Estate Planning: Beyond the Binder

When to Update Your Estate Plan

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Estate Planning Beyond the Binder, Brian Chew, Managing Partner at OC Wills & Trusts, discusses the life events that should trigger an estate plan review. Brian explains why changing relationships—not just changing assets—are the top reason for updating trusts, and how failing to review your plan can lead to costly mistakes. From growing children, divorce, and remarriage to outdated AB trust provisions and funding issues, Brian provides practical insights on keeping your estate plan current, effective, and tax-efficient. He also highlights why working with a responsive law firm makes all the difference in ensuring long-term protection for your family.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 – Show introduction01:15 – Life changes that should trigger an estate plan review04:20 – Why relationships often matter more than assets in updating a trust06:30 – Adding or removing trustees, beneficiaries, or backup plans09:15 – Divorce, remarriage, and new children or grandchildren12:00 – Risks of letting an estate plan collect dust15:25 – The importance of properly funding a trust18:40 – Outdated AB trust provisions and 2012 law changes22:15 – Amendment vs. restatement: what’s the difference?26:00 – Why responsiveness and client follow-up are critical in estate planning29:45 – Final thoughts on maintaining an effective estate plan
About the Show:
Estate Planning Beyond the Binder breaks down essential information about protecting your loved ones and assets through effective estate planning. The show makes estate planning simple and doable for married couples, homeowners, business owners, and anyone thinking about their future. Featuring Brian Chew, founder of OC Wills and Trust Attorneys.

Dynasty Trusts: Protecting Your Heirs for Generations

Episode Summary
Attorney Brian Chew explores dynasty trusts, a key estate planning tool for protecting family wealth across generations in California. The episode details how dynasty trusts, embedded within revocable living trusts, offer lifetime asset protection for children against creditors, divorce, and poor financial decisions. It highlights their flexibility, allowing children to control trust assets without owning them, and clarifies their suitability for families with significant assets, emphasizing the need for professional guidance to ensure effective implementation.
Key Timestamps
00:00 - Show Introduction and Welcome
01:30 - Understanding Dynasty Trusts
05:00 - Asset Protection Benefits of Dynasty Trusts
09:00 - Parental Control in Dynasty Trusts
13:00 - Suitability for High Net Worth Families
17:00 - Flexibility of Dynasty Trusts
21:00 - Long-Term Wealth Preservation
25:00 - Provisions for Special Circumstances
29:00 - Modifying Dynasty Trust Provisions
33:00 - Unique Approach to Dynasty Trusts
37:00 - Conclusion and Call to Action
About the Show
Estate Planning Beyond the Binder breaks down essential information about protecting your loved ones and assets through effective estate planning. The show makes estate planning simple and doable for married couples, homeowners, business owners, and anyone thinking about their future. Featuring Brian Chew, founder of OC Wills and Trust Attorneys.

What’s Next After Setting Up the Binder

Episode Summary: 
In this episode, host Zofia Morales and estate planning expert Brian Chew discuss the crucial steps that follow after receiving your estate planning binder. Brian emphasizes that estate planning is a process, not just a product, and outlines key actions needed to ensure your plan remains effective, including trust funding and maintaining proper documentation.
 
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:59 - Understanding the estate planning binder
01:34 - Trust funding explained
02:12 - Handling personal property (cars, jewelry, heirlooms)
03:40 - Financial accounts and trust funding process
04:35 - Common mistakes families make after creating the plan
07:39 - How to approach sensitive planning conversations
10:59 - Ongoing support from estate planning firms
13:49 - Importance of keeping plans updated
15:54 - Episode wrap-up
 
About the Show:
Estate Planning Beyond the Binder breaks down essential information about protecting your loved ones and assets through effective estate planning. The show makes estate planning simple and doable for married couples, homeowners, business owners, and anyone thinking about their future. Featuring Brian Chew, founder of OC Wills and Trust Attorneys.

Estate Planning 101 — The Binder & Child Protection Planning

Episode Summary:
In this inaugural episode, host Zofia Morales and estate planning attorney Brian Chew discuss the fundamentals of estate planning beyond just having documents in a binder. They explore why comprehensive estate planning is crucial for protecting families, especially those with minor children, and how to ensure plans are actually effective when needed.
 
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:51 - What is the estate planning binder?
02:42 - Why estate planning is more than just having a will
05:33 - Child protection planning explained
10:31 - What happens without guardian nominations
15:06 - How estate planning helps families avoid court situations
18:50 - First steps to getting started with estate planning
 
About the Show:
Estate Planning Beyond the Binder breaks down essential information about protecting your loved ones and assets through effective estate planning. The show makes estate planning simple and doable for married couples, homeowners, business owners, and anyone thinking about their future. Featuring Brian Chew, founder of OC Wills and Trust Attorneys.