Wealth and Law

Welcome back to the Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. In this episode, Deborah Plum chats with Brent about the revocable trusts. She answers the what, how, and why questions relating to these prevalent estate planning tools. Deborah and Brent also discuss practical aspects of revocable trust...

Welcome to the 2023 Wealth and Law Estate Planning Bootcamp! In this series of five episodes, Brent is joined by guests to discuss the basics of estate planning. First up, Rachel Sass chats with Brent about the different fiduciary roles within estate planning, how they work, what they do, and how they interact. You will learn about the difference between a trustee, personal representative, agent u...

Brent chats with Anna N’Jie-Konte and Keith Beverly, owners of Re-Envision Wealth, to discuss the secrets to creating strategic generational wealth. They provide effective strategies essential to helping clients grow and keep their wealth across generations. Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is the President and Director of Financial Planning for Re-Envision Wealth, one of the few black-owned advi...

In this episode, Brent talks to Darren Case, a partner at Tiffany & Bosco and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). They discuss the challenges and opportunities for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families in today’s complex and uncertain environment. Together, they explore intricate financial aspects like the trends around interest rates, the mechanics of Grantor...

Brent chats about how discounts abound in transfer tax planning (estate and gift tax)! Although sometimes discounts come from ownership of entities, like FLPs, that is not always the case. Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Private Annuities, and Remainder Purchase Marital Trusts, all use discounts that are required in the Internal Revenue Code an...

Brent talks about online estate and trust document services. He explains why it isn’t “planning,” the difference between these online services and actual legal services, and how they are deceptively marketed to the masses. Brent also describes the historical context for the current structure and the need for access to legal services. In a buyer beware world, this is a warning to...

Brent discusses buy-sell agreements for small or family businesses. He explains how they work, the different versions (buy-sell, cross-purchase, dual), who they should apply to, and how they can be structure for payments. These agreements help preserve generational wealth in small businesses by clearly defining the economics between owners and the owners’ families. They also protect against...

Brent chats with Ashley Francis about the emergence of ChatGPT and how it can improve your business. They discuss the technology, how to use ChatGPT, where they foresee it going, and whether it will replace professional service providers. They also offer practical tips on how to start integrating it into your business now. Ashley Francis is the owner of the Francis Group, PLLC, a CPA firm that off...

In this episode of our podcast, “How Financial Planning is Like Fly Fishing,” Brent is joined by seasoned financial advisor Doug Nelson. Brent and Doug dive deep into how different asset classes with varying time horizons can be key components of a successful financial plan, and how being flexible with different forms of investments can lead to financial success. Tune in now to learn h...

In this episode, Brent sits down with Kyla Denanyoh, the host of the successful podcast, You Are A Lawyer. Kyla shares her experience on how she built and sustained her audience while working. She provides tips on how to start and grow your own podcast, and overcome obstacles along the way. Tune in to learn from Kyla’s journey and gain insights on how to create a podcast that will attract an...

Brent discusses the latest topics in international estate planning. As an estate planner, it is crucial to keep in mind that your clients are human, with concerns about managing incapacity and death, regardless of their citizenship or residency status. However, for world travelers, the complexity of estate planning increases significantly. Brent discusses five things to keep in mind when planning...

Brent chats with Geoff Grenert, the founder of Cypress Strategies, about how to optimize your decision making process around personal wealth. Geoff has been working with affluent families and businesses since 1997, helping them achieve their goals and objectives. He is a nationally-recognized expert in the design and acquisition of large life insurance policies, and he has helped many clients make...

Join Brent and Mykail James as they discuss the art of being financially savvy. Together, they dive deep into the topic of mastering the art of being financially savvy. Mykail shares her expertise on budgeting and provides valuable insights on how to control your personal finances. Brent and Mykail also explore the psychology of money and the emotional barriers that can hinder financial success. T...

Brent chats with Alex Sonkin about building and operating virtual family offices. They talk about how accountants can focus on their largest clients, provide high level planning, and leverage the unique relationships they have to grow strong family office services. Brent and Alex discuss family offices and the Due Diligence Project. Family offices are private wealth management firms that manage th...

Brent chats about bias in one’s analysis. He discusses how to spot it, gives reasons for why we all have bias in the way we analyze problems, and how to prevent it. Brent discusses an important topic that affects all of us: bias in our analysis. Bias can cloud our judgment, distort our perceptions, and lead us to incorrect conclusions. Brent explains how to spot bias in your own analysis, an...

Brent chats with Reetu Pepoff about the ins and outs of international tax planning for cross border estate planning clients. They discuss the different income, gift, and estate tax rules and common ways to effectively plan. Reetu Pepoff is an Assistant General Counsel and Senior Vice President within the Legal Department at Northern Trust Chicago. Her role includes all aspects of advising Northern...

Brent chats with Rachel Sass about the U.S. Supreme Court case Bittner v. U.S., where the Court decided the non-willfulness penalties for FBARs is $10,000 per filing, not per account. This case changed the IRS’s long-time position. Brent and Rachel discuss the case, the reasoning, what it means for FBARs, and what they expect in the future. Rachel Sass is an experienced estate and tax planni...

Brent chats about whether having a podcast is a good idea. He shares how to think about starting one, the equipment he uses, and generally gives you a how-to guide on hosting and running a podcast. If you are enjoying the podcast please SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW, and if you want to learn more about Brent go to https://wealthandlaw.com/team/.

Brent chats with Tony Yu about estate planning for Chinese clients. They talk about the culture, what motivates investments in the US, and special considerations from a trust and tax perspective. Tony is the owner of DSG Trust Law. He graduated cum laude from UCLA with degrees in Business–Economic, Communications, and Accounting. Tony is fluent in English, Mandarin, Spanish and Taiwanese. Tony was...

Brent discusses some of the less wise “advice” circulating on TikTok recently, including MPI (maximum premium insurance), 401(k)s as a hoax, using trusts to shelter income, and LLCs as the business deduction savior. He digs into each, breaking down how they fall short of their promises. If you are enjoying the podcast please SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW, and if you want to learn more a...

Brent chats with Rachel Sass about alternative ways to use family limited partnerships (FLPS) beyond gifting and estate tax planning. They discuss (1) preferred partnerships, (2) holding companies, (3) family business governance, (4) cross-border bridges, and (5) income tax basis planning. Rachel is an attorney at Rimon, P.C., and can be found here Rachel Sass – Rimon Law .

Brent chats with Doug Nelson about how financial planning is just like fly fishing. They analogize the two, including picking the correct fly, preparing your gear, and how to remain flexible in changing conditions. All these tools are essential for both activities, and Brent and Doug deliver the news with plenty of laughing and cajoling.

Brent chats with Alex Wells about how to start your new business. They discuss key issues like (1) deciding which business to start, (2) hiring great people, (3) creating good culture, and (4) scaling through marketing and business development. Alex Wells is the Co-Founder of Imprint Digital. Over the last 13 years, Alex has been building a stack of experience in diversified business leadership in...

Brent chats with Ronnie Deaver about how professionals can grow their business through intentional marketing and sales. Though these aren’t skills learned in professional school, Ronnie explains how they can be learned, the importance of sales, and scaling to meet your business goals. Ronnie is CEO of NoBull Marketing, a lawyer-exclusive marketing agency that specializes in generating leads...

Now what happens? After the 2022 election split control of Congress, what’s next? Brent chats about possible tax law changes, what to anticipate, and where the most change is likely to happen before 2024. If you are enjoying the podcast please SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW, and if you want to learn more about Brent go to  https://wealthandlaw.com/team/ .