Podcasts about big three from episode

Join us for an encore edition of Absolute Trust Talk Episode #029 featuring Dori Sproul of the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California.    Dori is a featured speaker at our upcoming Elder Advocacy & Law Boot Camp on September 18, 2019. She will be discussing effective communication strategies for those who suffer from dementia.    Over 5 million people all across our country have Alzheimer’s. The scary part is that many people don’t quite understand the disease and confuse it with other health issues or even normal signs of aging. Kirsten and guest Dori Sproul, family care specialist with the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, team up to discuss the disease and to educate listeners on a multitude of topics about this life-changing condition. Kirsten and Dori begin their discussion defining exactly what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body. Dori then goes on to share the importance of her organization and details how the Alzheimer’s Association helps families and individuals impacted by the illness. Dori highlights vital warning signs, how a patient is diagnosed, the advantages of being diagnosed early, and how crucial it is to plan ahead financially if at all possible. One in three seniors who die each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the state of California alone. Alzheimer’s is a rapidly growing national health crisis, and the more we all understand, the better. We recommend listening and sharing this episode, because one way or another, this disease touches us all. Big Three From Episode #029: If possible (with early diagnosis), plan ahead with your family. If you notice warning signs, talk to a physician. If you are a caregiver, you are not alone! FOCUS Your Business and Continue to Provide Innovative Solutions For Critical Elder Care Issues. We’re thrilled to announce to you that we’re bringing a unique educational event to our community this fall called, Elder Advocacy & Law Boot Camp! Our goal is to build Contra Costa’s most important annual gathering of long-term caregivers, geriatric case managers, social workers, and nursing home administrators to learn about effective tools and resources for urgent matters facing our elders. This is a one-day educational experience aimed at strengthening your elder care solutions. For more information or to take advantage of our early bird pricing click here. We can’t wait to see you there! Time-Stamped Show Notes: 2:15 – Over 5 million people all across our country have Alzheimer’s. Dori explains what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body, and identifies the ways in which Alzheimer’s differs from other dementias. 5:59 – Dori discusses what her organization does and how it helps those who have Alzheimer’s and their families. 11:15 – Dori describes the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and explains how these differ from normal signs of aging. 22:30 – Dori and Kirsten discuss how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in a patient. 27:35 – Dori identifies the advantages of getting a firm Alzheimer’s diagnosis and early detection. 30:08 – Dori explains what a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis looks like. 36:30 – Kirsten and Dori discuss the importance of planning ahead financially if possible. 39:55 – Dori describes what families experience when they get in touch with the Alzheimer’s Association. 48:00 – Dori discusses other community resources available to seniors in need. Episode #029 Freebie: Know the 10 Signs As mentioned in this episode, signs, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be confused with normal signs of aging. Regardless, it’s a growing epidemic, and it’s important to be able to understand and recognize key warning signs of the disease. Absolute Trust Talk guest Dori Sproul works hard to educate clients, the community, and all who contact her through the Alzheimer’s Association on tips, tools, strategies, resources, and all aspects of this illness. Today, she is sharing an exclusive tool with listeners called “Know the 10 Signs – Because Early Detection Matters” — a detailed checklist to help you identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Click here to download your checklist now! Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in This Episode: TrialMatch – website tool to match with clinical trial 1.800.272.3900 – Alzheimer’s Association Help, Crisis, and Resource Line to address questions or concerns 24 hours a day ALZ.org – educational content, tools, and resources

In a new episode of Absolute Trust Talk, guest, Konstantine “Kosta” Demiris, joins Kirsten to discuss all things conservatorship. Kosta has a wealth of experience in all aspects of litigation. He has tried hundreds of cases involving trust, estate, probate, conservatorship, guardianship, elder abuse and fraud, real property and HOAs, family law, dependency, criminal law, and unlawful detainer matters.  An experienced practitioner in conservatorship law, Kosta discusses with Kirsten why clients enter into these types of proceedings and why they can be useful in protecting a loved one. They then turn the tables and explain why one should do their homework before pursuing a conservatorship, how they can go wrong, and why one should first try to look for other possible avenues outside of these types of proceedings.   Big Three From Episode #024: Do your homework before you decide to go forward Tread as carefully and lightly as possible Be aware of how serious the proceedings are   Time-stamped Show Notes: 3:43 – Kosta defines a conservatorship 7:30 – Kirsten and Kosta discuss the difficulties of a conservatorship 9:34 – Kosta highlights the abuse of power of attorney 11:09 – How a conservatorship can help with abuse of a power of attorney 14:22 – Kosta discusses why a temporary conservatorship may be necessary 20:14 – Who can be a conservator? 21:07 – Kosta describes what it’s like to be in a conservatorship 27:08 – What happens when someone gets appointed to conservator? 33:32 – Kosta discusses what a bond is and when it’s used in a conservatorship 38:20 – Kosta talks about how long a conservatorship can last 39:37 – Is it important to have an attorney when in a conservatorship? 44:36 – Kosta shares examples of why/how conservatorships are difficult and can go wrong   For more information on Kosta and his firm, please visit http://demirismoore.com/blog/or  contact Kosta by visiting http://demirismoore.com/contact/.

