030: How Ombudsman Services Can Advocate for You, With Nicole Howell
Release Date: 10/29/2019
192: Your Healthcare Voice (Part 3): Understanding Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and End-of-Life Options
Absolute Trust Talk
In the final episode of our comprehensive healthcare planning series, Kirsten and Ariana tackle one of the most misunderstood areas of healthcare planning: life-ending decisions. This episode cuts through the confusion to deliver clear, factual information about California's End of Life Option Act, the strict requirements for assisted suicide, how passive and active euthanasia differ, and why many people don't actually qualify for the options they think exist. You'll also learn how California compares to other states and what alternatives exist internationally. Whether you're planning for...
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191: When Rock Royalty Gets Estate Planning Right: Lessons from Ozzy Osbourne's $230M Legacy
Absolute Trust Talk
In this all-new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and Associate Attorney Ariana Flynn explore a refreshing change of pace: a celebrity estate plan that appears to have been well-structured and executed effectively. Following the July 22, 2025, passing of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, his $230 million estate seems to be transitioning smoothly without probate litigation or family disputes. The hosts examine what the Prince of Darkness did right, from clear beneficiary designations to keeping valuable intellectual property assets within family control. They also dive...
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190: Your Healthcare Voice (Part 2): Emergency Medical Orders
Absolute Trust Talk
In this second episode of their comprehensive healthcare planning series, Absolute Trust Talk hosts Kirsten Howe and Ariana Flynn tackle the critical medical orders that work alongside your legal documents: DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders and POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) forms. Unlike the legal documents discussed in Part 1, these are doctors' orders that emergency responders must follow—but only if they can see them. The attorneys reveal the shocking legal reality that paramedics are required to perform CPR on anyone they find unconscious unless they have a valid...
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189: Your Healthcare Voice: Understanding Advanced Directives
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Ariana Flynn tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of estate planning: advanced healthcare directives. This is part one of a comprehensive three-part series covering end-of-life and healthcare planning. The attorneys break down the two critical legal documents every adult needs, regardless of age or wealth. They explain why everyone 18 and older must have an Advanced Healthcare Directive, revealing the shocking truth that parents lose all legal authority over their adult children's medical decisions the...
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188: Are You Risking Everything? The Insurance Your Business Can't Operate Without (Part 3)
Absolute Trust Talk
In the compelling finale of this three-part insurance series, host Kirsten Howe and insurance expert Dean Myers tackle the coverage that keeps business owners up at night—cyber insurance. Dean shares fascinating real-world stories, from ransomware attackers offering customer service hotlines to disgruntled employees planting digital "time bombs" in company systems. You'll discover why this isn't just another insurance policy but essential business survival protection that covers everything from system failures to deepfake fraud. Dean reveals the surprising realities about whether companies...
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187: Are You Risking Everything? The Insurance Your Business Can't Operate Without (Part 2)
Absolute Trust Talk
Most professionals know they need insurance, but many don't realize their general liability coverage has significant gaps when it comes to professional services. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe continues her conversation with Dean Myers, owner of Core Insurance Agency, to explore errors and omissions insurance—specialized coverage designed specifically for professional liability risks. Discover which professions beyond doctors and lawyers should consider E&O coverage, including architects, engineers, accountants, and contractors who incorporate design elements...
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186: Jimmy Buffett's $275M Trust Battle: Why Co-Trustees Can Destroy Your Estate Plan
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, California estate planning attorney Kirsten Howe examines the explosive trust dispute erupting over Jimmy Buffett's $275 million estate. When the legendary Margaritaville songwriter passed away, he left his fortune in an irrevocable trust with his widow Jane Buffett and co-trustee Richard Mozenter managing the assets together. Now they're locked in competing estate litigation across Florida and California, each seeking to remove the other as trustee through costly court battles. This high-profile celebrity estate case illustrates why...
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185: Are You Risking Everything? The Insurance Your Business Can't Operate Without
Absolute Trust Talk
Many business owners purchase insurance without truly understanding what they're buying or what critical coverage they might be missing. Host Kirsten Howe addresses this knowledge gap by welcoming Dean Myers, owner of Core Insurance Agency, to reveal the fundamental insurance coverage every business owner needs before opening their doors. Dean, who specializes in errors and omissions insurance for lawyers, accountants, doctors, and professional trustees, breaks down the three critical pillars of business insurance: workers' compensation, general liability, and property insurance. ...
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184: From One Direction to No Direction: What Liam Payne's Estate Teaches Us About Planning
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe examines the estate complications following One Direction member Liam Payne's tragic death in Argentina in fall 2024. At just 30 years old, Payne left behind a $32 million estate—but no will. His complex assets include performance income, solo artist earnings, brand deals, music publishing rights, and venture investments. Without estate planning, his 8-year-old son Bear becomes the sole intestate heir, inheriting the full amount at age 18. Kirsten analyzes the cascading problems: massive probate fees (at least $376,000 in...
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183: Beyond Borders: International Estate Planning Essentials for Families (Part 3)
Absolute Trust Talk
In this final installment of Absolute Trust Talk's international estate planning series, host Kirsten Howe concludes her conversation with estate planning specialist Janet Brewer, addressing one of the most common cross-border scenarios: U.S. citizens who own property abroad. Janet, with over 30 years of experience serving Silicon Valley's international clientele, explains why simply leaving foreign property to your US trust won't work, since most countries don't recognize trusts at all. This episode highlights the crucial distinction between countries that recognize trusts...
info_outlineAging is a natural part of life, and it is one that certainly deserves respect. All of our elders should be able to thrive throughout their later years. There is no one who believes in this philosophy more than our latest Absolute Trust Talk guest, Nicole Howell.
Nicole is executive director of Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and is responsible for ensuring that the 13,000 residents of long-term care in her community have access to the highest level of care and respect, and above all, can live free of abuse and neglect. She joins us in the studio to talk about how the Ombudsman Program came to be and the work that they do to connect with older adults and help them live their best lives.
“Ombudsman,” pronounced “om-buds-man,” means an advocate, a person who investigates an individual’s complaints and ultimately helps settle them. If you or a loved one is struggling to stay connected with the opportunities or activities available or is dealing with neglect and abuse, then this is an episode you will want to tune in to.
Big Three from Episode #030:
- Aging is a normal and natural yet distinct phase of life.
- It’s okay to be planning for our own aging process and to be mindful of who we are as people and what we are hoping for the future, and that we might not be as we once were.
- Bottom line: Make the appropriate plans so your life can be as comfortable as possible when the time comes for the end.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
3:54 – How do ombudsman services fit into the long-term care landscape?
6:12 – Other than providing ombudsman services, what does Nicole’s organization do?
12:19 – What exactly does “ombudsman” mean?
15:09 – How does Ombudsman get involved in a concern?
19:00 – Nicole discusses what happens when it’s time for a solution to be presented.
20:52 – What happens when a facility is resistant to a particular solution?
25:37 – Nicole shares some of the most common concerns her team works with.
32:40 – Are ombudsman services available across the country?
35:04– Nicole shares her thoughts on the governor of California’s Master Plan on Aging.
Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in This Episode: