Tag: Celebrity Estates
Celebrity Estates: Lessons from Leonard Lauder’s Art Legacy with Oliver Pursche

Celebrity Estates: Lessons from Leonard Lauder’s Art Legacy with Oliver Pursche

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In this episode of Celebrity Estates, host David Lenok welcomes Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors, for a deep dive into the estate complexities surrounding Leonard Lauder’s famed art collection. From cubist masterpieces to staggering valuations, they explore how collectibles impact balance sheets, spark family conflict and raise nuanced estate planning questions.

Here’s what to expect from this episode:

  • The emotional psychology behind collecting and why it matters to advisors
  • How valuation types (fair market vs. insurance vs. resale) shape tax and succession planning
  • What advisors must know about collaborating with clients’ outside experts
  • Strategies to handle heirs with unequal interest in inherited collections
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Oliver Pursche:

About Our Guest:

Oliver serves as an advisor based in the firm’s Westport, Conn. and New York offices and is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®). He joined the team with over 25 years in financial services, having worked with independent RIAs, regional Broker Dealers, banks and bank trust departments, and family and multi-family offices.

Before coming to Wealthspire, he worked at Bruderman Asset Management, where he served most recently as the interim Chief Market Strategist and Vice Chairman of the Board, and previously as Chief Executive Officer. While concluding his tenure at Bruderman, he simultaneously served as Chief Investment Officer and Chief Market Strategist at EsteV LLC. He has also held leadership positions at Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Trust Company of America, and Neuberger Berman.

Oliver is an experienced global macro market strategist with significant media and corporate communications experience, as well as a published author. Active in the industry and his community, he served on the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs Advisory Board, Westport Arts Center Board, and Harvard Business Review Advisory Board, among others.

Originally from Germany, Oliver has resided in Fairfield, CT since 1984 and likes to stay active by playing tennis, scuba diving, and participating in competitive trap and skeet shooting in his free time.
Celebrity Estates: The Art of Celebrity Auctions with Victoria Gray

Celebrity Estates: The Art of Celebrity Auctions with Victoria Gray

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Victoria Gray, deputy chairman of Bonhams North America, has spent decades curating and managing some of the most iconic celebrity estate auctions. From U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s six homes to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s salt and pepper shakers, she reveals how intimate artifacts transform into coveted treasures worth thousands.

With a blend of art, emotion, and strategy, Victoria shares how storytelling and authenticity drive the value of these items, offering a rare glimpse into the private lives of public figures and the meticulous process of estate auctions.

Join WealthManagement.com Senior Editor David Lenok and Victoria for a fascinating discussion on the intersection of celebrity, legacy and financial planning.

Victoria shares insights into:

  • The importance of in-situ photography for authenticity and buyer confidence
  • How generational and first-time bidders are reshaping the auction landscape
  • Strategies for appraising estate items for tax filings and sale timing
  • Lessons advisors can learn from celebrity estate planning challenges

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Victoria Gray:

About Our Guest:

Victoria R. Gray is a Bonhams Vice President and Director of the Valuations, Trusts & Estates Department as well as Head of Office for Bonhams San Francisco. Since joining Bonhams San Francisco in 2003, she has taken on the responsibilities of managing and developing relationships and mutual business opportunities with trust & estate attorneys, trust officers, wealth managers, certified public accountants, and other fiduciary and professional advisors throughout the United States. Victoria assists clients in a variety of areas utilising Bonhams’ services, including appraisals, auctions, and private treaty sales.

In 2007 and 2008, Victoria worked frequently in the Bonhams Hong Kong office, helping drive forward the company’s expansion in the Asian market, including holding the first wine auction in Hong Kong in 2007. In 2008, Victoria was relocated to the Bonhams New York office, where she was tasked with building and expanding the Trusts & Estates Department for the US East Coast. After 5 years as Director and Head of Trusts & Estates in the New York Office, Victoria relocated back to the San Francisco office in 2012, where she has been running the Trusts & Estates group in San Francisco ever since.

In addition to being Vice President of Trusts & Estates, Victoria is Head of Office for San Francisco and manages business development opportunities.

In addition to her Trusts & Estates responsibilities, Victoria has also served as one of Bonham’s lead auctioneers since 2014, selling auctions ranging from wine, guns, jewellery, Asian works of Art, and Fine Art.

In addition to Bonhams auctions, Victoria also serves as a charity auctioneer.

