In this special Q&A episode, Thomas and David tackle some of the most common—and practical—estate planning questions they get from clients. From deciding when a revocable trust makes sense to the pros and cons of joint vs. individual trusts, they break down tricky issues like funding trusts with S-Corps, student loan discharge at death, and structuring distributions for children. Whether you're helping clients title assets, avoid probate, or protect family wealth, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance for real-world planning.
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23:36
Titling Assets: The Critical Step After Estate Docs Are Signed
Titling assets correctly is one of the most overlooked but critical parts of estate planning. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman and David Haughton unpack the complexities of properly funding a trust—breaking down how to handle everything from bank accounts and investment accounts to business interests, private investments, and life insurance. They highlight common pitfalls, share practical guidance, and explain how to coordinate across professionals to ensure your estate plan actually works the way it was designed.
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23:29
Dynasty Trusts & the GST Exemption: Protecting Wealth Across Generations
Thomas, Anne, and David break down one of the most complex—but powerful—tools in advanced estate planning: the dynasty trust and the Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) tax. Learn how ultra-high-net-worth families use these structures to shield assets from future estate taxes, and why understanding the GST exemption matters for long-term planning. From trust structuring to choosing the right state jurisdiction, this episode offers a primer on preserving wealth across multiple generations—with practical context for advisors and clients alike.
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22:30
The Family Support Playbook: Gifting, Loaning, and Renting Explained
Helping kids financially isn’t one-size-fits-all. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and David Haughton unpack the nuanced differences between gifting, loaning, and renting when supporting family—especially when it comes to housing. They explore the legal, tax, and emotional factors behind each approach, including intra-family mortgages, interest forgiveness, and structuring rental agreements. From IRS considerations to preserving family dynamics, this episode helps advisors and clients make smart, intentional decisions when offering financial support.
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Estate Planning Myths, Roadblocks and Solutions with Brent Weiss, Co-Founder of Facet
Brent Weiss, Head of Financial Wellness at Facet, joins Thomas Kopelman and Anne Rhodes to bust common estate planning myths and explore how technology is reshaping the planning experience. They discuss why estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy, how friction and emotional weight often delay action, and how advisors can help clients overcome these barriers. From building connections with client's families to using digital platforms like Wealth.com, this episode offers practical insights to make estate planning more accessible, timely, and client-centered.
Let's reimagine estate planning together.
We'll explore ways for advisors to better serve existing clients and grow your business. Unlike other shows that skim the surface of easily Googled topics, hosts Thomas Kopelman and Anne Rhodes provide takeaways that advisors can use to meet your clients wherever they are in the estate planning process.
What’s the difference between a will and a trust? What is an estate plan, and why do you need one? What are the biggest estate planning mistakes? The Practical Planner details everything advisors need for effective estate planning. We cover everything from the basics (defining terms like beneficiary, trustee, and family trust, breaking down estate tax 101) to the more complex (such as compliance for advisors, best practices with crypto, and charitable strategies).
The Practical Planner is a production of wealth.com. Wealth.com is the #1 Estate Planning Solution built for advisors. Our mission is to modernize estate planning through innovative technology.
Thomas Kopelman is the Head of Community at wealth.com, and was named as a Top 100 Advisor by Investopedia in 2022 and 2023, 2023 Young Advisor to Watch, and Top 23 Millennial Financial Advisor by Business Insider.
Anne Rhodes is the Chief Legal Officer at wealth.com. Prior to her current role, she was an estate planning attorney first at McDermott Will & Emery (New York), then at Perkins Coie (San Francisco).
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