It’s Your Estate
Estate planning is about more than just money—it’s about making sure your wishes are honored.
“It’s Your Estate!” strips away the legal jargon to help you make informed decisions about your assets, your healthcare, and the lasting impact you want to leave behind.
Estate Planning Fundamentals
Week 1: Why a plan is essential for everyone, regardless of net worth. We explain the probate process, how “asset titling” works, and the complications that arise for families when someone passes away without a plan.
Video Webinar By Richard Huntington, Don Vivrette & Matthew Hytrek
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
- The Trust Gap - Why clients don't follow through on estate planning
- What Science Knows About Grief
- How to Combat Client Estate Planning Procrastination
- Five Key Provisions of New Tax Law Affecting Estate Planning
- Impact of New $15M--Permanent--Estate-Gift Tax Exemption
- Big Beautiful Bil - What Estate-Planning Steps Make Sense Now
- Eight planning considerations for clients aging alone
Health Care & Power of Attorney
Week 2: Focuses on the “living” side of your legacy. Learn how Advanced Healthcare Directives and Durable Powers of Attorney ensure your medical and financial wishes are followed if you are ever unable to speak for yourself.
Video Webinar By Peter Kote, Don Vivrette & Christina McGonigle
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
Guide To Wills & Trusts
Week 3: We compare the two most common planning tools. Learn the pros and cons of Wills versus Revocable Living Trusts, and which is best for your family to avoid the cost and privacy leaks of probate court.
Video Webinar By Peter Kote, Don Vivrette & Jennifer Lefton
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
- Wealth Transfer Planning Must Go Beyond The Will
- Over-Focusing on Estate Taxes Creates Tunnel Vision
- Ten Estate Planning Topics Financial Advisors Should Discuss With Clients
- ‘Inheritance Bullying’ Is Putting Family Homes and Generational Wealth at Risk
- Family Feud - Disputes Over Sibling’s Actions as Executor
- How Clients Can Ensure Their 'Fur Babies' Are Cared For Long After They're Gone
- Giving Strategy Becomes Part Of Core Advice
- Wealth Transfer with Real Estate
- New SALT Cap Deduction--Unlock Massive Tax Savings With Non-Grantor Trusts
- Five Key Provisions of New Tax Law Affecting Estate Planning
- Don't Forget About Digital When Estate Planning
- Big Beautiful Bil - What Estate-Planning Steps Make Sense Now
Strong Retirement Asset Planning
Week 4: IRAs and 401(k)s are “contractual assets” that follow special rules. We’ll show you how to coordinate these accounts with your estate plan to prevent your heirs from facing unnecessary tax penalties.
WEBINAR VIDEO COMING SOON
This webinar will air on Friday October 16, 2026 at 10:30 am PT
In the meantime please enjoy our previous series here:
It’s Your Money ~ Spring 2026 series It’s Your Estate ~ Spring 2026 series
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
- Good news - IRS improved the IRA trust rules. Bad news - they still don’t work
- Don’t be tempted by pop-up estate planning schemes
- With Congress slow to act, financial advisors plan ahead on estate taxes
- Can I delay taking my RMDs
- The price of New York Life’s 401(k) lawsuit - $19M
- Soaring number of Americans are now 401(k) millionaires
- What inheritors of IRAs need to know about required withdrawals
- How to determine whether to take or leave your 401(k) at a former job
- Charitable planning with retirement assets
- Want to do a 529-to-Roth rollover - Read the fine print.
- RMD quirks that IRA beneficiaries face in '23
- Secure 2.0 - what you need to know
- Giving funds in IRAs to charity with QCDs
- RMD change delayed until 2023 for inherited IRAs
- The IRS answers a crucial penalty question for missed RMDs
- Backdoor Roth - Four tips to maximize tax savings
- Taking RMDs in the form of stock
- Confusion about RMDs on inherited IRAs
- IRA trustees wipe out an inherited IRA
- Inheriting retirement benefits after the SECURE act
- Planning for beneficiaries with mental illness or addiction
- How to fund your living trust
- The basics of income tax basis
Tax Advantages for Philanthropy
Week 5: You don’t have to be a lifelong philanthropist to benefit from charitable giving. Learn how to use Donor-Advised Funds and Charitable Remainder Trusts to secure significant tax breaks and a steady income for life, all while making a meaningful difference.
WEBINAR VIDEO COMING SOON
This webinar will air on Friday October 23, 2026 at 10:30 am PT
In the meantime please enjoy our previous series here:
It’s Your Money ~ Spring 2026 series It’s Your Estate ~ Spring 2026 series
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
- Donor Advised Funds
- Allocating retirement assets to philanthropy
- The close relationship between financial planning and estate planning
- New tax-advantaged opportunity - legacy IRA
- Gifting complex assets
- Reverse mortgage or life estate plus annuity
- Giving and getting back
- Tax-loss harvesting produces bumper crop of charitable cash contributions
- IRS warns of schemes aimed at wealthy taxpayers
- Vanguard, Schwab Charitable donors keep giving despite stock sell-off
- The benefits of ‘wise selfishness’
- Alternatives to donor-advised funds
- The best way to gift in 2022
- How to make the most of year-end charitable giving
- What should I do with my big fat inheritance
- Eight steps for effective family giving
- January is the new December for charitable contributions
- Six questions to ask about a charity
- 'Give It Twice' Trust
- Charitable Trusts - Advanced planning tips
- Donor-Advised Funds: 10 essential things to know
Navigating Estate Administration
Week 6: This final session provides a step-by-step guide for executors and trustees on how to settle an estate, distribute assets, and manage the final administrative responsibilities with grace and efficiency.
WEBINAR VIDEO COMING SOON
This webinar will air on Friday October 30, 2026 at 10:30 am PT
In the meantime please enjoy our previous series here:
It’s Your Money ~ Spring 2026 series It’s Your Estate ~ Spring 2026 series
General Workshop Documents
Workshop Documents Per Location
ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR :
COSTA MESA :
IRVINE :
LAGUNA BEACH :
LAGUNA NIGUEL :
ORANGE :
Articles
- Why I write my own obituary every year
- Potential downside for selecting a corporate trustee
- Common issues you may want to explore with your advisor & successor trustee
- What you should know before hiring a professional fiduciary
- 'Standing' up for refunds for deceased taxpayers
- Responsibilities of an executor explained
- How to properly insure vacant real estate
- Things to do when a person dies
- Why not to use the local broker to sell your real estate
- Statutory duties of trustee & trust admin process upon death
- Mediation in estate-planning disputes
- Border wars - Helping clients set financial and emotional boundaries
- Help clients select proper fiduciaries
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