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You’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into your family and your business. Now it’s time to protect it.
JULY 2025
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Did You Hear That? Rediscovering the Impact of Intentional Listening
We live in a world full of noise: notifications, conversations, deadlines, and distractions. With so much going on, it’s easy to forget the value of being quiet and listening. But real, intentional, active listening is one of the most powerful skills we can develop. But many of us don’t give it the attention it deserves. In honor of World Listening Day on July 18, now’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on what it means to be a good listener in life, relationships, and at work. In estate planning, listening is key. Clients come in with complex, personal stories. Their needs aren’t one-size-fits-all, and their plans shouldn’t be either. To create a solid, personalized estate plan, attorneys must dig beneath the surface. That means listening to what’s said, what’s implied, what’s left unsaid, and how clients feel as they describe their family dynamics or concerns about the future. It’s easy to assume clients are coming in for documents and decisions — wills, trusts, powers of attorney — and they are. But before any of that can happen, they need someone who can listen with empathy. Sometimes, it’s not about jumping in with a solution, but instead about giving space for them to be heard
and validated. Listening builds trust, and without trust, even the most expertly drafted plan can fall short. Listening isn’t just a professional skill; it’s a human one. Think about your closest relationships. Your partner, kids, and friends want to feel understood, not just responded to. However, how often do we listen just enough to plan our reply instead of fully absorbing what the other person says? One of the biggest pitfalls we all fall into is listening to respond rather than listening to understand. The difference is subtle but powerful. When we listen to respond, we’re already forming our reply before the other person is done talking. But when we listen to understand, we’re present and engaged. We’re not rushing to fix, correct, or compete — we’re just there, letting the other person feel heard. And that’s what people often need most — not a plan or advice, but someone who genuinely cares enough to listen to them. Active listening goes beyond sitting quietly. It means showing you’re engaged through body language, eye contact, and verbal cues. It means asking thoughtful questions and following up in a way that reflects
you’ve absorbed what was said. It also means picking up on the nonverbal things, like tone, hesitation, or even silence, that can say just as much as words. Remember, it’s not just about being silent while someone else talks. True listening requires effort. It’s about focusing, not fidgeting with your phone or mentally checking out. Here’s the truth: None of us are perfect listeners. We all zone out sometimes. But being aware of that and working to improve is a step in the right direction. Whether you’re an attorney, spouse, parent, or friend, listening well makes a difference in every part of your life. So, on World Listening Day and every day, take a moment to really tune in. Listen not just with your ears, but also with your
eyes, mind, and heart. You might be surprised by what you learn when you stop to really hear someone. –Elliott Harry
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Planning for a Special Needs Child? Avoid These Common Estate Mistakes
Did You Know? Most of us are better at talking than listening — and the science proves it! DID YOU KNOW WE FORGET UP TO 75% OF WHAT WE HEAR? Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, one of the pioneers of listening research, found that people typically remember only 25%–50% of what they hear — and that’s just minutes after hearing it! DID YOU KNOW WE LISTEN MORE THAN WE SPEAK? We spend about 45% of our communication time listening, compared to 30% speaking, 16% reading, and 9% writing. But despite being the most used skill, it’s often the least taught. DID YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE LISTEN AT ONLY 25% EFFICIENCY? While we’re capable of processing up to 400–500 words per minute, most people speak at only 125–175 words per minute. That mental gap leads to distraction, daydreaming, or tuning out, reducing listening efficiency.
Planning for your family’s future means every detail counts — especially when you have a special needs child who needs lifelong support. Well-meaning decisions today can lead to costly problems later without the right estate and retirement account structure. Let’s take a closer look. THE RISK OF SIMPLY DESIGNATING YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AS BENEFICIARIES When a parent lists a special needs child as a direct beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), life insurance policy, or bank account, it may feel like the most straightforward path. But in practice, this decision can create long-term financial consequences for the child. A direct inheritance could disqualify the child from critical public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, which often have strict income and asset limits. Some parents try to avoid complications by leaving their special needs child out of beneficiary designations, assuming siblings will step in. However, this approach depends on goodwill rather than legal assurance, lacks enforceability, and removes control from the child’s support system. Estate plans should never rely solely on good intentions. STRUCTURING YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS TO CARE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN A more secure and sensible approach involves naming a properly drafted special needs trust as a beneficiary to your accounts, or designating your revocable trust “for the benefit of” your special needs child as the whole or partial beneficiary of your accounts. A stand-alone special needs trust, or revocable trust with special needs provisions, can hold assets for the benefit of your child without causing disqualification from means-tested government programs. If you have multiple children, you might name your spouse as the primary beneficiary and your children as equal contingent beneficiaries. A special needs child’s share can go to a trust “for the benefit of” (FBO) them, ensuring equal treatment while preserving access to vital services. Retirement accounts require careful coordination due to their tax implications. Naming a trust as a retirement account beneficiary used to allow stretched distributions across the child’s life. While recent tax law changes (like the SECURE Act) have altered some rules, trusts can still play a pivotal role in long-term planning. PROTECTING YOUR LEGACY AND YOUR FAMILY You deserve a legal strategy that protects your business, supports your loved ones, and honors your intentions. We work with California families and business owners who want more than a one-size-fits-all plan for their estate and legacy. Contact Dahl Law Group to start building the right structure for your family.
