A Wall Street Journal article from a few months back highlighted a reality we see all too often in estate planning and family wealth transitions: surviving spouses are frequently left feeling overwhelmed after the death of a partner because they were never fully involved in the family’s financial and legal organization. Wall Street Journal – Her Husband Died Unexpectedly. She Spent a Year Untangling
IRAs and retirement accounts are often a major part of a family’s net worth. Two recent developments — both easy to overlook — are worth a quick check-in. 1. Inherited IRA rules are now being enforced Most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherited IRAs in 2020 or later must fully distribute the account within 10 years. If the original owner was already taking RMDs, annual
Many families believe their estate plan is “done” once documents are signed, but as estate attorney Curtis Kaiser explains, that traditional “sign and forget” model often leads to unintended consequences. In this educational session hosted by Halbert Hargrove Senior Wealth Advisor Nick Strain, Curtis shares why technically sound estate plans can still fail, the four critical moments where plans quietly go
Estate Planning Weekly Podcast with Bill Gross
Watch Video We are pleased to share an important update at Kaiser Law Group. Effective February 2026, Bijan Roboubi is joining Kaiser Law Group as a Partner. Many of you have already had the opportunity to work with Bijan since we began referring clients to him for smaller matters in 2024. He joined us as Of Counsel in 2025, and we
Watch Video One of the ways affluent families support each other financially is through intra-family loans. Whether it’s helping a child buy a home, funding a family business, or covering an unexpected expense, these loans can be a valuable tool for preserving and transferring wealth. However, failing to properly document and structure them can create unnecessary familial, legal, financial, and tax
Watch Video At Kaiser Law Group, we want to make you aware of a growing trend of misleading solicitations that target California residents. These solicitations often look like official government correspondence, but they’re actually deceptive marketing efforts by private companies trying to sell you public records or unnecessary services. What Do These Solicitations Look Like? These deceptive mailers often contain official-looking
Curtis Kaiser, a board certified Estate Planning Attorney with Kaiser Law Group and Nick Strain, a Senior Wealth Advisor with Halbert Hargrove discuss special planning opportunities and pitfalls for various retirement assets. This webinar is especially relevant for families who have a significant portion of their assets in tax-deferred accounts (401k, IRAs, and other retirement accounts) Takeaways from the Webinar: Understand
Watch Video For many families, pets are cherished members of the household, and it’s important to plan for their care in case something happens to you. A recent New York Times article highlights various strategies, from informal agreements with trusted friends or family to formal pet trusts that provide financial support for your pet’s care. You can read the full article
Watch Video Reward points from loyalty programs, such as credit card points, airline miles, or hotel rewards, often have specific terms and conditions that govern their transferability, including in the event of death. In many cases, these points cannot be passed down through an estate plan because they are considered non-transferrable and expire upon the account holder’s death. Some programs may