Katie Nell

My Granddaughter Juliet Becomes a Woman

Two years ago, I shared Bat Mitzvah highlights in my post “My Granddaughter Stella Becomes a Woman.” Last weekend, Juliet became a Bat Mitzvah, joining her sister’s ranks for the coming-of-age moment when a girl takes on adult responsibilities in the Jewish faith. For boys, the occasion is a Bar Mitzvah; for girls, it’s a Bat Mitzvah—a daughter of the commandment, our covenant with G-d.

The weekend kicked off with a Friday night dinner at New York’s Altneu Synagogue. At the dinner, Laurie and I (better known as Juliet’s Mimi and Zaidy—the Yiddish word for grandfather) were honored to share some heartfelt reflections. Laurie, ever the master chef, gave her “recipe” for Juliet. Ingredients included cups full of kindness, love, laughter, thoughtfulness, silliness, determination, and hugs. “Start with a girl who has a very big heart…. Bake for 12 years, sprinkle generously with love, and you get the most wonderful result.”

For my remarks, the focus was on Juliet’s name. What’s in a name? In Juliet’s case, a lot! In his Shabbat sermon, even Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt endorsed my point, emphasizing that “a name is a dream and a destiny.” Here’s what I had to say:

My darling Juliet,

Congratulations on your Bat Mitzvah. Mimi and I are so extremely proud of you.

In thinking about my message to you today, I want to focus on your name: Juliet Georgie, Yehudit Gitel.

In Romeo & Juliet, Juliet has a line about names: “Names, names, what’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

She was suggesting that a name wasn’t that big of a deal, as you could call a rose something else, and it would still smell sweet.

Well, to us Jews, we attach a lot of significance to names. So I’ll beg to differ with Shakespeare’s Juliet on this one.

When your mom was pregnant with you and knew she was having a girl, she contacted me.

At that point, no one had yet been named after my dad, Julius George, Yehuda Getzel.

Lizzy said to me, I don’t know if we’ll ever have a son, and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to name a child of mine after Pop (that’s what she called my dad).

Are you ok if we name our daughter after Pop?

That was an easy, and enthusiastic, “yes!” from me.

The English name came easily to your mom – Julius George/Juliet Georgie.

The Hebrew first name was also easy—Yehuda/Yehudit.

For the middle name, my dad’s was a Yiddish name Getzel.

Your mom gave it a lot of thought, and came up with a random name I’d never heard before: Gitel.

Fine with me, but the name Gitel really didn’t mean that much to me because I felt no particular connection to it.

But a few years later, a magical moment happened. 

I was doing some research into my family heritage and, with the help of a cousin, discovered a photo I’d never seen before.

It was an old man standing in a cemetery in Russia, next to a tombstone of his deceased beloved wife.

The old man was my great grandfather Yankel Velvel Bluss (which became Blum when the family registered at Ellis Island).

The tombstone inscribed the name of his wife, my great grandmother. To my surprise, her name was spelled Gimmel, Yud, Tav, Lamed—Gitel!

Her whole name was Gitel Yenta. I figured out that my father, Yehuda Getzel, was named after his grandmother Gitel, something I never knew.

So, your name came from your great-grandfather, and his name came from his grandmother Gitel.

That’s powerful family heritage. 

As we often say, we are links in a chain.

Gitel’s link connects to her son’s link, that connects to my father’s link, that connects to my link, that connects to Lizzy’s link, that connects to your link, and G-d willing, more Jewish links to come as you carry on our family heritage.

I’ll wrap up by saying you share more than just my father’s name. You also share his wonderful traits.

Like you, Pop was a warm and loving people-person. He got along with everyone.

He was a genius when it came to emotional intelligence. 

My dad loved to bowl. He was in two Jewish bowling leagues, one for men and the other for couples. At the end of every bowling season, there was a trophy ceremony, and every year he came home with some trophies that sat crowded on top of our TV.

In addition to trophies for high game and winning team, there was one other trophy he got every single year, from both leagues. It was inscribed the “Sportsmanship Award—Julius Blum.” 

I didn’t know what that meant. When I asked him, he blew it off, “Oh, it’s just an award they give.” He was so humble.

Well, it wasn’t just an award they give, it meant a lot. It said he was a good sport, that he was warm and friendly, that he shied away from arguments and disagreements, he smiled, he was caring, and he got along with everyone.

That’s just like you, Juliet.

Also like you, Julius loved to cook. He was the chef at all or our shul dinners and events.

He was a very proud Jew and Zionist, and throughout his life, he held lots of leadership positions in Jewish organizations – loud and proud.

Juliet, that’s you too. 

I’m giving you an imaginary trophy tonight—it’s the Julius Blum Award for character, loving people, loving Judaism, and for sportsmanship.

You deserve it!

With love,

Zaidy

Thanks for sharing this mountaintop moment with me. Juliet carries on a meaningful name and a powerful Bar/Bat Mitzvah tradition, l’dor vador, from generation to generation. This is the stuff that legacies are made of. 

(Instead of Bat Mitzvah gifts, Juliet requested donations for Soroka Hospital in Israel to build a carousel to give suffering kids a lift. Here’s a LINK to her mitzvah project. Juliet’s heart is huge and she makes me so proud and grateful.)

Marvin E. Blum (aka “Zaidy”)

Marvin & Laurie Blum made a mountaintop memory at the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Juliet.

Marvin Blum is exceedingly proud that instead of Bat Mitzvah gifts, his granddaughter Juliet is seeking donations to Soroka Hospital in Israel for a carousel to lift the spirits of suffering kids.

My Granddaughter Juliet Becomes a Woman Read More »

Want to Avoid “Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Three Generations?” Here’s How to Beat the Odds.

I give a lot of speeches. Some are more technical, focused on tax saving tools (what I call the “head” side of my estate planning law practice). Others are aimed at passing down a meaningful legacy to next generations (what I call the “heart” side of my work). I recently had the privilege of giving one of those “heart” speeches at a Dallas Foundation program. My speech was entitled “How to Avoid ‘Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in 3 Generations’ – A F.A.S.T. Solution to Legacy Planning.” [Click HERE to read the PowerPoint.]

In promoting the speech, the Dallas Foundation summed up my topic: “For many families, passing wealth from one generation to the next is about much more than financial assets. It’s about preparing the next generation, preserving family values, and thinking intentionally about a legacy the family hopes to create. Drawing on his experience in estate planning and family succession, Marvin will explore how thoughtful planning can help families prepare heirs for the inheritance coming their way.” Indeed, with more than $110 trillion of wealth soon to pass to the next generation, my goal was to share practical tips and improve the odds of wealth passing into hands that are prepared to receive it.

We have all seen horror stories of an inheritance passing into unprepared hands. In those cases, the money can do more harm than good. It can also lead to family feuds and strife. Many families are struggling with questions like these:

  • “To what end have I created this wealth?”
  • “How much should I leave my kids?”
  • “How can I pass down not just valuables, but also values?”

Shockingly, 90% of families fall victim to the “Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves” proverb. One practical tip from the “head” side is to leave an inheritance to a Dynasty Trust so that it’s protected from creditors, divorces, and estate taxes. For retirement assets, I recommend leaving them to a Retirement Accumulation Trust for the benefit of your children. From the “heart” side, I described my Top Ten Tips from the 10% who beat the odds, as revealed on the below slide:

As the title to my presentation indicates, there is a “F.A.S.T.” solution—it’s a Family Advancement Sustainability Trust. In a nutshell, the F.A.S.T. Trust is a separate trust in the estate that doesn’t make distributions to beneficiaries. Instead, it pays for family enrichment activities such as family retreats, family travel, preserving family heritage, and maintaining the family’s legacy real estate. The optimal estate plan leaves heirs three inheritances: a traditional inheritance to provide for their needs, a philanthropic inheritance like a Family Foundation or Donor Advised Fund to provide for causes meaningful to the family, and a F.A.S.T. Trust to help preserve family unity and connection. 

The best recap of my speech came from my friend Christopher Holtby of Wealth Advisors Trust Company: “An estate plan is a stack of paper; technically correct and likely emotionally wrong. I sat in on a presentation earlier this week by Marvin Blum (nationally recognized estate attorney) and a friend of mine. Over 50 years of experience has shown him that the estate plan has to satisfy the head AND the heart. The tax work can be flawless, and the family still comes apart. His number: only about ten percent of families thrive into the third generation and beyond (e.g., shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves). The ones that make it are the ones that kept talking. So the question is not only who gets the valuables, but who gets the values.”

Holtby concludes: “A legacy letter does some of the work. Lessons learned, in the parents’ own words, in a drawer next to the trust. Maybe create a [F.A.S.T.] trust to keep the family vacations going and to keep talking. It funds family meetings and education, and it names the people responsible for making those meetings actually happen. It works at any level of wealth.” He reminds advisors that we have an important seat at the kitchen table. “Ask one family this week what they want their grandkids to know about how the money was made. What’s their ‘philosophy of family and wealth’?… Then write down what they say.”

Thanks, Christopher, for your LinkedIn post hitting the highlights of my talk. You found all the golden nuggets. And thanks to the Dallas Foundation for being such a powerful advocate for family legacy planning.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Want to Avoid “Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Three Generations?” Here’s How to Beat the Odds. Read More »

Theo Makes a “Guest Appearance” at The Blum Firm’s Annual Meeting

When building a legacy, whether it’s a family legacy or a business legacy, it’s important to pause each year and look backwards and forwards. We look backwards to learn from the past and forwards to dream big. Traditionally, that pause takes place around New Years Day, but that’s a busy time. Consider creating an annual tradition to do it at a time that’s more conducive to pausing. That’s what we do at my law firm. The Blum Firm sets aside a day each fall to pause, reflect, and dream, before our busy season and the holiday season gets into full swing. 

Last week was The Blum Firm’s annual meeting. To make it more fun, we always have a theme. This year’s theme was “Let’s Saddle Up for Success!,” tying into our local Western culture and all the fun images that conjures up. This year, I welcomed everyone to the “roundup” with remarks aimed at building connection and inspiring greatness. In preparing my opening comments, I drew from Allen Levi’s blockbuster novel Theo of Golden. The book speaks to us in a very powerful way, explaining its extraordinary rise to #1 bestseller status. It was the subject of my blog post of June 30, 2026, “Book Tip: Theo of Golden.” 

Thanks to Theo, this year’s speech had a palpable impact on The Blum Firm. The lessons seemed to really soak in. Here are my words—perhaps they’ll speak to you too. Bear with me till the end, as it reveals a big surprise I received after I wrote the speech.

“In my opening remarks each year, it’s my goal to offer some words of inspiration—to inspire each of us to keep reaching and growing to become the best we can be.

 

Today, I’m drawing the inspiration, for my words of inspiration, from the novel Theo of Golden, which The Blum Firm book club just read. It’s the number one best-selling novel in the world.

 

Before I get into the story and the lessons we can take from it, let’s draw some inspiration from the author, Allen Levi.

Levi is 70 years old, and this is his first novel. Levi is a role model for continually growing and reinventing yourself.

His first career was as a lawyer.

His second career was as a singer-songwriter.

His third career was as a judge, a probate judge as a matter of fact.

And now he’s a best-selling novelist.

The message is to always be open to doing new things and learning new things.

At The Blum Firm, we encourage everyone to grow—take on new skills, be a lifelong learner, and stay energized.

 

The second takeaway I want to share about Allen Levi and this book is how we can inspire each other.

Levi wrote the novel during COVID and then packed it away.

He reluctantly allowed his 5 buddies to read it, and they were blown away.

They insisted, not just encouraged, him to publish it.

Levi couldn’t find a publisher, so he just self-published it and his niece promoted it on social media.

Levi said his friends told him 4 life-changing words: “We believe in you.”

Theo of Golden is now being marketed in 42 countries, they’re making it into a movie, and Levi is busy writing a sequel.

None of that would’ve happened without the support and insistence of his colleagues.

Here at The Blum Firm, we believe in each other, and we need to tell each other that, support and encourage each other, like Allen Levi’s buddies did for him.

 

I’ll now get into the story (without spoiling it for those who wish to read it), and the lessons we can learn from it here at The Blum Firm.

The novel covers a year in the life of Theo, an 86-year-old man, who comes to the town of Golden, Georgia.

He enters a coffee shop where the walls are covered with pencil portraits of random folks in the Golden community, all drawn by a gifted local artist.

Theo is so drawn to these portraits, that one-by-one, he buys them, finds the subject of the portrait, and then meets them at a fountain in the center of town to make a bestowal of the portrait to the subject.

Theo connects with these portrait subjects, along with other townsfolk, and builds a community that becomes a very interwoven group who are there for each other during lots of trials and tribulations.

 

The first lesson from this plot that can inspire us is how Theo found the value in everyone. 

Theo was a wealthy aristocrat, yet he created relationships with people of all walks of life, even a homeless person, a janitor with a sickly daughter, starving artists, lonely people—he saw the good in everyone.

Theo treated everyone with dignity and respect.

When he bestowed a portrait to someone, he told them what he saw in their eyes.

People want to be seen. Theo made them feel seen. He elevated them and filled their bucket.

That’s the way we treat each other at The Blum Firm and it’s the way we treat our clients. It’s the kind of behavior I try to model every day, and it’s one of the reasons I left Big Law (where I didn’t see that kind of behavior) and started The Blum Firm.

 

The next lesson is to listen and care. Theo did that with his new friends. That’s how he got them to trust him.

So, his new acquaintances didn’t just feel seen, they also felt heard. And then they embarked on a trusting relationship with Theo.

When we listen and care, we develop trust with our clients.

Everyone’s life is a story. I start every new client meeting by saying to the client: “Tell me your story.”

It builds a remarkable and instant connection.

 

Another lesson from Theo that is a big part of our law practice is to show compassion when people are hurting.

So many of the families we serve are hurting—maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, or a struggle with family dynamics, or confronting their own mortality.

In his younger years, Theo suffered the loss of a young daughter who was the light of his life. 

Rather than wallow in bitterness, Theo chose to fill the void by living a life helping others. He filled the hole with generosity, relationships, and spirituality. He transformed the pain into purpose.

We can help our clients, and each other, heal from pain by offering compassion and encouragement.

I know I felt that love from all of you over the summer when I lost my mother. Your being there for me lifted me up and it still powers me through the loss.

 

Theo also taught us about the value of building a community. Theo took a batch of strangers in Golden and melded them into a community that cared for each other.

The Blum Firm is a community, a very important community. We don’t just come here and work and then go home.

We share a strong bond with each other. 

Like Theo’s community, we are a diverse group. We come from different places and bring different traits to the office. We are an assortment of strengths and weaknesses.

But we fill each other’s gaps. We’re here for each other in thick and thin. And I feel a great sense of peace and personal legacy that this a community that will continue long into the future, even after some of us (including me) are gone, hopefully a long, long time from now.

In the end, Allen Levi said he wrote the book to show the reader that life is about choices. 

His goal was to inspire the reader to be more like Theo, to choose to be an agent of kindness, generosity, faith, and love.

As we embark on today’s session to reflect on what The Blum Firm is, who we are, who we can be, and dream big about all those possibilities, my hope is that we can make choices like Theo made and aspire to be the kind of person that Allen Levi created in Theo.”

After I wrote these remarks, I sent them to my best friend, Talmage Boston, who forwarded them to Allen Levi, the author of Theo of Golden. To my total joy and disbelief, Levi then left me a voicemail with his reaction to my speech. I am so honored by Levi’s message that I’ll share it with you:

“Well, hello, Marvin.

Good morning. This is Allen Levi.

It is Monday morning. I did not want to start my day without thanking you for the outline, the notes that you will be using in your address to your law firm. Talmage was thoughtful enough to send that to me. He knew that it would be an encouragement, and it is every bit of that.

I’ve been really interested and intrigued by how much thought that some of the readers have given to the text of Theo, but I don’t know that I have seen anything quite as comprehensive or organized or well put together as the remarks that you’re going to share with your law firm. And I am so honored that you see some usefulness to the story with your law colleagues.

You know my past/my history and I think you and I would both agree that for all of its virtue, our profession is woefully imperfect and is often motivated by things that are less than noble.

And I’m grateful that this story about an old man from Portugal might be useful in reminding us of the good that we’re capable of. So, thank you, thank you. thank you.

I wish that I could be in the audience to take notes and raise my hand and ask some questions because I’m sure that your insights are probably more weightier and more substantive than even the story itself.

But maybe one day we can share a meal or a cup of coffee together and I can pick that wonderful mind of yours and benefit from hearing your story. But in the meantime, all the best. I am so grateful for you. I can’t tell you how encouraged and grateful I am for your kindness toward me. So, I hope you have a great day today and again I look forward to seeing you one good day down the road.

All the best and every blessing.”

You can imagine how blown away I was to receive that call. Thanks for coming along with me for this year’s annual meeting of The Blum Firm. In my goal to inspire others, I ended up with my own heart full of inspiration. I call that a big “win–win!”

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum channels author Allen Levi’s Theo to open with words of inspiration at The Blum Firm’s 2026 Annual Meeting.

The Blum Firm comes together to pause, reflect, and dream big for the coming year.

Theo Makes a “Guest Appearance” at The Blum Firm’s Annual Meeting Read More »

The Family Office: Your Family’s Legacy May Depend on Having One

For the first few decades of my career as an estate planning lawyer, I never heard the term “Family Office.” Over the last several years, the concept has gained traction. I first wrote about it in this blog five years ago, Every Family Needs Some Kind of “Family Office,” July 13, 2021 [click on this LINK to read it]. Since that time, the idea of a Family Office has expanded dramatically. There is no one-size-fits-all structure. I made that point in my post: “Every family needs to design the family office structure that’s right for it. There’s no cookie cutter for this, and no two will match. As Tom Rogerson [of GenLeg Co.] says: “If you have seen one family office, you have seen ONE family office.”

The Dallas Morning News ran a series of articles shining a spotlight on this phenomenon: “Inside the World of Family Offices” by Charlotte Kramon, July 21, 2026, as well as articles on July 13 and July 26. There are good reasons for all this attention. The Family Office plays a key role in managing finances, but beyond that it helps the family prepare next generations to handle wealth responsibly, address succession issues, and provide overall family governance.  The concept is still somewhat in its infancy, but rapidly evolving. To that point, Kramon quotes me in her article: “’It’s very much a new invention, so we’re kind of feeling our way through this still,’ said Fort Worth estate planning attorney Marvin Blum. ‘I went to law school 50 years ago. There was no such thing as a family office. No one ever used that terminology.’”

Probably the first thing people think of when they hear about a Family Office is a place to manage financial needs—investing, tax, accounting, bill paying, insurance. But as the institution has evolved, the mission has broadened into legacy concepts like coordinating family meetings to identify the family’s mission and values, planning enrichment and education activities, preserving heritage, and engaging in exercises to build trust and strengthen relationships. In his article “How to Set Up a Successful Family Office,” David Ramli asserts: “Preserving generational wealth is as much about managing relationships as it is about managing assets…. Families usually create single family offices for three reasons: to preserve wealth across generations, to maintain peace between them or to uphold shared values for as long as possible…. The question you should be asking yourself is, ‘What’s the purpose of this wealth for me and my family? Before a family can manage its wealth, it must first learn to manage itself.” (Bloomberg, Dec. 1, 2025).

Alicia Adamczyk emphasizes this point: “Investment advice and tax planning are some of the cornerstone services typically offered, but a major function of any family office is legacy planning. Many are focused on not just wealth building, but on wealth preservation. To that end, they go to great lengths to prepare the next generation to inherit their family’s wealth. That can include teaching them the fundamentals on topics like investing and estate planning, using a wide range of forums—from family meeting to workshops to retreats—while also strengthening relationships between family members.” (“How Family Offices Became the Investment Powerhouses Behind America’s Wealthiest Dynasties,” Fortune.com, Feb. 13, 2025).

Scott Saslow tells the story of his father’s death and how the task of reshaping the family office fell on his shoulders. He engaged in a two-year effort, working with consultants and other family offices. Saslow confesses that he “made many mistakes along the way. So he wrote a book, hoping to help other families avoid the pitfalls:” Building a Sustainable Family Office: An Insider’s Guide to What Works and What Doesn’t. “My intent in sharing my own story and what I’ve learned is to help other principals hear in detail, in an open and honest way, how another family office started, grew, and was rebuilt a few times…. Each family—and, therefore, each family office—is unique, yet some of the themes are universal.” (“Scott Saslow Rebuilt His Family Office—Then Wrote the Book He Needed Beforehand,” Institutional Investor.com, July 18,2024).

In my post last week, I described my career journey from “all head” to “head and heart” estate planning. As I’ve infused my tax practice with a passion for helping families thrive, I’ve discovered the intersection between tax planning and legacy planning. Families who embrace both head and heart are ripe for some kind of family office to help coordinate the efforts. TIGER 21 founder Michael Sonnenfeldt cites legacy-building families as “one of the strongest arguments for establishing a family office, because only a dedicated structure can consistently align investments, taxes, trusts and legacy planning into a coherent whole…. [When it comes to] Family Mission: a family office can institutionalize legacy, education and philanthropy. Its ‘return’ may exceed pure financial metrics.” (“Lessons from an Entrepreneur on When to Build a Family Office and How to Protect Your Wealth,” Barron’s, May 15, 2026).

So where are we today in the evolution of the Family Office? It’s a good start, but there’s work to do. A UBS study reveals that “only 42% of family offices have a strategy for ensuring a smooth wealth transition to future generations. The root of the problem, it seems, is the difficulty family offices have managing the so-called ‘soft issues.’” (Michael Thrasher, “UBS: Family Offices Are Fumbling Their Own Generational Wealth Transfers,” Institutional Investor.com, May 31, 2023). What are the soft issues where family offices struggle? The first has to do with helping the family articulate their values. But there are three more. The J.P. Morgan 2026 Global Family Office Report reveals them: 

  • adopting a formal governance structure, reducing the risk of internal family conflict, with a mechanism to address such conflict when it arises,
  • addressing succession planning, as 86% of family offices lack a clear succession plan, and
  • engaging the next generations in the family office, preparing them to be responsible inheritors. 

On this last point in particular, I expressed wholehearted agreement in Kramon’s Dallas Morning News article: “’Preparing the next generation is really critical, because if you don’t prepare for it, they’re going to be handed a loaded gun with no instruction manual,’ said Blum, the estate planning lawyer.” The Blum Firm welcomes the opportunity to help your family develop that “instruction manual.”

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin & Laurie Blum with key members of the Blum Family Office team Desiree Woods, Bryan Minhinnette, and Cat Bardin (left to right).

The Family Office: Your Family’s Legacy May Depend on Having One Read More »

If You Care About Saving Tax, Read This Post

I often describe my journey as an estate planning lawyer as traveling from a place that was all “head” to a “head and heart” destination. I went to law school 50 years ago, and the focus was entirely technical. I became a “tax man.” I even recall classmate Steve Willey, editor of a law school newsletter, describing me as “the nicest tax man around,” an oxymoron that meant a lot to me. For the first four decades of my career, living up to that “tax man” label was my goal. 

Then I began witnessing some bad inheritance outcomes. My active tax planning was doubling the size of inheritances, but the money often seemed to be doing more harm than good. Throwing more money at unprepared heirs was adding fuel to the fire. That’s when I shifted into a “head and heart” approach to planning. I still embrace the head side, but I now couple it with a holistic viewpoint, helping families pass down not just valuables, but also values. “Head and heart” planning is not just money-driven, but also purpose-driven. 

As my commitment to this “heart” side expanded, I began writing this blog on Family Legacy Planning. My mission with this blog was to share some tips on building and passing down a meaningful legacy. I thought I’d have run out of juice long before now, but somehow, I’m six years into it and have never missed a Tuesday post. I recently sent out my 300th post.

I say all this as a preamble to today’s message, because in this post I want to veer back into the “head” side. I do so without apology, as the head and the heart are intertwined. Neither “all head” nor “all heart” works well. The family needs both financial security and a strong legacy culture to thrive. It brings to mind the words of consultant Susan Stone when facilitating a Trinity Valley School strategic planning project: “No margin, no mission.” We were dreaming big with lofty goals for the school, and she brought us back to earth with the reminder that, without a profit margin, we’d achieve no mission. So, allow me to put on my tax hat today and let’s explore some techniques to save tax.

To save income tax, we utilize a mixing bowl partnership to scrape off the high basis from one asset and shift it to a low basis asset. Upstream planning involves a simple way to soak up an elder loved one’s unused $15 million exemption and step up the basis of your assets, through the use of a carefully designed general power of appointment (“GPOA”) inserted into your revocable living trust. We engage in swaps of high basis assets into a grantor trust, in exchange for low basis assets, in order to get a basis step-up upon death. We also optimize the benefits of Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock (“QSBS”) and through creative workarounds can avoid tax on $15 million to $750 million of gain upon the sale of a business. We developed a unique way to pack value into a Roth IRA. Other ways to save income tax include Private Placement Life Insurance (“PPLI”), as well as various charitable strategies. 

To save the 40% estate tax, we turn to “squeeze and freeze” techniques. We start with the squeeze, transferring assets into a holding company like a Family Limited Partnership (“FLP”), achieving both asset protection and valuation discounts for lack of control and lack of marketability. We then turn to the freeze step, transferring your interest in the FLP to certain trusts like the Defective Grantor Trust (“DGT”) for your kids, the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (“SLAT”) for your spouse, the 678 Trust or Beneficiary Defective Inheritors Trust (“BDIT”) created with a $5,000 gift from a third party to a trust for the benefit of YOU and your family, the Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (“GRAT”), and others. With careful planning, you can avoid the 40% federal estate tax (plus state inheritance tax), yet retain access, control, and flexibility. At The Blum Firm, we’ve succeeded in doing so hundreds of times, all with full transparency and no pushback from the IRS. In a recent case, the IRS even approved the estate tax return from a client where the planning we did saved over $1 billion. 

Here’s the key point I have to stress. These opportunities are available today, under present law. However, as political winds shift, the window of opportunity may close. We dodged a close call in 2021 when Senator Bernie Sanders’ “For the 99.8%” legislation failed by two votes. A key takeaway from that proposed law was that it grandfathered anyone who had already engaged in the technique before the law changed. Regardless the outcome of the November mid-term elections, we may still have a two-year window to use all these tools, provided the President vetoes any legislation to raise taxes, but you never know what legislative trade-offs could arise. Senator Chris Van Hollen has already introduced the “Strengthen Social Security by Taxing Dynastic Wealth Act” (a clever title), reducing the $15 million exemption to $3.5 million for estates and $1 million for gifts, and raising the rate from 40% to 45%. Bernie Sanders has introduced a companion bill with even more changes. A word to the wise: don’t wait. Act now while the law is favorable.

I give a lot of speeches on this topic. Click on this LINK for a recent presentation on “Head and Heart” Estate Planning. In particular, note the Income Tax Strategies and Gift Planning Toolbox on slides three and four. 

TIGER 21 founder Michael Sonnenfeldt emphasizes the importance of engaging in active tax planning in his Barron’s article of May 15, 2026. Sonnenfeldt stresses the difference between before-tax and after-tax returns. The measure that matters more is the after-tax outcome, the amount left in your pocket after paying Uncle Sam. He cautions against living with a pre-tax mindset, “because after-tax and after-estate outcomes diverge dramatically from pre-tax perceptions.” Sonnenfeldt wisely considers both the income tax hit and the estate tax hit. “Most of us live intellectually in a pre-tax world, but at a certain level of wealth, the measure that matters most is what reaches future generations.”

Here’s where there’s a convergence between the “head” side of planning and the “heart” side. Per Sonnenfeldt’s MUUSINGS Substack about living in an after-tax world, an after-tax mindset is especially valuable when it comes to philanthropy.  “This is not simply a matter of being tax-efficient. It represents a more thoughtful approach to wealth stewardship—an intersection between financial prudence and moral responsibility. It allows you to redirect resources in a manner that reflects your values and commitments, AND do so by making scarce resources go farther through wise planning. Philanthropy done wisely extends your legacy far beyond financial success. What are you doing to prepare for the next gen?” 

Visionary families pay attention to this intersection between tax planning and legacy planning. After five decades practicing in this area, it’s become my passion. I want to help families thrive, from generation to generation. We’d be honored to help you achieve that mission for your family.

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum (right) and Michael Sonnenfeldt share the view that after-tax returns matter far more than before-tax returns, especially when it comes to legacy planning.

If You Care About Saving Tax, Read This Post Read More »

Looking Back at My First 300 Posts– The Evolution of Blum’s Blog

Last week was my 300th post. The reaction to that milestone has been so affirming. Many of you requested that I sort the first 300 by topic and compile them into a book. I toy a lot with the idea of writing a book, but work and life keep getting in the way. I’ll keep trying, as I am honored by the support for a book of Marvin Blum Legacy Lessons. Thanks for the encouragement.

Hitting the 300-mark has put me in a reflective mood. Today, I am highlighting some of the most impactful posts, based on my own favorites and on metrics that track readership. We receive a bar graph that shows the number of readers, and some of the posts have shockingly high spikes.

As Julie Andrews sang in Do-Re-Mi, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.” When The Blum Firm hit our 40th anniversary on October 1, 2020 (deep in the heart of COVID), I announced the launching of this Family Legacy Planning blog to commemorate it. We were all sheltering at home and couldn’t attend a reception, so I decided to have a “stay-at-home” celebration. Every Tuesday morning, your inbox would have a “Musing from Marvin” aimed at inspiring families in their journey to pass down a meaningful legacy.  My early posts were full of practical tips, drawn from the best practices of successful families. First and foremost were tips for conducting the all-important family meeting. It branched from there into developing a family mission statement, creating a family governance structure, writing a “legacy letter” to your heirs, preserving family heritage, and lots of other practical “how-to-do-it’s.”  

Those early posts were chock full of my best wisdom from 40+ years of law practice, but there was a missing ingredient in them – there was no “Marvin” in them. That changed on March 15, 2022, when I went out on a limb and told my own family heritage story: “I Am Ukrainian.” It featured my Zaidy, Eliezer Weinstock, and told of my four grandparents’ escape from Hitler. I shared that I chose the name Zaidy (Yiddish for grandfather) as my grandpa name, honoring the memory of my Zaidy. He endured unspeakable hardship in Czarist Russia (including having an eye poked out in a pogrom against Jews) yet miraculously made it to America where he remained steadfastly committed to his Jewish faith. The feedback was so enthusiastic. Readers wanted more “Marvin” stories in my posts. 

In my efforts to inspire legacy, I never imagined that this blog would become so autobiographical. I also never imagined that I’d find enough personal stories from the recesses of my memory to keep this weekly blog going for now almost six years. I now live with a heightened probing into my life experiences, and somehow the well hasn’t yet run dry. My aim is to connect each story to a legacy lesson. From that Zaidy post on, the tone of this blog has turned deeply personal, and you’ve rewarded me with wonderful affirmation. 

In an attempt to categorize my posts, I see so many that speak to raising caring and productive kids, preserving family heritage, weathering storms, and celebrating relationships. More than anything, at this point in my life, I care about relationships. It’s the first prong of the Blum Family Mission Statement. To that end, I often feature my deep love for family and friends—my wife Laurie, kids Adam and Lizzy and their families, best friend Talmage Boston, law school “Canoe Brothers,” and most recently, memorializing my recently deceased dear mother Elsie, the matriarch of our family. Many of those posts generated out-sized popularity, such as “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match,” “Choose the Right Spouse: That’s What Friends Are For,” and “When in Doubt, Go! It Saved Talmage’s Life.”

Which post is my all-time favorite? That’s hard—almost like asking me to choose a favorite of my six (soon to be seven) grandkids.  I have a strong personal connection to my five-part series describing the highs and lows of our visit to Israel during the week leading up to the October 7 attack on Israel (posts from October 10 through November 9, 2023).  But if I must narrow it down to one, I’ll go with “How a Jukebox Paid for My Bar Mitzvah.” That post reveals my humble and hard-working upbringing, which informs much of who I am today, and the values of faith, family, and hard work instilled in me by my parents.

Now for the BIG REVEAL. Out of all 300 posts, which is the one that generated the most readers? By a long shot, the sky-high spike on the bar graph goes to “Getting Real: My Daughter’s Sobriety Journey.” Lizzy encourages me to tell the story of her battle with alcohol addiction. We are grateful that she is now more than five years sober. Perhaps the biggest reward from this blog comes from those who have read my numerous posts about Lizzy’s struggle and found the courage to address their own addiction. Almost every family faces this issue in some way or another. Thank you, Lizzy, for your vulnerability and transparency. You are saving lives.

So now I move on to the next batch of posts. Do I have another 300 in me? Time will tell. I’ll keep at it till I run out of juice. 

Thanks to all of you for joining me on this journey to build a meaningful legacy, and pass it down L’dor Vador, from generation to generation.

 

Marvin E. Blum

The post that changed the whole tone of Marvin Blum’s blog, featuring the heart wrenching story of Marvin’s Zaidy, Eliezer Weinstock, in “I Am Ukrainian.” Thereafter, the blog focused heavily on Marvin’s personal stories.

The post that is Marvin’s personal favorite: “How a Jukebox Paid for My Bar Mitzvah,” featuring Bar Mitzvah boy Marvin at age 13 in 1967.

The post with the most readers (by far) out of all 300: “Getting Real: My Daughter’s Sobriety Journey,” featuring Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky and her battle overcoming alcohol addiction.

Looking Back at My First 300 Posts– The Evolution of Blum’s Blog Read More »

My 300th Post: Shining a Light on One of My Greatest Legacies—The Blum Firm

Wow, today marks my 300th blog post!

For 300 weeks, an email from me has arrived in your inbox every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. CT. First and foremost, I want to thank you for coming along on this journey. Thank you for reading these posts, reaching out to share your thoughts, and inspiring me to keep writing.

When I began this blog, my goal was to share lessons about Family Legacy Planning: how to prepare our heirs, pass down family values, and create a legacy that extends far beyond financial assets. Over the years, it has evolved into a place where I can also share stories about my own family heritage, relationships, life lessons, and experiences, all of which shape the legacy I’m working to create.

As I reflect on these 300 posts, it seems only fitting to use this milestone to celebrate what I consider my greatest professional legacy: The Blum Firm.

The firm has given me a platform to share these messages with so many of you. More importantly, it has given me the opportunity to build something alongside an extraordinary group of people.

That is why I am thrilled to announce that The Blum Firm has been named one of Fort Worth Inc.’s Best Companies to Work For in 2026! To say I could not be prouder of our firm would be an understatement.

This honor is especially meaningful because the selection process includes anonymous feedback from employees about their experiences. To know that our team members feel supported, valued, and connected is one of the greatest recognitions our firm could receive.

I often refer to our team as my work “family,” and I use that term very sincerely. When I left the Big Law world to establish The Blum Firm, I made a vow to create a caring environment where people would be surrounded by colleagues who genuinely support one another. Seeing that vision come to life has been one of the greatest blessings of my career.

When I’m asked about my greatest professional accomplishment, the answer is easy: it’s the team I’ve assembled.

Our attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and support team share a commitment to our clients, to one another, and to excellence in everything we do. No one here is flying solo. We collaborate, draw on each other’s strengths, and continually go above and beyond to fulfill our mission:

  • Caring for our clients and each other;
  • Collaborating with other advisors and among ourselves; and
  • Creating a community of character and talent.

For 300 posts, I have written about what it means to build and pass down a meaningful legacy. It brings me tremendous gratification to mark this milestone by shining a light on a part of my legacy that means so much to me and on the people who have helped me build it.

This honor belongs to every member of The Blum Firm. Thank you for the talent, heart, and dedication you bring to our firm each day. As the saying goes, “It takes a village,” and boy, am I thankful for mine!

 

Marvin E. Blum

As Marvin Blum reflects on the milestone of his 300th blog post, he proudly celebrates The Blum Firm being named one of Fort Worth Inc.’s Best Companies to Work For in 2026.

The Blum Firm team, whose talent, heart, and dedication made this meaningful recognition possible.

My 300th Post: Shining a Light on One of My Greatest Legacies—The Blum Firm Read More »

Book Tip — The Shell Seekers: How to Be an Heir Worthy of a Legacy

I often write about the giver’s role in passing down a legacy. I encourage parents and grandparents to hold family meetings, share their stories, communicate their wishes, and prepare their heirs legally and emotionally.

But what about the person receiving the legacy? What does it take to be a good heir?

I recently found the answer in an unexpected place—a wonderful novel called The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Lynn Waller Kelly, a partner at The Blum Firm, recommended it to me. I’m glad she did. It’s beautifully written and offers a powerful lesson about inheritance.

Be warned: spoilers lie ahead.

The story centers on 64-year-old Penelope Keeling and a painting called “The Shell Seekers.” Painted by her father, Lawrence Stern, it depicts Penelope as a child searching for shells on a beach in Cornwall.

For Penelope, the painting is priceless. It represents her parents, her childhood, and the happiest years of her life.

Two of her adult children, Nancy and Noel, see something else: money. As Lawrence Stern’s paintings become increasingly valuable, they pressure Penelope to sell it. In their minds, it’s already part of their future inheritance.

There’s only one problem: Penelope is still very much alive.

An expected inheritance is not an owned inheritance. Penelope can keep the painting, sell it, donate it, or leave it to whomever she chooses. Her children may have expectations, but expectations don’t create ownership.

I see this issue often in estate planning. Children sometimes count on an inheritance long before their parents are gone. It’s important to remember that an inheritance is a gift, not an entitlement.

Nancy and Noel focus on what Penelope’s possessions could do for them, but show little interest in what those possessions mean to her. Penelope’s third child, Olivia, loves her mother and respects her independence. However, she is devoted to her career and, like many of us, assumes there will be more time.

As the story unfolds, we learn that while trapped in an unhappy marriage, Penelope fell in love with Richard Lomax. Though he was not the father of her children, Richard was the great love of her life. They planned to build a future together, but he was killed during World War II. Penelope kept his final letter and photograph hidden for the rest of her life.

Years later, two young people, Antonia and Danus, enter Penelope’s life and fall in love. Penelope sees something of herself and Richard in them. More importantly, they give her something her children too often fail to give her: their time.

They listen to her stories and take an interest in the experiences that made her who she is. A good heir doesn’t just value the inheritance. A good heir values the person leaving it.

Penelope asks each of her children to accompany her to Porthkerris, the Cornish village where she spent her happiest years. All three decline, so she takes Antonia and Danus instead. Together, they revisit the places that shaped her life.

Penelope later donates “The Shell Seekers” to the gallery her father founded in Porthkerris. She returns the painting to the place that inspired it, where its story can live on.

After Penelope dies, her remaining property is divided equally among her three children. However, she leaves treasured earrings to Antonia and her father’s remaining sketches to Danus.

Nancy and Noel are furious, focusing on what they didn’t receive instead of appreciating everything Penelope left them. Olivia defends her mother’s wishes and refuses to let her siblings spoil Penelope’s memory by fighting over the estate.

Danus and Antonia later marry and use Penelope’s gift to begin their future together. She isn’t just passing down money. She’s passing down hope.

After Penelope’s death, Olivia discovers Richard’s photograph and final letter. She finally learns about the great love and heartbreak her mother carried for decades, but she can no longer ask Penelope about it.

That really spoke to me. We all get busy with careers, children, appointments, and the endless demands of life. We assume there will be more time to ask questions.

Don’t wait.

Ask your parents and grandparents about the objects they treasure. Why does that painting hang in a special place? Where did that piece of jewelry come from? Ask about their childhoods, their greatest loves, their hardest losses, and the lessons they hope you’ll carry forward.

Then listen—not because you’re determining what their possessions might someday be worth, but because their stories are worth knowing now.

Nancy and Noel inherit assets but never fully understand their meaning. By giving Penelope their time and attention, Antonia and Danus receive the stories at the foundation of her legacy.

The giver has a responsibility to tell the stories, but the heir has to be willing to listen.

An inheritance may be measured in dollars. A legacy is measured in stories, values, memories, and love.

To be an heir worthy of a legacy, learn the stories while you still have the storyteller.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum with two beach paintings that he painted that, by a fitting coincidence, resemble his own version of “The Shell Seekers.”

Book Tip — The Shell Seekers: How to Be an Heir Worthy of a Legacy Read More »

One More Time — Equal vs. Unequal: The Inheritance Debate

One of the hottest issues that parents debate is whether to leave the estate equally to their kids when unequal may actually be more fair. I have addressed this dilemma numerous times in this blog, but I go back to the issue because it keeps resurfacing. The feedback I get continues to provide more color for our consideration, so I want to share a bit more.

My latest post on this topic received a lot of attention from the TIGER 21 community, an international network of 1,900+ peers who come together to learn from each other. I have been a member for 15 years and am honored to serve on the national board. The TIGER 21 Family Network asked me to conduct a one-hour “Tiger 2 Tiger Salon” on this topic. As preparation, I organized my thoughts in a White Paper on this topic. I will recap it here, or click on this LINK to read it all.

In my paper, I frame the issue this way (borrowing a concept from my colleague Jeff Savlov, a family and business counselor I greatly respect). You have three kids, so you slice the pie into three equal pieces. Giving one slice of the pie to each child is equal. But what if one child is very hungry and one is well off? So, if you give two slices to the hungry child, one slice to the moderately hungry child, and no slices to your child who isn’t hungry, that’s not equal, but that is actually more fair.

I go on to identify numerous scenarios where unequal may be more fair: a caregiver child, a disabled child, a family business where only one child works in it, a vacation home only used extensively by one child, spending substantially more to educate a gifted child vs. a child who dislikes school, etc. I also explore cases where unequal may appear more fair on the surface, but watch out: one child who is well off vs. another who isn’t, one child with a rich mother (your ex-wife) vs. a child with your new wife who isn’t rich, or spending more on one child’s wedding than another’s. I quote Susan Garland’s New York Times article from 2021 that emphasizes how children see an inheritance as a proxy for love, interpreting a larger inheritance to a sibling as meaning that you loved that sibling more. As she wisely says, “Even an investment banker who doesn’t need the money has feelings.” 

I identify the risks of going unequal, which Charlie Munger described as “poison” in his answer to a question I posed to him and Warren Buffett at a Berkshire-Hathaway annual meeting. Siblings can go to war, airing the family’s dirty laundry in the public forum of a courthouse. Bob Pressman of the Barney’s Department Store family was so offended that he turned in his mother and siblings for tax fraud, asserting that they falsely resided in Florida to evade New York state taxes, costing the family $50 million in taxes and penalties. (His revenge did entitle him to a 30% whistleblower award—that’s revenge, I’d say!)

People are always asking what to do. Here are some tips:

  • Don’t surprise your kids. This is an opportunity for an open conversation in a safe, facilitated environment. Focus more on the family’s values than the valuables. Aim for buy-in, or at least diminish resentment. As Savlov says, “Equal is a mathematical solution. Fair is a conversation full of possibility.” 
  • Feel free to go unequal during life with no scorekeeping, but be ultra careful going unequal in a Will. A Will is a permanent document and a permanent reminder of the inequality.
  • Consider taking out a life insurance policy that will go equally to all your grandchildren, per capita. As Bruce Udell of Sarasota teaches, that sends a powerful message that you love your grandchildren equally, even if some cousins may one day inherit more of your assets through their parents than others.
  • Don’t overlook how to divide personal effects, as that’s often the source of major family feuds. Ideally, do like my mother-in-law Aimee Kriger and leave detailed instructions in writing.
  • Life insurance is often a convenient solution, providing a source of funds to help equalize when some assets (like a family business) go all to certain kids and none to the others. Just buy the policy early, while you’re still insurable and the cost is lower.

As is usual, my TIGER colleagues had great input and questions. One asked, should the calculation to equalize be pre-tax or post-tax? I suggested post-tax, giving the example of a lifetime gift of high basis assets worth $1 million to one kid, and low basis assets worth $1 million to another. Upon sale, the kid who got the high basis asset will end up with more. Perhaps you should do something to even the score.

Another asked, should a rich sibling share his wealth with one who isn’t?  It depends. There’s more to wealth than just money, and the family of the one with less may suffer a loss that’s more than just monetary. It can impact that family’s health, as well as their human, social, intellectual capital. On the other hand, if the poor sibling is an addict who has been bailed out repeatedly, you may be enabling the problem by throwing money at it.

Should a family who sells a business keep the proceeds intact or divide it, so each goes his own way? Some families (such as the family who sold Nestlé) prefer to keep it intact, fostering family connection through a family office that manages the investments and provides other services. However, consider providing a family member who wants out with an exit ramp.  And if they exit, is the payoff calculated with or without a minority discount, and is it paid out over time with interest?

After G-1 dies and G-2 is managing the family business, should those who provide the ingenuity and labor receive more for their talents and efforts than the siblings who don’t work in the business? I suggested yes, with an independent board of non-family advisors being appointed to objectively measure the compensation. 

If siblings have unequal net worths, how about involving all of them in a joint philanthropic entity, like a family foundation? Doing so can give all an important role and diminish the risk of envy. Not everyone can play a role in a family business, but every family member can likely play a role in family philanthropy.

What’s the number one recommendation to try to preserve family harmony? It’s family meetings, with a facilitator running the meeting rather than mom and dad. Research shows that the number one reason families fail is from lack of communication and trust. Family meetings can open up lines of communication, identify values held in common, and build bridges of mutual support.

Do you include a child’s spouse in the family meeting? The trend is yes. They will likely find out everything anyway through pillow talk, so better to manage the flow of information.

One final takeaway? Relationships matter more than money. When it comes to inheritance and family dynamics, don’t push issues under the rug. They will ultimately surface, and by then it may be too late to repair the damage.

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum leading a podcast for fellow TIGER 21 members to debate the critical question: “Do I leave my estate equally to my kids when leaving it unequal may be more fair?”

One More Time — Equal vs. Unequal: The Inheritance Debate Read More »

Common Questions About the Texas Probate Process

Photo by Alin Andersen on Unsplash

1. How long does it take to go through the probate process in Texas?

In Texas, the probate process typically takes anywhere from about four months to well over a year, depending on whether the decedent died with a will (testate) or without a will (intestate). The timeline may also be affected by the county in which the probate is filed—larger counties often have heavier caseloads—and whether all heirs or beneficiaries agree on how the matter can proceed. Our office is prepared to guide you through the process under all of the varying circumstances and is committed to handling your case as efficiently as possible during this difficult time.

2. What are “letters testamentary?”

Letters Testamentary (issued when the decedent had a will) and Letters of Administration (issued when the decedent did not have a will) are the official document issued by the Court once an Executor or Administrator has qualified as the Estate’s Representative confirming the authority of the Executor or Administrator to act on behalf of the estate. This document is frequently required by financial institutions, title companies, and the like to administer the decedent’s assets. The “Letters” allow the appointed individual to stand in the shoes of the Decedent for the purpose of collecting, managing, and distributing estate assets to the appropriate heirs or beneficiaries.

3. What if my loved one died without a will?

If your loved one died without a will (intestate), the first step in administering the estate is filing an Application for Determination of Heirship. Texas law establishes who the legal heirs are in the absence of a will, and all such individuals must be identified in the application and served with notice of the proceeding.

 

The Court will appoint an Attorney Ad Litem—a neutral third-party attorney—to investigate the family history through records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, and by obtaining testimony from two disinterested witnesses provided by the applicant. This process ensures that the identified heirs are accurate.

 

Once heirship is determined, the Court may appoint an Administrator to collect and distribute the estate assets. If all heirs agree on the proposed Administrator, the process is typically simpler and more cost-effective, and the Court may permit an independent administration with minimal oversight. If there is no agreement, the Court will require a dependent administration, meaning the Administrator must seek Court approval for each action.

 

Our firm has extensive experience handling intestate estates and is prepared to guide you through each step of the process.

4. Is there a deadline for probating a will in Texas?

In Texas, a will must generally be admitted to probate within four years of the decedent’s death. Limited exceptions to this rule exist, but their application is within the Court’s discretion. Our office is available to assist you through this process and to evaluate the specific circumstances of your case in order to determine the most appropriate course of action.

5. What if I don’t have the original will but can only locate a copy of the will?

Probating a will based on a photocopy presents additional challenges; however, our firm routinely handles these matters and will guide you through each step. When the original will cannot be located, all legal heirs who would inherit in its absence must receive formal notice that the copy is being offered for probate. In Texas, there is also an automatic presumption that a missing original will was revoked by the decedent. The burden therefore rests on the proponent to demonstrate, to the Court’s satisfaction, that the will was not revoked.

Written by Kaitlin R. Goddard

Associate

Common Questions About the Texas Probate Process Read More »

Special Edition: A Tribute to Dolly Parton (1946-2026)—“I Will Always Love You”

This is a blog about Legacy Planning. When it comes to building a legacy, Dolly Parton’s life is a masterclass. She overcame obstacles and lived life as a role model for love, faith, resilience, and giving back. Through her remarkable artistry, wisdom, and generosity, Dolly’s legacy will live on as a gift to the world. 

I have featured Dolly Parton in this blog before. See my post of September 10, 2024, entitled “Three Role Models for Aging with Dignity.”

A University of Massachusetts poll ranked Dolly Parton as the most popular person in America. Her fans are a cross-section of different political affiliations, ages, and education levels. In our polarized world, she was the one person that almost everyone could admire. She was a music icon, considered by many the most famous female country artist in history. But she was so much more. 

Her death hits us hard, me in particular. I have asked myself why. I think it’s because we felt a connection with her. She knew how to reach us. She lifted us up. Ironically, with all her hair, makeup, glitter, and enhancements, she was actually so real and genuine—authentic in a way that reached through to us. Dolly Parton was unapologetically herself.

Even the announcement of Dolly’s death reflected her thoughtful approach to legacy planning. Years earlier, she asked her nephew, Bryan Seaver, to personally share the news when the time came. By making that decision in advance, Dolly ensured that her family, not the media, would announce her passing first and that the message would be delivered by someone she trusted, in a personal way that honored her faith, her family, and the life she lived. In the video announcing her death, Bryan said he had agreed to the responsibility years ago, before he fully absorbed it as a future reality. What a powerful reminder that legacy planning is about more than deciding what happens to your assets. It is also about deciding who will speak for you, how your story will be told, and how your legacy will be carried forward.

The list of her quotes could fill a book, but I’ll select a dozen of my favorite “Dolly-isms” to share with you.

  • “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
  • “You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on.”
  • “I always had a very open mind and a very open heart. I always look for the good in everybody and the God in everybody. I play to that. And I just love people. I love the difference in people. I love getting to know people. I appreciate getting accepted myself, because I know I’m unusual. And I love the unusual in other people.
  • “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
  • “I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don’t work for the money. Never did. It was the art.”
  • “Storms make trees take deeper roots. If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
  • “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
  • “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
  • “We can’t just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day.”
  • “I think everybody should be treated with respect…. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.”
  • “If you’re comfortable with yourself and know yourself, you’re going to shine, and radiate, and other people are going to be drawn to you.”
  • “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, become more, then you are an excellent leader.”

Dolly’s sequins and glitter were a literal expression, but they created a figurative radiance that illuminated us. Though she wrote and sang to us the classic “I Will Always Love You,” we’re the ones who will always love Dolly. I know I will. The world sparkles less today, but the Dolly Parton legacy shines on brightly.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

 

Special Edition: A Tribute to Dolly Parton (1946-2026)—“I Will Always Love You” Read More »

Becky Samons — Celebrating 30 Years at The Blum Firm and the Lessons We Can All Learn from Her!

Today I have the extraordinary opportunity to recognize Becky Samons, who tomorrow celebrates 30 years at The Blum Firm. In doing so, I want to reflect on the rare occurrence of a 30-year work anniversary, and the path that got us to this day. We can all learn from Becky’s example.

Let’s wind the clock back to August 26, 1996. My assistant Barbara Littlefield had the bright idea to post an index card on the bulletin board at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary announcing a job opening for an office assistant. As fate would have it, a student there named Kris Samons saw it and told his wife Becky she should apply. Becky resisted. She had never been in a law office, knew nothing about our work, and didn’t even know how to type. But Barbara saw potential. What did she see? Becky was respectful, sincere, and willing to learn. There was a sparkle in her eyes that said she was genuine and caring. I saw it too, and we took the leap of faith. When hiring someone, we have discovered that potential outweighs experience. We prefer a rising star like Becky over someone who has work experience but is unlikely to reach great heights.

Becky still looks as young today as on the day we hired her. We teased that she was just a kid when she started with us. Becky played along and thanked us for “having the confidence to hire a 12-year-old who’d never worked in a law firm.”

Looking back, Becky says that what amazes her most about her first 30 years is how much she has learned and keeps learning every day. Along with her superb positive attitude and work ethic, Becky’s willingness to learn was essential to her success. That’s another lesson we can all learn from Becky’s career.  Always come to work with a willingness to learn. Becky credits us with providing her a safe environment in which to learn. She describes The Blum Firm as “a place where failures can happen safely and you can learn from them,” though in truth her failures were few and far between. But she is right that it’s our goal at The Blum Firm to mentor employees, teach them new skills, and help them grow in a safe environment.

And indeed, has Becky grown in her skills! She is now our head paralegal who trains all those on our paralegal team. She’s come a long way from knowing nothing about estate planning.  “I love the mentoring aspect of my job,” says Becky. She is a natural mentor, not only at our law firm, but off hours in her ministry working with teenagers. It’s her lifelong passion and mission to work with students and help them in their faith journey. Becky appreciates that “this isn’t a place that completely drains me, so I can leave work and still have the energy to nurture young people to help them flourish.” Among the kids she’s mentored into adulthood are their own two outstanding children, Hudson and Cy. At The Blum Firm, we celebrate having interests and life balance outside of the office. We find that people with outside passions bring more energy to their work.  

Becky’s passion for inspiring young people was even a gift to my own family, as Becky and Kris became favorite babysitters when Adam and Lizzy were young. They even drove Adam and his first date to and from a dance, which was much cooler than having your parents serve as chauffeurs. Another night, Laurie and I came home to discover Lizzy and her best friend Sari learning from Becky how to wear make-up and pretend to be professional models. So cute!

Another memory of Becky’s caring ways was a visit to my mom in the hospital, where Becky asked if my mom had lost any family members in the Holocaust. I expected my mom to answer “no.” To my shock, she responded, “Yes, my Uncle Enoch and Aunt Elke,” siblings of her mother who didn’t make it out in time and were killed by Hitler. How did I never know that? Only because of Becky’s heartfelt inquiry did I discover an important part of my heritage, previously unspoken (as is typical of Jews who suppressed the horrors of the Holocaust in an effort to build a new life).

Bottom line, there aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to express our gratitude for Becky Samons. She is a role model for so many life lessons—chief among them to bring your best to work every day and be willing to get outside your comfort zone and stretch to constantly learn new skills. Becky, here’s to 30 (or more!) additional years as a superstar member of The Blum Firm family!

With deepest appreciation and congratulations to Becky Samons!

 

 Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin Blum presents Becky Samons with a certificate recognizing her extraordinary 30 years of service to The Blum Firm and expresses his heartfelt appreciation for her dedication, commitment, and valued contributions.

A glimpse into Becky’s life with her beautiful family—her husband, Kris, and their two children, Hudson and Cy.

A certificate to mark this special milestone. Thank you, Becky, for 30 extraordinary years of service to The Blum Firm!

Becky Samons — Celebrating 30 Years at The Blum Firm and the Lessons We Can All Learn from Her! Read More »

The Trust Fix Most UHNW Families Are Told to Rely On — and an Alternative Worth a Second Look

A few weeks ago I spent the day at an educational forum over barbecue, hosted by a national network of elite firms and financial professionals who serve high-income and business-owner clients. The topic on the table was complex private placement life insurance strategies — PPLI, for short — and why more of our mutual UHNW clients should be looking at it.

By the time the brisket was gone, I realized the more interesting conversation wasn’t really about PPLI at all. It was about the tool it’s quietly competing with: the swap power. So let’s talk about that.

This one’s for the business owners and investors I work with most — people who’ve built or sold a business, funded a trust years ago with appreciated stock or a piece of that business, and are now sitting on a lot more built-in gain than they expected. If that’s you, or it will be you soon, keep reading. The swap power still has its place in the toolkit. But it shouldn’t be the only tool you’re offered.

If you’ve built real wealth, you’ve met the “swap power”

If you’ve worked with an experiencedestate planning lawyer, you are probably familiar with the swap power — sometimes called a substitution power. It’s one of the most popular tools in the trust playbook for fixing an income tax problem that doesn’t show up until years after you’ve already signed the documents and forgotten the details. On paper, it’s elegant. In practice, once a family’s balance sheet gets large and complicated — which, if you’re reading this, yours probably is — it tends to get messy.

There’s another way to solve the same problem that sidesteps the mess entirely. It involves putting a specialized form of life insurance inside the trust instead of a traditional portfolio and hoping the swap power cooperates when you actually need it to. Let’s break down why.

The problem: old trusts, small basis, big gains

Say you funded an irrevocable trust years ago with stock, real estate, or a business interest, back when it wasn’t worth nearly what it is worth currently. Fast forward to today. For a lot of clients I work with, those investments have quietly grown into a meaningful chunk of the client’s net worth. But it also creates a tax problem.

When the trust eventually sells those investments — or your kids or grandkids do — the IRS taxes the gain: the difference between what the asset is worth now and what it was worth when it went into the trust. That original, low number is your “basis.” A low basis on a large position can mean a genuinely painful tax bill, the kind that shows up right around the same time as a very awkward family conversation.

The tax code does offer a fix. If an asset is included in someone’s estate at death, its basis “steps up” to fair market value on the date of death. All that built-in gain simply disappears for tax purposes. It’s a big deal, especially at the scale many of my clients’ portfolios have reached — which is exactly why estate planners like me spend so much energy trying to get appreciated assets back into someone’s taxable estate before they’re ever sold.

The go-to fix: the swap power

The most common tool for doing this with a traditional investment trust is the swap power. Here’s the idea: if the trust is structured as a “grantor trust,” you may have retained the right to swap assets with it. You hand the trust something of equal value — cash, other securities — and take the low-basis, appreciated asset out for yourself. Now you own it personally. If it’s still yours when you die, it gets a step-up in basis.

Sounds simple. Almost suspiciously simple. And it can work beautifully. But a trust built around a traditional portfolio and this strategy tends to run into real friction, and — this is the part that surprises people — the friction gets worse, not better, as the numbers get bigger.

Three problems that only get louder over time

Finding the right asset is harder than it sounds. You need to hand the trust something of exactly equal value, on demand, whenever the opportunity or the need shows up. Even with substantial personal wealth, you don’t always have a spare asset of matching value just sitting around, especially when much of your net worth is tied up in a business, real estate, or other holdings that don’t move quickly. Wealthy doesn’t always mean liquid, and I’ve had more than one client discover that the hard way, usually at the worst possible moment.

Timing is everything, and absolutely nobody controls it. For the swap to pay off, you need to still own the asset when you die. Nobody — not me, not your CPA, not your advisor with the very impressive spreadsheet — can predict that. Swap too early and you may give up growth or flexibility you didn’t need to give up. Wait too long, or get caught by surprise, and the plan never gets executed at all. Mortality is famously unwilling to work around estate planning deadlines.

Equal value doesn’t mean equal fit. You might find an asset worth exactly the same amount as what you’re swapping out, but that doesn’t mean it belongs in the trust for the long haul. It may behave differently than what the trust was built to hold, throw off income the trust doesn’t need, carry more risk than the family is comfortable with, or simply drift away from why the trust was created in the first place. A swap that balances on paper can still leave the trust holding something that doesn’t serve its actual goals — and that matters a great deal when a trust is meant to serve multiple generations, not just satisfy this quarter’s basis math.

In short: the swap power is a great idea that depends on a lot of moving parts lining up at once, using whatever asset happens to be available instead of what the mission actually calls for. Large, complex portfolios rarely cooperate that neatly. Neither, in my experience, do families.

A different approach: hold growth assets inside a PPLI policy

This is where PPLI comes in. Think of it as a customized life insurance policy built specifically for investors with significant wealth — not the kind of policy you buy off a shelf at your neighborhood agent’s office, and not typically practical below a certain level of investable assets. It’s built to hold sophisticated investments inside it, and it comes with two features that make the whole basis-step chase unnecessary.

First, the money grows without being taxed along the way. Inside a properly structured PPLI policy, investment growth isn’t taxed year to year the way it would be in a traditional brokerage account sitting inside the trust.

Second — and this is the real advantage — the death benefit comes out completely free of income tax. That’s not a step-up. That’s better. The tax code already excludes life insurance death benefits from income tax entirely. You never have to hunt for a matching asset to swap, time your death correctly (a strange sentence to type, but here we are), or end up with mismatched holdings that don’t fit the trust’s purpose. The tax problem simply never shows up, because the growth was never going to be taxed as a capital gain in the first place.

Just as important, the trust keeps holding what it was actually built to hold. No shuffling investments in and out to chase equal value. The investment strategy inside the policy can be built entirely around the family’s real, long-term goals — continued growth, multi-generational wealth transfer, funding future opportunities — instead of around whatever happens to be available to swap on a given Tuesday.

Worth saying clearly: this isn’t a free lunch

(Even that day over barbecue wasn’t free — someone had to expense it.)

PPLI isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t simple, even for families with substantial wealth. It works best for investors who can commit meaningful capital for the long haul. It comes with insurance costs and compliance rules, and it requires careful, ongoing structuring to keep its tax benefits intact. It is not a substitute for sitting down with your advisors and talking through your actual goals.

But if you’re a high-net-worth entrepreneur or investor whose trust holds a traditional investment portfolio, and the swap power is the only tool you’ve been shown for solving the basis problem, it’s worth asking a second question: could some of this be growing inside a PPLI policy instead — where the tax problem never shows up, and the trust never has to trade its long-term mission for a same-day equal-value swap?

Sometimes the best planning isn’t finding a clever way to fix a tax problem. It’s structuring things so the problem never exists in the first place.

Written by Frank L. Leffingwell

Partner in Charge, Austin

The Trust Fix Most UHNW Families Are Told to Rely On — and an Alternative Worth a Second Look Read More »

Finding a New Home for Elsie’s Treasures

No matter how many estates I’ve administered, it’s different when it’s your own family. As I power through my mom’s estate, I’m learning lessons to share with you. Here are tips about disposing of all the “stuff” in the estate, the seemingly endless collection of personal possessions.

As we emptied my mom’s residence, we first identified all the things no one in our family wanted. Instead of having an estate sale for all the unwanted trinkets, we opted to give them away. I learned about estate sales the hard way. We once participated in a neighbor’s yard sale, emptying our attic of many stored “treasures.” Those precious items ended up selling for only a few dollars each. At the end of a blistering hot day, we cleared $77.00, and still took a haul of unsold items to Goodwill. Never again.

We discovered that one man’s trash can be another’s treasure. We gathered all her kitchen items, TVs, clothes, costume jewelry, etc. We called in her friends, caregivers, and service providers to “come and get it.” They gladly took it all. They were happy and so were we.

We did separate her finest wearables and called in her closest friends. It brought us all joy to know that her friends will be sporting Elsie’s finery and remember her when they do. It’s gratifying for those things to now get a new life. Many of those designer items still had tags, as she was “saving” them. (A word of advice—stop saving things and enjoy them now).

That left us with the big furnishings. Figuring out what to keep was a heavy lift. I’m sentimental, so parting with Elsie’s things tugged at my heart. My advice—get an independent voice to help you decide. In our case, we turned to our family’s long-time interior designer Brad Alford. Brad proved to be a godsend. 

Brad found a place for my mother’s finest possessions in our home, as well as in our children’s homes and offices. Brad culled through our house and exchanged any of our lesser items for Elsie’s better ones. He infused some of “Elsie” into every room. The end result is spectacular. I could’ve never done it. I would have cluttered up our house with ours and hers, leading to tension with my dear (less sentimental) wife.

One more valuable tip—we identified a few of my mom’s Baccarat crystal treasures from her nightstand. We could live without adding more tchotchkes to our home, so we shared them with three of Elsie’s closest loved ones. As we bestowed each item, we had the gift of telling them how much each of those friends meant to Elsie. Each responded tearfully that it would give them a daily reminder of Elsie. That was a “win-win!”

Remarkably, The Washington Post ran an article on this very topic a few days after my mom died: “‘Throw It All Out’: I Inherited My Parents’ Stuff—and a Painful Decision,” (Katie Roiphe, July 16, 2026). I could’ve written that article. The subtitle really spoke to me, “Mom’s samovar? Dad’s chess set? Things from the past are company, not clutter.” I chuckled, as my mom’s samovar is now in our living room, and I’m searching for a place for the ivory chess set my dad bought in India when stationed there during World War II.

Per Roiphe, “There is a kind of existential dread involved in getting rid of our parents’ things, especially after they die. The act is drenched in symbolism. It asks you to endure another tiny loss on top of the vast loss. It feels like a betrayal not to love something they loved, to cherish something they saved.”

Some items now live in my attic (like the box of love letters my parents wrote to each other during their long-distance courtship between Montgomery and Fort Worth). I know I’m guilty of “curating a family museum,” but I can’t part with them. I agree with Roiphe, “These are not rational thoughts, but it’s so easy for these objects to become an extension of the person, a part of them, in some mysterious, utterly confounding way.”

