Life's Third Act

In the latest episode of Life’s Third Act, host Joe Cordell delves into the legacy of one of America’s most prolific actors of all time, Mickey Rooney. Having starred in over 300 pictures, ranging from the silent film era to the digital age, Rooney is remembered for his lifetime of work and memorable performances. Notable films include “Boys Town”, “The Black Stallion”, and “Night at The Museum”....

For part two of the Alan Thicke story, Joe Cordell journeys into the actor’s later career and his $40 million estate. It was no secret in the family that Thicke had spotted his third wife, model Tanya Callau, while hosting a TV show in Miami in 2005. Callau may have stayed with Thicke until his death in 2016, but that didn’t stop his children from taking his widow to court. https://www.youtube.com...

For the latest episode of Life’s Third Act, host Joe Cordell delves into the life of an 80s television icon, Alan Thicke. Known for his role as Dr. Jason Seaver on the sitcom “Growing Pains” Thicke lived a busy life in the world of broadcast. From humble beginnings as a disc jockey, he later became a household name on numerous programs such as “The Barry Manilow Special,” and starred in films like...

Join us for the gripping conclusion of our two-part series on Life’s Third Act. In Part 2, we continue the captivating journey into the life and posthumous events of baseball legend Ted Williams. As we left off, the controversy surrounding Ted Williams’s final wishes took center stage, with cryonic preservation prevailing over cremation. Discover the dramatic resolution, the legally bi...

Join us on Life’s Third Act as host Joe Cordell, Attorney/CPA, and researcher Marlea Parson explore the remarkable life and the perplexing posthumous events of baseball legend Ted Williams in this two-part series. Part 1 delves into Ted Williams’s extraordinary baseball career, his Hall of Fame induction, and his service in World War II and the Korean War. But the intrigue doesn’...

Prepare for another deep dive into the intricacies of Michael Crichton’s estate with Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and researcher Marlea Parson. Renowned for his creation of Jurassic Park, Crichton’s posthumous narrative continues to captivate. Together, the duo will delve further into the complexities of his $175 million fortune following his unexpected passing in 2008. This saga involves...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, in a deep dive into the estate planning of the late James Gandolfini. In this episode, they explore the complexities of the $70 million estate, the hefty tax implications, and the public and media reactions to his will and trust structures. Delve into the controversial aspects, missed opportunities, and the broader...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, as they continue to unravel the complex and tragic story of Georgian and Walker Patterson Inman III, heirs to the vast Doris Duke fortune in Part 2 of this saga. In Part 2 they’ll explore what came to be for the twins after their father’s death, including a custody battle between their biological mother...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, as they unravel the complex and tragic story of Georgia and Walker Patterson Inman III, heirs to the vast Doris Duke fortune. In this episode, explore the challenges of immense wealth, family dysfunction, and the lasting impact on the twins’ lives. From troubled childhoods to legal battles, financial struggle...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, in a riveting discussion on the life, career, and complex legacy of Sonny Bono. From his humble beginnings in Detroit to his rise as a songwriter and iconic performer alongside Cher, Sonny’s journey unfolds with unexpected twists and turns. Explore Sonny’s ventures into politics, his successful congress...

We’re back with part 2 of our exploration of Casey Kasem’s final years. Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, further discuss the conservatorship battle as Casey’s children sought control over his care, facing obstacles and dramatic events. They tell the story of the nationwide man-hunt for Casey Kasem, detailing how each family member han...

Explore the story of Casey Kasem’s final years and the ensuing legal battles in this two-part episode with Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson. Delve into the family dynamics, starting with Casey’s health challenges and the strained relationship that his children had with his second wife, Jean Kasem. Learn about the legal turmoil triggered by C...

Explore the life of Leona Helmsley, the renowned hotelier, with Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and researcher Marlea Parson. In this episode, they delve into the details of Leona’s journey in the real estate industry, her legal challenges, and imprisonment. Together they examine Leona’s management style, leading to her infamous title, and the legal issues, including tax evasion, that impacte...

Join Joe Cordell, Attorney-CPA, and researcher Marlea Parson in discussing the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman and his views on trusts and inheritance. Learn about the fascinating life of this acclaimed actor and the unexpected twists in his estate’s distribution. With an estate valued at over $35 million, Hoffman’s legacy was overshadowed by complex legal issues. Explore the conseq...

Dive into the chilling tale of the Menendez Brothers with Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and researcher Marlea Parson. In 1989, a shocking murder in Beverly Hills captivated the nation. Explore the sordid details of the crime, from an affluent family’s American Dream to a brutal tragedy. Learn how Lyle and Erik Menendez inherited a vast fortune after their parents’ murder but couldn’t...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and researcher Marlea Parson, explore the story of Princess Diana and her Letter of Wishes in this episode of Life’s Third Act. Together, the pair discuss the life of one of the world’s most iconic figures, Princess Diana, and how her estate was handled upon her untimely passing. Learn about the role of her Last Will and Testament and the critical “Letter...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and researcher Marlea Parson for an in-depth look into the life and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Despite his legendary career, Hendrix left behind a complex legal situation by not having a will. Discover how intestacy laws placed control of his estate in the hands of his father, Al Hendrix, and the subsequent legal disputes, including contested wills and the management of...

Join Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, as they unravel the story behind Aretha Franklin’s wills. In this episode, they explore the legal journey that began when two handwritten documents were discovered in the iconic singer’s suburban Detroit home. Join Mr. Cordell and Ms. Parson as they dive into the courtroom drama that pitted Aretha Frank...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell returns this week with Life’s Third Act researcher, Marlea Parson, to revisit the ongoing story of the Elvis Presley Estate. Together they rehash its history, take a look at all of the challenges and hands it’s been passed through, and discuss the current situation of this legendary trust, associated with the iconic King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Passing th...

In this episode, Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell provides practical guidance on the complex issue of family heirlooms in estate planning. Join Mr. Cordell as he explores the process of determining heirs, discussing fair distribution, and integrating these valued possessions into your estate plan. Mr. Cordell will share strategies to prevent conflicts and ensure your family’s history is preserved th...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and TuckerAllen estate planning attorney Benjamin Zinkel are back with episode 4 of our series on Exploring Revocable Trusts. Together they explore the integration of life insurance and tax-deferred assets with the trust corpus. They emphasize the benefits of designating your trust as the beneficiary for life insurance policies and tax-deferred accounts like IRAs and 401(k...

Join us this week on Life’s Third Act as Attorney-CPA, Joe Cordell, gives us a full breakdown of one of the most essential pieces of your estate plan, trusts. A trust allows you to be very specific about how, when, and to whom your assets are distributed. You may be asking, “Do I need a trust?” Mr. Cordell is here to answer that question and more. He touches on areas such as, what exactly a trust...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell discusses the dangers of leaving behind an inheritance that the recipient receives access to all at once. Mr. Cordell discusses the case of the NXIVM cult in which two of the cult’s members were the recipients of a family fortune at the age of 18, which led to increased involvement in the cult. Mr. Cordell uses the story to illustrate the importance of responsible es...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and co-host Jill Enders are joined by Mary Alice Ryan, President and CEO of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System.  Ms. Ryan has been with St. Andrew’s for 37 years, serving as President and CEO for 30 years. She is nationally known for her expertise and innovation in senior housing and services. She is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of Leading Age, a char...

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and co-host Jill Enders are joined by Sharon and Jeff Balleau, owners of Transitions For Senior Living, to discuss how families can find senior living facilities for their loved ones.  The Balleaus give an overview of their company and discuss how their own situation motivated them to start Transitions For Senior Living, the challenges families face when they must fin...