Recently, I was reminded of how critical legacy planning is—not just as a professional but on a deeply personal level. My stepfather passed recently, and while we were navigating the challenges of settling his affairs, we were also struggling to support my mother through her grief and rapidly declining health.
Despite 99% of their assets being meticulously organized, a vesting issue on a small IRA and an overlooked notary—caused by less-than-perfect legal advice—created months of unnecessary stress. My sister and I found ourselves battling the law firm, the IRA custodian, and sadly, even each other on occasion.
I have 35 years of experience managing assets for others, including stock portfolios, trust deeds, and real estate, yet this experience was still emotional and frustrating. I couldn’t help but think how much more overwhelming it be for families without the near perfect plan that my parents developed and the experience and connections I had acquired.
What is Legacy if it is a Burden on Your Family?
Recently, I was spending time with friends—classmates from Harvard Business School—and we found ourselves contemplating how much a fellow alum must have donated to have a building named after him. This led to conversations about legacy and what struck me hard was that out of 12 bright and successful people, 8 had made no formal plans, and the others had not reviewed their plans in several years.
The idea of leaving a legacy resonates deeply with those who have worked hard to build something meaningful, regardless of its size, to make life a little easier for their family. However, too often, even the most determined and organized individuals don’t take the necessary steps to ensure their families are truly prepared to manage and sustain their wealth.
Why Does This Happen?
It’s often blamed on a lack of time; however I believe it’s a blend of a lack of urgency, some discomfort with facing mortality, and that the pinnacle of success hasn’t been reached so why not wait until we slow down or retire. But we don’t always achieve the final brass ring or have the advance notice we expect so many families are left with unnecessary headaches and expense with a legacy at risk.
Why Do Families Choose Us?
There is no one in our industry who provides the full 360° experience that we do. For over 35 years, I’ve built and led businesses across the securities and real estate industries, guiding clients through some of the most challenging economic storms in history. This means that I have the experience and skillset to work with your other financial planners to ensure your plans are as well thought out as possible.
We’ve helped families maximize and protect their wealth. For example:
· We recently helped a family maintain a $1 million trust deed portfolio that they were about to sell at $0.65 on the dollar. By leveraging our expertise, we turned a distressed asset into a source of stability and long-term value.
But you’re not just relying on me. I have a team of 50 seasoned professionals with an executive team boasting 100 years of combined experience. Our collective efforts have earned us recognition from:
· Inc. Magazine: 6th fastest-growing provider of Financial Services, ranking 49th overall on the 2024 Fastest Growing U.S. Companies list.
· The Superior Court of California: Certificate of Appreciation for contributions to the community.
How We Help
We will start with a discussion of your overall investment portfolio and clarify your objectives. Next, we will perform a comprehensive review of your Trust Deed portfolio, from there, we:
· Clean up loose ends in your loan files from both a compliance and best practices perspective.
· Standardize how future loans are sourced, underwritten, funded, and serviced.
· Develop a 360° Plan and perform in-house, all the necessary steps to bring it to life including drafting notification letters for family and professional advisors, filings, and recordings.
Why would you wait?
No one should endure the confusion, pressure, and the legal and financial burdens that impact what is already one the most emotional and devastating moment in our families lives.
Schedule Your Complimentary Discovery Call Today. Most clients receive a draft of their Plan within 6 days and can finalize their Personalized 360° Plan, 1-2 weeks later.
Proof of Success:
In one situation, we were still able to help a family—whose father had just scheduled his introductory call four days earlier—maintain a $1 million trust deed portfolio. Their financial planner was prepared to sell it at $0.65 on the dollar, but our expertise turned a distressed asset into a source of long-term stability and value.
But you’re not just relying on me. I have a team of 50 seasoned professionals with an executive team boasting 100 years of combined experience. Our collective efforts have earned us recognition from:
· Inc. Magazine: 6th fastest-growing provider of Financial Services, ranking 49th overall on the 2024 Fastest Growing U.S. Companies list.
· The Superior Court of California: Certificate of Appreciation for contributions to the community.
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