Wealth Actually

Interviews with the Next Generation of Experts, Commentators, Entrepreneurs and Creatives in and around wealth and the wealth management industry. From Frazer Rice, noted fiduciary expert, operator of frazerrice.com and author of "Wealth Actually".

ESTATE SETTLEMENT

Estate Settlement is one of the most feared parts of wealth transition. It is where trust and estate planning meet their first real test- usually when a will is put in front of the probate court system. JOEL SCHOENMEYER, Head of the Family Wealth Group at a Major Regional Bank joins us to discuss the ins and outs. https://youtu.be/OwepMwX0uao?si=YKevHbmDrtrRv12b What is Joel's background? I spent the first 15+ years of my career as a trusts and estates attorney. First at a few different law firms, including Sidley Austin – back when they had a T&E group. Then as a solo practitioner for more than a decade. In 2012 I made the transition to working for financial institutions, where I have held a number of roles: Legal department, in the trust counsel group Senior Trust Advisor on an ultra-high net worth team National Head of Estate Settlement Senior Wealth Strategist in a multi-family office group I’m now in charge of the Family Wealth group at Fifth Third, which is an offering for ultra-high net worth clients and families. Just broadly, can you explain what happens from a legal perspective when someone dies? Sure. First, a little terminology: “Estate settlement” is the overall process of wrapping up a deceased person’s affairs, a job that’s usually handled by an “executor”. That settlement process can include lots of different things, but it can be broken down into a few broad topics: Inventorying and collecting all assets; Identifying and then paying debts and expenses, including taxes (both final income taxes and, if the estate is large enough, estate taxes); and Distributing what remains according to the decedent’s estate plan (or if they didn’t have one, according to state law). “Probate” can be a part of estate settlement, and involves court supervision of the above process, to make sure that it is handled correctly. I spent some of my time as an attorney drafting Wills and Trusts. However, I spent even more time in court, dealing with probate issues (including litigation). We are going to be talking about messy estate settlement issues and how to avoid them. Why is this important? I will say that, throughout my career, I have met clients (or potential clients) who say, “I don’t care what happens when I die – that’s someone else’s problem.” However, most people do NOT want to cause problems for their loved ones. The death of a parent or spouse or sibling is difficult enough without having to figure out where their stuff is, or what they wanted to do with it.There’s also the positive aspect. You have family and friends – and possibly charities – that you hope will thrive after your passing. Why wouldn’t you want to set things up so that they actually get your hard- earned money? Do you want to have that money go to the IRS or some probate litigators? How should people start to think about their estate? I break the issues to consider down into four interconnected categories: Assets Debts and expenses (including taxes) Personal Relationships Estate Plan (Will, Trust, etc.) One thing you will notice is that your estate plan is only one category here. A lot of people think that having a Will and/or Trust in place means that they are “done” with planning for their death. That’s just not true. So let’s start with assets in the estate settlement process. What is the big mistake people make with their assets in the context of planning for death? The main mistake is not paying attention to how your assets are titled. This is especially the case where people have an estate plan but then also have assets with a listed beneficiary, or assets owned jointly. For instance, I once handled an estate where the decedent’s Will gave away her interest in a home – but the decedent already owned the home in joint tenancy with her sister! As a result, the gift under her Will was ineffective (but the situation created a lot of litigation as well as conflict)...

01-03
35:35

THE SOUL OF WEALTH

This week, "Wealth Actually" meets "THE SOUL OF WEALTH" as I speak with DR. DANIEL CROSBY, Ph.D. about his new book. https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Wealth-reflections-money-meaning-ebook/dp/B0CP625K99 https://youtu.be/Y6dUcW_eQW4 Outline (Soul of Wealth) -Behavioral Finance-Issues with the "research"-Building consensus around money decisions-How our brains trick us into faulty wealth processes-Teaching people to stretch the time horizon of their planning Biography Educated at Brigham Young and Emory Universities, Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of mind and markets. As a leading voice on the impact of behavioral finance, "The Soul of Wealth" isn't Daniel's only writing. Dr. Crosby's first book, Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management, was a New York Times bestseller. His second book, The Laws of Wealth, was named the best investment book of 2017 by the Axiom Business Book Awards and has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and German. His latest work, The Behavioral Investor, is an in-depth look at how sociology, psychology and neurology all impact investment decision-making.  Finally, Daniel publishes the highly respected Standard Deviations podcast- where you can find his personal thoughts on financial psychology and interviews with experts in the wealth management and psychology fields. Money - The Soul of Wealth Daniel's book presents 50 short essays which explore what wealth really is and provides practical suggestions for how to change your thinking and your actions in small, powerful ways, for a wealthier life. Soul of Wealth Topics: How you spend your money reveals your values. That money can buy happiness if spent well. What makes a good financial plan. Why willpower is overrated. How to master delayed gratification for the ultimate wealth hack. Why anything worth doing carries some risk. Contacts: @DANIELCROSBY TWITTER STANDARD DEVIATIONS PODCAST Behavioral Scientist, Brian Portnoy on the 100th Episode of "Wealth Actually" https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

