Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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2kids&pets
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Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by 2kids&pets »

Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
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Re: Estate Planning Books

Post by retiringwhen »

2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
I agree I read it upon suggestion here and found it opened my eyes to risks and approaches never considered before. I suggest everyone read it BEFORE they visit the lawyer to update their plan. That way they have thought the problems to address before putting the lawyer on the clock. We plan on updating our estate plan later this year, earlier than planned because we are a lot more informed in large part due to the book as well as real life experience with another estate completely in line with Condon’s examples. In other words that estate exhibited traits of several issues described in the book such as second marriages, death of children first and trust implications, family business and real estate holdings, spendthrift heirs, etc. I hadn’t fully thought through the consequences of many of those issues before setting up most recent plan.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by LadyGeek »

This thread is now in the Personal Finance (Not Investing) forum (estate planning). I retitled the thread for clarity.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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I added this book to the wiki: Books: recommendations and reviews (Estate planning)
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by FoolStreet »

2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
Remember bsteiner’s words for context. Paraphrasing, it focuses on certain states and the extremes. Some suggest a graduated transfer of control from the trust to the beneficiary. Worth reviewing previous threads on this book to get his perspective. I appreciate the shock of extreme situations in the book and bsteiner’s practical suggestions.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Broken Man 1999 »

FoolStreet wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:38 pm
2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
Remember bsteiner’s words for context. Paraphrasing, it focuses on certain states and the extremes. Some suggest a graduated transfer of control from the trust to the beneficiary. Worth reviewing previous threads on this book to get his perspective. I appreciate the shock of extreme situations in the book and bsteiner’s practical suggestions.
Ah, you beat me to bsteiner's remarks, as some of the info in the book is California-centric.

Still very useful to me though. The family dynamics info was very interesting.

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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Finridge »

2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
Heads-up: The Kindle version is now on sale for a limited time. $1.99. Normal price $20.00. (You don't need to own a Kindle to read it... Any phone, computer, or tablet that you can install the Kindle app on will suffice.)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=beyond+the+g ... _sb_noss_1

Based on previous recommendations on Bogleheads, I'd checked the older edition of this book out from the library and found it to be excellent. So I went to Amazon planning on buying it at the full price, and was pleasantly surprised to find it deeply discounted. Thought I'd share in case anyone else is in the market...
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by FBN2014 »

I would recommend this excellent book by estate planning attorney Harry Margolis:

Get Your Ducks in a Row: The Baby Boomers Guide to Estate Planning – 2020 EDITION
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Carefreeap »

Broken Man 1999 wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:46 pm
FoolStreet wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:38 pm
2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
Remember bsteiner’s words for context. Paraphrasing, it focuses on certain states and the extremes. Some suggest a graduated transfer of control from the trust to the beneficiary. Worth reviewing previous threads on this book to get his perspective. I appreciate the shock of extreme situations in the book and bsteiner’s practical suggestions.
Ah, you beat me to bsteiner's remarks, as some of the info in the book is California-centric.

Still very useful to me though. The family dynamics info was very interesting.

Broken Man 1999
I'm in CA and it's still extreme and really controlling. Some of the stuff I found a little patronizing and doesn't allow people to grow. I do come from a family that has serious money problems; bankruptcies, foreclosures et cetera. While that stuff didn't happen to me it really strained and damaged the family relationships.

ETA: After reading the book I did e-mail Condon. He responded and I directed him to Bogleheads. He was pretty impressed with us!
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by retiringwhen »

Carefreeap wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:58 am Some of the stuff I found a little patronizing and doesn't allow people to grow. I do come from a family that has serious money problems; bankruptcies, foreclosures et cetera. While that stuff didn't happen to me it really strained and damaged the family relationships.

ETA: After reading the book I did e-mail Condon. He responded and I directed him to Bogleheads. He was pretty impressed with us!
It would be enlightening to get him to chime in a few Estate Planning threads for sure :-)

The way I believe it is best to read Condon's book is to consider it a menu of worst case outcomes (not average/normal). Then look at the menu and identify the several items that are likely to arise in your own legacy. Use that ideas and guidance as a way to inform your decision making process. Don't get paranoid, get informed.

