The Art of Estate Planning Podcast
Episodes
#77 Granny Flats and Co-Living
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm joined by special guest, Nathan Fradley FChFP, as he takes us through the ins and outs of Granny Flat Arrangements including: Wha...
#76 Anti-money laundering rules for estate planning lawyers
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re an estate planning law firm owner wondering what on earth they need to do to comply with the expanded AML/CTF Rules… then this episode i...
#75 Family Law Protection of Trusts: Kennon v Spry
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many clients, discretionary trusts are about one thing: protection. And when relationships break down, the question becomes: how protected are tho...
#74 How I Make Part-Time Work… Actually Work
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Confession: I used to be a full-blown workaholic lawyer. Fourteen-hour days. Every meal at my desk. “Busy” as a personality trait. Now? I run a mi...
#73 Inherited & outdated? It's time to audit your basic will precedent
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most lawyers have a “basic will precedent” that’s been handed down through multiple jobs, multiple law reform changes, and at least one clause n...
#72 Funding the Gap: A New Way to Support Executors and Beneficiaries
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not often that something genuinely new lands in the estate planning space, which is why I was so curious when I discovered that JustFund has la...
#71 No TT in the will: Can we fix it after death?
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of the hardest moments in estate planning practice. A person has died, and as you review the will, it’s immediately obvious that the fami...
#70 The Quiet Power of a Letter of Wishes
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Letters of wishes often get treated as an optional extra — nice to have, but not essential. In reality, they can play a powerful role in how an esta...
#69 How many TTs?
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I unpack the considerations that sit behind this decision, including: The pros and cons of a TT per beneficiary versus a shared stru...
#68 Is a Free First Meeting Costing You More Than You Think?
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do you offer a free first meeting? It’s one of the most common questions estate planning lawyers are asked. In this episode, I unpack the pros and c...
#67 My Why
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a little more personal than usual. Behind the precedents, podcast, courses, and community, there’s a very clear "why" that drives ev...
#66 Common TT Myths
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m setting the record straight by busting some of the most common myths about testamentary trusts that still float around both the public and the p...
#65 Using AI safely and effectively in your legal practice
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The buzz around Generative AI is hardly going away, and in a world where we are all over worked and time poor, it could be the solution to working fas...
#64 What is a Super Proceeds Trust?
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Superannuation and estate planning is a complex enough topic - but when you throw testamentary trusts into the mix, things can get confusing fast! In ...
#63 When a TT is OTT
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve heard me sing the praises of testamentary trusts. They’re a powerful protection vehicle that offer once in a life-time tax benefits. But so...
#62 Why Your Personal EPOA Won’t Protect Your Firm
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Getting excited about your well-earned Christmas break? There's just one more thing I need you to add to your end of year checklist... the final piece...
#61 Estate planning for couples: When should a testamentary trust start?
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When preparing wills for couples, one of the trickiest questions to navigate is when the testamentary trust should actually begin. Should it start aft...
#60 Minors Trusts vs TDTs: The Costs of Choosing the Wrong Trust
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many Australians (and even some professionals) assume a minor’s trust will do the job when it comes to looking after young beneficiaries. It sounds ...
#59 What is a trust?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we’re so busy diving into the technical weeds of estate planning that we forget to zoom out and make sure the basics are crystal clear. So...
#58 Why I stopped sending will summaries
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you send clients their draft testamentary trust wills, do you include a written will summary? Many lawyers do, but here’s the problem: clients ...
#57 How to Spot a Strong Testamentary Trust Precedent
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you audited your testamentary trust precedent? In this episode, I step through the ultimate checklist of what every testamentar...
#56 Special Disability Trusts
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode we'll hear from our guest speaker and financial adviser, William Johns, about: How to invest in a Special Disability Trust Ti...
#55 Can a trustee change the appointor?
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I discuss the recent Queensland Court of Appeal case Staley v Hill Family Holdings Pty Ltd [2025] QCA 95, which considered the questio...
#54 From Lawyer to Leveraged: Tips for turning your IP into a digital product business
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From precedent packs to online courses, there are huge opportunities for professionals to package their expertise into scalable products. In this epis...
#53 Challenge Accepted: Will Disputes 101
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, our guest speaker Timothy Morton breaks down the fundamental principles a will can be challenged. He’ll step us through the...
#52 Rethinking the Estate Planning Meeting
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meeting with clients to discuss their estate planning is core to our business, but how much time have you devoted to optimising your meeting strategy?...
#51 Bypassing & Breaking Up with a TDT
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your clients have heard you sing the praises of testamentary trusts — tax free income for minors, family law and bankruptcy protection. They’re so...