12-02
30:19

NIGHT MOVES

Author and investment expert, JARED DILLIAN, joins the podcast for the second time to discuss his new collection of short stories, NIGHT MOVES. We talk about his talent for moving across formats and between fiction and non fiction. We go into the need for story-telling and the importance of holding an audience. Finally, we look for crossovers in his writing from his personal history, his move to South Carolina and his experiences in the Coast Guard and Lehman Brothers. https://www.amazon.com/Night-Moves-stories-Jared-Dillian-ebook/dp/B0DDLB49X1/ "Night Moves" by Jared Dillian From his military experience and investment experience to his DJ'ing prowess and obvious for multi-faceted talent for writing, Jared is a creator and a Renaissance Man- and a terrific, no nonsense person to speak with about the ins and outs of publishing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7pratxa3EY Writing across formats and how that led to NIGHT MOVES?  Non fiction  Novel  Short story - is the format a challenge or an opportunity? Newsletter - The daily grind of the Daily Dirtnap How to move between the daily pressure of writing a newsletter to the longer form content in non-fiction? Then, how do you move to the character development and world-building involved with fiction? Themes in NIGHT MOVES Sex, desperation, wistfullness Writing in a women's voice (how do you get into that headspace?) What does research consist of for short stories? Genre Favorites? Where you end the story determines whether it’s a comedy or tragedy Do you start knowing where you want to end up? What does the format of a writing day look like?  Ie do the newsletters get in the way or help with other projects? Do you get stuck?  (Is there where it’s convenient to have the newsletters) Music and Writing- The Crossover into NIGHT MOVES DJ’ing composing - what are the similarities in that process? Any crossover to investing? Where do we find the book and how else can people keep track of JARED? JARED'S SUBSTACK DAILY DIRTNAP Jared on "Wealth Actually" talking about his previous book, "NO WORRIES" https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/ "Wealth Actually" by Frazer Rice

11-23
28:48

HOW TO RETIRE

"How to Retire" (by Christine Benz) deals with a concept full of fear, emotion, math and uncertainty: retirement. Even the wealthiest, who have a margin of safety, run into issues of purpose, time management and legacy. Layer onto that the risks of longevity, dementia, divorce, managing cash and investments in inflationary times, and navigating the byzantine health and elder care systems. No wonder "retirement" is a scary topic. Christine Benz' new book "How to Retire" is here to help get our arms around this topic. With 20 interviews with experts in the field, Christine has written a terrific reference for retirees to get their arms around this stage in life. Her book covers the numbers, the emotion and the structure for people entering the golden years. CHRISTINE BENZ is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar and senior columnist for Morningstar.com. In that role, she focuses on retirement and portfolio planning for individual investors. She also co-hosts a podcast for Morningstar, "The Long View", which features in-depth interviews with thought leaders in investing and personal finance. https://www.amazon.com/How-Retire-lessons-successful-retirement-ebook/dp/B0CP5X3TYK/ How to Retire How to Retire with Christine Benz The Numbers (Funding Retirement and Resilient Investing) The Transition to Retirement (AKA "The Countdown") With a plan in mind, what is the role a Dry Run with Retirement? The Buy-In: Getting consensus from spouses and family on what life will look like The First 2 years: The Importance of a Detailed Calendar How Are You Going to Use the Time? Having entered the role of caregiving, retirement may be more of a "job" than you think "End of Life": When Should you Give up the Keys and Long Term Care with CAROLYN MCCLANAHAN Estate Planning (with past "Wealth Actually" guest JENNY ROZELLE) With all of this frre time, how do spouses adjust to spending so much time together? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN5C7Ko6XBY https://open.spotify.com/episode/50ZO3JLl4bAdf95b64UQIZ?si=XJEYU2h4ToG8rL_Qkou6eA https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/ Frazer Rice's "Wealth Actually"

