The Practical Planner

Brent Weiss, Head of Financial Wellness at Facet, joins Thomas Kopelman and Anne Rhodes to bust common estate planning myths and explore how technology is reshaping the planning experience. They discuss why estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy, how friction and emotional weight often delay action, and how advisors can help clients overcome these barriers. From building connections with clien...

In this episode of The Practical Planner, Thomas Kopelman and David Haughton dive into the estate planning opportunities that arise during down markets. With recent market volatility and policy shifts making headlines, they explore how advisors can leverage tools like SLATs, GRATs, and Roth conversions to preserve and grow wealth outside of the estate. From timing gifts to managing legislative and...

No one gets married planning for divorce—but failing to plan can leave assets vulnerable. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and Dave Haughton dive into why prenuptial agreements (prenups) are a key estate planning tool, not just a safeguard for the ultra-wealthy. They break down the difference between community and separate property, how prenups protect business owners, and what happe...

Crypto, online accounts, and other digital assets are now a critical part of estate planning—but many advisors and clients aren’t prepared. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton break down what advisors need to know, from crypto taxation and security risks to ensuring digital assets are accessible when needed. They cover key estate planning strategies, common mistakes, and how to help...

AI is transforming wealth management and estate planning, but how should advisors think about it? In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Dave Haughton, and Anne Rhodes sit down with Seungwoo Son, VP of Applied AI at Wealth.com, to unpack what AI can do today—and where it’s headed. They break down how advisors can use AI to streamline workflows, why human oversight still matters, and what to watch for w...

This week, hosts Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton provide their perspectives on the critical role advisors have in helping their clients with their estate plans. They already have an intimate understanding of their financial situation and future goals, so they’re uniquely positioned to help educate them on their estate plan options.  They discuss how advisors can integrate estate planning into on...

Join hosts Thomas Kopelman and David Haughton as they dive into the critical financial planning numbers for 2025. Learn about updated estate tax exemptions, gifting limits, IRA and 401(k) contribution thresholds, and strategies like the Mega Backdoor Roth.  Gain valuable insights into tax-advantaged accounts, including HSAs and 529 plans, and how these changes can impact your clients’ financial pl...

This episode of The Practical Planner was recorded live at the 59th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning in Orlando, one of the premier conferences for estate planning professionals. Anne Rhodes and David Haughton attended in person and shared insights with co-host Thomas Kopelman, who joined virtually, about why estate plans often stall, the latest developments in irrevocable trusts, an...

In this episode of The Practical Planner, our hosts dive deep into the complexities of deed transfers. They discuss how to transfer properties into trusts, the importance of title searches and the common mistakes that can create headaches and legal issues down the line.  They also touch on navigating state-specific challenges and how to guide clients considering transferring property into a trust.

Charitable giving can provide crucial immediate tax benefits, but it can also be a powerful tool in estate planning. Hosts Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton discuss the various tools available for charitable giving, including donor-advised funds (DAFs), Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts. They emphasize how to use tools like these to optimize charitable giving for tax efficienc...

In this episode, hosts Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and David Haughton explore how recent election results could shape estate tax planning through 2025 and beyond. They emphasize the importance of flexibility in navigating uncertainty in tax laws and political environments. The discussion includes the potential sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, why advisors must stay informed and adaptable and...

This week, Adam Nash, CEO and co-founder of Daffy, joins host Thomas Kopelmen for a special charity-focused episode of The Practical Planner. Giving to charities isn’t just about supporting causes you care about, it can provide immediate and long-term tax deductions. Adam and Thomas discuss how donor-advised funds (DAFs) work, how they allow you to better support your favorite charities and the fi...

It’s important to take the time to decide how to leave your assets to your children, or other minors in your life. That’s the takeaway message from hosts Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton in this week’s Practical Planner episode, where they focus on the reasons for structuring how children receive assets but the considerations that go into it, such as their long-term motivation and well-being. The...