Over 5 million people all across our country have Alzheimer’s. The scary part is that many people don’t quite understand the disease and confuse it with other health issues or even normal signs of aging. Kirsten and guest Dori Sproul, family care specialist with the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, team up to discuss the disease and to educate listeners on a multitude of topics about this life-changing condition. Kirsten and Dori begin their discussion defining exactly what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body. Dori then goes on to share the importance of her organization and details how the Alzheimer’s Association helps families and individuals impacted by the illness. Dori highlights vital warning signs, how a patient is diagnosed, the advantages of being diagnosed early, and how crucial it is to plan ahead financially if at all possible. One in three seniors who die each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It is the third leading cause of death in the state of California alone. Alzheimer’s is a rapidly growing national health crisis, and the more we all understand, the better. We recommend listening and sharing this episode, because one way or another, this disease touches us all.  Big Three From Episode #023: If possible (with early diagnosis), plan ahead with your family. If you notice warning signs, talk to a physician. If you are a caregiver, you are not alone! Time-Stamped Show Notes: 2:15 – Over 5 million people all across our country have Alzheimer’s. Dori explains what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body, and identifies the ways in which Alzheimer’s differs from other dementias. 5:59 – Dori discusses what her organization does and how it helps those who have Alzheimer’s and their families. 11:15 – Dori describes the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and explain how these differ from normal signs of aging. 22:30 – Dori and Kirsten discuss how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in a patient. 27:35 – Dori identifies the advantages of getting a firm Alzheimer’s diagnosis and of early detection. 30:08 – Dori explains what a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis looks like. 36:30 – Kirsten and Dori discuss the importance of planning ahead financially if possible. 39:55 – Dori describes what families experience when they get in touch with the Alzheimer’s Association. 48:00 – Dori discusses other community resources available to seniors in need. Episode #023 Freebie: Know the 10 Signs As mentioned in this episode, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be confused with normal signs of aging. Regardless, it’s a growing epidemic, and it’s important to be able to understand and recognize key warning signs of the disease. Absolute Trust Talk guest Dori Sproul works hard to educate clients, the community, and all who contact her through the Alzheimer’s Association on tips, tools, strategies, resources, and all aspects of this illness. Today, she is sharing an exclusive tool with listeners called “Know the 10 Signs - Because Early Detection Matters” — a detailed checklist to help you identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Click here to download your checklist now! Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in This Episode: TrialMatch – website tool to match with clinical trial 1.800.272.3900 – Alzheimer’s Association Help, Crisis, and Resource Line to address questions or concerns 24 hours a day ALZ.org – educational content, tools, and resources

In this episode of Field Tested, host Jesse Martinson introduces listeners to the SureCoat Roof System. Jesse starts out discussing how the product came to be and why its formulation is so crucial to its success in the field. He highlights how it is possible to do small repairs and install partial roof systems making it cost effective for property owners and managers. Jesse finishes up the show sharing some case studies of how the SureCoat Roof System avoided a tear off and protected millions of dollars in renovations. Big Three From Episode #001: Quality matters Do your research – Perm rating is important SureCoat is one of few products made in the country that is 100% waterproof Time-stamped Show Notes: 0:50 – How you’re waterproofing “wrong.” 2:33 – What perm rating is and why it matters. 3:55 – Why SureCoat is the proven solution – the foundation of the product. 4:40 – Jesse explains what a partial roof repair is and how it’s possible with the SureCoat product. 7:22 – How SureCoat changed Jesse’s business. 9:30 – Case Study: Roof repair protects million dollar renovations 12:20 – Case Study: No tear off foam roof repair on industrial buildings Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned In This Episode: https://surecoatsystems.com The science behind the SureCoat Systems Product Line: https://surecoatsystems.com/the-science-behind-our-single-ply-roofing-formula/ The SureCoat Roof System: https://surecoatsystems.com/surecoat-elastomeric-roof-coating/

