Kyle A. Krasa, “The Legal Teacher” ™

The Legal TeacherMy favorite aspect of my practice is explaining complex legal concepts to my clients and to members of the public in a warm and comfortable manner.  I often joke that because my parents were both teachers, teaching is in my blood.  During client meetings, I jump up to the whiteboard to explain various aspects of estate planning, trust administration, probate, asset protection planning, and elder law planning.  The response is always very positive.  I strongly feel that legal concepts should be accessible to everybody and I have developed a knack for making these concepts easy-to-understand.  Through technology, I am able to share these “famous” lessons with you.  Each video provides a brief description of its content.  Please feel free to share these videos with your family and friends.

I am not a professional teacher but use the term, “The Legal Teacher,” to convey my unique ability to explain legal concepts.  I am only licensed to practice law in California.

These “lessons” are for general information only.  Watching these lessons does not create an attorney/client relationship.  You should consult a qualified attorney licensed to practice law in your community before acting on any of the information presented in these videos or provided anywhere else on the website.  For more information, please read our law firm’s full disclaimer (see the link at the bottom of the page).  

IRS Circular 230 Notice: To the extent that the videos below or any of the information on this website concern tax matters, the information is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purposes of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. 


Why a Living Trust?

In this video, Kyle explains why often a Revocable Living Trust is the most efficient mechanism for the administration and distribution of assets in the event of incapacity and upon death.

Video Transcription

 

What is a Living Trust?

In this video, Kyle explains the basic elements of a Revocable Living Trust.

Video Transcription

 

Elements of a Comprehensive Estate Plan

Does your estate planning binder have to be so big? Yes! Kyle tells you why.

Video Transcription

 

The A/B Trust for a Married Trust-Maker

In this video, Kyle explains the difference between an “A Trust” (also known as an “I Love You Trust”) and an A/B Trust (also known as a “I Love You . . . But Trust”).

Video Transcription

 

The Common Pot Trust

In this video, Kyle explains that equal is not always fair and describes how the Common Pot Trust can provide an fair mechanism to ensure that all beneficiaries of a trust are sufficiently “launched” into adulthood before dividing an estate into shares.

Video Transcription

 

The Beneficiary Controlled Trust

In this video, Kyle explains how you can structure your beneficiary’s inheritance to provide a degree of asset protection and divorce protection for your beneficiary.

Video Transcription

 

Step-Up in Basis

In this video, Kyle explains the concept of a “step-up” in basis for capital gains tax and how married couples who own certain assets in community property states have an advantage.

Video Transcription

Classic Cars Have Style; Classic Estate Plans – Not So Much!

Comparing most estate plans to a carefully drafted comprehensive estate plan is a lot like comparing Kyle’s 1953 Chevy Bel Air to a modern car: Most estate plans lack important safety features that are necessary to protect your loved ones.

Video Transcription

 

Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes, Part 1 

Celebrities are notorious for making estate planning blunders and you can learn from their mistakes. Kyle reviews some famous estate planning failures that you can be sure to avoid with proper planning and the guidance of a competent attorney.

Video Transcription

 

Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes, Part 2

There is an endless supply of celebrity estate planning counter-examples. In this video, Kyle describes even more celebrity estate planning blunders that you can avoid with the guidance of a competent attorney.

Video Transcription

 

Revocable v. Irrevocable Trusts

In this video, Kyle explains the key differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. He also describes when each trust structure is typically implemented.

Video Transcription

 

Inheriting a Retirement Plan

In this video, Kyle explains the nuanced rules of inheriting a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. He describes the concept of a “stretch IRA” and explains the different rules that apply depending upon the identity of the beneficiary.

Video Transcription

 

Retirement Plan Trust

In this video, Kyle explains how a trust intended to be designated as a beneficiary of a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan must be drafted with special provisions to navigate complex tax rules. He also describes how Conduit Trusts and Accumulation Trusts work and when each type of trust structure is typically implemented.

Video Transcription

 

Revoking the Irrevocable

In this video, Kyle explains that irrevocable trusts are not necessarily irrevocable and describes eight methods for modifying or terminating an otherwise irrevocable trust.

Video Transcription

 

Trust v. Power of Attorney v. Will

In this video, Kyle explains the three key estate planning documents that appoint an agent to make financial decisions on your behalf. He describes the circumstances of when each document applies and why every comprehensive estate plan includes all three documents.

Video Transcription

 

LLC Planning

In this video, Kyle explains how a Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) can provide asset protection from both “inside creditors” and “outside creditors” and explains why forming an LLC under the right jurisdiction is important.

Video Transcription

 

Certificate of Trust

In this video, Kyle explains how a Certificate of Trust is helpful in titling your assets to your trust in an efficient manner while retaining privacy over the personal aspects of your estate plan.

Video Transcription

 

The Basics of Medi-Cal Planning for Long Term Care

In this video, Kyle gives a general overview of planning strategies to qualify for Medi-Cal to pay for long-term care, including converting “countable” assets to “non-countable assets,” care contracts, gifting between spouses, and “stacked gifting” to non-spousal third parties.

Video Transcription

Expanding FDIC Coverage Through Trusts

In this video, Kyle explains how holding title to assets through a Revocable Living Trust can dramatically expand FDIC coverage at each FDIC Member financial institution.

Video Transcription

 

How to Super Charge your Living Trust

In this video, originally presented to the members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Legacy group, Kyle explains how most living trusts are only designed to avoid probate but that a “super-charged” living trust can implement a host of additional planning opportunities such as divorce protection, asset protection, and estate tax protection.

Click here to view the video.

 

Estate Planning with Retirement Accounts

In this video, originally presented to members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Legacy group, Kyle explains the special considerations necessary for estate planning with retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s.

Click here to view the video.