I’ll be honest—when people hear “estate planning,” most of them picture a stack of dense documents, a lot of legal jargon, and maybe a vague sense that they should get around to it… someday. And inevitably, the same question comes up: “Do I need a will or a trust?”...

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this conversation: “Great—we signed the trust. So we’re done, right?” I always pause for a second, because this is the part nobody really talks about. The truth? Creating the trust is only half the job. Funding it is where the...

There’s a moment that comes up in almost every family business conversation, and you can feel it before anyone says it out loud. We’re sitting around a table—sometimes a conference room, sometimes a kitchen—and someone says, “Well, I want to treat all the kids...

Last week, I stood in a room full of sharp advisors, attorneys, and planners and asked a simple question: Is AI a tool… a threat… or both? You could feel the hesitation. Some people leaned forward—curious. Others leaned back—skeptical. And a few probably...

I've lost track of how many times I've had this conversation:  "Chris, my estate plan is all set. I've got a trust. Everything goes into it. We're good."  And then I ask a simple question: "What does your operating agreement say about transfers at death?"  Cue the...

If you’re a business owner, there’s a good chance your company isn’t just something you own. It’s your source of income. Your retirement plan. Your legacy. In many cases, it’s up to 90% of a family’s net worth tied up in one illiquid asset . Which is exactly why...

Recently, I was honored to give a presentation to the Financial Planners of America about a topic that brings together two areas of professional passion: estate planning and business law. I spend a lot of time talking with business owners who know they should deal...

When you hear the word "trust," what's the first thing that pops into your head? For most of us, it's a scene straight out of a movie: a stuffy lawyer in a mahogany-filled office, a dramatic reading of a will, and some obscenely wealthy family squabbling over a...

August is here, and you know what that means—summer's winding down, pumpkin spice is creeping back onto shelves, and, most importantly, it’s National Make a Will Month! It’s the perfect time to talk about something incredibly important yet often overlooked. Taking...

Small business owners have poured your blood, sweat, and maybe even a few tears into building your own business. Pressing questions about supply chain, quality control, and even payroll demand your attention daily. As a business owner, much of your attention and...