Estate-planning Books

This book really impressed me with the legal help I was searching for. Inheriting money with no knowledge of business, it really helped me with the questions I needed answered and many more I hadn't even thought of. It was ordered for our library and after reading it, I ordered one right away so I could add it to my library and start setting up my estate right. A must for any person needing legal advice and knowledge how to manage his investments.

Plan Ahead: Protect Your Estate And Investments by Frank Eberhart is a highly practical resource for non-specialist general readers seeking to put their personal estate and finances in order, as well as generally protecting their families against the inevitable. Written in no-nonsense, easy-to-understand terms, "user friendly" chapters, Plan Ahead presents straightforward information as to what happens to one's assets when one dies, the effects of the latest tax laws, what the different types of trusts are and how they can be used to ensure financial security for family members, understanding the basics of various types of investments, and a great deal more. Plan Ahead is a very highly recommended primer -- especially for the novice beginner in estate and financial management planning.

A must read for beginners or advanced, trusts, wills, investments and new tax laws and how they affect you, very impressed!

I've been reading quite a few real estate books in the last few months.....I'm a beginner...This has been the best one to date....Clear and to the point...! The book has given me enough confidence to go do my first deal..Cant Wait!

This is an amazing book!! It really offers a financial "road map" to anyone interested in getting started in investing in real estate. It is easy to read and very easy to follow. The author outlines several steps that should be followed in order to be successful in real estate. The book clearly "spells out" how to stay clear of financial "pitfalls" and how to stay on track to buying and selling real estate wisely. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making big money in the world of real estate investing!

Well, I just finished reading the book...It was thorough, succinct, and gave me a clear road map for the coming months as I begin my first steps into real estate investing.

How ironic that the only other Amazon review of this exceptional book, labels it "brilliant, historical research"....

Ironic because the very presence of Mono Lake is long history, and the lake itself is "brilliant", something which most Californians apparently don't comprehend.

And yes, this book itself is brilliant....It may not discuss all the ramifications of water in Callifornia's future, and it doesn't much touch on California's future itself, but it definitely shows us all how we can still fight the forces of "development".

But then, Mono Lake is already "developed"...Keep up the fight!

In this version of the story, it's David Gaines - the graduate student from U. C. Davis. And Goliath is none other then the water company brought to life by William Mulholland and friends. Storm Over Mono has all the makings of a biblical tale, however, it reads much more like a case study for a class in environmental law.

The small, but scrappy, Mono Lake Committee along with California Trout and others used their dogged persistence to protect one of the more unique ecosystems in all North America. John Hart recounts this critical conservation battle in American history with the greatest of precision and detail -- real, high-stakes stuff with a happy ending.

A little background: Mono Lake rests in an arid basin just below the shadow of the Sierra Nevada in Northern California - unfortunately, not quite far enough from the long arm of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Referred to as the "Mono Extension", L.A. Water and Power drained Lee Vining and Rush Creeks. Over decades, this water project diverted critical fresh water flows into Mono Lake - lowering the lake's level and rising it's salinity.

With the lake's ecosystem faltering in the 1970's, a group of "bird freaks" from the University of California at Davis saw the clear signs in their research and sounded the alarm. Members from this research group, including David and Sally Gaines, led the efforts to organize the diverse legal and environmental support needed to defeat a giant like L.A.'s Department of Water and Power. (If you're fortunate enough to fish the lower run of Rush Creek or explore the lake, be sure to tip your hat to the Mono Lake Committee and company.)

One final note: today, Los Angeles County is home to 10 million people. (If L.A. County were a state, it would rank 8th in total population.) David won the battle over Mono Lake, but I'm afraid the water war is far from over in California.

This book was first reviewed on the reviewer's own site: EcoAngler.com - The Nature of Fly Fishing.

I guess I may be a little biased because I was one of the primary sources for the book, but with some very minor issues, it is the most accurate re-telling of a story that should have been turned into a film. If you want to read a GREAT legal story that is also a true story, this is an excellent read. Oh yeah, it also has the obligatory beautiful photographs of Mono lake. Seems that lake doesn't know how to take a bad photograph! :-)

This book is amazing. The authors have a great way of making light of issues that most don't want to think about, let alone read about. While it is light-hearted, the book is also quite informative - It is a must read for old and young.

As a woman who graduated with a Psychology degree - and then shifted gears to become an Estates & Trusts lawyer - I find that Ms. Whitman and Dr. Glisson smoothly combine information from often-disparate schools of thought in their book. Planning for the end of your life is not just a medical, business, or legal affair; it is also a matter of the heart. These authors get that. The tone of the book instantly puts the reader at ease, with the use of humor and quotes from everyday people who completed surveys on the topic, and provides critical information no matter in what stage of life you find yourself. Share it with those you love.

