Table of Contents

• COMMITTEE REPORTS
  • MEMBERSHIP REPORT
  • SOCIAL REPORT
  • SPEAKER COORDINATOR REPORT
  • TREASURER REPORT
• LEADS
• NOTABLE MENTIONS
• QUESTION OF THE DAY
• MAIN SPEAKER

Committee Reports

Membership Report
(Click here to go to the Membership page)

Lisa Wolfe passed around a list of open categories.  She hopes that it will spark some ideas of members we can bring in.  She asked members to put their name by a category if they know of a potential member in that category.

Part 2 of Dan Sleezer's membership application is now available.

Part 1 ● Part 2 

Social Report
(Click here to go to the Social Event page)

Dave Spiess reminded members that he is hosting a party at the end of April. 

Baxter Black, a cowboy poet, is coming to the Mesa Arts Center sometime around May.  Is anyone interested in seeing the show?

Speaker Coordinator Report
(Click here to go to the Speaker Schedule)

How do you feel when it is your turn to speak?  Do you think "I have to speak" or "I get to speak"?  It makes a difference.

04-Apr-08	Open Session lead by Dave Lathrop
11-Apr-08	Joe Zingale (E-Verification)
18-Apr-08	Don Ellis
25-Apr-08	Retirement Session

Treasurer Report

The 3rd quarter dues are now due.
(execadmin@gmail.com).

Leads Report

46-10, 03-22, 03-30, 18-13, 52-28, 07-23, 07-45, 07-50.

Notable Mentions

Denver Johnson - Housing Report - In our area, we may be approaching a turnaround.  Prices are starting to stabilize.

Andy Jensen - Stock Report - He echoes what Denver said.  Things are stabilizing.  Interest rates are probably going under 1% again.  They want you to take your money out of your money market and put it somewhere else.  He is very optimistic. 

Carole Weishaar thanked members for their kind thoughts, prayers and contributions.

Lisa Wolfe and Nick Mawrenko have talked about maintaining a MABE library on the website of books we have read and can share.  If you want to share your library, send Lisa a fax or email and she will compile a list.

There was an interesting twist on Leads & Introductions this morning.  Lisa handed out name tags today but nobody got their own.  Instead, they were to introduce the member on the tag they were given.

None.

James Bache 5+ year member Member since February 2004

LAW - TRUST & ESTATE James E. Bache, P.C. - Attorney at Law 1811 South Alma School Road, #210, Mesa, AZ 85210-3004 Phone: (480) 345-8407 • Fax: (480) 820-1450 E-mail: jamesbache@azbar.org James E. Bache is a State Bar of Arizona Certified Specialist in Trust and Estate Law, providing estate planning and probate services for over 27 years, utilizing a variety of tools, including revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, wills, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, health care directives and pre and post nuptial agreements. The firm also engages in inheritance litigation and other contested matters involving trusts and estates. Member - East Valley Estate Planning Council; East Valley Bar Association; and Kiwanis Club Tempe-Nuevo. Visit my Yellowbook page and watch my video to learn more...

Conflicts often arise when doing estate planning as Jim Bache demonstrated today.  In these cases, he can't represent both parties.  But in today's role playing scenario, Roman Okonowski and Carole Weishaar play a happily married couple. 

When meeting with people to help them plan their estate, Jim will ask about the size of the estate, types of assets and questions about the beneficiaries.  In a community property state we always start with the assumption that everything is shared 50/50.  Jim tries to keep the conversation light since the topic is grim.

Trusts allow you to control property for others.  You can do it in such a way to minimize taxes, avoid probate and maintain control for asset protection.

Jim tries to get all the facts from clients but sometimes things are not disclosed and that ends up complicating things.  For example, they may forget to disclose a term life insurance policy.  Another scenario that can occur is when they come in claiming to be married since they have been living together for over 10 years.  But in Arizona, common law marriage is not recognized.   Another marriage that Arizona does not recognize is that between to people of the same sex. (Exit Carole Weishaar and enter Steve Chilton into the role playing scenario.)

Powers of attorney, living wills, etc. must also be considered as well as the citizenship of a spouse.

Joe Hesch played the role of single male living with a companion.  Joe shares custody of his child with his ex-wife and he lives with a companion. Joe is a Canadian citizen with no estate tax issues.  Since he is single, he needs a power of attorney, simple will, etc.  He needs to name a guardian for his child and conservator for his estate to make sure the money goes to son and not ex-wife.  In Arizona, divorce automatically revokes the former spouse as beneficiary.  But she would get his 401k if he fails to change his beneficiary information.  In another scenario, Jim will guide Joe in the steps he needs to take to ensure his companion gets his assets and not the child if he doesn't believe the child is really his.