Most of the major dynamics described are not location or legal regime centric, but instead the darker, messier side of human nature.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Doom&Gloom »

Finridge wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:37 am
2kids&pets wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:03 pm Just a big shout out of thanks to someone along the thread of a thread who suggested “Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq. What a helpful read in attempting to update our 20year old estate plan which we review every 2-5yrs..
and I’ve read quite a few books on saving the family compound. Really, thank you!
Heads-up: The Kindle version is now on sale for a limited time. $1.99. Normal price $20.00. (You don't need to own a Kindle to read it... Any phone, computer, or tablet that you can install the Kindle app on will suffice.)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=beyond+the+g ... _sb_noss_1

Based on previous recommendations on Bogleheads, I'd checked the older edition of this book out from the library and found it to be excellent. So I went to Amazon planning on buying it at the full price, and was pleasantly surprised to find it deeply discounted. Thought I'd share in case anyone else is in the market...
Thanks for the heads-up. I just downloaded it to my PC.

I also did not know there was an app. Now I guess my Kindles will gather even more dust than previously :oops:
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by bsteiner »

FBN2014 wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:49 am I would recommend this excellent book by estate planning attorney Harry Margolis:

Get Your Ducks in a Row: The Baby Boomers Guide to Estate Planning – 2020 EDITION
He's mainly an elder law (Medicaid) attorney. However, I thought he did a good job with this book.
retiringwhen wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:08 am
Carefreeap wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:58 am Some of the stuff I found a little patronizing and doesn't allow people to grow. I do come from a family that has serious money problems; bankruptcies, foreclosures et cetera. While that stuff didn't happen to me it really strained and damaged the family relationships.

ETA: After reading the book I did e-mail Condon. He responded and I directed him to Bogleheads. He was pretty impressed with us!
It would be enlightening to get him to chime in a few Estate Planning threads for sure.

The way I believe it is best to read Condon's book is to consider it a menu of worst case outcomes (not average/normal). Then look at the menu and identify the several items that are likely to arise in your own legacy. Use that ideas and guidance as a way to inform your decision making process. Don't get paranoid, get informed.

Most of the major dynamics described are not location or legal regime centric, but instead the darker, messier side of human nature.
I agree. It might be interesting if he were to comment on some of the threads here. Even if his focus is community property, particularly California, about 30% of the country's population lives in community property states, and about 1/8 of the population is in California.

While he focuses on the ends rather than the middle of the spectrum in terms of how to provide for children and other beneficiaries, sometimes the ends are appropriate.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by miket29 »

I bought the book and read it before setting up my will and living trust. I found it very helpful to have heard of issues that can arise, most of which never would have occurred to me. For a more nuts-and-bolts I also read "Every Californian's Guide to Estate Planning" by Liza Hanks prior to meeting with the attorney. I think the pair of books complement each other.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Freetime76 »

I believe this book recommended the “greed letter”. A distasteful thought, but it works (seen it firsthand).

(A “greed letter” is written to a recalcitrant or absent/estranged potential heir to warn them that xyz is in jeopardy if they don’t get their act together, because someone is writing them out of their will because of ... doing nothing with their own life, going no-contact with mom/dad for no good reason...for examples.)

A fascinating peek into human nature, this book is one of select few in our very small, heavily curated library of books at home. I think of it every time I hear someone say, “oh, we’re just leaving the kids to divide it up evenly”. Hahahahahaha :wink:
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Peter Foley »

retiringwhen wrote:
The way I believe it is best to read Condon's book is to consider it a menu of worst case outcomes (not average/normal). Then look at the menu and identify the several items that are likely to arise in your own legacy. Use that ideas and guidance as a way to inform your decision making process. Don't get paranoid, get informed.
This is how I understood and used the book as well. Not so much a "how to" as a "how not to" or "think through the consequences of this approach" first.

I especially leaned from the insights into family dynamics documented in some of the cases he describes.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Shaneman »

bsteiner wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:41 pm
He's mainly an elder law (Medicaid) attorney. However, I thought he did a good job with this book.
For those not interest in estate planning regarding Medicaid but instead leaving the largest legacy to heirs and charity can bsteiner recommend a few current Estate Planning Books that would be good reading material for Bogleheads ?

