Category: Blog Post

Every October, we’re reminded of something we all mean to do—but often don’t get around to: planning for the future. In the U.S., it’s called National Estate Planning Awareness Week, recognized the third full week of October (this year, October 20–26, 2025) through U.S. House Resolution 1499, first introduced in 2008. 

In our last blog, we looked at how the Vanderbilts built one of America’s greatest fortunes—and then lost it within a few generations. The Rockefellers, by contrast, built an equally vast empire but took very different steps to ensure their wealth endured. Their success wasn’t just about business—it was about planning ahead, structuring...

Last summer, I toured The Breakers, Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, with my wife and daughter—both Gilded Age history fans. While they admired the opulence, I couldn’t help but think like an estate planner: how could a family with so much lose nearly everything within a few generations?

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone. In fact, some of the most powerful parts of your plan are the ones that protect you while you’re still very much alive but unable to act on your own behalf. Planning for incapacity isn’t grim—it’s responsible. This post covers what you need...

Welcome to Paradise… But Don’t Forget to Update Your Estate Plan Retiring to Florida comes with plenty of perks—sunshine, palm trees, no state income tax—but it also comes with a few legal surprises, especially if you’re bringing an estate plan from another state. I’ve helped...

Unmarried couple? Florida law doesn’t automatically protect your partner. Learn which legal documents you need to safeguard your relationship. You Don’t Have to Be Married to Plan Together—But You Do Need a Plan I’ve met so many committed couples who share a home, a...

Running a Business? Here’s Why You Also Need an Estate Plan If you’re a business owner, you’ve likely put a lot of time, energy, and money into building something meaningful. Whether it’s a solo venture, a family-run operation, or a growing company with employees and assets, your...

When Family Life Gets More Complex, Your Estate Plan Should Too Blended families are beautiful—and complicated. Second marriages, stepchildren, adopted children, shared finances, and evolving relationships create rich, meaningful family units. But when it comes to estate planning, those layers can also lead to confusion, conflict, and unintended...

After more than two decades in this field, I’ve seen one estate planning mistake far more than any other: people don’t finish—or they forget to update their plan. And it usually comes back to haunt the family left behind. Let’s fix that. Estate planning isn’t always about complicated tax...

When most people hear the phrase “estate planning,” their minds go to trust fund billionaires or retirees drawing up documents before settling into a condo in Florida. But the reality is this: estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy—or the elderly. In fact, if you have people you love, assets...