For me, these “things” are treasures that bring back stories and childhood memories. I know those remnants may only be meaningful to me. When I’m gone, my survivors will hurriedly call 1-800-GOT-JUNK. I’m okay with that, because while I’m still here, I can live in a peaceful state of “dreamy paralysis,” surrounded by memories of my heritage.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin Blum (left) with interior designer Brad Alford who found a home for his mother Elsie’s superior artwork in the Blum residence, like this Bavinger painting.

Elsie’s Venetian mirror (and her antique grandfather clock reflected in it) adorn the Manhattan plastic surgery office of Dr. Ira Savetsky, Marvin Blum’s son-in-law.

Finding a New Home for Elsie’s Treasures Read More »

How to Avoid “Complicated Grief”

As I weather through the chapter in life of losing my mom Elsie, I am learning a lot about grief. When you experience a loss, grief is unavoidable. It’s a normal part of the healing process. Moreover, my wife Laurie said to me yesterday a powerful truth: “Where there was great love, there is great grief.” How true. In that vein, I see this period of grief as a gift, a reward for a lifetime of love.

However, through this process, I have also learned about a different type of grief. The lesson came from a phone call Laurie and I had one day while driving to Austin. The call was with Dr. Carole Rogers, a psychologist with Fort Worth’s Jewish Family Services. Carole is a godsend in our community. So many of us turn to her for guidance as we navigate life’s challenges.

Here’s how the conversation went. My mom’s health at that time was rapidly declining. When my brother Irwin died nine years ago, I became an only child. My mom depended on me heavily. As I’ve experienced vocal issues over the last year, she wasn’t able to hear me over the phone. So her daily multiple phone calls were going to Laurie. She was becoming more and more needy. It was even worse on those days when we were traveling. Laurie and I were struggling with the pressure of trying to fulfill all her needs and meet her expectations of us. I am sure many of you with elderly parents can relate. We turned to Carole for help.

Carole assured us that our feelings were normal. We were vacillating between feelings of resentment and guilt. No matter what we did, it seemed to never be enough. But if we didn’t do it, we felt guilty. It was heavy. 

Once again, Carole rescued us from our angst. She wound the clock forward for us to picture the day Elsie would be gone. She wanted us to imagine how we would feel. Carole wisely was protecting us from feelings of regret. She urged us to convert our feelings into having compassion for my mom. My mom was suffering and fearful. She didn’t want to die, but she knew her body was failing. She turned to us for much-needed support so she could manage through the final months/weeks/days, however long it might be. Laurie and I understood. Carole’s advice worked. We spent the remaining few months with a different attitude, focused on being there for Elsie with compassion.

On the 4th of July, my mom called Laurie that morning. She was agitated and struggling. Without hesitation, we cancelled all our holiday plans and stayed by her side all day. We felt compassion. That turned out to be our final chance to visit with her. That night, she asked Laurie, “Am I dying?” Laurie answered, “Only G-d knows.” At that moment, my mom (totally weak and unable to move on her own by then), propelled herself up and sat sideways in her bed, all by herself. She covered her eyes, and we know she was praying the Jewish prayer “Shema,” when we cover our eyes and pray, “Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One.” As a young girl, Elsie would sit bedside with her grandmother (with whom she shared a bed) and pray Shema together every night. Elsie was going back to that little girl and those powerful roots.

She then put her head back on her pillow, reached up to the sky, and called out “Bessie!” Bessie was her best friend, who happened to die exactly one year before on July 5, 2025. On July 5, 2026, Elsie joined Bessie in heaven. 

It was peaceful. We are grieving, but we are at peace. And thanks to Dr. Carole Rogers, our grief isn’t “complicated grief.” 

To anyone who might one day have the risk of experiencing “complicated grief,” I urge you to learn from Dr. Rogers the way we did. Find it in your heart to have compassion. Make up for any past conflicts. Don’t have unfinished business. Let go of any ill will. It isn’t worth it. You don’t want to later have regret, and you certainly don’t want “complicated grief.”

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s dear departed mother Elsie (left) with Dr. Carole Rogers, whose guidance saved Marvin and Laurie from experiencing “complicated grief” when Elsie passed.

Picture in your mind Elsie as a young girl, praying Shema nightly at bedside with her grandmother Leah Weinstock.

How to Avoid “Complicated Grief” Read More »

Breaking Three Stigmas Around Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement is not about planning for a marriage to fail. It is about entering the marriage with clarity and a plan for the future.

Last week, I discussed how we might advise Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on a prenuptial agreement if they resided in Texas. But prenups are not just for celebrity couples with substantial fortunes.

This week, we are breaking down three common prenup myths and explaining why prenuptial planning can benefit couples in many different circumstances.

Classic romantic films often end with the happy couple getting married and living happily ever after. However, the truth is that not every marriage gets its happily ever after. That is why we recommend prenuptial planning.

Unfortunately, the word “prenup” conjures up negative connotations. Many people view them as unromantic, unnecessary, or beneficial to only one spouse. I am here to separate fact from fiction and challenge some of the most common misconceptions surrounding prenuptial agreements.

“If you get a prenup, you are planning for the marriage to fail.”

Drafting a prenup does not mean you expect your marriage to fail. It simply means you are putting your ducks in a row in case life does not unfold as planned.

Think about it this way: Having a Plan B does not mean you have lost faith in Plan A. It simply means you recognize that life can be unpredictable. A prenup allows a couple to address the “what-ifs” while their relationship is strong and they are working together, rather than waiting until emotions are high and decisions become more difficult. It is not planning for the marriage to fail. It is planning responsibly for the future.

“Prenups are only for couples with substantial wealth.”

Prenups are not reserved for celebrities, business owners, or people entering a marriage with a large fortune. Modern relationships and financial lives are more complicated than ever.

Under Texas law, a prenuptial agreement may address:

  • Businesses and ownership interests
  • Real estate and other property
  • Income earned during the marriage
  • Retirement accounts and benefits
  • Digital assets, including cryptocurrency
  • Intellectual property, royalties, and licensing income
  • Student loans and other debts
  • Expected inheritances
  • Property intended for children from previous relationships
  • Spousal support in the event of divorce
  • Life insurance benefits
  • Wills, trusts, and estate-planning arrangements
  • Pets and responsibility for their care

Couples may even have frozen embryos to consider. Sarah Lyon states, “Embryos can create an entirely different category of complexity because they involve both financial investment and deeply personal reproductive decisions” (“Does Your Prenup Cover Digital Content—or Even Embryos?,” The New York Times, July 18, 2022). These matters involve unique legal and personal considerations and should be handled with particular care.

A prenup can help a couple establish financial expectations and address how certain assets, debts, and responsibilities will be handled during the marriage, upon divorce, or after one spouse’s death. In other words, prenups are not just for the ultrawealthy. They can benefit couples in many different stages and circumstances of life.

For couples getting married who have children from prior relationships, prenups are especially essential to clarify the assets owned by each spouse. Without that clarity, disputes over ownership can arise between step-siblings, or between step-kids and a surviving spouse.

“Prenups only protect the wealthier spouse.”

This is simply not true. While a prenup can protect wealth brought into a marriage, a thoughtfully prepared agreement should provide clarity and protection for both spouses.

For example, it can protect one spouse from the other’s debts, recognize the contributions of a spouse who steps away from a career to raise children, and establish expectations regarding property and financial support. The goal should not be for one person to “win.” It should be to create an agreement that both spouses understand and consider fair.

As Lyon explains, “Imagine stepping away from a six-figure career for five to 10 years to raise kids. You are not just giving up salary. You’re giving up relationships, promotions, retirement contributions, Social Security credits, and future earning potential.” A prenup can recognize those sacrifices and help protect the spouse who puts a career on hold to care for the family.

Lyon also compares prenuptial planning to insurance: “We all get different types of insurance without expecting anything bad to happen. You get health insurance not wanting to get sick or hoping you get sick. You buy homeowners insurance not crossing your fingers that your house is going to burn down.” Prenuptial planning follows the same basic principle.

No one enters a marriage thinking it will fail. If they did, they probably should not get married in the first place. However, if life takes an unexpected turn and you find yourself meeting with a family law attorney, you may be glad you took the time to plan ahead.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Breaking Three Stigmas Around Prenuptial Agreements Read More »

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, A Love Story…and Maybe a Prenup Too

Did Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sign a prenuptial agreement before saying “I do”? We may never know, as that information would likely remain confidential. But given the significant wealth, business interests, and intellectual property involved, I would be willing to bet they did—and if not, they certainly should have.

For the sake of discussion, let’s assume Taylor and Travis came to us for guidance before the wedding and planned to reside in Texas. Based on the information publicly available, here is how we might have approached their premarital planning under Texas law.

First, we would encourage Taylor and Travis to begin the process well in advance of the wedding. A thoughtfully prepared prenup cannot and should not be negotiated at the last minute. Starting early gives both parties and their respective attorneys sufficient time to exchange financial information, carefully negotiate the terms, and complete the agreement without pressure. It also allows the couple to keep the focus where it belongs as the wedding approaches: on celebrating their love and the life they are building together.

We would also insist that Taylor and Travis each have their own independent legal counsel and that both provide full disclosure of their finances. A prenup should be the product of a fair and transparent process, not sharp dealing or overreaching. The goal is to create clarity, preserve harmony, and reduce the possibility of future disputes.

Identifying What Each Brings to the Marriage

Taylor and Travis each entered the marriage with substantial separate property.

For Taylor, that could include her music catalog, royalties, intellectual property, business interests, real estate, investments, and other assets accumulated during her career. For Travis, it could include his pre-marriage NFL earnings, retirement benefits, podcast and media interests, endorsements, investments, real estate, and other business ventures.

We would begin by clearly identifying and documenting those assets as separate property. However, that would only be the starting point.

Under Texas law, income generated by separate property is generally community property. Personal earnings and wages are also community. A prenup can override that result and provide that earnings remain separate, as well as the income, growth, royalties, and distributions associated with separate property.

For Taylor and Travis, the distinction could be enormous. It is one thing to identify an existing music catalog or business interest as separate property. It is another to determine how the future income and appreciation generated by that asset will be treated throughout the marriage.

Addressing the “What Ifs”

A carefully drafted prenup could address:

  • How wages and future compensation will be characterized
  • How royalties, licensing revenue, endorsement income, and business distributions will be treated
  • Who will own intellectual property created during the marriage
  • How existing and future debts will be handled
  • How retirement plans will be treated
  • How joint purchases and household expenses will be paid
  • Whether the couple will file joint or separate income tax returns
  • Whether either spouse will receive support if the marriage ends
  • How assets will be divided upon divorce or death
  • How each spouse’s property will be protected from liabilities or legal claims against the other

No one enters a marriage expecting it to end. But addressing these questions while the relationship is strong can prevent uncertainty, conflict, and painful litigation down the road.

A “Belt and Suspenders” Approach

For a couple with wealth and business interests as significant and complex as Taylor’s and Travis’s, we would likely recommend more than a prenup.

We would also explore “prenup alternatives,” such as irrevocable trusts and business entities. Certain intellectual property, investments, or business interests could be placed in carefully structured trusts or entities before marriage. When properly planned, those structures can help protect the assets and their future growth as non-marital property.

A prenup could then provide an additional layer of protection by addressing the income and distributions those trusts or entities produce.

We often refer to this as a “belt and suspenders” approach. The trusts and entities provide one level of protection, while the prenup provides another. With so much at stake, relying on multiple coordinated planning strategies can be the responsible approach.

Protecting Two Legacies While Building One Together

A prenup is not merely a plan for divorce. At its best, it is a tool for honest communication, thoughtful financial planning, asset protection, and estate planning.

If Taylor and Travis had come to us, our mission would have been to protect what each built before the marriage, establish clear expectations for what they build together, and coordinate their estate plans to preserve both of their legacies.

After all, good premarital planning is not about expecting a love story to end. It is about giving the couple a clearer and more secure beginning.

Marvin E. Blum

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, A Love Story…and Maybe a Prenup Too Read More »

When in Doubt, Go! It Saved Talmage’s Life.

Last Wednesday morning, I received a text from my best friend Talmage Boston. That’s not unusual. Most of my mornings start with a text from Talmage. This one was different: “I’ve had a heart attack!”

My heart jumped. No! Thank G-d, Talmage made it to the hospital in time and he survived. He was very lucky (and blessed). All of us who love Talmage are very lucky and blessed.

The day before, Talmage was feeling some pressure in his chest. It wasn’t a screaming pain. He was able to ignore it enough to go out to dinner. But the discomfort kept him awake through the night. At 7:00 a.m., he texted his concierge doctor. Talmage was due for a check-up the following day, but the doctor told him not to wait. The doctor told him to head straight to the emergency room, now! Talmage drove himself to the ER. [In retrospect, consider dialing 9-1-1 instead. A friend of mine told me of her 52-year-old uncle who died while driving himself to the ER.]

The first test was an EKG, which looked fine. However, blood work showed a highly elevated troponin level, signaling heart damage. A catheter exam revealed a 98% blockage in one vein, and a 100% blockage in the “widow maker” artery. The cardiologist inserted two stents, opening up the blockage and restoring a healthy flow of blood. The type of heart attack he had is called an NSTEMI, which cannot be detected by an EKG exam. It requires a full heart testing. Gratefully, the medical team caught it just in time and saved Talmage’s life.  

I am aware that advances in technology provide us now with more sophisticated tests such as a CCTA with AI (Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography) that can identify both calcified and non-calcified plaque. Traditional calcium scoring only shows hardened plaque. I’m no medical expert, but I’m hearing enough about this upgraded testing to make me a believer. The chair of my TIGER 21 group is also a believer. He credits a CT Angiogram with saving his life. We need to be proactive and detect blockage before it kills us.

Talmage was walking around with blockage and had no idea till a symptom finally presented. And note that the symptom wasn’t some extreme pain. But it was enough of a feeling of pressure to know that something wasn’t right. Don’t ignore the signs. In Talmage’s words: “It may turn out to be a false alarm or it may be a life or death warning signal. When in doubt, do not delay. Go to the emergency room and get fully tested.”

By the grace of G-d, Talmage dodged a bullet. Our Canoe Brother Bill Parrish summed it up. “This is a reminder to all of us to pay attention to symptoms like this and take them seriously. It is also a reminder of what a blessing it is to be alive and a reminder to make the most of the days we have.”

Bill’s daughter is a nurse. She added an important point, especially to all the macho guys out there. Per Bill, “As a nurse, she sees too many patients – especially men – who do not call the doctor or go to the ER when they should. It seems to be a male ego thing. Many men wait until it is too late.” I’m listening. I hope you are too.

Talmage is now home and, in the words of Chicago’s 1973 hit, “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day.” Laurie and I went to see Claire and Talmage and had the best visit ever. I kept thinking that visits like that almost never could have happened again. I savored every moment, feeling enormous gratitude for the bond I share with my best friend. 

G-d spared Talmage for a reason. Talmage’s text captures the significance of his brush with death: “Every morning I pray that God will give me the power to fulfill my human potential. That’s all any of us can do. Glad He’s given me the opportunity to keep on going, not knowing what the future holds, but believing He has a plan for my life.”  I believe that too, and predict that the powerful legacy Talmage is creating will now be even richer and more meaningful.

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum is grateful that his best friend Talmage Boston (left) got to the hospital in time and survived a heart attack. When in doubt, get to the ER fast!

When in Doubt, Go! It Saved Talmage’s Life. Read More »

Elsie’s Funeral: A Celebration of Love and Legacy

Funerals can be uplifting. My mother’s was. Exactly one week ago, we gathered at Congregation Ahavath Sholom to honor her, barely over a day after she left us. We followed traditional Jewish protocols, which calls for a rapid burial. The synagogue was the perfect venue, as it’s always been her second home. The themes of the day reflected her priorities: faith, family, productive work, and a love of beauty. 

What made the funeral uplifting for us? In addition to the warmth we felt from honoring Elsie’s legacy, there’s power in coming together with loved ones. There was an unspoken connection in the sanctuary, as if all of us were bound together as one unbroken chain of love. In Catherine Sanderson’s blog post this week, she cites research that gathering with others lifts us up, whether it’s to celebrate a happy event or a memorial service. It explains why coming together to celebrate my mom gave me such a “peaceful, easy feeling” (to quote The Eagles). Science even supports that being with others we care about releases “various feel-good chemicals (oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins), which lower stress levels.” (Sanderson, “What Weddings, Birthdays, and Funerals Have in Common,” July 9, 2026).

Ironically, that community outpouring of love almost didn’t happen. A few weeks before my mother died, she told us not to have a big sendoff for her. She said, “Just get together a minyan [of ten] at the cemetery, and keep it simple. I’ve already been celebrated enough in my life.” She was worried about my broken hip and my weakened voice from recent vocal cord surgery. As my hip recovery was accelerating, she allowed one expansion. “I’d like for Lizzy to deliver the eulogy. I just hope she’s not out of the country when I die.” She closely followed our daughter Lizzy’s active schedule of international speeches, so she hoped to get the timing right.

As fate would have it, the timing was right (just barely). Lizzy had just returned from a speech in Jerusalem and was booked to leave on Monday night for Italy. When my mom died on Sunday night, we told Lizzy to go on with her plans, and I would cover for her. I assured her that Bobbie (what the grandkids call my mother) would understand. Lizzy wouldn’t have it. “I can’t not be there. I have to come.” She juggled her travel arrangements and flew immediately to Fort Worth with her husband Ira. Likewise, our son Adam and Brooke came instantly from visiting family in Cleveland. To top it off, my mom’s brother, Rabbi Leonard Oberstein wanted to eulogize his sister, and he arrived from Baltimore with his wife and four of his 12 kids. The funeral was expanding from the original graveside minyan of ten.

We set in motion to give my mother the glorious tribute we all felt she deserved, joined over the day by some 300 dear friends. We settled on having three eulogies: Lizzy, Rabbi Leonard, and our Rabbi Andrew Bloom. The consensus was that I would not speak and just absorb the moment, without pressure to find the right words. When we arrived at the synagogue, my cousins expressed dismay that I wasn’t speaking. Not wanting to feel regret later, I approached Rabbi Bloom right as the service started and said to call on me to say a few words after all. He called on me first, and I had no idea what would come out of my mouth. 

I found the strength to speak. As Elsie’s son, there’s no wonder where that strength came from. I knew Uncle Leonard would cover my mom’s family heritage and upbringing, and Lizzy would give the highlights of her life of service. I didn’t want to overlap. I chose to describe her final two months and her heroic battle over illness. I joked that she filled her days watching the financial news, leading one nurse to come to her for investment advice. “I have $40,000. Should I invest it in the stock market?” Elsie gave a tutorial: “You’re investing when the market’s at an all-time high, but put it in a mutual fund and ride it out over the long term. But keep back a nest egg for emergencies.” Soon after, a doctor at the hospital came to her bedside and said, “I hear that you’re really smart. Can you give me some financial advice?” Another master class in investing followed. 

At one point, my wife Laurie suggested she ease her mind from all the serious news she was glued to, worrying day and night about Israel’s security. When Laurie suggested the Hallmark channel, Elsie answered, “Honey, I just have no interest in that.”

That was Elsie, right to the last day. Our last conversation was about her legacy and how the next generations are carrying on her Jewish values. It brought a peaceful ending to a remarkable life. Fittingly, Elsie (quite the “firecracker”) set off her last earthly sparks on the Fourth of July, and found eternal rest the next day.

Lizzy’s eulogy painted a vivid picture of her Bobbie, retelling stories of Elsie’s inimitable wit and wisdom. It was a eulogy filled with love, laughter, and legacy. Click on this LINK to watch Lizzy’s eulogy for Elsie. After hearing Lizzy’s eulogy, my friend Loyd dubbed her “ELSIE 2.0” — now that’s what I call carrying on a legacy!

I’ll conclude with a final act of love for our beloved Elsie. In Jewish tradition, those at her graveside place three shovels of dirt on the casket. The funeral staff then completes the task, using heavy equipment to fill up all six feet with dirt. My son-in-law Ira intervened. He insisted that no strangers were going to put dirt in that grave. He grabbed a shovel and began relentlessly filling the grave. Two cousins and two friends joined in to help him. It was over 100 degrees, the hottest day so far this year, in the blistering afternoon sun. I tried repeatedly to get Ira to stop, for fear he’d get heat stroke. I assured him he’d done enough. His reply: “No way I’m stopping. We’ve got this. We can do this. Let’s go. Bobbie deserves this respect!”

My eyes are now too full of tears to keep typing. You get the picture. This is what I mean when I talk about a legacy.

Marvin E. Blum

Surrounded by love as we leave for the synagogue to honor our Elsie—(L to R) son Marvin Blum & Laurie, grandson Adam & Brooke, daughter-in-law Lea Ann, brother Rabbi Leonard Oberstein & his family, granddaughter Lizzy & Ira Savetsky.

Lizzy Savetsky honors her grandmother with a heartwarming eulogy filled with Elsie love, laughter, and legacy.

Elsie’s Funeral: A Celebration of Love and Legacy Read More »

Elsie Blum—May She Rest in Peace

My mother died on Sunday night. Her funeral is today. Till the very end, her brain was as sharp as ever. But after 95 years, her body was worn out.

Those who’ve been reading my blog for a while know a lot about her. She has always been my role model and hero. She was the personification of my mission to live a life of meaning and purpose, passing down a cherished legacy l’dor vador, from generation to generation.

As I write this, I am composing her obituary. My mind is a whirlwind. How do you do justice to 95 years in one essay? I’ll just start and let’s see where it goes.

Elsie Oberstein Blum, 95, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on July 5, 2026, leaving behind a cherished legacy to her family and friends. Her life was defined by her devotion to faith, family, and her community.

Elsie was the daughter of Meyer and Pauline Oberstein, immigrants to America who created a loving, traditional Jewish home in Montgomery, Alabama, far from their shtetls in Poland and Russia. In her youth, Elsie taught Hebrew school and worked alongside her parents in their neighborhood grocery store. She developed a tireless work ethic that informed the way she lived her entire life. 

The only language spoken in their home was Yiddish. Elsie remained fluent in Yiddish throughout her life, speaking it in her inimitable “Lady Bird Johnson” southern accent.

Growing up, Elsie shared a bed with her grandmother. They prayed every night that her mother’s oldest two siblings, unable to escape the Holocaust, were still alive. Alas, that was not the case. Her upbringing in a home of prayer built in Elsie a deep, lifelong commitment to Judaism. She passed on that strong Jewish identity to her family, which now burns brightly in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. It is the core of the Elsie Blum legacy.

Upon graduating high school, Elsie was a delegate to a Brandeis leadership camp in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. There she met the love of her life, Julius Blum, an Army veteran and recent graduate of Texas A & M who was one of the older delegates. Julius was excited to find another camper who he thought was close to his age, and Elsie didn’t tell him otherwise. They struck up a romance that led to a 52-year marriage. 

Elsie and Julius raised two sons, Irwin and Marvin, in a home committed to the values of their upbringing. Elsie worked by her husband’s side every day of their marriage, starting Blum’s Café and later J. Blum Meat Packing Supply Co. When Julius died 23 years ago, Irwin ran the family business and Elsie “retired.” Her version of retirement was to pour herself into volunteering seven days a week at Congregation Ahavath Sholom. She ran the catering department as if it were her full-time business. Marvin joked that she remarried, and her new husband was the synagogue. Years later, she was honored by the congregation as the “Jewel of Ahavath Sholom.” She was commonly regarded as the matriarch of the synagogue. 

When Irwin died nine years ago, Elsie came out of retirement. At age 86, she returned to work for a full year to single-handedly manage the transition of the family business. She grieved her son’s loss, but she put her grief into purpose by fulfilling a responsibility she felt to carry on in his shoes. 

Along with Elsie’s dedication to faith and productive work, she equally treasured her family. She especially adored her four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Her favorite part of each day was to get an update on their every move.

At age 90, a broken hip caused Elsie to relocate from her home to a new living community at The Stayton in Fort Worth. The Stayton was a gift to her on so many levels. She immediately formed a connection with close friends, enjoying long breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with them every day. She never left her apartment without being impeccably wardrobed, with a full face of makeup and her characteristic bold jewelry. She took interest in everything happening at The Stayton. She laughed that the director once told her she had the best business mind of any resident there he’d ever met. It came in handy that she could add a column of numbers on sight, never having need for a calculator. True to her mission to spread Jewish truths, she organized a monthly Jewish education program taught by Rabbi Andrew Bloom over her five years there, and she always assembled a crowd to attend.

Elsie’s physical health declined in recent months, but her mind remained 100% alert till her last day. She followed the financial markets with vigor and was glued to current events, especially her fierce concern for Israel’s security. Her final conversation with her family was about the legacy they are carrying on for her, with a commitment to her values of faith, family, and “Am Yisroel Chai” (the people of Israel live)!

Elsie Blum was preceded in death by her husband Julius Blum, son Irwin Blum, and brothers Herman Oberstein and Albert Oberstein. She is survived by son Marvin Blum and his wife Laurie, daughter-in-law Lea Ann Blum, grandchildren Adam Blum (wife Brooke), Lizzy Blum Savetsky (husband Ira), Benjamin Blum, and Matthew Blum, and great grandchildren Stella, Juliet, and Ollie Savetsky and Lucy, Grey, and Mia Blum, as well as her brother Rabbi Leonard Oberstein.  

Funeral service is on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Congregation Ahavath Sholom, 4050 South Hulen, Fort Worth, Texas.

May the memory of Elsie Blum forever be a blessing.

To hear Elsie tell part of her story in her own words, watch this sample from her interview, “Elsie Discusses How She Met Julius.” In this clip, she shares the story of her courtship with Julius and reflects on the early days of their marriage.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Elsie Blum, may she rest in peace, with son Marvin Blum, pictured here doing a video recording to preserve her life story and remarkable legacy.

Elsie Blum—May She Rest in Peace Read More »

Book Tip: Theo of Golden

While recovering from my recent hip surgery, a wonderful surprise arrived in the mail. It was a book sent to me by my dear friend and fellow law school “Canoe Brother” Bill Parrish. It was not just any book, but truly a life-changing book full of legacy-building lessons—Theo of Golden. I’ve been hearing a lot about this book. Michael Sonnenfeldt, founder of TIGER 21, even announced the book as his number one “tip jar” recommendation at the recent TIGER 21 annual conference. While convalescing, Theo turned out to be my perfect companion. It’s a story of kindness, generosity, and appreciating all the beauty that surrounds us.

The book brings to mind several themes from my writings in this Family Legacy Planning blog, in particular the choices we make in life to help us build a lasting legacy. In Theo’s example, it’s the choice he made to be an agent of generosity. He chose to make “bestowals” of portraits to the strangers who were the subjects of the portraits. In his encounters with those subjects, he described to them what he saw in their faces. He made them feel seen. We all want to feel seen. From an interview with the author Allen Levi, “The book is about the series of choices Theo made in his life that cumulatively made him someone we all aspire to be. My hope is that the story will provoke the reader to live a life of charity and kindness and good deeds, leaving you saying, ‘I want to be more like Theo.’” Beyond his generosity with others, Theo also is a role model for living a life full of meaning and purpose, with gratitude for the gifts of nature, art, and beauty in all forms. As Levi wrote, “He was fully invested in the art of living.”

In watching an interview of Levi by his good friend Ben May, I learned a lot about Levi’s own life journey that led him to writing his first novel as he approached age 70. Hearing his story awakened in me a couple of other themes from my recent posts: (1) periodically reinventing yourself so as not to get stale, and (2) unearthing your encoding for certain talents (like writing), and watering those dormant seeds so they can flower into new discoveries in your later years. Weaving those two themes together, Levi is a poster child for reinventing himself over and over, yielding an amazing outpouring of artistic genius, like Theo of Golden. 

I’ll share more of Levi’s story so you can join me in drawing inspiration from it. Being an author is Levi’s fourth career. Before that, he was a lawyer, then a singer-songwriter, then a judge. During the COVID lockdown, he used his free time to explore writing. (I can identify, as the pandemic downtime also propelled me into writing this weekly blog.) He tried his hand at fiction, with some 50 stops and starts, but was always drawn back to it. Ultimately, he produced a manuscript of Theo that he shared with his five closest buddies. Levi’s intention was to lock the manuscript away and just check the box that he could write a book, but his friends wouldn’t have that. They surprised him one night at his home and “insisted, not just encouraged—they were insistent” that he publish it. “We all need people like that in our lives” who recognize our talent and push us to pursue it. Levi’s friends told him four life-changing words: “We believe in you” – words we all need to hear at some point. 

Originally self-published, Theo of Golden now tops the New York Times bestseller list, and the rights have been sold in 42 countries. (Pamela Paul, “‘Theo of Golden’ Broke Every Rule in Publishing. It’s an Unprecedented Bestseller.” Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2026.) Acknowledging that his was an unorthodox journey, Levi explained that to believe you can produce a work of art starts with audacity. Similarly, per Winston Churchill’s book Painting as a Pastime, the first quality needed to be a painter is audacity. I heard a speech by Pres. George W. Bush where he said the same thing about his painting. The same is true for writing. Levi elaborates, “It’s an audacious idea that you can write something worth reading. But that’s just a start. After you start, it takes tenacity and perseverance” to get it over the finish line. Audacity, tenacity, perseverance, and on top of that (per author Stephen King), you need a room with a door, and you need to have the will to keep the door to the room closed. I can relate. 

Another theme from Theo resonated with me: “There is a mysterious choreography at work in our lives.” That choreography brought people into Theo’s life who became a cherished community of friends. Similarly, there is a mysterious choreography that brought together my community of law school Canoe Brothers, and the chemistry we share bonded us with a magical connection. That connection is what led Bill Parrish to send me Theo of Golden, truly a “golden” gift of friendship. I suggest we all follow Bill’s lead and bestow such golden gifts on people we care about. 

I’ll close with one more bit of wisdom from Theo. As I recover from my broken hip, I lamented to my friend Karen Reisman that when I look in the mirror now, I look old. When I expressed reluctance to rejoin the world until I look better, Karen said, “The best makeup you can wear is a smile.” Remarkably, Theo offered the same pearl of wisdom. As Theo looked in the mirror, “His was an undeniably old face, but even to him, it lost decades of age when he smiled. And so he did.”

Thankfully, Levi is now writing a sequel to Theo of Golden. I can hardly wait.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum's book tip Theo of Golden is chock full of legacy-building lessons from its central character Theo, a role model for kindness and generosity.

Theo of Golden was a “golden” gift of friendship bestowed on Marvin Blum from Bill Parrish, here with wife Margaret, as they host a law school Canoe Brothers’ getaway in their beautiful mountain home.

Book Tip: Theo of Golden Read More »

Man Plans, and G-d Laughs: My Broken Hip Episode

I grew up hearing the Yiddish proverb, “Mann tracht, un Gott lacht” – “Man plans, and G-d laughs.” That adage has new meaning for me, as all my best-laid plans have been upended by my broken hip. I revealed last week about the hard fall in an exercise class that crushed my right hip. In that post, I explored how life’s hardest knocks can be the fuel for some powerful legacy-building lessons. Today, I’ll share some of the ironic “wins” that this painful experience is teaching me.

First, I’m not the center of the universe. Yes, my calendar was full of appointments and trips that had to be cancelled. But the world still kept turning. Life goes on, even as I postpone a slew of meetings. I am learning flexibility, even it’s forced flexibility. All that “important” stuff on my calendar? It’s not that important. Moreover, I’m not that important. 

We can postpone most things and still survive. But another lesson is that there’s one thing we shouldn’t postpone—don’t postpone joy. The practical side of Marvin is notoriously guilty of saying no to fun opportunities, such as once-in-a-lifetime trips and experiences. If you think you’ll enjoy those later, think again. When (and if) later comes around, you may be unable to get around like you used to. 

Have gratitude for the simple things we tend to take for granted—like a good night’s sleep, a pain-free day, a morning exercise routine that gives you energy. I am longing for all of those right now. When I get them back, my goal is to appreciate them.

Be thankful for all our health care heroes. Doctors and nurses have a hard job. I am amazed at how all my caregivers at Harris Hospital constantly gave their all, bringing positive vibes into my dreary hospital room while juggling a full load of demanding patients. They are doing the work of angels. I give a special shout-out to Dr. Jason Disney in the Harris Hospital Emergency Department. It’s no wonder he was designated as the Harris “Doctor of the Year.” I have never met a more caring human being.

And speaking of caring human beings, I am filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support and concern from so many loved ones. They have showered me with flowers, meals, cards, calls, texts, visits. It’s a reminder that we don’t fly through life solo. We are lifted up by the communities we are a part of. Be intentional about building connections with people. They will be there for you in hard times, and you will likewise be there for them. Of course, the loving care from my wife Laurie is so sky-high I can’t find words that are adequate. My heart bursts with love.

Draw strength from our ancestors. I often emphasize how important it is to pass down stories of resilience, so future generations will know they come from a legacy of strong stock. As I was being wheeled into surgery, I felt that strength from my father Julius Blum, who died 23 years ago but still lives on inside of me. I was channeling a memory when they were wheeling my dad into surgery, and he was remarkably fearless in a fearful moment. I can still hear my father’s words: “Put a nickel in the machine and let it roll.”  I repeated those exact words as I was heading into surgery. I knew he was with me, and together — we’ve got this!

And one final (and very practical) lesson: wear the right kind of shoe for your exercise routine. My accident happened because I was wearing a thick-soled HOKA tennis shoe that gripped the floor when I was trying to do a fast side shuffle, causing me to take a flying leap and land smack on my hip. I have learned since that my shoe is great for walking. But for fast aerobic movement, that shoe is no bueno. Now I know.

Even the worst experiences can be the best teachers. These lessons are now not only embedded in my psyche, they are part of the Marvin Blum story and the legacy I’m creating as I journey through the ups and downs of life.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

(P.S. – I’m happy to report that my recovery is going great and I aim to bounce back in record time. I’m trying to earn the right to join the “you can’t keep a good man down” club! )

Marvin Blum in the emergency room with a broken hip, receiving superb care from Dr. Jason Disney, Harris Hospital “Doctor of the Year.”

This caricature depicts Marvin Blum leaving the hospital to start his recovery journey, under the loving care of wife Laurie, the world’s best nurse. The goal is to fight like Superman and recover in record fashion.

Man Plans, and G-d Laughs: My Broken Hip Episode Read More »

Can You Build a Legacy on Your Hardest Days?

It happened in an instant. One moment, I’m doing an energetic workout and feeling on top of the world. The next moment, I trip over my HOKA tennis shoes on a side shuffle and take a hard fall. Crash! I land on my right hip and shatter it. Ouch!!! In an instant, I’ve gone from top of the world to rock bottom. Life is a series of legacy-building experiences. Is there a legacy lesson in this experience?

Building a legacy isn’t solely based on what we achieve. It’s also built on how we endure. Sometimes showing up at 50% (or even less) when you only have 50% or less to give is every bit as admirable as showing up at 100%.

The legacy we leave behind is not a collection of perfect moments. It is the story of how we live through every season of life—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Some of the most important legacy-building may happen not on our best days, but on the days when we’re challenged and still choose to persevere, remain positive, and show up to give whatever we have to give in that moment.

So how do we do this?

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl reflects on his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and observes that those most likely to survive emotionally were often the ones who found a reason to keep going—whether it was a loved one, a sense of purpose, or hope for the future.

The book’s central message is that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can control how we respond. Frankl argues that meaning is not found only in success, achievement, or happiness. Often, meaning is found in how we face suffering, adversity, and difficult circumstances with courage and dignity.

As Frankl wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

That lesson extends far beyond extraordinary circumstances. Most of us will never face the hardships Frankl endured, but all of us will experience difficult seasons. We will face setbacks, disappointments, illnesses, losses, and moments when life simply feels heavy.

During those times, it is easy to believe that our legacy is on pause until things improve. Yet the opposite may be true.

Our children, grandchildren, friends, and colleagues often learn the most from us during our struggles. They watch how we respond when things don’t go according to plan. They see whether we treat others with kindness when we’re frustrated, whether we remain faithful to our values when circumstances become difficult, and whether we continue moving forward when the path ahead is uncertain.

These moments rarely make headlines. No one receives an award for getting out of bed on a difficult day or showing patience when their own heart is hurting. Yet these small acts of perseverance reveal character. Over time, character becomes legacy.

In many ways, our hardest days can become our greatest teachers. They remind us that strength is not always loud and dramatic. Sometimes strength looks like asking for help. Sometimes it means admitting we don’t have all the answers. Sometimes it means simply taking the next right step, as much as that step may hurt.

Legacy planning often focuses on the valuable things we leave behind—our assets, our stories, our wisdom, our values. All of these are important. But perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can leave our loved ones is an example of resilience. When future generations encounter their own challenges, they may remember not what we accomplished during our easiest seasons, but how we conducted ourselves during our hardest ones.

The truth is that no one can build a perfect legacy because no one is a perfect person. Fortunately, building a meaningful legacy doesn’t require perfection. It requires giving from your heart, not with perfection, but with the best you have to give.

The goal is to live with purpose, integrity, and compassion through every season of life. It is to continue showing up, even when we feel less than our best. It is to demonstrate that meaning can still be found in difficult circumstances and that hope can survive even in challenging times.

In next week’s post, I’ll share messages from my heart–legacy lessons learned from my own broken hip episode and from the road to recovery that I’m now traveling.

So, the next time you find yourself operating at 50% or less, remember this: if you are giving your best with what you have that day, you are still building your legacy. In fact, you may be building some of the most important parts of it.

 

 Marvin E. Blum

 

Marvin Blum (right) starting his day working out with "Coach Q" (Quinston), feeling fit and on top of the world.

A moment later, Marvin and his world came crashing down, shattering his right hip, and entering a chapter of life full of both pain and possibility.

In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl reminds us that while we cannot always control our circumstances, we can control how we respond to them. Perhaps some of the most important parts of our legacy are built not on our best days, but on the days we choose to persevere.

Can You Build a Legacy on Your Hardest Days? Read More »

Grandpa Herzberg’s “Three-a-Day” Legacy

My wife Laurie is from Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to Elvis, barbeque, and the blues, Memphis is home to Laurie’s big family. We enjoy visiting them regularly, as they always shower us with their gracious southern hospitality.

As I often stress in this Family Legacy Planning blog, preserving family heritage is an essential part of creating a lasting legacy. Today, I shine a spotlight on Laurie’s grandfather Albert Herzberg. Grandpa Herzberg was an intellectual. His hard-knocks immigrant roots pushed him into the workforce and ended his formal education at age 12, but his insatiable thirst for knowledge never diminished. Albert taught himself French, Spanish, and advanced mathematics. His favorite magazine was The Journal of the American Medical Association, which he read avidly. He even tutored his son AJ years later when AJ attended MIT for college.

In addition to his intellectual acumen, Grandpa Herzberg had a heart of gold and was a gifted writer. His motto was “three-a-day.” He put it to use in two ways. First, he wouldn’t go to bed until he had done “three good turns” each day. His soft heart embraced all in need, providing food, clothes, shoes, and all forms of one-on-one charity to the needy. In addition, he had a daily regimen of crafting three pieces of philosophy, ending each with the words “three-a-day.”

Fortunately, Laurie’s mother Aimee saw the value in preserving many of her father’s writings. On a recent Memphis trip, I had the joy of reading Grandpa Herzberg’s words of wisdom. His typing was impeccable; he rarely missed a key. I can picture him cornered away at the keyboard and after a full workday, composing his masterful creations.

The “three-a-day” theme resurfaced for me in reading Catherine Sanderson’s blog on “How to Feel Better.” Sanderson’s post of April 2, 2026, is entitled: “Why pausing to notice three good things can change your whole outlook.” She adopted a gratitude practice of “identifying three small, good things that happened in the last week—and then sharing those things on Instagram…. And I’m hoping that my sharing of three tiny—very achievable—positive things in the last week will help prompt others to look for the small joys in their own lives.” So, Grandpa Herzberg’s “three-a-day” proves even more ambitious than Sanderson’s “three-a-week,” but kudos to both of them.

Here are a few highlights of Grandpa Herzberg’s words of wisdom.

“We must strike an average in judging people, because if we look at just one thing they did or said or acted and if we keep on thinking and talking about that one thing, we become hypnotized by that one thing and forget that we are acquainted with an average and not just one separate part. That’s the reason some people have so few friends, they throw them aside on account of considering just one thing and not the whole individual which is an average. A person is like a diamond which has many facets, some of which are defective and some which shine with heavenly luster. So don’t throw away the diamond because it has a flaw, just consider the beautiful glowing facets.”

“A man to be of benefit to his family must be a thing apart. He must go off into new fields to do or die for the family but he must not take the family along…. The bee that gets the honey don’t hang around the hive.”

“Mother Nature as we choose to call it, is a consummate diplomat…. When you are young, she smiles at you and cajoles you, with pretty faces and smiles and makes loving so beautiful. She will play her wiles to enmesh you for a few years, till suddenly or gradually the smiles and the guiles disappear from her face, and she becomes enraged…. Friends of youth she drives away, she brings wrinkles to her countenance where there was youth and smiles.”

“Liberty is something that if you don’t keep working on it will fade away.”

Albert Cardozo Herzberg understood the importance of documenting a legacy in writing. I encourage all to do the same, even if not quite so ambitious as “three-a-day.” Thanks to Grandpa’s foresight, his wisdom lives on for future generations. One of those beneficiaries is his great-grandson Adam Cardozo Blum. Laurie and I named our son for his brilliant ancestor, yet another means of keeping alive the memory of a man who lived a life full of meaning.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

 

Laurie Blum’s grandfather Albert Herzberg (center, as groom) on his wedding day. Grandpa Herzberg bequeathed to his family a brilliant collection of his “three-a-day” words of wisdom.

A century later, Grandpa Herzberg’s descendants gather in Memphis to celebrate family connection. This photo (taken in the home Elvis Presley built for his doctor) includes Marvin Blum (far left) and Adam Cardozo Blum (far right), named after his great grandfather Albert Cardozo Herzberg.

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“Musings from Marvin” – Watering My Early Seeds as a Writer

Growing up, I was what you would call a nerd (in today’s lingo). At school, I chose sedentary electives that worked the mind rather than the body. In seventh grade, I enrolled in wood shop and soon discovered it wasn’t my scene. I quickly switched to Spanish, a much better fit— muchas gracias! I also worked in the school library, on yearbook staff, and selected a typing class over sports. You get the picture. Young Marvin was a nerdy (and chubby) bookworm.

Looking back on my time in McLean Jr. High, one choice proved to be more clairvoyant than I’d have guessed at the time. I became a member of the McLean Mirror newspaper staff. Evidently, my lifelong perfectionist and obsessive tendencies were already on full display, as I was selected to be head proofreader. Moreover, I was assigned to write a column entitled “Musings from Marvin.” Who would’ve imagined that more than 50 years later, I’d still be writing that column, just under a different headline. This weekly Family Legacy Planning blog is essentially a continuation of my “Musings from Marvin” column.

I began reflecting on my writing path when reading Jim Collins’ recent book What to Make of a Life. Collins described how we are “encoded” early on with certain talents. We are usually unaware of that gift until one day when that talent outs. Consider this example: “Young Toni Morrison did not aspire to be a writer. She loved literature, she loved reading, she loved teaching about books. But she had no idea that she carried within her a constellation of encodings that, when snapped into frame, would make her one of the most significant novelists of the 20th century.”

After my stint as a columnist for the McLean Mirror, I took a long break from writing. For one thing, I never considered myself a good writer. That negative impression was reinforced by my high school English teacher Paula Eyrich. She was right, my writing was heavy and labored. I lacked confidence to just spit it out in a way that would be fresh and easy to read. Though my high school writing style was all wrong, there was still a writer lurking deep inside of me. The discovery of that encoding for writing came much later.

Collins describes others who shared a journey like mine, waiting for the moment when something would ignite that slow-burning inner fire that was always there. He described case after case when the flames of talent would start blazing later in life from “the seeds of early passions.” Collins’ research revealed “a useful method for reigniting the inner fire, especially in episodes of fog: the value of watering seeds planted earlier in life. Across the study set we found evidence of seeds planted early in life. In some cases,… those seeds lay largely dormant for years to decades, only to flower later in life.”

Collins continues: “This pattern of circling back to water early seeds led me to some useful questions for figuring out the next phase of life that will feed the inner fire: Do you have dormant seeds from earlier in life that, for whatever reason, you’ve never watered? These might be interests you’ve always had, but your life went a different direction.”

Collins teaches that you have to water those dormant seeds to make them grow. Inadvertently, the COVID pandemic provided me with the pause I needed to start watering my seeds. That’s when I started writing this blog. Over these five years, I’ve been actively watering my McLean Mirror seeds by writing week after week without a break. As my daughter Lizzy says, it’s like a muscle that gets stronger the more you exercise it.

Toni Morrison’s encoding was “snapped into frame” by her early efforts as a novelist. According to my best friend Talmage Boston, I have an encoding for helping people navigate life in a meaningful way, and “your blog has snapped that encoding in your system into frame with a laser focus.” Talmage regularly urges me to keep watering my seeds until they flower into a book. Who knows? Maybe “Musings from Marvin” could one day sit on some bedside nightstands.

As further encouragement, I’ll close with the teaching of Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Per Rabbi Kushner, there are three things everyone should do: plant a tree, have a child, and write a book. That’s how you create a living legacy that will live on after you’re gone. Two down—one to go!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum in his junior high school days when early writing seeds were planted in him as a columnist for the McLean Mirror newspaper.

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What The Madison Teaches Us About Legacy

Several weeks ago, I shared legacy lessons from this hit show Landman. The feedback I received was enthusiastic and affirming. Given that appetite to learn from TV drama, this week’s post highlights another brilliant series, also created by Taylor Sheridan, The Madison.

The Madison premiered on March 14 of this year and quickly garnered around 8 million global views early in its release. Set between the countryside of Montana and New York City, much of the filming actually took place throughout my hometown. Viewers may recognize locations such as the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Sundance Square.

Taylor Sheridan is a gifted writer. At times it feels like he is writing directly about my line of work. Many of Sheridan’s stories share powerful life lessons about legacy planning.

In The Madison, we follow Preston, played by Kurt Russell, and his wife Stacy, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Together they have two daughters, Paige and Abigail. Paige is married, and Abigail is recently divorced with two daughters of her own. The family lives in New York City, but each year Preston travels to Montana to visit his brother, Paul, at their remote ranch where they spend their time fishing and enjoying the outdoors. The ranch is Preston’s favorite place on earth, yet Stacy and the girls have never wanted to go. The ranch is far too rustic for their taste, especially since it does not even have indoor plumbing.

Warning: there are spoilers ahead. Within the first fifteen minutes of the show, Preston and Paul are flying out of their remote fishing spot to escape a storm when their plane crashes. The scene then cuts to Stacy in New York City as she receives the devastating call that there has been an accident and she needs to travel to Montana to identify the bodies. The entire family flies out together, and from there, the story unfolds.

We quickly learn that Stacy and Preston had a deep love for one another and a very happy marriage. After Stacy confirms the bodies to be her husband’s and his brother’s, she discovers that she inherited the ranch. She, along with her two daughters, son-in-law, and two granddaughters, drive out to see the ranch for the first time. When they arrive, they quickly understand why they had never visited before. It is extremely remote, rugged, and backwoods. However, Stacy experiences it differently. Stacy begins to discover another layer of Preston that she never fully knew—not because he was hiding it from her, but because she had never stepped outside of her comfort zone to experience this side of his life.

Stacy goes into Preston’s cabin and finds a journal filled with his thoughts, directions on how to live out there, places he discovered, conversations he had with Paul, and more. For Stacy, it becomes a true treasure. Much to her family’s dismay, Stacy stays at the ranch to learn more about this side of Preston and experience everything he wrote about in his journal. One entry includes making coffee from river water over a wood-burning stove. Another is about a hilltop place he named after her because the field reminded him of the color of her hair. That is where they bury Preston and Paul. Stacy says she wants to get lost in her grief because she lost the love of her life, and she knows she will never be the same again — nor does she want to be.

The family stays in Montana, and over time they slowly begin to love the place, or at least understand why Preston did. The people are more genuine, the experiences are grounded in nature, and the pressures of city life begin to fade. Eventually, they all return to New York and try to resume their normal lives, but the season ends with Stacy returning to Montana alone, without telling anyone where she went, leaving her family searching for her.

What makes the show so powerful is that it is really a story about love, lasting legacy, and really knowing someone, not just “knowing” them, but “really knowing” them. There’s a difference. We are the sum of all the things that we love and treasure. The things that bring us peace, passion, comfort, and joy add up to who we really are. And to truly know someone, we have to be willing to dive deep into their soul and experience the things they love, even if they are outside our own comfort zone.

Stacy spent her life loving Preston, but she never fully stepped into the world that meant the most to him. It was only after his death that she finally understood why Montana mattered so much. In many ways, Preston planned for that moment. In his Will, he asked to be buried on the land he loved most, knowing it would bring Stacy there eventually. And once she arrived, she found the journal he had left behind filled with his thoughts, favorite places, memories with Paul, and instructions on how to live out there. It almost felt as though Preston knew this would be the way she finally came to understand him fully. The journal became one final love letter to his wife, guiding her through the part of his life he always wished she had experienced with him.

That is what legacy is really about—not just passing down your valuables, but passing down your values, the things you care about most, the true essence of yourself. It’s your vision for your family, lessons learned, best memories, stories, traditions, favorite places, and the things you loved most. To be fully known by the people we love, we need to follow Preston’s example and document those pieces of ourselves while we still can.

Perhaps the saddest part of the story is that Stacy had to lose Preston before she truly experienced the part of him that mattered most. Let’s learn from The Madison and not wait until someone is gone to really know who they were. Moreover, let’s preserve that rich legacy in writing, keeping it alive for generations to come.

 

Marvin E. Blum

The Madison is more than a story about loss. It is a story about love, legacy, and how to truly know someone. Sometimes the clearest way to understand a person is to understand what they loved most.

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Back to Basics

Let’s wind the clock back about 50 years to my time at UT Law School. During those three years, I was searching for the field of law that would be my life’s work. I had that “eureka!” moment in an estate planning class taught by Professor Stanley Johanson. I rushed back to my apartment and called my parents to share the news that I wanted to be an estate planning lawyer. My parents’ response: “What’s estate planning?” I embarked on trying to explain to them what estate planning is. 

I found myself answering that same question in a recent speech to my synagogue entitled “The Basics of Estate Planning.” I teased that giving that answer in a short speech would be about as challenging as when the sage Hillel was asked to explain the entire Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel basically summed it up by saying “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” I wasn’t quite so eloquent, but I gave it a shot.

When people hear the words “estate planning,” most think, “Oh, you mean a Will.” True, a Will is one part of it, but it’s actually a very small part of a much bigger picture. In my speech, I endeavored to paint a picture of the expansive landscape of estate planning. To do that, I went back to basics and started with an overview of these 10 documents that form the base of many estate plans, creating a foundation to build upon with more sophisticated planning techniques:

  • Last Will and Testament
  • Power of Attorney
  • Medical Power of Attorney
  • Directive to Physicians/Living Will
  • Declaration of Guardian in the Event of Later Incapacity
  • HIPAA Waiver
  • Declaration of Guardian of Minor Children
  • Statement Regarding Anatomical Gift
  • Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains
  • DNR (Do Not Resusciate)

I then expanded on that base by exploring other tools in the estate planner’s toolbox. I took a dive into the world of trusts, hitting the highlights of a few favorites. I started with the Revocable Living Trust (“RLT”), stressing that a Will is a public document while the RLT is private. By converting the Will into a simple “Pourover Will” that pours all the assets into an RLT, you can put all the dispositive provisions in the RLT and prevent the public from seeing them. In addition, by funding assets into an RLT during your life, you can avoid probate at your death.

I pointed out that many people have heavy amounts of wealth in retirement accounts. If you designate a child as beneficiary, those assets become unprotected. Instead, consider naming as beneficiary a Retirement Accumulation Trust for the child’s benefit, protecting the IRA and other retirement assets from the child’s creditors, divorces, and estate tax. 

The shopping list of trusts continued: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (“ILIT”), Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (“IDGT”) for your kids, Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (“SLAT”) for your spouse, 678 Trust or Beneficiary Defective Inheritor’s Trust (“BDIT”), Qualified Personal Residence Trust (“QPRT”), Charitable Lead Trust (“CLT”), Charitable Remainder Trust (“CRT”), and Family Advancement Sustainability Trust (“FAST”) to pay for family enrichment like family travel and retreats. I also gave a shout-out to the Family Limited Partnership (“FLP”) to protect assets from creditors and “squeeze” down asset values with valuation discounts. 

To review my handout on The Basics of Estate Planning, click on this LINK.

Bottom Line: There’s a lot more to estate planning than a Will. I often reflect on how the world of estate planning has evolved since my days at UT Law School. It’s now a more holistic endeavor, as summarized on this slide “It’s Not Your Daddy’s Estate Planning Anymore.”

Now 50 years later, I could give Julius and Elsie Blum a much better answer to their question “What’s Estate Planning?” I could also explain WHY estate planning was right for me, as it fulfills my need to connect deeply with my clients and help them create a meaningful legacy. It turns out I made the right decision and discovered my life’s true calling on that day long ago in Professor Johanson’s class.  

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum presenting “The Basics of Estate Planning” at his synagogue, Congregation Ahavath Sholom.

Marvin Blum (right), next to Rabbi Andrew and Miki Bloom, who planted trees in Israel in honor of Blum’s program on planning. The inscription aptly reads, “Because while money doesn’t grow on trees… impact, legacy, and good deeds absolutely do.”

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National Pet Month: Celebrating the Pets of The Blum Firm

At The Blum Firm, we spend a lot of time talking about family, legacy, and the people who matter most. But this month, we want to recognize another important part of many families—our pets.

Pets have a special way of teaching us what matters most. They remind us to slow down, stay present, offer unconditional love, and appreciate life’s simple joys. They greet us with enthusiasm, stay loyal through every season, and somehow always know when we need comfort.

For many of us, pets are more than companions. Our pets are family. They are part of our daily routines, our celebrations, and even our hardest days. They leave paw prints on our hearts and become part of the stories we tell for years to come.

And just like any other member of the family, our pets deserve to be part of our planning. Making sure your pets are cared for is an important part of estate planning. If you want to learn more, check out my recent blog post, When Writing Your Will, Don’t Forget About Your Pets.

In honor of National Pet Month, we are celebrating the pets of The Blum Firm—the office greeters, the home office assistants, the walking companions, and the beloved family members who make life better.

Today, we are sharing a few of the furry faces that bring joy to our team every day.

Because creating legacy is not just about what we leave behind. It is also about the love we experience along the way.



Introducing Penny!

Amanda Coulter, Legal Assistant, says her dog Penny loves going on walks and playing with her toys. She is always excited when her BarkBox arrives in the mail—it might just be her favorite thing! The one thing Penny does not enjoy? Bath time.

Say Hello to Sadie!

Amanda Holliday, Managing Partner, has Sadie, a six-year-old Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Toy Poodle mix) with a loving personality. She is a true snuggler and gets most excited when she sees someone grab a blanket and sit down on the couch. Her second favorite activity is chasing squirrels in the backyard, although if she gets too close, she slows down to give them a chance to escape. As her family likes to say, she is a lover, not a fighter. Sadie’s best skill is using her very expressive eyes to beg for people food, and she is quite successful at it.



Here's Tolkien & Eliza!

Amanda Jones, Human Resources Specialist, has two cats with very big personalities. Tolkien, her black cat, is everything a black cat should be—sweet, loving, loyal, too intelligent for his own good, and just a little bit nuts. Eliza, her calico cat, is a true princess who adores her humans. She talks a little too much… and if she’s having a bad day, so is everyone else.


Meet Max!

Amber Posey, Office Services Coordinator, has Maxwell “Max” Mochi Posey, a shelter kitty who is around a year and a half old with the spirit of a pterodactyl. While Max loves to terrorize his domain, he is also always up for a good cuddle when the mood strikes.


This is George!

Annie Counts, Senior Associate Attorney, says her dog George is a standard “parti” poodle because his coat is multicolored—but he is also quite a party! He is high energy and super cuddly, but most importantly, playing fetch is his number one hobby. For George, ball is life.


Hello Riley!

Ashlee Wiley, Senior Legal Assistant, has Riley, a sweet girl who loves being around people and soaking up all the love and attention she can get.



Spotlight on Sundance!

Becky Samons, Paralegal Manager, has Sundance, also known as Sunnie Mae, a pup full of personality and energy. She loves cuddles, stuffed animals, and zooming around like an energizer bunny. And if there is a laundry basket nearby, you can bet she is ready to terrorize it.


Meet George!

Beth Hampton, Senior Associate Attorney, has George, who was born in Scotland and loves the cold weather. He spends his days working at a vet clinic, where he serves as the official greeter and assistant to the receptionist.

Hello Harry & Tonks!

Cat Bardin, Executive Assistant and Firm Administrator, has Harry and Tonks, two Corgi rescues with big personalities. They are sweet, adorable, and way too smart, and are currently still in their “velociraptor stage.” Harry loves to squeak his toys nonstop, especially during work calls, while Tonks prefers to eat nonstop, earning her the loving nickname “Chonks” from the vet team. Together, they believe every human and dog they meet should stop and play with them.



This is Lulu & Beltre!

Cindi Adler, Litigation Paralegal, has Lulu and Beltre, her sweet miniature Dachshunds. They may not have any special talents, but they are the very best cuddle buddies and are always close by for extra love and companionship.

Double the Fun: Finch & Franklin!

David Bakutis, Partner, has Finch and Franklin, two certified therapy dogs who truly show the power of a simple visit by bringing comfort, connection, and joy wherever they go. From assisted living communities and hospitals to the Federal Medical Center, Bureau of Prisons, and college campuses, their gentle presence has a way of brightening even the toughest days. Franklin also shares his special love of reading through his Reading Club at Worth Heights Elementary School, helping young readers build confidence one story at a time. When they are not “on the job,” Finch and Franklin live for treats, long walks, and chasing squirrels, but most of all, they are expert smile makers who remind us just how powerful a little love, and a wagging tail, can be. They even included a very official-looking “Form W-K9 Individual Pet Tax Return,” a hilarious reminder that every pet owner should be paying their taxes in belly rubs, treats, and plenty of love.

Meet Nadia & Rosey!

Desiree Woods, Accounting Manager for the Blum Family Office, has two dogs Nadia and Rosey and they could not be more different. Nadia is completely ball crazy—if someone would throw the ball for her all day and all night, she would happily run and fetch it every single time… unless she decides it is more fun to play keep-away instead. Rosey, on the other hand, prefers a much slower pace. In fact, she is lazy. So lazy.



Say Hello to Hamish!

Dyann McCully, Partner in Charge of Litigation, has Hamish, a six-month-old kitty who is such a sweetie. He is playful, loves to snuggle, and brings plenty of joy and energy wherever he goes.



Goodness Gracie!

Emily Hammond, Paralegal, has Gracie “Shadow” Hammond, a sweet and gentle two-year-old dog with a cautious curiosity about the world around her. When she is not chasing a ball around the backyard, she loves curling up by Emily’s side and makes the perfect work-from-home companion. Emily’s husband nicknamed her “Shadow” because she follows Emily everywhere and has a talent for quietly stealing shoes whenever no one is looking.

Spotlight on Bonnie & Pattie!

Emily Sewright, Partner, has two pets with plenty of personality. Bonnie Barker fills every room with her big personality and keeps Emily on her toes with her intelligence, love of food, and refusal to embrace boredom. Her dramatic personality is matched only by her love of snuggles and her kind-hearted nature toward everyone she meets. Pattie may have a few cat-like qualities, like walking across the keyboard, sleeping on a warm pile of clean clothes, and choosing a pillow over the hard floor, but she also has a loving and adventurous side. She loves being picked up and held and often demands to be let outside to enjoy the fresh air. While she and Bonnie are not exactly best friends, they seem grateful for each other’s companionship and always greet one another kindly after one returns from the dreaded trip to the vet.


Meet the Crew: Winnie, Mila, Chumlee & Juno!

Ginger Melton, Accounting and Administrative Assistant, has a full house of lovable personalities. Winnie is a silly blonde who loves to play and gets the zoomies, then brings Ginger plenty of joy and snuggles once she is worn out. Mila, a German Shepherd, has the sweetest soul, while Chumlee, also a shepherd, is always right by Ginger’s side, never straying far from her shadow. Rounding out the crew is Juno, their cat, who loves soaking up the sun and exploring her surroundings.



Here's Gambit!

Hannah Dudley, Paralegal, has Gambit, a very handsome one-year-old pup with plenty of personality. As a husky, he loves to sing, loves hiding his bones, and takes his job as the family alarm clock very seriously by making sure breakfast happens at 7:00 a.m. sharp. He also loves snuggling with all of his girlfriends—especially Mom’s friends!

The Trio: Scout, Sonata & Dusty!

John Hunter, Managing Partner, has quite the crew of pets, each with their own personality. Sonata, a black standard poodle, truly lives up to his name and loves music. The moment someone starts playing the piano, he runs to sit underneath it. Even as an 11-year-old senior gentleman, he forgets to act his age by chasing cats, barking at the mailman, playing fetch for hours, and showing off his impressive winter sweater collection. Scout may strike a dignified pose, but he is really quite the goof. He sings along while John’s daughter, Courtney, practices, sneaks chicken off the kitchen counter, and lives for a good nap. Like Ferdinand the Bull, he is happiest quietly relaxing in the backyard, watching squirrels and birds. His favorite holiday is Christmas because he gets to nap by the tree and sniff candy canes. Dusty, the cat, lives with John’s daughter, Courtney, in both Fort Worth and Waco at Baylor. A rescuer found Dusty at a cement plant, which is how he got his name. A true social butterfly, Dusty has never met a stranger and proudly serves as the Memorial Hall mascot at Baylor. Having been raised with standard poodles, he learned to play fetch and will happily chase his ball for hours. He loves the camera and is known for crashing virtual classes, meetings, and lessons. His favorite holiday is his birthday, because he gets to wear a fun hat and enjoy salmon.


Hello Athena!

Julie Cruz, Legal Assistant, has Athena, her pet snake. She may not be the typical furry friend, but she is a fascinating companion who is a special part of Julie’s family.

Meet Marlo, Merry & Mason!

Kaitlin Goddard, Associate Attorney, has three cats, each with a personality all their own. Marlo Hampton Goddard, her brown and black long-haired tabby, came to the family as a stray five years ago after showing up on their porch one winter day crying for help. After making her a warm little box outside, it only took a few days for Kaitlin to fall in love and welcome her into the family. Marlo is a sweet, chatty cat who loves to wander around meowing and, while she can be a little sassy with the other cats, she is loved just the same. Meredith Noel Goddard, a black short-haired cat they call Merry, is extra special because Kevin proposed to Kaitlin with her on her birthday in front of their Christmas tree, which inspired the name “Merry Noel.” She is the sweetest of the three cats and loves to curl up on your chest or perch on your shoulder. Merry is a true snuggler with the calmest, most gentle demeanor. Mason Gray Goddard, their gray and white long-haired cat, loves lounging in the sunrays from the skylights and has the cutest squeaky meow. She spends her time bird-watching out the window and occasionally tearing down the hallway with the zoomies. She also insists on sleeping right next to them in bed at night, never one to shy away from a cuddle—on her terms, of course.


Introducing Penelope & Emmett!

Katie Heck, Marketing Specialist, says to say she is in love with her miniature dachshunds is an understatement. Penelope, the brownish-red one, and Emmett, the black and white piebald, are siblings from different litters and are absolutely best friends. Penelope is sweet and a bit of a diva who loves all the attention and can destroy a toy in about five minutes. Emmett is goofy, loves being silly, and never turns down treats. Together, they have brought so much happiness and have truly been good for both Katie and her husband’s souls, staying by their side through both the good times and the hard ones.


Here's Bach!

Lynn Kelly, Partner, went to an adoption agency and instantly felt a connection when she met Bach. With her deep love for music, it felt like fate that his name was already Bach. She knew right away she had found her baby.


Meet Peppa & GiGi!

Macey Sams, Legal Assistant, has Peppa and GiGi, two pets full of personality. Peppa is a level 10 Velcro fur baby who is mostly sweet but can also be a bit of a sour patch kid. She enjoys acting like she cannot hear commands, sighing dramatically when told no, and chewing anything she can get her paws on. Named after Peppa Pig, she certainly lives up to the name with her playful spirit. GiGi is the softest and sweetest ragdoll kitten who loves to play and sneak up to pounce on her sister. At night, she curls up on Macey’s shoulder, resting her little nose against her neck or cheek. Macey suspects GiGi may also “accidentally” help her sister find new things to chew by knocking them onto the floor.



Spotlight on Sandy!

Matias Carlos, Legal Assistant, has Sandy, a kind, sweet, and playful dog who has a way of lighting up everyone’s day. Her happy personality and loving nature make her a wonderful companion.



Hello Louie!

Melissa Preiser, Litigation Paralegal, recently adopted Louie, a sweet dog who thrives on his routine. He especially loves following Melissa’s husband around and being right in the middle of whatever is going on, making himself a constant and lovable companion.


All About Tex!

Paige Sample, Executive Assistant, has Tex, a 13-year-old mini beagle with a big personality. He loves to sunbathe, howl, and sleep, and he is especially talented at smelling, ignoring commands, and being a little naughty. His favorite foods include non-fat Greek yogurt, dried pasta, and tortilla chips. Tex may be 13, but he is convinced he is only two and still loves to run around and play, which has led to more than a few injuries that mom and dad not-so-happily pay for. He even knows how to play hide-and-seek, although he tends to panic quickly if he cannot find his person after only a brief search. Tex loves people, believes everyone he meets is his best friend, and he will make sure you know it—loudly.



