Tag: Estate Planning

Navigating Post-Election Exemption Planning

Navigating Post-Election Exemption Planning

Are you prepared for the changes on the horizon with estate tax exemptions? 

Let’s discover how to plan and preserve your wealth strategically!

Join host Bryan Schick as he dives deep into post-election exemption planning with Dan Stolfa, a Senior Wealth Advisor and trust and estates attorney at Centura Wealth Advisory. Together, they unravel the complexities of the current transfer tax system and explore the potential impacts of upcoming changes to estate tax exemptions.

Key discussion points include:

  • Understanding the current federal estate tax exemption and its impending reduction [00:03:05]
  • The concept of portability and its significance in estate planning [00:05:42]
  • Legislative uncertainties and the risks tied to postponing estate planning actions [00:07:15]
  • Strategies tailored for different tiers of net worth to optimize exemptions [00:14:57]
  • And more!

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About Our Team:

Bryan Schick joined Centura in July of 2024 as a Vice President of Insurance & Strategy. A background in accounting and mergers and acquisitions led Bryan to a career in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Centura, Bryan held senior leadership roles in large life insurance distribution groups as well as life insurance companies. Using his knowledge of the drivers in both the finance and insurance sectors, along with my deep experience in risk analysis, design structure and relationship management, he creates planning solutions for families while ensuring alignment between all the parties involved.

Dan Stolfa joined Centura Wealth Advisory in October 2024 as a Senior Wealth Advisor. With a background in law and accounting, Dan transitioned into the financial services industry 20 years ago, building a distinguished career working with families, business owners, executives, foundation leaders, board members, interim CFOs, trust fiduciaries, EOS Implementers, and high-net-worth individuals nationwide. He specializes in identifying and implementing solutions for financial planning, succession planning, and wealth management needs.

How Trusts Can Protect Your Wealth (Ep. 103)

How Trusts Can Protect Your Wealth (Ep. 103)

With tax laws on the brink of change, how can high-net-worth families not only protect their wealth but maximize their tax efficiency? 

This week on Live Life Liberated, Kyle Malmstrom, Managing Director at Centura Wealth Advisory, and Adam Buchwalter, Partner at Wilson Elser, deliver a powerful, must-hear breakdown of the critical differences between grantor and non-grantor trusts—and how each could be a key tool to elevate and optimize your estate plan.

Tune in as they explore the potential impact of upcoming legislation on grantor trusts, revealing why right now is the perfect moment to take action and lock in benefits before it’s too late. 

Talking points include:

  • The difference between grantor trusts, where the grantor pays the taxes, and non-grantor trusts, which file their own returns and face higher tax rates
  • How grantor trusts help assets grow tax-efficiently, and how non-grantor trusts can lower state income taxes by being set up in low-tax states like Nevada or Delaware
  • Why proposed laws, like Senator Warren’s bill, could change the benefits of grantor trusts—and why it’s critical to act quickly
  • How states like New York and California tax trusts differently, and strategies to avoid high state taxes with proper trust planning
  • Why working with professionals is key to navigating the complex rules and keeping your wealth safe for the future
  • And much more!

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Elevate Your Business Strategy: The Strategic Value of a Fractional CFO with Jonny Borok (Ep. 100)

Elevate Your Business Strategy: The Strategic Value of a Fractional CFO with Jonny Borok (Ep. 100)

Are you fully capitalizing on your business’s financial strategy? If not, you could be missing out on critical growth opportunities and tax savings.

Let’s celebrate 100 episodes of Live Life Liberated with a value-packed discussion! 🎉

This week, host Derek Myron interviews Jonny Borok, a highly experienced fractional CFO, about how these experts help business owners achieve their investment and estate planning goals with greater precision. 

Their conversation reveals the unique advantages of hiring a fractional CFO, the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration among advisory teams, and why a unified financial strategy is vital for sustained success.

