Our Views

A guest blog by Dr. Julie A. Morton. Provocative new research at the University of California, Berkley, suggests that those of means ARE different from their more humble brethren, and NOT in ways that would make one proud. According to studies conducted by social psychologist Paul Piff and his ... Keep Reading "Does wealth breed selfishness?" >

My partner, Kelly Willis, wrote a poignant post last week about the loss of her husband and the estate challenges she found in her path, all during a time she struggled with her bereavement. As a private client lawyer with many years of estate planning under my belt, I wanted to share some of ... Keep Reading "5 things to know when developing your estate plan" >

My husband passed away a year ago last month.  We ought to have been prepared.  Two years earlier he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer for which there was “little predictive data”. We chose to be optimistic. When he died due to complications from surgery I was shocked and ... Keep Reading "Bereavement is bad enough" >

I recently had the experience of counselling a long-time client who, despite a very secure financial position, was overcome with anxiety about money. What became clear to both of us after a lengthy and at times emotional discussion was that her anxiety was not about money at all. Rather it was ... Keep Reading "Surviving spouse, it’s okay to spend the money" >

Many wealthy parents wonder how their children will manage an inheritance. We spend years preparing our children to be independent;  it’s no wonder many wealthy parents are concerned about how money may taint their children’s drive or motivation. Our clients vary widely in their ... Keep Reading "Preview Trust – A perfect Christmas gift from wealthy parents" >