Do you feel estate and gift tax exemption of $11.7 million per individual / 23.4 per couple for 2021 is the best we will ever see in the next decade?

It sure seems the people in Washington will probably lower the estate and gift tax exemption to $3-5M per individual.

Finally if there is a lowering of the exemption do you think there is any chance it will be retro-active to January 2021?

Sorry I know you are not a fortune teller but you sure must have some gut feeling what is going to happen the lifetime gift tax exemption.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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This forum is focused on investing that is directly actionable to personal investors. We don't hold debates on conjecture.

The whole point of the policy is to (1) eliminate contentious disagreements that result from these discussions and (2) keep investors from making bad decisions. Proposed legislation changes many times between the time it's introduced and signed into law.

The best approach is to make your decision about current law. When the law changes, make your decision at that time.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by bsteiner »

Shaneman wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:27 pm
bsteiner wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:41 pm
He's mainly an elder law (Medicaid) attorney. However, I thought he did a good job with this book.
For those not interest in estate planning regarding Medicaid but instead leaving the largest legacy to heirs and charity can bsteiner recommend a few current Estate Planning Books that would be good reading material for Bogleheads ?

Do you feel estate and gift tax exemption of $11.7 million per individual / 23.4 per couple for 2021 is the best we will ever see in the next decade?

It sure seems the people in Washington will probably lower the estate and gift tax exemption to $3-5M per individual.

Finally if there is a lowering of the exemption do you think there is any chance it will be retro-active to January 2021?

Sorry I know you are not a fortune teller but you sure must have some gut feeling what is going to happen the lifetime gift tax exemption.
I can't think of any appropriate books. It would be difficult to write such a book, and the market would be limited.

As Lady Geek pointed out, we're not supposed to discuss proposed changes in the law. It's so we don't end up in political arguments. But as Niels Bohr and Yogi Berra said, it's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.

Nevertheless, we've been suggesting that people take advantage of the opportunities available under current law where appropriate. For example, you could give away $11.7 million ($23.4 million for a married couple) now.

If you're concerned about possible retroactive changes, in addition to making the gifts sooner rather than later, you could do it in a way so that there wouldn't be a taxable gift if that were to happen.

For example, if you're married, you could make the gift to a marital (QTIP) type trust, and elect QTIP on your gift tax return if you want it not to be a taxable gift. If you put your 2021 income tax return on extension, you'll have until October 15, 2022, to decide. (If you don't elect QTIP, and it becomes a taxable gift, there would be some leakage since the spouse would get all the income, but presumably the trustees would invest for growth so as to limit the amount of income.)

It might also be possible to provide that if a named individual disclaims, the trust assets either revert to you or go to a marital (QTIP) trust.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by LadyGeek »

bsteiner wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:48 am As Lady Geek pointed out, we're not supposed to discuss proposed changes in the law. It's so we don't end up in political arguments.
A clarification - It's not only the politics, but that investors in this forum are focused on retirement - your life's savings. For example, you make a change based on "X" reported everywhere in the news media. At the last minute, the politicians compromise and decide on "Y". If you had known they would have done "Y", you would have never made that change and your portfolio is now in a heap of trouble.

That's why we're insistant about holding the line with regards to legislation in process. We want to protect investors from bad decisions that can ruin their retirement. Waiting a short while until the legislation is signed into law is the only assurance you have of making the correct decision.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by bsteiner »

LadyGeek wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:41 am
bsteiner wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:48 am As Lady Geek pointed out, we're not supposed to discuss proposed changes in the law. It's so we don't end up in political arguments.
A clarification - It's not only the politics, but that investors in this forum are focused on retirement - your life's savings. For example, you make a change based on "X" reported everywhere in the news media. At the last minute, the politicians compromise and decide on "Y". If you had known they would have done "Y", you would have never made that change and your portfolio is now in a heap of trouble.

That's why we're insistent about holding the line with regards to legislation in process. We want to protect investors from bad decisions that can ruin their retirement. Waiting a short while until the legislation is signed into law is the only assurance you have of making the correct decision.
That's a good point as well.