In episode 16 of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Morgan Stanley Senior Portfolio Manager Robert McLalan to the show. Bob has over 35 years of experience in the securities industry and has committed a large part of his practice to helping special needs families. His passion for special needs comes from his own personal experiences as a conservator for his sister, Toni, who was born with Down syndrome. Throughout the show, Bob shares numerous stories about the types of decisions he had to make in regard to his sister’s care and how he had to take charge, interpret her needs, listen to the specialists and get outside opinions to make the best decisions for her. Later, Bob weighs in on how critical financial planning is for a family and some of the challenges that might arise when managing investments for families with a special needs person.   Big Three From Episode #016: Be cautious Be adversarial, when necessary Be present   Time-stamped Show Notes: 2:00 – Robert shares the importance of his background and how it shaped the focus of his practice 15:14 – Robert discusses with Kirsten his key advice – the three B’s 16:30 – Kirsten and Robert highlight why the sibling may not be the best person to take care of a special needs sibling 17:07 – Robert shares how vital an attorney is in making decisions for a special needs child and the family 18:37 – Here’s how to incorporate a sibling into another special needs sibling’s future and life 19:40 – Robert talks about the team who is involved in “protecting” the special needs person 21:10 – Robert shares, from his experience, what types of tough decisions you have to make for a special needs person when you’re in charge 31:09 – Kirsten and Robert discuss how critical financial planning is to a family with special needs 33:10 – Robert shares the steps he takes to get a special needs family financially set up 39:43 – Robert discusses challenges that come up when managing investments for special needs families   Episode #016 Freebie: Tool – Planning for Children With Special Needs Planning for a special needs child is a big job, and those faced with the task often face lots of challenges. For families struggling with such issues, a special needs trust could be the right answer. Absolute Trust Talk guest Robert McLalan is sharing with listeners a thorough resource tool called Planning for Children With Special Needs. This document offers the essential steps, processes, and options when it comes to preparing and executing a special needs trust. To find out if a special needs trust is right for your family, click here to access Planning for Children With Special Needs.    Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned In This Episode: ABLE Act

Absolute Trust Talk welcomes Walnut Creek international tax law expert Jenny Lin to the show. Lin has been practicing tax law since obtaining her juris doctor degree in 2000 from U.C. Berkeley and is one of approximately 400 attorneys certified as a tax specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.   In this episode, Kirsten and Jenny dive into the complexity that is foreign taxes, focusing on the importance of seeking out the proper help when it comes to cross-border tax planning to avoid some of the steep penalties that can come from not filing correctly. Kirsten and Jenny also discuss international estate planning for foreign individuals with U.S. beneficiaries and U.S. individuals with foreign assets.    Big Three From Episode #013: If you find out you’re noncompliant somehow, seek out international tax attorney help – don’t wait! Evaluate your situation Don’t panic   Time-stamped Show Notes: 3:25 – There are lots of forms that need to be filed in regards to having foreign assets and income, but this one by far has the biggest penalty.    4:10 – Kirsten and Jenny discuss willfulness penalties and what the IRS looks for when looking into someone’s foreign assets. 7:03 – Jenny talks about three compliance programs that allow people to file the proper paperwork and come into compliance. 10:52 – Jenny shares what foreign assets, such as life insurance are treated differently in foreign countries compared to the U.S.   12:55 – A foreign parent or family member needs to watch out for this when gifting someone in the U.S. 17:12 – What steps should a U.S. citizen with a foreign asset take in terms of the estate planning process? 22:05 – What do spouses – one who is foreign and one who is not – need to think about in terms of future planning? 24:22 – Kirsten and Jenny discuss how one asset might have more than one reporting requirement.    Episode #013 Freebie: International tax is a very focused area and oftentimes people have a misunderstanding about what the requirements are. We even find that some tax practitioners miss some important conditions as well. Absolute Trust Talk guest Jenny Lin shares eye-opening insights about international taxes in this episode, and now she’s sharing even more. If you find yourself in international tax trouble, or just want to know if you’re keeping up, then Jenny’s list of common IRS forms you need to file and her guide to come into compliance are precisely what you’ve been looking for. Click here to download the Information Return & Compliance Options guide now!