Meet Mabel!

Rachel Saltsman, Partner, has Mabel, a rescue dog from South Texas who is full of energy and love. Mabel brings plenty of personality wherever she goes and is a much-loved part of the family.

Say Hello to Whiskey, Nash & Oliver!

Shelby Jarman, Legal Assistant, has Whiskey, Nash, and Oliver. Her playful little cats are tiny bundles of joy who love people, attention, and will do just about anything for a tasty treat. Her sweet older dog is the heart of it all—gentle, loving, and happiest when soaking up all the affection.



This is Olaf & Ranger!

Son Nguyen, Senior Associate Attorney, has Olaf, also known as Ollie, and Ranger. Olaf is the skinny one, while Ranger is the chunkier of the two, and together they make an adorable pair of puppers.

Meet Enzo!

Tara Pedian, Senior Associate Attorney, has Enzo, a dog who loves cuddles and anything soft. When he is not outside soaking up the sunshine, you can usually find him tucked under a blanket or happily nibbling on his favorite toys.

 

Marvin E. Blum

National Pet Month: Celebrating the Pets of The Blum Firm Read More »

Jeffrey S. Hamilton Named to D Magazine’s 2026 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

We are proud to share that our own Jeffrey S. Hamilton has been recognized in D Magazine’s esteemed list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2026.

This honor reflects Jeff’s dedication to his clients, professionalism, and respected reputation within the legal community. Each year, attorneys across the Dallas area nominate peers they believe exemplify excellence in the profession, followed by an extensive evaluation process.

Jeff’s inclusion on this year’s list is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work, leadership, and commitment to serving clients with integrity and care. We are grateful to have him as a Partner at The Blum Firm.

Congratulations, Jeff, on this outstanding achievement!

Jeffrey S. Hamilton Named to D Magazine’s 2026 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List Read More »

The Power of Ancestry (and How I Found a Long, Lost Cousin Through Heaven’s Version of Ancestry.com)

In last week’s post, I revealed how my recent TIGER 21 annual PD (“Portfolio Defense”) enlightened me, affirming my decision to help out our kids in their early career years. Today, I am sharing another heartfelt revelation from my PD. In telling the Marvin Blum story, I wound the clock back to tell of my ancestry, and how my four grandparents barely escaped death in the Holocaust. Some of our family were trapped behind and killed by Hitler, along with two-thirds of Europe’s Jews (including killing 90% of Poland’s Jews, where my ancestors lived). Our heritage of survival has always embued me with faith, strength, and resilience. I’m especially mindful of this heritage in the month of May, which is Jewish American Heritage Month.

I told this story with a pictorial collage, as pictures tell 1,000 words or more. In studying our early family photos, the lower right picture got the biggest reaction from my TIGER group. It’s a photo of our oldest grandchild Stella in the loving arms of “Unkie,” a great uncle Holocaust survivor. In holding Stella, Unkie declared: “This baby proves that WE BEAT HITLER!”

On the family tree starting with my grandparents, Stella is the first member of generation five. That rung on the ladder will one day have some 100 descendants on it. But Stella will always be the first. Stella, now 13, wears that responsibility beautifully. Her caring and giving heart shines through in her faith and her dedication to our worldwide family. Indeed, Stella’s existence proves that Hitler failed in his effort to murder every Jew in the world.

In telling our daughter Lizzy about the ancestry portion of my PD, she affirmed that we are who we are because of those who came before us. We are links in an unbroken chain, each of us a descendant and an ancestor. Lizzy added an exclamation point by quoting from that week’s Shabbat sermon by her Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt: “If you really want to know someone, ask about their Alter, Alter, Zaidy” (Yiddish for great-great grandfather).

In response, I shared a story about my “Alter Alter Zaidy” Meir Polchovitz. Seeking a husband for his daughter Chaya Sarah, Meir went to the rabbinic school in Grodno (then in Czarist Russia, now in Poland) and asked for the most learned student there. The Rosh Yeshiva (“Head of School”) identified Elchonon Oberstein. Meir, a wealthy man, promised lifelong support so Elchonon could engage in a life of Torah study. Meir’s priority was for a learned man, not a man of material riches. That commitment to learning has always been a significant part of our family heritage and informs much of my own upbringing. I added, “Lizzy, that’s why I told you to marry Ira” (which is actually true). Evidently, I share my Alter Alter Zaidy’s values for a scholarly man of good character.

(As an aside, the story didn’t turn out as Meir promised. Persecution against Jews caused Meir to lose his wealth, and Elchonon’s life was much more of a struggle. But he still held fast to his religious observance and values.)

Fast forward about 100 years from Meir Polchovitz’s quest for a learned groom. Ira and Lizzy were a young married couple in Philadelphia, Ira in medical school and Lizzy getting a masters at Penn. Laurie and I were visiting and joined Lizzy on an errand to deliver dessert for that night’s Shabbat dinner at a friend’s home. (We had to deliver it in the daytime, because the rules of Shabbat prevented carrying anything when they walked there after sundown.) I met Lizzy’s friend. His name? Baruch Pelkovitz. Wait—that last name is remarkably similar to Polchovitz. I called my uncle (whose name also happens to be Elchonon Oberstein, after his grandfather), and in no time we figured out that young Baruch Pelkovitz is a long, lost cousin. Families became dispersed during the Holocaust and now we’d miraculously reconnected. Ancestor connection is a powerful force, aided along this time by what I suppose is the Almighty’s version of Ancestry.com.

 

Marvin E. Blum

A slide from Marvin Blum’s TIGER 21 Portfolio Defense tells the powerful story of his ancestors’ escape from the Holocaust.

Marvin and Laurie Blum with granddaughter Stella at her Bat Mitzvah. Stella’s birth as the first member of generation five proves that “WE BEAT HITLER!”

The Power of Ancestry (and How I Found a Long, Lost Cousin Through Heaven’s Version of Ancestry.com) Read More »

Help Kids Now or Make Them Wait to Inherit?

For 15 years, I’ve been a member of TIGER 21, a peer-to-peer learning organization with 1800+ worldwide members. I joined TIGER 21 to improve my investing skills, but it quickly became so much more. Each of us belongs to a group of 15 that serves as a personal board of directors, meeting monthly for a full day to guide you through life transitions and decisions ranging from finance, health, estate planning, family dynamics, and anything keeping you up at night.

Another valuable aspect of TIGER 21 is when each member delivers an annual PD (“Portfolio Defense”) to the group. The PD is not just about your investment portfolio, but really extends to your “life” portfolio. For the 15th year, I just did my PD. No matter how often I do it, I discover new things about myself. The PD is a very revealing and honest look in the mirror, requiring you to address issues typically swept under the rug in our day-to-day routine.

I’ll share one aspect of this year’s PD that converted a financial discussion into one about my parenting philosophy. I revealed how Laurie and I made the decision years ago to provide our kids with financial assistance while they were ramping up their careers. Some of my TIGER colleagues challenged me on this, believing we shouldn’t deprive them of the benefits that come from early years of struggle.

Like with all financial and estate decisions, there’s no clear right or wrong. I defended our decision with these reasons:

  • We could make the kids wait until they’re old to inherit (when they don’t need it), or assist them in their younger years (when they need it).
  • The cost of living for a young family today is astronomically more expensive than in earlier days when the “struggle” philosophy was more the norm.
  • Our kids were engaged in productive career development, doing all the right things to achieve career success (which in fact has happened). That’s different than enabling someone who is misdirected or off track.
  • We monitored the amounts, so as to never jeopardize our own financial security.
  • It’s gratifying to witness them benefiting from our generosity rather than have it happen when we’re gone.

After hearing me out, my TIGER group affirmed my decision. I left feeling good about the benefits of helping out children reach earlier career success. I wrote about other aspects of this topic in my October 19, 2021, post entitled “Inheritance: Give Some Now and Some Later, or Do It All at Death?” Like with the “Now and Later” candy, there’s some sweetness in providing some inheritance now, with more to come later. Doing so also gives the next generation the opportunity to learn financial lessons on a smaller amount, rather than making mistakes on a bigger, lump-sum inheritance that lands in their lap all at one time. It also sends the message that you trust them.

In discussing this topic recently with my banker, I learned that there’s support for my approach in Bill Perkins’ book Die with Zero. Virginia Colin’s parents were unwilling to share their resources, though she was on the edge of poverty. Virginia, who was old by the time her dad died in his 90’s, opted differently. “Don’t wait until you’re dead to give your money away. With her five children and stepchildren, ranging in age from 29 to 43, she and her husband make a point of giving them money sooner rather than later, depending on their needs. “If you get [the money] when you are 30” she rightly pointed out, “you can buy a nice house and raise your kids in the environment you want to raise them in, and not have to scramble the way I did.”

Perkins rightly expands the concept of sharing wealth with your kids beyond just the monetary assets. There’s more to an inheritance than money. “Now look at it from your kids’ point of view, because it’s our kids’ fulfillment that we’re trying to maximize here…. Remember: The purpose of money is to have experiences, and one of those experiences for your kids is time with you. Therefore, if you are earning money but not having experiences with your kids you are actually depriving your kids and yourself.”

That reminder offers me further affirmation, not only for the financial assistance, but also for funding family travel and experiences. Now I feel even better about that recent trip to Disney World with our kids and grandkids that cost me well more than my first year’s salary as a lawyer. I told Laurie, “Pay for it all and never add it up or tell me the total. I don’t want to know.” But regardless of the cost, it was worth every penny (or more like every thousand). Lifetime memories are a priceless bequest!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum delivering his annual “Portfolio Defense” to his TIGER 21 group, affirming not just his financial decisions, but his parenting ones too.

Another aspect of inheriting family wealth early is non-monetary, like this Blum family trip to Disney World. It was expensive, but it created priceless lifelong memories!

Help Kids Now or Make Them Wait to Inherit? Read More »

What Would Your Deathbed Reflections Be?

When my kids were little, they asked what I do for work. Upon responding “I’m an estate planning attorney,” the follow up question came: “What’s that?” My answer: “I help people prepare to die.” Aside from being a funeral director, that has to be the creepiest career a kid could imagine. But it’s not as morbid as it sounds. To quote the Eagles song, preparing for death can actually give people “a peaceful, easy feeling.”

I’ve written about this before in my post of July 25, 2023, “What I Learned from the Deaths of my Father and Brother.” Ryan Holiday, a philosopher of Stoicism, also makes this point in “‘Memento Mori:’ The Reminder We All Desperately Need” (dailystoic.com):

“Meditating on your mortality is only depressing if you miss the point. It is in fact a tool to create priority and meaning. It’s a tool that generations have used to create real perspective and urgency. To treat our time as a gift and not waste it on the trivial and vain. Death doesn’t make life pointless but rather purposeful. And fortunately, we don’t have to nearly die to tap into this. A simple reminder can bring us closer to living the life we want. It doesn’t matter who you are or how many things you have left to be done, a car can hit you in an intersection and drive your teeth back into your skull. That’s it. It could all be over. Today, tomorrow, someday soon.”

In my work as an estate planning attorney, I’ve had a front row seat to some very reflective conversations. It’s time to contemplate the legacy you’re passing down. Legacy is about looking back and looking ahead. What is the message to your heirs?

Laurie and I experienced this in a very personal way a year ago, facing an almost certain death from drowning. We were in Cabo walking the beach, far from the water’s edge, at the turbulent mix of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. I wrote about it in my post, “I’m Now A Cat with Eight Lives,” (April 29, 2025).

To recap, from out of nowhere, a rogue wave crashed over us and dragged us to the ocean. We were clinging on to each other and clawing into the shifting sand with our fingers and toes. Most who are in our predicament die. Miraculously, we won the war between man and sea, thanks to some superhuman force that entered our bodies.

The episode happened fast, but we lived it in slow motion. It provided us a spiritual moment—what comes into your mind when death is imminent? Remarkably, I remember being at peace with dying. I was going away with the love of my life. Laurie wanted me to let go and save myself from being swept into the ocean while trying to save her. No way I was letting go of her!

I vividly remember being grateful for my life. I felt Adam and Lizzy were both prepared to carry on without us. It gave me peace that they are in good places with bright futures. We had done our job. I had no unfinished business. What a gift to discover that!

It’s enlightening to hear the deathbed reflections of people on the brink of dying. One of my favorites was from TV star Eric Dane who just died from ALS at age 53. He recorded a video message to his two young daughters. He begins, “I hope you won’t just LISTEN to me, but I hope you’ll HEAR me. Live now, right now, in the present. The past is regret, the future is uncertain. All we have is now. Don’t waste it.”

Another moving deathbed reflection comes from former Senator Ben Sasse, now dying of pancreatic cancer at age 54. I can identify with that death sentence, having lost both my father and brother at young ages from that dreaded disease. Sasse waxes philosophical: “He regrets ‘missing so many family dinners and Little League games’ owing to his ‘workaholism in the past.’ ‘If I had life to live all over again now, he says he would be a much serious Sabbatarian.’” (Tunku Varadarajan, “A Public Servant Faces a Public Death,” Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2026.)

Like me, Sasse’s thoughts turn to his kids, and how they’ll fare without him. His are younger, making it much harder. But he offers some parenting guidance “for how you think about raising your kids. When his daughters bickered in the past, he’d want to give them advice or de-escalate their conflict. Now, ‘I’ve given up the control…. I’m not going to be here to fix it…. There is a wisdom that comes from the humility of knowing that I can’t fix it all.’”

As for his 14-year-old son Breck who “will soon be fatherless,” he’s leaving some written guidance. “He worries that Breck could be exposed to ‘this false sense we all have of what masculinity is. Masculinity is really important, and we should cherish and encourage the best parts of it.’ There are, he warns, ‘some very stupid faux-masculinities being championed out there.’” Sasse’s written wisdom will no doubt be a valuable inheritance for his son.

The deathbed reflection can even be as simple as “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett’s final words to his wife: “Have fun!”

Let’s follow the lead of Eric Dane, Ben Sasse, and Jimmy Buffett and document a message to your heirs. It’s never too early. As Laurie and I learned, you may not have advance notice. What a gift to your family to write them a “Legacy Love Letter” (even a short one) sharing lessons learned, significant memories, and your wishes for the loved ones you’ll leave behind.

 

Marvin E. Blum

One year after Marvin and Laurie had a near brush with death, Marvin waxes philosophical about deathbed reflections. This peaceful photo on the beach in Cabo was only moments before a rogue wave tried to swallow them into the sea.

What Would Your Deathbed Reflections Be? Read More »

The Teacher Becomes the Student

When I was a new lawyer, I was recruited to teach an estate planning class for a “Money, Money, Money” workshop sponsored by Fort Worth National Bank (now JPMorgan). I hadn’t given a speech since my Bar Mitzvah a dozen years before. The experience was life-changing. I discovered a love for teaching. Although I was fresh out of law school and lacking practical experience, I pulled it off. One of the attendees was my ninth grade English teacher, Ann Walker, who always scared me to death in her classroom. I declared victory when Miss Walker approached me at the end of class with a line I’ll never forget: “The student becomes the teacher.” And the corollary was also true: the teacher becomes the student.

For the next five decades, I embarked on an active schedule of speaking. It’s a calling I embrace. Recently, I put those skills to use at a TIGER 21 conference, co-teaching a workshop on Multi-Generational Estate Planning and also facilitating a roundtable discussion on family legacy. My remarks were different from my first “Money, Money, Money” speech—now less about rules and laws and more about practical lessons from a career of real-world experience. But the highlight for me as the teacher was that I learned from the life lessons of the workshop participants. Once again, the teacher (this time Marvin) became the student.

In our presentation, my co-presenters and I gave tips to avoid falling victim to the adage, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” The statistics are daunting: 90% of families dissipate their wealth by the end of the third generation. There are no guarantees, but following the best practices of the successful 10% can improve the odds. I covered my Top Ten Best Practices as shown on the slide. 

Our discussions included stories addressing other hot topics:

  • Effect of wealth on children: “I’m scared of spoiling my children.”
  • When should parents share their net worth and estate plan with their kids?
  • When should you have a prenup?
  • Family businesses- “Succession” issues
  • Blended family considerations
  • Who should I name as trustee?

But it was in the roundtable discussion when the tables turned. Marvin, the “teacher,” quit talking and asked the “students” to share their family legacy challenges. Get a load of the issues raised:

  • At what age should children attend family meetings? Age 12? What if a kid is younger, but gifted, and starts asking questions about wealth at an even earlier age?
  • Suggestion for the family meeting agenda: What goals have you achieved over the last year, and what are your goals for the next year?
  • The challenges of being an immigrant to the world of wealth: How do you manage the transition? What’s the impact on your relationships with parents, siblings, and friends who don’t have your level of wealth?
  • How do you raise kids in affluence and keep them grounded? “You can’t manufacture financial hardship.”
  • How do you onboard in-laws into the family? What about your kids’ unmarried domestic partners? Do you include them in family meetings?
  • Blended family challenges—kids vs. stepmom; two sets of kids (and the second set is much younger)
  • How do you handle a child who expresses anti-wealth views (but still enjoys the amenities of wealth)?
  • Family business transition—What if some work in the business and others don’t? When should G-2 take over running the family office from G-1?
  • What role does faith play in your family? Philanthropy?

Needless to say, it was a lively discussion. Brainstorming with peers in a facilitated conversation is very enlightening. There were no easy answers, but it yielded lots of good takeaways for all of us, both the students AND the teacher!

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum (right), talking with his hands while presenting an estate planning workshop at a TIGER 21 conference. Input from participants was so valuable that “Marvin, the teacher” became “Marvin, the student.”

Marvin Blum gets passionate when speaking about family legacy planning.

The Teacher Becomes the Student Read More »

Know When to Fold ’Em

We gain a lot of insight from song lyrics. A message currently resonating with me comes from “The Gambler.” I can hear Kenny Rogers in my head right now:

“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em,

Know when to fold ’em,

Know when to walk away,

Know when to run.”

No matter what our line of work, there comes a point when it’s time to “fold ’em,” or at least fold certain aspects of our career, and move on to the next chapter. This has been heavy on my mind lately, witnessing skier Lindsey Vonn’s attempt to repeat Olympic gold, Travis Kelce’s return to the NFL, and my own peer group of hard-charging lawyers hitting the half-century mark in our careers.

From a personal standpoint, I can attest that the pressures of law practice hit you differently in your 70’s than in your 20’s. As we gain crystallized intelligence, we become better at tasks requiring expertise and wisdom. However, certain high-stress aspects of our work are better suited for the younger set. To enjoy a long, fulfilling career into our senior years, we need to identify the tasks that no longer serve us well and offload those to the next generation. As we age, our focus is better directed at problem-solving, mentoring, and imparting wisdom learned from our past experiences.

One aspect of my work that I’ve eliminated is serving as an expert witness in lawsuits. The pressure of trial work is all-consuming. Others in my Texas Law Class of 1978 network have similar feelings about litigation. Bill Parrish speaks of the “many ways you can use your intellect and skills to help clients in disputes, without having to shoulder the burden of being the lead trial lawyer on a case.” Talmage Boston is a champion for alternative dispute resolution: “Take all of your energy and horsepower that will now not be used on the prospect of future jury trials and redirect them toward doing something that will be more beneficial to you, your family, friends, community, and for society. You are shifting toward a brighter future.”

Recognizing that it’s time to let go of certain aspects of a career doesn’t mean you have to retire. It’s not an “all or nothing” situation. I’ve often written of my aversion to retirement—it’s not for me. Instead, shift emphasis to those elements of your work that lift you up. As Talmage recaps it: “Pinpoint the things that deplete you—and stay away from them. And pinpoint the things that enhance you and your positive impact on others—and spend more time doing them.”

Other law school classmates expressed this viewpoint in spiritual terms. When the pressure is too intense, they believe G-d is sending us a message. Listen to that voice. As Bobby Payne put it, “G-d opens doors and closes them at the time of His choosing. He is always at work.” When we discover new talents, that is G-d’s way of opening a new door. When a door closes, “maybe He has opened that other door even wider now.”

Back to the athletes, I understand the door closes for them much younger, so it’s even harder. Lindsey Vonn was reaching for her dream of another Olympic gold medal when she had a heartbreaking crash. She posted: “Please don’t feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains. I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”

Travis Kelce is also giving it another go, returning for his 14th season even after a difficult year with the Kansas City Chiefs. Perhaps he’s trying to go out on top. Perhaps he just can’t figure out when it’s time to hang up his jersey.

Whether you’re a trial lawyer or a professional athlete, there comes a time to hang up your jersey. I suggest seeking fulfillment in other ways. You’re now a role model. Young people look up to you. Use the wisdom you’ve gained from your mountaintop experiences to mentor and inspire the next generation. It will feel good, and you won’t get beat up in the courtroom or injured on that mountaintop.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin and Laurie Blum with Olympic ski legend Lindsey Vonn, whose attempt for one more gold didn’t end as hoped, but offers life lessons.

Lindsey Vonn expresses the sentiments of a champion, even without another gold medal.

Marvin Blum (standing to right of Talmage Boston; front center) with a group of lawyers from their law school class, all nearing the 50-year career mark and the transition that entails.

Know When to Fold ’Em Read More »

Are You Waiting Until “The Time Is Right”?

Last week’s post shined a spotlight on one of my heroes, Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt of New York’s Alt Neu Synagogue. I wrote of the importance of learning from failure and converting it into a pathway to success. When mistakes happen, let it go. In today’s post, I shift from “Let it Go” to “Let My People Go,” sharing more wisdom from Rabbi Goldschmidt as we start the celebration of Passover, the holiday of freedom.

In his sermon, the rabbi explored an element of Passover I hadn’t considered, the concept of time. The theme of “time” runs throughout the Jewish exodus from slavery. Famously, the Israelites didn’t have time to let the dough rise, resulting in the unleavened matzah we eat instead of bread. The urgency signaled it was time to escape Egypt. The time was right—it was now or never. Leave before Pharaoh changed his mind.

The rabbi expressed an aspect of time I hadn’t considered. “While in slavery, the Hebrews had no need for a watch.” Time was irrelevant to them. All they did was toil away, building pyramids from dawn to dusk. Ironically, freedom brought with it the need to address time. What do you want to do with your time? How can you fill your time in the most fulfilling way? Time is precious, don’t waste it.

The Jews had plenty of time to think about it—40 years to be exact. Wandering in the desert for 40 years provided time to create a new generation, entering the Holy Land free from the shackles of the past.

Rabbi Goldschmidt expanded on the theme of time to urge his young congregants to carry out the commandment “be fruitful and multiply.” We are still trying to restore the Jewish population to our pre-Holocaust numbers, when one-third of our people were murdered. The rabbi admonished: “Don’t wait until ‘the time is right’ to get married. Don’t wait until ‘the time is right’ to have a baby. The time is never right. There’s always some excuse. Just do it!”

At that point, my son-in-law Ira Savetsky jabbed me in the ribs. He and I exchanged a wink and a smile. Ira has heard me say that same thing a thousand times. It’s one of my mottos when advising young people. Ira knows that I add one more to it: “If you wait until the time is right to start a business, you’ll never do it. The time is never right.”

I’m grateful that I didn’t wait until the time was right to marry Laurie, have Adam and Lizzy, and start The Blum Firm. In spite of all the reasons not to, I took the plunge. Somehow it all worked out. I suppose the time actually was right!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s family learning from the Passover story at last year’s seder, including the lesson that if you wait until the ‘time is right,’ it may be too late.

Are You Waiting Until “The Time Is Right”? Read More »

Learn From Failure, Then Let It Go (And Send a Thank You Note)

When Laurie and I visit our daughter Lizzy and her family in New York, one of the highlights is Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt’s sermon at Shabbat services. Rabbi Goldschmidt is an inspiration, not just for what he says, but also for who he is. In a recent sermon, the theme was to learn from mistakes, then let it go and stand tall. He used the story of Jacob’s fourth son, Judah (Yehuda, which happens to also be my father’s Hebrew name, so my ears perked up). I learned that Judah made mistakes, the most egregious being selling his little brother Joseph (Jacob’s favorite). Judah got knocked down three times, but each time he acknowledged his failings, got back up, and stood tall. He ultimately founded the Tribe of Judah, known for leadership and for being one of the strongest of the 12 tribes.

The path to success is never a straight, upward-sloping line. It’s more of a roller coaster. The key is to be resilient. Learn from failure and use it as fuel to grow. Rabbi Goldschmidt’s own career is a case in point. When he lost his position at Park East Synagogue, he and his supportive wife Avital picked up the pieces and started the Alt Neu (Yiddish for “Old New”) Congregation. In no time, this new synagogue took off and thrived, lifting Rabbi Goldschmidt to the heights of success.

My own career is another example. I was miserable in my first job as a lawyer. Two years in, I couldn’t bear it anymore and in my mid-20’s opened The Blum Firm. At first I was bitter, but my father-in-law (Abe Kriger) set me straight: “Don’t be mad. You’ll soon see the law firm did you a favor. Send them a thank you note.” Abe was right. I’m grateful my first law job experience wasn’t good, as “good is the enemy of great” (the theme of Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great). Had it been good, I would have stayed. That failure enabled me to achieve much greater career fulfillment by starting my own law firm.

Imagine if Steven Spielberg had thrown in the towel after twice being rejected by USC film school. What if Barbra Streisand gave up because they said her looks weren’t those of a star? Best-selling novelist David Baldacci speaks of his early days as a writer: “During that period, everything I sent out came back with a rejection letter. I knew the only way I’d have a shot at becoming a successful writer was if I kept writing” (Marc Meyers, “David Baldacci Pushed Through Tons of Rejections Before Writing ‘Absolute Power,’” Wall Street Journal, December 9, 2025).

This past weekend, I was reading a new Substack by the actress Jaimie Alexander, struggling over some “frustrating roadblocks” that are typical of a career path in the entertainment industry. Per Jaimie, “I think we can all agree that when you aim high and put real effort into achieving something big, life tends to present more no’s than yes’s. It’s about not giving up — about not letting life’s circumstances take you down. It’s about taking those losses and no’s and adding them to your great big bonfire of ambition…. Sometimes, when you lose, you win… :)”

Jaimie closes with a memorial tribute to Chuck Norris, who died a few days ago, quoting the renowned actor and martial artist: “I’ve always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you’ve got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish…. A lot of people give up just before they’re about to make it. You never know when that next obstacle is going to be the last one.”

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards never allowed rejection to deter him: “To me, the lesson is simple: If you keep going long enough, if you keep playing, if you stay in the game, if you get up just one more time than you’ve been knocked down, people will ascribe to you a quality that is indistinguishable from wisdom.” (“The Wisdom of Keith Richards at 82,” Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2025.)

AI guru Sam Altman refuses to invest with someone who never made a mistake. Failures will happen, and Altman wants to know they have what it takes to recover — someone who has demonstrated proven resilience.

In the podcast series “Next, with Michael Sonnenfeldt,” the TIGER 21 founder interviews entrepreneurs who have overcome obstacles to achieve greatness. Not only do they reveal their early failures, they frequently say they wouldn’t hire a person who’d never failed. They prefer someone who has failed, learned from it, and turned those lessons into success.

The next time we get knocked down (and we will), let’s fight the blues. Stand back up tall. It’s rarely as bad as we think. I’ll close with inspiration from a dear departed friend, Ann Marie Hartsell, who brought comfort with her “one-hundred year theory.” She asked, “Will this matter in 100 years? 10 years? One year?” Not only will that moment’s disaster fade over the annals of time, it very well may be a gift that propels us to the pinnacle of success.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Rabbi Benjamin and Avital Goldschmidt with Marvin Blum’s granddaughter Stella at her Bat Mitzvah. The Rabbi is always a source of great inspiration.

Learn From Failure, Then Let It Go (And Send a Thank You Note) Read More »

Business Succession Lessons from The Hit Series, Landman

Many of you have binge-watched the Paramount+ series Landman. A large number of you devotees keep urging me to watch it, especially given the heavy nexus of the series with my Fort Worth hometown. Landman is filmed throughout Fort Worth and nearby areas including Aledo, Weatherford, and Jacksboro. Members of The Blum Firm team even had a front-row seat as filming took place around and inside our own building.

From what I’m hearing, the show is entertaining and well done. But beyond the drama and familiar scenery, I understand that Landman offers valuable lessons for business owners, showcasing how business succession planning can go wrong.

Warning: If you haven’t watched the show and plan to, you may want to come back to this post later, as I am about to dive into some spoilers.

Landman follows Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton), the landman for M-Tex Oil, operating primarily in the Permian Basin. The company’s owner, Monty, runs the business out of Fort Worth and is known for making bold business decisions. While others call it luck, Tommy reminds us repeatedly that Monty’s success comes from instinct, an intuition few people have.

At the end of Season One, Monty suffers a heart attack that leaves him incapacitated, and he ultimately passes away. While at the hospital, his attorney outlines Monty’s succession plan:

  • Tommy is to be named president of M-Tex Oil and tasked with facilitating the sale of the company.
  • Sale proceeds are split between a foundation run by Monty’s wife, Cami, and a trust administered by Tommy.

On paper, the legal plan looks solid. But Monty failed to adequately prepare Cami to emotionally let go, and that’s where everything starts to unravel. Cami resists selling. She explains that Monty didn’t care about being remembered for money, but for what could be done with it, and she wants the world to remember him. This is where things start to get messy and real life lessons emerge, especially for business owners.

Lesson One: Monty made major decisions without including or training his successors. Before Monty’s death, M-Tex suffered an offshore rig blowout—something Tommy knew nothing about. Insurance paid roughly $420 million related to the offshore rig blowout. However, Monty had already spread those funds across multiple private equity investments, leaving the company scrambling when questions later arose about how the money tied to the rig loss had been used.

After Monty’s death, the insurance company began asking questions about the payout and the circumstances surrounding the rig loss. When M-Tex’s attorneys reviewed the documents, they discovered that Cami’s name appeared on the offshore rig paperwork, meaning she had technically approved the arrangement. However, she had signed the documents without fully understanding how the deal was structured or where the money had been invested.

As Cami searched for the funds, she learned the money could not be accessed quickly without significant penalties. The company was forced to choose between years of litigation or borrowing nearly $400 million to wildcat drill with only about a 10% chance of success. Under intense pressure and without clear guidance, Cami ultimately chose an investor with cartel ties who structured the deal to benefit himself whether the company succeeded or failed.

Monty’s failure to prepare his successors for these critical decisions left them scrambling without context or clarity, ultimately setting the stage for the company’s unraveling.

Lesson two: Leadership and grief don’t mix well. Monty’s plan placed his wife into a leadership role at the most vulnerable moment of her life. Cami is smart, capable, and driven—but she is also grieving. Grief and high-stakes business decisions are a dangerous combination.

Monty structured the business to be sold so Cami wouldn’t have to carry the burden. But he never addressed the “why” with her and didn’t articulate his goals after death. Like many people, he likely assumed there would be more time, but there wasn’t.

As a result, Cami is left trying to interpret what Monty would have wanted, relying on past conversations and memories rather than clear direction. That emotional weight clouds judgment, not because of a lack of intelligence or ability, but because grief changes how decisions are made.

This is a powerful reminder that family is not always the best choice to lead a business immediately after an owner’s death, especially if they are left without guidance. Sometimes the more responsible decision is to place leadership in the hands of someone who knows the business, is fully prepared, understands the risks, and can act decisively—while the family is given space to grieve.

Lesson three: Monty failed to build a team-based succession plan. He never developed a strong team mindset for the future leaders of his company, which becomes evident as Cami slowly stops listening to the team Monty built. Tommy was Monty’s right-hand man for a reason—he knew the business, the basin, and the rigs inside and out.

Initially, Cami relies on Tommy’s guidance, but over time she takes control, strays from his advice, and ultimately fires him. That decision changes everything. By the end of Season Two, Tommy leaves, takes key team members with him, and builds a competing company using his son’s rigs, which leaves M-Tex’s future uncertain and sets up a cliffhanger for Season Three.

The moral of the story is that legal documents alone do not prepare the next leaders of your business. That is exactly why I developed a “Head and Heart” approach to estate and business succession planning. A good plan does more than transfer ownership—it prepares heirs.

If you own a business:

  • Choose successors who can carry out the goals you have put in place.
  • Hold regular check-ins with key team members to discuss major decisions and long-term direction. At The Blum Firm, I regularly meet with the other managing partners to do exactly that.
  • Document major decisions and clearly explain the why behind them.
  • Prepare your successors for success by sharing both your successes and failures, fostering a team mindset, and instilling the values and vision of the company.

As the business owner, you are the captain of the ship. You built and shaped it into what it is today. Those skills are rare, and the people who lead the business after you will need your insight and direction to sustain its success.

Tommy captured this reality when he warned Cami about drilling for a 10% chance of striking oil. Per Tommy, “Monty could make decisions like that because he had an intuition most people don’t. That kind of instinct is rare. You can’t teach it, and you can’t replace it.”

You built your company using skills that cannot be replaced—but the guidance to carry it forward should be shared. Preparing the next generation of leaders isn’t optional; it’s part of your responsibility if you want your company to have a bright future even after you are gone. Let’s learn from the lessons of Landman.

 

Marvin E. Blum

The Paramount+ series Landman may be great television, but it also serves as a cautionary tale about what can go wrong in business succession planning.

Business Succession Lessons from The Hit Series, Landman Read More »

Hanging Onto Frugality? You’re Not Alone!

I receive a lot of meaningful feedback each week from readers of Blum’s Blog. One post that generated outsized reactions was “How’s Your Relationship with Money? I’m Working on Mine.” Many of us who grew up in modest circumstances hang onto early messages of frugality, even in today’s times of plenty. I confessed to filling Ziplocs with apples and other treats when heading from the Admiral’s Club to my American Airlines flight. (I didn’t add that I reuse those Ziploc bags over and over until they no longer close, much to my wife Laurie’s chagrin.)

As I discovered, I’m not alone. When I board that flight, my seat is in coach. Several respondents conquered that aspect of frugality and tell me they now fly first class. They urge me to come join them, warning “if you don’t fly first class, your children will!”

Mary Sue resists the Admiral’s Club apples, but does pick up a brownie or two. She continued, “Even at my age, the words of my mother echo in my head – a woman who lived through the Depression. When my mother moved into a senior living community and my brother-in-law became her executor, it was a challenge to find her savings in the 13 different banks where she squirreled her money to be safe.”

Richard, another victim of Depression mentality, shared, “I grew up with parents who lived through the Depression and I inherited financial insecurity. For example, I use my kids’ piggy bank to stow change that ends up in my pocket (less and less of this) and relentlessly turn off lights in the house. These things will never change.”

Tracy, a second-generation member of one of my favorite legacy-building families shared her story of growing up in modest times, before wealth made its way into their lives. “I so get this! Having grown up with a family struggling to create a wealth stream, I have an embedded memory of my first new coat at 10, all previously were hand-me-downs. Lots of my clothes were handmade by my mom. Frugality is born out of necessity. Even though I don’t need to from a financial sense now, I still focus on saving money by turning out lights (that my cute husband leaves on), buying through thrift sites, buying 1-year-old cars…some habits are engrained in who we are. Our relationship to money is a huge part of our happiness. Do you save now, spend later? Or spend now, pay later? I’m frugal, yet I’ll go on a lavish African safari or Antarctica expedition. One of the greatest gifts I gave my three adult children is a healthy relationship to money. They are all great at managing/saving/spending responsibly. Mission accomplished.” Way to go, Tracy, in teaching values to your kids who are growing up in very different financial circumstances than you did.

Speaking of cars, I grew up in a family that never drove new or fancy cars. I remember being embarrassed when picked up at school, wishing my parents would park a block away. Shame on me, but I know I’m not alone. I inherited the car frugality, buying “gently used” cars and driving them until they can’t go anymore. I’m at over 175,000 miles on my Lexus SUV now. Chris chimed in, “Someone asked me, ‘If you are so rich, why do you drive this car?’ I said, I’m rich BECAUSE I drive this car.”

Two of my high school friends who knew the early Marvin in the 1960s and 70s weighed in. Lisa shared how she taught her daughters to stretch a dollar by giving them an allowance to pay for their own clothes and entertainment. “My older daughter especially learned the wisdom of shopping and consignment shops. To this day, she does that both for herself, and for their two children. My younger daughter is much the same. Frugality is something that you can teach. I’ve always said money is money. It’s not worth wasting.”

Loyd, who also grew up with Paschal High public school values, likewise identified with my message, but ended his comment with special wisdom: “I would never have dared to order bottled water in front of my father. I wear faded jeans, wear my shoes until my pronated heel is ground down, am married to my first wife, drive a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, and don’t gamble. I do have a McIntosh amplifier that I bought used for $4,600 that is worth every penny to me. While we both had the benefit of a good upbringing, we have also both worked very hard. Time is getting short to enjoy a few pieces of fruit from our labors and blessings. My father always said, ‘If the son is not smarter than the father, then there is no progress.’ Maybe our ‘smartness’ is knowing when it is okay to enjoy a few material things. We certainly cannot take it with us.”

Loyd is right. It’s time to smell the roses. As I said in my post, I’m working on that and making progress. Here’s some evidence. I’m writing this on a flight home from a conference in Las Vegas, and for the first time, my luggage has no hotel soaps or shampoos in it. You may think that’s a silly indicator, but if you really knew me, you’d realize this is a big step.

I’ll conclude with the reaction from my best friend Talmage Boston, who along with my wife and kids, knows me better than anyone. Talmage urged me to write this follow-up blog post and share a valuable lesson he taught me. Several years ago, Talmage urged me to join him in funding a scholarship at UT Law School. Hearing my reluctance, Talmage persisted. In Talmage’s words, “Once you said ‘yes,’ all kinds of doors started opening for you with deans and leaders of the law school. Generosity always produces unexpected benefits.” So true.

Those of us with this frugal tendency sometimes need a loving push to let go and, as Talmage and Loyd both urge me, enjoy the fruits of our labor. As my TIGER 21 chair admonished me when he saw that I was postponing joy until the future, “Marvin, the future is now!”

 

Marvin E. Blum

Breaking old habits of frugality takes “a little help from my friends.” Here, Marvin Blum (left) succumbed to Talmage Boston’s urging and created a UT Law School scholarship in honor of their best friendship, which brings enormous fulfillment.

Hanging Onto Frugality? You’re Not Alone! Read More »

Be Aware: The Internet Knows You and It’s Writing Your Story

Perhaps you’ve seen the recent trend on social media where people ask AI to create a caricature of them revealing their interests, hobbies, jobs, family, and more. That trend sparked my curiosity, so I asked AI to create a caricature of me based solely on what it already knew. I was curious to see what it would come up with, and the image below confirmed that the internet knows me as a lawyer who gives speeches and enjoys gardening and painting— spot on!

So, then I asked it to create one of my daughter, Lizzy Savetsky. Given her strong influence and public presence, I was curious to see what it would create. It absolutely nailed it, depicting her as an outspoken advocate for Israel and Jewish causes. It accurately portrays Lizzy’s larger-than-life personality, balancing her media persona with her role as a mom of three kids. It’s incredible!

After seeing these images, what struck me most was that AI didn’t invent these versions of us, but reflected what already exists online. Every post, photo, and article contributes to a digital footprint that tells a story about who we are. Considering my passion for helping people create a lasting legacy, it dawned on me that our online presence plays a key part in defining our legacy and shaping how future generations remember us.

I challenge you to go online and research your name. What comes up? Is it a fair and accurate reflection of who you are? Now ask yourself: how do you, or your children or even your grandchildren, learn about other people? Studies consistently show that the internet and social media are now primary ways people learn about one another, shaping first impressions long before a conversation ever takes place. Today, when people want to learn more about someone, whether it’s a colleague, a new acquaintance, or even a family member, the first place they often turn is the internet, especially younger generations.

I say this to drive home a point. As technology continues to develop, and we know it will, our online footprint develops as well. That digital footprint will be a key part of defining our legacy. It will outlive us, and the story it writes will be discovered by future generations for years to come. So, what do we do with this information?

First, take time to analyze your digital footprint. Does it reflect your values and the story you want to leave behind? Is there anything you would want to update or build upon? For me personally, my weekly blog posts live on The Blum Firm website and create a written record for future generations to learn more about my values, my work, and my story. Even if you don’t have a blog or website, social media platforms are powerful tools for discovering your story. Whether you like it or not, the digital world will give future generations a window into who you were.

Next, take action to secure your digital footprint. For example, consider what happens to your online accounts after you’re gone. What happens to your Facebook account? Do you want it deleted, or would you prefer to designate a legacy contact who can manage your page and notify others of your passing while keeping it accessible? These are important considerations when planning for the future.

A few decades ago, we might have laughed at the thought of a digital legacy. But here we are, and the fact is, a lot of how people know us is from the internet. In fact, our Marketing Specialist, Katie Heck, said her dad was researching how to make a lotion that his late grandmother made that dated back to the early 1900’s. Thankfully, in 2009, his cousin had a blog and posted the recipe, and her dad made it and gifted some to his family. Not only did the blog contain the recipe, but it also included the backstory of how it started in their family. Thanks to the internet, this legacy has lived on for over a century. Amazing!

Because of technology, our little corner of life looms larger. The story we’re weaving will live on in an internet tapestry for infinity. A century from now, my great, great grandchildren may research my name and learn about their old departed Zaidy. I hope the story will make them proud. 

 

Marvin E. Blum 

 

An AI image created from a photo of Marvin Blum with his weekly blog underscores how technology and online presence can shape a lasting digital legacy.

Without any added prompts, AI portrayed Marvin Blum as a lawyer, speaker, and creative spirit—an illustration shaped entirely by his existing digital footprint.

For Marvin Blum's daughter Lizzy Savetsky, AI captured her public persona with striking precision, highlighting her Jewish identity, motherhood, and influential media presence.

Be Aware: The Internet Knows You and It’s Writing Your Story Read More »

Equal vs. Unequal: The Inheritance Debate

One of the hottest issues I face in preparing wills is the debate of whether to leave assets equally to your kids when circumstances suggest that an unequal division may be more “fair.” There’s no perfect answer. Given the high interest level in this topic, Trusts & Estates magazine covered the debate this month in an article I co-authored with Glenn Kurlander of Morgan Stanley: “What Does It Mean to Be Fair: Two Estate-Planning Attorneys Give Their Views on the Need for Clients to Treat Their Descendants Equally.”  Admitting that there’s no clear right or wrong, Glenn and I offer different perspectives. Click on this LINK to read the article.

Kurlander’s portion of the article entitled “Children Don’t Have to Be Treated Equally” analyzes the question through the lens of his own experience as a dad of four, “all of whom are extraordinarily different from one another.” Considering those differences, he justifies some unequal treatment. As an example, he compares the cost of educating a very gifted daughter with the cost of a 2-year junior college education for a learning-disabled son.  The daughter’s tuition “exceeded the amount I spent on his tuition by a factor of at least 50…. I’m often asked whether I’ve ever felt compelled to equalize the disparity in educational costs by making a gift to my son of the significant difference in tuition I spent in educating him relative to his siblings. While I’ve thought about it, I’ve rejected that strategy because I believe I achieved the fundamental equality I was seeking.” Kurlander goes on to point out that such a gift would arguably be unfair, “because the ‘disparity’ didn’t go to them. It went to the educational institutions they attended.”

On the other hand, Kurlander does practice rigid equality when it comes to the cost of each child’s wedding. As each of their first three married, he and his wife gave each the same amount of money to spend in their discretion, whether it be for the cost of a wedding or partial down payment on a house. “I’m hoping that the fourth, if and when the day comes, will be the most frugal of all and will get married in my house, with a menu of smoked brisket provided courtesy of his dad’s immense smoker. I won’t charge him a fee for the wedding venue, but to make things equal, I’d probably deduct the cost of the meat from the gift.”

As Kurlander correctly acknowledges, there are times when going “unequal” seems fair. In my portion of the article entitled “Going Unequal Can Be a High Risk Endeavor,” I embellish that point by identifying these circumstances that could call for inequality:

  • One is struggling financially and the others are well-off
  • One provided care to an elderly parent
  • One has kids and the other doesn’t
  • One has a disability
  • One is fiscally responsible and another isn’t and was repeatedly bailed out over the years
  • Leaving the family business to the one who works there
  • Leaving the family home entirely to one child.

I caution that going unequal in circumstances like these may seem fair, but unless there’s open communication and buy-in, someone almost always ends up with hurt feelings. As I add, “The child who receives less interprets the inheritance as a proxy for love. No matter how well-off they are, they may still feel less loved.” I put a punctuation point on the risk by quoting an answer from Warren Buffett’s sidekick Charlie Munger when I posed the question at a Berkshire-Hathaway Annual Meeting. Per Munger, “If you’re going to treat them unequally, that is poison.” 

So, what do parents do? Again, there’s no perfect answer. But my general view is to feel free to make unequal expenditures while you are alive without keeping score. However, when it comes to the will, leave the estate in equal shares. “A will is a permanent document, and having a forever reminder of unequal treatment can continue to sting.” I’ve seen it ruin relationships among siblings and among cousins. As an advocate for passing down a legacy of family closeness, I’d go to great lengths to put that at risk that over money. 

There’s one instance where I suggest the idea of going unequal, and that’s if you want to include grandkids in your plan. If one child has two kids and another child has four, carve off something to go equally per capita to the grandkids. Although not equal by the children’s family lines, it is arguably fair and makes the grandkids feel they were loved equally.

For more Marvin Blum views on this hot topic, click on this LINK to review four past blog posts. My final word: if you decide to go unequal, proceed with caution.

 

Marvin E. Blum  

 

Marvin Blum (right) and Glenn Kurlander co-authored an article in Trusts & Estates magazine on the debate of leaving a “fair vs. equal” inheritance for your kids.

Equal vs. Unequal: The Inheritance Debate Read More »

The Hidden Cost of “Good Enough” Entity Planning

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

For years, everything works.

The business grows. The partners get along. The documents sit in a drawer.

And then something happens.

Very often, it is the unexpected death or disability of a partner or shareholder. An ownership interest passes to a surviving spouse or children. If the deceased owner held a controlling position, the balance of decision-making shifts immediately. The person who inherits that interest may not have the same qualifications, experience, or even the same goals.

The structure that worked perfectly yesterday suddenly doesn’t work at all.

Why These Documents Go Untouched

Most business owners form an LLC or partnership to achieve a specific purpose. Liability protection. Tax treatment. Operational clarity.

Once that purpose is accomplished, they turn their attention to what they actually want to do, which is run the business.

Very few owners have an ongoing interest in revisiting the operating agreement or partnership documents themselves. If the business is performing well, the natural assumption is that everything else must be in order as well.

There is also a reluctance to reopen agreements that might invite disagreement. If relationships are strong, there is often a “let sleeping dogs lie” mindset.

The result is that I frequently see documents that are decades old. Some were drafted under statutes that have since been repealed. They reference laws that no longer exist.

The business may be thriving. The documents may not be.

How Misalignment Creeps In

Over time, small changes accumulate.

An entity may have been formed and classified for tax purposes in a certain way. Later, ownership changes. The company grows. Its operations evolve. Tax law shifts. State law changes.

But the documents do not.

Income allocations may no longer match the economic realities of the business. Distribution provisions may conflict with how profits are actually being shared. Management structures written for a small founder-led company may not fit a much larger, more complex operation.

These misalignments rarely cause immediate problems. They go unnoticed because no one pulls the documents out to compare them to current reality.

They only become relevant when something goes wrong.

Why Older Documents Fail to Anticipate 

In the last two decades, there have been significant changes in state entity law, federal tax law, and the way businesses are financed and sold.

Older operating agreements often fail to reflect those developments. Beneficial tax changes may be available, but the documents do not position the owners to take advantage of them. Financing structures and transaction terms that are common today were not contemplated years ago.

Dispute resolution provisions are another common weak spot. Sometimes they are poorly suited to the types of disputes that actually arise. Other times, there are no meaningful provisions at all.

Disputes among owners are not a sign of failure. Over time, they are almost inevitable. If the documents provide no guidance, uncertainty replaces structure.

When Problems Surface

The most common trigger is the unexpected death of an owner. That is when the structure is tested immediately and without warning.

Sales are another stress point. Modern transactions involve extensive due diligence. Buyers, lenders, and investors examine entity documents closely. If there are inconsistencies, outdated provisions, or unresolved ambiguities, transactions can be delayed or halted altogether.

In some cases, when alternatives are available, third parties simply walk away and move on to another opportunity.

What seemed like a technical issue becomes a real financial cost.

Stewardship, Not Pessimism 

Updating entity documents is not about expecting the worst. It is about stewardship.

I often compare company documents to estate planning documents. Most people do not view preparing a will or trust as pessimistic. They view it as a responsibility, something done to make difficult moments easier for family members.

Business entity documents serve a similar purpose. They are meant to anticipate eventualities and reduce uncertainty when circumstances change.

Good maintenance is not complicated. The key is consistency. Meeting with advisors on a regular basis, whether annually or every couple of years, and reviewing what has changed in the business and in the law can prevent problems from compounding.

The cost of waiting until there is pressure to act is uncertainty. And uncertainty in a business context is rarely inexpensive.

You may have formed your company years ago in a way that was as close to perfect as possible under the laws and circumstances at that time. It is unreasonable to assume that none of those circumstances have changed or that the documents do not need to change with them.

Looking Ahead

Good planning isn’t about predicting every future event. It’s about creating a structure that holds up when something unexpected happens. Families who take the time to coordinate their estate plans and business structures, and maintain them over time, are usually the ones who avoid unnecessary taxes, conflict, and regret later on.

About Frank Frank Leffingwell advises ultra-high-net-worth closely held business owners and investors on partnership tax, estate planning, and business succession. He works closely with families and their advisors to translate complex planning into coordinated, practical structures that hold up over time.

Written by Frank L. Leffingwell

Partner in Charge, Austin

The Hidden Cost of “Good Enough” Entity Planning Read More »

Creating Cousin Connection (“Don’t Let a Funeral Director Plan Your Next Family Reunion”)

How do you create a lasting family legacy? There’s no perfect formula, but one of the key building blocks is getting the family together to grow a close family connection. You have to be intentional. It doesn’t happen automatically. The breakdown is especially vulnerable when you get down to G3 (the third generation). In the Blum family, I’m deeply committed to helping my six G3’s build a strong bond of cousin love.

The challenge is intensified by the fact that three live in Austin and three live in New York. Plus, they live busy lives with busy schedules. Laurie and I give our all to creating opportunities for the cousins to grow up feeling close to each other, even though they don’t live geographically close.

We have frequent FaceTime chats where everyone joins. But there’s nothing better than in-person time together. The solution to making that happen is obvious—family travel. I’ve been an advocate for family travel for years, even before I had grandkids. I became convinced long ago at a speech by Mitzi Perdue, author of How to Make Your Family Business Last. Perdue’s answer to business longevity shocked me. Perdue, a member of two successful family dynasties (Sheraton Hotels and Perdue Farms), credited her family’s success largely due to family travel. I expected her to tout all kinds of corporate policies and governance structures, but ahead of all that is the critical importance of family travel.

Perdue praised the generations before her with creating trusts that endowed the cost of family travel. Like the FAST* Trust I propose, Perdue’s ancestors established a separate trust dedicated to paying for family enrichment activities. A portion of the inheritance is set aside in a separate fund to cover the cost of bringing the family together. 

Over the last couple of months, Laurie and I gathered all the grandkids twice. We first brought them all to Fort Worth to bunk in our house for a week, including numerous valuable visits with my mother Elsie, their great grandmother. A few weeks later, we splurged on a family trip to Disney World. Watching their close and loving interactions convinced me that our travel investments will pay big dividends.

My commitment to fostering that cousin love was affirmed in the January 2026 “Family Business Minute” blog post by Jeff Savlov entitled “Cousin Vibes.” Click on this link to read Savlov’s compelling case for cousin connection. Savlov acknowledges that the greatest risk to family continuity occurs at G3, per the proverb “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” It’s the third generation that most often squanders not only the family’s valuables, but also the family legacy values. To counteract the risk and build a stewardship mindset, you need to “put effort into getting the cousin’s together…. When there is a family culture of intention, purpose, and strong values, G-3 becomes infused with it and the cousins have a special bond that strengthens the foundation set by the generations before them.” 

Savlov and I are perfectly aligned. As he so eloquently concludes, “nurturing the cousin generation” leads to “humans of motivation, character, family connection and love.” I saw it happen with my own eyes as my New Yorker’s Stella, Juliet, and Ollie bonded so tightly with their Austin cousins Lucy, Grey, and Mia.

As if I needed more motivation to champion the cause for family travel, Mitzi Purdue ended her talk with a zinger. She lamented that over time, families start to just see each other at Thanksgiving, then less and less, to the point it’s only at funerals. Purdue’s final admonition, “Don’t let a funeral director plan your next family reunion.” That got my attention.

 

Marvin E. Blum

*The FAST Trust is a Family Advancement Sustainability Trust. Rather than providing distributions for HEMS (health, education, maintenance, support), distributions pay for activities like family meetings, retreats, travel, education, and building connection. 

Gathering Marvin Blum’s six grandkids with their great grandmother Elsie Blum pays multiple dividends. Not only does it foster cousin love, it also helps pass down Elsie’s legacy as the family matriarch.

Marvin and Laurie Blum take intentional steps to connect the three New York grandkids with their three Austin cousins.

Family travel is critical to building a family legacy, endorsed here by Marvin and Laurie Blum on a Disney World getaway with their kids and grandkids.

Creating Cousin Connection (“Don’t Let a Funeral Director Plan Your Next Family Reunion”) Read More »

Looking Back Over My 50-Year Career

I have the honor of serving for many years on the editorial board of Trust & Estates magazine, a leading national publication in the estate planning field. The February 2026 issue features an article interviewing me, along with two other board members Jonathan Blattmachr and Avi Kestenbaum. The title is “Reflections from Our Board—Lessons Learned, What’s Changed, and Where Modern Estate-Planning Practice is Heading.” The three of us shared answers from our lengthy careers to questions posed to us by Trust & Estates editor in chief Susan Lipp. Here are some highlights of my responses.

Question 1: What are the top two lessons you’ve learned when working with clients?

I shared a couple of lessons I learned the hard way, from mistakes that became teachable moments for me. The first was to connect promptly with a new client and establish a connection, even if you can’t get to the work immediately. Early on, I lost a Fortune 500 CEO as a client by not responding to him fast enough. The second was a widow who needed extra hand-holding during her period of grief. I was doing her work but not reporting to her sufficiently on my progress, leaving the impression I was neglecting her. Fortunately, I salvaged it and we not only developed a close working relationship, but also a deep long-lasting friendship.

I also shared a lesson on the need to listen before offering advice. Many of our clients are dealing with difficult issues. Such as complicated family dynamics. Before I propose head and heart solutions like “squeeze and freeze” tools and FAST trusts, they want to be heard. We can then work together to tailor solutions to specific needs.

Question 2: What are the most significant changes you’ve seen in how your firm conducts business?

My answer contrasted the estate work from 50 years ago when I started (which was mainly comprised of doing a Will) with today’s holistic approach. Our toolbox now includes planning for incapacity, asset protection, minimizing tax, prenups, special needs trusts, charitable planning, business succession, elder law, legacy planning, family governance, a Red File, and more. As I said, “It’s not your daddy’s estate planning anymore.”

Question 3: Looking ahead, what do you anticipate will be the most significant challenge for estate planning attorneys?

My response focused on the pros and cons of technology advances. I started when fax machines and memory typewriters were the new things, and very long before cell phones. Now with Zoom and AI, we can work anytime, anywhere, and provide answers almost instantaneously. The downsides concern me—no time to disengage and recharge, losing the face-to-face connection, challenges of creating a cohesive law firm culture with remote workers. We need to be intentional to achieve a balance between technology and our well-being.

To discover my expanded answers and the replies of my two esteemed colleagues, click on this link to read the article. If you’re like me, you’ll be surprised to see that we express different viewpoints, with no overlap in our responses. I find the messages to be compelling. As Avi Kestenbaum said, “I really like and appreciate the wisdom here. Much of it applies to all areas of the law as well. This should be a must read for young lawyers and law students.” I agree.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum (center), Jonathan Blattmachr (left), and Avi Kestenbaum (right) are three members of Trust & Estates magazine editorial board featured in an article on lessons learned, changes in the profession, and the future of the estate planning practice.

Susan Lipp, editor in chief of Trust & Estates magazine, with editorial board member, Marvin Blum.

Looking Back Over My 50-Year Career Read More »

Why Basis Planning Matters More Than Estate Tax for Many Families Today

Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

When families first come to see me, they are almost always worried about federal estate tax.

Very frequently, they have not yet considered federal income tax issues at all.

That focus is understandable. The federal estate tax draws attention because the tax rate is high, and for many years the tax exemption was much lower. For a long time, estate tax planning deserved center stage.

For many families today, however, the conversation has shifted.

Why the Focus Has Changed

With higher federal estate tax exemptions, fewer families actually owe estate tax than they once did. As a result, I sometimes spend as much time focused on federal income tax consequences as I do on minimizing federal estate tax issues.

What I often see in older estate plans is a structure built on an assumed much lower estate tax exemption. Married couples, for example, may have structured transfers at the first death in ways they likely would not choose today if the plan were being drafted under current law.

At the same time, many of the assets in those plans have continued to appreciate. The tax basis of such assets, however, has not. The growing gap creates a significant exposure to federal income tax liability later.

Why Estate Tax Still Gets the Attention

One reason estate tax continues to dominate the conversation is the headline rate. Forty percent is a number that gets people’s attention.

Another reason is familiarity. Estate tax planning has been discussed for decades, while income tax consequences often feel less visible and less immediate.

But visible does not always mean larger.

How Income Tax Shows Up Later — and Bigger

Income tax most often shows up at the death of a loved one.

That is when families sometimes discover that a highly appreciated asset was transferred out of the estate years earlier and is no longer eligible for a step-up in basis. In many cases, the family had assumed that step-up would apply.

A common example involves real property that is integral to a family’s business, such as the land or building from which the business operates. Over time, that property may have appreciated significantly while its tax basis remains relatively low. If the property is held in a way that prevents a step-up in basis at death, the resulting capital gains tax can materially reduce the value ultimately realized by the family when the property is sold or transferred.

That realization often comes as a rude shock.

Gifting Versues Holding Assets

One of the more counterintuitive aspects of the tax law is that gifting assets during life generally does not result in a step-up in federal income tax basis. That benefit typically applies only at death.

As a result, well-intentioned lifetime gifts can sometimes produce worse tax outcomes for heirs than holding the same assets until death, even when federal estate tax exposure is minimal or nonexistent.

Explaining this without jargon is not always easy. I often resort to simple math, written out on paper, because example numbers tend to make the issue clear more quickly than a conceptual explanation.

What Heirs Actually Keep

I frequently review estate plans that were technically successful but still left heirs with avoidable tax costs.

In some cases, families moved appreciated business assets into irrevocable structures to reduce federal estate tax exposure, only to lose the ability to eliminate capital gains tax later. When those assets are eventually sold or transferred, a meaningful portion of their value disappears to federal income tax.

The plan worked, but not in the way the family expected.

How to Think About the Tradeoff

For many families, this ultimately comes down to simple arithmetic.

If one approach reduces federal estate tax but creates a much larger federal income tax liability, and another approach does the opposite, the lower overall tax cost is frequently the better answer. Other considerations matter as well, including asset protection and family dynamics. Even more considerations matter for assets which are part of the family business, such as business succession goals and available business exit strategies. In any event, however,  federal income tax can no longer be treated as a secondary concern.

Many plans that were created even fairly recently are now outdated simply because the rules have changed so quickly.

Looking Ahead

Good planning isn’t about predicting every future event. It’s about creating a structure that holds up and remains flexible when something unexpected happens. Families who take the time to coordinate their estate plans and business structures, and maintain them over time, are usually the ones who avoid unnecessary taxes, conflict, and regret later on.

Written by Frank L. Leffingwell

Partner in Charge, Austin

Why Basis Planning Matters More Than Estate Tax for Many Families Today Read More »

Attorney Spotlight on Kaitlin R. Goddard

This week, we are proud to spotlight Kaitlin R. Goddard and recognize several recent accomplishments that reflect the depth of her work and her growing impact within the probate and estate litigation community in Texas. Kaitlin is not only an excellent attorney; she consistently distinguishes herself through her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to serving clients and the legal profession.

For the past eight years, Kaitlin has dedicated her practice to probate law across the state of Texas and now focuses primarily on serving clients throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. She has successfully handled hundreds of estate administrations, including complex matters involving personal injury claims and real estate. Throughout her work, Kaitlin takes great pride in guiding families through some of life’s most difficult moments with clarity, compassion, and care.

In addition to her probate administration practice, Kaitlin represents clients in contested estate matters, both intestate (dying without a Will) and testate. She has also spent several years serving as a certified court-appointed attorney ad litem in probate and guardianship cases, providing thoughtful and independent advocacy when it matters most.

Kaitlin’s impact extends beyond her client work. She is actively engaged in professional education and recently presented at November’s Brown Bag Seminar Series: Wills & Estates for the Tarrant County Bar Association, sharing practical insights with fellow practitioners. She was also recently published in The Verdict, the official publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association, where her article, “The Intersection of Texas Probate and Personal Injury Law: Understanding Authority, Standing, and Capacity,” offers practical guidance to attorneys navigating the complex overlap of these practice areas. Her writing reflects both her depth of experience and her commitment to helping other lawyers better serve their clients.

Further strengthening her ability to help clients resolve disputes efficiently and thoughtfully, Kaitlin has also recently earned her certification as a Certified Mediator through the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution.

In recognition of her work and professional reputation, Kaitlin was named to D Magazine’s 2026 Best Lawyers Under 40 list, an honor based on peer nominations from Texas attorneys who have experienced her work firsthand. She was also recognized by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine as one of Tarrant County’s Top Attorneys in Probate, Estates, and Trusts in 2025.

Kaitlin has also created a growing library of informational videos for The Blum Firm, breaking down important probate topics such as probating an estate in Texas with an original Will or a with only a copy of a Will. You can watch these videos in The Blum Firm’s video library, with additional content on the way.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kaitlin is a devoted wife to her husband, Kevin, and a proud mother to her daughter, Kendall, who recently celebrated her first birthday. She enjoys attending live music events and discovering new restaurants across the Metroplex, always on the lookout for her next favorite spot (especially if it has a patio). Kaitlin also has a strong passion for interior design and is continually inspired by new creative projects around her home. When she’s not working or exploring the local dining scene, she can often be found at home spending quality time with her family—and their three beloved cats.

Kaitlin’s accomplishments reflect her dedication to excellence, service, and continued professional growth. We are proud to recognize her contributions and look forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on her clients and the legal community.

Bravo, Kaitlin!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Attorney Spotlight on Kaitlin R. Goddard Read More »

A Blueprint for Aging, Featuring Charlie Munger and My Brother-in-Law David Usdan

Clint Eastwood famously said, “I get up every day, and I don’t let the old man in.”  That’s my philosophy too, giving my all to dodge growing old. In today’s post, I’m spotlighting two role models for this sentiment: Charlie Munger (Warren Buffett’s sidekick who died just weeks before his 100th birthday) and my brother-in-law Dr. David Usdan. In exploring their similar approach to fighting off aging, I discovered some remarkable parallels.

Both Charlie and David are role models for staying active and engaged in their senior years. In “The Untold Story of Charlie Munger’s Final Years,” Gregory Zuckerman reveals Munger’s prescription for longevity (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 29, 2025). Charlie’s example is “a blueprint for how to age with grace, equanimity and purpose. ‘To the day he died, that mind was running,’ says Munger’s stepson, Hal Borthwick. ‘He never stopped learning.’” Munger, as Berkshire-Hathaway Vice Chairman, was Buffett’s sounding board. The two shared weekly calls, and when hearing each other became difficult, “‘they would scream to each other.’” Their ears may have declined, but their regular phone banter challenged their intellect and kept their minds sharp as ever.

Similarly, my brother-in-law David keeps his mind working non-stop. Now 84, David just recently closed his ophthalmology practice, but he still “works” almost every day. David now volunteers at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and at the Memphis Church Health Center. He continues to heal those suffering with eye disease, while training young doctors with his high standards for medical care. David has no interest in a traditional stay-at-home retirement. As he told Aisling Maki of the Daily Memphian, “‘I’ve worked since I was a teenager. I’m very bored being at home. I don’t know what I would do if I had nothing to do.’” (“Tips for Living a Long, Full Life from Two Octogenarian Doctors,” Dec. 3, 2025.)

By staying active using his medical skills to heal and train others, my brother-in-law is achieving an important element of a successful retirement—David continues to feel like he matters. Jennifer Wallace addresses the importance of feeling like you matter in her new book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose. Many retirees struggle finding ways to contribute. But “it wasn’t just disappointment in a lack of opportunities. It was an erosion in something far more fundamental—their sense of mattering, the deep human need to feel value and to have a chance to add value to the world.” (“The Retirement Crisis No One Warns You About: Mattering,” Wall Street Journal, January 17, 2026.)

