Tag: Estate Planning

How to Protect Your Loved Ones: Special Needs Trusts Explained with April Rosenberry (Ep. 60)

How to Protect Your Loved Ones: Special Needs Trusts Explained with April Rosenberry (Ep. 60)

As the 2026 estate tax law changes inch closer, the risk of costly financial missteps is rising for those who don’t plan ahead. 

Failing to act now could mean losing millions in taxes.

Robert Curtiss welcomes back April Rosenberry, Director of Estate, Tax, and Financial Planning, to offer valuable insights into the upcoming tax exemptions and what they really mean for estate owners.  Together, they examine why proactive estate planning is more critical than ever—especially for families with special needs beneficiaries. 

Tune in as they also explore SEIA’s unique, holistic approach, revealing how a collaborative strategy can bring peace of mind in the face of an ever-changing financial landscape.

Key topics discussed include:

  • How 2026’s estate tax law changes will reduce exemptions and why early planning is critical
  • The role of special needs trusts when it comes to protecting beneficiaries without losing access to government aid
  • SEIA’s commitment to working with legal professionals to provide tailored, stress-free estate planning
  • Why flexible trust language is vital for adapting to changing family circumstances
  • How a proactive, all-inclusive approach can secure your family’s long-term financial stability
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with April Rosenberry:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

April Rosenberry has been a tax attorney for over 25 years. With Bar licenses in California and New York, April specializes in estate planning, company structuring, and litigation. She has represented banks and corporations in court, earning recognition and numerous awards.

April excels in developing departments for companies, expanding client offerings, and managing legal teams in law firms, financial institutions, and wealth advisory firms. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSUN in 1995, a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1998, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from USD School of Law in 1999.

Recognized in Modern Luxury magazine, April has received a Trifecta Award and is designated a Five Star Professional. She contributes to scholarly articles for the American Bar Association and the ACFLS Journal, in addition to speaking engagements and pro bono work for Wills for Heroes. A member of various associations, she enjoys yoga, performing arts, and traveling with her family.

Essential Steps in Estate Planning with Roger Silk (Ep. 51)

Essential Steps in Estate Planning with Roger Silk (Ep. 51)

Did you know that more than two-thirds of adult Americans have yet to implement any form of estate planning? 

Even high-profile figures like Prince and Pablo Picasso faced chaotic and costly consequences because they lacked a proper plan.

Join Rob Curtiss alongside Roger Silk, CEO of Sterling Foundation Management LLC, for a deep dive into the essentials of estate planning. 

Get ready to learn how to set up a secure and impactful legacy, understand the implications of the upcoming 2025 sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and explore strategies to mitigate taxes and avoid probate, all while ensuring your wishes are honored.

Rob and Roger discuss:

  • The value of having a well-structured estate plan to avoid unnecessary legal battles and high taxes
  • Real-life stories of high-profile individuals who faced estate planning disasters
  • Insights into the 2025 sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and its potential impact on estate and gift taxes
  • Strategies for managing and diversifying highly appreciated assets to minimize tax liabilities
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Roger Silk:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Roger Silk, Ph.D., is the CEO of Sterling Foundation Management, LLC, and President of Lifetime Perspectives, Inc. Roger is widely recognized as a leading expert and innovator in the emerging field at the intersection of finance and philanthropy. 

Roger has more than three decades of experience working with and advising wealthy clients, high-net-worth families, and the advisors who work with them on a variety of issues ranging from the use of private foundations to the integration of sophisticated charitable planning into multi-generational estate plans. He has worked with numerous investment, accounting, financial planning, and legal professionals to educate them, their firms, and their clients about the benefits and characteristics of a full suite of solutions, entities, and planning tools.

Safeguard Your Wealth: Unraveling the Complexities of Estate Planning with April Rosenberry (Ep. 46)

Safeguard Your Wealth: Unraveling the Complexities of Estate Planning with April Rosenberry (Ep. 46)

How to protect your assets and legacy from potential financial abuse and undue influence? 

Do you know?

In the latest edition of The Millionaire Next Door Podcast, Rob Curtiss is joined by April Rosenberry, director of estate tax and financial planning at SEIA, to explore the complexities of estate planning and the importance of comprehensive financial strategies to safeguard your wealth and loved ones. 

April shares her experience and insights on upcoming tax law changes while providing valuable tips to help you navigate the intricate world of estate planning.

Rob and April discuss:

  • Estate planning to protect assets and prevent financial abuse
  • Federal estate tax laws and upcoming changes
  • Different estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxy
  • Financial elder abuse and undue influence in estate planning
  • The value of proactive planning
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with April Rosenberry:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

April Rosenberry has been a tax attorney for over 25 years. With Bar licenses in California and New York, April specializes in estate planning, company structuring, and litigation. She has represented banks and corporations in court, earning recognition and numerous awards.