In episode eleven of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes award-winning Remax Accord Real Estate Broker Mark Shaw into the studio. Mark has been serving Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for more than 19 years and, even though he spent some time as a teacher, you could say his career started back in the 60’s & 70’s when he was helping his father pass out flyers and set up open house signs. Mark is well-versed in the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market, and Kirsten wastes no time digging in. During this podcast, Mark and Kirsten discuss why buying and selling in the Bay Area is so unusual right now and how the cash purchase of a home is influencing the marketplace. Later, Mark weighs in on some surprising statistics and trends that are influencing aspects of the local market, and also, shares some advice to sellers on some essential tasks that need to be done before putting your home on the market. Download this resource here!    Big Three From Episode #011: What the clients are thinking: Can I trust you? Are you good at what you do? Do you care about my needs and me?   Time-stamped Show Notes: 2:00 – What is making the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market so high? Can a seller name their price? 3:12 – The average buyer spends this much time searching for homes before they contact a realtor. 3:40 – Does the amount of cash buyers have to spend on housing distort the market? 6:15 – Why the number of years people are staying in their homes (not moving) is increasing. 8:30 – What are the main reasons people move? 11:40 – How is the buyer’s market trending? 16:42 – This is a huge determining factor in real estate sales. 22:11 – In the current market. what do sellers have to do to get their house sold? 26:14 – It might seem all dollars and cents, but home buying has much more to do with this.   Episode #011 Freebie: 13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety Taking care of a property can be a lot of work, and some maintenance issues will obviously take priority over others. However, when it comes to your home’s safety, there are easy, low-cost, DIY projects we neglect because they are either not at the top of the list or not top of mind. Absolute Trust Talk guest Mark Shaw has generously offered to share his resource “13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety” to ATT’s audience. Shaw created this resource to be a tool to simplify target issues and help you focus on simple, common-sense tasks to keep your home safe. He has broken these projects down so they are easy to commit to doing one or two per month to maintain a safe home environment.

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Herb Thomas, founder and principal fiduciary of Herb Thomas and Associates. Herb has a big passion for people, which is shown through his extensive experience serving families throughout California with special needs trusts, public benefits counseling and advocacy, trust/estate administration, and conservatorships. He is also a board member of the Behavioral Intervention Association, which is a nonprofit dedicated to providing intervention services to children diagnosed with autism and their families. During his conversation with Kirsten, Herb touches on what a professional fiduciary is and what makes the job right for someone who has “experienced a little bit of life.” He addresses why it’s essential for a family to look outside immediate members to a resource such as a professional fiduciary. He also provides actionable guidelines and tips for planning around the proper execution of a Special Needs Trust – everything from organization to the rest of the team involved. Herb later weighs in on the biggest responsibilities expected of a special needs trustee and how to get started with a licensed professional fiduciary.   Big Three From Episode #010: Choose a trustee wisely – they are the main ingredient of a successful trust. Have a financial plan set up before you start. Choose the rest of the team wisely.   Time-stamped Show Notes 2:25 – What does it mean to be a licensed professional fiduciary? 4:22 – A professional fiduciary can serve in these various roles. 9:30 – What challenges are faced when administering a special needs trust? 12:41 – Here is why special needs trusts are important – the benefits, and why it’s needed. 15:08 – Here is why you should consider using a professional fiduciary. 24:50 – What is the process to hire a professional fiduciary? How do we find you? 25:47 – Herb discusses who he works with on the trust administration, other than just the beneficiary. 29:40 – Herb highlights the most significant responsibilities of a Special Needs Trustee – consider this when you are deciding whom to choose for your trustee.   Episode #010 Freebie: Special Needs Trust Tools – “Trustee Can Purchase” + What to Ask When Hiring a Professional Fiduciary Assets are important to everyone, whether you have the resources or not. In the case of a special needs trust, the job of a licensed professional fiduciary or trustee is to help protect those assets for as long as possible and to use them solely for the benefit of the beneficiary. It’s vital, going into this process, to have goals to help you achieve what needs to be done for the recipient. To accompany this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, guest Herb Thomas put together a couple of tools to help you get started. “Trustee Can Purchase” is a guide to help the trustee understand what can be purchased for the benefit of the beneficiary. In addition, Herb provided a list of interview questions to ask when you are hiring a professional fiduciary. Above all else, you want to make sure the beneficiary is taken care of adequately and that their needs are met for the rest of their life. Download these free tools here!   Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned In This Episode: PFAC – https://pfac-pro.org Professional Fiduciary Bureau of California – http://fiduciary.ca.gov HerbThomas.com