Charlie and David both lost their wives in their later years, but set their intentions on filling the void. When Munger’s wife died, he “feared loneliness and irrelevance. He chose to spend more time with friends, buoying his spirits.”  Charlie met with a weekly breakfast group where they “told stories and shared philosophies.” Likewise, when David lost Linda (sister of my wife Laurie), it left a big gap in his life. She was his full-time companion, working by his side every minute of the day, running his medical practice. Like Charlie, David connects with a group of longtime friends as his breakfast cronies. But both advocate for making new friends. Per Munger, “At my age, you make new friends, or you don’t have any friends.” Similarly, David recently took up croquet. “‘It was a good chance to meet some people. I hadn’t thought about the sport since I was a child, and I didn’t know people still play it.’” 

David enjoys time outdoors and stays fit by taking two-mile walks. He’s also busy with traveling, reading, and lots of hobbies. David is a science nerd who loves fiddling with electronics. He’s even a longtime ham radio operator. He also loves cars. David recently went out one day and came home with a new 5-series BMW electric car (one driver, four cars—two of which are electric). He told my wife Laurie, “Everyone needs two electric cars in case one doesn’t work.”

Charlie and David also share some unconventional eating habits for elderly stomachs. Neither ascribes to a bland diet. “For years, Munger’s family tried keeping him on a healthy diet. He resisted the effort. ‘He sipped water like it was poison…. His last delivery was Korean fried chicken…. He loved Costco hot dogs. In the hospital, one of the last meals he had was an In-N-Out burger and a Diet Coke.’” I witnessed Charlie’s eating habits firsthand. Our family, including David and Linda, took annual pilgrimages to the Berkshire-Hathaway Annual Meeting, where Charlie would sit all day answering questions while drinking sodas and munching on peanut brittle. David was a big fan of Munger’s sharp wit and wisdom, but he likely also related to Charlie’s eating habits. David also eats like a kid. His daughter (my niece Lisa) has him for dinner every night, trying her best to get him on a healthier diet. Per David, “‘I eat healthy over there because she’s an endocrinologist. She doesn’t always agree with my choice of food, but I always eat her food. She’s very big into vegetables,’” though David describes himself as a “‘meat-and-potatoes’” guy. He once asked me if I eat yellow pasta, because (to his dismay), the pasta Lisa serves him is always green.

I am paying close attention to the habits of these two gentlemen. They set examples for staying active, keeping closely connected with friends and loved ones, and “rewiring” rather than “retiring.” With their curious minds and positive attitudes, people are drawn to them and want to be around them. And on top of all that, they even eat whatever they want. It’s hard to argue with their food choice, given their longevity. As I head now for a lunch of salad and grilled salmon, I’m starting to rethink it. To paraphrase from the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” maybe I should “have what they’re having.” How about a hot dog, a burger, or some fried chicken?

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

Marvin Blum (third from right) is joined by family at a Berkshire-Hathaway Annual Meeting, including brother-in-law, David Usdan (far right), standing below a caricature of Vice Chairman Charlie Munger. David and Charlie are role models for aging.

David Usdan (center) and Marvin Blum (far right) with family, attending another Berkshire-Hathaway Annual Meeting to absorb wisdom from Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.

Receiving an 84th birthday hug from granddaughter Paige is “Papa” David Usdan.

A Blueprint for Aging, Featuring Charlie Munger and My Brother-in-Law David Usdan Read More »

Why Smart Families Coordinate Estate Planning and Business Structure

Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

1. What is the difference between guardianship of the person and guardianship of the estate?

Most estate plans and business structures look fine on paper.

The problem is that paper doesn’t run a business, face a sale, or survive an unexpected death.

When families come to me with an estate plan and a business structure already in place, I don’t start with tax rates or legal details. I start with something much simpler: do the documents actually allow each other to work?

Surprisingly often, they don’t.

Where Things Quietly Go Wrong

One of the most common issues is a mismatch between documents. An estate plan may assume a business interest can be transferred one way, while the company’s operating or shareholder agreement restricts or outright prohibits that transfer.

Everything appears coordinated until the moment it needs to work.

Another problem shows up when businesses are formed after an estate plan is already in place. Families assume the new entity fits neatly into the old plan. Sometimes it does. Other times, valuable opportunities are missed simply because the pieces were never designed together.

These issues rarely feel urgent. That’s what makes them dangerous.

Assumptions Don’t Hold Up

Business owners often assume that valuation provisions in buy-sell agreements will carry over into their estate plan and hold up if scrutinized.

That assumption is frequently wrong.

Valuation methods designed for business continuity don’t always work for estate planning purposes. When those differences aren’t addressed early, families can be left with results they never intended.

When the Disconnect is Discovered 

Most families don’t discover these gaps early. They usually discover them too late.

The most common trigger is death. At that point, options are limited, and in some cases there is very little that can be done to fix the problem.

Sales can expose these issues as well, especially when owners disagree about timing or terms. But death is when misalignment becomes unavoidable, and when the consequences are felt most acutely by surviving family members and key employees.

Why This Matters More Today

This issue matters more now than it did 10 or 20 years ago for a simple reason: more families own valuable, closely held businesses than ever before.

For many families, business interests make up the largest portion of their wealth. At the same time, estate tax rules have changed repeatedly over the years. Plans drafted for a different tax environment often no longer match current ownership realities.

Planning that was once “good enough” may no longer be good at all.

The Tradeoff Worth Making

No one wants unnecessary complexity. I understand that.

But most of the problems that lead to higher taxes, family conflict, or lost value could have been anticipated and addressed without making a plan overly complicated. What they do require is coordination and informed judgment.

When planning is done well, owners don’t need to understand every technical detail. They need confidence that:

  • the estate plan works with the business structure
  • the succession plan is realistic
  • and the people affected understand and accept it

When that happens, there is usually a noticeable sense of relief for everyone involved.

Looking Ahead

Good planning isn’t about predicting every future event. It’s about creating a structure that holds up when something unexpected happens. Families who take the time to coordinate their estate plans and business structures, and maintain them over time, are usually the ones who avoid unnecessary taxes, conflict, and regret later on.

Written by Frank L. Leffingwell

Partner in Charge, Austin 

Why Smart Families Coordinate Estate Planning and Business Structure Read More »

Congratulations to Our Newly Promoted Senior Associates

We are thrilled to announce that three of our Associates—Annie Counts, Doug Harvey, and Tara Pedian—have been promoted to Senior Associate.

Annie, Doug, and Tara are exceptional attorneys who consistently go above and beyond for their clients. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence truly embody the values of our firm, and this promotion is a well-earned recognition of their hard work and impact.

We couldn’t be more proud to have them on our team. To learn more about each of them, please see their bios below.

Annie Counts, J.D., received her J.D., cum laude, from Texas A&M University School of Law, where she was Note and Comment Editor of the Texas A&M Journal of Property Law and served as Vice President of the Tax Law Society. Annie earned a B.A. in Communication from Texas A&M University, graduating magna cum laude.

Annie has been recognized by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine as one of Tarrant County’s Top Attorneys in the area of Probate, Estates, & Trusts for the past two years. 

Doug W. Harvey, J.D., received his received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and served on the Executive Board of the Texas Tech Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University. Doug also brings significant corporate counsel experience to his practice, having served for six years as general counsel for a commercial mortgage lending and servicing company, as well as in other senior in-house legal roles.

Tara N. Pedian, J.D., received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Baylor Law School where she was a recipient of the Steve Dillard Practice Court Award, served as Associate Editor of the Baylor Law Review, and was named to the Academic Dean’s List. Tara earned a B.S., summa cum laude, from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, where she received the Criminal Justice Award, the Academic Achievement Award, and was also named to the Academic Dean’s List.

Congratulations to Our Newly Promoted Senior Associates Read More »

My 43-Minute Crash Course in Estate Planning

If you’d like a 43-minute crash course in estate planning, I recently recorded a podcast on “The Head and the Heart of Estate Planning.” Dr. Kirby Rosplock of Tamarind Learning Podcasts interviewed me, and we covered a wide range of topics. To listen to the podcast, click on this link.

The first half of the interview addresses technical and tax concepts. We then shift focus to the heart, or values-based aspects of estate planning. Here’s an overview of the topics we discussed:

“Head” Topics-

  • Impact of recent tax legislation, leaving the door wide open (for now) for “squeeze and freeze” tools to avoid paying the 40% estate tax
  • Recommendations for those owning complex assets or a family business, including the vital importance of “business succession planning”
  • How to move assets out of your estate, yet retain control and preserve flexibility through powers of appointment and trust protectors
  • Common mistakes, particularly the failure to update when changes occur, the risks from underplanning, and failure to create a Red File
  • How to design an estate plan that will hold up over time, from generation to generation

“Heart” Topics-

  • My journey into the “heart” side, especially as impacted by the unexpected death of my brother at age 65 and other wake-up calls I’ve experienced
  • Overview of best practices from families who have successfully avoided “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”
  • Tips on selecting trustees and executors
  • The true story of a favorite family I’ve counseled who is a role model for building and passing down a meaningful legacy
  • Single biggest piece of advice to families

 

We conclude the podcast with a “lightning round” where I answer questions including:

  • What’s one book I recommend on estate and legacy planning?
  • Biggest myth about estate planning?
  • Is legacy something you build or something you leave?
  • If you weren’t doing this work, what would your second act be?

I’m honored to report that as a result of my new connection with Dr. Kirby Rosplock, I have now joined the Tamarind Learning Education Council. Tamarind Learning Podcasts are available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube. The goal is to educate families on planning that will produce future generations of successful inheritors and wealth stewards.

After the recording, I thanked Kirby for the opportunity to share wisdom from my 50-year career as an estate attorney and CPA. Kirby kindly expressed surprise at my 70-year-old age and responded with a line that makes my day: “Marvin, you’re a 50-year-old 70.” That’s music to my ears, giving me hope that I have another 20 years of runway to continue doing this meaningful work.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum was interviewed by Dr. Kirby Rosplock of Tamarind Learning Podcasts about “The Head and the Heart of Estate Planning.”

My 43-Minute Crash Course in Estate Planning Read More »

How’s Your Relationship with Money? I’m Working on Mine.

My kids enjoy teasing me. In a good-natured and loving way, they like to poke fun at my eccentricities, which I admit are considerable. I own those eccentricities and laugh along. One of the subjects they rib me about is my frugality. I’m ok what that. Even Warren Buffett is notoriously frugal and also unapologetic about it. Ben Franklin considered frugality to be a virtue. I suppose I’m virtuous.

What’s the source of this frugality? It clearly stems from my childhood and upbringing. Unlike the life my kids enjoyed with private schools and vacations, I was raised in modest means. The only vacation I recall was once driving to Galveston for a bowling tournament and staying at the Jack Tar Motel. Scott Gornto writes about the impact of our early days in The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Messages get in our heads early on, and it’s hard to erase them.

The idea for this post came from a photo my daughter Lizzy posted of a bowl of apples in an American Airlines Admiral Club, with this caption: “My father would never leave an Admiral Club without at least 6 cellophane-wrapped apples. I almost feel obligated to take one.” She posted it under the category of “things that always make me think of my father.” My son-in-law continued the ribbing by commenting: “How many free bananas, bottled waters, and iced teas does it take to break even with a monthly membership at Colonial Country Club?” It’s true. I never leave Colonial empty-handed. 

To Scott Gornto’s point about the impact of our upbringing, when I grew up, I never entered an airline club or a country club. I joked back with my kids that my only club membership was more like Sam’s Club. So give me some slack. I now pay for club memberships, but I do take advantage of the freebies.

I’m not alone. People who grew up like I did think about money differently than those who grow up with abundance. In The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel affirms: “The person who grew up in poverty thinks about risk and reward in ways the child of a wealthy banker cannot fathom if he tried…. Their view of money was formed in different worlds. And when that’s the case, a view about money that one group of people thinks is outrageous can make perfect sense to another…. But no one is crazy—we all make decisions based on our own unique experiences.”  It’s no surprise that my views of spending and saving will differ from my kids’ views.  

With my wife’s urging, I’m working on improving my tenuous relationship with money. My association with TIGER 21 also helps. Early on in TIGER, my chair, Bill Case, observed my tendency to postpone joy. I was putting off enjoying my wish list items for the future. Bill’s words still ring loudly in my head: “Marvin, the future is now!” Those words helped me pull the trigger and buy my dream home (having talked myself out of buying another dream home a few years earlier). Bill was right. I’m enjoying every day on Middlewood Drive.

In a Perspectives newsletter from the family consulting firm Case Bogart entitled “What Owns Who? Who Owns What?,” I learned that others share my struggles with money. They raise the question, “Do you own the money, or does the money own you?” When the money owns you, it can lead to “excessive saving, or an obsession with amassing added wealth,” what they describe as “compulsive behaviors…[that] can signal an unhealthy dependency” on money.

To conquer “a problematic relationship with money,” Case Bogart recommends an honest self-reflection about money. But as Gornto acknowledges, it’s hard to reprogram those old cassette tapes that are playing irrational messages in our heads. I’m working on it. It’s on my list of 2026 New Year’s resolutions to keep at it. I’m happy to report I’m making progress. In addition to living the dream on Middlewood Drive, I’m even ordering iced tea now instead of water when we eat out. Maybe one day I’ll fly first class, but probably will still board the plane with Ziplocks I filled up in the Admiral Club.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

 

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savestky loves to tease about his frugality, here taking the form of stocking up on free apples in the Admiral club.

Marvin Blum is happy to play along and poke fun at himself, shown here with Admiral Club free apples and Ziplocks ready to be filled.

Making headway on improving his relationship with money, Marvin Blum enjoys each day living in his dream house. TIGER 21 taught him to stop postponing joy, as “the future is now.”

How’s Your Relationship with Money? I’m Working on Mine. Read More »

Looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Try Planking!

My focus today is on a personal ritual that has the makings for a great New Year’s resolution, adopting a daily exercise routine. I can already hear some of you groaning, but hear me out. The benefits of daily exercise are not just physical; they are also mental and spiritual. In her How to Feel Better blog post of December 4, 2025, Catherine Sanderson touts the benefits of moving your body every day. “Exercise is one of the most effective strategies for combating a bad mood and boosting mental health.” Researchers studied data from more than 96,000 people and found that those who walk even 1,000 steps a day are less likely to experience symptoms of depression.

I admit to being somewhat obsessive about fitness. It’s just my nature to take everything I do to the limit. So when a fitness coach at Lake Austin Spa told me 20 years ago that I should start each day with a two-minute plank, I obliged. I’ve likely missed only a handful of morning planks since then. I roll out of bed and hit the floor. Laurie says it’s longer than two minutes, as I count to 120 very slowly. I follow it up with squats, push-ups, and stretches.

My friends and family tease me about my plank routine. I’ve even won some plank contests. So has my granddaughter Juliet. Our Dallas office used to do a 5:00 afternoon plank together, and when I joined in on the fun, they cajoled me about my non-stop chatter during it. Ed Copley joked that he did the plank lying on his back. To each, his own. 

It occurred to me that there’s something actually spiritual about this morning habit. The plank is more than just core strengthening for me. There’s a meditative element to it that centers me. I face the coming day more at peace. I’m not suggesting it is a substitute for morning prayers, but there is some overlap. In Jewish tradition, my son-in-law Ira Savetsky starts each day with Shacharit prayers, donning his tallit and tefillin. I’ve joked with him that my morning plank is my Shacharit service. Like Ira, I don’t allow myself to have breakfast until I’ve completed it.

Another routine I follow religiously is to read Dr. Meeta Singh’s weekly Performance Sleep Bulletin. (I strongly recommend clicking on this link to subscribe for valuable sleep and health tips.) Reading the November 10, 2025 post was especially affirming when I read the section entitled “Core Strength Plays a Bigger Role in Longevity Than You Think.” Under a photo of a person perfectly planking was this message: “The body’s deeper core muscles do more than aid movement—they protect the spine, support posture, and help prevent age-related decline in balance and mobility. Often overlooked, those muscles may be a hidden key to maintaining independence as we age.” 

Dr. Singh’s post describes the core as “the body’s control center for posture, movement, and injury prevention.” I’ll add that for me, the core is also a control center for the mind and spirit.

I hope I’ve convinced someone to join me in my morning plank ritual. Perhaps others in your family will follow your example and it’ll become part of the personal legacy you pass down to your heirs. Maybe many years from now, after I’m long gone, one of my descendants will do a morning plank and think of old Zaidy Marvin. It’s part of my story.

 

Here’s to a healthier 2026 — Happy planking!

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin Blum’s morning plank ritual is a physical and spiritual experience that’s part of his personal legacy.

Marvin’s son-in-law, Dr. Ira Savetsky, starts his day with a truly religious ritual of Shacharit prayers.
Never to miss a morning exercise routine, here’s Marvin Blum doing squats at DFW Airport, about to board an early flight.

Looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Try Planking! Read More »

The Sound of Silence

All too often, we don’t appreciate something till it’s gone. In my case, following my vocal cord surgery, I’m gradually regaining my voice, but it’s a journey. I wrote about my vocal cord saga in my post of Nov. 11, 2025, “You Don’t Have Cancer.” I’m on the mend and abundantly grateful, but speaking is still a struggle. Thanks to the expert care of my medical team at UT Southwestern, I’m winning this challenge.  My speech therapist assures me I’ll regain my voice over time, with the help of some odd humming exercises while blowing bubbles through a straw into a cup of water. Till it’s back in full, I am far more silent than customary. But surprisingly, that silence has also been a gift.

First and foremost, I no longer take the ability to speak for granted. The science of making sound is complicated. There’s a lot involved in having healthy vocal cords that vibrate properly. As my voice strengthens, I greet those sounds with newfound gratitude.

While I’m in my quiet phase, I’ve discovered wonderful ways to fill the silence. I’ve turned it into an opportunity. I now am finding my voice in other ways. It’s fascinating what I’ve discovered by doing more of these non-speaking activities:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Listening
  • Thinking (lots of thinking).

I once heard an outspoken Trinity Valley School principal described as a man with “never an unspoken thought.” We all adored him, but the truth is that whatever went into his mind instantly came out of his mouth. Now that each word is an effort, I’ve thought a lot about that beloved principal. I’ve become very selective in my spoken words. Less can be more. I’ve had an abundance of unspoken thoughts. I now weigh my comments and only make the ones that I feel are worth it. Silence can be peaceful, so I disturb that peace less these days.

I’m also mastering the art of non-verbal communication. For example, I still make my morning rounds to greet everyone in my office, but the greeting is now expressed more through my smile than my words. My team all seems to get the message, still knowing that I care and appreciate them even if I don’t say so out loud. 

My silence also provided me an unexpected gift recently. I was attending Sabbath services with my daughter Lizzy’s family. They worship at The Altneu Synagogue in Manhattan. It’s a very vibrant congregation, mostly of young superstars who are fervent in their Jewish faith. When prayers are sung in unison, they all participate with gusto. I discovered that when I sing along with them, I’m hearing more of myself and I’m failing to fully hear the congregation.  But mouthing the words to myself, my ears suddenly heard the symphony of their voices. I heard two prayers like I’d never heard them before: the Prayer for the State of Israel and the “Etz Chaim” (Tree of Life) prayer when returning the Torah to the Ark. The words went straight to my heart (and to the tears in my eyes). In selecting a Bach concerto as the theme music for his “Firing Line” show years ago, William F. Buckley, Jr. considered music a “pipeline to G-d… that should ultimately point to higher things.” I agree.

So like Simon and Garfunkel sang, there can be sounds in silence. I now get what Paul Simon meant in those haunting lyrics to “The Sound of Silence.” Too many are “talking without speaking” and “hearing without listening.” But “the vision that was planted in my brain still remains, within the sound of silence.” And those sounds that actually make it into your brain speak more loudly than the ones that go in one ear and out the other. I have a new appreciation for the adage “Silence is golden.” When we quiet the noise, we can really begin to hear. So, in an unexpected way, I say thanks for the blessing of this quiet time. Indeed, silence can be golden.

[I want to acknowledge Karen Reisman of Speak for Yourself who gave me the inspiration for this post in a quiet conversation as the two of strolled along the square in Bentonville, Arkansas, sharing a deep unspoken connection from our friendship of 50 years.]

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin Blum’s vocal cord episode brings more silence into his life, offering a new understanding of one of his favorite songs, “The Sound of Silence.”

Marvin Blum is gradually regaining his voice, aided by the outstanding medical team at UT Southwestern.
Voice therapist Caroline Hurt expertly guides Marvin Blum through vocal exercises.

The Sound of Silence Read More »

There’s More to Sports than Just a Game

One of the tenets of the Blum Family’s mission is to go through life collecting memorable moments. As we look back, our life is a series of moments. Certain ones stand out. Be intentional and create some meaningful moments that will be part of your family’s story. For the Blum Family, some of those moments happen at University of Texas football games.

Sporting events have great potential for building family memories and rituals. I particularly noticed this on Thanksgiving, when we hopped around at three different houses and found everyone huddled together, glued to the Dallas Cowboys football game. It turns out that more than 57 million tuned into that game, the most watched regular season game ever. This family bonding around sports continued the next day, as I watched old and young cling together at the sold-out UT/ A&M rivalry game in Austin.

Reflecting on Blum family memories now that we’re in the season of football bowl games, a stand-out moment occurred 20 years ago at the Rose Bowl. My son Adam and I have a long-standing father-son tradition of traveling to UT football games. Without question, the premier experience was winning the National Championship at the 2006 Rose Bowl. It was a legendary game with a miraculous ending thanks to our super-hero quarterback, Vince Young. It’s often described as the best college football game of all time.

It was Adam’s last year at UT. He was in a panic trying to land two tickets to the Rose Bowl. Fortunately, Adam had a close friendship with Frank Denius, one of UT’s biggest boosters. Adam (in his 20’s) and Frank (in his 80’s) were best pals, sharing their passion for UT football. Adam’s call went something like this, “Frank, I’m having a hard time studying for finals, worrying so much about getting two Rose Bowl tickets.” Frank Denius to the rescue—two 50-yard line Rose Bowl seats instantly appeared.

The whole event was epic. It was UT vs. the University of Southern California. USC was heavily favored. With a couple of minutes left, USC was winning, had the ball, and was driving. It looked hopeless to me and almost everyone else but Adam. My efforts to console Adam were met with total rejection: “We’re going to win!!” he yelled at me. All we had to do was stop USC (who had been scoring on every drive), get the ball back before they scored, and go score a touchdown. My faith wasn’t deep enough for that scenario. 

Days before, Vince Young had been passed over by USC’s Reggie Bush for the Heisman Trophy. Vince felt disrespected. It was time for revenge. Lo and behold, with the clock ticking away, UT and Vince Young pulled off a miracle practically everyone (but Adam) thought was impossible. The stadium was in shock. Adam was euphoric!

We stayed in our seats after the win and got friendly with the ladies seated on the row in front of us—Vince Young’s mother Felicia, his grandmothers, and his sisters. 

An hour later, officials came to retrieve the Young family to take them to Vince. They invited Adam and me to join them! Vince, who not long before was taking victory laps around the stadium, was now wheeled up in a golf cart. Muscle atrophy had set in; he was barely able to move. We all got hugs with Vince. What an unforgettable moment!

I got the idea for this post reading Professor Catherine Sanderson’s How to Feel Better blog post of November 6, 2025, “My Husband Bleeds Dodgers Blue.” Sanderson described the magic of being a sports fan: “Sports fandom is good for well-being. People who root for a particular team show increases in self-esteem after the team wins.”

Sanderson continues: “rooting for a particular team also leads to broader benefits…. They also felt their life had more meaning and purpose…. Perhaps most importantly, sports fandom provides a sense of connection with others who share your allegiance.” Sports is a great equalizer. It brings together deeply passionate people who never would have connected with one another and allows them to build genuine relationships that last forever.

We lost Frank a few years ago, but Adam still travels to all the games with Longhorn football legend Ted Koy. The connection between Ted and Adam is another example of sports bringing people together and creating close friendships. And when I say close, I mean Ted was even an usher in Adam’s wedding.

Reflecting on our Rose Bowl memories and Sanderson’s post, I have a profound appreciation for Adam’s sports passion. It has provided us with so many father-son bonding experiences, relationships with friends like Frank Denius and Longhorn great Ted Koy and other fellow Longhorn enthusiasts, and rich memorable moments we will remember forever as we look back at the highlights of our lives.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin with son Adam displaying Longhorn spirit at a UT football game, making lifetime memories.

Close friends Adam Blum and Frank Denius share their passion for UT football at the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Superfan Adam Blum expresses his enthusiasm as UT’s quarterback Vince Young pulls off a miraculous win against USC.
Following the win, Adam strikes up a friendship with Vince Young’s mother Felicia, leading to a post-game visit with Vince we’ll never forget.
Adam Blum at a UT game in Kentucky, flanked by Longhorn football legend Ted Koy (right) and Marvin Blum's best friend Talmage Boston, both of whom were ushers in Adam's wedding.
Sports fandom creates meaningful social connection. The Blum Family enjoys pre-game festivities with fellow Longhorns who have become close friends.

There’s More to Sports than Just a Game Read More »

Ten Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized on Fort Worth Magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys List

We are proud to share that ten attorneys from The Blum Firm have been named to Fort Worth Magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys list. This honor reflects their expertise, dedication, and the exceptional service they provide to our clients and community.

Recognized in Estate Planning & Probate:

  • Marvin Blum
  • Amanda Holliday
  • Dyann McCully
  • Rachel Saltsman
  • Kandice Damiano
  • Lani Sandu
  • Kaitlin Goddard

Recognized in Tax:

  • John Hunter
  • Len Woodard

Recognized in Estate Planning & Probate (Less Than Five Years in Practice):

  • Annie Counts

Congratulations to each attorney for this well-deserved recognition. We are proud to be so strongly represented in both the legal field and the Fort Worth community.

View the full list here: https://fwtx.com/top-attorney-2025

Also, if you have a copy of the magazine, be sure to check out page 89 to learn more about our firm.

Ten Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized on Fort Worth Magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys List Read More »

Spotlight on John Hunter: Celebrating 25 Years at The Blum Firm 

A momentous event in the life of The Blum Firm occurred 25 years ago when John Hunter joined our law firm family. It was a complete win-win. We provided the client base and planning environment where John could thrive, and John brought us his extraordinary intellect and talents to expand our toolbox and grow our law practice. I often describe John as the smartest lawyer I’ve ever met. On top of that, he possesses the highest integrity and a caring heart. I can’t overstate what John means to The Blum Firm.

Soon after John joined us, I quickly learned about his remarkable gift as a creative problem solver. If the Jeopardy answer were “outside-the-box” thinker, the question would be: Who is John Hunter?” Time after time John comes up with solutions that only his genius brain could produce. Once, he solved a tax dilemma for a client who had searched all over the country and only John solved it. I asked him how he did it. His answer: “Most people start with the current facts and try to figure out a path to the ideal solution. I started with the ideal solution and worked backwards till I got to the current facts.” Only John.

John is the architect of many of our unique tax strategies. He has a built-in barometer for what will work and what won’t. He refined that skill set during his years working at the IRS, trying cases against taxpayers before the U.S. Tax Court. Here’s John’s frequent explanation for giving a proposal the green light or the red light: “If it’s something I would have enjoyed litigating when I was at the IRS, we don’t do it.” John’s track record with the IRS is stellar and under his guidance our clients have prevailed in every single case. 

Fortunately for The Blum Firm, soon after John arrived here, he knew he had found his permanent career home. John relates that within months, he refused to take calls from recruiters. Our lawyers are constantly barraged by headhunters trying to lure them away. I’m grateful that John has no interest in even talking to them.

John and his wife Carmen have three terrific kids. He grew up in Arkansas, but made his way to Texas to study economics and accounting at Rice. He remained in Houston for his law degree at U of H, later also becoming a CPA and Board Certified in Tax Law. In 2009, he was honored as Professional of the Year by the Community Foundation of North Texas. We’re grateful his path led him to Fort Worth where we could claim him as our own and never let him go.

Join me in congratulating John Hunter on his 25 year anniversary at The Blum Firm. Here’s to many more years of working together!

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Marvin Blum (right) congratulates John Hunter on his 25th anniversary at The Blum Firm.

John Hunter as a high school valedictorian in Arkansas, being congratulated by then Governor Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton.

Spotlight on John Hunter: Celebrating 25 Years at The Blum Firm  Read More »

Who Is Rich?

Several years ago, a dear friend of ours, Jean Johnson, died and Laurie and I went to her home to pay our respects to her husband Ray. The conversation with Ray was warm and sweet. Condolence calls offer an opportunity to reminisce. It was just Ray, Laurie, and me sitting in the living room sharing memories of our 50-year friendship. I expected to leave with a love-filled heart, but I got a big bonus. Ray, in his very simple and humble way, imparted some wisdom to me that I will forever cherish. 

Before I reveal that wisdom, let me share some background about my unique relationship with Ray and Jean. When I was in high school, I volunteered backstage at the Miss Texas Pageant which was held every summer in my hometown. It was a blast. What guy wouldn’t enjoy that opportunity! Unexpectedly, my early Miss Texas volunteerism led to a lifelong connection to the Miss America program. For many years, I served on the board of Miss America, the largest scholarship program for women in the world. There are many misconceptions about pageants. But in my experience, Miss America fosters and celebrates women achievement. Beyond providing young women with college educations, it equips them with life skills for meaningful career journeys. (My daughter Lizzy is one example.) Miss America’s mission is to “empower women to lead with purpose,” advancing civic responsibility, academic excellence, personal integrity, and making a meaningful, lasting impact in her community. And for those like me in the vast volunteer family, it provides a network of wonderful friendships with people I’d have otherwise never known—people like Ray and Jean Johnson.  

The Johnsons produced the Miss Haltom-Richland Area Pageant, legendary for producing the most Miss Texas winners. Jean and Ray opened their home to their contestant, where they nurtured her to become her best self. The young lady who emerged from that experience faced the Miss Texas competition (and the world) with a confident and powerful presence. The Johnsons’ biggest success story was Shirley Cothran. Shirley was a self-described quiet “bookworm” with a passion for learning, but with limited financial means to pay for it. Jean and Ray saw her potential, moving Shirley into their home where they gave their all to helping her reach that full potential. Shirley not only became Miss Texas, but two months later she walked the long Atlantic City runway while Bert Parks serenaded her with the iconic “There She Is, Miss America.” Moreover, as Miss America 1975, Shirley used her scholarships to earn a PhD in Early Childhood Education and Family Counseling, completely debt-free.

Jean and Ray were working people of modest means.  The Johnsons devoted all their resources to raising their own three kids as well as all their pageant “daughters.” Their home was small in size but lavish in love. Every time I was in that beautiful home, I left walking on air.  The Johnsons had a way of lifting you up. So, when Laurie and I made that condolence call to Ray, we had a lot of stories to share. Ray proudly showed us Jean’s closet, with a small collection of sequined evening gowns that she wore when judging pageants. She hadn’t worn them in years, but they were prized possessions woven with glorious memories. 

As an aside, a loved one’s articles of clothing can actually evoke strong sentimental attachment and soothing memories. Catherine Sanderson shares this view about her departed mother’s clothes in her How to Feel Better blog post of October 2, 2025: “I kept all of her special clothes in the back of my closet. I had no idea what I would ever do with them, but I knew I couldn’t bear to part with any of them.” Sanderson recently wore one of her mother’s dresses to a wedding and reports how much she loved feeling that connection to her mother. “My experience about how good objects that trigger positive memories feel is well supported by research in psychology.”   Jean’s pageant gowns were providing Ray that same kind of powerful connection to happy times with his beloved wife. It was clear that Ray was never going to part with those clothes and the memories they evoked.

Now back to the condolence conversation we had with Ray. Two things Ray said that impacted me forever:

  • “Every year on the Fourth of July, our family gathers here to celebrate. We have all our kids, grandkids, great grandkids. It’s up to about 50 people now. Everyone comes and we have the best time together. I hear some families don’t get along with each other and don’t get together. I can’t imagine that.” 
  • “Marvin, you won’t believe it, but I have an IRA, and the balance is now up to $15,000. Whoever would have believed I’d have that kind of money?”

You see why I am so moved by the wisdom from this humble fellow? Ray was about 5’5” (he and I saw eye-to-eye), but he was a giant of a man. One of my mother Elsie’s favorite sayings comes from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) where Ben Zoma taught: “Who is rich? He who is content with his lot.” True wealth has nothing to do with your balance sheet. Ray’s net worth was defined by his wonderful marriage to Jean, their loving family, all the people (like Shirley Cothran) they helped, and all the memories in that beautiful home and those sequined fabrics. Ray Johnson was a rich man.

A final note to all my wonderful high-net-worth clients and friends: The next time the stock market takes a big dip (and we know it will), we all need to think of Ray Johnson. We need to fight the temptation to feel “poor” when that happens, and measure our wealth not by dollars and cents, but with our true riches.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

Jean Johnson, beloved wife of Ray Johnson, at the Miss America Pageant to cheer on one of the many Miss Texas winners she prepared for competition (and for life).

Dr. Shirley Cothran’s journey to become Miss America began in the home of Ray and Jean Johnson. Pictured in a gown the Johnsons bought her, Shirley was the beneficiary of their loving tutelage.
Laurie and Marvin Blum with Dr. Shirley Cothran Barret who recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of her Miss America crowning.

Who Is Rich? Read More »

Welcome Back, Rachel Saltsman!

We are excited to welcome back Rachel Saltsman to The Blum Firm as Partner, officing in our Fort Worth location. Rachel previously spent 14 years at The Blum Firm before joining Northern Trust for three years overseeing all aspects of their local fiduciary practice and continuing to aid clients with their estate planning goals. We are thrilled to have her return.

Rachel is a highly established attorney with years of professional experience and a proven dedication to serving clients with the utmost care and excellence. Originally from Arkansas, Rachel has called Fort Worth home for more than half her life. She earned her B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Arkansas and her J.D. from SMU.

Rachel has been married to her husband, Greg, for 17 years. They have two children, their son who they call “Bear” and their daughter, Dixie. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys playing mahjong.

Please join us in welcoming Rachel Saltsman back to The Blum Firm!

Welcome Back, Rachel Saltsman! Read More »

Three Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

We are excited to share that Marvin Blum, David Bakutis, and Stuart Bumpas have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Best Lawyers® is an elite global network of legal professionals, recognized exclusively through its trusted, Purely Peer Review® methodology. Each year, more than 13 million confidential evaluations are collected worldwide, making it one of the legal industry’s most rigorous and respected vetting processes. Only about 5% of lawyers in the United States and 3% globally earn this distinction.

We are incredibly proud of the excellence this recognition reflects. Congratulations to the honorees!

Three Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® Read More »

Spotlight on Lynn Kelly: Her Path from Judge Kelly to Partner at The Blum Firm 

Last week, I emphasized the importance of gratitude in this holiday season and shared a key moment with my family that made me feel immensely grateful.

This week, I want to continue that sentiment by expressing gratitude for one of our valued team members, Lynn Waller Kelly. For a period of six years, we all called her Judge Kelly. Lynn served as Associate Judge of Tarrant County Probate Court 2 from 2017 – 2023, where she presided over more than 6,000 probate hearings. We’re extremely grateful that when Judge Kelly decided to hang up her judicial robe and go into private practice of law, she joined The Blum Firm. Lynn Kelly has been an incredible addition to both the firm and our litigation team. She is a brilliant attorney who works tirelessly for her clients and brings her signature poise and style to everything she does.

Last week, Lynn authored an article that was featured in The Dallas Bar Association’s December 2025 Headnotes, titled “Representing an Applicant in a Temporary Guardianship.” The article covers what temporary guardianship is, why it is issued, and five key tips to consider when representing applicants in temporary guardianship matters. To learn more, Lynn’s article is linked here.

Discovering this article made me so proud and filled me with immense gratitude for Lynn and the value she brings to our firm. So, let’s take a moment to dive into the backstory of Lynn Waller Kelly.

Lynn received her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, where she was awarded a full academic scholarship. She graduated magna cum laude from Abilene Christian University with a B.A. in Government. Lynn has practiced law in North Texas since 1989 and has advocated for clients in front of hundreds of Texas juries. 

Lynn’s current practice focuses on representing clients in probate matters, estate litigation, and guardianship proceedings throughout North Texas. She also serves as mediator in contested probate litigation matters, bringing her judicial and advocacy experiences to the table to resolve conflicts.

Lynn has been a featured speaker for Texas Guardianship Association, Baylor Law School, Texas A&M Law School, Tarrant County Bar Association, North Texas Probate Bar Association, and support groups for parents of children with special needs.

And Lynn’s talents don’t stop at the law. She is also a gifted vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, clarinet, and baritone saxophone. Over the years, Lynn has performed with the Dallas Symphony Chorus (including a concert for Queen Elizabeth and one at Carnegie Hall), as well as several Fort Worth choruses and with Andrea Bocelli’s tour.

Outside of work and music, Lynn’s greatest joy is her family. She and her husband, Jason Kelly, have been married for 29 years. Jason is a Technical Fellow at Lockheed Martin. Their son, Mitchell, graduated from Baylor University and now works as an emergency room scribe while studying medical science in the post-baccalaureate program at UNT-Health.

Lynn consistently finds new ways to impress me, and I am deeply thankful to have her as part of The Blum Firm. Please join me in celebrating Lynn Waller Kelly.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

 

Marvin Blum congratulates Lynn Kelly on her article featured in The Dallas Bar Association’s December 2025 Headnotes.

This announcement also ran in The Dallas Bar Association’s December 2025 Headnotes, informing readers of Lynn Kelly's mediation and guardianship services.
Lynn Kelly with her husband Jason Kelly celebrating the Lunar Rendezvous in Galveston, Texas.
Lynn Kelly with her son, Mitchell Kelly, visiting the City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, California.

Spotlight on Lynn Kelly: Her Path from Judge Kelly to Partner at The Blum Firm  Read More »

Topics to Discuss (and Avoid) at Your Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s not just because of the food (though it is my favorite meal of the year). It’s also because we pause and express gratitude for the abundant blessings in our lives. But the experience can be ruined if the table talk turns hot. Polarization in our country has bled its way into families. Arthur Brooks reports that more than half of families have family members not speaking to each other. How can we try to keep the Thanksgiving table temperature from boiling over? I have a few tips.

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 adults to identify topics that should be off limits during holiday dinner. Here are the results:

  • 42% said politics
  • 28% said finances
  • 26% said appearance and weight.

CBS Sunday Morning show reports that 70% will try to avoid talking politics at the table. Of all the hot topics, politics is the hottest and the one to be most avoided. As Arthur Brooks confirms in his newsletter this week “Surviving the Table Drama,” “When ‘winning’ an argument seems supremely important to you, much more so than harmony at your Thanksgiving dinner, you will find yourself emotionally disconnected from your relative, and vice versa, each of you saying things that ruin the dinner and perhaps the relationship.”

How do you keep from veering into those bombastic subjects? I suggest that the host of the dinner speak up warmly and take control by raising questions for everyone to go around the table and answer. This not only helps keep volcanoes from erupting, but it also gives everyone at the table (especially the youngest ones) a chance to talk.

What are some suggested topics? By popular demand, I am repeating below “20 Questions for Your Thanksgiving Table Talk” which I provided a couple of times in the past. Before that reveal, I also suggest another topic for table discussion: Gratitude. Per Brooks, feeling gratitude actually makes us more patient and tolerant when we gather with family. What gives you gratitude? Think back over the last year. Is there a highlight experience that caused you to feel grateful? I’ll go first.

Last week in New York, Laurie and I had an experience that filled us with gratitude on so many levels. We gathered with our family at The Plaza Hotel for the Hope, Healing & Heroism Gala. The event benefitted Israel’s Soroka Medical Center, the primary provider of medical care to thousands of wounded civilians, soldiers, and hostages following the October 7 terror attack. The Gala honored our son-in-law, Dr. Ira Savetsky, with the Healthcare Champion Medal of Honor. Ira is a plastic surgeon who made it his mission to provide free reconstructive surgery to victims of antisemitic violence and survivors of the Hamas massacre. The evening also honored our daughter Lizzy as a “Hero of Truth” for using her social media and public speaking platforms to combat antisemitism and elevate Jewish causes. Being there was a mountaintop moment for us, as if we had reached the top of Mt. Sinai.

Beyond that gratitude, it also gave us joy that our granddaughters were there to witness it. I’m a big proponent of hands-on philanthropy. The best way to instill that value in our next generations is for us to model it. Stella and Juliet not only see their parents roll up their sleeves. They jump right in and join in the work. As Lizzy says, “helping Israel is our family business.”  

On one more level of gratitude, I also felt grateful that our son Adam and his wife Brooke came from Austin to join in the celebration. We lead busy lives and live in different cities. It takes effort, but it’s so important for families to gather and create lifetime memories together. Furthermore, I’m grateful to report that everyone got along and there were no moments of family friction, which I don’t take for granted. That’s my hope for your Thanksgiving experience.  

To help keep the peace at your table, I’ll now repeat the 20 Questions for Your Thanksgiving Table Talk. Researchers at Emory University developed these questions as a “Do You Know?” list to educate children about their family’s history. After years of research and interviews, Bruce Feiler revealed this startling discovery: “The ‘Do You Know?’ scale turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.”

  • Do you know how your parents met?
  • Do you know where your mother grew up?
  • Do you know where your father grew up?
  • Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?
  • Do you know where some of your grandparents met?
  • Do you know where your parents were married?
  • Do you know what went on when you were being born?
  • Do you know the source of your name?
  • Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?
  • Do you know which person in the family you look most like?
  • Do you know which person in the family you act most like?
  • Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?
  • Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?
  • Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?
  • Do you know the national background of your family (such as English, German, Russian, Chinese, and so on)?
  • Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?
  • Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?
  • Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?
  • Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?
  • Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

The Blum Firm wishes you a meaningful Thanksgiving celebration with your loved ones.

 

Marvin E. Blum

In this season of Thanksgiving, the Blum family was grateful to celebrate daughter Lizzy Savetsky as a Hero of Truth and son-in-law Ira Savetsky as recipient of the Healthcare Champion Medal of Honor. Presenting the awards was Tovah Feldshuh, Broadway/film/TV actress.

Marvin Blum’s granddaughters Stella (right) and Juliet follow their parents’ example of service to the Jewish community, broadcasting live from the Hope, Healing & Heroism Gala honoring their parents. As their mother Lizzy Savetsky says, "helping Israel is our family business."
Marvin and Laurie Blum were especially grateful to experience this lifetime memory with son Adam and his wife Brooke (left), and the honorees Lizzy & Ira Savetsky (right).
From their home to yours, Marvin and Laurie Blum wish you a meaningful and peaceful Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

Topics to Discuss (and Avoid) at Your Thanksgiving Table Read More »

In One Sentence, How Did I Make My Mark?

As I think about legacy, my mind goes to the question: How will you be remembered? You’ll be gone and unable to give that answer. The answer will come from others who look back on your life. Answers to that question are usually short—a sentence, not a paragraph. People tend to boil it down to the main highlight or two that best sums you up. That brief statement is how history will remember you.

I began pondering this question after listening to a podcast from my best friend, Talmage Boston. His podcast series is called “Cross-Examining History.”  I encourage you to click on this LINK to subscribe. Talmage interviews a lot of famous authors who use the lens of history to teach us valuable life lessons. Episode 88 is an interview with Mark Updegrove about his latest book, Make Your Mark: Lessons in Character from Seven Presidents. The book opens by quoting the long-time Congresswoman and playwright Claire Booth Luce who said great people are usually remembered in history by one sentence. Luce would notoriously go up to people and ask, “So what is your sentence?” Updegrove reports that John F. Kennedy got so tired of her question that he would avoid her at parties.

But Luce got me thinking. What’s my sentence going to be? I’ll warn you; this is hard. It’s easier to write an essay than one single sentence. Luce offered examples: Lincoln freed the slaves; FDR got us through the Depression and won a World War. But if you haven’t abolished slavery, ended the Great Depression, or won World War II, what is your stand-out legacy? 

For more examples, I’ll turn to Updegrove’s one-sentence verdicts for the seven presidents featured in his book, each of whom he personally interviewed:

  • Gerald Ford always intended to do the right thing for the country, which he believed he was doing when he pardoned Nixon.
  • Jimmy Carter was a born-again Christian who wanted to use politics to do good in the world.
  • Ronald Reagan was known for his optimism, encouraging down-hearted Americans to once again believe in themselves and in our country.
  • George HW Bush was a man of humility whose goal was to make America a kinder, gentler nation.
  • Bill Clinton is a man of resilience whom people continued to love even in the face of scandal.
  • George W. Bush is known for his expert handling of the 9-11 attack and keeping America safe for the balance of his presidency.
  • Barack Obama is known for the grace he portrayed in the face of racism and bigotry.

Do those examples help you narrow down your one sentence? I struggled with mine. Rather than flying solo, I debated the topic with my wife Laurie. We did her sentence first. It was instant and obvious to both of us: Laurie Blum is a nurturer, known for nurturing everyone who comes into her life.

For Marvin, the word that came to both Laurie and me was “family.” Caring for my family is at the forefront of everything I do. Laurie expanded my legacy to reflect my life’s work of helping families on a larger scale, not just my immediate family. Marvin Blum’s life’s work, both in and out of his law practice, is to help families build a legacy and thrive. 

I then started to work on Talmage, who uses his thirst for knowledge to stimulate himself and others, always milking the most out of life. When I ran this by Talmage, he recalled how our friend Bill Parrish described him: “Talmage Boston brings people together.” Indeed, in one word, Talmage is a “connector.”

Then Talmage took up the task of a one-sentence recap of how he believes I made my mark: “Marvin Blum brings warmth and wisdom to the world every day of his life.” What a gift it is to hear Talmage use those words to describe me. I hope to be worthy of them.

In reviewing these one-sentence legacy statements, I see a common thread. The focus of each sentence is not on our achievements (or what David Brooks describes as “resume virtues” in his book The Road to Character).  Instead, the mark we made is measured by the impact we had on others. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson summed it up: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” It all boils down to how we made a difference in the lives of other people. That’s the essence of legacy.

 

I suggest you give this exercise a try. Ask others for input. The process can be very therapeutic and enlightening. What one sentence sums you up? 

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum is inspired by Updegrove’s book to ponder the question: “In one sentence, how did I make my mark?”

In One Sentence, How Did I Make My Mark? Read More »

The Blum Firm Earns Tier 1 Ranking in 2025 Best Law Firms®

We are proud to share that The Blum Firm has been ranked Tier 1 in Trusts & Estates Law in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, published by Best Lawyers®.

The Best Law Firms rankings are determined through a rigorous evaluation process and reflect the high level of trust and respect The Blum Firm has earned within the legal community and among those we serve.

Trusts and Estates remains one of the top ten most-searched practice areas on BestLawyers.com, highlighting the increasing demand for trusted guidance on thoughtful planning, purposeful wealth transfer, and legacy-building—the very heart of what we do at The Blum Firm.

Thank you to our team for your dedication and excellence, which made this recognition possible.

Learn more at www.bestlawfirms.com.

The Blum Firm Earns Tier 1 Ranking in 2025 Best Law Firms® Read More »

“You Don’t Have Cancer”

When I started writing this weekly blog five years ago, I never imagined it would evolve into so much personal stuff about Marvin. My plan was to impart estate planning tips to help create a lasting family legacy. My mission is still the same, but the feedback overwhelmingly encourages me to do so by sharing personal stories and experiences. In the parlance of author/educator Brené Brown, I’ve learned to be transparent and “vulnerable.” As Brown puts it: “Vulnerability is not weakness; it is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” So here I go with another personal revelation that I never would have imagined sharing, but there are some important lessons in it.

As you might guess from the title of this post, this involves a medical situation.  I’ll skip to the finish line of the story, so as not to cause any distress. I’ve been through a health saga, but all ended well and I’m completely fine. But along the way, there was a lot of worry (thank goodness, unnecessary worry, which is so often the case). Several months ago, my voice started getting hoarse. I would start out the day fine, but after a workday of talking, my voice was spent. I visited a local ENT doctor who looked at my vocal cords through a scope. He knew something wasn’t right but couldn’t identify it. He prescribed a couple of medications and told me to return in six weeks. I did, and I was worse. He scheduled me for a CT scan and a biopsy. The CT scan looked fine.

Before the biopsy procedure, Laurie went into action. She decided it was time to call in the experts. Through her relentless efforts, within days I was examined by a vocal cord specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, which has two floors devoted just to vocal cord issues. (Laurie is a sweet kitten on the outside, but trust me, she’s got a tiger in her. She gets her way, but she does it with sugar, not vinegar.) Within minutes, Dr. Kevin Liang (in my eyes, Saint Kevin) identified a spot on the left vocal cord that he suspected was causing the problem. A few days later, Dr. Liang operated on me and removed the spot. In surgery, he could also see a spot on the right vocal cord that wasn’t visible on the scope, which he also removed. 

Following surgery, Dr. Liang was very candid. It didn’t look good (in his words, it was very “suspicious” looking). I could read between the lines. He sent the tissue to pathology, and we began the waiting game. For five days, I worked at staying optimistic. It wasn’t easy.  I did draw great comfort from my oncologist nephew Dr. Dave Portnoy and his laryngologist brother Dr. Joel Portnoy (Saint Dave and Saint Joel) that even if it was cancer, it was treatable and my voice would return. There were also a lot of prayers going up from me and my loved ones.

Last Monday morning, I got the call from Dr. Liang. Our prayers were answered—“You don’t have cancer!” I was in the late stages of pre-cancer (dysplasia), but we caught it just in time. The hoarse voice was a gift that got me to the doctor.  We’ll continue to monitor the area regularly to catch it early if it ever returns. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Here are a few takeaways as I process this ordeal:

  • When it comes to your health, don’t mess around. Get the best medical care possible, and don’t settle for anything less. 
  • Thank G-d, I have a very persistent wife who advocated for me and a wonderful support group praying and encouraging me. Mobilize the troops to go into action on your behalf. Don’t fly solo.
  • While recovering, my speaking voice will be weak for a while. But thanks to honing my writing skills in this weekly blog, I still have my “voice” through the power of the written word.
  • Per advice from psychiatrist friend Dr. Meeta Singh (Saint Meeta), while awaiting news that could be bad, stay on your regular routine and keep busy. And in her golden words: “If you want to talk through any of it or just need someone to listen while you think out loud, I’m right here.”
  • Most of what we worry about never ends up happening. Try not to waste precious moments worrying about what might happen. As the very wise Anne Cortell (mother of dear friend Karen Reisman) used to say, “Don’t borrow trouble.” Wait and deal with it if it happens.
  • In my efforts to stay courageous, I drew strength from my departed dad Julius Blum. He was fearless. Even when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his first words were, “I’ve had 76 wonderful years. How can I complain?” He remained upbeat while fighting valiantly for a whole year, making the most of each precious day. What a role model!
  • Arthur Brooks’ blog post last week “How to Think About Your Death” sums it up: “I am alive this day, and I will not waste it.” Admonishing us not to “postpone love and happiness,” he clarifies that he’s talking about “love and relationships. For the sake of some future reward, are you neglecting your family life today? Your friendships? Your spiritual development? Envision yourself having just months to live and giving your current self some life advice.”

This medical episode has certainly turned into a teachable moment for me, and I hope it will do that for you too. Building a legacy is a journey, full of ups and downs. And all those “downs” teach us even more than all those “ups.”

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum undergoes surgery and emerges with wonderful news—no cancer, all is well!

“You Don’t Have Cancer” Read More »

The Red File: A Plan for the End, a Gift for the Living 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about choosing your burial place, a somewhat morbid yet necessary question to ask yourself. In doing so, you not only choose your final resting place, but you also take a step toward continuing your story and preserving your legacy.

This week, I want to share an important checklist I created that serves as a roadmap for your loved ones after you are gone: “The Red File.” I recently went on The Tamarind Learning Podcast with host Kirby Rosplock and discussed this more in depth. I will link it below so you can listen.

After almost 50 years of drafting elaborate estate plans, I realized something was missing. I would see clients pass away or become incapacitated and watch their loved ones have to navigate so many unknowns. While their legal documents provided important information, there was still so much unsaid.

So, I decided to come up with a roadmap, otherwise known as The Red File, and I sectioned it out into four segments:

  1. Personal Information- This includes details about you and your family members, such as legal documents, insurance information, medical history, and funeral and burial preferences.
  2. Business Continuity Plan- For business owners, this section outlines what should happen with the business the day you are no longer there to run it. Who will take over? What immediate steps need to be taken?
  3. Planning for your Incapacity- What happens if your cognitive ability is lost? This section outlines how you would like your care to look if that happens—from who you’d like to care for you to the foods you enjoy (or hate). These preferences help ensure you receive the care you want and relieve your family from guessing your wishes.
  4. Legacy Plan- This section is about your family history, stories, and culture. Where is your family from? What are your family traditions and rituals? What makes your family unique? I urge you to handwrite a legacy letter, a love letter to future generations that communicates your values, memories, and the wisdom you have gathered along the way. It’s a way to ensure your voice continues long after you’re gone.

Thorough estate plans satisfying all the legal requirements are crucial, but so is having a roadmap for your final wishes. Life is precious, and leaving this world is just as significant as entering it. By putting your wishes in writing, you’ll leave this life with peace of mind knowing your story has been shared, your heritage preserved, and your loved ones are fully informed about your wishes for your final days. You’ll also give your family the gift of grieving without the burden of making difficult decisions and wondering if they got them right.

I encourage you to click this link to access The Red File and use it as your roadmap, so your loved ones will have the guidance they need and your story and legacy can live on for generations to come. 

 

Marvin E. Blum 

Podcast link: The Red File: A Simple, Powerful Gift for Your Family’s Future with Marvin Blum | Tamarind Learning

After nearly 50 years of creating estate plans, Marvin Blum realized something was missing: a guide for all the unsaid details of life and legacy.

Marvin Blum joins The Tamarind Learning Podcast to share the story behind The Red File—a simple yet powerful tool that helps families prepare for life’s “what ifs” and preserve their legacies with clarity and care.

The Red File: A Plan for the End, a Gift for the Living  Read More »

When Writing Your Will, Don’t Forget About Your Pets

Laurie and I don’t have a pet, but most of our friends do. We’re in the minority, as 66% of Americans have a pet. We understand that the pet becomes another member of the family. Per the 2025 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, more than half of the country owns a dog. That includes our son’s family, who has given us a granddog named Basil. 

What happens to your pets after you die? Some have famously included their pets in their estate plans. The most notorious is Leona Helmsley who bequeathed a $12 million trust to her dog Trouble (which a family settlement later reduced to $2 million). Leona is in good company.

  • Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld left a big inheritance to his cat Choupette, along with two maids, a driver, an iPad, and a Dyson hairdryer.
  • Michael Jackson left $2 million to care for his chimpanzee Bubbles.
  • Miles Blackwell left $10 million to his hen Gigoo.
  • Ben Rea left his cat Blackie $12.5 million.
  • Oprah Winfrey reportedly is leaving $30 million to a trust for her dogs.

Unfortunately, what happens most is the opposite extreme. According to 2nd Chance 4 Pets, “Each year, more than 500,000 pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters because their owners passed away and had not made plans for the continued care of their pets.” You might wonder—how this can happen to a beloved member of your family? The truth is, no one will care for your pet like you do, especially if you haven’t prepared anyone to do so. It’s unwise to leave pets to friends or family members who aren’t prepared to take care of them.

That’s why it’s so important to plan for your pet’s future—not just by telling someone your wishes, but by outlining them in a legal document. That way, you have peace of mind knowing that your final wishes for your pets will be honored.

There are a couple of ways to go about this:

  • Including your pet in a Will.
    Pets are legally considered property, so you can leave them to someone in your Will. This applies to both domestic and exotic animals, as long as the person receiving the pet is in a state where they are legally allowed to own it. Keep in mind that a Will has to go through probate, which can delay care, so you would need to have a plan for this gap period. Also, any money leave to someone for pet care isn’t legally enforceable without a trust. For example, you might leave $4,000 to a family member to care for your pet, but they could choose to use the money differently—or provide less care than you intended—with no legal consequences.
  • Creating a pet trust.
    As I mentioned in a previous blog, “Do You Love Your Pets?” every state now has laws authorizing a Pet Trust. Consider adding a Pet Trust to your estate plan, naming a trustee to be in charge of carrying out your wishes. The trust should be funded with sufficient assets to provide for the annual cost of pet care multiplied by your pet’s life expectancy, plus an extra sum for unexpected needs, transportation, and the final disposition of your pet. This is a great option for pet owners who either don’t have a trusted person to care for their pet when they are gone, or whose pet has specific care needs.

    Pet trusts “provide greater protection than wills and other verbal or written agreements” (The New York Times, “After Your Death, Who Takes Care of the Dog?”, September 28, 2024). “‘While a Will doesn’t go into effect until you pass…. A trust goes into effect the moment it’s signed and continues after your death.’” Therefore, if the owner becomes incapacitated, the trust can be activated. Trusts are legally enforceable and allow for detailed instructions. Trusts can even outline preferences like, “organic pet food, mandate acupuncture or note that a dog likes the radio playing when it’s home alone. They can require pet insurance policies to help cover vet bills.” Others address complex decisions like “Who decides when an older animal should be euthanized? The caretaker? A vet? Two vets? What will become of its remains?” By creating a pet trust, you can ensure the money is used as intended—and your pets receive the care you envision.

So, what’s the best next step? It depends on your situation. If your pet doesn’t require detailed care and you have a trusted friend or family member ready to take them in, then outlining your wishes in a Will may be enough. But if your pet has specific needs, or if you don’t have someone in mind to take them, a pet trust is the better choice, even if it’s not in the league with Leona or Oprah.

We understand that for many, “the pet is the center of their universe.” Therefore, it’s important to understand your options and put your wishes in a legal document. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing that when you pass, your furry friends will be in good hands.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

Resource: Burchette, Jordan. “The 10 Biggest Inheritances Ever Left to Pets.” Everplans, https://www.everplans.com/articles/the-10-biggest-inheritances-ever-left-to-pets. 

Marvin Blum with granddaughter Lucy and her beloved dog Basil, another member of the Blum family.

When Writing Your Will, Don’t Forget About Your Pets Read More »

Celebrating Excellence: Our 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

We are excited to share that seven of our attorneys have been named to the 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Only the top attorneys in Texas are honored on the Super Lawyers list, with approximately 5% of all lawyers selected. The Rising Stars category is even more exclusive, recognizing just 2.5% of early-career attorneys. We are proud to have six Super Lawyers and one Rising Star among our team!

Congratulations to our honorees! We couldn’t be more pleased to have such outstanding representation in the field.

Celebrating Excellence: Our 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Read More »

Where Do You Want to Be Buried?

Where do you want to be buried? Sounds morbid, but it’s an important question to address.  As Ecclesiastes teaches, “To everything there is a season…. A time to be born, and a time to die.” Estate planning requires us to face that reality. Selecting a burial plot has many implications. It’s not only a final resting place. It also has significance for those who come after us. A recent Sunday morning at the Ahavath Sholom Cemetery of Fort Worth reminded me of that significance. 

Early fall is the holiest time in the Jewish calendar. During this season of spirituality, we have a memorial ceremony at the cemetery called Kever Avot (Graves of our Fathers). It takes place on the Sunday between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. Laurie and I arrived early, meandering through the rows of graves, truly a walk down memory lane. It was a peaceful exploration, bringing to mind lots of stories and reflections. We stopped at gravesites of loved ones and allowed the emotions to flow. It was a chance to pause.

We pondered a while at the Blum tombstone, burial place of my grandparents Isadore and Nettie. There’s a lot of family history engraved in those monuments. Isadore’s Hebrew name was Yisroel (Israel), the same Hebrew name as my brother Irwin who was born soon after Isadore died. Irwin was named for him.  You can find out all that just by walking around and reading the markers. My grandson Ollie’s Hebrew name is also Yisroel, named after my brother Irwin. I felt a powerful sense of connection between the past and the present. We are all links in a chain.

Reading the Hebrew on the back of the Blum tombstone, I discovered that Nettie’s father was Zalman (Solomon) and Isadore’s father was Yaakov (Jacob). I’d only heard Yaakov called Yankel. I never knew Yankel was a nickname. I found an old photo of my great-grandfather Yankel, standing at the grave in Russia of his wife. Reading her tombstone, I learned that her name was Gital. My father Julius’ middle name (Geroge, or Getzel) was likely named for her. Now my granddaughter Juliet Georgie (Yehudit Gital), named after my father, carries that name. When Lizzy chose the Hebrew name Gital, we had no idea it was the same name as my great grandmother. By coincidence (or maybe not?) we stumbled upon another line of generational continuity.

The cemetery also tells a story that is a heavy part of our life journey, the grave designated “Infant Daughter of Marvin and Laurie Blum.” Our first pregnancy was a full nine-month perfect one, until the moment in the delivery room when they informed us, “There’s no heartbeat.”  Those words will sting forever. The tombstone reveals the date: February 11, 1982. That date is exactly one year to the day before our son Adam was born, February 11, 1983. That morning, Laurie suddenly went into labor, two weeks before her due date. Adam arrived early, making February 11 a date of both tears and joy. That’s how life works—rejoicing and sorrow all mixed together.

I’ll add one more recent cemetery experience that was meaningful. We lost Laurie’s dear sister Linda a year ago. There is a Jewish tradition of “unveiling” the tombstone a year after death, marking the end of the mourning period. At Linda’s unveiling, Rabbi Micah Greenstein shared some very comforting words: “An unveiling marks the shift from the sadness of grief to the blessing of memory. It’s the keeping of a promise to keep the light and spirit of Linda alive.” I learned that we were moving from grieving Linda to remembering her and keeping her memory alive. 

The decision of where you’ll be buried is significant. Give your family the gift of making that decision now, so they won’t have to face it at a time of grief and stress. I recall a TIGER 21 meeting when a colleague described the horror that week of unexpectedly losing his father-in-law (who had made no advance preparations), and within hours having to juggle grief with a mountain of decisions about the funeral and burial. At that point, I added a section to The Blum Firm’s Red File checklist on “Funeral and Burial” to ease your family’s burden during that difficult time.  Planning for end-of-life is an important part of the estate planning process.

Gravesites serve many purposes. They mark our final resting place. They tell stories. They reveal family history. And importantly, as I learned from Rabbi Greenstein, they help us keep memories of loved ones alive. Laurie and I just selected our final resting places, and it brings us peace. We wish you the same peace.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum at the tombstone of his grandparents, observing the Jewish memorial tradition of Kever Avot (Graves of the Fathers).

The back of the Blum monument, revealing names of ancestors previously unknown to Marvin.

Marvin Blum’s great grandfather Yaakov (“Yankel”) Blum at the grave in Russia of his wife, revealing that her name was Gital.

The gravesite of the first-born child of Marvin and Laurie Blum who went to heaven on February 11, 1982, exactly one year before the birth of son Adam on February 11, 1983, a heartfelt date now filled with hope and love.

Unveiling of the tombstone of Linda Usdan (Laurie Blum's sister) by Linda's daughter Lisa and husband David, marking the transition from grief to the promise of keeping Linda's memory alive.

Where Do You Want to Be Buried? Read More »

An End to Israel’s Two-Year Nightmare 

We are living in historic times. It’s been two years since the horrific events of October 7, when Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust. My family was there when Hamas attacked, hiding in a bomb shelter in Jerusalem’s King David Hotel. And here we are today, seeing the first signs of hope in over two years with the release of the 20 living hostages. My family is once again witnessing the events firsthand, back at the King David Hotel. The Hamas attack took place on one of our holiest days, Simchat Torah. Fittingly, sundown today is once again Simchat Torah.  It’s the end of a two-year nightmare. Today we begin a new era.

Today is a day of reverence and celebration. Simchat Torah marks an ending and a new beginning: the ending of the one-year cycle of reading the Torah and starting all over again in Genesis with the creation of the world. Significantly, the first word of the Torah is “Bereshit,” “in the beginning.” It’s a time of prayer, but also a time of rejoicing. Picture the hundreds of peace-loving idealists celebrating the holiday with singing and dancing two years ago at the Nova Music Festival. Their innocence was stolen as Hamas raped, brutalized, killed 1,200, and took 254 hostages into Gaza. At long last, there’s hope. As we celebrate Simchat Torah this year, we are praying for an ending and a beginning: an ending to this inhumane chapter and the beginning of a brighter and more peaceful tomorrow. 

We’ve been here before. When the Holocaust ended, we had hope for a brighter future as we returned to our biblical homeland of Israel. We said, “Never Again.” We’re still saying it, but now with more strength and fervor: “Never Again!” Given the parallels of the Hamas attack and the Holocaust, I am reprinting below my post from two years ago: “What I Learned at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial.” Yad Vashem refers to the Hand of G-d, the Almighty who reaches out and protects us. Come back in time with me to relive our day at Yad Vashem, a tour that happened just hours before the October 7 attack. The tour guide assured our granddaughter Stella that times were different now. We would never again experience atrocities as bad as a Holocaust. She was wrong. But I have faith that Yad Vashem, the Hand of G-d, will protect Israel.

My Post of October 17, 2023:

What I Learned at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial

As promised last week, I will continue sharing highlights and lessons learned from our week in Israel, a glorious week that came to a horrifying end as Hamas began a terror campaign aimed at eliminating Israel. Realizing that the goal of Hamas is to wipe Israel off the map, I reflect on why Israel must win this war, indeed why the world NEEDS Israel. We spent a day at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial. I’ll unpack some of the heart-wrenching revelations I learned there, but I’ll start with the overarching lesson from Yad Vashem: the six million Jews who were murdered had no place to go; other countries didn’t want them, and there was no Israel to take them in. Most say Israel exists now because the Holocaust happened. The reality is that the Holocaust happened because Israel didn’t exist.