11-15
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SPORTS PODCASTS

Sports media is decentralizing. However, "Sports Podcasts" are exploding in audience growth. Stephen A. Smith, Pat McAffe and Barstool Sports are household names. Legacy names, like ESPN, are figuring out how to hold on to their audiences and find new ways to expand them. Out of this high profile world, there are many lessons to learn in managing one's own career and how to harness the possibilities of media for your own businesses. BRAM WEINSTEIN (the "Voice of the Washington Commanders") is the founder of Ampire Media and can be heard weekdays from 3-6 PM EST on "The Bram Weinstein Show" on ESPN 630 DC. As part of his 24 year (and counting) on air career, he spent 7 years at ESPN mainly as an anchor of "Sportscenter" and has appeared on a  variety of programs including "Like it or Not" on Fox 5 in Washington DC, "The Bram Weinstein Show" on The Team 980, as well as analyst roles on NBC Sports Washington.  When not performing, Bram produces for and consults with various content providers in traditional and new media for his firm AMPIRE MEDIA. We also get to nerd out a little on the Washington Commanders and their improbable fast start this year! https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rW0FF84wRQZ8O8qZEyptt?si=bc2c29518f96414e Bram Weinstein "Voice of the Commanders" on Sports Podcasts Bram Weinstein's Background - How did you get into broadcasting? Take us through the route with the career to get back to DC. What does a life in sports media look like? The arc of a broadcaster's career and the need to develop equity. https://youtu.be/OxKRSXB2lFI?si=OwyNPG2ZyrC0O3D_ Bram Weinstein on Wealth Actually Sports Podcasts (and Beyond) AMPIRE MEDIA- Going from talent, to production, to ownership. Aggregating other voices.Where did the idea for the media company come from? Specific experience or advice that informed the project? Where do you see the path to profit coming from? Bridging Traditional Media and the Sports Podcast Business- How do you manage the time?What are your ultimate ambitions for Ampire?What have been the challenges so far?Lawyer in me asks how you stay in the good graces of everyone, contract and IP-wise? Has the attitude of the Sports Media Companies changed about "talents' other activities?? Lessons from Sports Podcasts for other businesses in their marketing strategies. Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders (and their fast start!) Finally, I'm duty bound to ask some #Commanders questions. Having been a fan back in the glory days, what is your favorite memory or favorite player? There is so much new with the Commanders in the last two years: Owner, GM, Coach, QB, a lot of the roster! What does this season looks like with this "crazy good" start . . . and Jayden Daniels? Outro- Sports Podcasts How do listeners find and support you.https://www.ampiremedia.com/ AMPIRE on Youtube: https://youtu.be/8jmCnWViN0Y?si=mKy4NPASYiRKfLZ5 MEDIA DISRUPTION and VENTURE CAPITAL https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

10-24
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RIA MARKETING

The pace, scale and sophistication of RIA marketing has accelerated into hyperspace in the last 10 years. There are new business models in wealth management and, thus, new voices and sources of trust. The speed of content creation and publishing is increasing- especially with newer artificial intelligence tools. Social media has made the scope and reach of marketing efforts enormous -- and required firms to be data scientists as much as financial advisers. Finally, where once the firm drove the branding in the RIA space, there appears to be a move back to the star system - where recognizable names create the light that attracts clients. Enter RICHARD HEFT, President of EXT MARKETING - His firm focuses on marketing for RIA's, asset managers, and other financial institutions. The development and execution of marketing strategies are accelerating well past the leadership of the typical RIA. They have to prove to the market that their inorganic growth efforts are real and sustainable in a crowded (and often bland and undifferentiated) space. Richard tells us what he is seeing in the RIA Marketing space. Background- What does EXT do? Richard Heft EXT Marketing What was the opportunity you saw? What is "Marketing" vs Marketing for Financial Institutions? vs. RIA Marketing? Differences Regulation Other cultural issues Where does RIA Marketing stop and PR start as part of larger strategy? How do you combat the "sea of sameness" and "Lowest common denominator" factors in RIA Marketing? Boats, Piers, Forests Couples at the Beach New demographics, new ideas Measurement - What does marketing success look like from the agency perspective? Is there a difference in the clients' perspective? How do you bridge that gap and make sure there is agreement on metrics? Digital - After putting strategy, into action, what is the importance of data integrity and maintenance? Having established a visibility strategy, how does one convert eyeballs to dollars? How do we get around the "consulting class" fluff? Success stories The new sophistication of the referrer and the consumer / client. https://open.spotify.com/episode/79qDVNuUC0ixgHJIIhVAyD?si=33170e765cc44bdd The art of segmentation? B2B vs B2COI B2B vs B2C? How much can (or what should) be outsourced to an agency vs hiring someone internally? The necessity of 3rd party credibility and how to get it (and get credit for it) "RIA Marketing" Trends going forward? Artificial Intelligence and other tools Social Media (How an UHNW adviser uses podcasts) Will there be a move away from referrals to "legitimate" digital lead generation? Where does traditional media fit in? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuhdR2xJ0bw "RIA Marketing" with Richard Heft Outro: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/ "RIA Marketing" on Wealth Actually

