008: Financial Planning for Families with Special Needs Individuals
Release Date: 05/15/2018
178: 3 Critical Estate Planning Lessons from Richard Simmons' Legacy Battles
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe examines the estate complications following Richard Simmons' death in July 2023. She details the ongoing legal dispute between Simmons' brother Leonard (named trustee) and Teresa, his housekeeper of 30 years who briefly served as co-trustee before a contested resignation. The conflict centers around approximately $1 million in personal property—primarily jewelry—that Teresa allegedly took when evicted from Simmons' home. While Teresa claims Simmons gifted her the jewelry in 2014, Leonard argues documentation proves otherwise....
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177: Inside the Heated Padres Inheritance Feud: What It Teaches Us About Sound Estate Planning
Absolute Trust Talk
In this all-new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and her associates, Jessica Colbert and Ariana Flynn, delve into the complex estate battle surrounding the late San Diego Padres owner, Peter Seidler. The MLB team finds itself at the center of a legal dispute as Seidler's wife, Sheel, contends with his brothers over control of the franchise. With allegations of breached trust, fraud, and self-dealing, the case highlights the intricacies of estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and the potential pitfalls of ambiguous or informal documentation. While largely speculation,...
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176: Behind the Headlines: Gene Hackman's Estate Plan and What We Can Learn
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe, managing attorney at Absolute Trust Counsel, and associate attorney Jessica Colbert examine the estate of beloved actor Gene Hackman. They meticulously analyze the available court records from Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and contrast them with California's probate procedures. The attorneys skillfully debunk sensationalized headlines about Hackman's will, explaining the mechanics of pour-over wills and why media claims about his children being "cut out" are potentially misleading. While much of the discussion is speculation, they provide...
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175: The Valuation Puzzle: What Your Assets Are Really Worth: Part 2
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe continues her valuation discussion with expert Alex Spaete from Bridge Forensic CPAs, exploring the intricacies of asset valuation. The discussion focuses on how privately held assets are valued, particularly examining discount factors applied to LLC interests based on control limitations and marketability constraints. Alex explains how family dynamics influence valuations, especially when implicit control exists despite limited ownership percentages. The conversation covers valuation approaches for unusual assets like promissory...
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174: Part 1: The Valuation Puzzle: What Your Assets Are Really Worth
Absolute Trust Talk
In this insightful episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe welcomes Alex Spaete, a valuation expert and partner with Bridge Forensic CPAs. In part one of their discussion, Kirsten and Alex explore the complex world of asset valuation, particularly focusing on closely held businesses and real estate holding partnerships. Alex explains why valuing private entities requires specialized expertise beyond what's needed for bank accounts or publicly traded securities. The discussion clarifies the critical distinction between owning a percentage of a business entity versus owning the...
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173: Stop Family Feuds: Expert Tips for Probate Real Estate Sales
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe welcomes real estate expert Nathan Jines from Jines Real Estate Group, Keller Williams, to discuss the complexities of selling real estate in a probate or trust administration. When a homeowner passes away, managing the sale of their property presents unique challenges, from family dynamics to market positioning. Nathan shares firsthand insights on navigating these transactions while ensuring a smooth process for grieving heirs. Key takeaways include the importance of professional guidance, how family relationships impact...
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171: IRS Audits Uncovered: What Triggers Them and How to Prepare
Absolute Trust Talk
Few things are as nerve-wracking as receiving an IRS audit notice—but how do audits really work, and what can you do to protect yourself? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe sits down with Anthony Kim, a former IRS Chief Counsel Attorney with 26+ years of experience, to reveal the truth behind IRS audits. Tony, who has litigated complex tax cases for the U.S. Treasury Department and represented Fortune 500 companies and high-net-worth individuals at Ernst & Young, shares insider knowledge on what triggers audits, the IRS selection process, and how to avoid common red...
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172: IRS Audits Uncovered Part 2: Protests and Appeals Explained
Absolute Trust Talk
Intro Summary] In this follow-up episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe welcomes back tax law expert Tony Kim to continue their deep dive into IRS audits and appeals. With 26 years of experience working for the IRS, Tony provides invaluable insights into what happens after an audit determination is made. He explains the role of a protest letter, how appeals officers function as mediators, and why IRS litigation can be risky for taxpayers. Throughout the episode, Tony emphasizes the importance of organization, professionalism, and strategic decision-making when dealing with the...
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170: How to Secure Your Estate: Insights from O.J. Simpson’s Latest Legal Drama:
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, hosts Kirsten Howe and Jessica Colbert delve into the latest twist in O.J. Simpson’s long-running estate saga. The estate’s executor has taken an unexpected step by filing a lawsuit against one of Simpson’s heirs, claiming that a key Las Vegas property was secretly transferred out of the estate’s control. As they speculate on the case, the hosts examine the potential motives behind this action—such as the strategic use of an LLC and homestead exemptions—and the significant implications for addressing Simpson’s mounting debts, including...
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169: Understanding Probate Part 3: How to Get Your Will Admitted to Probate
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert explore the critical steps in getting a will admitted to probate. They explain why lodging an original, properly executed will with the county superior court is essential, and how witness testimony can authenticate the document. They also examine the pitfalls of relying on a photocopy—or finding out too late that the original has been lost or destroyed. Finally, they underscore the importance of keeping your estate documents organized to avoid future probate headaches. If you’re preparing...
info_outlineIn this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes special needs financial planning expert Jon Elfin into the studio. Jon has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry and focuses on processes and expertise to help clients understand their options and more importantly take action when it comes to building and preserving wealth for families with special needs dependents.
Jon and Kirsten break down what exactly special needs planning encompasses and discuss the processes that Jon goes through with each of his clients. More importantly, Jon discusses a few of the biggest mistakes he sees when clients come into his practice and also highlights effective strategies that a special needs family can take now in securing the future of their dependents. As Jon is also a parent of a special needs child, throughout the interview he weaves in topics of transitional life experience from his own personal perspective.
Big Three From Episode #008:
- Start early
- Don’t be overwhelmed
- Utilize your resources!
Time-stamped Show Notes:
1:50 – What exactly is Special Needs Planning?
2:48 – How Jon got into Special Needs Planning
4:00 – The complexities of Special Needs Planning
7:00 – Jon highlights common mistakes he’s come across in his practice when working with clients
8:05 – Jon and Kirsten discuss a few of the biggest benefits/acronyms that people miss
10:42 – Kirsten discusses Special Needs Planning from the estate planning point of view and a special provision that should be put in all estate plans
11:37 – Jon addresses why ages 18 and 22 are important ages for special needs people
13:30 – Jon defines “transition class” and its extreme importance
15:35 – What a regional center is and how it helps special needs families plan the next step.
16:20 – Don’t leave all the money for a special needs family member to a sibling!
20:14 – A special needs person can save money in these accounts too – Big win for the disability community
25:15 – The other important strategy for special needs individuals according to Jon is life insurance
Episode #008 Freebie:
No matter where you are in your journey as a special needs family know that there are things that can be done to help build and protect the future of your special needs dependent. During this episode, Jon mentioned a few of the common mistakes well-intentioned special needs families make. To help educate listeners on what to look for he outlined and is exclusively sharing with us a few more! In addition, Jon is also offering a FREE 90-minute consultation. So if you’re a special needs parent or caretaker who is worried or doesn’t know where to start, call Jon. He will cover all of the basics and see if he can be of further service in making your special needs life transitions go as smoothly as possible.
Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode:
Disability benefits 101 - https://ca.db101.org/