The Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, podcast explores high-level estate planning techniques and trends. It is ideal for professionals in the accounting, insurance, investment, and financial planning industries since each episode will offer concise and timely information on topics that are critical to the planning they do with their clients.
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In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Michael Clear sits down with Brian Lasher, Managing Director at Euclid Harding, to explore why planning so often stalls – and what it takes to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Brian shares a human‑centered perspective on estate and succession planning, challenging the idea that
In this episode, host Michael Clear welcomes back Corporate Partner R.J. Kornhaas to unpack the critical responsibilities and risks associated with modern board membership. Michael and R.J. supply actionable insights on the legal and fiduciary duties board members must uphold, how to assess an organization before joining, and the questions every prospective director should ask.
In the latest episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Michael Clear welcomes Allison Donaldson, Certified Financial Planner at HTG Investment Advisors. Michael and Allison discuss the interplay of legacy letters, also known as ethical wills, in estate planning and emphasize how these non-binding documents can convey personal values, stories, and intentions, helping to
In the latest episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, Michael Clear and Erin Nicholls discuss the implications of the OBBBA legislation on estate and gift planning strategies, including why it may be more tax-efficient to gift during your lifetime as opposed to transferring wealth at death. They also delve into the connection between trusts
In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Michael Clear welcomes back Dan Maloney, Senior Practice Manager, discussing the introduction of “Will Power,” an automation bot designed to streamline the drafting process from preparation of documents to task tracking and data collection. An example of robotic process automation, this innovative tool significantly
In this episode, host Michael Clear is joined by Matt Brown, a Litigation Partner at Wiggin and Dana, to explore the human side of probate litigation. Their conversation sheds light on the emotional challenges that often accompany major life events, such as the loss of a loved one. They emphasize the value of thorough
In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Michael Clear welcomes Corporate Partner Daniela Spanos to dive into planning strategies tailored for founder-owned businesses navigating an exit or a transition to a new form of ownership. They examine the key drivers behind seller decisions, such as liquidity needs and retirement goals, and explore
On this episode, host Erin Nicholls welcomes Victoria Fiengo, Private Client Services Associate, to discuss the complexities of self-dealing in private foundations. The discussion focuses on the importance of understanding the broad definition of disqualified persons to avoid impermissible self-dealing actions that the IRS would consider an abuse of its rules. In this vein, practitioners
On this episode, host Michael Clear is joined by Wiggin and Dana Litigation Partner Joseph Merschman. Joe and Michael explore the concept of “business divorce,” referring to conflicts among co-owners of closely held companies. These disputes often arise from family tensions, unequal contributions, or shifts in the business’s direction. The episode highlights the importance
In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, Host Michael Clear is joined by Litigation Partner Michael Kenny, where they discuss the complexities of probate disputes, focusing on will contests, particularly related to undue influence and testamentary capacity. As people live longer and healthier lives, Michael Kenny notes that there is growing awareness