10-12
29:37

ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ MONEY

How have our Presidents' money stories affected their lives and trajectories before, during, and after their terms? Have the Presidents' finances affected policy? What stories do they teach the rest of us? https://www.amazon.com/All-Presidents-Money-Governed-America-ebook/dp/B0D3T7TGMZ/ Megan Gorman's Presidents' Relationship with Money As we head into election season, MEGAN GORMAN has released a terrific book on US Presidents and their personal finances. She is a tax attorney and wealth manager – takes readers on a rollicking ride, full of history and personal finance lessons, to understand the intimate money stories of our most famous presidents in her highly anticipated new book, ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ MONEY: How the Men who Governed America Governed Their Money Megan Gorman's "All The Presidents' Money" Megan has spent her career advising some of the wealthy. She parlayed her interest in history and politics with her career expertise to analyze our Presidents relationship with money. The stories of our Presidents' personal finances not only give insight into their leadership style, but they teach lessons for the rest of us as well. What inspired you to write about the US presidents' relationship with money? Since I was six, I’ve always been obsessed with learning about the presidents. There’s an archetype that I was drawn to: a man from an ordinary background that through hard work and luck makes his way to the top. We have many presidential examples in our history: Lincoln, Eisenhower, Grant, Johnson, Truman, Ford, Reagan, and on. Could this same story happen now?  Maybe, but it’s not as easy as it was before. How did you approach researching the book, since financial details are often private? I usually started by reading a book on the president and looking for little items – education, jobs, homes – and then ferreting out primary source documents. But the most useful items are the letters.  Letters were where a lot of financial discussions occurred, from Jefferson and his financial challenges to Harry Truman lamenting to his future wife about whether he will ever find financial success. The presidential libraries and museums’ archives were also unbelievable.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvMoUuruCzU Did you notice any common themes or patterns in the presidents' financial behaviors and decision-making? A lot of bad financial decision making occurs when emotion controls the situation. For example, President George Washington asked James Monroe to go to France. Monroe agreed even though he had a substantial plantation at home that needed significant management. Monroe got to France and realized that to succeed, he needs gravitas. In 1790s France, that means having the right home to entertain in. So he went out and bought a house for the US with his own money – doesn’t ask permission and doesn’t think about the obligations back home. His salary doesn’t cover half of what he is spending. When Monroe’s appointment is over, he sells the house at a loss. Money is emotion – and managing it is very hard for all of us. You write in All The Presidents' Money that "wealth happens at the intersection of opportunity and discipline." What do you mean? We talk a lot about financial literacy and having strong financial skills. But the truth is you could be the greatest budgeter in the world, but if you have no money coming in, it’s a moot point.  Budgeting, risk tolerance, connecting with your future self – all of those things are the framework of finance – but you need your shot at wealth building, to put it in Hamilton parlance. You need to have the ability to make a living.  If you have that, and you use financial literacy, you can build financial resilience. Sounds easy, but in the current stage we are in the US, it’s gotten a lot harder. Several presidents had a strong aversion to debt. Do you think this is a valuable mindset for financial success?

10-03
32:54

LOPER BRIGHT CASE

With the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Loper Bright Case, courts no longer have to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous laws. This is a massive change in the way administrative law is practiced at the federal level. The Loper Bright Case touches almost every area regulated by the Untied States government.

09-12
33:36

AI and HUMAN RESOURCES

Artificial intelligence is a charged term- one that has been around, but has taken on new meaning in the last couple of years. As the first crossovers of AI and HUMAN RESOURCES emerge, many issues are coming out. People are both excited and afraid of its implications. Employees and their managers are afraid of cultural and measurement shifts (and career arcs in general). Executives are worried about missing out on ways to increase the top and bottom line. Boards are concerned about threats to corporate strategy and new and unseen risks that could put the company (and them) on the front page of the Wall Street Journal However, the news isn't all scary and the world is not becoming Skynet yet! SUSAN YOUNGBLOOD is an expert on the intersection of AI and Human Resources. Equipped with broad executive experience and board expertise, she is the ideal person to help us get our arms around the AI/HR intersection at the employee, manager, executive and board level. I spoke with her on the conundrum that decision-makers face as technology and people collide. SUSAN is a technology CHRO who has launched, acquired, and transformed companies at Fortune 50 and FTSE 100 companies such as IBM, BNY Mellon (BK), and London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG.L) as well as a tech startup, As a leader in the HR field, Susan enabled high growth and faster time to market by navigating teams through the human capital agenda at critical inflection points: New company launches, Rapid scaling, M&A, Global expansion, Digital transformation, and Large-scale cost reduction. Having dealt with company strategic issues, Susan has also managed global crises and assisted companies in mitigating extensive risks. https://open.spotify.com/episode/092y3urUEfDav5JTaraAbI?si=2a6c0eb7905747c2 Wealth Actually on Spotify Susan's Background AI and Human Resources How are companies are leveraging AI today? When implementing AI, what are some of the risks companies take? What are some big mistakes companies have made with AI ? Proper governance: what should it look like within businesses? How are boards responding to the AI and Human Resources implications? Are the scary things about AI for workers? What are the implications for various types of workers: The General Workforce Managers Middle Managers Executives With all of this worry, are there opportunities for the workforce? How do you prepare your workforce to embrace AI? https://youtu.be/HmdN8jL7iOY?si=ALUnFs0lbo0cV38x How do we find Susan? SUSAN YOUNGBLOOD LINKEDIN Additional Background on Susan Susan serves on the Board of Directors for Cornell University’s ILR school, is onthe Advisory Council for SUNY College of Optometry, and she is an angel investor. Sheholds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vassar College and a Master ofIndustrial and Labor Relations (MILR) degree from Cornell University, where shewas also the assistant coach of the women’s tennis team. https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

