Nov 13, 2015

Is your estate plan in order? Do you need a review or update of your living trust, power of attorney, or health care directives? Are your beneficiaries in order and would you like to better understand how a spendthrift provision in your trust could be a benefit? An AB Living Trust is a good start, but an up to date complete package is needed.

The death of comedian Robin Williams provided interesting estate planning issues that address these issues. Although he was hugely successful in movies and television, Williams spoke of financial problems in the years before his death. He had reached a net worth of over $100 million dollars in his prime, according to sources, but two divorces and fewer movie roles had reportedly depleted his assets to approximately $50 million, left completely to his kids in their teens and 20s, plus a home in Tiburon valued at $29 million, left to his wife.

Although he used a trust rather than a simple will, there still were many open ends and a lingering legal battle between his kids and his wife that he had not intended. What happened can be instructive for anyone arranging their affairs with any size estate. Steve and Sinclair review key elements and attorney opinions. In the Q & A segment, estate planning attorney Richard Dwornik and Certified Financial Planner® Murray Titterington with IQ Wealth join the A-Team to discuss special needs trusts and spendthrift trust provisions. PS: see if you can spot the flaw in segment 2 and email us!! Steve@IQWealth.com