The Wizard of Oz: Probate, Power, and the Man Behind the Curtain
Release Date: 05/30/2025
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info_outlineIs The Wizard of Oz secretly about estate planning? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team dives down the Yellow Brick Road to explore how one of the most iconic films of all time reveals surprising truths about probate, legacy, and the illusion of control.
Hosts Ethan, Thad, and Joselyn uncover key estate planning lessons hiding behind the technicolor magic—from death as a triggering event (hello, falling house) to the deeper question of who holds real power when the curtain gets pulled back. They break down the difference between perceived authority and actual planning, touching on the Wizard’s role as a stand-in for advisors who point out what’s already there.
❓ Thought question: Are Dorothy’s ruby slippers the perfect metaphor for inherited assets?
💼 Topics Covered:
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Death as a legal trigger
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Legacy planning and the Wizard’s “gifts”
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Probate and who holds authority in a crisis
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Trusts then and now: from Rockefeller to regular folks
✨ Favorite moment? [28:26] — Ethan discusses how probate still follows you over the rainbow.
If you’ve ever wanted to understand estate planning through flying monkeys and ruby slippers, this one’s for you.
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