08-19
27:32

EMPOWERED ENTITLEMENT

"Empowered Entitlement" with Christian Broyhill

08-09
29:47

FAMILY OFFICE RECRUITING

"Family Office" recruiting is one of the most difficult subsets of wealth management. Loaded with mystery and allure, many wealthy families want to "have" a family office. It's a different story when the family has to determine the ROI of the project, lay out the costs and, ultimately, staff one. This is actual work. Family offices are expensive and require deep strategic thought and long term purpose and budgeting by the family. As we will learn here, family offices call for the identification, acquisition, and support of talent that is not readily available. This new talent can also be risky. A new structure with new people subjects large amounts of personal wealth to the domain of outsiders and public risk. Failure is often embarrassing (and expensive). https://open.spotify.com/episode/5IBc5iTzMNHHSoQqp8Ufhe?si=PUFi51DIR361WrnlEoJyRQ I went to a source with a unique viewpoint. BRIAN C. ADAMS is a Principal at Mack International, a leading executivesearch, and human capital consulting firm that serves the familyoffice/wealth management markets. Along with his background in family office, Brian has co-founded two real estate private equity firms, Excelsior Capital and Priam Properties, and has assembled a portfolio of over $600 million in real estate assets. Brian's Background and Unique Path into Family Office Recruiting The Nuts and Bolts SUCCESSION PLANNING AND NEXT GENERATION DEVELOPMENT TALENT IDENTIFICATION AND ACQUISITION/ STRATEGIES FOR RETAINING KEY TALENT COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGES AND HOLISTIC COMPENSATION APPROACHES GLOBAL TRENDS THAT IMPACT THE FUTURE OF FAMILY ENTERPRISES How "fully formed" is the vision for the office by the time they begin actually recruiting? Is this coming from the lawyer? The tax professional? The banker? Or from family office consultants? What is the ROI on a family office? Should it be a profit center? A "break-even" cost of doing business? A loss-leading accomodation? Is the family driving the search or a consultant? Do they often hire a CEO and they run the lower level searches?  How do you get a family to think about a family office's linkage with (or separation from) a family business?  Should it be funded out of liquidity or operating cash? Complications with Family Office Recruiting What happens if the job mandate doesn't feel right? How much are you dealing with the family and how much is it the consultant? Are the structures already built? Eddie Marshall's 3 x 3 rule "problem" for Family Offices: 3 years / Over 3M and you still don't know what you have? LEARN MORE HERE What are the real costs? Do families understand the expense? Who is developing the budget? Threading a needle- Identifying the talent and skills Cultural Fit Compensation terms - Salary vs Upside The accounting spine VS "the guy to analyze deals" VS a large, full service situation What happens if the fit is bad after 6 months? Searches for new (de novo) family offices Turnover due to retirement vs, turnover due to cultural problems Searches for executives vs. technicians Do searches for positions ever include family members to engender competition Private or Public Company Board experience - is a lack of it a red flag? Technology building and security experience Any major best practices (or worst) for families exploring which functions to internalize and which to outsource? Family offices and the trends toward outsourcing and MFO's How does one deal with "scope creep"? What if the family gets sick of the expense?  Do you look for other families to use services and share in the expense? https://youtu.be/O3qFi0YhuFI?si=nu5iQJ_Hnuno0zjX How To Find Brian Adams BRIAN ADAMS LINKEDIN BRIAN ADAMS MACK INTERNATIONAL https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

07-31
34:50

PROPUBLICA

PROPUBLICA has taken on the role abdicated by most mainstream news organizations. Its long form journalism, while controversial, takes on many special interests that escape public scrutiny. While I often don't agree with the slant that they take, ProPublica represents a new frontier for the fourth column. Traditional news outlets make less and less business sense. I wanted to find out more about how long form journalism is going to work going forward and how it will apply to financial regulation. So I spoke to JUSTIN ELLIOTT, an Investigative Reporter at ProPublica. Justin has won the Gerald Loeb Award for business journalism, the Selden Ring Award for a series on the American Red Cross and, with the “Trump, Inc.” podcast team, a duPont-Columbia Award. He co-wrote the story revealing tech mogul Peter Thiel’s multibillion-dollar Roth IRA which we talk about here. Justin's Path to Reporting The Role of PROPUBLICA in Long Form Journalism What are its origins? What is its mandate? How is it funded? What is the Role of Journalism in (Re) Establishing Accountability in Society? What is Congress' (and the other branches of government) role in fixing the issues that journalism uncovers? Peter Thiel's $5 Billion Roth What happened? (How did Thiel get assets into a Roth IRA with a $2K cap?) How did this work? (Funding a Roth IRA with low value Founders' shares) The "Law", the Intent of the "Law" and the Variability around the "Law"? Is this a valuation issue as much as a legal issue? Is it wrong? How should we correct a distortion like this? What's next for Justin and ProPublica and how do we find him? 2024 Election Coverage Justin at ProPublica Justin at Twitter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1YOe9GV0MY https://youtu.be/Ao33oyZJuC8 https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT Buy "Wealth Actually" Paperback, Kindle and Audio

