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Protecting & Preserving WealthAuthor: Bruce Hosler
In the Protecting & Preserving Wealth podcast, Bruce Hosler discusses and provides timely answers to important topics for our listeners: Tax Reduction Strategies Financial & Estate Planning Investment Management Retirement Planning Insurance Strategies Business Owner Exit-Planning Strategies Current Events and their Market Effects We started the podcast because a number of clients have questions, and this is a way for us to give them a venue to listen to different answers on all the things they're concerned about today. First and foremost, foundationally, for most people, taxes are a very important thing. We always start with taxes and then we go from there and work on financial planning issues like retirement. Am I going to have enough? How am I going to leave my stuff to my legacy, to my kids and family? In estate planning, we include asset management because everybody wants to know where their money's invested and how safe and how protected it can be. And how can it grow in the face of this inflation that we're facing today. And finally, we use insurance strategies to make sure that when the moment of truth arrives, everything's okay for the family. Throughout this podcast, we're going to meet the Hosler team and how each of them plays a role in securing your financial future. Hosler Wealth Management can be reached in their Prescott office at (928) 778-7666, in their Scottsdale office at (480) 994-7342, or on the web at https://www.hoslerwm.com/. Disclosure: Investment advisory services are offered through Mutual Advisors, LLC DBA Hosler Wealth Management, a SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Mutual Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual Advisors, LLC and Mutual Securities, Inc. (collectively Mutual Group) are affiliated companies. Forward-looking commentary should not be misconstrued as investment or financial advice. The advisor associated with this podcast is not monitored for comments and any comments should be given direc Language: en Genres: Business, Education, How To, Investing Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Joint Accounts in Estate Planning: Key Mistakes Families Make
Episode 83
Wednesday, 15 April, 2026
In this episode of Protecting & Preserving Wealth, we focus on estate planning—specifically, how often it is overlooked or improperly handled, and how good intentions can still lead to serious financial, tax, and family consequences. We walk through a real-life case involving a family that believed they had things mostly in order, only to discover after a parent’s death that the lack of proper planning created irreversible problems. 📚 Get Bruce’s Book: Moving To Tax-Free (on Amazon) https://amzn.to/4msRo2k ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps (00:00) Intro (01:00) Real-life family estate planning scenario (02:15) Joint tenancy and unintended disinheritance (03:50) Gift tax and family conflict risks (04:45) Step-up in basis and tax consequences explained (06:30) Million-dollar tax mistake breakdown (09:40) How common estate planning failures really are (11:00) Outdated plans and digital asset issues (12:00) How to contact Hosler Wealth Management We discuss a situation where a mother passed away without a will or trust, meaning she died intestate. One of her largest assets was a brokerage account held in joint tenancy with one of her children. While the account was likely structured this way to make things easier and avoid probate, the result was that the surviving joint owner automatically inherited the account outright. This unintentionally disinherited the other siblings, regardless of the mother’s likely wishes. We explain how this setup not only caused family tension, but also created significant tax consequences. Because the account was jointly owned, only half of the assets received a step-up in cost basis at death. The other half retained a very low original cost basis. With the stock having grown dramatically in value, this resulted in millions of dollars of unrealized gains and roughly one million dollars in avoidable capital gains taxes. We emphasize that if the account had been held solely in the mother’s name or inside a revocable living trust, the entire balance would have received a full step-up in basis, potentially eliminating capital gains taxes altogether. We also explain the gift tax issue that arises when the surviving sibling tries to “do the right thing” and distribute assets to the others. Those gifts may require filing gift tax returns and using up part of her lifetime exemption, potentially harming her own long-term estate plan. Beyond taxes, we highlight how these situations create confusion, resentment, and conflict among family members that can last for years. We zoom out to show how common this problem really is. Roughly 60% of Americans have no estate plan at all, and nearly 70% of existing plans are outdated. We also discuss newer issues like digital assets, which many older estate plans fail to address. Estate planning is not a one-time task—it must be reviewed and updated as laws, technology, and family circumstances change. Our core message is simple: estate planning is not about perfection, it’s about clarity. A proactive review with a trusted advisor can prevent massive tax bills and protect family harmony. For more information about anything related to your finances, contact Bruce Hosler and the team at Hosler Wealth Management: Visit us online at https://www.hoslerwm.com/Contact Our Team: https://hoslerwm.com/contact-us/Or call them in their Prescott office at (928) 778-7666 or their Scottsdale office at (480) 994-7342.For more podcast episodes, visit our podcast website at https://hoslerwm.com/protectingwealthpodcast/Limitation of Liability Disclosures: https://www.hoslerwm.com/disclosures/Copyright © 2022-2026 Hosler Wealth Management | All Rights Reserved. Produced by JAG Podcast Productions - www.jagpodcastproductions.com. #ProtectingWealthPodcast #ProtectingandPreservingWealthPodcast #HoslerWealthManagement #BruceHosler
