Blum's Blog
Create a Family Education Program to “Train Up” Your Heirs
In The Blum Firm’s research on Family Legacy Planning, we discovered (not surprisingly) that one of the greatest causes of family failure is unprepared heirs. To combat that problem, you have
Here’s a F.A.S.T. Solution to Legacy Planning
In last week’s Family Legacy Planning email, we stressed the “last chance” opportunity to take advantage of the $11.7 million estate and gift tax exemption before it reduces by half
“Last Chance” Tax Planning & Family Legacy Planning—It’s Not “Either/Or.” It’s BOTH.
When The Blum Firm embarked on this Family Legacy Planning series several months ago, we described this new dimension of our practice as bringing both “head” and “heart” to the estate planning
A “Love Letter” to Your Family – Part 3
As part of our Family Legacy Planning series, this is the third email devoted to a topic that is stirring up lots of hearts—writing a “legacy letter” or “ethical will”
A “Love Letter” to Your Family – Part 2
In last week’s Family Legacy Planning email, we encouraged everyone to write a “love letter” (also known as a “legacy letter” or “ethical will”) to future generations. I use the
A “Love Letter” to Your Family
As part of The Blum Firm’s Family Legacy Planning series, we are focusing on the gift to your family of not just your valuables, but also your values. One of the
Here’s the Blum Family Mission Statement
In last week’s email in our Family Legacy Planning series, we introduced the topic of a Family Mission Statement, setting out a family’s guiding principles. Although all families are diverse,
What’s Your Family’s Mission Statement
In our series on Family Legacy Planning, The Blum Firm has been sharing ideas to discuss at family meetings. We recommend starting with visionary topics dealing with a family’s history,
What if a Family Meeting Participant Is Disruptive?
It happens in every family—a family member “goes off” about something at a family meeting. Do not feel bad about it or feel your family is unique. This is part of
A Deeper Dive into the Family Meeting Agenda
In recent emails in our Family Legacy Planning series, we stressed the importance of ending each family meeting by setting the agenda for the next family meeting. We recommended that the
Warren Buffett’s Advice to Avoid Raising Entitled Kids
In The Blum Firm’s email series on Family Legacy Planning, last week’s email raised a question that stirred up a lot of interest. The focus of the email was suggested
Bring a Crystal Ball to Your First Family Meeting
Now that The Blum Firm has added Family Legacy Planning to our offerings, we are often asked: “How do we get started?” After an initial assessment so we know the family’s