#50 Life Insurance: The Unsung Hero of Estate Planning
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Life insurance might not get a lot of airtime in estate planning education … but when used well, it can completely transform the outcome for your cl...
#49 Skipping the Kids: What Happens When Clients Want to Leave It All to the Grandkids
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not the most common estate planning strategy … but it’s also not as rare as you might think. What do you do when a client says they want to...
#48 Charitable Giving Structures in Estate Planning
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Estate planning isn’t just about dividing assets - it’s our final opportunity to create a lasting impact. Whether it’s supporting a favourite ch...
#47 Are you socials ready for the next Testamentary Trust trend?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you socials ready for the next Testamentary Trust trend? Your law firm's social media isn’t just about dancing reels or legal fun facts — it’...
#46 Can't I just use my family trust? Why TTs are the superior solution
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's a super common question when preparing an estate plan for a client who already has a family trust: "Can I just use my existing family trust? Why ...
#45 Tax-Free Income for Minors? Here’s How Testamentary Trusts Work
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most powerful (and intimidating) features of testamentary trusts? Their ability to stream tax-free income to minors thanks to the excepted ...
#44 Patch Job or Pitfall? The Codicil Debate
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Codicils seem like a tidy fix. A quick amendment. A low-cost update. But are codicils actually more trouble than they’re worth? In this episode, we ...
#43 Are BDBNs overrated?
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
They're seen as a “must-have” in estate planning. But… are Binding Death Benefit Nominations (BDBNs) actually essential for every client? In thi...
#42 From Litigation to Legacies: Lidia Vicca’s Big Career Pivot
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tara chats with Lidia Vicca, founder of Vicca Law, about her bold career shift from being a top-tier litigator to running her own bou...
#41 Ticked the Box, Missed the Point: The BDBN Problem
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Binding Death Benefit Nominations (BDBNs) — nearly every Australian super fund member has one, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood pieces ...
#40 From Manolos to RMs: Bernadette Terry's Sea Change to A Country Practice
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a top-tier tax lawyer trades Sydney harbour views for the quiet charm of regional WA? You get Bernadette Terry — founder of Great ...
#39 Securing the Digital Legacy: Crypto, Pre-Death Planning, and Post-Death Clean Up
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to 2025, where crypto wallets, NFTs, and digital assets are an everyday part of the estate planning conversation — and a growing challenge f...
#38 Signs that it's time for a price rise
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the end of financial year around the corner, it’s the perfect time to review what’s working in your firm... and what’s quietly eating into ...
#37 Unlock hidden revenue in your law firm
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is for anyone who's curious about what it takes to stop dabbling and start getting serious about offering estate planning to your clients...
#36 Behind the scenes of our latest precedent update release
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what actually goes into keeping estate planning precedents sharp, shiny, and up-to-date? Spoiler alert: it's a lot more than a quick cut...
#35 Stop! Don't deal with family trust succession in the will
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's tempting to just pop an extra clause into a client's will to cover off on the succession plan for their family trust - but this is far from the g...
#34 The toughest decision for clients with children - choosing guardians
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Naming guardians for minor children in a Will is, hands down, one of the most emotional (and often avoided) parts of estate planning. It’s heavy, it...
#33 Our Go-To estate planning resources
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're just starting out in estate planning or you're a seasoned succession lawyer, having the right tools at your fingertips can make all the...
#32 Tips for choosing the financial controllers in an estate plan
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Naming the right people to handle financial decisions in an estate plan isn’t just important - it’s everything. Executors, trustees, and fi...
#31 More Executors, More Problems?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many testators want to keep the peace and treat everyone fairly, so they suggest appointing all their kids as executors. Sounds smart, right? Well… ...
#30 Love, legacy and a little bit of chaos: Blended families in Estate Planning
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Blended families bring unique challenges when it comes to estate planning. From balancing competing interests to ensuring no one gets left out ...
#29 Should You Really Be Doing That Yourself?
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just because you can do something yourself doesn’t mean you should. As lawyers, we’re literally trained to be the go-to problem solvers —...
#28 How do I break into offering testamentary trusts?
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know testamentary trusts are a game-changer for your clients, but actually getting started with recommending and drafting them? That’s a ...
#27 The Long and the Short of It: How Long Should a Basic Will Be?
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to wills, size does matter — but maybe not in the way you think. Some lawyers swear by a short-and-sweet approach, while others...
#26 Changing the public perception of estate planning in Australia
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s face it: the comments section on social media can be brutal, especially when it comes to estate planning. We’ve all seen the comments in the...