Victoria holds a BA in Art History from Bucknell University, and prior to joining Bonhams in San Francisco, Victoria worked at Sotheby’s auction house in New York. Victoria gives frequent lectures and presentations on the art market and appraisals and has recently presented to the Peninsula Estate Planning Council, ACTEC California Fellows annual meeting, and ArtTable Seattle.
Celebrity Estates: First-Generation Wealth with George Stefanou

Celebrity Estates: First-Generation Wealth with George Stefanou

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Leon Spinks shocked the world in 1978 when, in just his eighth professional fight, he defeated Muhammad Ali to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, a victory still regarded as one of boxing’s greatest upsets. Yet, despite his early success and multimillion-dollar earnings, financial missteps and the long-term effects of brain injuries would take a heavy toll.

At his lowest point, Spinks worked as a janitor and fast-food worker in Nebraska. But with the unwavering support of his wife Brenda, he eventually found peace and stability in Las Vegas, where he remained a cherished figure in the boxing community until his death from prostate cancer at age 67.

Join WealthManagement.com Senior Editor David Lenok as he sits down with advisor and author George Stefanou for an insightful conversation on the unique estate planning challenges faced by first-generation millionaires.

Together, they explore the emotional complexities and generational tensions that arise when “old country” values meet modern American dreams—and how advisors can help families navigate the delicate balance between legacy, lifestyle, and long-term stewardship.

George shares insights into:

  • Challenges faced by first-generation millionaires
  • The emotional side of estate planning and the importance of family conversations
  • How heirs can avoid a ‘windfall mentality’ 
  • Strategies for fostering family cohesion and legacy
  • The expanded role of advisors, including the need for increased financial literacy
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With George Stefanou:

About Our Guest:

George is a first-generation Greek-American and a 2023 & 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor, serving as the financial guru behind “Two-Comma Wealth.” As a University of Central Florida alumnus and avid football fan, George brings a unique perspective to the world of personal finance.

Alongside his roles as a devoted husband to Kristin and father to Ella and Aubrey, George is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who also holds the following advanced credentials: Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ (AAMS®), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (CRPC®). Drawing on over 15 years of experience and thousands of diverse client interactions, George has developed a talent for humanizing finance, helping clients navigate the complexities of wealth management while empowering both investors and advisors.
Celebrity Estates: How Bob Marley’s Estate Took 30 Years to Settle

Celebrity Estates: How Bob Marley’s Estate Took 30 Years to Settle

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When Bob Marley passed away in 1981, he left behind a musical legacy, but no estate plan. Due to his religious beliefs, Marley didn’t create a will, and what followed was a legal firestorm: forged documents, disputed signatures and a tangled web of allegations involving his wife, attorney and accountant.

In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Noah Rosenfarb, CPA, founder of Wealthrive, to explore what happens when traditional estate planning tools, like wills, are off the table. Noah discusses:

  • The vital differences between wills and trusts 
  • Strategies like the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust 
  • Navigating estate versus revocable trusts 
  • The misunderstood role of communication in wealth preservation
  • Overcoming familial challenges in estate planning 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Noah Rosenfarb:

About Our Guest:

Noah Rosenfarb is a third-generation CPA who learned early in life that becoming tax-efficient could accelerate the journey toward achieving financial goals. After attaining financial independence and stepping away from operating businesses, Noah began sharing his expertise with members of EO and YPO. The response was immediate—people started asking him for help.

Determined not to return to a traditional job, Noah assembled a team of accountants, lawyers, and financial planners. He personally trained them in the strategies he used to become Rich Beyond Money. One of his proudest accomplishments is knowing that entrepreneurs working with his team achieve better results than he could have delivered alone.

Noah openly shares the tools, resources, and strategies that created his own version of true freedom. With a track record that includes selling eight companies, taking one public, and completing more than 50 real estate investments valued near $1 billion, he brings more than technical expertise—he brings lived experience. He serves high-performing families who seek to balance qualitative life goals with quantitative financial strategies.

Based in Parkland, Florida, Noah lives with his wife, Amanda, and their two children. A passionate traveler, he’s visited over 70 countries across five continents.
Celebrity Estates: Gene Hackman and Estate Planning While in Cognitive Decline

Celebrity Estates: Gene Hackman and Estate Planning While in Cognitive Decline

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After four decades of acting and winning multiple awards, Gene Hackman was found dead in his home at the age of 95, along with his wife and primary caretaker, Betsy Arakawa. Forensics uncovered that his wife predeceased him, leaving him to struggle with Alzheimer’s alone before passing away one week later.

Join WealthManagement.com Senior Editor David Lenok, and Jackie Bevilaqua a partner at Warshaw Burstein, as they delve into the tragic and unexpected circumstances of Hackman’s final days, exploring pressing questions about elder care, cognitive decline and how to safeguard clients against unforeseen complications.