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes special needs financial planning expert Jon Elfin into the studio. Jon has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry and focuses on processes and expertise to help clients understand their options and more importantly take action when it comes to building and preserving wealth for families with special needs dependents. Jon and Kirsten break down what exactly special needs planning encompasses and discuss the processes that Jon goes through with each of his clients. More importantly, Jon discusses a few of the biggest mistakes he sees when clients come into his practice and also highlights effective strategies that a special needs family can take now in securing the future of their dependents. As Jon is also a parent of a special needs child, throughout the interview he weaves in topics of transitional life experience from his own personal perspective. Big Three From Episode #008: Start early Don’t be overwhelmed Utilize your resources!   Time-stamped Show Notes: 1:50 – What exactly is Special Needs Planning? 2:48 – How Jon got into Special Needs Planning 4:00 – The complexities of Special Needs Planning 7:00 – Jon highlights common mistakes he’s come across in his practice when working with clients 8:05 – Jon and Kirsten discuss a few of the biggest benefits/acronyms that people miss 10:42 – Kirsten discusses Special Needs Planning from the estate planning point of view and a special provision that should be put in all estate plans 11:37 – Jon addresses why ages 18 and 22 are important ages for special needs people 13:30 – Jon defines “transition class” and its extreme importance 15:35 – What a regional center is and how it helps special needs families plan the next step. 16:20 – Don’t leave all the money for a special needs family member to a sibling! 20:14 – A special needs person can save money in these accounts too – Big win for the disability community 25:15 – The other important strategy for special needs individuals according to Jon is life insurance  Episode #008 Freebie: No matter where you are in your journey as a special needs family know that there are things that can be done to help build and protect the future of your special needs dependent. During this episode, Jon mentioned a few of the common mistakes well-intentioned special needs families make. To help educate listeners on what to look for he outlined and is exclusively sharing with us a few more! In addition, Jon is also offering a FREE 90-minute consultation. So if you’re a special needs parent or caretaker who is worried or doesn’t know where to start, call Jon. He will cover all of the basics and see if he can be of further service in making your special needs life transitions go as smoothly as possible.   Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode: Special Olympics Sunflower Hill Disability benefits 101 - https://ca.db101.org/

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Walnut Creek family attorney Ariel Brownell Lee into the studio.  During her conversation with Kirsten, Ariel touches on all aspects of a prenuptial agreement. While discussing the pros and cons, Ariel reveals just how much a prenup can, and can’t, protect. Kirsten and Ariel explore the overlap between estate planning and divorce by examining community property, characterization of assets, and the protection a postnup can offer married couples years into their marriage. Later, Ariel weighs in on what couples heading for divorce should think about and offers actionable tips and tools. Big Three From Episode # 007: Have the uncomfortable conversations with your spouse Plan ahead, even if it seems like something you don’t need to think about, you do. Always seek counsel. Don’t try and do the work on your own. It’s more efficient to do it right the first time than to hire someone to clean up your mistakes. Time-stamped Show Notes 2:55 – What kinds of couples need a prenuptial agreement? 3:50 – Ariel talks about the pros of a prenup 4:20 – Ariel talks about the cons of a prenup 5:30 – Ariel and Kirsten discuss what a prenup protects 6:15 – Spousal support gets tricky here – don’t think you need it, but do you? 8:09 – Ariel highlights the things a prenup doesn’t protect 9:09 – Kirsten talks about community property, the magic number 8 and post nuptial agreements 10:59 – What’s the difference between prenups and postnups? 12:02 – How to ensure your prenup is enforceable – hint: the answer isn’t online. 14:30 – Ariel roadmaps what a divorce looks like with a prenup and without a prenup 19:00 – What should couples think about when they are heading for divorce? 24:06 – What does child custody look like in divorce? 27:54 – What are other custody disputes? 33:13 – Ariel talks ladies in law Episode # 007 Freebie: Heading for divorce is an emotional time and getting your head in the game is not always the easiest. Your judgment is probably clouded whether or not the separation is mutual. If you are heading down this road, it’s time to get started and get ahead of the game. Family lawyer and Absolute Trust Talk guest Ariel Brownell Lee has put together a free pre-divorce checklist and roadmap. These take a bit of guesswork out of your future. From issues to consider, to documents to gather, Ariel provides and a broad overview of what to expect from filing to judgment. Ariel hopes these tools will bring a little bit of support and a little bit of certainty to you about starting the process.  Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in this Episode: A Seat at the Table: http://cwlseatatthetable.blogspot.com