#25 So, You Want to Start an Estate Planning Law Firm? Let’s Do This!
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're ready to step away from a work environment that you've outgrown, or just love the idea of creating something that’s entirely yours, w...
#24 Client Comprehension: How Deep Should You Go on Testamentary Trusts?
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Much Do Clients Really Need to Understand About Their Testamentary Trust Wills? We know testamentary trust wills are a powerful tool for le...
#23 The Big Ask: Should You Agree to Be Your Client’s Executor
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of the trickiest questions an estate planning lawyer can face: “Will you be my executor?” On the surface, it might seem like a complime...
#22 Paperclips, zombie clients & Australia Post – protect yourself against an estate planning lawyer's worst nightmare!
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cost agreements might not be the most glamorous part of estate planning, but they’re the secret weapon that stands between you and a lawyer’s wors...
#21 Help! I have to organise a funeral: Practical tips for including funeral wishes in estate planning
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s face it—unless you’ve been through it yourself, the idea of organising a funeral can feel overwhelming and downright intimidating. That’...
#20 Unlock Your Law Firm’s Potential in 2025
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tara sits down with Caralee Fontenele, lawyer, entrepreneur, and the brilliant mind behind Scalable Law, to talk about how she is cha...
#19 Succession planning for farming clients
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Working with farming families can give rise to some unique issues, and estate planning is no exception! In this episode, estate panning lawyers ...
#18 The Impact of Money Blocks on Estate Planning Clients
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Carrie interviews financial adviser, Aime Sandri, about the impact of money blocks on the estate planning process. Aime shares ...
#17 Should you document testator reasons for disinheriting beneficiaries?
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When taking instructions to prepare a will, a testator will often have a whole slew of reasons justifying their decisions – from disentitling conduc...
#16 From freak-out to follow-through: Simplifying the estate planning decisions for clients
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you get clients dragging their heels when it’s time to give you their estate planning instructions? It slows things down, and eats in to yo...
#15 One of the most overlooked issues when drafting TDT wills
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to drafting testamentary discretionary trust wills, there’s one critical issue that has been flying under the radar since 2021 - Forei...
#14 Future-Proof Pricing: Setting prices for estate plan amendments
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pricing future amendments to estate planning documents can feel like trying to predict the future—how do you balance client expectations with the ri...
#13 What law school didn’t teach you about Saunders v Vautier
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The words ‘Saunders and Vautier’ may trigger flashbacks to your uni succession lectures, however you may be surprised by how relevant this 1841 ca...
#12 Freedom vs. Control: How Much Power Should a Surviving Spouse Have Over a Testamentary Trust?
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When devising a testamentary trust strategy, one of the most sensitive decisions is deciding how much freedom a surviving spouse should have over the ...
#11 Helping business owners understand their complex succession needs
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Talking to business owners about succession planning can be tricky. How do you explain the complexities without overwhelming them or making them feel ...
#10 15 ways to increase profit on your matters – Part 2
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More profit for you, better outcomes for your clients—it’s a win-win! In Part 2 of this topic, we share our best tips on how to help your estate p...
#9 15 ways to increase profit on your matters – Part 1
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Want you to feel like you’re thriving in your estate planning practice? A key step is making sure each matter is as profitable as possible, giving y...
#8 How much money do you really need to justify a testamentary trust?
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the million-dollar question (pun intended)—how much money do clients really need before a testamentary trust is worth considering? In t...
#7 Pricing and competing against online will providers
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of online will providers is changing the game, and clients are finding it harder to tell who's the real deal and who’s just offering a chea...
#6 Does the family home belong in a testamentary trust?
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The family home is the golden goose of assets – it’s one of the last assets we can own tax free. So does it belong in a testamentary trust? In thi...
#5 Things your clients hate
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we switch gears to talk about something that can make or break your estate planning practice: the customer experience. We dive into the top...
#4 Trusting the Trustees
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tara and Carrie tackle a common dilemma in estate planning: how much flexibility should trustees of testamentary trusts for minors ha...
#3 Super strategies and the childcare subsidy
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tara and Carrie dive into an unexpected twist in estate planning that might catch you off guard: how a testator’s super strategy on...
#2 Why your clients aren’t accepting your fee proposal
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tara and Carrie discuss all the blocks your clients might be facing before they’re ready to say “Yes!” to investing in their estate plan. We sha...
#1 Dealing with asset differences for homemaker spouses
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tara and Carrie chat about the practical and technical issues which arise when assisting a couple with their estate planning where on...