09/08/2026
A retired executive and her husband recently hired me for one very specific reason:
Help organize and coordinate their estate plan with their attorney.
They had been working through several planning decisions when the attorney recognized that some of the questions extended beyond the legal documents.
Quarterly investment statements that look like ancient hieroglyphics to an attorney.
Life insurance policies with riders and benefits that need translating.
Liquidity positions that could potentially use some enhancement.
Beneficiary structures lacking continuity with their legal documents.
The attorney did exactly what a great professional should do...
They brought another professional into the conversation.
Now we're working from both perspectives to strengthen future settlement of this couple's estate.
Attorney --> determines legal structure
Financial Advisor --> support structure across accounts
Attorney + Financial Advisor --> coordination
That's what a professional advisory team should look like.
Not one person pretending to know everything.
The right professionals knowing where their expertise ends—and where collaboration should begin.