06-27
35:28

TECHNOLOGY AND ESTATE PLANNING

The intersection of Technology and Estate Planning is now a dominant talking point in the wealth management space. The pressure for advisors to deliver more client value is intense. As the wealth management industry wrestles with establishing relevance, value, and control with the next generation, the emergence of Technology and Estate Planning to assist the advisor is a central theme in the RIA space and "Fintech." Combining centuries old "analog" concepts with new "digital" tools is the new silver bullet for reaching and keeping clients. Therein lies one of the biggest challenges in delivering this value. The formulation and communication of estate plans and wealth structures for clients and the next generation is tricky business. It requires experienced practitioners and tools that streamline a labor intensive (and often unprofitable) process. Once the picture of one's plan develops, it now requires ongoing maintenance and detailed administration as life marches on and risks and opportunities emerge. I spoke with DAVID BARNARD to understand the state of the art in creating, presenting and managing personalized trust & estate strategies for complex clients with Luminary’s digital collaboration platform. Technology and Estate Planning Issues The challenges in visualizing complicated concepts, Storytelling and the importance of communication in a world of numbers and graphs Helping the advisor have equal footing with other professionals The importance of collaboration (and not competition) with the legal and accounting world in providing coordinated advice Staying on the safe side of unauthorized legal or accounting advice and broader staffing issues The future of administrating wealth. DAVID BARNARD is the CEO and Founder of Luminary- the winner of two awards at the 2024 Family Wealth Awards . He previously led private wealth management for AllianceBernstein, overseeing more than $100 billion in client assets, and has served multiple philanthropic organizations as a director or trustee. Luminary's website is here: https://www.withluminary.com https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT

06-04
26:47

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HEALTHCARE

Artificial intelligence and healthcare have been intertwined for a long time. The public has finally noticed. With the emergence of OpenAI and other Large Language Model platforms, we are on the forefront of more huge changes in the business of health care. Healthcare and elder issues are the major concerns for most families planning for their futures. Artificial intelligence has permanently changed the method and pace of research, the role of privacy, the choice and delivery of treatment, and the way people interact with the healthcare community. To better understand these issues, I spoke with Chris Heye. who is working in the space. Background Dr CHRIS HEYE is the CEO and Founder of both Whealthcare Solutions, Inc. and Whealthcare Planning LLC. He is a proven entrepreneur with extensive experience starting and growing technology companies. After confronting dementia in his own family and witnessing elder financial abuse in friends, Chris decided that older adults needed more protection. Chris and I take a look at this intersection. The advances are exciting. Having surveying the landscape, we marvel at the leaps forward to come and worry about the issues that they create. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGlUlYQG84&t=7s Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Against that backdrop, we take on these questions: How is the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare changing medical research? Is artificial intelligence shifting the methodology and processes of healthcare and is it for the better? After sharing our experiences with dementia and loved ones, Chris and I wonder about the future of dementia management. Will the intersection assist patients with their day-to-day lives? Is artificial intelligence widening the gap between retirement, late stage health and death? Knowing the pernicious effect of ageism, can the financial planning industry properly account for the length and expense of elder living? What can we expect in the near future and what should we look out for? https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT Further Wealth Actually updates HERE

05-08
25:10

DIRECTED TRUSTEES

The transition of wealth between generations has put the spotlight squarely on fiduciary roles. With the rapid changes in the financial services space, directed trustees and independent administrative trust companies have exploded in popularity. The Evolving World of Directed Trustees Most advisors, wealth management firms, and clients under-appreciate the responsibility and risks of proper trusteeship. They remember a culture and business model that existed decades ago. These days, individuals trustees usually can't handle the rigors of the job and law firms are leaving the space for liability reasons. Finally, in an environment where clients want more flexibility and control, the large bank-owned trust departments provide a cumbersome experience and high turnover, With this in mind, modern estate planning has unbundled traditional investment, administrative and distribution trustee roles. There is a huge appetite for jurisdictional planning and best-in-class providers. With all of this change, it is confusing for the advisor to know who is responsible for what and how much it should cost. The Problem for RIAs RIA's do not have the resources to advise or service clients with this complexity. The administration and oversight of these structures is a distraction. Building a trust company to solve this problem does not make business sense in a private equity-backed RIA aggregation environment. Moreover, using conflicted trust providers is out of the question for fear of putting client relationships at risk. An increasingly popular option for RIAs and wealthy families is the use of directed trustees and the independent administrative trust company. CHRISTOPHER HOLTBY is a co-founder of an independent trust company that works specifically with wealth advisors and directed trustees. Not only do we highlight the best practices for identifying and partnering with an administrative trustee, but we also discuss the typical workflow between an RIAs and directed trustees. Chris' Background with Directed Trustees How RIAs work with directed trustees and an independent trust company: 1/ What are the basic requirements of independent trust company? 2/ Accordingly, which "value adds" should RIA firms should look for? 3/ Are there key attributes to spot when deciding to work/partner with an independent trust company? 4/ Lastly, should you be aware of any "Gotchas" in the space? How Do We Stay in Touch with Chris? WEALTH ADVISORS TRUST COMPANY Video of the Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YyqlULg1GA "Wealth Actually" is now on Video! https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT

04-13
23:27

RICHARD HAASS

Dr. RICHARD HAASS takes us on a tour of The World's Hot Spots. We also discuss the U.S. in 2024 and the concept of citizen ship.