The day began with my 10-year-old granddaughter Stella interviewing Rena Quint, a Holocaust survivor. Stella is embarking on a mission to teach the world, and young people in particular, about the Holocaust. She was alarmed to learn of the multitudes that either (1) believe the Holocaust is a hoax that never really happened or (2) have never heard of it and have no idea what it is. Unless we learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

Stella discovered that when Rena was Stella’s age, she had spent most of her childhood in a ghetto, a work camp, concentration camps, and a death march. Born in 1935 in Poland, Rena’s early years were spent in a loving home with her mother, father, and two brothers. Her entire family was murdered in the Holocaust; only she survived. She remembers the day her mother let go of her hand and told her to run. That day, the rest of her family went to their deaths. Rena was ultimately imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. She managed to stay alive until the camp was liberated by the British. But there she was, a little girl Stella’s age, all alone in the world. Hearing Rena’s story of survival, strength, and faith propels Stella in her quest to educate us on where unchecked evil can lead. Indeed, after Stella ended her stay in Israel in a bomb shelter, her mission has become more critical than ever.

At Yad Vashem, we learned of another little girl Stella’s age. The story was told to us as we looked in a display case at a beautiful long braid of blonde hair that had once belonged to that little girl. As Nazis were coming for the family, the little girl’s mother convinced her daughter that where they were going, her long golden hair would become infected with lice. Her mother cut off the long braid, gave it to their neighbor (along with all their precious possessions) to hold until someday they’d return to retrieve them. The only family member to survive was the little girl’s brother. Years later, he returned to the neighbor to ask for his sister’s hair. They wouldn’t let him in, as they didn’t want to turn over the family’s silver, china, jewelry, and other precious items. The boy stood at the door and begged; he only wanted his sister’s hair. They could keep the rest. They slipped the braid through the door and then shut him out. He left with a priceless memory of his sister that he later donated to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial.

The tour then became very personal to Stella as she learned the fate of her father Ira’s family from Czechoslovakia. Ira’s ancestors were part of a desperation campaign by Hitler to kill as many Jews, as quickly as possible, when it became evident that they were going to lose the war. Hitler appointed Adolph Eichmann to mastermind the murder of 500,000 Hungarian and Czechoslovakian Jews in only 56 days. A number of Ira’s relatives were sent in cattle cars to Auschwitz, including his grandmother Miriam. Her job at Auschwitz was to sort the clothing of those who were sent into gas chambers. Miriam survived to tell the horror that, in sorting the clothes, she discovered her mother’s monogrammed head scarf. That’s how she learned that her mother (Ira’s great grandmother) had been gassed to death.

Our tour ended with a search through the Book of Names of Holocaust Victims, Yad Vashem’s chronicle of every known victim of the Holocaust. In that book, my son-in-law Ira discovered the name of his great uncle Yaakov Yitzchok Feuerstein, the man for whom Ira (Yitzchok in Hebrew) was named. Ira’s uncle was murdered at Majdanek concentration camp, along with his wife and baby.

Why do we need Israel today? When Ira’s family was part of the 500,000 Jews killed late in the war, the world by then was well-aware of the concentration camp killings. Nothing was done to save them. As Hitler’s Jew-hatred was spreading and Jews wanted out, no country would take them, except in small numbers. Hitler killed 6 million of Europe’s 9 million Jews, and 1.5 million of those killed were children. England reluctantly agreed to take in 10,000 kids, who had to come without their parents (imagine the fears of those kids and agony of their parents having to tell them goodbye, never to see them again). Had there been an Israel, there would have been a place to go. Today, Jews have a place to go. Israel, our ancestral homeland dating back to early Biblical days, will take us in. Today, more than half of the world’s Jews live in Israel.

The most effective way to wipe out a race is to kill all the kids. Hitler tried to do that. It’s taking decades to rebuild the Jewish population. Even today, the number of Jews is still not yet restored to the pre-Holocaust level. For most of their lives, survivors like Rena Quint missed out on the experience of sitting at a Shabbat table with three generations of a family. We are just now getting back to that.

So here we are again with enemies whose stated goal is to push us into the sea. Our tour guide at Yad Vashem told Stella, three days before the attack, that she was living in the best of times, that she would never see something as horrible as a Holocaust. The guide was wrong. Stella’s week in Israel was followed by the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. But, this time, we have an Israel that has the might and fight to prevail. Israel must win this war. We owe it to Stella to give her a better future than her ancestors had. I call this weekly email series a “Family Legacy Planning” series. Stella is doing her part to preserve the legacy of her ancestors. Now that’s what I call Family Legacy Planning!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky with husband Ira and children Stella, Juliet, and Ollie return to Jerusalem’s King David Hotel for this historic hostage release, two years after taking refuge in the hotel’s bomb shelter during the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

Two years ago, praying in the bomb shelter, Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky and daughters (left) and husband Ira (far right).
Marvin and Laurie Blum with daughter Lizzy, granddaughter Stella, and son-in-law Ira Savetsky at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial.
Stella Savetsky interviewing Rena Quint, a Holocaust survivor.
Ira Savetsky discovering the name of his great uncle, a Holocaust victim for whom Ira was named.
Ira and Lizzy Savetsky entering “The Book of Names of Holocaust Victims” at Yad Vashem. The Savetsky family preserves the legacy of departed ancestors by leading an effort to fight anti-semitism.

An End to Israel’s Two-Year Nightmare  Read More »

Welcome Attorneys Stuart Bumpas and Rachelle Stapley to The Blum Firm!

Join Us in Welcoming Our New Attorneys!

We’re excited to announce that Stuart Bumpas and Rachelle Stapley have joined The Blum Firm! We’re thrilled to welcome them to the team and look forward to the expertise, passion, and dedication they bring.

Stuart joins as Senior Counsel in our Dallas office, and Rachelle joins as Associate Attorney in our Fort Worth office.

Read their bios below to learn more about them:

Stuart Bumpas, J.D., LL.M.

Senior Counsel – Dallas Office

Stuart brings decades of experience serving nonprofit organizations, art collectors, museums, schools, and charitable foundations. His distinguished career includes serving as Assistant to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, as well as General Counsel for the Dallas Museum of Art, The Hockaday School, and The Dallas Foundation.

He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America® for more than 35 years and continues to be a leader in the fields of tax, employee benefits, and nonprofit law. Stuart also serves on boards and committees across the arts, education, and healthcare communities, reflecting his deep commitment to philanthropy and public service.

Outside of his professional life, Stuart enjoys art, travel, and is fluent in French.

Rachelle Stapley, J.D.

Associate Attorney – Fort Worth Office

Rachelle earned her B.A. in economics, cum laude, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University. She previously practiced as a tax associate at Kirkland & Ellis in New York and Los Angeles, where she advised private equity clients on the tax aspects of fund formation, including structuring, partnership allocations, and co-investment arrangements. Additionally, Rachelle provided pro bono legal services to various 501(c)(3) organizations, assisting with formation, mergers, wind-ups, and ongoing legal compliance.

Outside of work, Rachelle enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, exploring national parks, and reading.

Welcome Attorneys Stuart Bumpas and Rachelle Stapley to The Blum Firm! Read More »

My 250th Post: “Write to Make Music”

When I was in high school, my senior English teacher considered me a terrible writer, and I believed her. It’s not that I didn’t try. I labored over my essays more than anyone. They were dripping with sweat and tears. That was the problem. I was trying too hard. I was trying to write the way my teacher Paula Eyrich wrote, full of semi-colons and “generative sentences,” and it wasn’t me.

I remember Eyrich (that’s what we called her) announcing one day to the class: “Blum (that’s what she called me) spends hours writing a paper, and it’s no where near as good as what Jan Orr scribbles down in ten minutes during homeroom.” I should’ve started writing my papers in homeroom.

Eyrich also announced: “Blum will go to the University of Texas and major in business,” long before I’d decided on a college or a major. She was right. I dodged every class at UT that required any kind of literary skills. I became a numbers man. I was at home and confident in the world of debits and credits. (I still am.)

In law school, I learned the world of technical writing—legal memos and briefs. I continued that skill in my career, but I steered clear of any writing that involved creativity. I wrote 100% from the head, zero from the heart.

That was the case all the way up to 2020. Then the COVID pandemic hit and turned our world upside down. Holed up all day in my bedroom with my computer, I got a wild idea one day to start this blog. The Blum Firm was approaching our 40th anniversary, and my way of celebrating it was to start a weekly Family Legacy Planning series. The plan was to impart some estate planning tips for a number of weeks, until I ran out of juice. At that point I would stop.

Then, the unexpected happened. I began to leak more and more of my heart into my weekly posts. It really took root in my post of March 15, 2022, “I Am Ukrainian.” I started sharing more about my own family heritage and my four grandparents’ miraculous escape from Hitler. The reaction floored me. People wanted more “Marvin” in my planning tips. I still focused on how to build a lasting legacy, but the posts were heavily infused with my personal stories.

I went full-force personal in my five-part series on our family’s trip to Israel at the time of the October 7 attack, starting with my post of October 10, 2023. I really took it to the limit of personal when I revealed my daughter’s struggle with alcoholism in my post of August 1, 2023, “Lizzy’s Sobriety Journey.” The feedback was so encouraging it blew my mind.

I had found my voice. I stopped dwelling over word choice and just let the words flow. I abandoned all efforts to write like Eyrich. Gone were the semi-colons and labored attempts at “generative sentences.” What you get now comes straight from the heart—my stories, my attempts at wisdom, my life lessons on how to build a legacy. In typical Marvin fashion, I’ve never missed a week—250 consecutive musings from Marvin.

Historian David McCullough affirms my discovery: “There’s no one way to write. It’s what works for you.” In History Matters (a posthumous collection of McCullough’s essays), he expands: “And yes, happiness is to be found in writing….Write to make music. Don’t just pound out notes.”

What’s the legacy lesson in my post today? Be you. Don’t let someone else define your style. Open up both your head and your heart. Build a legacy that’s true to yourself.

Mama Cass is singing in my ear right now:

 

“Nobody can tell you

There’s only one song worth singing

They may try and sell you

Cause it hangs them up

To see someone like you.

But you gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song.

Make your own kind of music.”

 

Thanks to all of you for singing along with my writing throughout these 250 Family Legacy Planning posts. I’ll try to keep them coming.

 

Marvin E. Blum 

High-school-aged Marvin Blum, then a terrible writer, would be shocked to discover that today marks his 250th post as a writer.

As David McCullough taught, “write to make music.” Blum now “makes his own kind of music” by writing from the heart, and life really is better that way. Marvin is pictured here at a concert with his wife Laurie, wearing his all-time favorite shirt.

My 250th Post: “Write to Make Music” Read More »

“Don’t Let the Old Man In”

“Never Retire” is a motto I fully embrace. This blog has numerous posts lauding the benefits of staying engaged in meaningful daily activity. I’ve often said, “As long as my mind and my body cooperate, I have no plans to retire.” Now at 71, so far so good. My mother Elsie will soon be 95 and is 100% sharp, giving me hope that genetics are on my side. 

I want to add a new twist to this topic. When I say, “never retire,” that doesn’t mean you have to keep doing the same thing forever. In fact, I advocate for periodically doing a refresh. My best friend Talmage Boston calls it “reinventing” yourself. Find a new activity that stimulates you and dive into it. At a recent TIGER 21 event, Board Chair Michael Sonnenfeldt put a similar spin on it: “Our members are not retiring, we’re rewiring—don’t retire…REWIRE.” I’m continuing to practice law, but I now devote large chunks of time to writing and teaching. I’m giving lectures, workshops, podcasts, and writing this blog, articles, and working on a book. I have discovered a passion for sharing the lessons I’ve learned over my five decades as a lawyer. I wake up energized and recharged. Let’s get to work!

To quote Rangers’ baseball manager Bruce Bochy (referring to outfielder Kevin Pillar who changed his mind about retiring): “I saw him last year, he was swinging the bat, moving around well, and still has game left. The last thing you want to do is retire too early if you think you have game left.” Find the activity that works for you, the one where you still have game left in you. It doesn’t have to be a high-powered, scholarly pursuit, just something that stimulates your brain. Even driving an Uber may be the answer. Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Anupam Jena reports that “taxi and ambulance drivers could have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s because they are constantly using navigational and spatial processing,… dementia risk was lower among people with cognitively stimulating jobs.” (Sumathi Reddy, “Want to Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk? Taxi Drivers Offer a Clue,” Wall Street Journal, Dec. 24, 2024.) Reddy concludes, “even if you don’t want to start driving a cab to try to help your brain later in life, it wouldn’t hurt to take up hobbies that stimulate your brain, such as playing chess or learning a new language.” 

We’ve all witnessed the decline that occurs when someone retires and loses their mojo. Some even retire, and then unretire. As Noah Sheidlower reveals, “work gives them purpose and a social life…. Anne Sallee, 68, thought she would enjoy her retirement. But after two years, she decided to go back to work…. ‘I quickly found myself bored.’” (“Meet the Millionaires with No Plans to Retire, Even into Their 80s,” Business Insider, Feb. 16, 2025.) Statistics showing post-retirement health decline and accelerated death are daunting. 

At The Blum Firm, we are providing a solution for senior attorneys exiting the grind of Big Law, but who still have lots of fuel in the tank and want to keep working. It started a number of years ago when Kent McMahan (head of the Trusts & Estates department at Fulbright Jaworski) called to inform me he wanted to join our firm as senior counsel. A few years later, Ed Copley (former managing partner at Akin Gump) did the same. Now we’re doing it again with Stuart Bumpas (former assistant to the IRS commissioner with a distinguished career at Locke Lord), who joins us at The Blum Firm, starting tomorrow! All of these men were brilliant attorneys with no desire to retire. They still had so much left to give, and in doing so, so much left to receive.

Our boutique law setting at The Blum Firm offers the flexibility to achieve a “work-life balance” in the later years of a legal career. It’s a true win-win. Not only do the senior guys get to stay engaged in a law practice they love, our younger attorneys benefit greatly from the mentoring. These elder statesmen are redefining themselves into mentors, bringing to the office the gift of their wisdom and experience. As Arthur Brooks teaches, they are sharing with us their “crystallized intelligence” acquired over a lifetime of learning. 

Forget about your age—it’s just a number. Don’t give into old age. Refuse to let that old man creep into your body. Country legend Toby Keith sang it best in “Don’t Let the Old Man In:”              

“Many moons I have lived

My body’s weathered and worn

Ask yourself how would you be

If you didn’t know the day you were born?”

The calendar may say I’m 71, but my mind tells me I’m much younger. Following Toby Keith’s advice, I’ll pretend I don’t know the day I was born. I have no intention of letting the old man in. As my psychologist friend Dr. Monica Blum says, “That old man can hang out on the other side of the steel dead-bolted door.” Join me in locking out the old man from entering your life!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum, speaking here in Lubbock, energizes his law career by maintaining an active schedule of speaking and writing.

Marvin Blum welcomes Stuart Bumpas, the latest addition to the important role of Senior Counsel at The Blum Firm.

“Don’t Let the Old Man In” Read More »

Talmage Boston: Epitome of “Tikkun Olam,” “Take It to the Limit,” and “Forever Young”

Relationships: It’s the number one tenet of the Blum family’s mission statement. First and foremost, we value relationships—with family, with friends, with the Almighty. We’re on the same wavelength with renowned author Arthur Brooks. In his weekly newsletter of Sept. 15, 2025 (“Seven Habits that Lead to Happiness Later in Life”), Brooks affirms that “the best way to maximize your chances of happiness in your 70s…is to pour your heart” into this habit:

“Do the work to cultivate stable, long-term relationships now. For most people, this includes a steady marriage, but other relationships with family, friends, and partners can fit in this category as well…. The single most important trait of happy-well elders is healthy relationships.”

I have been abundantly blessed with relationships in my seven decades on this planet—my wife Laurie, friends, colleagues at work. In today’s post, I want to spotlight one particular relationship—my best friend Talmage Boston. Talmage and I have enjoyed the gift of this extraordinary friendship for 50 years.

I’m proud to announce that a few days ago, Talmage was honored as UT Law School’s 2025 Outstanding Alumnus at the school’s annual gala. I had the privilege of introducing him. It was a challenge to sum up Talmage in three minutes. I narrowed it down to a few themes:

  • Talmage is the great connector. He’s the glue that connects the members of the Class of 1978, especially the 22 Canoe Brothers who travel regularly and text daily. By bringing people together, Talmage gives us all the gift of meaningful relationships in our lives.
  • Talmage is a role model for an ethical and fulfilling career, following the example of his heroes Abe Lincoln and Atticus Finch (the eminently ethical lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird). His exemplary volunteer service to the legal profession has earned Talmage numerous well-deserved accolades.
  • Talmage is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and leader in his church and multiple civic causes, always giving from his heart that’s as big as Texas. He lives by the Hebrew imperative “Tikkun Olam”— repair and improve the world, which the Canoe Brothers adopted as our motto. Talmage’s generosity even fueled us to create a UT Law Scholarship, the Marvin Blum—Talmage Boston Endowment for Excellence, in honor of our friendship that started when we were roommates during all three years of law school.
  • I concluded by highlighting Talmage’s love of music and singing. One favorite song we share is the Eagles’ “Take It to the Limit.” That song title describes Talmage to a T. In everything he does, he gives his all. In repeatedly “taking it to the limit one more time,” Talmage lives life to the fullest and pulls the best out of all of us.

It’s a challenge to sum up all the life lessons we gain from Talmage in a short speech. I could more easily fill in a book about him. (By the way, Talmage is a prolific writer and author of five books on topics ranging from baseball history to Presidential leadership—including his latest work, How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.) I’ve featured Talmage in numerous blog posts, but for some more about him, see my post of June 7, 2022, “It’s All About Relationships: My Best Friend, Talmage Boston.”

I’ll sum up by highlighting Talmage’s influence on a value we share: never retire. Moreover, continue reinventing yourself to stay energized and young. I’ll conclude with words from one of the Canoe Brothers’ theme songs, “Forever Young,” that captures the essence of Talmage:

“May your hands always be busy,

May your feet always be swift

May your heart always be joyful,

And may your song always be sung.

May you stay forever young.”

 

Here’s to my best buddy, Talmage Boston!

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum (right) celebrates his best friend Talmage Boston, UT Law School’s 2025 Outstanding Alumnus, at the school’s annual gala.

Marvin Blum (front row, center) joins members of his Texas Law class to honor Talmage Boston (standing by Marvin).

In introducing Talmage Boston as 2025 Outstanding Alumnus, Marvin Blum extols Talmage’s virtues as an example for all to follow.

Celebrating Talmage Boston with burnt orange UT pride—“Oh, What a Night!”

Talmage Boston: Epitome of “Tikkun Olam,” “Take It to the Limit,” and “Forever Young” Read More »

Want a Better Quality of Life? Start with Better Sleep—Here’s How!

Sleep—just the word itself can conjure up all kinds of angst for those of us who struggle with getting a good night’s sleep. On this topic, I attended synagogue services last Shabbat in New York, and Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt raised a fascinating question: “Why didn’t G-d create us without the need for sleep?” Imagine how much more productive we’d be if we didn’t have to devote a third of our lives to sleep. His answer: “The purpose of sleep is so we can wake up each morning to a fresh start—the gift of a new day with all it promises. While we are awake, the angels in heaven are silent. But while we sleep, the angels sing.”

While those angels sing, the gift of sleep restores us and cleanses our brain. How do I know? I learned from the ultimate authority on sleep, Meeta Singh, MD. As we go through life, we make connections with people. Sometimes you have a feeling that you’ve met someone who is going to be a special part of your life. Such was the case when Laurie and I met Dr. Singh.

We were at a TIGER 21 Annual Conference, attending lectures and workshops. A session we eagerly anticipated was on Sleep—how to improve our sleep experience. Out walks the speaker, Meeta Singh, and the spotlight hits her. Dr. Singh begins her talk, and she had us at “hello.” Meeta commands every room from the moment she enters it. Meeta is a Michigan psychiatrist who specializes in sleep. Even more than the famous mattress store, Meeta is the real “Sleep Expert.”

Following her presentation on the science of sleep, Meeta fielded questions. She was hammered with some 50 questions, as this topic really resonated with the thousand or so TIGER 21 members. The Q & A dug into every imaginable question about how to improve our sleep, and Meeta popped out one succinct tip after another. 

The next day, a TIGER 21 chair from Michigan was trying to entice me to come to Detroit to conduct an estate planning workshop. Sensing my reluctance, he gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. If Laurie and I would come to Detroit, he’d arrange a private dinner for the two of us with Meeta. Done! 

Our time in Michigan with Meeta was magical. We began talking and texting regularly. Meeta even came to Texas and conducted a sleep workshop in our own living room for some lucky friends of ours. A few weeks ago, Meeta gave another sleep presentation to my TIGER 21 group in Dallas. As always, she had us all spellbound and loaded with questions. Her talk was entitled “Bespoke Sleep Optimization: Your Blueprint for Optimal Healthspan and Longevity.” We learned that sleep is one of the premier keys for longevity (along with nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, relationships, and not doing “stupid things” like drinking and driving). The main end-of-life diseases that lead to death are heart disease/stroke, dementia, and cancer. Poor sleep contributes to all of them. Following her scientific presentation, we explored a series of practical tips. I’ll leave the science to Meeta, and will share a dozen of those tips here:

  • Develop a winding down routine. “When a plane lands, it doesn’t just drop to the ground.” Consider a hot bath, reading, and a spiritual practice (“meditation is a superpower”).
  • Aim for going to bed every night at approximately the same time (within an hour of variance). Your brain loves consistency.
  • Protect your sleep environment. “The bedroom is for sleep and sex only.”
  • Your bedroom should be dark and cold (65-66 degrees; “as cold and dark as a cave”). Your brain likes light, so don’t activate it.
  • White noise masks sudden sounds and helps you stay asleep—just keep the volume low.
  • Caffeine, alcohol, and cannabis all interfere with sleep.
  • Avoid sleep aids, as they prevent the brain from “power washing” out the toxins that accumulate during the day. Dementia results from the accumulation of toxins in the brain.
  • Before you jump to a sleep supplement to help you sleep, address WHY you’re having problems sleeping. (Meeta can help!)
  • If you wake up in the middle of the night (Marvin) and your brain starts to activate, don’t look at the clock. Start rhythmic breathing, reading with a book light, or listen to a podcast. Allow sleep to happen, and don’t focus on the fact you’re not falling back asleep. Nothing good comes from trying to solve problems in the middle of the night.
  • Naps are a good tool when you hit the time of day when there’s a dip in your alertness. The ideal nap duration is 24.7 minutes, which will restore you for the next four hours.
  • Getting less than six hours of sleep is unhealthy and leaves you as impaired “as if you drank several beers before going into an important meeting.” On the other hand, more than 9.5-10 hours of sleep is also unhealthy.
  • Dr. Meeta Singh has developed a comprehensive two-week program that provides a complete profile of your sleep (the bespoke Sleep Profiling program). It includes 10 nights of at-home sleep studies to evaluate sleep quality and rule out any underlying sleep disorders. Think of it as a baseline test—similar to checking the health of your heart or lungs—designed to assess whether your sleep is truly healthy. With Proactive Sleep Monitoring, the study is repeated quarterly to track changes over time and to proactively detect any emerging sleep disorders.

If you, like me, struggle with sleep, then Meeta Singh is a godsend. She’s the go-to consultant for professional sports, Olympic, and college sports teams, as well as many large organizations. In fact, irregular sleep is the number one predictor of an athlete getting injured. Meeta can help all of us. Reach out to her at meeta@meetasinghmd.com. She can also add you to the distribution list of her weekly newsletter “The Performance Sleep Bulletin.” I read every word of it, every Monday morning. Meeta is a gift in our lives that Laurie and I are happy to share. As she says, “If you concentrate on the Singh Method, ultimately your relationship with sleep will change.” Wishing you all the benefits from optimizing your sleep and improving your quality of life.

Marvin E. Blum

Sleep doctor Meeta Singh, MD (left) and Laurie Blum at a workshop in Michigan. The Blum family treasures our relationship with Meeta.

Meeta Singh, MD conducting a sleep workshop at the home of Marvin and Laurie Blum.
(screenshot) – The concluding slide from Meeta Singh’s “Bespoke Sleep Optimization” presentation to TIGER 21.

Want a Better Quality of Life? Start with Better Sleep—Here’s How! Read More »

What I Learned this Summer from Anne Frank

In my recent post about the Blum family’s “roots” trips to the Holy Land, ancestral home of the Jews, I stressed the importance of knowing your family heritage. Kids who know about their ancestors and their stories grow up more resilient and with a higher self-esteem. On top of that, I just learned from Kasia Flanagan with Everyday Legacies that there is even a correlation between knowing your heritage and career success. Suffice to say, there are powerful benefits to knowing your past. What’s the best way to ensure that your descendants will know where and who they come from? Document it. Elder generations (like me) need to record our history. And we need do so before it’s too late, before we die and “a library burns down” (in the words of Scott Farnsworth and Peggy Hoyt, authors of Like a Library Burning).

The best way to learn history is from stories. Stories capture our imagination and hold our attention. Best of all are stories of ancestors’ resilience. As author David McCullough wrote, “There’s no one who hasn’t an ancestor who went through some form of hell.” There’s no better example of going through hell than the story of Anne Frank. Knowing history like hers “imparts a ‘sense of navigation,’ a new realization of what we’ve been through and what we’re made of.’” (Peggy Noonan, “A New Collection of Works by David McCullough Helps Put Our Tumultuous Times in Perspective,” Wall Street Journal, Sept. 4, 2025.)

Over the summer, Laurie and I had a reminder of the power of Anne Frank’s story, as told through the most impactful personal memoir ever written: The Diary of Anne Frank. We spent a morning touring Anne Frank: The Exhibition, hosted by the Center for Jewish History in New York. The exhibit recreates the experience of the Frank family, hiding for over two years in a secret “annex” in Amsterdam until Nazis discovered them and sent them to their deaths. Only Anne’s father, Otto Frank, survived. After his liberation from Auschwitz concentration camp, Anne’s father returned to Amsterdam hoping to find surviving loved ones. It was not to be. But he did find there something else that proved to be meaningful. Miep Gies, the righteous gentile who hid the Frank family, handed over to him a stack of Anne’s writings that she had found and saved. Those writings were the key to preserving one of the most important stories in the history of mankind. To this day, Anne’s Diary serves as a reminder that we must never again allow hate to win. Anne’s words empower us. Even if the words we pass down to our next generations don’t rise to the level of Anne’s, they can still deliver valuable and inspiring messages.

At the end of the exhibit, we learn that Otto Frank submitted Anne’s writings to a publisher. The response letter blew my mind. The publisher declined to publish Anne’s Diary because it “wasn’t of literary value.”  Fortunately, Mr. Frank knew better and persisted. Fast forward to today. Anne’s Diary has been translated into more than 70 languages, selling over 30 million copies, and is widely regarded as one of the best nonfiction books of all time. 

I highly recommend taking a tour of Anne Frank: The Exhibition. It’s located near Union Square in New York, and the exhibit has been extended until October 31, 2025. The entire annex has been recreated exactly as it was, and you don’t have to fly all the way to Amsterdam to see it.

For those of us who underestimate the value of our story, I submit that we never know what meaning our words will have for someone else. It’s not necessary that our memoir reach a large audience. Even if we only touch a very few, or even only one, we may make a life-changing difference for that one. Katie Heck, Marketing Specialist at The Blum Firm, likened it to this fable her grandma often shared: “A man was walking along a beach after a storm and sees thousands of starfish washed up on the shore. In the distance, he notices a boy picking up a starfish one by one and tossing them back into the ocean. The man approaches and says, ‘There are miles of beach and countless starfish—you’ll never make a difference.’  The boy picks up another starfish, gently throws it into the water, and replies: ‘I made a difference for that one.’”

Katie joins me in urging everyone to record your history. Flanagan sums it up so well: “Heritage creates belonging, identity, and context to one’s life.” And telling of your journey “isn’t only to share the highlights and proud moments of your life, but to share the troubles and challenges too, along with the tools that have helped you be successful—your principles and values. People don’t relate to perfection, they relate to realness.“

So let’s learn from a little girl in Amsterdam who documented her story and changed the world. Someday, some descendants of yours whom you never had the chance to meet, may very well find meaning in your words and experience a sense of belonging to something bigger than the now—the power of knowing they’re a link in a long-lasting heritage chain.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin & Laurie Blum at Anne Frank: The Exhibition, hosted by New York’s Center for Jewish History.

Though the Nazis murdered this precious child when she was 15, they couldn’t silence her. Anne Frank’s words live on forever through her Diary.

What I Learned this Summer from Anne Frank Read More »

Will AI Put Me Out of Business?

My best friend Talmage Boston regularly sends me thought-provoking articles that stretch my mind. A recent one speaks to a question that many have been asking me: “With the advances in artificial intelligence, do you worry that a machine will take over the estate planning profession and put you out of business?” The answer is a resounding “no,” and the article from Talmage helps prove my point. 

It’s true that AI will be able to replace many jobs (some predict as many as 300 million jobs). But per the CBS News Sunday Morning show on August 31, 2025, “AI will have a much harder time taking jobs involving empathy and creativity.” As I explain below, The Blum Firm’s version of estate planning isn’t formulaic. Our approach indeed involves empathy and creativity. It requires a person and not a robot to infuse an estate plan with values and meaning.

The article Talmage sent me dives into author Leo Tolstoy’s search for the meaning of life. In the late 1800s, Tolstoy published his two most famous novels, War and Peace and Anna Karenina. At the time, Tolstoy was struggling with feelings of despair. In Anna Karenina, Tolstoy echoed that despair in his co-protagonist, Konstantin Levin. Like many of the day, Levin abandoned religious faith in favor of scientific theory. As with technology today, the belief held by some in Tolstoy’s time was that science could provide all the answers. “Having accepted the scientific worldview in place of religious faith, he turned to it for answers, only to realize it couldn’t address questions of meaning.” (Professor Morson, “The Author and His Protagonists Find that They’d Sought a Theory in the Wrong Place,” Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2025.) 

Tolstoy’s “psychological crisis” over whether science could answer spiritual questions resembles the issue of whether AI can replace human estate planning advisors. Tolstoy (through his character Levin) comes to the conclusion that when it comes to matters of the soul and spirit, science falls short. “Levin’s problem is that he assumes, as intellectuals often do, that truth is a matter of theory that one applies to particular circumstances. That is how mathematics works, but questions of meaning and ethics are different.” 

After my first three decades as an estate planning lawyer and witnessing some bad inheritance outcomes, it hit me that there is so much more to estate planning than legal structures and tax minimization. I began describing a two-pronged approach to estate planning: head and heart. Both are important. The head side is still critical to the process. I’ll always be a technician and a tax nerd. But the head without the heart leads to Tolstoy’s despair. 

The heart side of estate planning has become my passion. We are dealing with real people, not paper. Families are complicated. My goal is to help families succeed. Certainly AI can play a role in the head side, helping craft tax structures and administrative provisions. But, though AI may have a head, it doesn’t have a heart. My mentor James Hughes describes five capitals of wealth. A thoughtful estate plan enhances all five capitals. Interesting to note, only two of the five are matters of the head: financial and intellectual. The other three come from the heart: human, social, and spiritual. 

For years, I’ve searched for the right label to call this kind of “head and heart” estate planning. Some call it “qualitative” (as opposed to quantitative) planning. Others describe it as “holistic” estate planning, the “soft” side of estate planning, or “family legacy planning.” More recently, I like the labels “values-based estate planning” and “purpose-driven estate planning.”

Regardless of what you call it, the ultimate goal of estate planning is to fill your life, and the life of your family with meaning. To do that requires taking intentional steps to prepare your heirs to live productive lives. It requires building trusting relationships with those you love. It requires defining your values and leaving an inheritance of not just your valuables but also those values. 

A good estate planning team can help you create and pass down a meaningful legacy. A machine can’t do that. A heart-oriented estate planner can help design trusts that incentivize and empower your heirs rather than create entitled trust babies. Science, math, AI, and machines can certainly come in handy, but they will never replace the human heart. 

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum (left) with best friend Talmage Boston, ever the source of stimulating thought to help tackle life’s toughest questions (especially when inspired by nature while hiking in Colorado, shown here).

Marvin Blum turns to Tolstoy’s age-old debate of science vs spirituality to question the role of technology in estate planning.

Will AI Put Me Out of Business? Read More »

Take a “Roots” Trip to Your Homeland

I want to talk about the importance of family travel. Taking a trip with family is far more than just a vacation. Traveling with family builds connection, solidifies values, and creates meaningful memories. I first learned this lesson from Mitzi Perdue, author of How to Make Your Family Business Last. Attending Perdue’s lecture about her book, I expected very practical takeaways about corporate governance, legal documents, and tips for bylaws. Shockingly, Perdue revealed the number one tip for making your family business last: “Family Travel.” 

Perdue explained the benefits of families getting away together, away from the day-to-day routine. Her side of the family (founder of Sheraton Hotels) does annual family trips, and her husband’s side (Perdue Farms poultry) does a trip every 18 months. Perdue’s ancestors were forward thinking and even set aside inheritance in a trust to endow the cost of this travel. I also advocate for a trust like that, which I call a FAST Trust (Family Advancement Sustainability Trust). Funds in the FAST Trust are used to pay for family enrichment, and are not available for HEMS (health, education, support, and maintenance) distributions to beneficiaries. I often propose to dedicate a life insurance policy as the source of funds for a FAST, so the rest of the inheritance can stay intact in traditional HEMS trusts.

In today’s post, I want take family travel and kick it up a notch. Plan a “roots” trip to visit your family’s homeland. Not only will you get all the normal benefits of being together, but the family can also learn about its heritage. Research shows that kids who know more about their ancestors and their stories (especially stories of resilience) grow up with a stronger self-esteem. They are also more equipped to handle adversity, knowing they come from strong ancestors who overcame obstacles. There’s no better way to discover your past than to go see it firsthand.

Raising a Jewish kid in the secular world (far from our biblical homeland), parents have to be intentional to connect their next gens with Judaism. To improve the odds, its often said there are three priorities: have a Bar (or Bat) Mitzvah, attend a Jewish summer camp, and make a trip to Israel. My first trip to Israel occurred in the summer after my second year of college. Israel was magical—the feeling of connection to my ancestors happened the instant I set foot on holy ground in the Holy Land. You literally feel it pulsing up through your body. There were many highlights, but number one was praying in Jerusalem at the Kotel, the “Western Wall” that surrounded the Holy Temple and still stands. Israel had only reclaimed possession of this holy site a few years before my trip, the result of winning the Six Day War in 1968. It was so significant that we no longer called it the “Wailing Wall,” as at last, we could celebrate there joyfully. It’s still the holiest site in the world for Jews.  

Our daughter Lizzy Savetsky’s first trip to Israel came in the summer before her first year of college, courtesy of the Birthright program that provides Jewish kids a free first trip to Israel. Lizzy spoke of it recently at the Hadassah National Conference: “For the first time in my life, I felt that I was just… home. Like I was surrounded by family. Ten days in Israel, and I felt more whole than I ever had in 18 years. I knew Israel was important to my Jewish identity, to our Jewish survival, but I did not expect to feel so deeply connected to a place I had never been. Setting foot on the ground there changed me at my core. Suddenly I understood that there was no separating the Jewish people from the land of Israel—that the people, the place, and the mission are all one. And as I stood at the Kotel for the first time and touched the ancient stones, I thought about my ancestors and everything that they had to fight through for being Jewish and how despite it all, they passed down our legacy from generation to generation so that I could have the privilege of standing there, knowing in my heart what my purpose was in this world as a Jewish woman.”

Lizzy’s words just proved my point better than any I could write. A “roots” journey to your ancestral homeland connects you with the past and equips you to build on that legacy for future generations. I heartily recommend it.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

A young Marvin Blum on his first trip to Israel in 1974, discovering his roots in the homeland of his ancestors.

Marvin Blum (left) at the Western Wall of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the holiest site in the world for Jews ever since biblical times.
Lizzy Blum Savetsky (left, with best friend Sari Hochberger) at Jerusalem’s Western Wall in 2004, experiencing the same spiritual connection to her roots that her dad Marvin felt in that location 30 years earlier.
The Blum family returns to the land of our ancestors just days before the October 7th attack on Israel. Shown here, overlooking the Holy City of Jerusalem, are Marvin & Laurie Blum, Lizzy & Ira Savetsky, and their children Stella, Juliet, and Ollie.
Praying at the Kotel (Western Wall of the Holy Temple), Marvin Blum’s son-in-law Ira Savetsky passes down the heritage to his son Ollie.

Take a “Roots” Trip to Your Homeland Read More »

The Creative Side of The Blum Firm

A few months ago, as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition wrapped up here in Fort Worth, I found myself reflecting on how much creativity surrounds me—not just across the city of Fort Worth, but also within my very own team at The Blum Firm.

Our team members excel in the highly technical world of law—true left-brain work—yet outside the office, they pursue incredible talents and passions that showcase their right-brain creativity. This balance matters. Creativity isn’t just for artists and musicians; it plays a vital role in the legal world, too.

In the realm of trust, estate, and tax planning, the most effective solutions often require both analytical precision and creative problem-solving. It’s that combination of left-brain logic and right-brain innovation that allows us to craft thoughtful, personalized strategies for our clients. As Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

So today, in the spirit of celebrating creativity, I’d like to showcase some of the incredible talent we have on our team.

Lynn Kelly discovered her vocal talent in high school, impressing directors so much they paused auditions to call her father. She went on to sing in musical theater and chorus throughout high school and college, earning a spot in the elite Abilene Christian University A Cappella Chorus as the only non-music major freshman. She even sang the national anthem at her law school graduation.

Over the years, she performed with the Dallas Symphony Chorus (including a concert for Queen Elizabeth and one at Carnegie Hall), as well as several Fort Worth choruses and with Andrea Bocelli’s tour. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays piano, clarinet, and baritone saxophone.

Music runs in the family—her son followed in her footsteps as a band leader and oboist. Today, she enjoys playing pop songs on the piano in her home “music room” and occasionally shares performances with friends on Facebook.

Emily Hammond, a talented composer, co-wrote an original musical titled Beyond Perfection, which was recently selected for the Broadway Bound Festival in New York. The show has four off-Broadway performances this month—an incredible milestone that highlights her dedication to music and the arts. She shares her work under the name Emily Christine Horton on music platforms.

Cat Bardin is a professional stage manager, actor, and singer with a career that began at age 21. Her life has been steeped in theater—both professionally and personally. She met her husband when they were cast opposite each other in a musical, kicking off a 34-year “showmance” that led to marriage less than a year later. Their daughter even took her first steps backstage during intermission of a production they were both in—proof that the stage is truly a second home for Cat and her family.

David Bakutis, an estate and trust litigator at The Blum Firm, has spent nearly 20 years performing with a taiko drumming group. What began as a father-son activity evolved into a lasting passion. The group regularly performs at festivals throughout the Metroplex, and for David, it provides not only creative expression but also a powerful form of physical exercise and stress relief.

David is also a lifelong fan of British sports cars, inspired by his mother’s 1963 Triumph Spitfire. In 2003, he purchased a heavily modified 1967 Triumph GT6 and spent over a year and a half restoring it—sourcing parts from England, rewiring the entire car, and customizing elements by hand. The finished product blends factory authenticity with subtle modern upgrades. His story was featured in 360 West magazine, showcasing how he merges craftsmanship, nostalgia, and engineering in his free time. 

Amanda Jones has been a member of a community choir in the Flower Mound/Lewisville area since 2013, where she currently sings as a 1st Alto. In addition to performing, she served on the choir’s board for five years, holding roles as Membership Coordinator and Vice President. 

Eric Evans taps into his creative side through both music and visual art. He was once a drummer in a band and continues to enjoy expressing himself as an artist.

Other members of our team may not put their creative passions on stage, but they still bring joy, thoughtfulness, and authenticity to their artistic pursuits:

  • Kaitlin Goddard – Loves to sing and play piano, and also finds joy in interior design.
  • Ginger Melton – Finds peace and inspiration through gardening.
  • Katie Heck – Expresses creativity through painting and photography.
  • Amber Posey – Shares her heart through poetry and reflective writing.

Whether shared publicly or expressed quietly, creativity is a powerful force—and we’re proud to have a team full of it. Not only does it make each individual unique, but it also shapes how we approach our work with clients. At The Blum Firm, this fusion of head and heart allows us to deliver solutions that are both thoughtful and strategic.

I’ve seen that firsthand—not just through my colleagues’ talents, but in my own life as well. I myself am an award-winning pastel artist, and I’ve found that my work with color and emotion on the canvas mirrors the care and clarity I strive for in estate planning.

Now it’s your turn: What’s your creative outlet? I invite you to share your talent in response to this e-blast. Let’s celebrate the creative sides that make us whole.

Marvin E. Blum

The Creative Side of The Blum Firm Read More »

Eight Blum Firm Attorneys Named 2025 360 West Top Attorneys

The Blum Firm is proud to announce that eight of our attorneys have been honored in 360 West magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys – Five Years or More Practice category. This recognition highlights attorneys who have practiced law for at least five years and demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in their areas of expertise. This year’s honorees include:

Two attorneys recognized in Tax Law

  • John R. Hunter, J.D., CPA
  • Len Woodard, J.D., CPA

Six attorneys recognized in Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Probates

  • Marvin E. Blum, J.D., CPA
  • Amanda L. Holliday, J.D., CPA
  • R. Dyann McCully, J.D.
  • Kandice R. Damiano, J.D., LL.M., CPA
  • Emily K. Seawright, J.D.
  • Beth Hampton, J.D.

We are thrilled to celebrate this achievement and commend each attorney for their commitment to excellence and service to our clients. Their hard work and expertise continue to uphold The Blum Firm’s reputation as a leader in estate planning and tax law.

Eight Blum Firm Attorneys Named 2025 360 West Top Attorneys Read More »

Banana Pudding Memories: Smells & Tastes of Yesteryear

How often do you encounter a smell or taste that takes you back to a time long, long ago? In building a lasting family legacy, nostalgic smells and tastes are important triggers for family memories. They conjure up people and places from the recesses of our minds. Aromas become symbols of love, legacy, and tradition, woven into the fabric of our heritage. I’ll share some of the long-ago dishes that are activating my senses, along with memories of the room where it happened. Close your eyes, and you will likely come up with some of your own.

I wrote a recent post about my nursery school afternoons with my father’s mother, “Memories of My Bubbie.”  Our ritual of watching “As the World Turns” was always preceded by chicken and rice soup, the same lunch every day. The salty smell and warm taste of that “chicken soup for the soul” still takes me back to that kitchen table with Bubbie and her sister Becky. I can even hear their Yiddish conversation, spoken in heavy old-country accents. My mind then turns to Bubbie’s Passover tzimmes, carrots baked with kneidlach (a matzo ball mixture), and I’m transported back to our Seder table. (Can you picture the smile on my face as I write this?)

Our daughter Lizzy was home visiting us and asked for stories about my other grandmother, whom we called Mama Pauline. Lizzy (Elizabeth Pauline) is named after her, and they share the same Hebrew name Pesha Ita. Naturally, Lizzy was eager to learn more about her namesake. We spent a month every summer visiting my mother’s parents Pauline and Meyer Oberstein in Montgomery, Alabama. Funny, but my memories all started in Mama Pauline’s kitchen. When we arrived, a banana pudding was always awaiting us in the Frigidaire “ice box.”  I have a lot to say about that banana pudding, as it wasn’t the phony kind you normally get today with instant vanilla pudding and Cool Whip. It started by separating eggs (they were brown, and some had a double yolk). Each egg was broken one-by-one into an empty bowl, in case there was blood in the yolk making it non-kosher. You didn’t want to contaminate the whole mixture. The yolks went into a vanilla custard, slowly stirred in a double boiler. The egg whites were stiffly beaten into a meringue. After we rapidly devoured the pudding that greeted our arrival, I would join Mama Pauline in the early morning to assemble another. She said there were exactly the right number of vanilla wafers in the box to complete her creation. One time, we were short one cookie, and she accused my brother Irwin of “snitching” one. He probably did.

Banana pudding is a dairy dessert, as it contains milk. Therefore, under the laws of kashrut (eating kosher), we’d have to wait six hours after eating meat before we were allowed to eat a dairy dessert. (You could get around that by eating dessert first; never a bad idea.) The Oberstein tradition was to eat a big lunch with meat (“fleish,” called a “fleishig lunch”), and a lighter dairy dinner (called a “milchig dinner”). That way, we could retire after dinner to the front porch “breezeway” for our banana pudding, served in red and clear glass footed dessert bowls). The house wasn’t air conditioned, so we would search anywhere for a breeze. Sometimes we found it in the backyard under the weeping willow tree, where we’d each enjoy a half cantaloupe filled with a scoop of Foremost vanilla ice cream that Daddy Meyer brought home from Meyer Oberstein Grocery. The memories always seem to come back to food.

So here I am, at age 71, suddenly a little boy back in the kitchen at 3200 South Perry, down the street from the Alabama Governor’s Mansion.  The memories keep rushing back. Thursday’s lunch was always “kekletten,” burgers made of ground beef mixed with eggs, matzo meal, onions, and garlic, fried on top of the stove. The smell of frying onions still tops the list as my favorite aroma, and research reveals that I’m not alone. Another favorite was the cinnamon smell when Mama Pauline baked her famous sour cream coffee cake. I also remember that kitchen on Shabbat when no cooking was allowed, though there was a hot plate “blech” on one low burner where you could warm up something without having to turn on the stove. Although most of the cooking involved making traditional Jewish dishes, Mama Pauline did let some of the Deep South rub off on her, introducing me to grits (still a favorite of mine, and I literally think of her with every loving spoonful). 

My list of family food memories goes on and on, drawing me closer to my ancestors. I suspect the same is true for you. We draw so much comfort from that connection to the past. Professor Catherine Sanderson’s blog post of July 17, 2025, “The Often Overlooked Perks of Nostalgia” concurs: “Reflecting on nostalgic memories may be particularly beneficial during trying times. One survey of over 2,000 American adults revealed that nostalgic memories are a source of comfort and inspiration when life is uncertain or difficult. These memories may feel so good precisely because they remind us of what is most important in our lives.”

Whether in good times or bad, nostalgic smells and tastes soothe us. As we work to preserve our family history, let’s be sure to preserve those wonderful food memories. Those recipes feed our family’s soul and help us weave together a rich family tapestry to blanket future generations with love. 

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s brother Irwin with grandmothers Pauline Oberstein (left) and Nettie Blum. Pauline was one wafer short making her banana pudding and suspected Irwin of “snitching” one. Looks to me like he’s guilty.

The authentic banana pudding, made with custard and meringue, rather than vanilla pudding and whipped topping.
Marvin salivating over his grandmother’s “real” version of banana pudding, along with other family dishes that conjure up important memories.

Banana Pudding Memories: Smells & Tastes of Yesteryear Read More »

Lizzy’s Ironic “Gift” of Addiction

Five days ago, our daughter Lizzy Savetsky reached another milestone. Lizzy celebrated her fourth sobriety birthday, commemorating the day four years ago when she hit rock bottom and ceased all alcohol consumption. Lizzy isn’t flying solo in this battle. She is part of a program with a powerful support group. Moreover, Lizzy encourages me to tell her story, in the hope it’ll help someone else embark on a recovery journey.

Two weeks ago, I re-posted my all-time most popular blog post. That post revealed Lizzy’s struggle with addiction and her fight to beat it. In that re-post, I promised an update. The story just keeps getting better.

As I expressed, Lizzy’s sobriety enables her to live a very purpose-driven life. She is dedicated to her family and to causes meaningful to her—battling addiction, pregnancy loss, fighting antisemitism, and supporting Israel. She stays busy on an international speaking tour giving heart-felt presentations on these topics, as well as promoting them on her LizzySavetsky social media platform. Lizzy is quick to say none of her family connection or advocacy would be possible without sobriety.

Here are a few recent highlights of Lizzy’s work:

  • Working side-by-side with the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism in New York City
  • Designated Israel’s “Voice of Iron” by the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament)
  • Serving as keynote speaker at the Hadassah National Conference, the largest and most influential Zionist organization in America.
  • Election to the World Zionist Congress, the world’s leading voice for Zionism, convening in Jerusalem
  • Recipient of Israel’s Annual Award of Bravery (designated the Brave Leadership of Zion Award) for her fearless advocacy, presented at the Menachem Begin Center in Jerusalem.

In an ironic twist, Lizzy actually is grateful for her struggles with addiction. She told me that none of these achievements would have happened without her fight to overcome challenges. I learned this irony when Lizzy came home to Texas recently to sing in the Johnnie High Country Music Reunion Show, on the stage where she grew up singing. (To the surprise of many, her public persona got its start as a yodeling Jewish cowgirl—now that’s an oxymoron!)

In that visit, Lizzy and I had the gift of hours of one-on-one father-daughter time. It was in that conversation that Lizzy explained the irony to me:

“Every single person is born with challenges that they have an obligation to overcome in order to achieve their purpose. Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, of New York’s Safra Synagogue, teaches that G-d creates each person intentionally with the weaknesses, with the character defects that we’re supposed to have, but also with the strength to overcome them. It’s only when we face those challenges and overcome them that we are able to achieve our true potential. So, if you think of it that way, then all of these hardships and challenges are truly a gift, because without facing them and overcoming them, we never become the people we are supposed to be. And if we had been born without these weaknesses and the power to face up to them, then we never would step into that potential that G-d places within us.”

May we be thankful for all our blessings, including the ones that come in disguise. Wishing everyone success in addressing whatever challenges G-d has placed in your life.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky with husband Ira and kids Stella, Juliet, and Ollie. Lizzy’s sobriety is a blessing to both her and her family.

Lizzy stands side-by-side Mayor Eric Adams with his Office to Combat Antisemitism in New York City.
As part of Lizzy’s international speaking tour, she’s the keynote speaker at Hadassah’s National Conference.
The State of Israel designated Lizzy Savetsky as its “Voice of Iron” and also presented her The Brave Leadership of Zion Award, “For boldly standing up and speaking out the truths about Israel and the Jewish people, despite the consequences. We salute you for setting an example of Jewish bravery, strength and pride.”
On top of her other achievements, Lizzy can still yodel! Here she is singing “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” on the Johnnie High County Music Reunion Show. Ambassador Mike Huckabee even brought her on stage to yodel when presenting her the Award of Bravery in Jerusalem last week, a surprise both to Lizzy and to the Israeli audience!

Lizzy’s Ironic “Gift” of Addiction Read More »

Finding Joy in My 70s

Last week, I featured a repeat of my all-time most popular blog post, “Happy ‘Sobriety’ Birthday to My Daughter.” I wrote that post a year ago, expressing gratitude for Lizzy completing her third year of being sober. I shared how in a sobriety program, the celebrant randomly selected a card with a value to embrace for the coming year. The word was “joy.”  Given that Lizzy’s third sobriety birthday closely coincided with my 70th birthday, I decided one year ago that my goal for my 70th year was to experience joy. 

In that post, I revealed that I engaged in a values exercise with my TIGER 21 group. We each created a “values pyramid,” selecting 15 values from a long list and prioritizing them with the top one, then next two, then next three, then next four.  The group then constructed a group pyramid, and I was shocked that one of the group’s top five values was “joy.” The word “joy” was nowhere on my values pyramid. That wake-up call motivated my decision to prioritize seeking “joy” in my life. 

Here I am one year later with an update, as I now celebrate my 71st birthday. The feedback people sent me taught me a lot about joy. I’ll share some of those insights. 

One reader tied together the concept of joy with my daughter’s sobriety journey. He divulged that he is on his own sobriety journey, 16 years sober. Here’s his message: “The word ‘joy’ hit me really deep, as I only learned joy when getting sober. I was looking for happiness for 60 years, sometimes trying to buy it in the form of a bigger car or something material. It did not work; it did not last long. Happiness comes from outside and joy comes from inside. The challenge is to know WHO you are, not what you have done or what you are doing.”

The idea of identifying WHO you are especially resonates with me, now that I’m celebrating my second year in the decade of the 70s. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan helped me process that when she quoted Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: “’When you’re 60 you’re at the peak of your power—running the law firm, the most respected doctor. At 70 you’re having to grapple with transitions, with who I am, and the aging of the body. It is the time of confronting the big questions of life…. This is a fruitful time to ask the questions about what we want to be. We are on a journey, all of us leaving a narrowing, constricted place for a place of freedom.’” (“Easter and Passover Lesson: It’s Never Too Late,” April 17, 2025) 

In my monthly TIGER 21 group meetings, I speak openly about my goals for this decade of life. As Rabbi Buchdahl says, the 70s is a time of transition. My best friend Talmage Boston advocates that we should periodically reinvent ourselves. Doing so allows us to avoid burnout, remain relevant, and stay energized. Turning 70 and entering this time of transition is a perfect opportunity to reinvent myself. Part of that reinvention is my commitment to writing this weekly blog, and hopefully soon collating my writings into a book on building a lasting legacy.

I am actively exploring how to make the most of this decade. The word “joy” is now a part of my vocabulary for this chapter of my life. I have always been notorious for postponing joy. I’m wired to put off joy till the future. Reaching my 70s, I realize (in the words of my former TIGER 21 chair Bill Case), “the future is now.” I’ve come to that realization more than ever since Laurie and I had a close brush with death a few months ago. We miraculously survived a rogue wave in Cabo that viciously tried to swallow us up. (See my post of April 29, 2025: “I’m Now a Cat with Eight Lives”) Indeed, since that trip to Cabo, I notice that I worry far less, sleep better, and embrace joy each day. 

I’ll conclude my 71st birthday recommitment to joy with wisdom from a dear friend and mentor Kasia Flanaghan of Everyday Legacies: “In the Book of Mormon, in a part where a father is teaching a son about the purpose of life, he tells him: ‘men are that they might have joy.’ I think joy is meant to be a more holistic emotion than we sometimes understand. Rather than just being a synonym for happiness, which can be fleeting, I think it is a capstone to feelings of gratitude, humility, peace, and purpose.” 

Kasia then asked if I would reveal my values pyramid, the one that omitted the word “joy.” In the spirit of openness and vulnerability, I’m attaching my values pyramid here. Although this pyramid was created several years ago, it still describes how I tick. The word joy is missing, but as I review it today, I believe the sum total of these 15 values adds up to a life filled with joy, the kind of holistic joy Kasia so eloquently describes.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s values pyramid, prioritizing the top 15 selected from a long list of values.

Even without mentioning the word "joy," Marvin Blum's values pyramid adds up to a life of abundant joy. With “family” as the top value, the greatest source of joy comes from six grandchildren who call him “Zaidy,” the Yiddish word for grandfather.

Finding Joy in My 70s Read More »

My Most-Read Blog Post of All Time: Lizzy’s Sobriety Journey

I’ve been writing this weekly Family Legacy Planning blog for nearly five years. I just discovered that we have data that tracks the number of hits a post gets. When we graph the data and look back at the level of engagement, I saw one huge upward spike. By a mile, the post that was most read happened a year ago entitled “Happy ‘Sobriety’ Birthday to My Daughter.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. In my estate planning work, I’ve discovered that nearly every family struggles with addiction issues at some level. In honor of the anniversary of that post, I am reprinting the entire post below. But before I do, I’ll share one story that bears out my point about the multitude of families dealing with drug and alcohol dependency.

Several years ago, I was a member of an international family office network. Attending the group’s annual conference, I was intrigued by the agenda. It had all the topics you’d expect — investing, tax planning, estate planning, educating heirs, etc. But there was one topic that stuck out and didn’t seem to fit. The “sore thumb” topic that surprised me was a session on addiction. As it turns out, the addiction session received the most attendance and the highest level of engagement. Here I was in a packed ballroom with hundreds of wealthy families, and nearly every family was dealing with some level of substance abuse. That was a wake-up call. So, when I shared the story on this blog of my own daughter’s battle against alcoholism, the reaction from readers was the same as in that ballroom. 

Given the attention that post received, I will repeat it here in its entirety. I’ll follow up in the coming weeks with some important updates, as August 1st marks Lizzy’s 4th “sobriety” birthday. We are abundantly grateful.

 

My Post of August 13, 2024:
Happy “Sobriety” Birthday to My Daughter

Last week’s post was about my 70th birthday, which I celebrated joyfully a few days ago, and I now embark on my eighth decade with renewed energy. In today’s post, I want to share another birthday we celebrated this month in our family. With my daughter Lizzy’s permission (indeed, her encouragement), I am grateful to rejoice in Lizzy’s 3rd “sobriety” birthday. As I’ve revealed in the past, Lizzy is waging a very successful but hard-fought battle against alcoholism. August 1, 2024, marks the completion of 3 years being sober.

Lizzy encourages me to tell her story with the hope it will help others who are battling addiction. I am proud of her willingness to be open and transparent about her struggle with alcohol dependency. So many are suffering in silence. Lizzy is a champion for saying you don’t have to live like that. She acknowledges that it’s a tough road, but there is help out there. Don’t try to fight this disease alone. Find a program that works for you, like Lizzy is doing.

Thanks to her program, Lizzy enjoys a very purpose-driven and meaningful life. In addition, her whole family benefits from her ability to be fully present and engaged with them. In fact, Lizzy, Ira, and their 3 kids just completed a three-week trip to Israel, where they brought comfort to families who are suffering from losses and injuries due to the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.  Their 3 kids are actively involved as well, providing love to these victims and to families of those still held hostage for 312 days now. Lizzy’s full-time mission is to fight antisemitism and support Israel through her social media platform, LizzySavetsky- work that wouldn’t be possible were it not for Lizzy’s sobriety. Laurie and I are very grateful and proud parents.

I learned this week that in some programs, a person with a sobriety birthday randomly selects a card that depicts a value to embrace for the coming year. The value one such person selected was the word “joy.” That person’s goal for the coming year is to experience joy.

That story brings to mind something that I experienced that I’d like to share. In one of my TIGER 21 meetings, we engaged in a “values exercise.” We were each presented with cards containing 56 values and directed to sort them into 3 stacks revealing how they apply to us: (1) always, (2) sometimes, (3) never. We then narrowed the “always” stack down to 10 and prioritized them, building a pyramid with our number one on top, followed by the next two, then the next three, then the next four. We assigned numerical weights and reported each of our results to the group. The group then constructed a group pyramid with the group’s top 10. It was fascinating to compare my individual pyramid to the group pyramid. 

Here was my main takeaway: One of the group’s top 5 values was “joy.” The word “joy” was nowhere on my values pyramid. It never dawned on me that seeking joy was an appropriate goal. As a person who is (obsessively) productive, I never allowed myself to prioritize joy. Seeing how highly it ranked with the rest of my TIGER 21 group was a big wake-up call for me.

A values exercise like this is a very meaningful activity for a family meeting. As I continue to promote family legacy planning, the cornerstone of that process is the family meeting. I commend to you to bring your family together and engage in meaningful conversation and learning, and in doing so, reveal the values that your family holds in common. It’s a great unifying activity—what I often call “family glue.”

So, as I embark on my eighth decade, I am choosing the word “joy” as my new word of the year. It won’t replace my other values, but as I celebrate this 70th birthday, it’s time to smell the roses.

I do have some dissonance advocating the idea of “joy” during these very disturbing times, as my people are targets for unimaginable hate and terrorism. However, rabbis teach that G-d wants us to continue to celebrate life, even in the midst of our suffering. My heart is heavy, but I can still feel abundant gratitude, and yes—even “joy”—for all the blessings in my life.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky (pictured here with her 3 kids) celebrated her third "sobriety" birthday one year ago, a golden gift to her and her loved ones.

Marvin expresses his immeasurable love for his daughter Lizzy.

My Most-Read Blog Post of All Time: Lizzy’s Sobriety Journey Read More »

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match”

I readily admit that I’m not a trained expert on the topic of parenting. However, from time to time, I have shared some tips from my own experience as a dad. The feedback is always affirming. People encourage me to keep the tips coming. So today, I’ll share a story about how Laurie and I gave our daughter Lizzy and her future husband Ira Savetsky a little parental “push” (well, maybe not so little) to get married. We knew they were a perfect match.

The story begins on March 22, 2007, in New York City. Lizzy was a singer studying music business at NYU. [Side note: Lizzy competed in an NYU talent contest which her classmate Stefani Germanotta won, and Lizzy placed second. Unable to win a college talent show, Lizzy abandoned the idea of a singing career. Soon thereafter, Stefani changed her name to Lady Gaga.] I came to New York for Lizzy’s performance at the renowned Knitting Factory. That night, I met some dozen or so young men vying for Lizzy’s affection and trying to improve their odds by buttering up her old man. After the show, she asked my opinion of the suitors, and hands down, my choice was Ira Savetsky—solid, steady, genuine. Lizzy’s response: “Ira? But he’s just a friend.” True, but he could become more. Lizzy acquiesced, and they began dating.

A bit later, Lizzy graduated and moved to Israel to study at Neve Yerushalayim. Ira moved to Philadelphia for medical school. As the year went on, Laurie and I were trying to entice Lizzy back to the US, specifically to Philadelphia. Laurie moved into action. She called the Dean of Admissions at The University of Pennsylvania, and the conversation went something like this: “You don’t know my daughter, but trust me, you’ll want to admit her to Penn for a master’s degree. I know it’s past the deadline and she hasn’t taken the GRE grad school admission test, but let me fill you in about Lizzy.” She proceeded to do just that. Lo and behold, Penn said yes. There’s nothing stronger than a persuasive (Jewish) mother.

Laurie then worked her magic on Lizzy, and the next thing you know, Lizzy’s at Penn getting a master’s degree in Reading, Writing, and Literacy with an emphasis on multicultural education. Now it was my turn to work some magic (with some important coaching from my mom Elsie).

We had recently “upgraded” Laurie’s wedding ring. I had sold Laurie’s prior diamond to the jeweler, until my mother admonished me: “Call the jeweler, buy the diamond back, and give Ira a call.”

The conversation went like this: “Ira, I happen to have a diamond that Laurie wore for the last 30 years. If it’s of any interest to you, we’d be delighted to give it to you.” Ira took the “hint,” responding: “If it brings us the kind of happiness you’ve had for the last 30 years, I’d be honored to accept it.” Right answer. Soon thereafter, Ira proposed to Lizzy at the Statue of Liberty.

I’m reminded of advice from Fort Worth educator Hazel Harvey Peace when she accepted the Multicultural Alliance Award: “Sometimes adults have to help young people make good decisions.” That certainly applies in parenting. I believe Lizzy and Ira were destined to marry even without our intervention (as we say in Yiddish, it was “beshert” – destiny). They’re a match made in heaven. But to aid the heavenly process, Laurie and I played the part of “Yente the Matchmaker” and nudged it along. We didn’t want to take any chances.

 

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy and her future husband Ira Savetsky, on the night Marvin first met Ira and knew he was the man for his daughter.

Lizzy’s engagement ring, beautifully repurposing the diamond her mother had worn for the past 30 years.
Lizzy and Ira returning from the Statue of Liberty right after he popped the question!
Marvin and Laurie Blum feeling enormous gratitude at Lizzy’s bedeken (veiling) ceremony, moments before her marriage to Ira Savetsky.

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match” Read More »

Tax Planning in the “Big, Beautiful” Era

By the skin of its teeth, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” made it into law. It’s no surprise that it passed with only Republican votes. When it comes to tax legislation, that seems to now be the norm. When we go back and forth between a “triple R government” and a “triple D government,” we can expect the tax pendulum to swing back and forth. I say this because these new “permanent” tax provisions aren’t likely to be “permanent.” Here are some “Musings from Marvin” on tax planning under the new law:

  • On New Year’s Day 2026, the estate tax exemption will be $15 million per person (plus annual increases for inflation, starting in 2027). I recommend locking in that exemption soon, before the pendulum swings back. The earlier you use it, the more benefit you receive, as you not only escape the 40% estate tax on the $15 million transferred, but also on all future appreciation. 

 

  • By doing “squeeze & freeze” planning with certain types of trusts, you can lock in the exemption but still retain access, control, and flexibility. 

 

  • If your estate is under $15 million now but you expect it to grow, now is the ideal time to transfer assets to those types of trusts. What matters isn’t what you’re worth today, but what you might be worth at the time of your death, which may be considerably more.

 

  • When Congress drafted legislation in 2021 to close estate tax loopholes (which fell only 2 votes short of passing), the proposed legislation grandfathered planning that was done in the past. By planning now under today’s favorable laws, the planning would likely be grandfathered upon a future law change.

 

  • If your estate exceeds the $15 million exemption, you can continue to shift assets out of your estate by selling assets to grantor trusts (as opposed to making additional gifts that would be hit with a 40% gift tax). Such sales are free of income tax. You carry a note that is still in your estate, but that note is “frozen” and can later be burned down.

 

  • With diminished estate tax concerns, the focus shifts to tools you can use to save income tax. For example, we have developed tools to achieve a tax-free basis step-up, such as shifting basis from one asset you plan to keep to another asset you wish to sell, using mixing bowl partnership rules. Other tools involve ways to minimize tax on the sale of a business, restructuring your business to benefit from expanded opportunities as a Section 1202 Qualified Small Business, Roth IRA planning, more basis bump ideas, and other strategies.