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you die. It’s also about knowing how to best pass on your wealth during your lifetime, especially your children. In this episode, hosts Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton discuss different ways to play for your children’s future. The explore various types of accounts, including UTMA accounts and 529 plans, detailing the pros and cons of each. They...

If you’ve wondered if your client needs a Credit Shelter Trust, this episode details their value in estate planning. Hosts Anne Rhodes, Thomas Kopelman and David Haughton discuss why Credit Shelter Trusts are designed for estate tax planning, specifically to preserve the estate tax exemption for spouses. They go into the different ways Credit Shelter Trusts can be structured and the potential down...

Dasarte Yarnway is well known throughout the wealth management community as the Founder of Yarnway Wealth Management and Head of Community at Altruist. In this episode, he joins co-hosts Thomas Kopelman and Dave Haughton to discuss his approach to holistic financial planning and why estate planning is the backbone of any financial plan. He shares his RIITE (Retirement, Investment, Insurance, Taxes...

Gifting can be a great strategy to transfer wealth but the tax implications and exemptions are often misunderstood. Tax-free strategies for gifting to family or loved ones may actually be broader than most think. Hosts Thomas Kopelman and David Haughton discuss both the ways someone can gift as well as strategies for minimizing potential taxes on those gifts. For any questions, email us at practic...

Host Thomas Kopelman is joined by Dave Haughton, Senior Corporate Counsel at wealth.com, who’s stepping for Anne Rhodes as ongoing co-host temporarily, to discuss what happens after someone creates their estate planning documents. Dave details the three key steps to know, especially for advisors guiding their clients, including the critical piece of needing physical documents and getting them nota...

Anne and Thomas are joined again by Chris Nason, partner at McDermott, Will and Emery LLP, to discuss the intracacies of how trusts operate, focusing on SLATs an Marital Trusts. Chris dives deep into SLATs, how they work, the benefits of having one and when having one may make sense. They also debunk a conversation that has been taking social media by storm about a certain trust structure that can...

Chris Nason, a partner at McDermott, Will and Emery LLP, who focuses on tax and estate planning, and Stanford University Trust and Estate Planning teacher, joins Anne and Thomas in this episode to provide some background on The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 and how advisors can help their clients create estate planning and tax strategies before it’s benefits are set to sunset at the end of 2025. Fo...

Justin Castelli, Founder of RLS Wealth, joins hosts Anne Rhodes and Thomas Kopelman to talk about how his approach to financial planning has shifted to focus on life planning by placing a focus on his clients’ life goals and values at the center rather than focusing on the numbers first. By helping clients figure out what their authentic life looks like and how to achieve it, he believes it brings...

Curious when it makes sense to have a Marital Trust? Hosts Anne Rhodes, Chief Legal Officer at [wealth.com](http://wealth.com) and Thomas Kopelman, Head of Community at wealth.com and Co-founder of AllStreet Wealth discuss the three main reasons to set one up, including: - Concerns over how your spouse may use your assets - Tax planning purposes, including the the generation-skipping transfer (GST...

Estate planning can be difficult due to tough conversations you may need to have and make. This can be exacerbated by certain cultural and generational expectations and taboos. Anna N’jie-Konte, CFP®, President and Director of Financial Planning at Re-Envision Wealth, joins this episode to share how financial advisors can help their clients approach these conversations and why having them now can...

Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, joins hosts Anne Rhodes, Chief Legal Officer at wealth.com and Thomas Kopelman, Head of Community at wealth.com and Founder at AllStreet Wealth, to share her personal story and how major life events led her to view estate planning in her life—that it’s not just something the top 1% do when they’re older but is also about giving loved ones peace of mind an...

Jennifer Rozelle, Owner and Attorney at Indiana Estate & Elder Law and host of the Legal Tea podcast, joins hosts Anne Rhodes and Thomas Kopelman to discuss what advisors need to know when helping their clients figure out what to do with their real estate assets. They touch on common mistakes to avoid, gifting strategies and why it’s often about helping clients have conversations they’ve been...