03-19
41:28

CRYOPRESERVATION AND WEALTH

Episode 151 - MARK HOUSE Cryopreservation and wealth was once the purview of science fiction and Hollywood. Freezing one's self to be revived in the future is not just something out of Issac Asimov book or a Ridley Scott movie. The science, estate planning, and economics of this "call option on immortality" are here right now. There are legitimate and current issues with cryopreservation and wealth- fascinating ones at that! Science, estate planning, ethics, governance, economics and good old-fashioned drafting are in focus as I speak with Scottsdale-based attorney MARK HOUSE. We're going to get our arms around the misconceptions of the freezing process and what that means legally and practically. With that background, we'll dive into the structuring and drafting considerations to effectuate this amazing concept. Finally, we have some fun by guessing at what the world may look like with revived citizens hundreds of years from now. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND -How did Mark get into estate planning and how did he get into cryonics? CRYONICS -Let's define freezing "pre-death" vs "post-death." -Behind the Science: GREG FAHY'S WORK and BIO -What is the legal and funding process? ESTATE PLANNING AROUND CRYOPRESERVATION AND WEALTH -Usually when people die (and the being's existence terminates), the assets transfer to beneficiaries. However, here something different happens. -Is there a difference between being kept alive but in "suspended animation" and dying? -Does having various features including DNA maps serve as the basis for a new being? DIRECTED TRUSTS -Ownership in a trust should be able to provide the structure that allows the Grantor to be resuscitated when the science catches up. -Trusts have a Grantor, Trustee, Corpus (literally in this case) and beneficiaries. -Trustees must administer, invest and distribute.  -How does a directed trust allow the Grantor's intent to persist? TRUST REQUIREMENTS -Perpetuity and a Good Trust Protector Structure are vital. -With that in place, trustees must have distribution flexibility and discretion around "beneficiary determination" -Why is it important to have broad Trustee choice? -If we're making guesses about the future, why is nimble decision-making process around "science determinations" important? -When talking about investment flexibility, is endowing a future being a "prudent investment'? If so, how does a trustee sign off on that? CRYOPRESERVATION AND WEALTH ISSUES -Who pays the freezer? How much does this cost? -Once we know that, how does the trust pay for it? -When should a person use life insurance? When employed, does the presumption of death change anything? -What happens if you run out of funds? -Does it make sense to (also) endow the future persons' lifestyle? If not, how will they function in the future? -Should other the trust not include future beneficiaries to reduce a potential future conflict -How do you staff this? (See here for an interview with Betsy Brown on Corporate Trustees designed to deal with tricky situations: https://frazerrice.com/ep-63-betsy-brown/) -What if the individual or corporate trustees cease to exist? (Trust protector) -Is there liability for the science committee if they unfreeze too soon?  Can other beneficiaries then be added? Should they be? -Are private trust companies common in these situations? BEST PRACTICES AROUND CRYOPRESERVATION AND WEALTH -What’s the best way to get started? OUTRO - How do listeners find Mark House? MARK HOUSE CONTACT INFORMATION ARTICLE ON CRYONICS TIM URBAN'S ARTICLE OUR TRUST AND ESTATES PROFESSOR, JEFFERY PENNELL Firms that do this ALCOR- https://www.alcor.org/ https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

03-10
36:54

SHOULD I EXPATRIATE?

Episode 150 DAVID LESPERANCE AND MELVIN WARSHAW In this 150th Episode, we revisit the topic of citizenship and expatriation and try to answer the question, "Should I expatriate?." Establishing a life outside the friendly confines of the United States is a popular wealth conversation.. In the last few years, fueled by local dissatisfaction, political polarization, wealth divide animosity and positive "working abroad" experiences, "Expatriation" is now a big word in the cocktail party circuit. It's a word that shouldn't be taken lightly. Done correctly, it is a multi-year decision and planning process with significant consequences. Long-time friend of the podcast, DAVID LESPERANCE and fellow cross-border tax expert, MELVIN WARSHAW, share their expertise on the three levels of "detachment" from the USA. They will set out the administrative and tax consequences of moving up the ladder of recission from the United States. (David's previous interview here EP-76 Citizenship Diversification) What factors have caused a dramatic increase in Wealthy Families seeking second citizenships and residence as "Fire Insurance"? Tax the Rich proposals, Rising racism and anti-semitism, political polarization, mass shootings etc. What are the tax consequences of being a United States citizen? How does one obtain a second residence? What factors to consider? How does one obtain a second citizenship? What factors to consider? What are the types of "Fire Escape Plans"? (i.e. Go Bag option, American Living Abroad, Expatriation)  What are the Tax consequences of leaving the United States vs a full "Expatriation"? What are possible factors that may cause one to trigger their Fire Escape Plan? (SCOTUS decision in Moore, Election mayhem, natural disasters, election results etc.) What is the impact on the US of Wealthy Americans triggering Fire Escape Plans? Should I Expatriate? Contact David Lesperance on Linkedin Melvin Warshaw on Linkedin https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