At least for now, we continue to be in the “Golden Age of Estate Planning.” In his Washington Post article of June 30, 2025, Professor Ray Madoff concurs: “Indeed, it has been 35 years since Congress has taken any action to close estate tax loopholes. As a result of this quiet quitting, tax advisers have developed a virtual alphabet soup of avoidance techniques, including GRATs and CRATs and SLATs and SLANTs and ILITs, and IDGTs – which have allowed their wealthy clients to effectively eliminate their estate tax liabilities.” True, but to make that happen, you have to take action. Otherwise, the federal government is your 40% partner in all your estate growth above the $15 million exemption. 

We urge you to fight the temptation to be complacent. We are living in a hot political climate, with heavy polarization and resentment. This political climate, combined with our nation’s $36 trillion national debt, make now the ideal time for tax minimization planning. Take action before the political winds shift and the pendulum swings again.

 

Marvin E. Blum

 

Note: Madoff’s article is entitled: “A Signature GOP Issue Is Omitted from Trump’s “Big” Tax Bill.”

Marvin Blum advises that now is the ideal time for planning to minimize tax, before the political winds shift and the pendulum swings again.

Tax Planning in the “Big, Beautiful” Era Read More »

Memories of My Bubbie

Last week, I urged all to visit with senior family members to probe their memories. Do those family interviews before it’s too late, or else a “library burns down” when they’re gone and we lose those stories. Ideally, do a video recording of the interviews, like the ones I mentioned of my Aunt Sophia, a centenarian still sharp until her death at 103. Watching those videos rekindled some of my earliest memories of my Blum family heritage.

I’ve previously covered stories of my mother’s parents coming to America from Ukraine and Poland. Last week I focused on my father’s parents coming here from Latvia, telling the story of my grandfather Isadore Blum. Today, I round out the family history with the story of my grandmother, Nettie Falkin Blum. Like my other three grandparents, Nettie came to America as a young adult, starting life in New York. Her brothers Yossel and Morris remained in New York, settling in Port Chester, but Nettie and her sisters Becky and Sarah eventually came to Texas. They never Americanized. They spoke very broken English, preferring their mother tongue Yiddish. Their only newspaper was the Jewish Daily Forward, written entirely in Yiddish.

My grandmother Nettie was small in stature and in her behavior, very soft-spoken and gentle. On the contrary, her older sister Becky Schiffer, was stern and tough. Becky was a seamstress doing “piecework” in New York’s garment district. She was a labor organizer with Socialist leanings. Her husband, Moshe Aaron (whose name was always slurred together and sounded like “Mashiron” to me) was a violinist who shared his wife’s liberal views. Had they not been tough as nails, they’d have never survived their persecution in Dvinsk, Latvia. Like my grandparents Nettie and Isadore, Becky and Moshe Aaron also opened a small grocery, located at 1327 May Street in an impoverished Fort Worth neighborhood. It was very common for Jewish immigrants to own some kind of small retail business and live in cramped quarters behind it. Given my grandparents’ suffering under the Czar’s rule in Eastern Europe, they wanted to own a business and control their own destiny. My father used to say he’d rather own a lemonade stand than work for someone else. My kids and I have evidently inherited that powerful desire to be self-employed.

I have vivid childhood memories of Nettie (whom we called “Bubbie,” the Yiddish word for grandmother). Both of my parents worked at Blum’s Café, so every day after nursery school, I was dropped off at Bubbie’s for the afternoon. Bubbie and her sister Becky (both widowed) lived together on one side of a duplex on Forest Park Blvd. in Fort Worth. Their life was very routine, and I was expected to fall into that routine. We lunched daily on chicken and rice soup at the yellow Formica kitchen table. I recall eating the broth first and saving the rice till the end, whereupon Becky said to Bubbie (in Yiddish), “He doesn’t like the rice.” In truth, I saved it till the end because it was my favorite. I’ve always been one to postpone joy. (I’m trying to work on that.)

Following lunch, we watched “As the World Turns.” Watching TV was not only entertainment, it was how my grandparents learned English. As a four-year-old, that show gave me a different kind of education. I became a couch-potato kid who was addicted to TV (though I preferred “I Love Lucy” over soap operas).  Following the daily episode, we all took a nap. I remember saying, “But I’m not tired,” whereupon my Bubbie replied, “You rest before you get tired.” In spite of that admonition, I have never been into napping. I suppose I lean more into my mother-in-law’s view on sleep: “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

[I feel compelled to add that my dear friend and sleep expert Meeta Singh, MD concurs with Bubbie. In her weekly blog post yesterday entitled What if the real brain hack is…a nap?, Dr. Singh advocates for naps: “A nap is the real shortcut to solving complex problems…. Even a 20-minute nap boosted insight and creative problem-solving.” I guess Bubbie was right.]

We cannot escape our roots. They have a way of informing not only how we look, but also how we think and feel, even as we grow old. Though she seemed ancient to me, I’m now as old as Bubbie was then. My grandkids call me Zaidy, the Yiddish word for grandfather.  I wonder if my grandkids think I’m ancient. I wonder if 70 years from now, they’ll be telling stories of their childhood times with me. Bubbie called me “Shayna Punim,” Yiddish for pretty face. Will my grandkids remember all my nicknames for them, and the times we spent together? I hope so, but just to be safe, I’d better get it all documented.

 

Marvin E. Blum  

Marvin Blum’s grandmother Nettie (far left) seated by her siblings Morris, Becky, Yossel, and Sarah.

Nettie (“Bubbie”) with grandsons Irwin (left) and Marvin.
Marvin’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky and Nettie’s mother Sanya Ita Falkin (Marvin’s great grandmother). Genetics is a very powerful force.

Memories of My Bubbie Read More »

Don’t Let Your Library Burn Up

I recently attended the 90th birthday party of my first cousin Jay Weinstein, the oldest living relative on my father’s side of the family. I used the opportunity to quiz my cousin Jay about our Blum ancestors, since he was around for 20 years before I was born and knows more about our Blum heritage than anyone else alive today. Fortunately, Jay is as sharp as ever and provided a wealth of information. I am so grateful I can now document those stories for future generations. Moreover, Jay provided me with a family photo drive and video interview they did with his mother Sophia (my father’s sister) who died not long ago at 103, also sharp as a tack until the end. 

In talking with Jay and watching his mother’s video, I learned some remarkable things about my family history. In this blog, I have stressed repeatedly the importance of preserving family stories. Research shows that the more future generations know about their ancestry, the higher their self esteem and the stronger their resilience when adversity strikes. The key is to document the stories before it’s too late. My dear friend Todd Healy made this point so impactfully by sending me the book Like a Library Burning: Sharing and Saving a Lifetime of Stories (by Scott Farnsworth and Peggy Hoyt). The book equates losing an ancestor (and all the stories in their heads) with the burning down of a library:

               “Each of us is a library, a living depository of vast amounts of knowledge, information, wisdom, insight, and life-lessons. Within us we hold countless treasures: stories, memories, eye-witness accounts, compilations of decades of personal experiences. This human wealth is profoundly valuable and intensely fragile. It can be easily lost to death, disease, dementia, or any of a dozen other causes. Unless thoughtful steps are taken beforehand to preserve and pass it on, it will be destroyed and lost forever.”

I have previously shared in this blog some of my own ancestors’ “library,” particularly how my mother’s parents escaped Hitler, immigrating to America from Ukraine and Poland. I discovered that both of my father’s parents also barely escaped, leaving their home in Dvinsk, Latvia to make a new life in America. My grandfather Isadore Blum left behind his parents Yankel and Gital Bluss.  Going through customs, Isadore attempted to write his last name in cursive English. The immigration officer thought the two “s” letters at the end were an “m,” and renamed him Blum. 

In America, Isadore and his wife Nettie lost contact with the relatives they left behind in Latvia. When they later had a son, they followed Jewish tradition to name him after a (presumed) deceased relative. They gave him the same first and middle names as Isadore’s father Yankel Velvel (calling him William Jay in English). Years later, they discovered that Yankel was still miraculously alive. After Yankel actually died, my father’s sister Sophia had a son. They decided to use the name again, also naming her son Yankel Velvel (but reversing the order in English and calling him Jay William). That’s my cousin Jay who just turned 90.

I learned from my Aunt Sophia’s video that my father was named for Yankel’s wife Gital Yenta (my great grandmother). There was some confusion about her name, but the mystery was solved when we found a photo of Yankel at his wife’s tombstone. Fortunately, my Hebrew skills are good enough to decipher her name. What’s especially remarkable is that my granddaughter Juliet Georgie is named after my father Julius George. Lizzy and Ira gave her the Hebrew name Yehudit Gital, unaware that she shares the name Gital with her namesake’s namesake. We only know her name because of a Latvian gravesite photo going back six generations from Juliet. This proves how important it is to take pictures and pass them down with the family archives.  

My grandparents Isadore and Nettie Blum somehow made their way from New York to Texas. Isadore was an iron worker in Dallas until his COPD was so bad they moved to Fort Worth, where he opened a downtown fruit stand. He lost that business during the Great Depression, but with the help of his four children (the youngest being my father), managed to open I. Blum Grocery on East Rosedale. The family lived behind the store. The grocery closed when eminent domain claimed the location. We say a prayer every time we drive down I-35 at Rosedale, as the freeway now passes over where the store once was.

I learned a lot more Blum family lore from my cousin Jay and may share more in future posts. Suffice to say, “we’ve come a long way, baby” from those destitute days at 700 East Rosedale. Knowing your family history is enlightening and empowering. I urge everyone to join me in saving your family library from going up in flames.

 

Marvin E. Blum

First cousins Marvin Blum (right) and Jay Weinstein, reminiscing Blum family stories at Jay’s 90th birthday.

The Blum Family in Dvinsk, Latvia (Marvin’s grandfather Isadore Blum is far right, standing next to his three sisters; seated by Isadore are his parents Yankel and Gital, with Gital’s mother seated at left).
Marvin’s great grandfather Yankel at the grave of his wife Gital.
Marvin’s grandfather Isadore (the shortest man) at his fruit stand in downtown Fort Worth.
Marvin’s father Julius as a boy, working at I. Blum Grocery.

Don’t Let Your Library Burn Up Read More »

The Blum Firm Earns Tier 1 Ranking in 2025 Best Law Firms®

We are proud to share that The Blum Firm has been ranked Tier 1 in Trusts & Estates Law in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, published by Best Lawyers®.

The Best Law Firms rankings are determined through a rigorous evaluation process and reflect the high level of trust and respect The Blum Firm has earned within the legal community and among those we serve.

Trusts and Estates remains one of the top ten most-searched practice areas on BestLawyers.com, highlighting the increasing demand for trusted guidance on thoughtful planning, purposeful wealth transfer, and legacy-building—the very heart of what we do at The Blum Firm.

Thank you to our team for your dedication and excellence, which made this recognition possible.

Learn more at www.bestlawfirms.com.

The Blum Firm Earns Tier 1 Ranking in 2025 Best Law Firms® Read More »

When Little Moments Become Big Memories: Shabbat Dinner with Juliet and Lucy

A TIGER 21 colleague in Denver waxed poetic when he shared that our best investments are the ones that pay “memory dividends.” As his TIGER chair Elizabeth Ledoux punctuated: “Trips, traditions, little moments—these are what bind our families and keep showing up in stories, connection, and legacy.” I recently had one of those “little moments,” a seemingly insignificant event that turned into a big lifelong memorable moment.

Our family gathered in Memphis, Tennessee for our great-niece Paige’s Bat Mitzvah. That, in and of itself, was a big moment. Paige was born 13 years ago almost three months premature. Weighing less than a pound and a half, she was the size of a small bird that would fit in the palm of your hand. Miraculously, Paige fought through every obstacle and is now a thriving and totally magnificent teenager. So Paige’s Bat Mitzvah was a very big moment, as she led us through a two-hour service (mostly in Hebrew) like a pro. But what was unexpected was a “little moment” the night before.

The day before, our 10-year-old granddaughter Juliet flew in alone from New York, as the rest of her family couldn’t join us. We are very proud that Juliet’s parents (our daughter Lizzy and son-in-law Ira) are raising their three kids in a home with strong observance of Jewish laws. It was our pleasure to provide strictly kosher food and accommodations within walking distance of the Temple Israel, as Juliet’s family does not ride in a car on the Sabbath. (In fact, we rented a house Elvis Presley built for his infamous physician, Dr. George “Nick” Nichopoulos which Elvis also regularly occupied, full of Elvis memorabilia and decor, down to the shag carpet.)

The Friday evening Shabbat dinner was a 15-minute drive away (too far to walk), so we drove there before sundown to visit, and then I left with Juliet at 7:15 so we would be back at Elvis’ house (and out of the car) for the 7:30 Shabbat candle lighting. Our son’s 6-year-old daughter Lucy from Austin (inseparable from her cousin Juliet) joined us. So, it was just Juliet, Lucy, and me. 

The girls chatted non-stop in the car, and I loved hearing their girl-talk about school, fashion, and entertainment preferences. Then the “little moment” happened: the cousins (ages 10 and 6) took over preparing a Shabbat dinner for the three of us. Laurie had salmon ready for us, and the girls made a raw vegetable platter, a fruit tray, grape juice for the Kiddush blessing, challah for the Motzi blessing, and assorted cookies from Ricki’s, our favorite kosher bakery in Memphis. I’m no rabbi (though for years as I was growing up, I planned to become one), but the girls took over and didn’t even need my rabbinic skills. They led the ritual prayers, we shared our “rose and thorn” stories from the past week, and dined like royalty. (I have no pictures of the Shabbat dinner, as photography is not permitted on the Sabbath, but the vision is vividly preserved in my mind and heart.)

Here’s the takeaway: Stay on the lookout for little moments that will loom large in the family legacy tapestry your family is weaving.

Marvin E. Blum

Marvin Blum’s great niece Paige (left) and granddaughter Juliet celebrating the “big moment” of Paige’s Bat Mitzvah.

Marvin’s granddaughters, Juliet and Lucy, just before a “little moment” that turned into a big lifetime memory.

When Little Moments Become Big Memories: Shabbat Dinner with Juliet and Lucy Read More »

Two Attorneys from The Blum Firm Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers®

Please join us on congratulating Marvin E. Blum and David C. Bakutis for being recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers® for Trusts and Estates.

This recognition is based entirely on peer review, with attorneys nominated and evaluated by fellow legal professionals for their skill, integrity, and professional excellence. With more than 4 million evaluations submitted this year, earning a place in Best Lawyers is a meaningful honor and a reflection of deep respect from within the legal community.

Congratulations to our honorees—we’re proud to be well represented by your dedication and excellence.

 

Learn more at www.bestlawyers.com.

Two Attorneys from The Blum Firm Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers® Read More »

Should I Write a Book?

Marvin and Laurie Blum (Laurie on front row in long red dress with Marvin by her side) at a TIGER 21 retreat in Cabo, where stimulating conversations provide fuel for this blog, and maybe even for a book.

When I started writing this weekly blog over four years ago, I never imagined I’d still be at it, some 230 episodes later. I also never imagined the direction it would take. It began with practical tips on estate, tax, and family legacy planning. When I leaked in a bit of personal Blum family lore, the feedback shocked me. People wanted to hear more about me—the personal stuff, the stories, the lessons learned. I never expected this blog to become such an open book about Marvin Blum.

As a result, most of my blog posts have turned very vulnerable and authentic. The stories and life experiences seem to keep surfacing. Who knew all that was locked up inside? I certainly didn’t.

Even as I reveal more and more “musings from Marvin,” I do aim to tie them into estate planning and legacy-building words of wisdom. Remarkably that hasn’t been hard. Estate planning is both a “head” and “heart” endeavor. Most of my posts speak to the “heart” side of the estate planning process, helping families create a meaningful and lasting legacy.

It seems a daily occurrence when someone asks me, “When are you going to write a book?” I generally hesitate, and I ask: “What would be the topic? What would people want to read?” My blog is such a potpourri of subjects.

I had this very conversation with a lady at a recent TIGER 21 retreat. She told me she awaits my blog every Tuesday morning, eager for my weekly message. She then urged me to write a book. When I asked, “About what?,” her response was “parenting.” She looks to my blog for guidance on how to raise responsible kids, kids who have a solid core. The fact I have no training or special expertise in parenting didn’t matter to her. She sees the sum total of my work as guidance on how to create a family with lasting values.

Coincidentally, the next night at dinner, another TIGER 21 couple asked my advice on how to balance building a career and raising young kids, both of which (if done well) are time consuming. I acknowledged the juggle, and then offered some examples from my early years of growing both a law practice and a family:

  • Adam and I were both very early risers, so we had a lot of one-on-one interaction before my workday began. Early on, we built cities with blocks, made intricate Lego creations, and talked about his world. The activities and conversations evolved as Adam grew older.
  • Every night at bedtime was my time for one-on-one reading with Adam and Lizzy. We grew quite a collection of books, which I’m now enjoying all over again with our six grandchildren.
  • For many years, I blocked off every Thursday afternoon on my calendar as if it were a client appointment and alternated one-on-one afternoon outings with Adam and Lizzy. We called it “Special Time.” I remember how it started. A movie made me tearfully melancholy on how fast kids grow up, and I worried I’d look back with regret that I missed out on those years with our kids. Laurie came up with the idea of “Special Time.” The outings varied: stockyards, synagogues, parks, even cemeteries. I recall driving high up on highway overpasses so Adam could see how little the distant cars and trucks became. Lizzy and I sat under a tree in the Botanic Gardens and learned all the lyrics to Judy Collins’ “Both Sides Now” (which we remember to this day). Those outings slowed down the racing timeclock with my kids growing up so fast, plus they helped me build a lifelong connection with them. The memories of those “Special Times” now fill my soul.

After offering my thoughts, my TIGER 21 colleague Ryan Pearson said, “You ought to write a blog on this subject.” What a great idea! Building family connection is a key part of building a family legacy. Now I wonder, could something like this turn into a book?

Should I Write a Book? Read More »

Marvin’s Garden

From the time I was a little boy and even now, I’m a big fan of the game Monopoly. My childhood buddy David Lee and I would play Monopoly games that could last for days. I always hoped to be the first to land on Marvin Gardens, the last of the yellow properties, so I could buy it.

Growing up, I didn’t know a thing about gardening. But that changed when Petrita entered our lives. Petrita was from Cuernavaca, Mexico, “la ciudad de eterna primavera” (the city of eternal spring), and she was the most amazing nanny on earth. Her first day with us was the day we came home from the hospital with baby Adam. We knew Petrita was a gourmet chef, but we didn’t know she was also a master gardener. One day, I came home with a couple of flats of flowers, intending to plant marigolds in some big pots and periwinkles in small pots. I was all set to plant when Petrita rushed to the scene: “Señor Marvin, you have it backwards” (she said in Spanish). She took over, teaching me that periwinkles grow tall and spread out wide, while marigolds remain low and tight. From that day on, I was the student and Petrita was the teacher.

When Adam turned two, we moved to a larger house. I was about to pull up a mess of “weeds” in the backyard, till Petrita informed me those were wood ferns and a very desirable feature in a shady garden, perennials that would come back year after year. Once again, she rescued me. It happened over and over. One day, Petrita returned from a walk and rushed back down the street with a little shovel, returning with an inch tall “weed” that is now a sky-high gorgeous redbud tree. She saw it growing in a crack in the street and told me she had to hurry and get it before someone else spotted it. I assured her no one else would beat her to it, but she wasn’t convinced. Another time she was asleep on the living room floor, and I almost tripped over her in the middle of the night. She said there was a huge tree in our backyard making a “clicking” noise that was soon to fall on the house near her bedroom. It was Adam’s Bar Mitzvah weekend, but I had to have a tree man come take out the tree the very next day. There was no arguing with her. Sure enough, the tree was rotten on the inside and about to fall on our house.

Petrita passed away about 20 years ago, but she left me a very important inheritance: a green thumb. She is with me every day in my garden. I have nowhere near her level of knowledge, but I’m lightyears ahead of where I started. For me, gardening is therapeutic and rewarding, a source of instant gratification. It’s also my time to commune with Petrita, who truly became a member of our family. I continue to enjoy the legacy plants in my yard that she smuggled up from Mexico in her bra. She’s also with me when I wield the heavy garden axe she somehow hid in her possessions on another bus trip up from Mexico.

Gardening is very metaphorical. Voltaire taught us to “cultivate your own garden.” When we seek to broaden our horizons and meet a new network of contacts, we should start first in our own backyard. My daughter Lizzy became a champion for multicultural acceptance, teaching us to open our minds and hearts to those different from us. She learned from Stephen Seleny, Headmaster at Trinity Valley School, to first really get to know those in your own sphere of influence. Then you can branch out. Cultivate your own garden before you try to reach out beyond it.

Lizzy has also taught me the importance of weeding your garden. She knows I’m obsessive about pulling weeds, but she attaches a different meaning. She texted me: “For a beautiful life and legacy, we have to take the time to weed out any life suckers. This means toxic people, toxic energy, and toxic time commitments. If you don’t stop to weed the garden, you will never have the flourishing beauty you are capable of. Weeding the garden is a metaphor for how to create a beautiful life.”  On my 64th birthday, Lizzy posted a photo montage of me with the background music from the Beatles: “Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” That song describes me to a T.

My family loves to tease me about the hours I spend weeding the garden. But now Lizzy praises me: “The more success one builds, the more life suckers come, voraciously attempting to feed off that success. As the gardeners of our own lives, each of us alone is responsible for growing and protecting the garden. If we allow one weed in, hundreds will follow. Nobody can weed the garden for us. Ask yourself, what time suckers, energy suckers, and money suckers can we weed out?” 

Lizzy continues: “Just as you cover plants to protect them from the cold, cover your life by acting humbly to protect it from the chill of jealous eyes.” In my post of April 18, 2023, I drew from the act of sprucing up my spring garden to recommend an estate planning clean-up. The garden metaphors go on and on.

When I’m in nature, I feel a heightened sense of civilization and peace. Catherine Sanderson reveals that those feelings put me in good company with other nature lovers. In her May 15, 2025, blog post “Why Lumberjacks, Foresters, and Farmers Are Happier Than Lawyers,” she touts “the underrated benefits of spending time in nature.” Jobs that are outside in nature produce the highest job satisfaction. Research in neuroscience proves “why people who spend time in nature experience better overall physical well-being,” as well as psychological well-being and lower stress. 

Surveys show that the least happy workers are lawyers. Lawyers especially need to get out of the office and spend time in nature. My “Canoe Brother” classmate from law school Cliff Ernst agrees. We have spent hours floating along the Guadalupe River in a canoe, discussing the therapeutic benefits of being out in nature and digging in the dirt. A master gardener, Cliff recently sent me a surprise package of native Texas spiderwort he dug up from his yard so I can plant it in mine. That’s a gift that will keep on giving.

In the realm of building a lasting legacy, gardening is a great way to do something to make the world more beautiful, as I often read to my kids (and now to my grandkids) in the inspiring children’s book “Miss Rumphius.” I suggest that gardening may also be a great family-bonding activity, or at least provide next generations a memory of the old man out in his yard, sweating, but happy as ever. I highly recommend you give it a try, but since you won’t have Petrita to train you, I recommend Neil Sperry’s “Complete Guide to Texas Gardening” as the next best thing.

Marvin Blum in his garden with the treasured axe the family’s nanny Petrita brought him from Mexico (surrounded by wood ferns Petrita taught him weren’t “weeds”), about to transplant spiderwort Canoe Brother Cliff Ernst mailed him from his garden in Austin.

Our nanny Petrita was a master chef and gardener who taught us so much and truly became a cherished member of the Blum family, pictured here with Laurie celebrating Adam’s Bar Mitzvah.

Marvin (right) with law school classmate “Canoe Brother” Cliff Ernst, canoeing for hours on the Guadalupe River discussing life, the law, and the wonders of nature.

Marvin’s Garden Read More »

“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?”

“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?” That’s the question posed by country legend George Strait in a song with that quizzical title. Here’s my answer to that query: if Fort Worth hasn’t crossed your mind yet, it will.

I’m a proud unofficial ambassador of Fort Worth, my hometown. Everywhere I go, people are shocked to learn we’re the fastest growing large city in the country. Even describing Fort Worth as a “large city” raises eyebrows. In fact, Fort Worth is now the 11th largest city in the U.S., rapidly closing in on a population of one million. And to all my friends in Big D, fasten your seatbelts for this reveal: The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the population of Fort Worth will surpass Dallas by 2045. “That’s right, in 20 years, Dallas will become Fort Worth’s little brother.” (“2050: A Peek Into Our City’s Future,” Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, March 2025).

I’ve bragged unabashedly about Fort Worth in prior posts. (June 13, 2023 and December 17, 2024). My last hometown post described a three-day “Discover Fort Worth” event I planned for TIGER 21, an international group with over 1,600 peer-to-peer learners. Those attending still express dismay at the enlightening experience touring the F-35 production facility, Modern Art Museum, historic Stockyards, visiting with local rockstars like Mayor Mattie Parker and business legend John Goff, and dining at Joe T. Garcia’s.

I was recently humbled to be among the “500 Most Influential” recognized by Fort Worth Inc. Magazine (Summer 2025). There’s no shortage of champions singing the praises of this great city, and I’m honored to be among them. 

I’m a Fort Worth local boy (as was John Denver, by the way), so I know it wasn’t always like this. It was once such a sleepy place that the legend has it there was a panther asleep on a downtown street (hence, the nickname “Panther City”). Over the years, Fort Worth has earned other nicknames: “Cowtown,” “Where the West Begins,” and now my favorite, “The Unexpected City.” Fort Worth is on a fast upward trajectory.

Here are a few surprise facts that make Fort Worth “unexpected:”

  • Forbes ranks Fort Worth in the top five cities in the U.S. for entrepreneurs.
  • WalletHub designates Fort Worth as the best large city in Texas to start a business.
  • Fort Worth is considered the top city in Texas for higher education (hosting a presence here are TCU, Texas A&M, UTA, Texas Wesleyan, UNT, Tarrant County College, and Tarleton State).
  • Taylor Sheridan and other stars are making Fort Worth the “Hollywood of Texas,” as the film industry has fallen in love with our city. As Fort Worth City Council member Macy Hill said recently, “It’s pretty cool to see Taylor Sheridan and Nicole Kidman walking around downtown Fort Worth.”
  • Fort Worth is a hub for the aerospace, energy, and tech industries.
  • Best of all, with all this well-managed growth, Fort Worth is preserving our rich cowboy culture with attractions like the Stockyards, Billy Bob’s, Stock Show and Rodeo, and the herd of cattle that still walks down twice a day, making the Exchange Avenue area the 15th most visited destination in America.

From my way of thinking, there’s no better place to call home than Fort Worth. We’re one of the few large cities embracing “Blue Zone” values for health and fitness, as well as the benefits of faith, family, and social connection. For years, Fort Worth tried to stay low profile and let our neighbor to the east enjoy the spotlight. Those days are over. The secret is out, and I suppose that’s partly my fault. Come see us!

Marvin Blum and wife Laurie, honored to be among the “Fort Worth 500.”

Marvin with legendary Congresswoman Kay Granger, Fort Worth’s “2025 Person of the Year.”
Fort Worth Inc.’s blurb about Marvin in the Summer 2025 issue.

“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?” Read More »

Jewish American Heritage Month: How My Grandfather Escaped a Russian Firing Squad to Make a Life in America         

In honor of May as Jewish American Heritage Month, last week’s post was devoted to my Uncle Joe Weinstock who saved his sister, my grandmother Pauline, from death in the Holocaust. Today’s post continues the celebration of my heritage, featuring Pauline’s husband, my grandfather Meyer Oberstein, who also miraculously escaped death from Hitler. Whereas the Weinstock story began in Polona, Ukraine, the Oberstein story began in Tiktin, Poland, originally part of Lithuania, and known as the “City of Scholars.” 

As was the custom, Meyer’s parents had an arranged marriage. Meir Polchovitz was seeking the most scholarly student at the Yeshiva in Grodno to marry his daughter Chaya Sarah, promising to provide him lifelong support for a life of Torah study. The head of the Yeshiva selected Elchonon Oberstein as the groom, and the match was made. In 1905, Chaya Sarah and Elchonon gave birth to their fourth child Meyer. Soon thereafter, Chaya Sarah was cut by a rusty nail. They took her on a droshky, a horse-drawn sled, to Bialystock to amputate her limb. But it was too late, and she died of blood poisoning when Meyer was still a nursing infant. The family lapsed into poverty. 

World War I broke out in 1914 when Meyer was a nine-year-old boy. With no food in the house, Meyer sneaked out after curfew to search for food and was caught by Russian soldiers. A firing squad assembled to kill Meyer when, miraculously, an old Russian commissar with a beard rode up on a donkey and told them to let the boy go, as he was only a kid and not a German spy. (Some mystics speculate that the old man was Elijah the Prophet in the guise of a Russian commissar, sent to save Meyer’s life. Who knows?)

In 1924, 19-year-old Meyer came to New York, the last of the four siblings to emigrate. His oldest sister Celia Bear came first, and gradually brought over the other three, saving them all from Hitler. Celia and her husband resettled in Florida and owned Pensacola Dairy, where Meyer and his brother Kiva delivered milk with a horse and wagon. Meyer went to visit his other sister Elka Katz, living with her husband in Montgomery, Alabama. At synagogue services, Meyer was spotted by Eliezer Weinstock, who brought him home for dinner (and to meet his daughter Pauline). It was love at first sight. They married, and Meyer was embraced by the loving Weinstock family. Meyer and Pauline had four children, including my mother, Elsie.

Meyer’s formal education ended when he was 10, but like his father Elchonon, he was a natural scholar. Largely self-taught, Meyer learned English and was an avid reader, explaining to me as he read the newspaper nightly, “You have to read between the lines.” He was a lifelong intellectual and deeply analytical, always searching for the inner meaning. His dream was to be a surgeon, but circumstances diverted that path and instead he was the owner of Meyer Oberstein Grocery in the impoverished Montgomery housing projects. He became the champion of his African American customers, helping them find jobs, and advocating for them vigorously when the law treated them unfairly. Even during the Montgomery Civil Rights riots and boycotts, Meyer Oberstein Grocery was never picketed or subjected to violence.

The sign above the grocery store just said “Meyer Oberstein” (not Meyer Oberstein Grocery), as it really was his alter ego. He operated it with lean overhead, with just him, wife Pauline as cashier, Jimmy the butcher, Baby Sister the clerk, and Charlie the bicycle delivery boy. My brother and I worked there every summer when we visited Montgomery for a month.

Meyer was also a devoted Jew and proud Zionist supporter of Israel. His mission was to sign up every Jew in Montgomery to join the Zionist Organization of America. His was the only Jewish grocery to hurry out customers on Friday evening in time to get to the synagogue for Sabbath services.

Today, nothing remains of Meyer Oberstein’s Jewish roots in Tiktin, Poland except an empty old wooden synagogue and a memorial by the pit where Jews were shot and buried in a mass grave. However, in another sense, Tiktin still lives. The number of descendants of Meyer and Pauline Oberstein alive today and actively Jewish is rapidly approaching 100. 

As Meyer Oberstein’s proud grandson, I am deeply honored that the first member of Generation Five on the Oberstein Family Tree is my granddaughter, Stella Savetsky. Stella is the first of hundreds of future Oberstein descendants. Her birth signifies our victory over the Nazis. Moreover, the way Stella lives her life today personifies the continuation of our Jewish heritage and our everlasting survival against all who oppress us. As we commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month this May, Meyer Oberstein indeed left us quite a heritage to preserve.

Marvin Blum’s grandfather Meyer Oberstein escaped death by a firing squad as a child in Poland, miraculously later making it to America as a young man.

Meyer Oberstein with daughter Elsie Blum, celebrating the wedding of grandson Marvin Blum, an occasion symbolizing his victory over the oppression of his youth.
Marvin Blum's daughter Elizabeth Savetsky (Meyer Oberstein’s great granddaughter) at Auschwitz concentration camp, defiantly joining a “March of the Living,” to reconnect with her Oberstein roots in Poland.

Jewish American Heritage Month: How My Grandfather Escaped a Russian Firing Squad to Make a Life in America          Read More »

Important Reminder: Update Insurance Coverage After Asset Transfers

As part of your estate or business planning, you may have transferred ownership of certain insured assets—such as real estate, vehicles, or investment property—into a Trust, limited liability company (LLC), or family limited partnership (FLP). When title to an asset changes from your name to the name of a Trust or entity, it is critical that your insurance policies are updated to reflect the new ownership.

Most insurance carriers require that the legal owner of the asset be listed as a named or additional insured. If the policy still names the previous individual owner—and not the Trust or entity that now holds title—coverage may be denied in the event of a loss, even if the policy is still active.

To maintain uninterrupted insurance protection, you should contact your insurance agent(s) to confirm:

  • That the legal owner (e.g., the Trust, LLC, or FLP) is properly added to each policy as a named or additional insured, where appropriate; and
  • That each policy reflects the correct name of the Trust or entity.

This applies to homeowners, auto, umbrella, liability, and other relevant coverages. The process to update policies is usually straightforward but essential.

Please contact us if you would like our assistance with reviewing your asset transfers or communicating with your insurance agent.

The Blum Firm is here to support you as you complete and maintain your planning.

Important Reminder: Update Insurance Coverage After Asset Transfers Read More »

“Galveston, oh Galveston” – How Our Family of Jewish Immigrants Ended Up in the South

“Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin’,” and I still hear Glen Campbell crooning that tune in my ear. In the early 20th century, as Jews (including all four of my grandparents) began immigrating to America to escape persecution in Eastern Europe, most landed in Ellis Island and settled in New York. Many are unaware that a number of ships carrying Jewish immigrants diverted to the South, disembarking in Galveston, Texas. 

The “Galveston Movement” was an effort to disperse Jewish immigrants to the South to alleviate overcrowding (and growing antisemitism) in New York. Also known as the “Galveston Plan,” it was funded out of the personal pocket of Jewish financier Jacob Schiff, who contributed almost $17 million in today’s dollars. Between 1907 and 1914, about 10,000 Jewish immigrants landed in Galveston. The program ceased at the outbreak of World War I, bringing an end to one of the biggest periods of immigration in US history.

One such Jewish immigrant who landed in Galveston in 1914 (just in the nick of time before doors shut) was the patriarch of our family and the first to come to America, Uncle Yosef “Joe” Weinstock. It’s no small miracle that Uncle Joe became an American. Federal law excluded from entry “persons suffering from loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases,” as determined in the eye of Dr. Max Bahrenburg with the US Public Health Service. Bahrenburg deported seven times the number compared to Boston, six times that of Philadelphia, and four times that of New York. In his arbitrary discretion, “‘race’ showed a ‘preponderance … of serious defects which interfere with one’s ability to earn a living.’ More than one-third of the Jews he excluded because of ‘grave defect’ demonstrated nothing more than poor physique.”

Fortunately, Joe (a teenage boy traveling alone) passed inspection. He was met at the pier by Rabbi Henry Cohen of B’nai Israel, who put him up overnight in a hostel. The next day, Joe received a ticket to Troy, Alabama where he soon developed typhus and almost died. A religious Jewish woman named Mrs. Kermish took him into her home, rubbed him down with alcohol to take down the fever, and nursed him back to health. It was a close call that Joe made it past the evil eye of Dr. Bahrenburg.

May marks Jewish American Heritage Month. In honor of that commemoration, I devote this post to the story of Joe Weinstock. I featured Uncle Joe in this blog on May 23, 2023, “Grateful for My Strong Family “Stock” – The Story of My Uncle Joe Weinstock.” Click HERE to review that post, which I’ll expand on now.

Joe was the third of six children of Eliezer and Leah Weinstock. Joe left behind his parents and five siblings in Polona, Ukraine in order to avoid being drafted into the Russian army by the Czar. He was warned that remaining religiously observant in America (particularly in the South) would be impossible. But Uncle Joe defied the odds and remained “Shomer Shabbos” (strictly Sabbath observant) and kosher his entire life, even in faraway Troy, Alabama. He soon relocated to nearby Montgomery in order to belong to a synagogue. Joe bought a horse and wagon, going house to house selling fruit. 

Ten years later (after World War I), Joe had saved enough to buy a visa for his parents and two of his younger siblings, Morris and Pauline (my grandmother). By this time, Jews couldn’t get passports to leave the Soviet Union, so the Weinstocks were smuggled across the border into Poland, where they paid bribes to get Polish passports. Miraculously, they made it to America just before immigration ceased in 1924. Alas, the oldest two Weinstock children, Elke and Enoch, were married and couldn’t be covered on the same visa. They remained behind and were later murdered by Hitler. Sister Rachel and her husband were on a separate visa, but settled in Cuba, as the US quota for Jews immigrating from Poland was full.

Joe ran an ad in the Yiddish newspaper seeking a religious wife, and he and younger brother Morris married sisters Rose and Ruth Pass from Columbus, Ohio. Joe never had children, but he treated my mother Elsie and her siblings as his own. In spite of all his struggles, he was always cheerful and singing. One of Joe’s favorite sayings was, “I never had a bad day in America.” The Montgomery Advertiser did a story on him, saying “Weinstock came over from the Old Country with a smile on his face, and the smile never faded.”

Beginning in the 1950s until his death in the 1980s, Joe and Rose spent the High Holidays every year in Jerusalem. It was said that his body was in Alabama, but his soul was in Israel. 

If not for Uncle Joe’s courageous voyage to Galveston, our entire family would have perished in the Holocaust. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, I am grateful for the heritage I inherited from Joe Weinstock. His selfless devotion to our family and the Jewish people never wavered—from Ukraine, to Galveston, to Alabama, to Israel. To this day, Uncle Joe continues to give me strength.

Marvin E. Blum

 

Source of information in paragraph 3: “Study on Antisemitism in Texas,” Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, Nov. 1, 2022. 

 

 

Marvin Blum’s Uncle Joe Weinstock (center) prior to immigrating to Galveston from Ukraine. Joe is flanked by four of his five siblings (L to R) Rachel, Enoch, Pauline (Marvin’s grandmother), and Morris. Joe was able to rescue his parents and three of his siblings from death in the Holocaust, but was unable to save brother Enoch and sister Elke.

Joe Weinstock (center) with wife Rose and father Eliezer (whose eye was poked out in a pogrom against Jews in Ukraine). On Rose’s lap is nephew Leonard (now Rabbi Leonard Oberstein, Marvin Blum's uncle).

“Galveston, oh Galveston” – How Our Family of Jewish Immigrants Ended Up in the South Read More »

Buffett Retires, but Remains a Treasure Trove of Tips

Last weekend was the Berkshire-Hathaway Annual Meeting. Although we missed this year (in order to attend a niece’s Bat Mitzvah in Memphis), our family has a long tradition of gathering in Omaha. Family traditions and family travel (such as our annual pilgrimage to Omaha), create powerful family glue.

The bombshell from this year’s meeting was Warren Buffett (age 94) announcing his retirement. Thanks for all the years of imparting so much wisdom to us. We hope those tips will keep coming, even in Buffett’s retirement years.

Three times over the years I’ve had the privilege of being selected to ask Buffett a question. Topics range from his views on estate planning, philanthropy, business succession planning, to how to raise kids in affluence. People hang on every word of his answers.

I’m honored that my first question to him in 2013 is featured in a new book entitled Family Wealth, Inheritance and Well-Being (Claudia Tordini and Richard Franklin). The subject was Buffett’s famous goal to leave his children “enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.” Buffett’s reply shows how he evolved from his original plan to leave each $500,000: “I think more kids are ruined by the behavior of their parents than by the amount of the inheritance that they [receive].” Buffett’s current Will reflects a more generous bequest to his kids: “I’ve loosened up a little bit as I go along.”

In a Press Release dated November 25, 2024, Buffett divulges more about his updated estate plan. “I change my will every couple of years…. Charlie [Munger] and I saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry. Jealousies, along with actual or imagined slights during childhood, become magnified, particularly when sons were favored over daughters either in monetary ways or by positions of importance.”

Hence, Buffett encourages parents to discuss the estate plan with children and avoid surprises. “Be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death…. You don’t want your children asking ‘Why?’ in respect to testamentary decisions when you are on longer able to respond.”

Buffett is hitting on an important point that no doubt will strike a nerve with some. In my early years as a lawyer, the trend was more towards secrecy. The “Greatest Generation” was reluctant to share information with their “Baby Boomer” kids. That trend has shifted in recent years to align with Buffett’s advice. My experience today is that parents’ secrecy has generally given way to openness with their kids. However, be thoughtful in how you do it. I strongly recommend a series of family meetings, facilitated by an objective family consultant. Don’t start with the money. Better to lead with a discussion of family values rather than valuables. The conversation can gradually evolve into appropriate financial disclosures as the meetings progress and the family coalesces.

Buffett’s Press Release also describes how he leaves his Berkshire holdings (which “now account for 99.5% of my wealth”) to a trust to be disbursed to charities selected unanimously by three trustees. The initial trustees are his three children Susie, Howie, and Peter. Given that they are currently ages 71, 69, and 66, he designated three potential successor trustees who are “somewhat younger than my children” –yet more good advice.

Buffett elaborates that, over the years, he’s gained confidence in his kids. “I know the three well and trust them completely.” Accordingly, he’s willing to put them in charge. As to why unanimous, he reasons it’ll be easier for a child to say no when “besieged with earnest requests from very sincere friends and others” if they can blame their siblings. He or she can just respond, “It’s not something that would ever receive my brother’s consent.”

But Buffett acknowledges: “My unanimity clause, of course, is not a panacea—it clearly isn’t workable if you have nine or ten children or stepchildren. And it doesn’t solve the daunting problem of intelligently distributing many billions annually.” That “daunting” task will fall on shoulders of Susie, Peter, and Howie. Buffett knows that’ll be a burden, as “they have different views in many cases from both me and their siblings but have common values that are unwavering.” For example, like their dad, they have all eschewed “look at me” lifestyles.

Truly, Buffett comes through again with his treasure trove of tips. Given my passion to help families create a lasting legacy, Buffett’s focus on identifying and celebrating a family’s “common values” is particularly music to my ears. With all of his practical wisdom, Buffett is every estate planner’s best friend. So, thank you to my friend Warren, and congratulations on your well-earned retirement! You are a gift that keeps on giving.

Marvin and Laurie Blum with their hero Warren Buffett.

Marvin Blum (left) at an annual gathering with family at a Berkshire-Hathaway annual meeting.

Buffett Retires, but Remains a Treasure Trove of Tips Read More »

Jeffrey S. Hamilton Named to D Magazine’s 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

We are thrilled to announce that one of our very own, Jeffrey S. Hamilton, has been named to D Magazine’s distinguished list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2025.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to Jeff’s outstanding dedication, legal expertise, and unwavering commitment to his clients. Each year, D Magazine invites local attorneys to nominate their peers, and a careful vetting process ensures only the most qualified are selected.

Being included in this list reflects not only professional excellence but also the deep respect Jeff has earned within the legal community. We couldn’t be prouder to have him on The Blum Firm team as a Partner in our law firm.

Congratulations, Jeff!

Jeffrey S. Hamilton Named to D Magazine’s 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List Read More »

I’m Now a Cat with Eight Lives

Life is fragile, I knew that intellectually. Now I know it in a real sense. Laurie and I began a glorious trip to Cabo, each with nine lives. We returned home full of gratitude, but now each with eight lives. We each donated one of our lives to the Pacific Ocean. We were almost swept away in a high tide, but thankfully in the battle of man vs. sea, we miraculously won.

The adventure began on a picture-postcard afternoon. The beach was calling out to us to take a walk in the sand. We were walking far from the water’s edge at what we thought was a safe distance inland. Suddenly, one of the biggest waves I’ve ever seen came crashing down on us, knocking us over and swallowing us up. The undertow was fierce and the current was pulling us toward the ocean with a powerful force. As determined as the water was to win, we were even more determined to live.

The tug-of-war happened fast, but I can now look back on it in slow motion. Reflecting on it, I have these observations.

  • When threatened, the human body is an amazing machine. A Samson-like superpower kicks in. We are stronger than we realize. When the wave struck us, our adrenaline rushed in, giving us the muscle to claw into the sand and grab each other so tightly that no force could overcome us.
  • When you think the end may be near, there’s a moment of awareness. Do I have any regrets, any unfinished business? Remarkably, I actually remember feeling that if this is the end, I am at peace. There’s great comfort in that.
  • When the episode is over and the mind calms, it’s time for a serious life inventory. At this time in my life, what are my priorities, and am I devoting my time and energy to them? Have I properly prepared my loved ones to carry on without me? Are my affairs in order?

I already knew this, but after our close call, the message is now even more loud and clear: Live each day as if it could be your last. The Roman philosopher Seneca said it this way: “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day…. The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short on time.”

When I was a little boy, my aunt Gertie Miller used to say, “Tomorrow is not promised to us.” Now I know what she meant.

 

Marvin and Laurie Blum moments before a walk on the beach and almost being swallowed up by the ocean. Remarkably, although Marvin injured his left bicep, his phone died, and Laurie donated her hat to the sea, they emerged alive.

Marvin and Laurie the next evening, with their serenity restored.

I’m Now a Cat with Eight Lives Read More »

Giving Back: Don’t Just Write a Check, Roll Up Your Sleeves

When it comes to creating a family legacy, philanthropy can play a very powerful role. When a family comes together to support meaningful causes, it serves as very strong family “glue.” Even though not everyone has the skills to work in a family’s business or investments, everyone can play a role in family philanthropy. Managing a philanthropic vehicle (like a family foundation) is also a laboratory for learning life skills. In addition to the gratification that comes from helping those in need, family members learn how to make group decisions, build bridges of communication and trust, and may even learn some financial, investing, and tax concepts. Philanthropy definitely provides a “win-win,” benefitting not only the recipient of it, but also enriching the family who does the giving.

When we hear the word “philanthropy,” the first thing that usually comes to mind is writing a check. Giving of our financial resources is an important part, but there are more ways to give than just by giving money. Charities often promote the “Three T’s,” urging us to give not only of our Treasure, but also of our Time and Talent. I’ll add a “Fourth T:” Toil. By digging into a cause and “getting our hands dirty,” we expand the “win” that comes back to the one who is giving. 

The Case Bogart Perspectives essay “Why Give?” (www.casebogart.com) explains that heirs participating in philanthropic activities receive an “essential transformation in their development of empathy, character, leadership skills, and life purpose.” Empathy comes from witnessing firsthand the impact of their charitable work, “fostering a deeper understanding of social issues and true human need.” Organizing charitable events and doing legwork teaches leadership skills, as well as “project management and strategic planning.” The interaction with diverse individuals expands the volunteer’s network and teaches “teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.” All of these benefits build character and instill life purpose, inspiring “a person to get out of bed each morning with something they want to accomplish outside of themselves.”

The Case Bogart essay got me thinking of some examples from my own life experience. The Blum Family is a big proponent of “hands-on” philanthropy. A few come quickly to mind: Laurie’s work with Meals on Wheels, Lizzy’s interaction with hostage families and IDF widows and orphans in Israel, Adam’s work with Gov. Abbott to fight antisemitism in Texas. Allow me to share a couple more examples from me and from my mom Elsie.

For over 30 years, I’ve been active with Fort Worth’s Multicultural Alliance (MCA), participating in programs to promote acceptance and understanding of those different from us. One such experience particularly stands out. I took a week off work to serve (along with my daughter Lizzy) as a counselor at Camp Anytown (now called Camp CommUNITY). We bring together high school students from diverse backgrounds to break down barriers of prejudice, bias, and hate. Remarkably, over the course of that life-changing week, campers leave with newfound open minds and open hearts, understanding and embracing people they’d never have imagined knowing. I facilitated conversations in share groups, we learned of each other’s cultures and backgrounds, and I even taught an art class to an eager group of kids excited about exploring their talents. At the end, I confessed that I had been reluctant to serve as a counselor, for fear that as a very uncool lawyer, I’d never be able to connect with a bunch of high school kids. One of my favorite takeaways from Camp was when the kids responded resoundingly: “Marvin, you cool!” Who knew? Even I emerged from camp with a much more open mind and open heart. I applied those lessons later when I facilitated an MCA Table Talk program for diverse students at Texas A&M Law School, and again at a program I gave for financial executives “Conversations are the Currency for Change.” My hands-on experiences at MCA have been life-changing for me.

I’ll wrap up with a couple of examples from my personal hero, my mother Elsie. For my entire life, I’ve watched my mom roll up her sleeves and work tirelessly at our synagogue. When my dad died 22 years ago, I often said that my mom “remarried,” and the marriage was to our synagogue. She became a full-time volunteer, single-handedly overseeing the synagogue kitchen and catering operation, supervising adherence to the Jewish laws of kashrut (kosher food laws), and working there literally seven days a week. But there’s another volunteer activity she took very seriously that I’ve never mentioned: serving on the Chevra Kadisha to wash and dress deceased Jewish women to prepare them for burial. It’s an ancient ritual that happens in prayerful silence, concluding with closing the coffin and thanking the deceased woman for the opportunity to prepare her for her final journey. In the Jewish religion, it’s considered a sacred honor. As Rabbi Isadore Garsek explained to my mom when she joined the group, this is the most selfless of all volunteer work, because the woman you are doing it for can never thank you for it. It’s hard to imagine a more meaningful type of “hands-on” philanthropy.

In summary, philanthropy goes well beyond just taking out your wallet.   When the volunteerism involves committing your hands to an activity, you truly get back way more than you give.

Marvin Blum and daughter Lizzy as counselors at Camp Anytown (now called Camp CommUNITY), sponsored by the Multicultural Alliance (MCA) of Fort Worth.

Marvin facilitating an MCA Table Talk to help diverse law students achieve acceptance and cross-cultural understanding.
Marvin’s mother Elsie Blum (center) supervising the synagogue catering operation.

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Family Traditions: The Blum Passover Seder Is Much More Than a Meal

Four generations of Blums gathered this week to preserve Passover family traditions (matriarch Elsie; Marvin & Laurie; Adam & Brooke; Lucy, Grey, & Mia). Lucy holds a vintage Haggadah created 35 years ago by Adam and his sister Lizzy, still used to this day at Blum Seders to tell the Passover story.

“Tradition! Tradition! Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a Fiddler on the Roof!” There’s a lot of truth in Tevye’s lyrics. Looking back over my 70 years, an annual Blum family tradition that helps keep our family steady is coming together to celebrate Passover. We are now in the week of Passover, rushing a lifetime of family memories into my mind.

Research shows that 90% of families fall victim to the adage “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” Shockingly, only 10% beat the odds. What are the best practices of those successful 10% that we can try to copy in our own families? In my own research, I compiled a list of the Top Ten Best Practices, as revealed in the slide below. Note that one of those 10 is Family Traditions, and the graphic next to it is an oak tree. Indeed, traditions keep us from falling off the roof, deeply rooted so we’re as steady as an oak tree when the winds of adversity blow our way.  

My dear friend Kasia Flanagan at everydaylegacies.com teaches this truth in her post “What Are Your Traditions?”: “Traditions—they are not simply what we do, they become who we are, affecting everything from our identity to our sense of belonging, and the purpose we feel in our lives.”

My Passover memories take me back to the earliest days of my youth. The Blum family gathered each year for a Seder at the home of my father’s sister, Aunt Sophie Weinstein. A long row of tables was pushed together running the entire length of the “front room,” with Uncle Max at the head leading the first night’s Seder supper. From very old to very young, everyone participated. We went person-to-person down the table, each reading aloud the next passage from the Haggadah, the Passover story. I remember counting ahead to identify my passage so I could practice in my head before it was my turn. There were some hard words in the text, as Moses shouted “Let my people go!” and Pharaoh obstinately refused until the last of the Ten Plagues.

The Blum’s kid-friendly Seder features eyeglasses depicting the Ten Plagues.

When Laurie and I married, we took over hosting the Blum Passover Seder. Our children, Adam and Lizzy, played major roles in the preparations. Most significantly, they compiled their own version of the Haggadah, a 41-page kid-friendly retelling of the Passover story. To this day, we use that Haggadah, as do a number of other families who have likewise fallen in love with the Blum version.

Another Seder memory was a skit performed every year by Lizzy and her best friend Sari Hochberger. It was unscripted and very clever, complete with numerous costume changes. It started with baby Moses hidden in a basket among the reeds by his sister Miriam, then to Pharaoh torturing a Jewish slave, and on to G-d (speaking through a burning bush) directing Moses to tell Pharaoh to “let my people go!’ They then graphically acted out each of the Ten Plagues, culminating in the death of the first born. The memories go on and on, and now we’re creating a whole generation of new Blum Passover traditions.

During this Passover holiday, Marvin Blum celebrates family traditions from Passovers past. Here (some 30 years ago), daughter Lizzy (right) portrays the burning bush through which G-d instructs Moses (acted by best friend Sari Hochberger) to tell Pharaoh: “Let my people go!”

Click HERE to revisit my post of Sept. 14, 2021, “Tradition, Tradition! Your Family Traditions Matter More Than You May Realize.” In it I quoted from Mitzi Perdue’s book What It Means to Be Us, describing traditions as the “lifeblood of a family’s identity” – “the more traditions, the more glue.” I also referred to Bruce Feiler’s book The Secrets of Happy Families, telling of a Duke family tradition from their weekly Shabbat dinners. Grandfather Duke would fling yarmulkes like a Frisbee onto each grandson’s head. Feiler asked, “Is this in the Torah?” The family replied, “No, it’s in the Duke Family Hall of Fame, and that’s much more important.”

Traditions such as these are more important indeed. They are essential to our survival as a family. I attended a Shabbat sermon by Rabbi Shlomo Farhi where he actually broke into song “I’m Still Standing.” Rabbi Farhi credits Jewish observance and practices as the reason we’re “still standing,” even after centuries of persecution (still occurring today at an alarming rate). Even on the way to the gas chamber, Holocaust victims sang in Yiddish, “We will outlive them.” Deeply rooted in our traditions and identity, no adversity will destroy us.

As I write the last paragraph of this post on the morning of tonight’s first Seder, two of my grandkids (Lucy and Grey) just happily interrupted my flow to ask how they’ll be able to find tonight’s Afikomen, the piece of matza we hide during the Seder so kids can find it and get a prize. I can see in their twinkling eyes the makings of lifetime memories and a new generation of Blum family traditions.

Wishing all of you a happy and meaningful Passover and Easter.

As the Blum Seder concluded, a very excited Grey & Lucy find the Afikomen (the hidden matza) and claim their prize, making more lifetime memories and family connection.

Family Traditions: The Blum Passover Seder Is Much More Than a Meal Read More »

Alright, Alright, Alright: Kay McConaughey, Anna Stucker, and Other Longevity Role Models

Today’s post wraps up a 3-part series on How to Add 7 ½ Years to Your Life. Let’s celebrate and learn from some role models.

  • Anna Stucker: I’ll start with this remarkable centenarian who turns 100 in two days on April 10. Anna is a vibrant role model of staying engaged and fit. She is also 100% mentally sharp and as smart as ever. Anna’s daily work-out regimen not only keeps her fit, it also provides interaction with a community of other fitness enthusiasts. Moreover, Anna can still fit into her Jayhawks cheerleader uniform from her days as a University of Kansas cheerleader!
  • Elsie Blum: I’ll turn next to the role model I know best, my mother Elsie. I’ve written often about her successful transition into her senior years. Now a vibrant 94 who is also still 100% mentally sharp, I credit her community involvement as the primary reason for her success. When my dad died 21 years ago, my mom took over the catering operation at our synagogue as a full-time volunteer. At 90, she moved into the Stayton, a fabulous senior community where she thrives in all their programs and social activities. With her ever-present smile and positive mental attitude, she declares (in her “Lady Bird Johnson” southern accent): “I’m living in the lap of luxury!” It’s not just that her apartment is beautiful, but what she really means is that her life is luxurious. 
  • Opal Lee: Fort Worth’s 98-year-old “Grandmother of Juneteenth” is another example of longevity propelled by purposeful living. Lee’s courage led to her being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. She single-handedly led the charge to get June 19 (“Juneteenth”) declared the 11th federal holiday. Lee overcame the adversity of seeing 500 white rioters burn down her home on Juneteenth in 1939. That spurred her to a life of activism. Upon receiving the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from Fort Worth’s Multicultural Alliance, Lee challenged us to “make yourself a committee of one” to fight for a cause meaningful to you, and others will join you. That passion not only sustains Opal Lee, it keeps her forever young.
  • John Scharffenberg: Another 100-year-old role model is this longevity expert. His M.O.? Exercise! “For every hour you exercise, you gain three additional hours of life.” Per Scharffenberg, working out not only extends life, it reduces risk of Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t have to be in the gym. Gardening or farming works just as well.
  • Jane Fonda: The Oscar-winning actress, now 87, is another fitness guru who recently revealed on the CBS “Sunday Morning” show her key to living longer. Per Fonda, it’s all about having a good attitude. The number one way to do that is to join a community, whether it’s painting, singing, dancing, exercising, or flower arranging. Doing so reduces stress, makes us braver, kinder to ourselves, and less judgmental.
  • Kay McConaughey: The 93-year-old mother of Matthew is a “razor sharp firecracker,” per Jennifer Birn’s recent Austin Lifestyle article “Life and Lessons from Kay McConaughey.” Her secret? “I eat clean. I exercise and I don’t stress… You are what you eat, and you are what you think… That’s why I think positive.” Her favorite food is salmon, reminding me of a TIGER 21 lecture from Dr. Jonathan Fialkow, a certified lipidologist, who declared salmon as the “number one food on the planet.” She also keeps up with current events and stays curious, a role model for Chip Conley’s definition of a “Modern Elder” as one who is as curious as you are wise.

McConaughey sees happiness as a choice. She overcame struggles with her mother and stepmother, determined to not be like them. “I’m a happy, happy, happy person… I don’t talk negative. I’ve chosen to be happy, in spite of the way that I was treated by those two women. You have a choice.”

I see some themes emerging here—community, mental and physical fitness, purpose-driven passions all making you “happy, happy, happy.” And as Kay’s son Matthew would say, “Alright, Alright, Alright!”

Marvin Blum with Anna Stucker, celebrating her 100th birthday this month. Anna is a role model for fitness and a positive attitude.

Marvin Blum and Opal Lee, the purpose-driven 98-year-old “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”
Kay McConaughey (Matthew's Mother) shares tips on staying "happy, happy, happy," to which her son would reply, "Alright, Alright, Alright!"

Alright, Alright, Alright: Kay McConaughey, Anna Stucker, and Other Longevity Role Models Read More »

Be a Block of Jade, Not a Blank Canvas

Based on the feedback from last week’s post, a lot of you want to learn more about how to live 7 ½ more years. I dug deeper into the science, this time from Professor Arthur Brooks’ weekly column “Happiness Is an Investment” (Dec. 2, 2024) and his recent speech at a TIGER 21 conference (Jan. 29, 2025). Here are more tips on how to live a longer, and happier, life.

As we strive for longevity, Brooks’ emphasis is on finding happiness in the second half of life. He describes the “U-Curve of Happiness.” We are actually happiest at the beginning and end of our lives. Happiness starts declining at age 16, bottoms out at 52, and then goes up again. The goal is for the curve to keep going up for as long as you live.

However, there’s a phenomenon at about age 70. Half keep getting happier, but the other half goes back down again. Research at the University of Texas described this as the “Striver’s Curse.” Those who were high achievers begin to feel irrelevant and unhappier late in life. Brooks gives the example of scientist Charles Darwin, world-famous by age 27, but after 50 with no new research he could do, he died 19 years later as a broken man.

When the fork in the road appears, the key to taking the high road rather than the low road is to celebrate a new kind of intelligence in later years. Shift from “fluid intelligence” (complex problem-solving and innovation, which declines with age) to “crystallized intelligence” (wisdom, judgment, and teaching skills, which increases with age). Per Brooks, that’s why teachers older than 65 get better teacher evaluations. When young, do innovation; when old, do instruction. Be the star lawyer at 30 and the managing partner at 65.

Brooks lauds Bach as a role model. The famous composer was the master of Baroque music in his fluid years. When Baroque fell from favor and gave way to classical music, Bach shifted from composer to professor, dying a happy man who was surrounded by his adoring students.

Another key to late life satisfaction is to reduce your “wants.” Satisfaction equals “haves” divided by “wants.” The better path to happiness is to reduce your “wants” (the denominator) rather than increase your “haves” (the numerator). Brooks contrasts Western civilization (where we treat life as an empty canvas on which we keep adding and adding paint) vs. Eastern civilization (where an intricate jade sculpture starts as a big block of jade, and the more you chip away, the more beautiful it becomes). Be a jade sculpture rather than a blank canvas. As we age, subtract rather than add.

In his article, Brooks also offers these tips:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Watch your drinking.
  • Maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Prioritize movement.
  • Practice coping mechanisms.
  • Keep learning.
  • Cultivate long-term relationships.

All of this is common sense, but the science actually proves it. Following these tips improves the odds of a life that is not only 7 ½ years longer, but also more enriching.

Marvin and Laurie Blum with his mother Elsie Blum, now 94 and a role model for improved longevity.

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Add 7 ½ Years to Your Life

Want to add 7 ½ years to your life—and not just more years, but fulfilling ones? There’s actually science that tells you how. At a recent TIGER 21 conference, Chip Conley (CEO of Modern Elder Academy) was a wealth of information.

Exercise and stopping smoking both help, but research from Dr. Becca Levy at Yale reveals a tool that’s more than twice as powerful as those two combined—a positive mindset. The result is 7 ½ more years of life. Easier said than done, but Conley offers tips.

  • Become a beginner at something. If you’re no longer a beginner, you’re no longer learning. Ask yourself: “Ten years from now, what will you regret if you don’t learn it or do it now?” Jane Fonda (age 87) suggests art lessons. A National Endowment for the Arts study showed art classes improve mental engagement and physical activity, resulting in fewer doctor visits and making you less likely to fall. As a painter myself, I draw inspiration from other elder artists like George W. Bush, Bob Schieffer, and the late Winston Churchill.
  • Stay curious. Conley defines a “Modern Elder” as one who is as curious as he is wise. You can stimulate that curiosity at a Modern Elder Academy mid-life workshop “to fuel your gas tank for the later years.”
  • Cultivate “social wellness.” Join a community to exercise, paint, or volunteer. Also reconnect with friends from the past. Conley challenged us to take out your phone and text someone from long ago. I texted Jim Lipstate, my best friend from our freshman UT year. He responded instantly, and we’re back in touch after decades of living separate lives. I suggest you try it now.
  • Realize that our most valuable asset is time—edit out negativity in your life. In life’s later stages, it’s time to stop adding to our resume and start subtracting things that suck more juice than add.
  • Laugh at yourself. When laughing, it keeps us from being too self-critical.

Following these tips will improve our ability to handle life’s transitions, so we can go from “caterpillar” (the prior chapter’s ending stage) through “chrysalis” (the “messy middle”) and emerge a “butterfly” (the new beginning). It also helps us to find meaning, equipping us to solve a mystery posed by Mark Twain: The two most important days are the day you were born and the day you figure out why you were born. Solving that will help us live not only 7 ½ years longer, but also live those 7 ½ years with more purpose.

Marvin and Laurie Blum at a TIGER 21 conference, learning the tools to achieve longevity and putting them into practice.

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What’s in a Name? A Lot! (Especially When the Name is Juliet Georgie)

There is a Jewish tradition to name a child after a deceased loved one. Naming someone for an ancestor helps carry on the departed’s soul and memories “l’dor vador,” from generation to generation. Typically, the Hebrew name is the same as the loved one’s, and the English name is similar. When our daughter Lizzy Savetsky was expecting her second child (a daughter) she approached us about naming her after my deceased father Julius George Blum (Yehuda Getzel in Hebrew), as no one had been named for him yet. Rather than saving the name for a son they might never have, they wanted to go ahead and honor my dad. At the first Torah service following the birth, Ira declared his daughter’s name as Juliet Georgie (Yehudit Gital in Hebrew). Yehudit stands for the women of Judea, whereas Yehuda represented the men. I stood by proudly, filled with memories of her namesake.

A couple of weeks ago, each child in Juliet’s grade did a presentation on a deceased ancestor, featuring a meaningful artifact from that person. For her L’dor Vador project, Juliet Georgie chose to honor my father Julius George, highlighting the symbolism of his gold Rolex watch. It’s a proud and significant moment for me that I’d like to share with you.

I’ve written several times in this Family Legacy Planning blog about the importance of preserving family heritage. Research actually shows that the more we know of our ancestors, the higher our self-esteem. Knowledge of a family’s past (particularly stories overcoming struggles) arms us with resilience when adversity strikes. We know we come from stock who handled even worse things and survived, even thrived. I applaud Juliet’s school (SAR Jewish Day School in Riverdale, New York) for supporting this effort.

The irony is that Julius Blum was seemingly a very simple man. It didn’t dawn on me until after he was gone how special and significant he was. He was a hardworking, humble, and unassuming leader. Never once did I hear him brag about anything. Then, going through his papers, I discovered all kinds of youth, college, and adult leadership roles in the Jewish community. Those activities were overshadowed by his heavy work schedule. As Juliet so eloquently describes in her project (see photo attached), Julius was relentlessly committed to earning a living to provide his family with all the advantages he never had. On top of that, he never complained—not once!

