I run a small study group for CPA’s and Enrolled Agents every Thursday Morning at 7:30. We meet until 9 A.M. Each month, different members take turns leading the group. We cover all topics related to estate planning, probate & trust administration, fiduciary duties, etc. It is a great time to come ask some questions […]
A Charitable Remainder Trust is a wonderful vehicle for taking Long Term Capital Gain property and converting it into Income Producing Property without the immediate tax hit from the sale of the property. You also get a nice income tax deduction for the gift into the trust. However, there are some assets that may not […]
I think you will acknowledge that it is hard to meet a client’s objectives unless you understand what it is they need and want. Understanding is one of the underpinnings of good advice. Without it, you can’t give it. But how do you come to this understanding? Do we just know what the client needs? […]
Mary Emery was Dean of Admissions at the University of Santa Clara School of Law since 1985. She was one of the first three women to graduate from the law school, completing her degree in 1963. You can read a very nice tribute to her in the San Jose Mercury News. While I was a […]
For many years, the GRAT has been a staple of estate planning strategies. It was something that every high net worth client considered as a freezing technique. With the new estate tax law that became effective last December, a GRAT may not be the best strategy for many clients going forward. While the GRAT is […]
I have tried to model my marketing efforts about this simple phrase. Be a “Problem Solver.” How can you help a client solve a problem? Is there a referral source that could use your help? Make yourself valuable to others irrespective of whether you get paid or not. Will everyone thank you? No! (more…)
San Jose Estate Planning Attorney Responds: It is not uncommon for financial planners to believe that their conversations and records regarding the information they learn from a client is confidential. In fact, the CFP Board Code of Ethics requires planners to keep client information confidential. However, there are many areas where a financial planner’s documents […]
Many of the advisor’s we work with have asked us to blog about marketing issues. Of course, they don’t put it quite like that. They ask questions on how to take care of clients, how to get new clients, and how to network. They want to know why we did our Boot Camps and were […]
Football season is right around the corner, and it’s time for our annual first game of the season party. As many of you know, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan (don’t hold it against me). They are playing the New York Jets on Sunday evening, September 11 at 5pm. Rob Ryan, the Cowboy’s Defensive Coordinator […]
What is the proper way to plan for taking advantage of the deceased spouse’s portability exemption amount? I have written previously on portability planning here and here. In traditional estate planning, the client will create an ABC trust where the A Trust is for the Alive Spouse, the B Trust is for the Buried Spouse, […]
