Kaiser Law Group Estate & Legacy Planning

03/25/2026

Are you spending 40 years building wealth, but only 2 hours planning its transition?

Most estate plans follow a "Traditional Model": Sign. File. Forget. But a truly effective legacy requires more than a dusty binder on a shelf.

Join Curtis for our upcoming webinar, "Beyond the Binder: Leaving a More Conscious Legacy," where we’ll discuss how to move from a one-time transaction to a purposeful, relational plan.

We’ll cover:
‣Why "How" and "What" are the wrong questions (and why "Why" matters most).
‣Navigating the "Moment of Truth" when laws or family dynamics shift.
‣How to bridge the communication gap with your heirs.

📅Tuesday, March 31, 2026
🕚11:30 AM Pacific Time

Reserve Your Spot Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mxDGVm5VQIK0v8PElVjhpg

03/16/2026

Are you spending 40 years building wealth, but only 2 hours planning its transition?

Most estate plans follow a "Traditional Model": Sign. File. Forget. But a truly effective legacy requires more than a dusty binder on a shelf.

Join Curtis for our upcoming webinar, "Beyond the Binder: Leaving a More Conscious Legacy," where we’ll discuss how to move from a one-time transaction to a purposeful, relational plan.

We’ll cover:
‣Why "How" and "What" are the wrong questions (and why "Why" matters most).
‣Navigating the "Moment of Truth" when laws or family dynamics shift.
‣How to bridge the communication gap with your heirs.

📅Tuesday, March 31, 2026
🕚11:30 AM Pacific Time
Reserve Your Spot Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mxDGVm5VQIK0v8PElVjhpg #/registration

02/19/2026

Is Your IRA Protected?

Your Trust Doesn’t Control Your IRA. Here’s Why That Matters.

It’s a common mistake: assuming your Trust handles your retirement accounts. In reality, the beneficiary form on file with your bank or custodian wins every time—even if it’s 30 years out of date.

If that form lists an ex-spouse or is left blank, your estate plan could be completely bypassed, leading to unintended heirs and massive tax hits.

Two updates you can't afford to miss:

The 10-Year Rule: If you inherited an IRA in 2020 or later, the IRS is now strictly enforcing a 10-year limit to empty the account. Missing these withdrawals can lead to heavy penalties.

The "Paperwork" Trap: A single outdated form can override your entire Trust.

How we help:
Our Legacy Program is designed to fix this. We don’t just write the legal documents; we ensure your assets actually align with them.

Don't let a simple piece of paperwork undo your legacy.

https://kaiserlg.com/is-your-ira-protected-two-overlooked-risks-to-your-legacy/

02/16/2026

Many families believe their estate plan is “done” once documents are signed, but as estate attorney Curtis Kaiser explains, that traditional “sign and forget” model often leads to unintended consequences.

In this educational session hosted by Halbert Hargrove Senior Wealth Advisor Nick Strain, Curtis shares why technically sound estate plans can still fail, the four critical moments where plans quietly go off track, and how families can build a more durable, conscious approach to legacy planning.

Topics covered include:
-Why “sign and forget” estate plans often fail
-The importance of aligning assets with your trust
-How life changes, law changes, and family dynamics can derail a plan
-Preparing trustees and beneficiaries long before the plan is needed
-The disconnect between decades spent building wealth and hours spent planning its transition
-Why communication and preparation—not legal documents—help drive successful multigenerational outcomes
-How a more intentional, ongoing approach helps support clarity, harmony, and continuity

This session emphasizes simple but powerful principles: keep your plan aligned, keep your assets aligned, prepare your trustees and beneficiaries, and maintain ongoing dialogue with your advisors.

Many families believe their estate plan is “done” once documents are signed, but as estate attorney Curtis Kaiser explains, that traditional “sign and forget...

02/12/2026

Purposeful Estate Planning: How to Help Clients Leave a More Conscious Legacy on the Estate Planning Weekly Podcast with Bill Gross

Drawing on his focused and ongoing estate planning training as well as personal empathy, Curtis works with his clients and their trusted advisors to create a...

02/05/2026

Exciting News: Announcing a New Partner at Kaiser Law Group

We are pleased to share an important update. Effective February 2026, Bijan Roboubi is joining Kaiser Law Group as a Partner.