Juliet chose his Rolex watch as a symbol of Julius’ success. “The watch was one of the few nice things my great-grandfather ever bought for himself. It was his way of saying he had made it.” He wore it quietly and proudly, as a reward for all his hard work, and never as a means of showing off. Juliet is taking an important lesson from that heirloom watch. To her, the watch symbolizes the importance of having a strong work ethic and taking care of your family. 

Juliet mentioned Julius’ love of bowling. He was in two bowling leagues: the Jolly Clowns on Wednesday nights, and a B’nai Brith Men’s League on Sunday mornings. At the end of each season, there was a trophy ceremony. Every year, Julius brought home a trophy from both bowling leagues engraved “Sportsmanship Award.”  I asked what that meant and he kind of blew it off as a “no big deal” thing. Well, now I know it was a very big deal. Everyone voted for him as the best sport, the nicest competitor, sort of a Mr. Congeniality. That says a lot about Julius Blum.

He loved to take care of our kids Adam and Lizzy. Julius was playful. He arrived at our house with a Big Chief writing tablet and a big fat (easy to hold) pencil to teach them to write their letters. He sat them on the bottom step and asked math problems, and every time they got one right, they got to advance up a step. On Saturday mornings he’d take Lizzy in his pickup truck to the Ol’ South Pancake House for salami & eggs, chocolate milk, and a tummy ache. Then on many of those Saturday nights, Lizzy would go with my parents to the Fort Worth Symphony where Julius bought her a bag of cherry sours to devour through the concert (and yet another tummy ache, but well worth it!). 

I remember when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 76. He looked at the doctor and us and said, “I’ve had 76 wonderful years. Who could ask for more?” Adam was a college freshman, and I remember Julius saying, “Don’t let my illness interfere in any way with you having the best college experience. Go back to Austin, enjoy yourself, and make the most of it.” Throughout my dad’s final year fighting that dreadful cancer, he still never complained. What a role model of strength and positivity. I cling to all these memories now.

Juliet Georgie (Yehudit Gital), indeed you come from good stock. Julius George (Yehuda Getzel) is watching over you.

Marvin Blum’s granddaughter Juliet Georgie Savetsky proudly displaying her great grandfather’s gold watch as a symbol of the heritage he left to her.

Juliet’s L’dor Vador project honoring her namesake, Julius George Blum
Julius George Blum with his adoring granddaughter Lizzy, who grew up to become the mother of Juliet Georgie (as well as Stella and Ollie) Savetsky.

What’s in a Name? A Lot! (Especially When the Name is Juliet Georgie) Read More »

Save Income Tax (and Actually Have Fun Learning How!)

I recently had the challenge of being lunchtime speaker in Lubbock on “Creative Income Tax Strategies.” The speech was to the South Plains Trust and Estate Council. I knew I couldn’t hold their attention by reciting a bunch of tax code sections and technical concepts. Solution? Turn each technique into a catchy story and keep them laughing. With my law partner John Hunter’s help in creating the stories, I pulled it off. No one was drifting asleep. Success!

My typical speech topics are about ways to save estate tax. Estate planners are so good at that, to the point some dub the estate tax a “voluntary tax” (paid by those who volunteer not to plan). I live in the world of “squeeze and freeze” transfers to DGTs, SLATs, and 678 Trusts. But in this speech, I shifted gears to saving income tax. The audience was all ears.

I understand why. As much as people want their family to avoid paying a 40% estate tax when the inheritance comes their way, people get even more excited about saving income tax—now, today, while they’re alive.

One way for people to save income tax is to own appreciated assets and get a stepped-up basis on them when they die. But once again, people prefer to save income tax without having to die. My speech revealed 10 ways to save income tax without having to die.

Some of these tools may sound “too good to be true.” That’s not the test under the law. Bottom line—if the law allows it, you can do it, regardless how it smells. Don’t take my word for it. The Fifth Circuit famously said it doesn’t use its “olfactory senses” in deciding tax cases. Furthermore, here’s the word from the esteemed Judge Learned Hand in Gregory v. Helvering (2nd Circuit Court of Appeals 1934): “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.”

You can click on this link to read my 10 stories in my PowerPoint on “Creative Income Tax Strategies.” Here’s a brief overview:

  • Overfund your Roth IRA. Transfer appreciating assets (like a carried interest in a private equity fund), to a Roth IRA and the permanent income tax avoidance will likely greatly exceed the temporary pain of excise taxes on the overfunded amount.
  • Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock. Almost any business owner (other than service businesses or oil and gas, including those who think they don’t qualify under Section 1202) can restructure their business and end up avoiding tax on gains ranging between $10 million and $500 million.
  • Private Placement Life Insurance (“PPLI”). Income earned on investments inside a PPLI can escape income tax forever.
  • Mixing Bowl Partnerships. Transfer high basis assets to a partnership, along with low basis assets (like a building), and achieve a “basis swap,” ending up with a high basis on the building that you can later sell or depreciate.
  • Installment Sales. Sell assets to a related party (like an S Corporation or Trust) for a 25 year, interest-only note, who then sells it two years later for cash. Defer paying income tax on the gain for 23 years.
  • Upstream Planning. Give an elder relative or friend a general power of appointment over your low basis assets and get a free stepped-up basis on the assets when they die.
  • Basis Bump Swap. Swap out low basis assets in a grantor trust in exchange for high basis assets of equal value, and get a step-up when the grantor dies.
  • Conservation Easements. Impose an easement on land you love to preserve it as is, achieving a charitable deduction now and saving estate tax later.
  • Charitable Remainder Trust (“CRT”). Before selling a low basis asset, transfer it to a CRT and let the CRT sell it, deferring tax on the gain.
  • Qualified Opportunity Zone (“QOZ”) Funds. Within 180 days after incurring a gain, transfer proceeds to a QOZ and defer tax. Hold the QOZ for 10 years and never pay tax on the QOZ gain.

This is obviously a quick overview. Don’t engage in these 10 tools without careful tax counsel to guide you through the ins and outs. The Blum Firm would be honored to assist you in your planning.

Marvin Blum speaks on “Creative Income Tax Strategies” to South Plains Trust and Estate Council in Lubbock.

Marvin Blum (right) with legendary Texas Tech professor Gerry Beyer, who expertly trained many estate planning attorneys at The Blum Firm.

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How to Raise Happy Kids

This post wraps up a four-part series on parenting tips. Last week’s post was How to Raise Entrepreneurial Kids. Today’s shifts focus to How to Raise Happy Kids. I’m not an expert on the topic, but just sharing things I’ve learned from those who are. In particular, I’m an avid fan of Arthur Brooks who teaches “Happiness” at Harvard. Today’s tips come from Brooks’ January 27, 2025, weekly column on “The Art and Science of Happiness,” as well as a speech he gave two days later at a TIGER 21 conference.

Brooks gives us hope. Even if we’re not perfect (and who is?), we can succeed at raising happy kids. Here’s how:

  • The science says that one-third of the job is to just be warm and loving. Warmth and affection from fathers gets even more weight.
  • Kids raised in faith fare better. A 2001 study shows the benefits of “parental religiosity.” Once again, a father practicing his faith carries even more weight than a mother.
  • Put the focus on being “happy” rather than “special.” Kids who grow up striving for fame or power struggle with happiness later. The brain gets wired to only be happy when you get the adulation of strangers, often leading to addiction. Per Brooks, the worst thing is for your kid to be a child Disney star.
  • Live a life with purpose. Engage in meaningful family activities.
  • Create a tight family unit. Thousands of aspen trees in a grove all share one root system. Happy people realize their individuality is an illusion. Don’t go it alone. We are all connected.
  • Most of all, “be the person you want your kids to become.” “What you say has very little impact on how kids turn out…. What does matter for their development and well-being as a parent is your behavior—what they see you doing.”

Brooks clarifies that happiness is different from joy. Joy is just evidence of happiness. Joy is the smell of the Thanksgiving turkey; happiness is enjoying the whole meal. Brooks identifies the four daily habits of the happiest people:

  • Faith– Be “little” in an enormous universe.
  • Family– Your true self is not the sum of your achievements, but the sum of the love for the people in your life.
  • Friends– Friends aren’t a “nice to have,” they’re a “need to have”—but you need “real friends,” not “deal friends” who only befriend you because you can benefit them.
  •  Meaning– Engage in daily activity that gives you purpose—a reason to get out of bed in the morning. 

Reflecting on this, I want to give a shout out to the way my daughter and her husband, Lizzy and Ira Savetsky, are raising Stella (12), Juliet (10), and Ollie (4). It brings Laurie and me great joy that they are checking all Brooks’ boxes, and the results are living proof of it. In particular, Lizzy describes their activism for the Jewish people as a “family business” that employs all five of them. Their kids are involved almost daily supporting Israel—putting up posters of hostages so the world won’t forget, meeting with family members of hostages to give love, visiting hospitals and army bases, serving meals, attending rallies and prayer vigils. Stella even asked for no Bat Mitzvah presents, preferring donations to “IDF Widows and Orphans” (Israel Defense Forces Widows and Orphans).

Brooks sums up the goal: may they grow up to be “good, responsible, compassionate, honest, faithful—and happy—people.” And to that I say, Amen!

Marvin and Laurie Blum with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks, a leading authority on how to raise happy kids.

Second, Third, and Fourth Photos: Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky, her husband Ira, and kids Stella, Juliet, and Ollie are role models for living with purpose.

How to Raise Happy Kids Read More »

How To Raise Entrepreneurial Kids

As an estate planning lawyer, I represent a lot of entrepreneurs. Most of them are first generation wealth creators who grew up in modest circumstances. Family advisor Tom Rogerson of GenLegCo. teaches that a modest upbringing provides the conditions to create an “entrepreneurial incubator.” When trying to make ends meet with limited resources, family members not only learn to stretch the dollar, they also become naturally inter-dependent and learn to work together with others. Those skills come in handy in growing a business.

Many first generation (“G-1”) business creators hope G-2 will follow suit, exhibiting the drive to likewise grow into an entrepreneur. Here’s the dilemma. Many of the G-2’s grow up in very different circumstances than G-1. They lack exposure to the struggle that generated G-1’s grit. Rogerson refers to this rise in resources as fostering family independence (as opposed to inter-dependence), creating an “entrepreneurial kill-zone.” Click here for more on this topic in my April 26, 2022 post, “Declaration of INTER-dependence.”

Rogerson illustrates this concept on a graph. The lower left corner, where wealth is low and family interdependence is high, is the “Entrepreneurial Incubator.” As you move to the right (where wealth is higher) and upward (from interdependence to independence), you hit the “Entrepreneurial Kill Zone.” Families in the “kill zone” lose training on how to interact and make decisions as a team, which is a detriment if you are starting and running a business.

My last two posts were devoted to parenting.  I described it as the hardest and most important job you’ll ever have. Today, let’s explore what can entrepreneurial parents do to improve the odds of raising entrepreneurial kids?

Family Business magazine addressed this topic in “The Entrepreneur Gene” (Sept. 16, 2024). Entrepreneurs grow up with “an appetite for risk and perseverance through adversity.” But as the business grows and focus shifts to an “emphasis on continuity and legacy preservation, it’s easy to become risk-averse—and that mentality can hinder innovation and evolution.” The next gen’s stewardship of the business is healthy, “but there’s a flipside.” “A fear of failure” can inhibit creative thinking, per Prof. Alisa Jno-Charles of Babson College. A child who is afraid to fail will have challenges growing a business. What can parents do?

Jno-Charles offers a solution. The key is to develop “a very trusting and open familial culture, where children feel like they can come to their parents with anything.” Babson professor Angela Randolph expands this concept: “the key for parents hoping to foster entrepreneurship is turning NextGen’s mistakes into teachable moments. After all, entrepreneurs must be able not only to accept failure, but also to take lessons from it.”

Randolph elaborates that parents can best create an entrepreneurial mindset in two ways: “1) they actively share their goals, values and aspirations with their children and 2) they lead by example.” As I quoted Warren Buffett last week: “Your children are watching you more than they are listening to you.”

I’ll conclude with a powerful example from a family meeting I facilitated. The entrepreneurial patriarch suggested that at the next meeting he would review his many success stories on how he built an empire. The kids had a different agenda in mind. They asked their dad to instead describe the times he failed and what he learned from those failures. At the next family meeting, the kids were all ears. That was the best lesson in entrepreneurship he could ever give.

Marvin and Laurie Blum with Tom Rogerson of GenLegCo., advocating the importance of family INTER-dependence in order to raise entrepreneurial kids.

How To Raise Entrepreneurial Kids Read More »

Marvin Blum & Austin Light Publish Article in Trusts & Estates Magazine

Marvin Blum and Austin Light have co-authored an article published in the February issue of Trusts & Estates magazine.

In this article, they dive into the importance of client communication from an attorney’s perspective and give a few practical tips for effective communication.

To learn more about enhancing attorney-client communication, read the full article here. 

Marvin Blum & Austin Light Publish Article in Trusts & Estates Magazine Read More »

Parenting: Part Two

In last week’s post, I discussed the job of parenting, the hardest and most important job we ever do. The feedback I received was super affirming. Every parent can relate to the challenges. In my mission to help families create a lasting legacy, it starts with our job as parents to try to raise responsible kids. I’m no parenting expert, but I’ll take a stab at sharing some more wisdom on this topic.

Our job starts when our kids are born. I’ll never forget what I learned from the esteemed Rabbi Haskell Lookstein at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York. We were attending a Simchat Bat ceremony to celebrate the birth of a friend’s daughter. Rabbi Lookstein admonished the new parents: “Your first job as parents is to teach your child to have gratitude.” He explained that a newborn quickly becomes accustomed to having everything given to them. Naturally, a kid can grow up expecting that free ride to continue. According to the Rabbi, the first task is to teach little ones to say, “thank you.” For starters, it’s as simple as that. As they get older, our job expands.

Legendary Fort Worth vice principal at I.M. Terrell High School, Hazel Harvey Peace, embraced this message when she accepted Fort Worth’s Multicultural Alliance Award. In her speech, she told of high school students who were about to make bad decisions. She asserted that sometimes kids aren’t ready to make certain decisions. She said it is our job as parents (and hers, as their vice principal) to step in and override them. As I said last week, parenting isn’t a popularity contest. The mission is to keep them on track until they have the maturity to make critical decisions. Let kids learn lessons of failure on small decisions, but protect them from major screw-ups until they’re old enough to make responsible decisions.

With Adam and Lizzy both now grown, Laurie and I breathe a sigh of relief. We gave it our all and did our best. We certainly weren’t perfect. Interestingly, Lizzy was interviewed for an article about her life story. Lizzy described my role as the dad who relentlessly pushed her to reach her full potential, and Laurie’s role as the strict disciplinarian pushing her to behave. The author portrayed our parenting approach in a negative light. Our friends were horrified by the negative depiction of our parenting style. Laurie and I were unfazed. In fact, we wear that description as a badge of honor. We’ll take that criticism any day.

I once had the privilege of asking Warren Buffett for his advice on raising responsible kids, especially kids raised in affluence. He instantly responded that the most effective way to parent is to set an example. As Buffett said, “Your kids are watching you more than they are listening to you.”

I see this playing out beautifully in the next generation of our family. At an “End Jew Hatred” event, Lizzy was asked for one piece of advice. Her answer was golden: “I want to talk to all the moms and dads in the audience. It’s our job to raise our kids to care. People ask how I got my kids to be invested in supporting the Jewish people. It’s action. They’re watching everything we do. It’s what we eat, sleep, and breathe in our house. They know this is who they are, and they know what’s expected of them.” It’s the “Savetsky Family Business,” and they grow up knowing they’re a part of it.

That was a mountaintop moment for me as a G-1 parent, to witness my G-2 daughter passing down our family’s values to G-3, l’dor vador, from generation to generation. Lizzy concluded: “As parents, we must prepare the next generation. We need them to be educated. We need them to feel empowered. We need them to be ready to take the reins, carry the torch, and light the way.”

Way to go, Lizzy. And as for Laurie and me, mission accomplished!

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky speaking at an End Jew Hatred event about the importance of parents passing down their values to their kids.

Parenting: Part Two Read More »

The Hardest Job You’ll Ever Have

For most jobs we do in the course of life, we go through some kind of training. Typically, there’s an orientation or at least a “how to” manual. But for one job (the most important of all), there is no schooling or instruction book. You’re thrown into the deep and it’s sink or swim. You’ve likely guessed by now—that job is raising kids.

Parenting is hard. You love with all your heart, but you’re not there to win a popularity contest or be best friends. I can think of lots of times I wasn’t the most popular or “coolest dad” to Adam and Lizzy. A couple of examples come to mind:

  • Lizzy discovered a love of performing in her second grade performance of “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No.” From that point, she wanted a career on stage, in the spotlight. I knew a relentless pursuit of performance would interfere with her Hebrew studies. I struck a bargain with her: “If you wait until after your Bat Mitzvah and devote yourself fully to your religious preparation, I’ll take you to every audition after that and support your dream.” Lizzy complied, and at age 13, only weeks after her Bat Mitzvah, I stood in a long line with her auditioning at the Johnnie High Country Music Revue (not exactly a Jewish hang out). The rest is history. Lizzy performed weekly on that stage for years, a great training ground for her career as a public speaker and advocate for all things Jewish and Israel. Remarkably, she ended up combining her love for the spotlight and her love for Judaism. 
  • When Adam was in his senior year as a business honors and accounting major at UT, he informed me of his decision not to take the CPA exam. He appreciated his accounting education but had no intention of ever practicing as a CPA. He already had a non-accounting job lined up on Wall Street and saw little value in spending his last semester studying for a test. My response: “Adam, you had the misfortune of being born into the wrong family. In the Blum family, taking the CPA exam is not optional.” Again, I wasn’t the popular dad. His answer: “It’s a waste.” Adam aced the exam, is still a CPA, and indeed never has practiced accounting. But he uses his accounting skills daily at his investment firm, and today Adam admits that his CPA designation has enhanced his credibility and has provided a meaningful benefit to him over the years as he’s built and grown his investment firm.

These stories bring to mind a similar time when my mom Elsie had to be the unpopular parent with me. In the summer leading up to my Bar Mitzvah, I was playing at a friend’s house and decided that was more fun than learning to lead the Shacharit service at my Bar Mitzvah. I called my mom at work to inform her I would just do the Torah, Haftarah, and Musaf portions at my Bar Mitzvah and let the Cantor lead Shacharit. Elsie wasn’t having it. To this day, at age 70, I think of Elsie’s insistence every time I recite Shacharit. I suppose I know the source of my own parental pushing. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

I share these thoughts to help other parents who struggle with the toughest job on earth. But it’s also the most important job we ever do. We are raising tomorrow’s leaders. The future of the world depends on us to do our job, starting in our kids’ earliest years. Raising responsible kids is also critical to building a legacy and positioning a family for multi-generational success. As we learn in Ethics of our Fathers: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Sometimes that means telling your kids what they don’t want to hear, and then holding the line if they object. That’s our job.

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy with Johnnie High in her first singing appearance on his show—the start of life in the spotlight.

Marvin’s son Adam Blum graduating college with the CPA exam already behind him.
Marvin (age 13) at his Bar Mitzvah, ready to lead Sabbath services start to finish.

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Attorneys Joshua Chandler and Mackenzie Cooper Join The Blum Firm  

Join Us in Welcoming Our New Attorneys!

We are excited to announce that Joshua (Josh) Chandler and Mackenzie (Mac) Cooper have joined The Blum Firm! We’re thrilled to have them as part of our team and look forward to the expertise and dedication they bring.

Josh joins The Blum Firm’s Dallas office, and Mac joins our Austin office.

Read their bios below to learn more about them!

Joshua Chandler, J.D. earned his Juris Doctor from Baylor University, where he received several honors, including the Dean’s Academic Excellence Full-Tuition Scholarship and placement on the Dean’s List for multiple semesters. He also holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Baylor University as part of the Baylor Business Fellows program.

Josh has a history with The Blum Firm, having served as a Summer Associate in 2023. He married his wife, Mary, in May 2021, and he enjoys spending quality time with her, reading books by Brandon Sanderson, and is an enthusiastic San Antonio Spurs fan.

Mac Cooper, J.D. is a first-generation lawyer, earning his Juris Doctor from Baylor University. While at Baylor, Mac was a proud member of the Baylor Transactional Law Team, where they won the Best Draft for the Buyer at the 2023 UCLA Transactional Law Competition. Prior to his time at Baylor, Mac earned his bachelor’s in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Mac enjoys playing both golf and disc golf, and he is a huge Chicago Bulls fan! 

Attorneys Joshua Chandler and Mackenzie Cooper Join The Blum Firm   Read More »

A Personal Growth Journey to the Stars 

Last week’s post told how our morning walking buddies, Barbara and Thurman Schweitzer, provided the inspiration for 2025 New Year’s Resolutions for me and for The Blum Firm. I shared how creating a mental “vision board” can help actualize your dreams.

In addition to last week’s wisdom from The Answer, the Schweitzers had another powerful recommendation: The Wealth Money Can’t Buy, by Robin Sharma. The title instantly resonated with my quest to promote the “heart” side of estate planning, along with the “head” side. It reminds me of my mentor James Hughes’ book Family Wealth: Keeping it in the Family. Hughes opens by saying that when he uses the word “it” in the title, he doesn’t mean money. Per Hughes, financial capital is only one of five capitals, outnumbered by human, social, intellectual, and spiritual capitals. 

Similarly, in Sharma’s list, “Money is only one of eight forms of wealth, overshadowed by Growth, Wellness, Family, Craft (or your Work), Community, Adventure, and Service.” In my goal to inspire The Blum Firm, I chose to focus on Sharma’s first source of wealth: Growth. My goal was to inspire each member of our team to strive for personal growth.

In explaining Sharma’s book, Barbara taught me that “humans are happiest and genuinely wealthiest when we are steadily realizing our personal gifts and primal talents. The regular pursuit of personal growth is one of your most valuable assets.”

Sharma’s book offers a treasure of tips to achieve personal growth. I selected these few to share with my team:

  • “The most important investment you can make is in yourself,” by my hero Warren Buffett.
  • “Small, daily, seemingly insignificant improvements, when done consistently over time, lead to stunning results.”
  • “All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.” [That one really strikes a chord, as many of us are naturally resistant to change (what we call the “C” word at The Blum Firm).]
  • “The way to start, is to start.” Just start and do so now.

When each of us embarks on a journey to achieve our full potential, imagine the outcome of the collective effort. The sky is the limit. Let’s reach for the stars.

This isn’t to say there won’t be meteors to dodge on our rocket ship ride to the heavens. My kids are fortunate graduates of Fort Worth’s Trinity Valley School, where the motto is, “Per Aspera, Ad Astra,” – “Through difficulty, to the stars.” By making the most of our gifts and talents, we empower ourselves to overcome obstacles and keep reaching for the stars. Here’s to the exciting personal growth journey ahead and all the possibilities it offers!

Marvin and Laurie Blum’s morning walks with Thurman and Barbara Schweitzer are a meaningful source of inspiration.

A Personal Growth Journey to the Stars  Read More »

Twelve Blum Firm Attorneys on the Fort Worth Magazine 2024 Top Attorneys List

As we step into the new year, we are excited to announce that 12 of our attorneys made it on the Fort Worth Magazine’s 2024 Top Attorneys List!

To be on the list, attorneys go through a peer-nomination process and are evaluated by a panel to ensure the highest standards and quality are upheld.

Please join us in congratulating our Fort Worth Magazine 2024 Top Attorneys! 

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What’s On Your Vision Board for 2025?

As we wrap up the month for New Year’s Resolutions, I’m looking into my crystal ball to envision a meaningful and productive year, both for me personally and for The Blum Firm. In seeking inspiration for those resolutions, I found it on an early morning walk.

Laurie and I roll out of bed early (the older we get, the earlier that is). Our day starts with exercise. As Laurie advises, “move your body at least an hour a day.” On frequent mornings, we walk the hills in our neighborhood, often linking up with another couple. That couple has become good friends of ours, a fringe benefit of our workout routine. As it turns out, our walking buddies, Barbara and Thurman Schweitzer, provided that source of inspiration.

The Schweitzers are big-time students of motivational books to help inspire their team at Sotheby’s Reality. When I asked for their input, they were a treasure trove of ideas. 

Barbara was reading The Answer by John Assaraf and Murray Smith. As I was asking The Blum Firm to also look into a crystal ball and idealize the firm’s future, Assaraf and Smith offered great advice: When visioning the future as you’d like it to be, figure out what that looks like and get that into your mind. Doing so will automatically train your subconscious mind to take steps to make that vision happen.

The Answer tells how Assaraf grew up in modest circumstances, always wanting to live in a grand house. Assaraf gathered photos from Architectural Digest and created a “vision board.” Fast forward 15 years and Assaraf’s son saw that vision board and declared to his dad,” That’s our house now!” Without realizing it, Assaraf had actualized his vision. That only happened because he had planted that vision in his subconscious mind.

As our team embarked on an exercise to dream big, I asked everyone to close their eyes and envision the ideal Blum Firm of the future. In your mind’s eye, create a vision board with those images. I learned from Assaraf (actually, from Barbara), that’s the first critical step to manifesting your dreams.

When I help facilitate family meetings, I use this same crystal ball exercise. I ask the family to look into that ball and imagine how you want your family to be 25 years in the future. We then discuss steps to take to help you get there. But even without taking intentional steps, just creating that mental vision board will subconsciously help make it happen.

Thanks to the Schweitzers for this valuable lesson we can all use in our families and businesses. Next week, I’ll share round two of their wisdom. Here’s to activating our creative juices and generating some lofty vision boards!

Wishing all a meaningful and productive 2025!

What’s On Your Vision Board for 2025? Read More »

The Blum Firm Announces Two New Partners and a Senior Associate

We are excited to announce the addition of two Partners at The Blum Firm, Emily K. Seawright, J.D., and Lani Payne Sandu J.D., LL.M., as well as our new Senior Associate, Son T. Nguyen J.D., LL.M. Each of these professionals brings incredible talent, expertise, and dedication to our team.

We could not be more thrilled to have Emily, Lani, and Son at The Blum Firm! To learn more about each of them, read their bios below! 

Emily K. Seawright, J.D., received her J.D. cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law. She earned a M.S. and a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University, achieving a 4.0 GPA in both degrees. Emily is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law and has been with The Blum Firm since 2015. 

Lani Payne Sandu, J.D., LL.M., received her J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law, and earned her LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. She graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a double major in Economics and International Business. Lani is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She previously worked as a Tax Associate at Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Denver, Colorado, and KPMG, LLP in Dallas. Lani has been with The Blum Firm since 2016. 

Son T. Nguyen, J.D., LL.M., earned his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law and his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He also holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington. Previously, Son worked as an M&A Tax Associate at KPMG, LLP, and as an M&A Tax Manager at Aprio, LLP. Son has been with The Blum Firm since 2021.

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Trump’s Back—Now What?

In last week’s post, I made a plea for unity as the inauguration approached. The inauguration happened yesterday, the country is still surviving, now what? As a tax lawyer, the question I get most about Trump is, what tax legislation can we expect?

We’ve been here before. Let’s wind the clock back eight years to 2017, the last time we had a “triple R” government (Republican Senate, House, and White House). Like now, tax reform was on the priority list. By the end of 2017, we had the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (often called the “Trump Tax Act”) that became effective on January 1, 2018. What can we learn from the 2017 Tax Act experience?

First, tax legislation is complicated. Last time, it took all year to make it happen, passing in December 2017. I expect the same this time, although Trump is trying to package up everything in one “big, beautiful bill.” There are legislative priorities (such as border security, energy, and increasing the defense budget) that will be easier to push through—expect them to go first. Even Senate Majority Leader John Thune expects tax legislation to lag until later in the year.

Second, the 2017 Trump Tax Act barely passed, receiving only 51 aye votes in the Senate. Unsurprisingly, not one was a Democrat. With razor thin Republican majorities in the House and Senate, I expect the same this time. If the tax legislation passes, it will likely pass very narrowly, without one Democrat vote.

Third, due to filibuster, it generally takes 60 votes in the Senate to pass legislation. To pass with only 51 votes, tax cuts have to be part of the budget reconciliation process. Here’s the rub. Reconciliation prohibits tax cuts that extend beyond a budget window (typically 10 years), unless the cuts are “paid for” with new revenue or spending cuts. That’s why most of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts had an expiration date at the end of this year. Expect the same this time around—tax cuts with an expiration date.

If these 2017 tax cuts expire next New Year’s Day here’s what will happen:

  • The top individual tax rate will increase from 37% to 39.6%
  • The estate tax exemption will cut in half from about $14 million to about $7 million
  • The Pease cut-back returns, causing high-income taxpayers to lose part of their itemized deductions
  • Passthrough businesses and sole proprietors will lose the 20% deduction of their qualified business income (“QBI”).

This leads to the big question on so many minds: with the Republican trifecta, will those cuts actually expire this year or will the sunset date be extended? And if extended, for how long?

We are painfully aware of the mounting federal debt, now at $36 trillion. Just extending the 2017 tax cuts adds $4.6 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. Additional proposed tax breaks would add considerably more (such as eliminating tax on tips, overtime pay, and social security, cutting the corporate income tax rate to 15%, and lifting the $10,000 “SALT” cap for state and local taxes). As the budget bargaining begins, don’t be surprised if the extension of tax cuts is far less than 10 years (some suggest a window of two to five years). Some Republicans will be concerned about the cost, and agreeing on “pay fors” will be a heavy lift in this Congress.

While we watch them duke it out, here’s a word to the wise: the day will come when these tax breaks (such as a doubled $14 million estate tax exemption) will go away. When the pendulum swings, “squeeze and freeze” transfers to Grantor Trusts will also likely go away. But as we’ve seen in prior legislative proposals, when that day of reckoning comes, those who already did squeeze and freeze planning will almost assuredly be grandfathered.

Even if there is an extension of the sunset, now is the ideal time to take advantage of the “Golden Age” toolbox of opportunities available today. You can shift assets into entities and trusts that will “squeeze” down the current value of your estate, and then “freeze” your estate at that discounted value. With careful planning, you can do this and still retain access, control and flexibility.

By acting now, you not only lock in the benefit of today’s tax cuts, you also immediately begin shifting future growth out of your estate. Waiting is costly and risky. As my TIGER 21 chair Jack Mueller wisely says, “The greatest return we can get from anything we do is estate planning.” You won’t regret it. In fact, years from now, your family and you will be giving you a big pat on the back.

With Trump back in office, Marvin Blum ponders what tax legislation will pass, and the impact it will have on the Internal Revenue Code.

Trump’s Back—Now What? Read More »

Don’t Let Politics Ruin Relationships: It’s Not Worth It. 

As we approach the inauguration, so many of us are on edge, grappling with our country’s polarization and tense political environment. We are tempted to team up with others who are like-minded, while we shut out those who aren’t. Even within our own friend groups, we bond with those who closely share our views and may shun those who don’t.

I am thankful to be a part of the Canoe Brothers, a group of 21 buddies from law school. We travel together frequently, canoe trips and other excursions, and we share lively text discussions daily. Even in this tightly knit brotherhood, we are about 50/50 divided on political views. That’s a recipe for friction.

However, soon after the election, Canoe Brother Pete Geren provided us with very insightful wisdom. Pete’s words fueled within our group a commitment to stay unified, in spite of our political differences. How did he do that? Pete urged us to stand in the other person’s shoes and understand where they are coming from. Their perspective may differ from yours, but that doesn’t make either right or wrong.

Doing so isn’t easy, but the effort is worth it. As my daughter Lizzy Savetsky posted on her Instagram account after the election:

“Many of us have strong issues we’re fighting for on both sides that we genuinely believe are life and death. To my friends, family members, mentors, and followers who voted differently than I did, I maintain love and respect for you. We can have healthy discussions and even arguments without writing each other off completely. We can hold space for each other’s fears and pains while still grappling with our own. No election should end relationships.”

I can never do justice to Pete’s words by paraphrasing them, so I’ll repeat them here:

“Neither party will grow beyond its base until it learns and takes to heart the truth that those on the other side are equally ‘good’ and equally worthy of respect. In trying to understand those with whom we disagree, we are quick to vilify, assign base motives, and look for personal shortcomings to explain away decisions inexplicable to us. And quick to disrespect, if not denigrate the benighted them who act as they do. For the most part, “we” are talking about people we don’t know, communities way outside our personal experiences, people who faced lives with choices very different from ours, equally intelligent but differently educated, equally self-interested and equally public-spirited, equally generous and equally venal, and with faith and cultural traditions beyond our experience. How much respect do they deserve? As much as we deserve. No more, no less.

Talmage [Boston] has taught us to look to our Presidents for wisdom. For that and so much more, including this conversation we are having, thank you, Talmage. I will close with Lincoln’s closing lines from his first inaugural. He spoke to a nation on the brink of war with itself.

‘We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.’”

I took Pete’s words to heart and accepted them as a challenge. I pledged to work on having a better understanding of Canoe Brothers (and others) who see things differently than I do. Other brothers likewise accepted the challenge.

This pledge to see things through the other’s eyes and be open to their viewpoints is also important in creating a family legacy. We all know that family disagreements can lead to lasting feuds that destroy a family’s legacy. It’s not worth it.

I’ve written about this before. Click here to see my post of May 31, 2022, “Family Friction? Be Thankful for the Variety of Spices.”

Professor Adam Grant (U. Penn, Wharton School) concurs: “Great minds don’t think alike. They challenge each other to think differently….Diverging views introduce you to new answers.” As we embark on a new year and a new administration, let’s resolve to be open-minded and empathetic.

The Canoe Brothers, though outspoken in our lively conversations (some might call them debates), remain committed to staying unified. May we serve as role models for others to do the same.

Marvin Blum (front and center) enjoying a friendly Texas vs. Vanderbilt rivalry with fellow Canoe Brothers. Even with our divergent football and political viewpoints, we remain committed to staying unified.

Don’t Let Politics Ruin Relationships: It’s Not Worth It.  Read More »

Choose the Right Spouse: That’s What Friends Are For

Next week, Laurie and I will celebrate our 46th anniversary. When I was growing up, my mother Elsie repeatedly advised me: “The most important decision you make in your life is who you marry. If you get that right, you can handle anything that comes your way, and you’ll have a happy life.” I must’ve heard that from her 1,000 times. Evidently, I took that advice to heart. When I chose Laurie for my wife, boy did I get it right!

Laurie grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, but fortunately chose the University of Texas for college. As fate had it, she chose to live at Dobie, a new co-ed dorm where I was a Resident Advisor. We met on her first day. As the Beatles sang, “She was just 17, and you know what I mean…” But the romance didn’t happen so fast. Instead, we became good buddies, eating together with a group of friends every night. But then one Sunday night a couple of years later, I was eating out with a law school friend Paul, and he asked (as guys tend to do), “Who’s your idea of the perfect girl?” He answered first, and without hesitation, Paul said, “To me, the perfect girl is Laurie Kriger.” I was speechless. Duh! How could I have not seen that? I agreed 100%, but was too close to her to realize it. We were just friends. But I decided then and there to take it to the next level.

I returned to my apartment and called Laurie to ask her out on a date—not just one date, but two. “Are you free next Friday night and next Saturday night?” I never had any “game,” or knew how to play it cool with a girl. That Friday night, I told my roommate Talmage Boston not to come home till late, as I was going to have a serious conversation with Laurie and break the news to her that we were going to become more than just friends. I had the lights dim, and the setting just right for a romance to start on the spot. Well, I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that it didn’t go the way I planned. Laurie was shocked and nervous. There was no romance that night.

In the coming months, I backed off, or at least tried to. Laurie was dating another guy (super rich, by the way, and his last name was the same as a big jewelry store), but nothing would deter me. I knew what I wanted, and I wasn’t going to give up. I somehow had to win her over.

I saw a chance and I grabbed it. Right after my law school graduation and the Bar exam, I became aware that Laurie, her parents, and her sister Peggy were going to London for a vacation.  I decided a vacation to London was just what I needed before starting my job. I asked Talmage to join me, and being my best friend and knowing how much this meant to me, he agreed. So, the two of us (broke, but with borrowed money) “happened” to be in London at the same time as the Kriger family. Laurie’s parents took a liking to us. In particular, her dad, Abe, saw my potential, even if I didn’t have a jewelry store last name. Laurie’s parents gave Talmage and me their two tickets to go see the London Broadway show “Annie” with Laurie and Peggy. That’s when it happened – the ice finally melted. During the tender song “Something Was Missing,” sung by Daddy Warbucks, our hands clasped, and I could feel the magic happening. 

Within weeks, we were engaged and planning a wedding. There was no reason to wait. We’d been friends for five years and knew all there was to know about each other. So, on January 13, 1979, at Temple Israel in Memphis, we became Mr. and Mrs. Blum. Talmage stood right by me as we said our vows. He was a big part of how we made it to that wedding canopy, as there would have been no Marvin in London had Talmage not agreed to join me.

Talmage is a Presidential historian and was recently researching George Washington and his marriage to Martha. He sent me a page from Washington’s God (by Michael and Jana Novak) that describes how George “loved having Martha at his side, and they shared every aspect of each other’s lives…. They were soul mates.” George considered Martha “his dearest friend, who thought they were two in one soul.” Talmage said the image of “two people, one soul” made him think of Laurie and me.  He sent me a copy of the page where next to those words, Talmage had written “Marvin & Laurie” in the margin. Laurie and I are deeply touched by Talmage’s words.

When I selected the title of this post as “Choose the Right Spouse: That’s What Friends Are For,” I had in mind a double meaning. In Laurie becoming my wife, Talmage was an essential element in making it happen, as without him, there’d have been no London meltaway moment. That’s what friends do for each other. But there’s a second meaning. Very often, the right spouse may well be someone who is your friend. When choosing a spouse, don’t overlook your close friends. It may take some time to get both of you on the same page, but stick with it and the rewards will come. I can hear Dionne Warwick singing now: “In good times and bad times, I’ll be on your side forever more. That’s what friends are for.” For me, that’s Talmage, and that’s Laurie.

Marvin & Laurie Blum on their wedding day, January 13, 1979.

Marvin & Laurie Blum today, as they celebrate their 46th anniversary.

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2024’s Top Moments: Mia’s Birth and Stella’s Bat Mitzvah Speech

In this New Year’s Eve post, I urge all to reflect on 2024. If your year was typical, it brought lots of downs and ups. We learn more from the downs. Let’s discover those lessons and incorporate them into our legacy. When we recover from failures, we can use those stories to teach our heirs resilience.  So, let’s not sweep disappointments under the rug. Let’s turn the downtimes into teachable moments and pass those lessons down to our heirs. I was once working with a family who was planning the agenda for a family meeting. The patriarch wanted to present a recap of his successes. Instead, his kids asked him to identify the failures and talk about how he overcame them.

As I look back on 2024, I faced up to some challenges that just go with living—health, family, work. Laurie was always right there with me, and I feel good about the way we recovered from each challenge. On the world stage, 2024 brought a dramatic rise in antisemitism and attacks on Israel. Rather than crumble, I joined forces with others to raise our voices and raise awareness. I am hopeful the future will somehow be better. The hardest thing we confronted in 2024 was losing Laurie’s sister Linda, totally unexpected. But two things happened that tempered our sadness. The first was that right around that time, our 6th grandchild Mia was born. It was a circle of life moment—one life ends, another begins. Mia’s birth brings us enormous joy.  

The second salve to soothe our loss was that two weeks before losing Linda, the whole family had gathered in St. Louis for a cousin’s Bar Mitzvah. We had a glorious time. I wrote about this in a post dated June 25, 2024, “Family Matters: Farewell, Dear Linda.” I spoke about it in the eulogy I gave at Linda’s funeral, urging everyone that when presented with an opportunity to gather with family—GO! You never know; it may be the last chance to all be together. 

Later in 2024, we took advantage of just such an opportunity to all be together again. Our whole family gathered in New York for our oldest grandchild Stella’s Bat Mitzvah.  The experience was rewarding on so many levels. It provided us with magical moments of family connection and lifetime memories. Our dear friend Karen Reisman summed it up so well. As a child, Karen’s mother Anne Cortell was miraculously saved from the Holocaust, though many family members weren’t so fortunate. The impact on Anne was profound, but it empowered her to always give these words of advice: “You HAVE TO celebrate the good times.” (Karen adds a corollary: “because the bad times happen for free.”) As Karen emphasizes, you HAVE TO go celebrate. It’s not optional.

Of the many Bat Mitzvah highlights, the greatest of all was Stella’s speech at Sabbath services. I’ve never been more proud or grateful. Stella stood in front of a packed synagogue and confidently delivered a moving speech. Both her words and her powerful delivery will ring in my memory bank forever.  Here is Stella’s Bat Mitzvah speech:

I want to talk to you about Zionism. To me it means that the Jewish people and the land of Israel are one. This not a modern idea, it’s a biblical one, as we read about in this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha. 

This week’s parsha is really special because it is literally the birth of Zionism. Hashem tells Avraham to leave his birthplace, his father’s home, and to follow Him to a new land. Without any hesitation, Avraham packs his bags and goes. Hashem brings Avraham to the land of Israel and promises, “I will make you into a great nation in this land.”

This, right here in this Parsha, is the beginning of the Jewish people AND our connection to the land of Israel!!!! We have been one nation bound to the land of Israel and G-d from the very beginning of our story!! 

Now, I want to get personal for a minute. I had always known my Jewish identity was number one thanks to my family, my school, and of course my AMAZING synagogue (love you guys!). 

But on October 7th, I was in Israel, getting ready for shul, when my baby brother ran out of our hotel room. I went to go get him, and as I was in the hallway, I heard someone next to me banging on their dad’s door, shouting, “Dad, dad! Hundreds of rockets were just launched into Israel!” The dad ran downstairs to tell the hotel, and I went back to tell my mom. She told me, “You’re fine, don’t worry,” but then, just a minute later, the sirens went off. I grabbed my baby brother and we ran downstairs to the bomb shelter.

In that moment, the whole world changed for me—and for every Jew. Suddenly Zionism—our connection to Israel— wasn’t just something I heard my parents talking about all the time anymore. It became real. I understood the Jewish people’s responsibility to protect the land of Israel and stand with our people all over the world, no matter what. 

I saw the hatred against us, I saw my brothers and sisters suffering, and I realized how important it is to protect our home. I also saw how so many people turned on the Jews all over the world.

But I also saw something else. I saw the bravery of our soldiers, risking their lives to defend Israel, and I saw people all over the world, like my mom, standing up for what they believe in—even when they’re getting hate and death threats. She keeps fighting for what’s right, and I’m so lucky to have her as my role model.

That experience made me see Zionism in a whole new way. It’s not just about believing in Israel and loving Israel—it’s about protecting it, caring for it, and standing up for it. And the same thing goes for the Jewish nation. It’s our job to defend our people whether it’s in the battlefield, online, or in the streets. 

If we don’t, who will? 

And now that I’m becoming a bat mitzvah, I realize that this responsibility is part of what it means to grow up as a Jewish woman. It means taking responsibility—not just following the mitzvot, but being there for our people and for Israel. 

After my experience in Israel on October 7th, I decided to choose IDF Widows and Orphans as my bat mitzvah project. The soldiers of the IDF are like the protectors of the promise made in Lech Lecha. When they give their lives for Israel, we have to take care of their families. This is how we stand together as Am Yisrael—the Jewish nation. 

I got to meet and spend time with the orphans over the summer and just a couple weeks ago. These kids lost their parents in the war. I can’t imagine how hard that must be. This organization has camps, special events, and a bar and bat mitzvah program for the kids my age so they can feel special and supported by all of us. 

I am so blessed that today on my bat mitzvah I have both my mom and dad here, but these kids don’t. So we have a duty to support them as the Jewish nation. Their parents sacrificed their lives for all of us. Meeting them, hugging them, getting to know them, and supporting these programs for them has left a huge mark on my heart. 

Lech Lecha is the story of how we became a people and how G-d gave us our homeland. All in one breath. Just like Avraham answered G-d’s call to journey to Israel, today I’m becoming a bat mitzvah and taking on the responsibility to care for Israel and our people. G-d promised us we would be a great nation. He promised us the land of Israel. But he never promised us it would be easy. So I know I have a big job to do now as a Jewish woman. 

I will always remember the sacrifices made to protect our land, from the time of Avraham until today, and make sure they are never forgotten. Today, as I enter adulthood, I commit myself to doing whatever I can for the Jewish nation and the land of Israel. May I always go where G-d leads me to serve my people and my homeland, just like Avraham.

 

[For any who are interested, the website for the Israel Defense Forces Widows and Orphans can be found by searching IDFWO Organization. I’m thrilled to report that Stella has raised about $30,000 toward her goal of $36,000. She told everyone to make donations rather than give her gifts. That’s the kind of kid she is. Laurie and I are overwhelmed with gratitude.]

 

Here’s wishing all of you many good lessons from 2024!

Marvin Blum’s 12-year-old granddaughter Stella Savetsky delivered a Bat Mitzvah speech we’ll cherish forever.

As her Bat Mitzvah begins, Stella (joined by her mother Lizzy and sister Juliet) carries on the tradition of our matriarchs in lighting Shabbat candles.
The Blum Family is grateful to all be together at Stella’s Bat Mitzvah party, with the newest addition Mia held in her mother Brooke’s arms. You HAVE TO celebrate the good times!

2024’s Top Moments: Mia’s Birth and Stella’s Bat Mitzvah Speech Read More »

The Miracle of Ollie

Tomorrow night begins the Jewish festival of Chanukah, a holiday of miracles. We celebrate the miraculous victory of the Maccabean revolt against the Greek forces, the miracle of one day’s supply of oil lasting eight days, and the miraculous rededication of the Holy Second Temple of Jerusalem. Even the letters on the dreidel spinning top stand for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “a great miracle happened there.”  The holiday season seems the perfect time to celebrate miracles.

Do you believe in miracles? As a very practical person, I confess to my skepticism. That is, until four years ago, when my grandson Ollie was born. His birth was a complete miracle. I’ll share the story of Oliver Strong Savetsky to offer hope to all families struggling with something (and who isn’t?). Ollie’s life proves that indeed, miracles can happen. Never give up hope.

Wind the clock back a few years. Our daughter Lizzy experienced three miscarriages in one calendar year. Two were ectopic and nearly claimed her life. Although deeply grateful for two healthy daughters, after a pause (and at her husband Ira’s urging), Lizzy mustered the courage to try once more. Her IVF treatment was a success—pregnant for the sixth time.

And then came a familiar crushing blow—the heartbreaking report of yet another miscarriage. The doctor was a religious man and preferred to wait to let nature take its course. Then came the day to terminate the pregnancy, but wait—a pre-procedure sonogram revealed a startling announcement: “There’s a heartbeat!” Lizzy broke into tears: “I had a feeling my baby was still alive.”

It wasn’t an easy pregnancy. A month before her due date, Lizzy went to the hospital and was sent home as a “false alarm.” Laurie joined her the next morning with the premonition she needed to be with her daughter. Their intuition was right. Lizzy’s water broke and there was blood everywhere. Lizzy believed she was losing the baby. She was too nervous to tell Laurie how to get to the hospital, so Lizzy jumped into the driver’s seat and drove them there herself. The doctor’s diagnosis was the life-threatening condition of placenta abruption. Miraculously, Lizzy delivered a premature baby boy minutes later. Ira made it there too, barely in time.

They chose the Hebrew name “Yisroel” (Hebrew for Israel). He was named for my deceased brother Irwin, whose Hebrew name was also Yisroel. The baby’s English name was Oliver Strong Savetsky, a nod to the little fellow’s survival strength.

Jewish law calls for circumcision on the eighth day, but little Oliver Strong was in NICU growing stronger, so we had to delay the Bris a few weeks. Ira, a plastic surgeon, circumcised his own son just as our forefather Abraham did his son Isaac. 

At the Bris, Ira arrived with a mysterious gift-wrapped box and told this story. A few years earlier, Lizzy went to Poland to tour the concentration camps. Her group made a stop at Rabbi Elimelech’s grave to pray. Rabbi Elimelech taught that when you pray for something, pray as if you have the faith it will absolutely happen. Lizzy left the grave and immediately called Ira back in New York. She told him to go buy a gender-neutral baby outfit. Ira thought this request was crazy, but he complied. Ira rushed to a kids store and told the clerk, “I need a newborn outfit. I don’t know the size or the gender. Just pick something and wrap it up.” That box sat in the top of Ira’s closet, and he hand carried it to Dallas when they moved over a year later. Ira had no idea what was actually in that box.

Ira then opened the mystery package in front of the Bris attendees. Inside that box was a little boy outfit for a preemie baby just Ollie’s size. We were all aghast … Lizzy’s prayer had been answered, not on her schedule, but on G-d’s. Rabbi Elimelech was right. By taking action to prove they believed, their dream manifested in a newborn son. 

Following Jewish tradition, they waited until Ollie’s third birthday for his first haircut. At the “Upsherin” ceremony we attended in Jerusalem, Lizzy told her son, “Oliver Strong, you are small and strong, just like Yisroel, the land of Israel, your Hebrew name. And like Israel, you have the faith and fight in you that it takes to survive. Israel is a miracle, and Ollie, you are a miracle.”

I now believe in miracles.

 

Grandfather Marvin Blum and father Ira Savetsky rejoicing in the miracle of Ollie’s birth at his Bris (circumcision ceremony).

Ira reveals the contents of a surprise package at the Bris.
Three years later, the family gathered in Jerusalem for Ollie’s “Upsherin” (first haircut) celebration.
Moments later, at the Holy Temple Wall, Ira praises G-d for the miracle of his son Ollie.

The Miracle of Ollie Read More »

There’s No Place Like Home

As I’ve often stressed in this Family Legacy Planning blog, it’s important to identify significant lifetime moments, preserve them in some tangible way, and then pass them down to future generations as part of our story. Looking back on 2024, one of my most memorable moments was falling in love with my hometown at an event called Discover Fort Worth. In my upcoming year-end post, I’ll reveal more of the 2024 highlights that moved me. But I’ll start close to home with this one. As Dorothy discovered in “The Wizard of Oz,” and as I discovered too: “There’s no place like home.”

I am honored to serve on the national board of TIGER 21, an international peer learning network. Each year, we feature a city in a “Discover” program, a 3-day deep-dive into a city where important things are happening. This year, the featured city (at my urging) was Fort Worth. When we announced it, the membership’s reaction (as you might expect) was WHY FORT WORTH? For most of our 1,500 members, Fort Worth wasn’t on their radar. The registrations were trickling in until I began a big promo push. They were shocked to learn that Fort Worth is the 12th largest city in the US, and the fastest growing city too. When we announced the schedule of events, attendance picked up. We ultimately sold out and had a waiting list. After the 3-day “discovery,” comments went from “Why Fort Worth?” to “How can I invest here?” and “I want to move here.”  Planning Discover Fort Worth and proudly showcasing my city was one of my top highlights of 2024. In fact, in TIGER 21’s 25-year history, Discover Fort Worth is the first event to score a perfect “5 out of 5” in the post-event member surveys.  

We had to limit the size to 40 attendees, not only for intimacy, but also because one of the events (a behind-the-scenes tour of the F-35 fighter plane production assembly) had a strict cap of 40. Those 40 came from about 20 different cities, mostly outside of Texas. Our host hotel was the exquisite Michelin-awarded Bowie House, a perfect reflection of Fort Worth’s “Cowboys & Culture” moniker. Our first venture out was for a taste of Old Mexico with a mariachi-serenaded opening dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s patio paradise, a favorite of US Presidents and even Sir Paul McCartney. Dessert followed at Hotel Drover (also Michelin rated) in Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyards, featuring an all-out tribute to our Western heritage (even down to the longhorn steer and a branding station). We had a learning session with the team who recently redeveloped the area, making the Fort Worth Stockyards into the 15th most visited destination in America.

Day 2 started with an education program at Sotheby’s Realty on Fort Worth’s blossoming real estate industry, followed by a tour of the Modern Art Museum. Just the building itself is an art treasure, designed by Tadao Ando and designated by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Art Museums, and named by Architectural Digest as the Best Designed Building in Texas.  After an outdoor lunch at Quince overlooking the Trinity River, we headed to a VIP tour at Lockheed Martin. There we discovered Fort Worth’s role in the international defense industry and our contribution to protecting the world.  We not only toured the F-35 assembly, but also flew an F-35 simulator and discovered why you want me to plan your estate but not pilot your fighter plane. It’s harder than it looks.

That evening featured dinner at one of only two homes in the world designed by I. M. Pei, architect of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, JFK Library, and dozens of other contemporary masterpieces. Our hosts, John & Cami Goff, opened up in a fireside chat where I coaxed John to tell of his remarkable rise from modest beginnings to prominence in the world of real estate and investing. They also revealed Fort Worth’s rising role as a TV and film mecca, as the night before John gave the speech at the Texas Business Hall of Fame to induct Fort Worth’s Taylor Sheridan (creator of Yellowstone, 1883, Landman, and other acclaimed shows starring the likes of Kevin Costner, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Billy Bob Thornton, and Demi Moore). The Goffs are also spearheading efforts to create the Texas A&M Research Campus in downtown Fort Worth. John’s enthusiasm was so contagious that one of the TIGER 21 members from Chicago raised his hand on-the-spot and donated $100,000 to the project.

Day 3 concluded with a trio of Fort Worth Power Women: Mayor Mattie Parker, Rose Bradshaw (President/CEO of North Texas Community Foundation), and Elaine Agather (Central Region Head of JP Morgan). Mayor Parker revealed that, out of all US cities, Fort Worth has the second highest percentage of young families. During her tenure, Fort Worth has been named the most pro-growth city in America and the Best City in Texas for starting a business. By the way, while I’m unashamedly bragging, Texas is the eighth largest economy in the world and was named the number one state for business in America. Elaine Agather explained that the economic growth in Texas started in the 1970s with the Bass group in Fort Worth, due to what she described as “the Richard Rainwater effect.” Rose Bradshaw and Cullum Clark (Director of the George W. Bush Institute) put the cherry on top by spotlighting Fort Worth’s philanthropic story as we rank among the top for private giving in the country. In explaining Fort Worth’s success, Clark gave these five reasons why Fort Worth succeeds as an “opportunity economy:”

 

  • We focus on education and innovation.
  • We are commerce friendly—a great place to do business.
  • We’re a great place to live and raise a family (affordable, but not super cheap).
  • We invest in social capital and build a strong sense of community.
  • We welcome newcomers to our city.

I’ve bragged about Fort Worth before (click here for my blog post of June 13, 2023 “I’m Fort Worth Proud!”). Forgive me for going overboard again today about my hometown, but Discover Fort Worth just left me bursting with pride. Even better, all those out-of-towners realize why we’ve earned the nickname of “The Unexpected City.” We’re proud to also be known as “Cowtown” and “Where the West Begins,” but as our group “discovered,” we’re a lot more than that. With only three days, we had to leave out a lot of local treasures, but the wheels in my head are already spinning to come back in two years for “Rediscover Fort Worth.” My only worry is that, in letting the secret out, we don’t want Fort Worth to change. But please come visit—I’m happy to be your personal tour guide!

Marvin & Laurie Blum kick off the 3-day Discover Fort Worth event on a longhorn steer at Hotel Drover. Hook ‘em Horns!

Fort Worth’s Modern Art Museum is an architectural and artistic treasure, as described to us by expert docent, Gail Granek (center).
The TIGER 21 group heading into a behind-the-scenes F-35 assembly tour at Lockheed Martin.
Marvin & Laurie Blum joined by John Goff (left), Cami Goff (right), and Michelle & Jay Young at an evening fireside chat with the Goffs.
Marvin Blum with Power Women (from left) Laurie Blum, Rose Bradshaw, & Elaine Agather.
Marvin Blum with Fort Worth’s premier “Power Woman,” Mayor Mattie Parker.

There’s No Place Like Home Read More »

Spotlight on Dyann McCully, Our Guardianship Guru

While attending a Texas Tech seminar on estate planning, the opening speaker greeted us with these words: “If you ever see Dyann McCully, you need to give her a big thank you.” The topic was a Texas legislative update. The speaker continued: “Dyann McCully spearheaded the charge on updating the Texas law on guardianships. Thanks to Dyann’s tireless efforts, the legislature has adopted major improvements to the guardianship laws.” Hearing these words, I swelled up with pride. Do I ever see Dyann McCully? Only every day—Dyann heads up our litigation team at The Blum firm and her office is just one down from mine.

I love the story of how Dyann and her colleagues joined The Blum Firm eight years ago, creating our trust and estates litigation section. I attended the monthly meeting of the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association and had the good fortune of randomly sitting next to Dyann at the lunch. Dyann shared an interest in moving her firm’s litigation team to a new law firm, and I was instantly interested. She and I spoke later that day and got the wheels turning. Within a few months, Dyann joined us, along with David Bakutis, Beth Hampton, Cindi Adler, and Mary Ellen McMahon. Since that time, we have added many more to the team. We are grateful to have a vibrant and busy group of fiduciary trial attorneys now at The Blum Firm who not only know where the courthouse is, but who know what to do when they get there. My late father-in-law Abe Kriger used to refer to them as “real lawyers,” and often asked me when we planned to add some “real lawyers” to our law firm. Abe would join me in being super proud of our litigation section.

Dyann is truly a rockstar in the world of guardianships, as well as all aspects of trust and estate controversy.  She is a frequent speaker at probate and guardianship seminars, recognized by all as the “go to” expert in her field. She also testifies frequently at the Texas legislature to address needed changes in the law.  Recently, the State Bar of Texas invited her to be the Course Director for the 2025 Advanced Elder Law and Advanced Guardianship Law Course. Also, the Texas Guardianship Association Public Affairs Committee just asked her to join the committee to help with guardianship legislation issues for the upcoming legislative session. In this role, she will review proposed guardianship-related legislation and engage with legislators on finding solutions for these matters.

The mission of the Texas Guardianship Association (TGA) is the following:

  • To educate involved professionals, consumers and the general public regarding guardianship and its alternatives.​
  • To promote the development of guardianship and alternative programs to serve and protect vulnerable individuals.
  • To advocate for development and implementation of effective public policy regarding guardianship and related issues that are consumer sensitive.

And as if that’s not enough, Dyann is also a certified mediator in guardianship mediation, making her part of one of the first groups of attorneys to be certified in guardianship mediations. She mediates in contested guardianships, probates, and estates.

Having a robust litigation section at The Blum Firm has been a major “win-win” for us. The estate planners are grateful for the opportunity to consult with litigators on sensitive planning matters. And vice versa, the litigators welcome the trust, estate, and tax expertise our planners can provide for their complex cases. 

It’s my honor to shine this spotlight on Dyann McCully and sing out praises to her, loud and strong. Way to go, Dyann!

 

Marvin Blum is proud to shine a spotlight on his partner Dyann McCully, a rockstar in the guardianship and fiduciary litigation world.

Spotlight on Dyann McCully, Our Guardianship Guru Read More »

Don’t You Dare Steal My Aggie Ring

I’ve written before of life lessons I learned from my dad, Julius Blum. A man of simple yet strong words, he taught more by example then by narrative. In a powerful episode involving my dad’s prized Aggie ring, I learned lessons of courage and conviction I’ll never forget.

Julius Blum grew up in modest circumstances, living behind his family’s small neighborhood grocery store. He was a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks. Remarkably, that wasn’t his only degree. My dad was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from “The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas” in 1949 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Julius was rightfully proud of that achievement.

The fact my dad even went to college was remarkable in and of itself. There were two factors that propelled him to College Station. The youngest of four children, Julius had an older brother Sol who had big college dreams for his baby brother. Sol worked day and night to care for his family, seeing to it that Julius could receive the education others in the family couldn’t. The second factor was the GI Bill, earned from my dad’s World War II service in the army. Julius was forever grateful to both his brother Sol and this great country for his education.

Julius was an exceptional student in all things technical—a math and engineering whiz. I never confronted a math homework problem he couldn’t help me solve. But when it came to English—not so much. But let’s give him a break. He was raised by immigrant parents whose only language in the house was Yiddish, so making it through college English and earning that degree was an even bigger deal. That’s why the symbol of his degree, the iconic Aggie ring, meant so much to him.

That brings me to my story. When the ring became too tight on his finger, he carried it with him everywhere he went on his keychain. One day, a little boy Marvin happily joined his daddy on a father-son outing to University Car Wash. We watched through the window as his car went swish-swish down the line of water and suds. Returning home, he removed his key from the ignition and instantly realized his Aggie ring was gone! On a chain with many keys, the ring divided his car key from his house key, so he noticed immediately.

We instantly got back in the car and drove to the car wash. I followed him as he marched with purpose into the manager’s office. Julius wasn’t leaving without that ring. I thought that was mighty bold of him and I had my doubts. I underestimated him.

The manager knew Julius meant business. He temporarily shut down the car wash and gathered every employee in his office. I’ll never forget the manager’s words, “I’m going to leave this room and close the door. And when I return that ring better be on my desk, or everyone here is fired.” We waited outside the door with the bossman. After a moment, we re-entered his office. Lo and behold the Aggie ring was on the manager’s desk. Everyone returned to work, and I returned home with my dad and with a lesson I will never forget:

When something is precious to you, you fearlessly fight for it.

One more thing: In addition to my dad’s strength of character and integrity, another testament to his solid priorities was being a good sport when Irwin and I chose UT for college instead of A&M. Love of family came first, even when tested by some lively Longhorn/Aggie football experiences together. I cherish the memories. I even felt some of my dad’s Aggie spirit in my Longhorn body at last weekend’s rivalry game. Gig ’em Aggies and Hook ’em Horns!

 

Marvin Blum’s father Julius was the first in his family to graduate college, as evidenced by his prized diploma.

Marvin Blum at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field, cheering for his Longhorns but channeling his father’s Gig ‘em Aggie pride!

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20 Questions for Your Thanksgiving Table Talk

By popular request, we are repeating the blog post from November 23, 2021.

Wishing all of you a meaningful and joyful Thanksgiving.

Here’s a suggestion for the conversation at your Thanksgiving table: use the time to discuss the “Do You Know?” scale. Arming your family with answers to these 20 questions reinforces family bonds and helps heirs become more resilient. This assertion is based on research by Dr. Marshall Duke and Dr. Robyn Fivush, psychologists on the faculty at Emory University, developers of the 20 question “Do You Know?” list.

This thesis was further tested and confirmed by Bruce Feiler, author of The Secrets of Happy Families. After years of research and interviews, Feiler arrived at this startling conclusion: “The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned. The ‘Do You Know?’ scale turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.”

Enjoy a lively and thought-provoking table conversation with the help of these 20 questions:

  • Do you know how your parents met?
  • Do you know where your mother grew up?
  • Do you know where your father grew up?
  • Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?
  • Do you know where some of your grandparents met?
  • Do you know where your parents were married?
  • Do you know what went on when you were being born?
  • Do you know the source of your name?
  • Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?
  • Do you know which person in the family you look most like?
  • Do you know which person in the family you act most like?
  • Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?
  • Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?
  • Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?
  • Do you know the national background of your family (such as English, German, Russian, Chinese, and so on)?
  • Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?
  • Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?
  • Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?
  • Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?
  • Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

The Blum Firm wishes you a meaningful Thanksgiving celebration with your loved ones.

From their home to yours, Marvin and Laurie Blum wish you a meaningful Thanksgiving.

20 Questions for Your Thanksgiving Table Talk Read More »

The Big Reveal: The Blum Firm’s Core Values

Do you, your family, or your business have a set of core values? What are they? And, more importantly, what do those values truly mean?

We recently held The Blum Firm’s Annual Meeting, where everyone comes together to review the past year, assess where we currently are, and dream about where we are going. The focal point of this year’s meeting was to identify our core values.

As the firm’s Human Resources Manager, Eric Evans, said, “Core values are a small set of vital and timeless guiding principles. They define culture and who we truly are as people.”

I have discussed this in previous blogs, but core values aren’t just company-based. In fact, the Blum Family’s core values are faith, family, hard work, and education. These values were born out of the experience of being raised by immigrants who came to America with nothing but their values. It was those four core values that enabled my grandparents to survive hardships and set our family on a course to achieve the American Dream.

But you may wonder, how do I define my business or my family’s core values? And let me tell you, it isn’t an overnight process. Our Senior Leadership Team spent many hours, over several days, trying to hone-in on core values. We came up with a long list including some of what you might expect to see, such as honesty, integrity, and respect. We ended up with over 40 words on the list.

Knowing we needed to narrow down the list to only a few, we decided which values were truly “CORE.” We ultimately landed on three core values and let them “simmer” for 30 days, understanding these values are not something we strive for, but values we live by every day. 

From there, we crafted definitions, being very intentional with wording and how we demonstrate them both within our firm and out in the community.

Here’s the big reveal of The Blum Firm’s core values:

  • Excellence:We exceed expectations by delivering superior work with unmatched client service; we expand knowledge, enhance skills, and refine processes to maintain the highest standards of performance and quality. 
  • Relationships:We connect with kindness and humility, actively listening to different perspectives, following through on commitments, and serving as a trusted advisor.
  • Collaboration:We partner with each other and outside advisors to achieve common goals by sharing ideas and leveraging strengths; we remain open to feedback and celebrate each other’s wins.

