About Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning
Estate planning is often delayed or misunderstood, yet the decisions you make today can have lasting consequences for your family, assets, and legacy.
Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning provides clear, practical insights on estate planning, probate, elder care planning, and trust administration based on the experience and perspective of estate planning attorney Jay Franz. Each episode explains important topics such as wills and trusts, tax planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, and how to keep your estate plan current over time.
Designed for individuals, families, and financial professionals, this podcast focuses on real-world estate planning issues and helps listeners better understand their options, avoid costly mistakes, and make informed decisions.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific situation.
This podcast features AI-generated content created using original material, ideas, and guidance provided by the show’s owner, Jay Franz of Buchalter LLP. Episodes are produced using artificial intelligence with human oversight and editorial direction.
What Happens When an Estate Plan Is Never Updated?
In episode 11, we examine what can happen when an estate plan is created but never updated as a client's life changes. An estate plan may remain legally valid while no longer reflecting the client's current family, finances, assets, relationships, health, or goals.
The episode explores common reasons an estate plan should be reviewed, including marriage, divorce, births and deaths in the family, changes in wealth, business ownership, health and incapacity concerns, relocation, changing beneficiary circumstances, and the acquisition of new assets.
The goal is not to encourage unnecessary changes to an estate plan, but to make sure the plan continues to reflect the client's current circumstances and intentions.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
28 Oct 2026
Lessons From Real-World Estate Planning Cases
In episode 10, we examine non-identifying estate planning examples that illustrate how seemingly small gaps can create significant problems for families. The situations explore outdated beneficiary designations, incomplete trust funding, business succession, trustee selection, incapacity planning, blended families, real estate, charitable intentions, and coordination among professional advisors.
This episode highlights a common theme across these situations: many estate planning problems can be addressed before a crisis occurs. It also explores how financial advisors and other professionals can recognize changes in a client's family, finances, business, health, or goals that may warrant a proactive estate planning review.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
21 Oct 2026
Charitable Giving and Philanthropy Planning
In episode 9, we explore how charitable giving and philanthropy can become an intentional part of a client's broader estate plan. The episode examines lifetime versus testamentary giving, the importance of considering which assets are donated, and why charitable planning should be coordinated with legal, financial, and tax professionals.
The episode also explores charitable beneficiary designations, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, private foundations, family involvement, communication, and the importance of making sure charitable intentions are properly implemented. The discussion emphasizes that tax considerations should support the client's philanthropic goals rather than become the sole reason for making a charitable gift.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
14 Oct 2026
Updating Your Estate Plan: Why Once Isn’t Enough
In episode 8, we explore why creating an estate plan is only the beginning of the planning process. Families, finances, businesses, health, and personal goals can all change over time, potentially leaving an existing plan out of step with the client's current circumstances.
The episode examines common events that should trigger an estate plan review, including marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, changes in health, death in the family, business transactions, changes in wealth, relocation, and changes involving trustees or beneficiaries. It also highlights how financial advisors can proactively identify these changes and encourage clients to review their plans before outdated documents or uncoordinated assets create problems.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
7 Oct 2026
Medicaid and Elder Care Planning Essentials
In this episode 7, we explore why Medicaid and elder care planning should begin before a family is facing an immediate care crisis. The episode examines the differences between healthcare and long-term care, the role Medicaid may play for eligible individuals, and why families should seek appropriate guidance before transferring assets or making major financial decisions.
The episode also addresses incapacity planning, powers of attorney, the family home, long-term care insurance, spousal considerations, family communication, and the role financial advisors can play in identifying potential elder care planning needs.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
30 Sept 2026
Estate Planning for Families with Complex Assets
In episode 6, we explore the unique challenges families face when estate planning involves complex assets such as businesses, real estate, private investments, partnership interests, and concentrated positions.
This episode examines why these assets require more than simply deciding who receives them, including the importance of succession planning, valuation, liquidity, ownership structure, and coordination among legal, financial, tax, and business professionals. Listeners will also learn how advisors can help clients identify potential planning gaps before complex assets become difficult issues for future generations.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
23 Sept 2026
Communicating Estate Plans With Families
Episode 5 explores why communication is an essential part of a successful estate plan. While legal documents provide the structure for transferring wealth and managing affairs, families are often left to interpret those decisions without understanding the intentions behind them.
The episode examines how clients can prepare trustees, executors, business successors, and beneficiaries for their future roles, why explaining the purpose behind certain decisions can reduce conflict, and how advisors can help clients begin important conversations before a crisis occurs.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
16 Sept 2026
The Role of Professional Trustees vs Family Members
In episode 4, we examine one of the most important decisions in trust planning: who should serve as trustee. The episode explores the advantages and potential challenges of choosing a family member versus a professional trustee, including expertise, independence, cost, continuity, family dynamics, and the complexity of the trust and its assets.
You'll also learn why trustee selection should be based on the responsibilities involved rather than simply choosing the person the client trusts most, and how financial advisors and other professionals can help clients evaluate whether their current and successor trustees remain appropriate.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
9 Sept 2026
Minimizing Taxes Through Estate Planning
Episode 3 explores how proactive estate planning can help address potential tax exposure while balancing the client’s broader financial and family objectives.
The episode examines lifetime gifting, trusts, charitable planning, business and real estate considerations, and the importance of evaluating income tax consequences alongside estate tax concerns. It also highlights how coordinated planning among legal, tax, and financial professionals can help clients avoid costly mistakes and implement strategies before time or circumstances limit their options.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
2 Sept 2026
Understanding Trusts: Which Type is Right for Your Clients
Episode 2 breaks down the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, explains several common misconceptions about how trusts work, and explores why the right structure depends on the client’s specific goals, assets, family circumstances, and need for control.
This episode also highlights the important role financial advisors and other professionals can play in identifying planning needs, coordinating with estate planning counsel, and making sure a trust is properly implemented after the documents are signed.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
26 Aug 2026
The Importance of Starting Estate Planning Early
Estate planning is often postponed until retirement, a major financial event, or a health concern makes it feel urgent.
In the debut episode of Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning, we explain why starting earlier can give individuals and families more choices, greater flexibility, and more time to coordinate the legal, financial, tax, and personal aspects of a comprehensive estate plan. We also explore the risks of waiting until a crisis limits the options available.
Contact Jay Franz:
Website: buchalter.com/lawyer/j-noland-franz
Email: jfranz@buchalter.com
Phone: (480) 383-1861
4 Aug 2026
Trailer: Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning
Welcome to Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning, a podcast featuring insights based on the experience and perspective of estate planning attorney Jay Franz.
Estate planning is often something people know they should address, but it is easy to delay. Thoughtful planning can make a meaningful difference for families, business owners, and the professionals who advise them.
In this podcast, we explore practical topics related to estate planning, probate, trusts, elder care planning, and financial strategies. Each episode breaks down important concepts in a straightforward way, including tax considerations, family communication, and maintaining an effective estate plan over time.
The goal is to make important planning concepts easy to understand and actionable for both individuals and financial professionals who guide them.
Contact Wise Counsel: Effective Financial and Estate Planning
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