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Walnut Creek Financial Planner Ora Citron into the studio. For Ora, financial planning is a way to make a difference for individuals in our community, directly and meaningfully, by taking responsibility for helping clients create a path to the future based on their personal goals. During her discussion with Kirsten, Ora shares with listeners what financial planning really is, and hint, it’s not all about the money. Ora highlights that for a majority of her clients, financial planning makes a huge difference by relieving stress and creating clarity. Financial planners can bring new and different resources to the table. Ora and Kirsten also discuss the biggest misconceptions in financial planning, and Ora weighs in on complex and often misunderstood topics like social security and long-term care. Later, Ora also shares that a large part of her focus, and a subspecialty of her firm, is working with women in transition. Whether it’s retirement, divorce, or widowhood, it’s important to educate women, relieving stress and creating clarity in very emotionally difficult times. Big Three From Episode #06: Financial Planners bring new ideas to the table, things you have never even heard about. It’s not solely about the money Don’t leave your future to guesswork!   Time-stamped Show Notes:  2:36 – The Basics: What do financial planners do? 3:45 – What difference does financial planning make for a client? 4:40 – Retirement isn’t the only goal that a financial planner can help someone achieve 5:39 – Medicare, people know about it, but they don’t know these facts 6:35 – Why can’t someone just do it on his or her own? There is Google, right? 8:40 – Ora discusses the one piece of financial planning that is most critical to a financial planner’s success with clients 15:33 – Ora highlights a subspecialty of her practice – working with women in transition 16:44 – What’s makes working with women clientele different? 18:20 – Social Security planning is something that should not be dismissed. Here’s why… 26:14 – Ora discusses her approach to long-term care in financial planning 29:04 – Isn’t long-term care planning just for the wealthy? 30:52– Ora highlights the biggest misconceptions that she see’s with clients and in general   Episode #006 Freebie: Risk Tolerance Assessment You’ve found a good financial planner, someone, you’re comfortable working with, but that’s only half the battle. You want to feel comfortable with what they are doing for you and your money. A crucial piece of successful financial planning is risk analysis because it defines the risk you’re willing to take with your money. Walnut Creek financial planner Ora Citron swears by one tool that she uses with her clients, Riskalyze. Riskalyze is an online questionnaire with practical questions to assess how comfortable you are with taking risks. It makes you think about what you would realistically do, how content you are with that and what adjustments need to be made in your financial plan, so you meet all of your goals. Ora is offering Absolute Trust Talk listeners exclusive access to this questionnaire so that you too can see where your risk tolerance lies.  Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode: The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis  

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes Certified Financial Transitionist® Gary Gardner into the studio. As part of the first graduating class of the Financial Transitionist Institute (a division of the Sudden Money Institute) Gary was drawn to the process that uses the “touchy, feely side of the brain,” as he likes to say – guiding clients through the transitions in life on a much higher emotional level.   Gary and Kirsten discuss the unique niche of the financial planning world that is financial transition. Gary highlights the importance of human relationship in this planning process and reveals that it is truly the why behind the what that drives people to cope and move through life transitions in various ways that he has observed over the years. Most importantly, Gary reveals that life transitions, whether the death of a loved one, retirement, a job change, etc., are NORMAL and it’s okay to ask for help to work through them on your own time and on your own terms.   Big Three From Episode # 004: Transition, life changes, it’s NORMAL Take a break, taking your time is OKAY You’re not alone   Time-stamped Show Notes 2:16 – Gary talks about how his approach to financial planning is different from the norm and his evolution into a Certified Financial Transitionist® 3:45 – Implementation in a person’s life much more relevant with this type of coaching 8:09 – Gary shares research into the life transitions a widow goes through with the death of a spouse 10:24 – The spectrum of handling a huge life stressor 14:00 – Gary shares how his specialized approach helps move these transitions along for clients 17:27 – Gary discusses what happens during the first meeting with clients 20:14 – Gary’s number one question he asks his clients –What’s on your mind? 24:11 – Kirsten discusses the estate planning side of the process when working with recently widowed, grieving clients 25:26 – Gary recommends this mindset when approaching transition 27:50 – Gary breaks down the meaning behind DFZ – his resource tool 40:00 – How do you think about your own preparations for death? Episode # 004 Freebie: “The next time you find yourself wading through the quick sand I hope you’ll pull up the Decision Free Zone.” – Gary Gardner(CeFT) No matter which life transition you’re in: whether it be the grieving over the death of a loved one, retirement, significant job change or if you’re just at a point in life where you just don’t know what to do, stop. Take a minute, breath, and pull up this tool. Dump your brain into the Now, Soon, and Later – no matter how silly or minute that thing in your brain might be – and get yourself to a point where you say okay, I can move forward from here.   Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in this Episode: Dick Wagner: Financial Planning 3.0: Evolving Our Relationships with Money David Allen – Getting Things Done Sudden Money Institute – Susan Bradley Life&Wealth Advisors  

