Blum's Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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.

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

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