At the meeting, I shared a story about where The Blum Firm began—just my secretary, Sandy Stroman, and me. Now, 44 years later, the firm has grown and evolved beyond anything I could have imagined. The combination of faith, family, hard work, and education is what brought The Blum Firm to where we are today, a family of 68 dedicated team players who strive together to reach for the stars.

When we define our core principles—whether personally, for our family, or our business—we gain the ability to adapt while remaining true to our essence. This clarity aids in decision-making and unites us to grow and create the legacy we first envisioned.

Adversity will come—I can promise you that—but when it does, returning to your core values will give you the vision for moving forward.

My challenge to you is this: What are your core values?

The Big Reveal: The Blum Firm’s Core Values Read More »

My Granddaughter Stella Becomes a Woman 

Twelve years ago, our first grandchild Stella was born. It seems like yesterday Laurie and I were pacing nervously in the hall at New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital, waiting to hear that first cry. Fast forward to November 10, 2024, and that little baby Stella became a Bat Mitzvah, the coming of age when a Jewish girl becomes a woman.

Jewish boys celebrate their Bar Mitzvah at age 13. But in traditional Jewish families, girls become a Bat Mitzvah, a daughter of the covenant, at age 12. The idea is that 12-year-old girls are at a maturity level comparable to 13-year-old boys (I might argue that girls hit that point long before age 12).

We celebrated Stella over the last weekend, kicking off with a Friday night dinner at New York’s Altneu Synagogue. As a very proud Zaidy (the Yiddish word for grandfather that my 6 grandkids call me), I had the privilege of speaking at the dinner. Since I’ve become so personal with you all in this Family Legacy Planning blog, I’ll share with you what I had to say.

To my dear granddaughter Stella, the oldest of our 6 grandkids: 

I want to talk to you about trees. You know I love trees and nature. Trees are significant in Judaism. Our Torah is called Etz Chaim, a tree of life, and also a tree of knowledge. But as we celebrate you becoming a Bat Mitzvah, I want to tell you about a different tree — a family tree. The Torah teaches that parents are the trunk of a tree and children are the branches. It also teaches that all future generations are embedded in that tree within their parents, so the tree represents a family’s past, present, and future.

I want to talk about a particular family tree that starts with your ancestors, my grandparents, Meyer & Pauline Oberstein, and goes down l’dor vador, from generation to generation. Stella, you are part of a family tree that has very deep roots. Those roots will keep you secure and grounded when the winds of adversity blow your way. You come from a long line of very strong women.

I want to start with the amazing and strong woman in the first generation in that family tree, my grandmother Pauline, your great great grandmother. Pauline and her family came to America from Ukraine where her family was persecuted because they were Jewish. She arrived in Ellis Island with nothing but her commitment to their Jewish values, joining her brother Joe in Montgomery, Alabama, a place where it wasn’t easy to be religious. Like Abraham and Sarah, they were really alone in their observance, pioneers of Judaism in a new land, as described in your Torah portion, Lech Lecha. 

But Mama Pauline created an observant Jewish home. She lit Shabbos candles every week, strictly observed kashrut and Shabbat,  and remained deeply committed to Jewish values. She was actively involved in their synagogue and establishing a Jewish community deep in the heart of Dixie. Her parents lived with her, also clinging to their Judaism. Her father, our Zaidy, never ate meat in America because he didn’t trust it to be kosher. Mama Pauline only served him fresh vegetables (which she pronounced “vege-TABLES”) because he mistrusted the kashrut of the canning process. When he died, Pauline had his body prepared at home and the funeral was in their living room. She didn’t want Zaidy’s body to ever enter a non-Jewish funeral home. 

The second generation of matriarchs is my mother Elsie, your great grandmother whom you call Bobbie, the same name she called her grandmother, Pauline’s mother Bobbie Leah. Bobbie is also a light unto the world. She is the dynamic force behind our shul in Fort Worth, Texas. Her Hebrew name is Sora Elke, like our matriarch Sarah. Also like our matriarch Sarah, Bobbie leads the way in creating a place for those seeking G-d to come and worship. My mother has devoted her life to strengthening our shul and preserving Jewish values in Fort Worth, Texas, far from the Old Country of her parents.

The next generation is me, along with my beloved bride of 45 years, your Mimi. You know very well how strong Mimi is and what a rock she is in our family.

Next comes your mother, Elizabeth Pauline, named after our matriarch Pauline. Both are named Pesha Ita, and like you, both are lights unto the world. We all know what a power house your mother is, giving her all to support Israel and fight antisemitism. She is a role model of leadership, strength, and courage.

This brings us to generation five. Stella, this is significant: you are the FIRST member of generation five in our family tree, a generation that will someday have more than 100 Jewish cousins in it, with all the Obersteins in our family. But Stella, you are the FIRST. You lead the way. 

Stella, your very birth as a little four pound bundle of joy was a miracle, a symbol that our family is growing and thriving, the start of a new rung on our family tree. As your dad’s Unkie said, your birth signifies that “We beat Hitler!” You were made for this moment. And you’re growing into such a dynamic role model, just like your matriarch ancestors Pauline, Elsie, Laurie, and Lizzy. 

Every week, I learn from your Torah Corner as you explain the week’s parsha in a way like no one else can do. I once filled in for you as the substitute teacher, and I can tell you that it’s a lot harder than it looks. I watched you interview Holocaust survivors in Israel, where you showed so much love and compassion. And I saw how much you care about our people as we toured Yad Vashem and other holy sites in Jerusalem. You have a gift—a gift of connecting with people and bringing light and Jewish values to the world.

My prayer for you is that you grow up strong and courageous, marry the right guy like your mom did, raise a family who carries on the heritage of our ancestors, and that you live a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. 

Shine your light, baby!

With all my love,

Your Zaidy

Sharing this with you, I feel so full of love and gratitude. This weekend was a major link in the Blum Family Legacy chain. Here’s wishing you meaningful moments and milestone memories in your own family legacy journey.

Marvin & Laurie Blum make memories that will last forever at the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Stella.

The Bat Mitzvah celebration continues with Stella and a very proud Zaidy!

My Granddaughter Stella Becomes a Woman  Read More »

The Blum Firm Has Been Recognized in the 2025 Edition of the Best Law Firms® Rankings

We are so thankful to announce The Blum Firm has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® as a top firm in DFW for Trusts and Estates, as well as for Litigation-Trust and Estates.

This year is the 15th edition of this recognition process, produced by Best Lawyers®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication company in the legal profession. Law firms are selected based on several aspects of the evaluation process, including both qualitative and quantitative data.

We wouldn’t be able to receive recognition like this without our outstanding team of 68 superstars. Every day, they work hard to deliver superior work to our clients, going above and beyond to maintain the highest standards of performance and quality.

It is a team effort, and we are so proud to be highly respected by our peers in the legal industry!

To learn more about the rankings click here. 

The Blum Firm Has Been Recognized in the 2025 Edition of the Best Law Firms® Rankings Read More »

Is Your Mind Wired for a “Worst Case” or “Best Case” Scenario?

Here we are on Election Day with a race that’s too close to call. Even after the outcome is known, so much uncertainty lies ahead. How do we deal with the unknowns? Some are wired to see a half-full glass. Good for them. However, for me and most in my network, the tendency is to see the glass half empty. My wonderfully positive wife is helping me learn to shift from “worst case” to “best case” thinking.

Laurie and I recently spent a glorious evening dining with TIGER 21 colleagues. As usual, the conversation was thought-provoking, stimulated by a revelation earlier that day at a TIGER 21 meeting. At the meeting, a hugely successful entrepreneur gave his “Portfolio Defense” and confessed that he still wakes up during the night and worries about his business. Although he’s ten times more successful than he ever imagined, worrying is a habit that is hard to break.

I was visiting with other TIGER 21 members about this and discovered that all of us shared that same mental wiring. We all wake up during the night, the brain activates, and the worry starts. It’s comforting to know I am not alone.

In my recent post, “On Turning 70,” I shared that, looking back on those 70 years, my main regret is all the time I wasted worrying about things that never ended up happening. I announced that my goal going forward is to worry less—easier said than done. But I have something (or rather, someone) going for me to help me in this effort—a very wise and supportive wife of 45 years.

Here’s Laurie’s good counsel to me: when presented with a scenario, instead of always assuming the “worst case” outcome, force your brain to imagine a “best case” outcome. That’s a heavy lift for me, given the natural wiring in my brain and my almost 50 years of lawyering. It’s my job to envision all the “what if’s” that can go wrong and plan ahead for them. But Laurie isn’t letting me off the hook that easy. You have to work at envisioning an ideal outcome. After all, a bright outcome is more likely than a dark one. That’s certainly been the case over the years, as all those things I wasted time and energy worrying about never ended up happening.

So now when I wake up concerned about something, Laurie advises me to imagine the best case outcome. Redirect your thoughts and attach your mind to that best case.

Laurie explained some research that shows how worrying triggers stress and fear, releasing hormones as if what you fear might happen has actually occurred. By shifting your mind to a positive outcome, your energy goes where your thoughts tell it to go. Imagining the best case scenario, you can actually feel the relief and joy that scenario would produce. You’ll begin to feel that relief and joy right now.

I’ve tried it, and it works. It’s not yet natural to me, so I have to work at it. But if you’re wired like me, I highly recommend trying to think “best case” instead of “worst case.”

When I do slip into imagining the worst, Laurie’s provided me with a mantra to repeat in my head: “It’s solvable. If it happens, we will figure it out.” That helps too. And if it doesn’t, I can always wake up Laurie for a middle-of-the-night counseling session. I’m a very lucky guy.

Marvin and Laurie Blum at a dinner party with TIGER 21 colleagues who, like Marvin, find it easier to embrace a “worst case” rather than “best case” scenario. We all need Laurie's wise counsel.

Is Your Mind Wired for a “Worst Case” or “Best Case” Scenario? Read More »

The Blum Firm Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Today, The Blum Firm wore pink today in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Here is a little history about this cause:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in October 1985, launched by the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Former First Lady Betty Ford, a breast cancer survivor, helped kick off the event. Since then, it has grown into a global movement, raising awareness and advocating for research funding.

Thanks to everyone who has shown their support for such an important cause this October!

The Blum Firm Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month Read More »

Buffett Changes His Will—Is It Time to Change Yours?

In last week’s 200th post in my Family Legacy Planning series, I reflected on some of my personal favorite posts. Looking back over those 200, one of the most popular and recurring subjects is Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha. People are fascinated with everything Buffett says and does. Today I’ll share an update on Buffett’s estate plan that he recently revealed.

My personal fascination with Buffett started years ago when our family made the annual pilgrimage to Omaha for the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. As many as 50,000 gather each year and hang on every word as he answers questions from selected attendees. As I’ve written in this blog, I had the privilege three times of asking questions of Buffett. Click on this link for a prior post covering my questions on Buffett’s estate plan, his philanthropy, and his views on preparing heirs.

For a long time, Buffett’s Will leaves more than 99% of his estate to charity (Berkshire Hathway Inc. News Release, Business Wire, June 28, 2024). With a net worth of more than $100 billion, that money will do a lot of good. But who gets to decide what charities to support? That’s the big change Buffett recently disclosed.

In an earlier version of his Will, Buffett (then the world’s second richest man) was entrusting that task to the world’s then richest man, Bill Gates. Although his lifetime gifts to the Gates Foundation exceed $39 billion, Buffett has decided that’s enough.

Why the shift? The notoriously modest-living (some even say frugal) Buffett expressed concern over Bill Gates’ extravagant billionaire lifestyle—homes, planes, fast cars, art, and a big personal staff. He also has “been bothered by what he saw as the bloat and inflated operating costs” of the Gates Foundation. (Anupreeta Das, “Has the Long Friendship of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Reached Its Final Act?,” The New York Times, August 4, 2024).

In place of the Gates Foundation, Buffett’s Will now creates a charitable trust to be administered by his three children—Susan, Howard, and Peter. His kids will disburse the funds over a ten-year period following Warren’s death. But here’s the catch: the three must unanimously agree on how to donate the funds. Given that they each have very divergent charitable priorities, many speculate Buffett may be setting up “a version of a philanthropic ‘Succession’” battle. (Madeline Berg, “Warren Buffett Wants His Children to Give Away His $130 Billion Fortune. Does that Set Up a ‘Succession’ ­­– Style Fight?,” Business Insider, July 11, 2024).

Susan, a full-time philanthropist, favors social justice, education, and healthcare. Howard, a farmer and former sheriff, focuses on food security, crime, human trafficking, and aid to Ukraine. Peter, a musician and composer, supports Indigenous communities and combating hunger. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Buffett defends his decision after seeing how his children have matured over the years. “’I have 100% trust in how they will carry things out… I like to think I can think outside the box, but I’m not sure if I can think outside the box when it’s 6 feet below the surface and do a better job than three people who are on the surface who I trust completely.’” Buffett adds that his children will be able to respond to any future law changes governing taxes and foundations. (Karen Langley, “Warren Buffett Gives Us a Preview of His Will,” The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2024).

Here’s my key takeaway: Don’t lock away your Will and fail to update it periodically. Our rule of thumb at The Blum Firm is to review your estate plan at each Presidential election. Over time, your views and your wishes may change. When that happens, it may be time to follow Warren Buffett’s lead and change your Will.

Marvin and Laurie with business and philanthropic role model, Warren Buffett.

Buffett Changes His Will—Is It Time to Change Yours? Read More »

My 200th Post 

This is my 200th post in this Family Legacy Planning series (now called “Blum’s Blog”). The idea for this blog was born during the height of the COVID pandemic. I was sheltering at home, spending 23 hours of every day holed up in our bedroom. Until COVID happened, I never worked at home. I kept a clear separation between work and home. That all changed overnight.

My assistant Cat (whom I often refer to as my “boss”) informed me that, as captain of The Blum Firm team, I had to set the example and work remotely. We set up a desk in our master bedroom with a computer and supplies, and voila! It became my new office. I’d roll out of bed and turn on the computer, breaking only briefly for meals, then roll back into bed late at night. I never stopped working. No bueno, but that was my new M.O.

It was the fall of 2020, approaching October 1st, the 40th anniversary of my founding The Blum Firm. Locked away from the world and all human interaction, what could we possibly do to celebrate it? Then it hit me. On October 1, 2020, I sent out a mass email announcing the launching of a new initiative in 2021 in honor of The Blum Firm’s 40th year milestone. But I didn’t say what the “initiative” was. It was meant as a teaser, not only for the public, but also for me. I still hadn’t fully baked the idea. I needed more time to figure it out.

So, on the first Tuesday of 2021, I announced the birth of this Family Legacy Planning series. My plan was to post weekly for a few months, till I ran out of juice on wisdom to impart. Beyond my wildest expectations, here’s post number 200—never missing a consecutive Tuesday morning, 10:00 Central, blast to your inbox. So far, the juice is still flowing.

This blog has evolved. It started out as a more formal communication, aimed at offering practical estate planning tips to create a lasting legacy. Each post was accompanied by my headshot. Then my dear friend Karen Reisman (a speaking coach with her own inspiring blog, “Speak for Yourself”) told me to stop attaching my “yearbook photo” and offer up a warmer, clever photo instead. I resisted. My audience expected me to be buttoned up, coat and tie. Karen persisted; I gave it a try—lo and behold, Karen was right. Even a serious lawyer could warm up and become more relatable.

Then the next revolutionary change happened. After months of heavy, impersonal content, I took a risk and got personal. Moved by Russia’s vicious attack on Ukraine, I divulged “I Am Ukrainian.” My four grandparents were persecuted in Eastern Europe and came to America barely in time to escape Hitler. The photo was of Zaidy, my one-eyed great grandfather whose eye was poked out in an Ukranian pogrom. I wrote of the importance of preserving family heritage and stories of resilience. The feedback floored me. In response, I became more and more open. I was now feeling a warm connection with my readers. I dispensed with formalities and just wrote from the heart. 

I told more of what makes me tick, my family and friends, my modest “hard knocks” upbringing, even “How a Jukebox Paid for My Bar Mitzvah.” Doing so, I still try to weave in an estate planning lesson in each post. After unintentionally stumbling into these self-revelations, this blog has become somewhat autobiographical. I never saw that coming.

As I reveal more about myself and my family, I had an interesting recent comment from attorney friend Andrew Rosell: “Why is it you write so much more about your daughter Lizzy than your son Adam?” I laughed and responded, “I have a daughter that loves the spotlight and a son who prefers privacy.” For those of you who’ve raised kids from the same gene pool but who turned out totally different, I’m sure you can relate.

Click on the link below to peruse all 200 posts and see which ones catch your eye. My personal favorite is my five-part series from a year ago about our week in Israel, culminating with the vicious terrorist attack by Hamas. That day changed my life forever.

I’ll close with a hearty thank you for all the affirming feedback I receive each week. You are all my friends now. And maybe someday, I’ll give into the clamoring from all those encouraging me to write a book. If I ever do, it will read differently than the “How to Do Estate Planning” manual I’d have written a few years ago.

Feeling gratitude for the support of devoted readers, Marvin Blum celebrates the 200th post in his weekly Family Legacy Planning series.

My 200th Post  Read More »

Passing Down Legacy Real Estate—Family Glue or Family Feud? 

Does your family own a meaningful real estate asset that you’d like to keep in the family? Maybe it’s a childhood home, lake or beach house, vacation home, or ranch. Places like that hold special memories. Gathering there can provide powerful family glue for kids and grandkids. Passing down legacy real estate to future generations requires special planning, or else the hoped for “glue” causes a family to become “unglued.”

At The Blum Firm, we work with many families who own real estate that is precious to them. For example, we’re working now with a family of college football fans who owns a “game day house” near their team’s stadium. Since Laurie and I raised a son who is also a passionate football fan (or should I say “fanatic”), I understand the passion associated with that property. In their eyes, it’s not just a “house.”

While the matriarch and patriarch are alive, they foot the bill to cover operating costs such as taxes, insurance, utilities, housekeeping, lawn care, maintenance and repairs. Mom and dad also establish the rules for shared use, including overseeing the calendar for who gets to use it and when. But who steps into that role when parents are gone and the home is co-owned by siblings, and further down the road when it’s owned by cousins?

Hayley Cuccinello grapples with these issues in her article, “Who Gets the Hamptons House? How Rich Americans Give Homes to Their Children Without Causing Feuds,” (Business Insider, August 13, 2024). She quotes Adam Ludman, head of tax advisory at J.P. Morgan Private Bank: “‘You have to start by recognizing that the family home or the vacation home is more than a financial asset. It is deeply personal.’” Cuccinello elaborates: “Even among rich heirs, passing on real estate without proper planning can lead to sibling strife. Who gets the Hamptons house for July 4? What if one sibling wants to renovate the Aspen chalet and the others don’t want to split the cost?” 

We recommend a multi-step solution:

  1. Transfer the real estate to an entity (such as an LLC) to limit liability exposure. If someone’s injured there, you want to insulate your other assets from being reachable.
  2. Consult with an insurance professional for optimum coverage.
  3. Create an LLC Operating Agreement to cover the rules for shared use.
  4. Transfer the LLC interests to a FAST trust (Family Advancement Sustainability Trust) to remove the real estate from your estate, avoiding a 40% estate tax at death. With the lifetime exemption at almost $14 million ($28 million for a couple), now is the ideal time to make that transfer, locking in the doubled exemption before it sunsets in half at midnight on December 31, 2025.
  5. Provide a governance structure in the FAST to insure selection of LLC managers who will honor the founders’ intent.
  6. Fund the FAST with assets that generate a sufficient cash flow to cover the ongoing cost of operations. In many cases, the ideal solution is a life insurance policy on the parents, with proceeds payable at their death to the FAST.
  7. Build in flexibility into the FAST and LLC agreements, so the plan is not set in stone. As Ludman cautions, “‘Families obviously evolve and expand, and circumstances can change.’”

Every family has unique considerations. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. The Blum Firm would be honored to help you tailor a solution for your legacy real estate that matches the needs of your family.

Whether you’re leaving your heirs a Texas ranch or a home in the Hamptons, Marvin Blum provides planning tips for shared use of a family’s legacy real estate.

Passing Down Legacy Real Estate—Family Glue or Family Feud?  Read More »

Seven Blum Firm Attorneys Featured in 2024 Super Lawyers Magazine

We are excited to announce that seven of our attorneys have been recognized in the Texas Super Lawyers 2024 Magazine!

Only the top attorneys in Texas are honored on the Super Lawyers list, with approximately 5% of all lawyers selected. The Rising Stars category is even more exclusive, recognizing just 2.5% of early-career attorneys. We are proud to have six Super Lawyers and one Rising Star among our team!

Congratulations to the honorees! We couldn’t be more pleased to have such strong representation in the field.

Seven Blum Firm Attorneys Featured in 2024 Super Lawyers Magazine Read More »

No Matter Who Wins the Election, Now Is the Ideal Time to Do Tax & Estate Planning 

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is coming up in two weeks. For me, that week comes 52 times a year. But I guess Hallmark needed an excuse for another greeting card. So let me be the first to wish all of you a Happy Estate Planning Awareness Week!

In honor of that special week, I am devoting this post to urgent tax planning considerations given today’s volatile political climate. I’m reminded of the Chinese fortune cookie that says, “May you live in interesting times.” When it comes to tax law, we are certainly living in “interesting times!”

I note that this post is based on my upcoming presentation at the virtual Oil & Gas Investor Summit, where I will be speaking on the topic entitled “No Matter Who Wins the Election, Now is the Ideal Time to Do Tax & Estate Planning.” You can tune in to the summit by registering for free here, and I will be speaking tomorrow around 5 PM Central Time. If you miss it but still want to watch, the recording will be posted on the website as soon as it’s available. Also, a copy of my PowerPoint can be found here. As I stated at the start of my presentation, I am not taking any political positions in this discussion. I’m not advocating for the red or the blue. I deliberately wore a purple tie so no one could draw an inference from a tie that was red or blue. I’m just presenting facts.

As described below, the presentation explores how the election outcome may impact tax law under three scenarios: Divided Government, Triple D (Democrat White House, Senate, & House), and Triple R (Republican sweep). We have no way of predicting which outcome will happen, but regardless of who wins, here’s what we know for sure:

  • Most of the tax cuts in the 2017 Trump Tax Act (“Tax Cuts & Jobs Act”) will sunset at midnight on December 31, 2025. Plan now to lock in tax benefits before they expire.
  • Neither party is proposing to lower individual income tax rates. No matter who wins, income tax rates won’t go down.
  • The recent rise in interest rates and government spending has more than doubled the annual cost of US debt service. A day of reckoning is coming when we’ll have to deal with the soaring national debt.
  • No matter the election results, tax law change is coming. Take advantage of extraordinary opportunities in today’s “Golden Age of Estate Planning” before the window closes.
  • History tells us that those who plan under the current law, before new laws go into effect, will most likely be grandfathered.

We recently learned that the lifetime estate exemption rises on New Year’s Day 2025 to $13,990,000 per person (for ease of discussion, let’s round that to $14 million). But be aware that on New Year’s Eve 2025, that $14 million exemption shrinks to $7 million. As I’ve so often encouraged, now’s the time to do “squeeze & freeze” planning to lock in the extra $7 million before it goes to zero. It’s a “use it or lose it” situation. And with the top income tax rate rising from 37% to 39.6% in 2026, consider doing a Roth IRA conversion in 2025 and paying a lower income tax hit. The PowerPoint goes into detail on these and other ideas, but I’ll close with what to anticipate under the three election scenarios. 

 

If We Have a Divided Government

  • Most tax cuts in 2017 Tax Act will sunset; it’s already baked into the law.
  • Ordinary income tax rate will increase from 37% to 39.6%. (Note: corporate tax stays at 21% but 20% 199A deduction expires).
  • Convert a traditional IRA to Roth in 2025, and pay income tax hit at lower rates.
  • Accelerate income/ take gains in 2025 rather than 2026.
  • Postpone SALT (state and local tax) payments/ property taxes exceeding $10,000 until 2026 (when $10,000 SALT cap is gone).
  • Make large cash gifts to public charities before AGI deduction cap sunsets from 60% to 50%; otherwise consider postponing contributions to 2026 when tax rates are higher.
  • Lock in the $7 million “bonus” lifetime exemption before it goes to zero.
  • Review formula gifts in estate plans tied to size of the exemption.

 

If We Have a Triple D Outcome

  • Quickly engage in “squeeze & freeze” transfers to trusts.
  • Use in-kind assets to repay balance due on notes from prior sales to grantor trusts.
  • Anticipate these possible changes (in addition to sunset):
  • Reduce lifetime exemption to $3.5 million.
  • Increase long-term capital gain rate from 20% to 28% (for investors with income over $1 million).
  • Increase NII (net investment income) tax from 3.8% to 5%.
  • Impose an annual tax on unrealized gains for taxpayers worth $100 million.
  • Increase corporate tax from 21% to 28%.
  • Increase estate tax rates from 40% to 55%, 60%, 65%.
  • Limit valuation discounts.
  • End use of grantor trusts.
  • Eliminate basis step-up at death.
  • Limit annual exclusion gifts to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per donor per year.

 

If We Have a Triple R Outcome

  • Anticipate efforts to make tax cuts in 2017 Act permanent.
  • $10,000 SALT (state & local taxes) cap likely to remain in place.
  • Expect efforts to reduce capital gains tax and corporate income tax.
  • Expect provisions to eliminate tax on tips and on social security benefits.
  • Do not anticipate efforts to reduce individual income tax rates. 

 

Once again, Happy Estate Planning Awareness Week to everyone. My hope is that you’ll use it to take advantage of “Golden Age of Estate Planning” before it’s too late.

Marvin Blum prepares to deliver a one-hour presentation, entitled "No Matter Who Wins the Election, Now Is the Ideal Time to Do Tax & Estate Planning," at the upcoming virtual Oil & Gas Investor Summit.

No Matter Who Wins the Election, Now Is the Ideal Time to Do Tax & Estate Planning  Read More »

The Day That Changed My Life Forever   

“Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” Alan Jackson’s country song captures how I felt one year ago. The first time I felt that way was in my fourth-grade classroom the day President Kennedy had breakfast here in Fort Worth, then was assassinated in Dallas by lunchtime. I felt that way again on 9/11 as the horrors unfolded.  And a year ago, I was reeling from the most vicious and deadly attack against Jews since the Holocaust. Next week marks one year since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists unleashed the most inhumane attack imaginable against Israel. Laurie and I had just left Israel on one of the last American Airlines flights to take off before shutting down operations (and to this day, they have still not resumed service). October 7 transformed me. My life will never be the same after that day.

For a few brief moments, there was compassion for Israel. I knew from history that it wouldn’t last long. Indeed, within days, the sympathy for Israel vanished from the public square. The narrative was replaced with hate crimes against Jews and antisemitic rallies calling for the annihilation of Israel “from the river to the sea.” These protests have escalated at an alarming rate, become more and more hateful and violent against Jews. In particular, Jewish students are unsafe and unprotected on college campuses across the US. 

Here we are one year later, and there are still over 100 hostages held captive in Gaza. Some are US citizens. Where is a worldwide, all-out effort to rescue them? The silence of the masses speaks volumes.

Although I expected some rise in antisemitism, what is actually happening far exceeds my worst fears and shakes me to the core. The level of hate that has surfaced is a harsh wake-up call, and a reminder of another time in history that we naively thought wouldn’t happen again in our lifetime. What we’re seeing eerily resembles the pattern of Jew hatred that took over Eastern Europe in the 1930s. Before calling me an alarmist, let me share that Jews in Europe were living a luxurious life before Hitler came to power. My son-in-law Ira has an uncle (affectionately called “Unkie”) who was imprisoned in concentration camps and lived to warn us: “You think you’re comfortable in America? Well let me tell you something, we were just as comfortable in Europe. You don’t think it can happen again. I’m telling you it can.” Pay attention to the signs—the noise is coming from the media, the internet, elected officials, professors and students on college campuses, the entertainment industry, all blaming the Jews. It’s everywhere. It’s even become a topic among Jews to ask each other: “If a Holocaust happens again, who would hide you?”

My wife Laurie had an intellectual Aunt Marjorie who lived in Israel. I once asked her to tell me the lesson of the Holocaust, and the simplicity of her answer surprised me: “When someone says they want to kill you, you should believe them.” Over and over, we say, “Never Again.” But here we are again. Israel is surrounded by enemies who openly shout their intention to kill every Jew and push Israel into the sea. We should believe them.

In spite of the horror, there are some silver linings. It’s times like these that I feel a deeper connection to my loved ones, both family and friends. To those of you who are on our team, siding with good over evil, I express abundant gratitude. Your support means the world to me. 

On a very personal note, I’ll reveal a choice I silently made after October 7. I have always observed a semi-kosher diet, never eating pork or shellfish. But I’ve now gone all in and stopped eating all non-kosher meat. Every time I eat, I get a feeling of solidarity with my people. As Rabbi Mark Wildes teaches, stepping up our game awakens in us a very intense pride in being Jewish.  I’ve been very private about this and only share this at my daughter’s urging. Perhaps others might find meaning in doing something similar, such as lighting Shabbat candles or saying daily prayers.

I’ll also share that I am extremely proud of our kids who have become strong advocates for our people. Adam was appointed by Governor Abbott to serve on the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. Lizzy is a tireless and courageous activist supporting Israel in the public arena and on her social media Instagram platform LizzySavetsky. Speaking of their advocacy brings back an old memory from my high school days when I was the Texas chair of SSSJ (Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry) to bring awareness to Russia’s persecution of Jews. I’d tucked that story away and never even mentioned that to Laurie or my kids. 

Standing up for our people is deeply woven into the fabric of our family. By taking action, raising our voices, and tightly banding together, I have faith that we will survive. And through that tight togetherness, our family is creating a powerful legacy to pass down from generation to generation — a legacy of faith, courage, and devotion to our people.

Tomorrow evening begins the Jewish High Holiday season. Wishing all a meaningful Rosh Hashanah and a more peaceful 5785.

Marvin Blum and his family celebrating a year ago in Israel for the “upsherin” first haircut of 3-year-old grandson Ollie, a glorious week that ended in horror.

Marvin’s daughter Lizzy and her two daughters Stella and Juliet (left) and son-in-law Ira (far right) praying in a Jerusalem bomb shelter after the October 7 attack on Israel.

The Day That Changed My Life Forever    Read More »

A Cost-Free Way to Supercharge the Charitable Gifts in Your Estate  

In last week’s post, I covered the complex analysis involved in filling out a beneficiary form for a retirement account. For example, I stressed the benefits of leaving your retirement accounts to an Accumulation Trust, rather than outright to your kids. As I have been highlighting in this Family Legacy Planning series, it’s important to give careful thought to your kids’ inheritance. How much is too much to leave to your kids? What’s the right balance between leaving assets to your kids vs. leaving assets to charities?

When dividing assets between kids and charities, the asset mix usually contains retirement assets and non-retirement assets. All of these assets are potentially subject to estate tax. But retirement assets are also subject to income tax. When leaving retirement assets to your kids, there’s a double whammy tax hit, often leaving only 20 cents of each dollar to your kids.

However, if you fill out the beneficiary designation form to pass retirement assets to charity, the charity keeps 100 cents of each dollar. As you allocate assets between your kids and charities, it is most tax efficient to leave your retirement accounts to charity, avoiding both estate tax and income tax on those assets. The portion you leave your kids should come from the non-retirement portion of your estate.

Consider this simple example. Your estate contains a $100,000 IRA and $100,000 cash. You plan to leave $100,000 to charity and $100,000 to your kids. If you leave cash to charity and the IRA to the kids (who are in a 35% income tax bracket), the kids pay $35,000 income tax on the IRA. Net result: charity gets $100,000, kids get $65,000. Let’s reverse it and give the IRA to charity and cash to the kids. A charity is exempt from tax, so it pays no income tax on the IRA. Net result: charity gets $100,000, kids get $100,000.

Note that for any IRAs designated to pass to charity, do not elect to convert those to Roth IRAs. By converting to Roth, you would be unnecessarily incurring an income tax cost that would be avoided when the assets pass to charity. It’s more tax efficient to leave traditional IRAs to charity and Roth IRAs to your family.

In leaving retirement assets to charity, consider these choices:

  • Outright to your favorite public charities;
  • A Donor Advised Fund, where your family can designate the charities they would like to benefit and spread out the donations over the years following your death;
  • A Private Family Foundation managed by your family, which can be a powerful source of “glue” for future generations to stay connected.

The Blum Firm works actively to help our clients structure their charitable and family inheritances in the most tax efficient way. We would be honored to assist you in this important endeavor.

Marvin Blum is in a quandary over how to fill out retirement plan beneficiary forms. Do I name my kids, or do I name a charity?

A Cost-Free Way to Supercharge the Charitable Gifts in Your Estate   Read More »

“I Just Have One Simple Question” – NOT! 

It happens all the time. My assistant Cat receives this call: “I just have one simple question for Marvin. How should I fill out the beneficiary designation form for my retirement plan?” As explained below, that question is anything but simple. Moreover, it’s critically important. The beneficiary designation form (not your Will) is the document that dictates where your retirement account goes when you die. And very often, the retirement account is the biggest asset in the estate.

In my post dated July 30th, I told the horror story of a retirement account (which was almost the entire estate) passing to a long-lost girlfriend. The beneficiary designation form hadn’t been updated in nearly 40 years! When you update your Will, don’t forget to also update your beneficiary forms.

For those who are married with kids, the “knee jerk” is to just designate your spouse, then your kids. However, the estate plan often contains trusts to protect assets from divorce, creditors, and taxes. By designating individuals, the retirement assets pass outright, and you lose all the important trust protections over those assets.

The better plan is usually to designate a trust as the beneficiary—but not just any trust. To achieve optimal tax benefits, it has to be a trust with special provisions, such as an “Accumulation Trust.” Such a trust allows for the longest possible stretch out, and assets paid into it are protected until needed. Until spent, the assets are in a pocket free from reach by creditors or divorcing spouses.

Roth IRAs can accumulate free of income tax. The decision to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (and pay the income tax hit early) involves a complicated mathematical analysis. With income tax rates rising in 2026, many plan to convert to a Roth in 2025 and pay the tax at today’s lower rates. But for those not converting to Roth, be aware that traditional IRAs are hit with income tax as the assets are distributed. There is a complex maze of tax rules to navigate in order to achieve optimal income tax deferral.

One more thing—if your estate makes a charitable gift, the most tax-efficient way to do it is to designate the charity as the beneficiary of retirement assets. Designating a charity avoids paying income tax and estate tax on the retirement assets. I’ll explain in more detail in next week’s post.

Suffice to say, how to fill out your retirement beneficiary form is no simple question!

Marvin Blum’s assistant, Cat Bardin, receives a call asking “just one simple question” on how to fill out a retirement plan beneficiary form—not a simple question!

“I Just Have One Simple Question” – NOT!  Read More »

Corporate Transparency Act Alert: Only Four Months Left for Compliance!

Effective January 1, 2024, all Reporting Companies must disclose information about the company and its Beneficial Owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) under the Department of Treasury. The purpose of the Act is to enhance national security, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts to combat money laundering, and other illicit activities. Importantly, this requirement is not related to tax reporting or the IRS.

The CTA deadlines are approaching fast as existing entities only have four months left for initial compliance. For entities formed or registered to do business in the U.S. before January 1, 2024, the initial reports must be filed with FinCEN by January 1, 2025.

Anyone who willfully provides false or fraudulent information, or willfully fails to report complete or updated Beneficial Ownership information faces significant penalties. These include civil penalties of $500/day if the violation continues or is not remedied, and criminal fines of up to $10,000, and/or up to two years imprisonment.

With the deadline approaching, it’s critical to start preparing now. Gathering the necessary Beneficial Ownership Information and navigating the legal complexities of the CTA can be challenging, so existing entities should be taking steps now to prepare for timely compliance.

The Blum Firm is actively engaged in helping clients with CTA Compliance, including filing the reports directly with FinCEN. Please contact us if you would like our assistance with CTA Compliance or if you have any questions about the impact of this law on your entities.

Please note that dissolving a Reporting Company before the compliance deadline will not allow you to escape the initial reporting requirements. FinCEN has recently clarified that unless an entity was dissolved and ceased to exist by the end of 2023, it must file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report with FinCEN.

Corporate Transparency Act Alert: Only Four Months Left for Compliance! Read More »

Three Role Models for Aging with Dignity

President Biden’s painful exit from his reelection campaign, coupled with my 70th birthday, got me thinking about how to age with dignity. What lessons can we learn so that, as we approach the final chapter, we can go out on top? I identified many role models who continued to hit home runs in their final innings. For today’s post, I narrowed it to a diverse trio: Lou Barnett (patriarch of the Fort Worth Jewish community), Henry Kissinger, and Dolly Parton.

I’ll start closest to home with Lou Barnett, who made it past 100 before he left us. When he was still a young 94, I had the privilege of interviewing him on May 19, 2013. He may be gone physically, but he lives on through the wisdom he imparted to me that day. When I asked for his reflections, Lou responded with 18 tips. In Hebrew, the letters that signify 18 are chet (8) and yud (10), spelling chai, the Hebrew word for “life.” (“To life, to life, L’chaim!”) How appropriate that Lou’s stream of consciousness happened to provide 18 tips for living a beautiful life.

Click on the link at the bottom of the post to read the entire list, but here are a few highlights:

• Family, first and foremost. Family is by far the most important thing in the world.

• Find a hobby. Get away from the cell phone and disconnect from the world.

• Laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

• Live! Don’t live like you’re coming back. It’s later than you think.

• Go see your grandkids often and be a part of their lives.

• Don’t carry a grudge. Let it go.

Like Lou Barnett, Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also made it to 100 with grace and purpose till his final days. In his essay on Kissinger, Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google) explained the key: “How did Henry make it to 100? He never retired. Until shortly before his death, he was working as hard as he did when he was 70. From the moment he woke up, he was thinking, taking joy in following a new idea, a new strategy, a new challenge. He never lost his deep commitment to making the world safer and more prosperous” (The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2023).

Harvard professor Arthur Brooks elaborates on Kissinger’s formula for successful aging. Brooks credits Kissinger with transforming into a senior role, becoming an “eminence” who wasn’t expected to “have the rigor and the focus and the energy to be putting in the grinding work of national and international governance… Nobody wanted to elect Kissinger as president of the United States; people just wanted his opinion on the issues of the day” (“The Essence of Retiring Well,” The Atlantic, July 5, 2024). 

And finally, let’s hear it for country music legend Dolly Parton, a rockstar role model at age 78 who “shows no signs of letting up.” In “Dolly Parton on How She Succeeds in Business,” Deena Shanker reveals: “Dolly Parton is a live performer, recording artist, songwriter, novelist, philanthropist, Netflix producer, theme-park operator, and hotelier, just to name a handful of her business ventures. She sells everything from dog accessories to fragrances and even muffin mixes. How does she keep up the momentum? ‘I work my butt off,’ she says.”

Parton also believes you have to be present to win. She challenges the post-COVID world of remote working. “In an age where ‘quiet quitting’ has pervaded workplaces across the US and hustle culture is being criticized by the rising number of Gen-Zers shuffling into the office (or Zoom rooms), Parton works for her success, way past 9 to 5.”

So, for those like me who seek guidance on how to remain relevant till the end, let’s learn from Lou Barnett, Henry Kissinger, and Dolly Parton. In doing so, Arthur Brooks wisely admonishes us of the need to adjust to the role that best suits us, which changes over time. Brooks suggests that role may be more as a teacher than an innovator. Or, as my esteemed colleague Matt Wesley so powerfully describes—there comes a time when you need to move from being quarterback to being coach.

 

Marvin Blum’s Interview of Lou Barnett—May 19, 2013

Henry Kissinger stayed on top of his game all the way to 100.

Dolly Parton achieves success at age 78 by merging the gift of creativity with plain old hard work.

Three Role Models for Aging with Dignity Read More »

Three Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized with Best Lawyers® Awards

We are excited to announce that two of our attorneys were recognized with the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® Award, and one of our attorneys was recognized with the 2025 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Award.

Both award lists are determined through a comprehensive peer-review survey, and according to Best Lawyers®, “This was a record-breaking year with more than 3.2 million evaluations collected for the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America®  and over 1.2 million for the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.”

We couldn’t be more pleased to be well-represented in the legal field. Congratulations to our honorees!

Three Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized with Best Lawyers® Awards Read More »

Julius Blum, a Role Model from “The Greatest Generation”

My recent post, “I’m a Graduate of Blum’s Café School of Hard Knocks,” focused on the lessons in life I learned from my hard-working father, Julius Blum. That post generated a heart-warming reaction from many of my readers. Although my dad’s been gone for 21 years, he’s very much alive in my heart.

I wrote of the hard-knocks world at Blum’s Café, nestled in Fort Worth’s smelly and sweaty meat packing district. One response summed it up and meant a lot to me: “The Blum family was an important piece of the packing house fabric in the stockyards. A sweet, hard-working family.” I chuckled at another line in his message: “Marvin was smart and got out of there ASAP.” True, but I took the lessons of that world with me.

My dear friend Lisa Mikus asked if my dad was part of “The Greatest Generation from the WWII era—I’m so in awe of that generation.” That swelled up my admiration for my dad’s service in the U.S. Army during World War II. As was typical of these men, he rarely spoke of it. He finally opened up during our nightly visits during his final year, dying of pancreatic cancer at age 77.

Julius Blum was a true patriot, pro-America all-the-way. I only knew him as strong and brave, but a letter we found after he died revealed the fear he masked as he was going off to war. In the letter, he confided to his sister Sophia the trepidation and home-sickness he felt as he was about to be shipped off overseas. I never saw that side of him. That was a powerful revelation.

As patriotic as my dad was, he didn’t want to see my brother Irwin or me shipped off to Vietnam. That was a different kind of war. When President Johnson called for a surge in troops, every young man (including Irwin and me) received a draft number. The higher the number, the better the odds for avoiding the draft.

I remember it like yesterday—December 1, 1969, the day draft numbers were chosen by lottery. A large glass vessel held 366 blue capsules, each containing a birth date from January 1 through December 31 (including one for February 29). We were all glued to the television to discover, day by day, the number corresponding to our birthday. Irwin (who was three years older) got a high draft number—big relief! I wasn’t so lucky—the number corresponding to August 8 was low.

This quote summed up my feelings: “The draft deepened the rift that already existed in our country; the divide, expressed in bumper stickers. America, Love It or Leave It was one; Hell No, We Won’t Go was another. I loved America, but I didn’t want to end up in a body bag. I didn’t want to leave the country, either, dodging the draft by fleeing to Canada. And I had no interest in burning things, whether it was the flag or my draft card.” Those are the eloquent words of Byron Gossett in his outstanding book, Expand the Frame.

My father, the patriot, shared my feelings. We sweated out the next few years until it was my time to be drafted, and then at the eleventh hour came the announcement that the draft was ending, just as they got to my turn. Once again, big relief!

 The country survived the turbulence of Vietnam—And now, here we are again in turbulent political times. As we wrestle with political discord, I’ll share one more lesson from my dad. We can disagree, but let’s do so civilly. Harvard professor Arthur Brooks disclosed in a speech I attended that one in six families don’t talk to each other because of politics. That was April 27, 2023. It’s likely worse today. My father would never allow political views to tear apart a family. He was a role model for civility.

 I’ll close with a simple illustration from my early memories. My dad was politically conservative. On the other hand, I was a youthful liberal, largely influenced by our staunch Democrat housekeeper, Nelsie, whom I adored. I vocally supported JFK to my Nixon-voting dad. It got more potent in the next election. I made a poster promoting LBJ and proudly displayed it in our front yard. To my dismay, my dad supported Goldwater. But whether it was JFK vs. Tricky Dick or LBJ vs. Au-H2O, it never affected our relationship and love for each other. And he never asked me to remove that poster from our yard!

In my quest to help families stay connected and build a meaningful family legacy, may the lessons of Julius Blum inspire us. Inevitably, we will disagree, mightily at times. But let’s discover and celebrate our commonalities, fighting the temptation to let discord tear us apart. It’s not worth it.

Marvin Blum’s father Julius Blum as a young soldier, a role model for patriotism and civility. May we learn from his example.

Julius Blum, a Role Model from “The Greatest Generation” Read More »

Welcome Attorney Kaitlin Goddard

We’re proud to announce that Kaitlin Goddard has joined The Blum Firm as an Associate Attorney in our Fort Worth office!

Kaitlin is a North Texas native who earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Houston Law Center in 2016 and has been practicing probate law for the past seven years. Before joining The Blum Firm, she served as in-house probate counsel for a medical malpractice plaintiff’s firm.

Throughout her career, Kaitlin has handled hundreds of estate administrations across Texas and takes great pride in guiding families during their most difficult times. She also spent several years serving as a certified Court-Appointed Attorney Ad-Litem on probate and guardianship matters to serve both the courts and the people of her community.

Please join us in welcoming Kaitlin Goddard to The Blum Firm team!

Welcome Attorney Kaitlin Goddard Read More »

What Kamala Didn’t Say

At last week’s Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris delivered a stirring “New Way Forward.” Here’s what Kamala didn’t reveal: How do we pay for it? However, her campaign has quietly endorsed legislation to raise taxes, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Bill to pay for the proposed housing program.

Click on this link for a recap of the key provisions of this legislation. But without diving into specifics, let’s focus on the benefits of “squeeze & freeze” planning using tools this new law would eliminate. Squeeze planning involves transferring assets to a Family Limited Partnership (“FLP”) and achieving a valuation discount. Freeze planning involves transferring your discounted FLP interests to certain trusts to remove the assets from your estate. Through proper squeeze & freeze planning, you can save estate tax and also protect assets from creditors, but retain control, access, and flexibility.

 Squeeze & freeze planning can generate millions of dollars of tax savings. In one recent case, The Blum Firm actually saved a family over one billion dollars, which the IRS approved on audit of the estate tax return. If Harris gets her way, squeeze & freeze, along with other tax saving tools, will soon go away.

 If you start planning soon, there’s still time to lock in the benefits. Similar legislation came within two votes of becoming law in 2021. Here’s an important takeaway from the lessons of 2021: if you completed your planning before the law change, you’d be grandfathered. In a new administration, law changes can happen fast. It takes time to do this planning, so it’s wise to get an early start.

 Most of our clients are investors who are aiming to grow a portfolio. The goal is to maximize returns, but with the least possible risk (a concept known as “investment alpha”). In his July 2015 article “The Only Form of Pure Alpha,” Steven Lockshin defines pure alpha as “an increase in net results with zero increase in portfolio risk.” Per Lockshin, the only form of pure alpha is tax planning: “tax management can have a far greater effect on a wealthy family’s overall wealth” than investment returns. In particular, “‘estate tax alpha’ will almost undoubtedly dwarf long-term market gains.”

Lockshin illustrates with two hypotheticals, each investing a $10 million portfolio. Advisor A takes more risk and yields an 8% return, growing $10 million to $217 million over 40 years. Advisor A fails to do tax planning, resulting in an $82 million estate tax, netting the next-gen $135 million. Advisor B invests more conservatively, yields a lower return, but transfers assets in a discounted manner to a generation-skipping trust at inception. The outcome? Advisor B beats Advisor A by $80 million. It doesn’t have to be either/or—do both! Aim for higher returns and do tax planning.

Michael Sonnenfeldt, founder of TIGER 21, once commented at a speech I gave: “Return on investment is a rounding error compared to estate tax planning.” Similarly, my TIGER 21 chair Jack Mueller remarked: “Good estate planning trumps investment return any day.”

Per Lockshin, don’t count on your investment advisor or the media to tell you about tax alpha. It doesn’t generate commissions, and “the idea of beating the market is sexier.” Lockshin concludes that wealth “is only valuable to the extent that you can keep it in your family’s hands and out of Uncle Sam’s…. With no increase in risk, but significant increase in net results to your family, tax planning is the only form of pure alpha.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. And given today’s political climate, I submit that the need to do tax planning is urgent. It may soon be too late.

At last week’s Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris unveiled her “New Way Forward.” What she didn’t reveal is how to pay for it, but we know—the tax man is coming!

What Kamala Didn’t Say Read More »

Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth 2024 Award

Marvin Blum pays tribute to The Blum Firm team for receiving the Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth 2024 Award.

I want to attribute this post to my wonderful work “family,” a term I use very sincerely. As the adage goes, “It takes a village,” and that cannot be more true. The Blum Firm was recently recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth 2024, and to say I am overwhelmed with gratitude is an understatement. Upon receiving the news, I couldn’t help but reflect on our phenomenal team and the path that got us where we are today.

 To paint a picture of how richly blessed I am, I will start from the beginning, when I was at my first lawyer job in the Big Law world. It was not a happy fit for me, so when I left to form The Blum Firm, I made a vow to create a caring environment where people would be surrounded by coworkers who support each other and care about each other. And that is precisely what happened. 

When I’m asked about my greatest professional accomplishment, the answer is easy: it’s the team I’ve assembled. We share a commitment to our clients and each other, and we strive for excellence in everything we do. No one here is flying solo. We know we can rely on the strengths of everyone in the firm to always be there to help, making each of us a better professional and a happier worker. When I left the big law firm, my father-in-law wisely said, “Don’t be mad at them. Send them a thank-you note.” And was Abe Kriger right! Every day, I send a mental thank-you note that I get to spend my work hours with a wonderful work family.

I am reminded of a quote from Albert Einstein, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” Our team of attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and all the other members of our support team are successful because they focus on providing meaningful work and repeatedly go above and beyond to help us achieve our mission:

  • Caring for our clients and each other;
  • Collaborating with other advisors and among ourselves;
  • Creating a community of character and talent.

Each takes pride in bringing their best to work every day. And there’s no ego—we just want the best solutions for our clients.

 Receiving the Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth 2024 Award is a true reflection of our team and their hard work and dedication. As I said above, “It takes a village,” and boy, am I so thankful for my village!

Marvin proudly holds the award plaque, showcasing his immense gratitude for his team achieving such an honor.

Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth 2024 Award Read More »

Happy “Sobriety” Birthday to My Daughter

Last week’s post was about my 70th birthday, which I celebrated joyfully a few days ago, and I now embark on my eighth decade with renewed energy. In today’s post, I want to share another birthday we celebrated this month in our family. With my daughter Lizzy’s permission (indeed, her encouragement), I am grateful to rejoice in Lizzy’s 3rd “sobriety” birthday. As I’ve revealed in the past, Lizzy is waging a very successful but hard-fought battle against alcoholism. August 1, 2024, marks the completion of 3 years being sober.

Lizzy encourages me to tell her story with the hope it will help others who are battling addiction. I am proud of her willingness to be open and transparent about her struggle with alcohol dependency. So many are suffering in silence. Lizzy is a champion for saying you don’t have to live like that. She acknowledges that it’s a tough road, but there is help out there. Don’t try to fight this disease alone. Find a program that works for you, like Lizzy is doing.

Thanks to her program, Lizzy enjoys a very purpose-driven and meaningful life. In addition, her whole family benefits from her ability to be fully present and engaged with them. In fact, Lizzy, Ira, and their 3 kids just completed a three-week trip to Israel, where they brought comfort to families who are suffering from losses and injuries due to the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.  Their 3 kids are actively involved as well, providing love to these victims and to families of those still held hostage for 312 days now. Lizzy’s full-time mission is to fight antisemitism and support Israel through her social media platform, LizzySavetsky- work that wouldn’t be possible were it not for Lizzy’s sobriety. Laurie and I are very grateful and proud parents.

I learned this week that in some programs, a person with a sobriety birthday randomly selects a card that depicts a value to embrace for the coming year. The value one such person selected was the word “joy.” That person’s goal for the coming year is to experience joy.

 That story brings to mind something that I experienced that I’d like to share. In one of my TIGER 21 meetings, we engaged in a “values exercise.” We were each presented with cards containing 56 values and directed to sort them into 3 stacks revealing how they apply to us: (1) always, (2) sometimes, (3) never. We then narrowed the “always” stack down to 10 and prioritized them, building a pyramid with our number one on top, followed by the next two, then the next three, then the next four. We assigned numerical weights and reported each of our results to the group. The group then constructed a group pyramid with the group’s top 10. It was fascinating to compare my individual pyramid to the group pyramid. 

Here was my main takeaway: One of the group’s top 5 values was “joy.” The word “joy” was nowhere on my values pyramid. It never dawned on me that seeking joy was an appropriate goal. As a person who is (obsessively) productive, I never allowed myself to prioritize joy. Seeing how highly it ranked with the rest of my TIGER 21 group was a big wake-up call for me.

A values exercise like this is a very meaningful activity for a family meeting. As I continue to promote family legacy planning, the cornerstone of that process is the family meeting. I commend to you to bring your family together and engage in meaningful conversation and learning, and in doing so, reveal the values that your family holds in common. It’s a great unifying activity—what I often call “family glue.”

So, as I embark on my eighth decade, I am choosing the word “joy” as my new word of the year. It won’t replace my other values, but as I celebrate this 70th birthday, it’s time to smell the roses.

I do have some dissonance advocating the idea of “joy” during these very disturbing times, as my people are targets for unimaginable hate and terrorism. However, rabbis teach that G-d wants us to continue to celebrate life, even in the midst of our suffering. My heart is heavy, but I can still feel abundant gratitude, and yes—even “joy”—for all the blessings in my life.

Marvin Blum’s daughter Lizzy Savetsky (pictured here with her 3 kids) celebrated three years of sobriety, a golden gift to her and her loved ones.

Marvin expresses his immeasurable love for his daughter Lizzy.

Happy “Sobriety” Birthday to My Daughter Read More »

On Turning 70

I turn 70 on August 8th. I used to think 70 was old—I don’t anymore. I don’t feel 70, maybe more like 50. But when I look in the mirror, it says 70.

Every birthday is a time for introspection and reflection, but especially those decade birthdays. As I engage in this self-assessment, questions abound about past, present, and future Marvin. How have past highs and lows shaped me? Where am I now in my life journey? Where am I going in (G-d willing) the days that lie ahead?

Some of my introspection is colored by a thought-provoking article by Anne Lamott, “It’s not so terribly strange to be 70” (The Washington Post, April 10, 2024). “Today, when I woke up, I was 70. Seventy! I think that I am only 57, but the paperwork does not back this up… When younger people ask me when I graduated from high school and I say 1971 [1972 in my case], there’s a moment’s pause, as if this is inconceivable and I might as well have said 20 B.C. That’s when I feel my age. But… I would not go back even one year.”

I have shared that the Blum Family Mission Statement focuses on Relationships, Productive Work, Spirituality, and Memorable Moments. I’ll use that framework to organize my reflections.

  • Relationships- My gratitude for the supportive and loving communities in my life is off-the-charts. I am richly blessed by my connection with family, friends, and faith. I can handle whatever adversity life throws my way because I’m not flying solo.
  • Productive Work- I am grateful to wake up each day with purpose. I’ve shared repeatedly my desire to keep working. Retirement isn’t in my vocabulary, as long as my mind and body cooperate.
  • Spirituality- It brings me great comfort to know I’m a link in a long, unbroken chain of family who cling tightly to our faith. But aside from religion, I feel powerful spirituality from walks in nature, cuddling with my six precious grandkids, and painting pictures. Whether at the easel or not, I am always painting in my mind.
  • Memorable Moments- Speaking of painting, Lamott writes of the beauty of shadows. “Shadows show us how life can gleam in contrast.” That’s true in all my paintings, but it’s also true in life experiences. The sweet moments are all the sweeter because they stand in contrast to the turbulent ones that taught me resilience, gratitude, and shaped me into the man I am today. So, as I reflect on births, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and graduations, I also recall life’s tornadoes (like the literal one that destroyed my law office in 2000 and the figurative ones like the deaths of loved ones). 

We are living in turbulent times. The attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has impacted me forever, especially as we witness the extreme rise in antisemitism that it fostered. I am heartbroken but defiant. I lived through the turmoil of Vietnam and Watergate, and we survived. Today’s turbulence is worse for me, but once again, I have faith that we will survive it— we must.

As I start to wrap up, I’ll concur with some more of Anne Lamott’s age 70 wisdom.

  • “I know how little I know.” Boy, as I age, I realize that more and more!
  • “I know everything is in flux…so I don’t sweat feeling a little disoriented some days.”
  • “I know that people and pets I adore will keep dying…I know the cycle is life, death, new life.”
  • “Age is just a number when you still know how to shine.”

Looking back on my own 70 years, my main regret is all the times I worried about things that ended up never occurring—so much time wasted. The things that did happen hadn’t occurred to me, but we always managed to get through them. Going forward, my goal is to worry less. Laurie, my ultra-wise wife of 45 years (and truly the rock in our family), always lifts me up with these words: “If it happens, we’ll figure it out.” 

I’ll close with words from a poem, “The Valuable Time of Maturity,” sent to me by my law school “Canoe Brother,” Bill Parrish:

               I feel like the boy that got a bowl of cherries —

               At first, he gobbed them,

               But when he realized there were only a few left,

               He began to taste them intensely…

               I do not intend to waste any of the remaining cherries.

As Marvin Blum turns 70 this week, it’s a time for serious introspection and reflection.

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August is “National Make-a-Will Month”—But You Need More! 

As last week’s post highlights, a Will is only one component of an estate plan. A proper estate plan also manages your affairs during incapacity, protects assets from creditors and divorce, provides business succession planning, and creates a lasting family legacy. Although August is “National Make-a-Will Month,” I urge all to broaden their thinking beyond just having a Will.

Of course, I don’t mean to minimize the importance of having a Will. Indeed, the statistics may shock you. More than half of Americans die without a Will. News stories abound of celebrities like Prince who died intestate, sparking years of legal battles among heirs (or those claiming to be an heir). Research shows that 73% of those who die in Texas each year die without a Will.

A Will not only addresses who inherits your assets, but it also designates an Executor to oversee the process. In Texas, if you use the term “Independent Executor,” the Executor can act free from court control, greatly simplifying the probate process.

A Will can also designate who will serve as guardian of your minor children, arguably the most important provision of an estate plan. It’s also an opportunity to make bequests to loved ones and charitable causes dear to you.

But don’t stop with just a Will. For many, the greater portion of their estate consists of retirement plans, life insurance, and assets in “pay-on-death” or “survivorship” accounts. In just 12 years since 2010, assets in workplace retirement accounts ballooned from $2.8 trillion to $6.8 trillion. These assets don’t pass under a Will. They pass according to a Beneficiary Designation. You can have a perfect Will, but if your Beneficiary Designations are out-of-date, your plans are thwarted.

Every year, we are privy to horror stories of outdated beneficiary designations. Here’s one reported by Ashlea Ebeling, “His Ex is Getting His $1 Million Retirement Account. They Broke Up in 1989.” (Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2024).

Ebeling tells the story of Jeffrey Rolison who dated Margaret Sjostedt in their early 20’s, but soon broke up. While dating Margaret, Jeffrey named her when filling out the beneficiary card for his Procter & Gamble retirement plan. Now almost 40 years later, Jeffrey’s $1.15 million retirement goes to his long-ago ex-girlfriend. Jeffrey’s only other assets are a $66,000 home, some used cars, and two cats.

Jeffrey’s two surviving brothers went to court arguing “it wasn’t fair.” Too bad, says the court. “The form is the form.” Ebeling warns: “The battle over Rolison’s money is a stark reminder that the beneficiary forms on retirement accounts, life-insurance policies, and bank accounts matter. In most cases, they trump the Will even if they were filled out decades prior.”

So as August approaches with its focus on making a Will, be sure all the other aspects of your estate plan are current—especially your beneficiary designation forms!

Photo: Jeffrey Rolison’s outdated beneficiary designation form leaves his $1.15 million retirement to a “cohabitor” Margaret who broke up with him 35 years ago. Lucky Margaret!

August is “National Make-a-Will Month”—But You Need More!  Read More »

On a Scale of 1-10, How’s Your Estate Plan?

I once conducted a workshop on estate planning, and at the end, the moderator asked each attendee, “On a scale of 1-10, how’s your estate plan?” I had just explained that there’s so much more to an estate plan than just having a Will. As described below, a Will is just one component. As the room of participants gave honest answers (most of whom answered a 5 or below), it was my turn to answer. The room expected me to say “10.” When I answered “7,” the shock was palpable.

Why did I grade my estate plan a 7? I had a good Will and basic estate planning documents. But I had been listening to my own words that day and realized I had fallen short on some of the more sophisticated aspects of an estate plan.

My true confession was a harsh wake-up call for me. It was time for this cobbler to fly home and take care of my own shoes. And that’s what I did. I could then proudly answer, “My estate plan is a 10!”

However, I realize that over time, I’ve slipped back to an 8 or 9. The thing about estate planning is that you can never put it away and think “I’m all set.” Things change over time: your family, your assets, the law. To remain a “10,” an estate plan has to be regularly reviewed and updated.

For years, our rule of thumb at The Blum Firm has been to review your estate plan every four years, or sooner if changes necessitate. We conveniently tie it to presidential election years, as that’s an easy reminder. Well, here we are in just such a year. November is just around the corner.

If you need more persuasion, August happens to be “National Make-A-Will Month.” As August is now only days away, I hope that’s extra motivation to not only have a Will, but to update your overall estate plan.

To elaborate on my above assertion that an estate plan is more than a Will, here’s a slide from my workshop:

After conducting a workshop on estate planning, Marvin Blum shockingly graded his own plan a “7 out of 10.” Within weeks, Blum brought it up to a 10.

On a Scale of 1-10, How’s Your Estate Plan? Read More »

Nine Blum Firm Attorneys Recognized in 360West Magazine’s “Top Attorneys 2024” List

We are thrilled to announce that NINE of our attorneys were included in the list of 523 “Top Attorneys 2024” in 360West Magazine!

This is a nominated-based project in which fellow attorneys vote for their peers who exemplify excellence, and we couldn’t be more pleased to be well represented in the field. 

Congratulations to all of our 360West Magazine Top Attorneys for 2024!

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I’m a Graduate of Blum’s Café School of Hard Knocks

My son Adam is a voracious reader. He regularly feeds me fascinating stories that inspire many of my weekly blog posts. Such is the case today with Beth DeCarbo’s family business piece “My Mom and Dad Owned Competing Side-by-Side Hardware Stores. It Was a Lesson in Life,” (Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2024). It’s a fascinating account of a daughter growing up working in her family’s hardware stores.

Upon first reading it, I didn’t grasp its application to me. Then, it hit me. I also learned “lessons in life” growing up working at Blum’s Café. It was far from glamorous, but it instilled in me a work ethic that serves me well to this day.

My father, Julius Blum, had a hard-knocks upbringing, raised behind his family’s small neighborhood grocery store in an impoverished area of Fort Worth. He was the son of immigrant parents who barely escaped Hitler. Though living in America, they were never “Americanized,” speaking only Yiddish and associating only with other similar immigrant families. Miraculously, my dad (with the help of his older brother Sol) rose from that world and became the first college-educated member of the family. Though my brother and I were Longhorns, we respected our dad’s affection for Texas A&M. He was a proud Aggie with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

As a newlywed with my mom Elsie, Julius put his degree to use working for Almar-York Air Conditioning. That didn’t last long. As seems to be in our DNA, my dad wanted to be his own boss. Julius used to say he’d rather own a lemonade stand than work for someone else. He took it one notch up and instead opened Blum’s Café, an industrial restaurant in Fort Worth’s meat packing district.

Julius awoke every day at 4:15 a.m. in order to open for business at 5:00. You have to start early to fire up the oven and griddle and get the coffee going. Any day we weren’t in school, my brother and I were right there with our mom and dad. That’s where we spent our summer and Christmas breaks. The days started early and ended late, loading the soda water cases before we could head home, tired and hot. There was no air conditioning.

Like DeCarbo’s article reports, I learned a lot of life lessons growing up in a family business. Here’s a sampling. 

  • My dad never complained. Though the work was hard, he was grateful we made a good living.
  • Julius treated every customer with the same dignity and respect. Upon buying the café, he terminated the prior practice of segregation where white customers ate in the front and black customers ate in the back. He brought everyone together. I noticed.
  • Though he worked hard seven days a week, my dad found time to volunteer at our synagogue, proudly serving as an officer as well as cooking all the synagogue dinners. His example taught me that you have to give back.
  • I learned to be self-reliant. Two of my dad’s favorite sayings were:

“If you take care of your business, it will take care of you.”

“The only helping hand you need is the one at the end of your arm.”

  • I interacted with all walks of life, gaining an openness and awareness different from all my friends who never engaged with folks like packing house workers. I learned to see the value in every person.

My upbringing at Blum’s Café has certainly influenced who I am today. It generated enormous gratitude I have for my law firm. It informs the second prong of the Blum Family Mission Statement: We embrace productive work, waking up each day to engage in meaningful activity. I am grateful this work ethic is equally embraced by my children Adam and Lizzy.

Along these lines, Laurie recently asked our handyman Don for a referral to a washing machine repairman. It was 7:30 a.m., and she asked Don, “Can I text him now, or do I need to wait?” Don’s reply was choice: “Text him now. Successful people are awake by now.”

To sum this up, my heritage of hard work gave me a unique connection to the comments by comedian Jerry Seinfeld in his recent commencement address at Duke. His number one piece of advice to the graduates was “Work hard.” Then he followed it up with words that resonated: “Bust your ass.” I can hear my dad saying that to me now. 

First photo: Marvin Blum grew up working at Blum’s Café, an industrial restaurant in the stockyards. It wasn’t glamorous, but it provided important lessons in life. Second photo: A young Julius Blum (Marvin Blum’s father) who set an example for a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.

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