They discuss:

  • Challenges in estate planning for cognitively impaired clients 
  • The importance of ongoing revision and understanding of estate plans 
  • How societal shifts impact elder care and estate planning
  • The significance of community support systems in elder law
  • Legal nuances of simultaneous deaths and the implications for estates

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Jacqueline Bevilaqua:

About Our Guest:

Mrs. Bevilaqua has focused her practice on trusts and estates law since 2013. She has a strong background in estate planning and estate and trust administration for a diverse clientele, particularly complex issues of gift, estate and trust taxation. She also has significant experience in international estate planning, foreign account tax act compliance, and pre-immigration tax planning.

In addition, Ms. Bevilaqua is well-versed in counseling nonprofit corporations on regulatory, governance and federal and state tax compliance matters.
Celebrity Estates: All the President’s Money with Megan Gorman

Celebrity Estates: All the President’s Money with Megan Gorman

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With Donald Trump appearing at his recent inauguration flanked by tech billionaires, the connection between presidents and the almighty dollar is more apparent than ever. However, Trump is not the only president with an interesting relationship with money.

In this episode of the Celebrity Estates podcast, host David Lenok welcomes back Megan Gorman, a wealth and tax planning expert and founding partner at Chequers Financial Management, to discuss her new book, All the President’s Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money. Listen as they delve into U.S. presidents’ financial decisions and estate planning strategies, uncovering common challenges such as procrastination and poor communication with heirs.

Through historical examples, Megan and David emphasize the importance of clear estate planning, communication with heirs and considering the legacy one’s financial decisions leave behind. The discussion underscores how estate planning lessons from historical figures can be applied to modern financial planning, making it a compelling episode for advisors and individuals alike.

Key insights include:

  • Insights into Harry Truman’s “letter of wishes” 
  • The surprising financial savvy of Warren G. Harding
  • How George Washington’s estate plan unintentionally endangered Martha
  • Abraham Lincoln’s lack of an estate plan despite his legal background
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Megan Gorman:

About Our Guest:

Megan is the founding partner of Chequers Financial Management, a fee-only planning firm that specializes in high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families in San Francisco, California. Megan heads the firm’s family office services practice.

As well, Megan is a Senior Contributor for Forbes in personal finance and tax. She is also quoted regularly in the press as a tax and financial planning expert including such publications as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She blogs at TheWealthIntersection.com, has appeared on numerous podcasts, and is a regular weekly commentator on The Money Tree Podcast.
Celebrity Estates: Jim Thorpe, Native Americans, and the Land Back Movement

Celebrity Estates: Jim Thorpe, Native Americans, and the Land Back Movement

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Jim Thorpe, revered as one of the greatest athletes in American history, exemplifies how personal wishes and legal rights can conflict posthumously. Thorpe’s estranged third wife, Patricia, moved his remains to a town in Pennsylvania, which now bears his name, in a bid to create a tourist attraction, a decision contested by his sons under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.

David Lenok speaks with Alma Soongi Beck and Professor Jo Carillo about the multifaceted legal landscape surrounding estates involving Native Americans, focusing on Jim Thorpe’s controversial burial. They explore the nuanced issues of land rights, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and the increasing interest in land back movements.

David, Alma, and Jo discuss:

  • The legal battles surrounding Jim Thorpe’s burial controversy and what it symbolizes for Indigenous rights; 
  • The impact and significance of the land back movement on traditional land ownership; 
  • Common pitfalls encountered in estate planning involving Indigenous lands; 
  • Recent trends in charitable giving and how they support Indigenous communities;
  • How tax laws affect charitable giving to Indigenous organizations;

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Alma Soongi Beck:

Connect With Professor Jo Carillo:

About Our Guests:

Alma Soongi Beck is certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the State Board of Legal Specialization. Alma’s practice focuses on trusts, charitable planning, gift and estate tax planning, and post-death administration including trust administration and probate. She also offers consultations and seminars on the legal and tax implications of domestic partnership, marriage, and property co-ownership for same-sex and unmarried couples, as well as on the evolution of parentage and gender in estate planning. Alma also advises and presents Land Back to Indigenous Tribes for titleholders, Tribes, and Indigenous nonprofit organizations.

