The Plain English Legal Podcast

An Estate Check Up?

Many people look at estate planning as a “one and done” item on their checklist. However, keeping a solid estate plan, especially one with a revocable living trust as the base of the plan, requires an annual check-in just to be sure the plan is up to date. More importantly, we need to make sure that all of the assets line up with the overall estate planning.

In this episode, we review the reasons for checking in annually, what items are typically covered in my law firm, and what kinds of potential changes need the documents revised and which ones don't.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust #checkup

Whose to Blame?

When someone dies and an account goes somewhere it isn't supposed to, whose to blame for it?

The financial advisor?

The attorney?

Someone else?

When citizens use a revocable living trust in their estate plan to avoid probate for their beneficiaries, then account titles and beneficiary designations need to line up with the overall plan. In this podcast, Jeff reviews these concepts of blame in the backdrop of historic Colonial Williamsburg, adding some entertaining history and tales.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust #history

5 Times When WHEN Matters in Trust Planning

The phrase "timing is everything" also applies to estate planning with a revocable living trust. When certain things happen can greatly change what happens in an estate plan, and people don't always look at things the right way.

In this podcast, we explore how the passage of time, asset values, and beneficiary distributions can greatly impact how people look at their desired goals for when they are no longer here.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust

The Freedom Estate Plan

Do you want the government to make your estate plan? That’s exactly what happens when you don’t put together your own plan. But even if you do your own estate plan using the attorney-pushed Last Will and Testament, this means the government probate court system runs your estate… at an extremely high cost in time and money for your family.

There is a better way to take control of your own matters and keep your hard-eared wealth away from red tape and bureaucracy during a time of crisis while avoiding “the lawyer tax” by using a Freedom Estate Plan with a revocable living trust.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#freedom #conservative #redtape #estateplan #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust

Hibernation

Three weeks off sounds like a really long time to take a "vacation," but for what I do with my law firm, estate planning, and all of the educational materials I put out to the public, this type of break (and the time of year I take this break) just makes sense. In this video, I'll review all of the ins and outs of my personal time off, and how my itch for strategic planning comes in at the end of that time to set up the next year for success. #vacation #lawfirm #holiday #estateplanning

For immediate assistance to get your own do-it-yourself estate plan, even a temporary one, at www.EstatePatch.com. 

Picking Your Trustees

People often have a hard time choosing who will execute their estate plan when they pass on, and there are a lot of misconceptions.

In this podcast, we review the big concepts of choosing trustees, including which types of professional trustees are best.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

Igniting a Charitable Planned Giving Program

Charities and Non-Profits are often so busy fundraising for existing costs that they "never get around to" creating a planned giving program that can provide long term financial stability.

This podcast reviews a way they can fundraise now while setting up for long term revenue.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

Changing Course: 5 Concepts in Amending a Trust

Amending a trust should be an easy process, right?

In most cases and circumstances, it is easy but also easy for people to make mistakes. In even a few recent cases, these concepts are even eluding attorneys. A revocable living trust is an estate plan that is completely amendable and revocable by the person setting up the trust, and they are typically also the trustee and first level beneficiary. Basically, they can do anything they want with their trust, including making changes as their goals and situations in life change.

However, there are five big concepts that a lot of people are just missing.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

5 Triggers for Estate Planning

People don’t always plan ahead the way they need to, and it’s pretty easy to put off uncomfortable topics like estate planning. That is, until one tragedy or another gives my clients that added push to come in and finally address putting together an optimal estate plan.

In this podcast, I walk through 5 of the biggest life situations, either experienced by my clients or people close to them, that finally bring them to the office conference room table to get a plan done.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust

Is The Power of Attorney is Defective?

We get the calls all of the time about how a power of attorney was "defective" because the bank wouldn't accept it. However, in many cases the power of attorney is just fine, but the person trying to use it isn't using it correctly.

In this podcast, Jeff reviews three core misunderstandings around financial powers of attorney.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #revocabletrust #livingtrust #revocablelivingtrust #powerofattorney