03-05
37:27

FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA PROPERTY INSURANCE

Episode 148: Aon's Latanya Simmons Aon's LaTanya Simmons on Florida and California Property Insurance The challenging Florida and California property insurance environment is a huge topic of conversation. Anyone looking to insure a property knows that this has become tricky business in the last five years. Floods, hurricanes, wildfires and mold have are major problems for successful families' homes. These and other conditions have driven up premiums if you can find insurance at all. Add into the mix the complexity around the liability and the long term viability of the insurers. It becomes obvious that you need an expert to help navigate these risks. LATANYA SIMMONS is an Atlanta native and 2nd generation risk management professional. As the National Sports Practice Director and Private Risk Advisor with AON Private Risk Management, LaTanya provides expert personal property and casualty insurance advice and advocacy for successful individuals. executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers and family offices nationwide count among the people that she serves. We discuss the Florida and California phenomenon and what she sees as the future of the property and casualty insurance market in the high net worth space. The Florida and California Property Insurance Challenge Tell us what is going on in the Florida and California property insurance markets? What is the impact on customers? Are Florida and California (and New York) just the beginning for the risk markets? What strategies should those and others contemplating moves or purchases in other states consider beforehand? How has the insurance market changed over the last 5 years (and specifically in the last 2)? Where do you see it going? Will states like Texas, Colorado and Georgia feel this? Where do you identify the biggest insurance risks for highly successful individuals? How often should insurance policies and programs be reviewed, including the health of their insurer? Many clients are high profile due to their or their family’s success and involvement in the community. This puts them in the spotlight often – in the news, on social media, front page of their company website. What risks do higher profile people need to be thinking about? What other guidance you can share for successful individuals and families when it comes to managing the risk around their homes, autos, collections, and other property? Contact LaTanya LaTanya Simmons LINKEDIN AON Other "Wealth Actually" insurance discussions: https://frazerrice.com/ep-106-ahmet-bidav/ For More . . . https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/ The new audio version is out now!

02-20
20:34

OPTIMIZING SUPPLY CHAINS IN A CHAOTIC WORLD

EP-148 LALIT PANDA on Optimizing Supply Chains in a Chaotic World and the Steps to Protect and Improve Company Operations Defining the term "supply chain" and understanding what a company should control and what to outsource has never been more important to a business. Optimizing supply chains in a chaotic world is a huge challenge. Strategists at the executive and board level face: Major global flare ups that threaten inputs Huge pools of data to analyze, and Increased complexity of logistics as customer preferences develop (almost to the point of irrationality). LALIT PANDA has spent his career safeguarding, managing, de-risking and optimizing supply chains. Having worked with major companies like Sony and Altria on these problems, he joins us today to discuss the challenges and opportunities of in today's supply chain framework. Lalit is an Operations and Technology executive with leadership experience across 7 different industries at companies of all sizes that were Public, PE and VC backed. As a Chief Operations Officer or a Chief Information/Digital Officer in global companies, he has led digital and operational transformations at scale. Companies where he had roles range from large public companies like Sony and Altria to mid-size firms like Harman, Denon, Tronox etc. He has also been in late stage startups, ranging from consumer products to industrial chemicals and medical devices. He is a blogger and thought leader on supply chain and digital transformation topics. These are increasingly important in a world of rapidly changing technology and geopolitical risks. Latit holds degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and the National Institute of Technology. Based in Princeton, he co-chairs the programs committee of the Private Directors Association NY/NJ and the Technology and Industrial SIGs of The Executive Forum. Intro Background Supply Chain Definition What is the definition of Development? How do we categorize Planning, Sourcing, and Delivery? What is the importance of Execution? What goes into the Making of the Product? Finally, what are the complications around the Delivery of the Product? Traditional Notions and Recent Shocks With Recent geopolitical impacts, how are companies mitigating risk? What are the opportunities with recent Transportation advances? Are companies taking advantage of recent Advances in information technology and logistics management (last mile) What has been the impact of Covid / Work From Home (WFH)? What do companies traditionally get wrong when optimizing supply chains in a chaotic world ? Where is Strategic Perspective (and Oversight)? How can there be a Lack of Board Representation ? Looking into your crystal ball- what are the ways to improve supply chains amidst instability? How do listeners find you? LALIT PANDA LINKEDIN LALIT PANDA TWITTER - @latitpanda PRIVATE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATION https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/

01-25
30:48

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