Jo Carrillo JD/JSD is a Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Indigenous Law Center (ILC) at UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). For over three decades, Carrillo has taught and written extensively in property and property-related subjects, including Federal Indian Law. Carrillo earned her BA from Stanford University, her JD from the University of New Mexico, and her JSD from Stanford Law School. She is a member of the Order of the Coif, the American Law Institute, and a former Trustee of the Law & Society Association; she was a Visiting Scholar at The Center for the Study of Law & Society at UC Berkeley Law, and a Visiting Professor at Stanford Law School. As Faculty Director of the UC Law Indigenous Law Center, in addition to other responsibilities, Carrillo facilitates a seminar series called Law & Seminars.
Celebrity Estates: John Amos and Warning Signs of Elder Abuse in Estate Planning

Celebrity Estates: John Amos and Warning Signs of Elder Abuse in Estate Planning

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John Amos, an actor who starred in such television shows as Good Times, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The West Wing, is believed to have died from congestive heart failure, but his only daughter Shannon has doubts. She has accused her brother of elder abuse, including isolating Amos from others, impersonating him in communications and disregarding his medical needs.

Join David Lenok as he speaks with Neil Solarz, shareholder and director at Winestock Manion, about estate planning, wealth transfer and trust administration. With over 30 years of experience and a deep commitment to his clients, Neil sheds light on a topic often overlooked in financial advising—elder abuse and the complexities of end-of-life care. 

This episode highlights the delicate balance between respecting clients’ autonomy and protecting them from potential abuse, offering actionable insights for advisors and families alike.

Key takeaways:

  • Complexities of elder abuse and family disputes using the late actor John Amos’s estate controversies as a case study;
  • How geriatric psychiatrists and lawyers can offer valuable insights to support decisions;
  • Common warning signs of elder abuse;
  • The importance of proactively updating estate plans; 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Neil Solarz:

About Our Guest:

Neil Solarz counsels his clients on estate planning, wealth transfer and trust and probate administration. Applying over 30 years of experience and an empathetic, caring approach, Neil focuses on getting to know his clients, their families, business dealings and concerns. His clients appreciate this effort, as it helps Neil drive consensus among family members during the planning phases and reduces the emotional stress common to trust and probate administration.
Celebrity Estates: Shannen Doherty and The Importance of Timely Planning

Celebrity Estates: Shannen Doherty and The Importance of Timely Planning

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Shannen Doherty, a beloved actress, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, tragically caught too late for treatment. The day before her passing on July 13, 2024, she finalized her divorce from Kurt Iswarienko, ensuring her assets would be passed to her chosen beneficiaries.

In this episode, David Lenok and guest Shawn Goheen stress the importance of proactive estate planning. They discuss:

  • The critical timing of Shannen Doherty’s divorce, enabling her to secure her assets for her intended heirs;
  • Essential strategies for advisors to promote early, comprehensive estate planning;
  • The vital role of life insurance in safeguarding a well-rounded estate plan; 
  • Navigating complex family dynamics and business ownership in estate planning;
    And more.

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Shawn Goheen:

About Our Guest:

Shawn Goheen is the heart and soul behind Goheen Insurance. Since the early ’90s, he has been more than just a financial advisor; he has been a trusted confidant to high-net-worth individuals. His journey has led him to build strong connections with over 15 specialty lenders and insurance carriers and relationships with 20+ banks, giving him a rare edge in navigating the often complex financial world with ease and transparency.

But Shawn’s work goes beyond just crunching numbers. He gets to the heart of what each client needs, understanding that everyone’s financial journey is unique. He’s also known as the “Advisor to Advisors,” a role where he shares his insights with other professionals, helping them uncover new opportunities and grow their practices.
Celebrity Estates: Simon Cowell and Disinheritance in Estate Planning

Celebrity Estates: Simon Cowell and Disinheritance in Estate Planning

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Simon Cowell, reality star and record producer, has an estimated net value worth of $600 million. How much of that will be left for his son? According to him, nothing.

Listen in as host David Lenok is joined by Thomas Kopelman, head of community at Estate Planning platform wealth.com and co-founder of All Street Wealth. Together, they discuss how Simon plans to handle his $600 million estate and the broader implications of disinheriting heirs. 

Cast your vote toward Simon’s decision as David and Thomas highlight:

  • The rationale behind Simon’s motives for his estate plans
  • “Affluenza”- a supposed psychological condition affecting wealthy individuals
  • Opinions on ‘disinheritance,’ the act of not passing wealth down to future generations
  • Estate planning decisions are personal, reflecting what is important to the individual
  • The importance of supporting children while alive rather than solely through posthumous financial gifts
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With Thomas Kopelman:

Connect With David Lenok:

About Our Guest:

Thomas is a financial planner, the co-founder of AllStreet Wealth, as well as a blogger, podcaster, content creator, Top 23 Millennial Advisor (Business Insider), and a Top Young Advisor to Watch in 2023 (FA Mag)

After graduating from Butler University, Thomas spent his entire career in the financial services industry as a financial planner. Thomas is passionate about helping millennials cut through the noise and figure out how to use their resources to accomplish what they truly want in life.