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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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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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...
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In this second installment of Absolute Trust Talk's international estate planning series, host Kirsten Howe welcomes back estate planning specialist Janet Brewer to explore advanced strategies for families with cross-border connections. Building on their previous discussion of guardianship challenges, this episode focuses on critical tax considerations and financial hurdles faced by international families. Janet, a certified specialist with over 30 years of experience serving Silicon Valley clients, explains the unique tax opportunities available to visa holders with stock options and RSUs,...
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In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe welcomes estate planning specialist Janet Brewer to explore the unique challenges faced by immigrants and international families when planning for their future. Janet, with over 30 years of experience serving clients throughout Silicon Valley, brings her vast knowledge to address the specific concerns of non-resident aliens, visa holders, green card holders, and other international families with U.S.-based assets. As a member of the invitation-only Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Janet regularly prepares estate plans...
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In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert continue their discussion on estate planning during divorce proceedings with practical solutions. Following their previous episode on the potential problems that can arise if someone becomes incapacitated or dies during divorce, they now focus on preventative measures. The attorneys explain how to ensure your soon-to-be ex-spouse doesn't maintain control over your healthcare decisions or inherit your assets contrary to your wishes. They discuss the creation of new healthcare directives, powers of...
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In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert discuss critical estate planning considerations during divorce proceedings. They explore what happens if someone becomes incapacitated or dies while their divorce is still pending, revealing potentially unwelcome consequences if proper planning isn't in place. The discussion highlights how existing estate plans typically name a spouse as the primary decision-maker and beneficiary—a designation most divorcing individuals would want to change immediately. Without written estate plans, the...
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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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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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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...
info_outlineFor any business owner who’s taken a PPP Loan, you know exactly how challenging the application process was. Now that you may be looking to get that loan forgiven, unfortunately, the forgiveness application isn’t any less challenging or confusing. On top of that, if you don’t apply correctly, you will have to pay all the money back.
In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk LIVE, we are happy to welcome guest Ed Gines, PPP Loan expert, and founder of Strategic CFOs. As the top resource supporting small business leader clients with high-level accounting supports and insights, Ed brings a wealth of information on each step of the PPP Loan forgiveness process like specific time limits, forgiveness percentage calculations, income caps, and more. If you feel like you’re lost in the process, unsure whether a PPP Loan is right for you or need help with the forgiveness application, this episode is for you. Ed’s expertise will ensure your loan is forgiven in full. Listen In!
Big Three from Episode #046:
- Look out for the words FTE Reduction Quotient – Watch out for these words and ask your accountant!
- Remember “Safe Harbor 2”
- PPP Loans and Loan forgiveness is complicated, but there is help – don’t struggle, get the forgiveness you deserve and ask for professional help.
Time-stamped Show Notes:
4:26 – What are some basic things that businesses should know about PPP Loan forgiveness?
6:22 – When is the ideal time to apply for forgiveness?
7:55 – Ed discusses how to calculate or figure out what percentage of you PPP Loan can be forgiven
10:48 – What is a cover period vs. a comparative period?
14:15 – What requirements – calculations, information, and data are required for forgiveness?
17:20 – Ed and Kirsten discuss the importance of spending the minimum amount of money on payroll in a specific 24-week time frame
23:20 – These are the application forms that you should know about for PPP forgiveness
27:18 – When does a business have to repay the portion of a PPP Loan that is not forgiven?
28:22 – How does an employee who was laid off during COVID and didn’t come back impact your forgiveness?
29:50 – Do bonuses paid out to employees’ impact percentage of forgiveness?
31:03 – Do employer 401k’s count in the forgiveness calculation?
Episode #046 Freebie – Paycheck Protection Program Phases & FAQs
Did you know that over 80% of businesses are confused by the entire PPP Forgiveness application process? Yes, that’s right; you are not alone. Today’s guest, PPP Loan expert, Ed Gines, gives exclusive access to his Paycheck Protection Program Phases & FAQs resource guide. This checklist breaks down the process and answers some of the most frequently asked questions about each step, helping you understand the process more thoroughly. Download your free copy now!
Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Strategic CFOs
[Ad] A lot of time and effort goes into building your business, and it’s important to not only protect it but clarify what will happen to it when you’re gone. An estate plan will address all issues involved and protect current and future owners if it is passed down. Schedule a free discovery call today, and let’s discuss the ins and outs of protecting your business and your needs.