When you’re ready to finally put an estate plan in place, it’s natural to feel excited and relieved. You’re taking a powerful step to protect your family, get organized, and make sure everything is handled the way you want if you become incapacitated and when you die. But what happens when your spouse doesn’t share your enthusiasm? Maybe they roll their eyes, insist you don’t need that, or even agree to a meeting only to shut it down once they’re there. It can leave you feeli

My colleague told me a story recently. Her son moved into his first apartment at college and had to go grocery shopping on his own for the first time. After he got back from the store, he called her in disbelief: “Food is so expensive! Can you help me figure out how to meal plan so I can shop strategically?” Her 19-year-old was diving head-first into adulting - and beginning to evaluate his relationship with time and money. This story made me pause. I realized that meal plann

Many families focus on building wealth, but fewer think about keeping it. Research shows  that a majority of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and by the third generation, the number climbs as high as 90%. That happens not because parents lack concern for their kids, but because key pieces of planning are missing. Keeping wealth in your family isn’t just about signing legal documents or having a strong investment portfolio. True wealth preservation

As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there is often an unspoken truth: many families avoid the conversations that matter most. What will happen when you are gone? How will your loved ones be cared for? What legacy will you leave behind? This season offers a rare opportunity to bring love, not fear, into these important conversations. In this article, you will learn how to shift your mindset about death and money, ho

We've all been there. The holiday White Elephant gift exchange starts out fun and lighthearted. But then Uncle Jim steals the massage gun he bought in hopes of winning it for himself. The married couples start tag-teaming to keep the best gifts between them. Cousin Sarah gets stuck with the singing fish. Someone's definitely holding a grudge about that coffee mug from three swaps ago. Now imagine that same dynamic, except instead of gag gifts, it's Dad's classic car, Mom's je

When someone you love dies, grief hits hard enough. But imagine adding legal chaos, confusing paperwork, and no one to guide you through it all. That's the reality for thousands of people every year who are left to navigate a confusing, messy, and expensive legal and financial process without support. In this article, you'll read real stories of families who struggled through the legal and financial process alone, the challenges they faced, and why having the right lawyer, as

A typical initial consultation with an estate planning lawyer may look like this: you meet, you answer questions about your family and assets, and the lawyer tells you what documents you need - typically a will, trust, health care directive, and power of attorney - and what they will cost. This is a recipe for disaster because this means that the lawyer you are considering hiring is likely not versed in helping you make well-counseled decisions that you fully understand, and

If you are like most people, you probably assume that when the time comes, someone—your spouse, your children, or maybe a close friend—will be there to take care of you. But the truth is, more Americans than ever are living alone as they age, often without a clear plan for support. According to AARP, more than 16 million adults over 65 now live alone , and 77% report having no plan for living assistance  as they age. At the same time, even when family members are nearby, the

Losing someone you love reshapes your world in ways you may never expect. Some changes are obvious—you no longer share birthdays, dinners, or conversations. But the harder truth is that grief often weaves itself into the smallest details of daily life. You may notice it when you pour coffee into only one mug, when you pick up the phone and realize there’s no one to answer, or when a memory sneaks into your thoughts during the quietest part of your day. And it can feel unbeara

Each year on November 11, the nation pauses to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who’ve served in the Armed Forces. Beyond the ceremonies and flags, Veterans Day offers military families a meaningful opportunity to reflect on a vital question: Is your family truly protected if something happens to you? If you’ve served or are part of a military family, your planning needs go far beyond standard estate documents. From coordinating military benefits to preparing for depl

A client once told me she would give anything to hear her grandmother’s voice again. Her grandmother had been the heart of the family—the...

Picture this: You and your spouse spend decades building a successful business, accumulating assets, and creating a stable life for your...

Imagine you’re worth $17 billion and have over 100 biological children—some born through relationships, others through anonymous sperm...

I had an interesting conversation with a potential client last week. After explaining my Life & Legacy Planning® process, she said, "This...

When wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died at age 71, the world lost an icon. But behind the headlines about his estimated $25 million estate...

You hired a lawyer, signed your estate planning documents, and filed them safely away. Or maybe your financial advisor created your...

When Anna Harp lost her father, Rudolph Clausing , she didn’t get to say goodbye. It was January 2021, during the height of the COVID-19...

You've just lost someone important to you, and now you're responsible for their home. Maybe it's sitting empty while you figure out what...

Labor Day has always been about honoring the American worker—the people who build our communities, power our economy, and create the...

When you think about estate planning, you probably picture wills, trusts, and who gets what. But what happens when decisions are made...