I remember in the mid-1990s when the estate tax exempt amount was $600,000 there was a proposal to reduce it to $200,000 or $300,000. A couple of relatively modest means in this context wanted to give away $1.2 million in case that happened. For various reasons, they only gave $600,000 -- one spouse created a trust of which the other was a beneficiary along with the children. Needless to say, that proposal didn't pass, and a couple of years later Congress instead increased the exempt amount. Also needless to say the couple wasn't happy.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Derpalator »

Sorry, but wasn't there a previous thread on the forum that suggested another book superior to Condon's? Tried the search but could not find it. Thanks in advance. :sharebeer
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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Derpalator wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 5:38 am Sorry, but wasn't there a previous thread on the forum that suggested another book superior to Condon's? Tried the search but could not find it. Thanks in advance. :sharebeer
Get Your Ducks In A Row by Harry Margolis. Condon also wrote another book, The Living Trust Advisor. Margolis also answers submitted questions on his blog: askharry.info
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Derpalator »

FBN2014 wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 6:10 am
Derpalator wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 5:38 am Sorry, but wasn't there a previous thread on the forum that suggested another book superior to Condon's? Tried the search but could not find it. Thanks in advance. :sharebeer
Get Your Ducks In A Row by Harry Margolis. Condon also wrote another book, The Living Trust Advisor. Margolis also answers submitted questions on his blog: askharry.info
Thanks!
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance? We need to set one up for one of our kids. Not sure if discussion re: trusts in general would suffice (so no need for separate section on SNT's), but trusts & estate planning is something I need to do & want to do in the next few months.

We have a special needs lawyer we work with now (to assist us with guardianship stuff), I want to be educated on trusts & estate planning in general BEFORE I have a consultation meeting with the lawyer.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance? We need to set one up for one of our kids. Not sure if discussion re: trusts in general would suffice (so no need for separate section on SNT's), but trusts & estate planning is something I need to do & want to do in the next few months.

We have a special needs lawyer we work with now (to assist us with guardianship stuff), I want to be educated on trusts & estate planning in general BEFORE I have a consultation meeting with the lawyer.
Just buy the "Beyond the Grave" by Condon, book in softcover from Amazon and read it.

There are many other books that cover "trust structure" better than this book. But, this book, AFAIK, is excellent at covering family dynamics and consequences of poor estate planning, etc. It is written by 2 attorneys with extensive estate planning experience.

But, as far as "legal" advice, there is no substitute for in person legal counsel consult. There's only so much that can be done "before" meeting with a lawyer. Make a list of what you want, your concerns, and questions, and then ask what you might be missing.

Also, sometimes, it is worthwhile to talk to more than one lawyer. They can have different focuses and areas of concern, etc.

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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

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cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance? We need to set one up for one of our kids. Not sure if discussion re: trusts in general would suffice (so no need for separate section on SNT's), but trusts & estate planning is something I need to do & want to do in the next few months.

We have a special needs lawyer we work with now (to assist us with guardianship stuff), I want to be educated on trusts & estate planning in general BEFORE I have a consultation meeting with the lawyer.
Check out this website. Lots of good information on special needs planning and recorded webinars to view.
howtosecurethefuture.com
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by senex »

cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance?
It's been a few years, but I recall that book having almost no procedural or actionable information. It read, to me, like a Jerry Springer episode about everything that can go wrong with inheritance. Which is somewhat useful -- it gives some food for thought -- but I recall walking away with no better sense of trust types, procedures, costs/benefits, or appropriate next steps (aside from talking to an attorney in person).
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by FBN2014 »

senex wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 2:36 pm
cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance?
It's been a few years, but I recall that book having almost no procedural or actionable information. It read, to me, like a Jerry Springer episode about everything that can go wrong with inheritance. Which is somewhat useful -- it gives some food for thought -- but I recall walking away with no better sense of trust types, procedures, costs/benefits, or appropriate next steps (aside from talking to an attorney in person).
Hahaha, yes it did read like Jerry Springer. I can tell you from experience that if you are a trustee or executor and you have disgruntled beneficiaries from a dysfunctional family then it gets worse then Jerry Springer. No amount of planning can account for all situations that may occur in the future. If the beneficiaries decide to contest a will or trust then you end up in a costly legal battle even though they may have no grounds to sue. Anyone can sue anyone for anything in our litigious system and hope for a nice settlement agreement to end to end the legal shenanigans.
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Lee_WSP »

Condon tried to make trusts more approachable to the lay person in “The Living Trust Advisor” (or at least the financial planning workplace), but quite honestly, the book more or less just rehashes the family dynamics outlined in Beyond the Grave and adds very little practical information.