Walnut Creek professional fiduciary dynamo Karen Fisher joins Kirsten in the studio for episode #003 of Absolute Trust Talk.   Kirsten highlights how many people just don’t know what a professional fiduciary is or that having someone outside the family to administer trusts and estates is even an option. Karen discusses the vast range of services that she offers, the processes that she goes through with clients and how one becomes a professional fiduciary. Karen also weighs in on the enormous benefits that come from having a professional fiduciary.   Big Three From Episode #003: A professional fiduciary provides a number of services to clients when they are unable to do so for themselves A professional fiduciary helps avoid conflict, cuts back on legal costs, and, is tax deductible! A professional fiduciary provides peace of mind, things will get done smoothly, timely and right.   Time-stamped show notes:   3:20 – Many people don’t know what a professional fiduciary is, so, what is it? How can it help me with my estate, retirement or trust needs? 6:25 – Why not to name children or siblings as trustees 9:16 – Karen talks about the biggest complaint from a beneficiary 9:50 – Karen talks about the process of becoming a professional fiduciary 11:07 – Karen discusses how she maintains interaction and relationships with clients on a trust that is expected to last for many years 13:00 – How is a professional fiduciary a resource to special needs clients 13:51 – My legal fees go down if I use a professional? Yes! Here’s why… 17:15 – How a fiduciary sees the estate process   Episode # 03 Freebie: Many people think that once they sign their estate documents and file them away, the job is done. That’s not necessarily true. As host Kirsten Howe likes to say, “The more bread crumbs you leave behind, the better.” What she means is the more you prepare your trustee and other decision makers to successfully implement your estate plan the better. There are always additional steps and more to be done which can be overwhelming even in the best of circumstances. Whether you have a professional fiduciary or not Absolute Trust Talk guest Karen Fisher has the cheat sheet of all cheat sheets to help you and your loved ones prepare. And believe us when we say, they will love you even more for the extra steps and preparation.  

In this episode of “Absolute Trust Talk,” Kirsten talks to Geoff Zimmerman, Certified Financial Planner, Senior Advisor, and Chief Compliance Officer for Mosaic Financial Partners, Inc. Geoff is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most seasoned practitioners and concentrates on assisting both working and retired individuals and couples at the executive level prepare for major life transitions.   During their discussion, Geoff reveals his relatable anecdotes that describe the importance of why the individual pieces of one's finances should be integrated into a master plan. He shares real-life examples, observations and insights from his specialized life transition focus providing listeners with actionable tips and tools to help them understand how each element when properly coordinated works together to avoid adverse interactions.   Big Three From Episode # 002: Individual planning parts might seem good, but how do they all work together? Life transitions have SEVERAL moving parts, find an advisor that will ask the right questions and who will ask A LOT of questions Look at the BIG picture   Time stamped show notes: 2:45 – Thanksgiving dinner anecdote paints picture on the integration of financial planning 4:49 – Kirsten asks Geoff to highlight examples of financial planning pieces that need to be considered in context of overall financial plan 5:10– Geoff talks real life example of setting up 529 plans 5:50 – Big picture, Geoff recommends asking these four questions when considering a 529 8:00 – Did you know that the 529 plan distributions may count as income for the student under certain conditions? 8:45 – Geoff discusses what moving parts need to be considered when a client is changing jobs 10:00 – When there’s a job transition there are benefit changes, retirement plan changes, accelerated expiration dates on stock options, moves to another state – tax implications 11:00 – Geoff mentions interesting life insurance observation that speaks to his life transition expertise 11:40 – Executive compensation, what restrictions are you up against when you leave a company? 13:40 – Geoff reveals his musical analogy for financial planning 16:50 – Geoff discusses and gives access to special tools just for listeners 21:25 – How estate planning affects the big picture 25:00 – How the new tax laws affect charitable gifts 26:55 – Geoff breaks down above the bar and below the bar deductions 30:05 – Geoff breaks down the different types of compensation professionals get and how that affects the big financial plan picture 37:25 – The one thing people can do to help improve financial life   Episode # 002 Freebie: If you’re a busy, smart, successful person who needs help defining your goals, finding out the why behind your what, and the balance in your life, Geoff is giving us exclusive access to two of the worksheets he uses with his own clients. The Wheel of Life and Financial Satisfaction are intuitive worksheets to help gain clarity and pinpoint the areas in life that you feel confident in and those that need more of a prioritized focus moving forward. Click here to get your copy!   Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode: Mosaic Financial Partners, Inc. East Bay Regional Parks Foundation East Bay Regional Parks Estate Planning Seminars          