Whether you’re steering a business with $5 million or more in revenue or seeking to fine-tune your financial approach, this release offers invaluable insights that could revolutionize your financial planning!

Talking points include:

  • The distinct advantages of a fractional CFO for strategic oversight and solving complex financial challenges
  • The enhanced insights a fractional CFO brings from working across multiple industries and clients
  • The crucial impact of effective collaboration between wealth managers, tax strategists, legal experts, and accountants
  • Identifying businesses that stand to benefit most from fractional CFO services, with a focus on strong accounting foundations
  • The essential role of accurate financial reporting in tax planning and how to establish reliable reporting systems
  • The pitfalls of working in silos and the need for continuous coordination among your advisory team
  • Practical guidance on when to consider a fractional CFO for improving financial reporting, cash flow, and tax strategy
  • And much more!

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About Our Guest:

Jonny Borok has over 25 years of experience as a CFO for primarily San Diego-based, privately held mid-market companies. He has had responsibility for the full range of accounting and finance functions including insurance and tax matters.

Working With Centura: Candid Feedback From Our Client Charlie Neer (Ep. 97)

Working With Centura: Candid Feedback From Our Client Charlie Neer (Ep. 97)

Coming from a humble background, Charlie Neer experienced financial turmoil early in his life. 

But over the years, he has found success in multiple senior executive positions at various organizations — currently as Chief Revenue Officer (US) at MiQ.

Two years ago, Charlie became a client of Centura Wealth Advisory (Centura).

In this episode, Centura’s Managing Director Derek Myron interviews Charlie, who candidly shares his client experience, pivotal moments during the journey, and how his wealth management has become better aligned with his purpose.

Derek and Charlie discuss:

  • What prompted Charlie to finally seek professional financial guidance
  • Centura’s comprehensive Liberated Wealth® process
  • How Centura helps coordinate all aspects of wealth management (investments, estate planning, tax planning, etc.)
  • Charlie’s advice to other high-net-worth individuals
  • And more

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The presented testimonial is from a current Centura client and is for informational purposes only. The statements provided should not be considered as a representation of all client experiences, which may differ substantially.

Effective Use Cases of Life Insurance for Wealth Transfer, Tax Planning, and More (Ep. 91)

Effective Use Cases of Life Insurance for Wealth Transfer, Tax Planning, and More (Ep. 91)

Life insurance is often only viewed as a way to get a death benefit.

But if you look beyond its conventional definition, you’ll see how life insurance has several use cases in tax planning, wealth transfer, and as an alternative investment!

Join Centura Wealth Advisory’s Sean Clark, Wealth Advisor, and Christopher Hyman, Director of Insurance Solutions, for an enlightening conversation about the role of life insurance in comprehensive wealth management — especially for high-net-worth individuals.

Sean and Chris discuss:

  • How life insurance provides the much-needed liquidity to pay off estate taxes
  • Life insurance as an alternative asset class
  • Four tax advantages of life insurance
  • How business owners can effectively utilize insurance in risk management, exit planning, and other scenarios
  • A rapid-fire Q&A session about insurance
  • And more

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How to Plan for the Looming Estate Tax Issue (Ep. 89)

How to Plan for the Looming Estate Tax Issue (Ep. 89)

The once-generous estate and gift tax exemptions set by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are due to sunset on December 31, 2025.

Is your estate plan ready for the challenge?

In this episode, Kyle Malmstrom, Managing Director, and Christopher Hyman, Director of Insurance Solutions, refer to strategies to reduce the estate tax liability that may significantly increase for many high-net-worth families after the TCJA expires.

Kyle and Chris discuss:

  • A brief overview of how exemption limits have changed over the years
  • The importance of creating liquidity well before the transfer of estate (especially for business and real estate owners)
  • Tax and liquidity benefits of an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT)
  • Why you should seek expert guidance in estate planning and structuring any trusts
  • And more

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Preparing for Change: How to Adapt to Economic and Tax Legislation Shifts (Ep. 77)

Preparing for Change: How to Adapt to Economic and Tax Legislation Shifts (Ep. 77)

Are you a business owner or high-income executive concerned about recent changes in the economic, political, and tax environment?