You can buy a practice book such as any of those listed on NAEPC’s study materials list found here: https://www.naepc.org/designations/esta ... -materials

However, it’d be a waste of money if you aren’t a lawyer and practice or want to practice in the area. There are a lot of interconnected and always changing tax laws and state laws.

I’m not entirely sure the topic is amenable to a simple and easy to read book intended for mass consumption. Even blog posts are usually severely dumbed down to practical uselessness unless written for practitioners (but even then, they usually just tease the material they’re trying to sell).

Just my two cents. I suppose I didn’t add much to the conversation I hadn’t already said (Condon’s original book is entertaining and gives some insight into family dynamics after you pass and gives some insight into protection trusts).
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Lee_WSP »

FBN2014 wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 2:56 pm
senex wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 2:36 pm
cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance?
It's been a few years, but I recall that book having almost no procedural or actionable information. It read, to me, like a Jerry Springer episode about everything that can go wrong with inheritance. Which is somewhat useful -- it gives some food for thought -- but I recall walking away with no better sense of trust types, procedures, costs/benefits, or appropriate next steps (aside from talking to an attorney in person).
Hahaha, yes it did read like Jerry Springer. I can tell you from experience that if you are a trustee or executor and you have disgruntled beneficiaries from a dysfunctional family then it gets worse then Jerry Springer. No amount of planning can account for all situations that may occur in the future. If the beneficiaries decide to contest a will or trust then you end up in a costly legal battle even though they may have no grounds to sue. Anyone can sue anyone for anything in our litigious system and hope for a nice settlement agreement to end to end the legal shenanigans.
Yes, that is why estate planning is considered a high risk practice to insurers.
Dinosaur Dad
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by Dinosaur Dad »

Peter Foley wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 7:45 pm retiringwhen wrote:
The way I believe it is best to read Condon's book is to consider it a menu of worst case outcomes (not average/normal). Then look at the menu and identify the several items that are likely to arise in your own legacy. Use that ideas and guidance as a way to inform your decision making process. Don't get paranoid, get informed.
This is how I understood and used the book as well. Not so much a "how to" as a "how not to" or "think through the consequences of this approach" first.

I especially leaned from the insights into family dynamics documented in some of the cases he describes.
Agree!
"Take calculated risks - that is quite different from being rash." | General George S. Patton
bsteiner
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Re: Estate Planning Books [“Beyond the Grave” by Jeffery Condon Esq.]

Post by bsteiner »

cflannagan wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:26 am Does the "Beyond the Grave" cover Special Needs Trusts by any chance? We need to set one up for one of our kids. Not sure if discussion re: trusts in general would suffice (so no need for separate section on SNT's), but trusts & estate planning is something I need to do & want to do in the next few months.

We have a special needs lawyer we work with now (to assist us with guardianship stuff), I want to be educated on trusts & estate planning in general BEFORE I have a consultation meeting with the lawyer.
The trust for the child with special needs is for the most part the same as the trust for the child without special needs. Depending on the nature of the child's special needs, he/she might have a lesser degree of control (or no control at all) over his/her trust.

For this purpose, control would be the right to become a trustee, the power to remove and replace one's co-trustee (provided the replacement trustee isn't a close relative or subordinate employee), and the power to appoint (give or leave) trust assets to or in trust for anyone he/she wants (other than himself/herself or his/her estate or creditors), or to a narrower class of persons. A beneficiary may have some but not all of these powers, and may only have some or all of these powers after reaching a specified age.

Any law firm with a good trusts and estates practice will have many clients who have children with special needs. So you may be better off going to a trusts and estates lawyer for your estate planning than to one who focuses on Medicaid and guardianships.
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