In this episode of “Absolute Trust Talk,” Kirsten talks to Maureen Richardson, Certified Financial Planner and sole practitioner at Richardson Elite Financial Strategies. Richardson is also Amazon bestselling author of “‘Til Money Do Us Part: Financial Planning for Couples.”  The topic of conversation is, of course, financial planning, but not just any financial planning, the focus here is on couples. Maureen highlights how money is not necessarily the root of the problem and addresses the missed or overwhelming signs that a partner ignores and the reluctance that couples have to sitting down and laying ALL their cards out on the table. Maureen shares how her book was born out of the real-life personal experience of being married to a financially irresponsible spouse, and even though she was financially savvy as a person in finance, it destroyed her marriage and her life. Richardson shares how to get the ball rolling when it comes to planning and also weighs in on what to do if you're already married and in a financial bind. Big Three From Episode # 01: It’s not about the MONEY itself Leave no skeletons in the closet, talk about EVERYTHING in your financial history Get organized, make a plan   Time stamped show notes: 3:32 – It’s not about the money it’s about the values – Money is the symptom 4:35 – Who cares if you’re in finance! What’s going on at home? 6:20 – Maureen talks about the why behind her book, “Till Money Do Us Part” 8:45 – The topics that couples overlook when they are heading to the alter 9:32 – The top two things couples should disclose during the financial discussion 11:45 – Did you know poor credit = this? 13:10 – Now that everything’s out on the table, what do we do next? 15:37 – How are you protected? Maureen had three people discover this about not having the proper insurance when needed. 16:45 – Do this now! 17:25 – What if you’re already married and in trouble? 18:22 – The number one thing you need to track to get out of trouble.   Episode # 01 Freebie: When you think about planning for marriage what comes to mind? Planning a big wedding, going on your honeymoon, finding a place to live, building a family… the list goes on. But, when it comes down to it, finances are behind it all, right? There’s no magic fairy dust, no magic eraser, your financial history follows you right to the altar. Did you sit down with your partner and hash out the details? Did you reveal debt, your taxes, your insurance even? If you don’t talk about it before you tie the knot, when will you? When you’re in line to see the divorce lawyer? In “ ’Til Money Do Us Part” Maureen Richardson breaks it all down and walks you through a productive and healthy discussion of money. Money is difficult to talk about, which is the reason why money is the leading cause of marital problems and divorce. People seem to think that by ignoring money, it will somehow work itself out. It doesn’t. You don’t need to be a financial genius. You don’t need to have a ton of money. You just need to be smart, know the warning signs and address them before it’s too late. “’Till Money Do Us Part” is simple, relevant and straight to the point, and we’ve got a special excerpt just for you. Click here to download your free chapter and if that leaves you wanting MORE get this bestseller on Amazon now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/162865032X/ref=cm_sw_su_dp Resources/Tools/Links mentioned in this episode: 'Til Money Do Us Part: Financial Planning for Couples Visit Maureen’s Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/TilMoneyDoUsPart/ to keep up with the latest resources and articles all about managing finances in a relationship. Use Quicken to track every single expense for your spending plan! Ask Amy