My mother-in-law lost her battle against ovarian cancer in December. If only my husband and I had this book when she was diagnosed! It contains so much helpful advice that could have made the past two years less of a nightmare. The book has great information on clinical trials and hospice. It also would have helped us make sure all the right legal documents were in place. If we'd had access to this information earlier on, I think we could have saved a lot of money on attorney fees. Since I'm in my late thirties, I've never given much thought to wills, etc. But after reading this book, and watching the whole Anna Nicole saga on TV, I understand how crucial it is to have the proper paperwork, and am in the process of having a will and other documents drawn up myself.

This book was of tremendous help when we had a series of deaths of family members. Important things you need to know about bank accounts, taxes, etc. You name it; it's in here.

Scott offers very practical, concise and organized guidebook which I wish I had from day 1...This book focuses on necessary and predictible situations: what needs to be done, when it should be done and who should do it. It defines the terminology simply. The writing is clear and comprehensible. This book is so important for someone newly experiencing the operational side of death, that I purchased multiple copies for my fellow mourners.

This book is both simple and practical. When someone close to you dies, worrying about all the details of what to do next can be overwhelming. Many people are too distraught to deal with potentially complex legal and financial issues. This book provides an easy step-by-step approach to the whole process, and doesn't overwhelm the reader with too much detail.

Finally, a book absolutely anyone can understand when deciding how and where to invest. Mr. Dunetz is obviously an intelligent man but is able to speak to the layman as well as the established investor.

I'm glad I read this book before I planned my estate. Finally, a comprehensive and easy to read volume on the subject.

My sister Allison turned me on to this book when I told her of my concern towards protecting my future assets, and am I glad she did. Easy to read information that has already helped me in my quest to protect my sizable fortune obtained after years and years of domestic cat breeding.

Everyone should have this book. I know of a family now that is going through a battle simply because a book like this one was not used. What a great idea. I am going to tell everyone where to get this book. I think everyone should have it along with their will.
GOOD JOB!
I also recommend Write from Your Heart, A Healing Grief Journal for anyone who has lost a loved one. It creates a memory book of a person you have lost using your own words and thoughts.

I can't imagine life without this book now that I know it exists. Hoorays for the author who took the time to create the framework for others to leave their story and feelings to loved ones.

I never asked all of the questions I should have asked my parents and grandparents. Now it is too late. I am so sorry this book did not exist before. I am so sorry I didn't think about asking the many questions that I still have. I won't let it happen to my children. I am going to write down all of my thoughts and make sure the children know where this is when I leave this magical place. They will know as much information as I can give them and hopefully pass this down to their families. I will also write down what I want them to have so they will know it came from my heart. This vehicle provides the opportunity to communicate all that I need to say and want to have done after I am gone. I feel at peace knowing I have taken responsibility to leave this for those I love. Thank you...

This volume contains many pearls of wisdom and other gems for senior corporate officers responsible for a company's real property decisions and management! By organizing his insights under sub-headings of common management interest, Stephen Roulac, one of the most knowledgeable people today on corporate real property, makes his years of experience in the field readily accessible to corporate real estate professionals. Whether concerned with day-to-day corporate real property decisions and deal-making or in search of cutting-edge strategic insights to achieve competitive business advantage, general management executives of both small companies and the largest multinationals will find much value in this volume.
-Chris Manning, 2002-2003 President of the American Real Estate Society; co-editor of the 'Journal of Real Estate Research' 1999 and 2001 special issues on Corporate Real Estate; Professor, Loyola Marymount University

Written by a renowned expert in real estate and property space, this book is filled with thought-provoking content for anyone involved in corporate real estate. Most readers will recognize at least one, if not several, embarrassing (and probably costly) mistakes that have already been made. These mistakes, and many like them, could have been avoided by a careful read of this book.

This comfortingly thick volume is organized into the following main sections, with chapters under each heading: Strategy Management Operations, Deals/Deal-Making, Space, Place, and the all-important How You Can Avoid Mistakes. Each of the 275 potential mistakes is presented briefly. The write-ups are more reminders and memory joggers-briefly instructive, rather than in-depth treatments of the topics. In many of the explanations, I found myself wanting more detail, while appreciating the warning that the mistake could cost me in many ways.

The table of contents is comprehensive, enabling the reader to locate by category the topic(s) of interest. As a reference book, the volume would have been more valuable with an index.

For corporate leaders, business owners, and even corporate real estate professionals who think they already have all the answers, this volume will serve a valuable purpose. If you are considering any kind of a real estate move, first move through the pages of this book.

Greg's book is a classic.

Great resource book to read and then give to clients and their advisors to aid them in turning the corner on the paradigm shift that needs to occur if they are to move beyond the 10 yard line of the typical estate plan.

A simple to read guide to what you need to think about after the death of someone. Could be used before the death to get some things done or lined up. A great resource for cancer support centers or groups!

It is a pleasure to see such a work available at last on Amazon. After reviewing this work I realized several things that I could do to prepare for that inevitable, albeit necessary part of life. The author puts into perspective her own experiences and ideas that strike home with a resounding chord.

Ultimately, the book helps one plan and contemplate the grieving process and allow oneself time for healing. It takes a brave and thoughtful person to put a work like this together.

BRAVO !