Many of you have already had the opportunity to work with Bijan since we began referring clients to him for smaller matters in 2024. He joined us as Of Counsel in 2025, and we are excited to welcome him as a partner as our firm continues to grow.

Most recently, Bijan has led his own estate planning firm, Abar Law, from 2021 to the present. His decision to join Kaiser Law Group as my first partner reflects his exceptional legal skill, his unique professional background, and the deep level of care he brings to every family we serve. This addition allows us to expand our capacity while continuing to deliver thoughtful, client-centered estate planning.

https://kaiserlg.com/exciting-news-announcing-a-new-partner-at-kaiser-law-group/

Warmly,

Curtis

07/17/2025

One of the ways affluent families support each other financially is through intra-family loans. Whether it’s helping a child buy a home, funding a family business, or covering an unexpected expense, these loans can be a valuable tool for preserving and transferring wealth. However, failing to properly document and structure them can create unnecessary familial, legal, financial, and tax risks.

https://kaiserlg.com/the-importance-of-formalizing-intra-family-loans/

06/17/2025

Misleading Solicitations for Property or Corporate Records

At Kaiser Law Group, we want to make you aware of a growing trend of misleading solicitations that target California residents. These solicitations often look like official government correspondence, but they’re actually deceptive marketing efforts by private companies trying to sell you public records or unnecessary services.

What Do These Solicitations Look Like?
These deceptive mailers often contain official-looking elements (see sample below), such as:
• A government-like seal or logo.
• References to the California Secretary of State, county recorder, or other agencies.
• Phrases like “Compliance Required” or “Respond Immediately” to create a sense of urgency.
• Instructions to pay fees, often ranging from $75 to $150, to obtain copies of documents like property deeds or corporate filings.

Here’s an example:
A client of ours recently received a letter labeled “Property Records Request” from an organization with a name resembling an official agency. The letter warned the client about a “recording deadline” and instructed them to send $89.50 for a copy of their deed. However, deeds are public records and can be obtained directly from the county recorder’s office for a much lower fee, typically around $10.

What Should You Do if You Receive a Misleading Solicitation?
If you receive a questionable letter, reach out to us! We’re here to help and are happy to look at a copy of the notice and let you know if it’s legitimate.

06/05/2025

Webinar - Estate Planning (and just good planning!) with Retirement Accounts. https://vimeo.com/1091007527

Curtis Kaiser, a board certified Estate Planning Attorney with Kaiser Law Group and Nick Strain, a Senior Wealth Advisor with Halbert Hargrove discuss special planning opportunities and pitfalls for various retirement assets. This webinar is especially relevant for families who have a significant portion of their assets in tax-deferred accounts (401k, IRAs, and other retirement accounts)

Takeaways from the Webinar:
• Understand difference between trust assets and retirement accounts for estate planning.
• Retirement accounts that were wonderful for deferring income tax are not ideal assets to transfer to children.
• Trust doesn't control distribution of retirement accounts. Get those beneficiary designations right!
• Make sure the team is at the table!
• Adjust as needed as circumstances and laws change.

Curtis Kaiser, a board certified Estate Planning Attorney with Kaiser Law Group and Nick Strain, a Senior Wealth Advisor with Halbert Hargrove discuss special planning…

05/06/2025

Estate Planning (and just good planning!) with Retirement Accounts
MAY 27, 2025 12PM Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oOKHInFLT-2vPDg7muuZsg

Hear Curtis Kaiser, a board certified Estate Planning Attorney with Kaiser Law Group and Nick Strain, a Senior Wealth Advisor with Halbert Hargrove discuss special planning opportunities and pitfalls for various retirement assets. This webinar is especially relevant for families who have a significant portion of their assets in tax-deferred accounts (401k, IRAs, and other retirement accounts)

04/24/2025

For many families, pets are cherished members of the household, and it’s important to plan for their care in case something happens to you. A recent New York Times article highlights various strategies, from informal agreements with trusted friends or family to formal pet trusts that provide financial support for your pet’s care. Whether you prefer an informal approach ("I talked to my cousin Joe and he said he’d take care of my dogs if anything happened to me") or a legally binding pet trust, you can incorporate these provisions into your estate plan, giving you peace of mind about your beloved companions’ future. https://kaiserlg.com/planning-for-pets-dont-forget-the-fur-babies/