In this episode, Kyle Malmstrom and Matt Griffith, CFP®, cover a range of topics, including ways to prepare for a huge liquidity event, tax planning, investment considerations during high interest rates, and an overview of our Liberated Wealth® process.

Kyle and Matt discuss:

  • Key changes in the past 12 months that can impact your wealth
  • Tips for business owners either setting up a new entity or planning their exit
  • What to do if your wealth is tied up in a concentrated stock position
  • The importance of working with a professional advisory team
  • And more

Resources:

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Centura Client Experience from the View of a Retired Certified Public Accountant (Ep. 76)

Centura Client Experience from the View of a Retired Certified Public Accountant (Ep. 76)

Krista Schmitt, a retired CPA, has spent nearly 30 years working for a Fortune-500 company in the area of accounting and financial information systems.

Despite her financial background, she knew she wanted to lean on an expert and decided to work with Centura Wealth Advisory (Centura) and has been a client of Derek Myron, Managing Director, for nearly two decades!

In this episode, Derek interviews Krista about her experience as Centura’s client moving through the Liberated Wealth® Process.

Derek and Krista discuss:

  • Why Krista started to feel that investing only in a 401(k) wasn’t enough
  • Her exposure to alternative investments as Centura’s client (and how it impacted her portfolio)
  • The benefits of working with a well-coordinated and trusted team of professionals
  • The best place to start if you do not have a team of advisors yet
  • And more

Resources:

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The presented testimonial is from a current Centura client and is for informational purposes only. The statements provided should not be considered as a representation of all client experiences, which may differ substantially.

Private Fiduciaries and Their Role in Estate Planning with David Stapleton (Ep. 74)

Private Fiduciaries and Their Role in Estate Planning with David Stapleton (Ep. 74)

Private fiduciaries can play a critical role in managing and protecting the assets of their clients. They also help ensure that their clients’ wishes are carried out after they are gone and their assets reach their desired beneficiaries.

In this episode, Derek Myron speaks with David Stapleton, President of Stapleton Group, Inc., about private fiduciaries, their role in managing assets and estates, and the benefits they can provide to individuals and families.

Derek and David discuss:

  • Services and benefits offered by private fiduciaries
  • How private fiduciaries differ from trust banks
  • The pros and cons of choosing family members to act as your trustee
  • Real-world examples of what it’s like to work with a private fiduciary
  • And more

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About Our Guest:

David P. Stapleton, a nationally-recognized federal receiver, trustee and restructuring expert, resolves complex problems caused by non-performing commercial loans and shareholder disputes.  In representing creditors, business owners and legal counsel, David quickly identifies the obstacles between the parties involved and implements actions to overcome impasses.  His expertise spans receiverships; assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABCs); bankruptcy plan administration and liquidations; federal equity receiverships; and, financial advisory.

“Above-the-Line” Financial Planning: How to Move the Needle on Your Wealth Management Services (Ep. 66)

“Above-the-Line” Financial Planning: How to Move the Needle on Your Wealth Management Services (Ep. 66)

At Centura, we divide financial planning services into two categories: 1) Steps that make your plan just “good enough” and 2) Steps that actually move the needle and make a measurable difference in your wealth.

In this episode, Derek Myron and Sean Clark unpack the four steps that fall “below-the-line” and three steps that fall “above-the-line” in financial planning. They further explain the impact that each step has on your financial plan.

Derek and Sean discuss:

  • What sets Centura Wealth Advisory’s Liberated Wealth® Process apart
  • The importance of adopting a forward-looking approach to tax planning
  • How Centura professionals collaborate with CPAs and estate planning attorneys to improve the client experience
  • How balance sheet optimization works (and why it matters)
  • And more

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