SECURE Act (remember that) has been around for one year now. To commemorate its first birthday, Brent and Rachel look back at the SECURE Act and how it has changed the landscape for designating a trust as a beneficiary on an IRA. Brent and Rachel…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreAmericans across the country were shaken up by the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. On this week’s episode of the Wealth & Law Podcast, Brent and Rachel try to make sense of the whole situation by analyzing the events from a legal…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreIt is probably no surprise to hear that one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions is to save money. To kick off 2021, Brent and Rachel sat down with George Grombacher to discuss how individuals can be better with money. George gives some of his…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week Brent and Rachel give their wrap up of the podcast in 2020. They discuss key events of the year, important topics they covered, starting the podcast, and what they look forward to in 2021. It has been a long year! Thanks for listening to…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreRachel and Brent are again joined by Fernando Barraza for Part 2 of their conversation about planning for families and businesses in the US and Mexico. In Part 2 they dig into specific planning ideas to overcome some of the challenging and penalizing US international tax…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel sit down with Fernando Barraza to discuss challenges and opportunities for US-Mexico cross border families. In Part 1, they discuss the broad international tax rules that apply to these families, their businesses, and their investments. They flag key concerns and foot…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreThis week, Brent and Rachel sit down with T.J. Ryan to discuss the use of penalty clauses in estate planning documents. The three of them explain what a penalty clause is, what they look like, and how they are used in estate planning documents. They also…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS | MoreBrent and Rachel are joined by Olivia Roberts and David Joseph of Knockout Digital Marketing to talk about marketing trends for lawyers and financial advisers, things that don’t work, and their top five things to do to improve marketing efforts. We also discuss targeted advertising, social…