April excels in developing departments for companies, expanding client offerings, and managing legal teams in law firms, financial institutions, and wealth advisory firms. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSUN in 1995, a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1998, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from USD School of Law in 1999.

Recognized in Modern Luxury magazine, April has received a Trifecta Award and is designated a Five Star Professional. She contributes to scholarly articles for the American Bar Association and the ACFLS Journal, in addition to speaking engagements and pro bono work for Wills for Heroes. A member of various associations, she enjoys yoga, performing arts, and traveling with her family.

As We Transition From Summer to Fall: Reflecting on Financial, Estate, Investment, and Tax Topics (Ep. 37)

As We Transition From Summer to Fall: Reflecting on Financial, Estate, Investment, and Tax Topics (Ep. 37)

At 37 episodes, The Millionaire Next Door Podcast has explored a multitude of topics, from financial planning tips to life-changing experiences and lessons. 

Each conversation contains helpful information and resources you can use and refer to! 

In this episode, Rob Curtiss shares his top-of-mind topics, ranging from general finances to estate, tax, and investment planning. Rob highlights how different aspects of planning evolve with changing needs and how his podcast provides valuable advice for existing and potential clients.

Rob discusses:

  • How his podcast and the stories on it can help people learn beneficial financial lessons
  • The process behind estate planning and the importance of frequent updates
  • Strategies when navigating investments and tax implications
  • The value of regular client-advisor communication and check-ins 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

Revolutionizing Financial Planning For The Aging Population with Tom West (Ep. 36)

Revolutionizing Financial Planning For The Aging Population with Tom West (Ep. 36)

Whether you or a loved one is reaching a point where you need more care, it may be challenging (but not impossible!) to find the right plan for your needs. 

What strategy is the best? How much will it cost? Should you move to a senior home or hire caretakers?

In this episode, Rob Curtiss is joined by a fellow SEIA colleague from the East Coast, Tom West, who has developed a process to address the challenges of medical care and aging. Rob and Tom cover the importance of navigating dynastic issues within families and the need for financial advisors to understand and meet the changing financial needs of senior clients as their health changes.

Tom discusses:

  • The importance of addressing and shifting priorities when it comes to caregiving
  • Reasons caregiving impacts the caregiver’s health and the value of support and respite for them, too
  • What you need to know about Life Care Affordability Planning® and its focus on medical prognosis and planning for care
  • The value of having a methodical process (such as estate planning documents) in place
  • Some of the challenges faced by the aging population and the impact the pandemic has had on senior housing and the healthcare industry
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Tom West:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Thomas C. West, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®, is a Senior Partner in SEIA’s Virginia office. Tom has a robust wealth management practice that emphasizes cash flow in all stages of retirement with an emphasis on planning and asset management for families facing the challenge of health-related dependency due to disability, illness, or death. Tom also has significant experience in issues related to suitable and ethical financial strategies for incapacitated seniors.

Let’s Communicate Before We’re Gone with Pat Miles Zimmerman (Ep. 31)

Let’s Communicate Before We’re Gone with Pat Miles Zimmerman (Ep. 31)

Can you imagine being in a situation where your spouse passes away, and you have no idea about their finances?

It can be an overwhelming and complex journey, to say the least. 

In this episode, Pat Miles Zimmerman joins Rob Curtiss to talk about her experience losing her husband and the struggle of sorting out financial and legal components while navigating the fog of grief. 

Sharing valuable insights from her book, “Before All Is Said And Done,”  Pat reveals what she didn’t know about her husband’s estate and the problems that surfaced from the lack of information she first had access to.

Pat discusses:

  • How she lost her husband and why she chose to share her experience
  • The value of having a written record of your financial plans
  • Why you should consider writing an ‘intention letter’ 
  • The cost of not communicating with your loved ones 
  • From passwords to the key of your safety deposit box: Tips and tricks to getting organized 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Pat Miles Zimmerman:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Pat Miles Zimmerman, esteemed for her professionalism by viewers, listeners, and colleagues, became one of the Minneapolis region’s premier television news anchors and radio talk hosts.

After earning her master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, Pat worked in both radio and television news in Colorado before joining WCCO TV in 1978 as a reporter and weekend anchor. Her intelligent reporting and authoritative delivery soon brought her to the anchor desk of WCCO’s 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM newscasts.

She covered every major news event for WCCO TV but was most proud of A Time to Weep, her documentary on the famine in Africa. In 1990, she moved to KARE TV, where she anchored the 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM newscasts and developed A Pat Miles Special, using her writing and interviewing prowess to tell the stories of notable Minnesotans. 

When she left TV news in 2001, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming the host of The Pat Miles Show on weekday mornings on WCCO Radio.

A role model for women in the industry, Pat has received numerous honors for her work in broadcasting and the community, including the National Television Academy’s Silver Circle Award. She is also in the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.