Do you have a friend who needs our help? When you’re done reading, give them this newsletter and recommend they scan our QR code. We can help them solve their tax, business, or estate planning problems before things get worse.
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And How to Avoid It The Tax Trap of Corporate-Owned Real Estate
Whether you’re investing in valuable California real estate for personal or professional reasons, it’s important to take the right approach to structuring and holding these assets. One option we rarely recommend is holding real estate in a corporation. REAL ESTATE CAN GO IN TAX-FREE BUT CAN’T COME OUT TAX-FREE. When real estate is transferred to a corporation, no immediate tax is triggered if the rules of Section 351 are met. This allows appreciated property to be exchanged for corporate stock without recognizing capital gain as long as the contributor controls at least 80% of the corporation after the transfer. On paper, that is a fair deal. But it’s only a deferral — any gain on the property still exists. The issue comes when removing property from a corporation — the IRS treats it as a sale at fair market value, triggering deferred gain and taxing the shareholder on distribution. S CORPORATIONS DON’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, EITHER. Some investors assume that using an S corporation instead of a C corporation avoids these tax traps. That’s only partially true. While S corporations generally avoid corporate-level tax, appreciated property distributed from an S corporation still triggers gain at the shareholder level — the gain passes through to the shareholder, who pays the tax on their tax return.
Even worse, if the S corporation is subject to the built-in gains tax, that gain may be taxed both at the entity and shareholder levels. LLCS AND PARTNERSHIPS OFFER FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT THE TAX TRAP. Partnerships offer more flexibility than corporations when managing real estate. Under Section 721, property can be contributed without triggering gain, and appreciated assets can be distributed back tax-free. They also handle liabilities more favorably, avoiding the strict gain rules of Section 357(c). If the partnership distributes the property later, whether in the ordinary course of business or during a liquidation, no gain is recognized as long as the property’s value doesn’t exceed the partner’s tax basis. The deferred gain only becomes taxable if the property is sold in the future. WE CAN HELP WITH EFFECTIVE TAX STRATEGY FOR CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE INVESTORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. A properly structured partnership or LLC can preserve value and create room to adapt to future changes. Contact Dahl Law Group to protect your real estate investments and ensure your tax strategy matches your goals.
Cheesy Tomato-Basil Stuffed Chicken
SUDOKU
Ingredients • 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1/2 cup basil pesto • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, oil reserved • 2–3 tbsp sun-dried tomato oil
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, divided • 2 cloves garlic, smashed • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • Chili flakes, to taste • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves • Salt and pepper, to taste 6. Add 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and season with chili flakes. Cook 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat. 7. Bake in oven for 7–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tomatoes burst. 8. Toss remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes with basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. 9. Serve the chicken topped with fresh tomatoes.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Slice chicken down the middle horizontally (not cutting all the way through). 3. Spread pesto inside filleted chicken, then stuff with cheese and tomatoes before closing chicken, covering filling. 4. Place chicken in a large oven- safe skillet. Drizzle with oil. 5. Set the skillet over medium heat; cook 5 minutes.
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INSIDE What’s
2. 1. A Reminder to Hear With More Than Just Your Ears Listen Up! Incredible Listening Facts Handling the Designation of a Special Needs Child as Your Beneficiary
3.
You Should (Almost) Never Hold Real Estate in a Corporation
Cheesy Tomato-Basil Stuffed Chicken
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Snooze Your Way to Happiness
Sweet Dreams for the Whole Family Why a Good Night’s Sleep Can Boost Everyone’s Well-Being reading a book, putting on classical music, or lighting a lavender candle. If your children are old enough, they can try chamomile tea, which is known to help people go to sleep. Limiting screen time to an hour or two before bed is essential because the blue light on devices can keep the mind distracted and wound up, making it difficult to drift off. You can lead by example by putting your phone or tablet away in the evening. SNOOZE YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS. Studies have found that children and parents who get adequate sleep function better, excel academically, and are in a better mood overall. As we snooze, our body is hard at work resetting our systems for the next day. Still, chronic insomnia gets in the way of those essential repair cycles, making emotional regulation and resilience hard to achieve. With a few small changes to your nighttime routine, you can turn your family’s restless nights into sound slumbers and wake up to a much happier and healthier home!
A well-rested family is a happy family, but when sleep is in short supply, moods can turn sour faster than a colicky baby in an airplane! Skimping on shut-eye doesn’t just make everyone cranky; it can take a serious toll on mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and emotional outbursts for kids and adults alike. But there’s no need to lose sleep because simple adjustments can ensure your family gets the rest they need. From setting consistent bedtimes to creating a relaxing wind-down routine, small changes can make a big difference in everyone’s mood and mental well-being. BUILD A SLEEP SCHEDULE FOR SUCCESS. As parents, you can set the tone for your family by creating effective sleep-ready routines that include consistent bedtimes and relaxing habits. When your children go to bed at the same time every night, it resets their body’s internal clocks, making it a habit to get enough rest. They will naturally begin to get drowsy at this time and wake up with more energy from better, deeper sleep. Leading up to bedtime, try out some calming activities like
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