Estate planning mistakes can lead to unnecessary taxes, legal disputes, and financial hardship for clients and their families. This presentation will highlight the most common pitfalls, including outdated beneficiary designations, improper asset titling, failure to plan for Washington’s estate tax, and inadequate incapacity planning. Attendees will learn how to identify these risks, proactively address them with clients, and collaborate effectively with estate planning attorneys to develop comprehensive solutions. Special attention will be given to digital assets, long-term care planning, blended family considerations, and common misconceptions about trusts and asset protection. Additionally, we’ll discuss the importance of regularly updating estate plans to reflect life changes and evolving tax laws. By understanding these key issues, financial advisors can help clients avoid costly mistakes, protect their wealth, and ensure their legacy is preserved.
Learning objectives:
1. Identify Common Estate Planning Pitfalls: Recognize the most frequent estate planning mistakes, including outdated beneficiary designations, improper asset titling, and failure to plan for Washington’s estate tax.
2. Understand Key Strategies to Avoid Costly Errors: Learn how proactive planning—such as proper trust funding, incapacity planning, and blended family considerations—can help clients minimize legal disputes, tax burdens, and unintended asset distribution.
3. Enhance Client Collaboration & Plan Updates: Discover how financial advisors can play a critical role in ensuring estate plans remain current by encouraging regular reviews to address life changes, tax law updates, and evolving client goals.
4. Integrate Financial & Estate Planning for Holistic Advice: Explore best practices for working alongside estate planning attorneys to develop comprehensive solutions that incorporate digital asset protection, long-term care planning, and strategic wealth preservation.
Meet Setareh Mahmoodi, J.D.
Setareh Mahmoodi is an accomplished estate planning and administration, tax, and business attorney dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their assets and navigate complex legal matters. With extensive knowledge in wealth preservation, tax-efficient estate planning, and business succession, she develops tailored strategies to safeguard assets and ensure seamless transitions. She also partners with financial advisors, CPAs, and other professionals to create comprehensive estate and tax planning solutions.
Beyond planning, Setareh is highly skilled in estate administration and dispute resolution. As a certified mediator, she helps clients navigate conflicts efficiently—whether resolving estate disputes among heirs or facilitating business negotiations—prioritizing cost-effective and relationship-preserving outcomes. An active member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys and the Estates, Trusts, and Probate Section of the Washington State Bar Association, she frequently writes and speaks on legal topics in her field.
Committed to service, Setareh serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Northshore Senior Center and provides pro bono legal assistance to low-income individuals and nonprofits. She volunteers with the First Responders Clinic, drafting wills for firefighters and police officers, and has worked internationally on land transfer projects for underserved communities.