Need More Than Tips?

Sometimes a quick Internet tip isn't enough. You're facing a big decision and you want to understand it completely before you act.

I get it.

For 32 years, I kept solving the same Massachusetts estate planning problems. Different families, same mistakes, same solutions. So I wrote everything down.

Each guide digs deep into one specific challenge. Real stories (fictionalized to protect privacy). Step-by-step instructions you can actually follow. Strategies that work under Massachusetts law – not generic advice from California or Florida that doesn't apply here.

Think of them as the conversations I'd have with families in my office. Except now you can read them in your pajamas.

Browse the Guides
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Pick what matters to you. Each one covers everything you need to know about one topic.
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• Will or Trust? The Massachusetts Decision - Save your family money and hassle with the right choice
• Make Your Trust Actually Work - The funding step that determines if your trust helps or hurts
• Escape the Massachusetts Estate Tax Trap - Protect estates over $2 million from unnecessary taxes
• Bulletproof Your Kids' Inheritance - Keep money safe from their mistakes and creditors
• ​Your Backup Decision-Makers - Who handles things when you can't
• Living Trust: After a Death Steps - Avoid Costly Mistakes & Complete Trust Administration Correctly
• Second Marriage Without the Drama - Protect everyone without family wars

Joel's Guides (Monographs)

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What's a Guide?

It's everything I'd tell you about one specific estate planning problem if we sat down for an hour in my office.
Think of it as the missing piece between quick tips and hiring an attorney.

Here's How They Work

• Free tips tell you what exists: "You need beneficiary designations."
• Attorneys give you custom solutions: "Here's your specific plan."
• My guides help you understand it all: "Here's how beneficiaries work, what goes wrong, and how to fix problems before they cost you money."

Each guide is 10-25 pages of plain English. No jargon. No theory you can't use. Just the stuff that actually matters for Massachusetts families.

What's Inside

Real stories - Fictionalized examples based on 32 years of practice. They make complex stuff memorable and show you what can actually go wrong.
Step-by-step instructions - Clear actions you can take today. No guessing.
Practical tools - Worksheets, calculators, templates. Everything you need to actually do something with what you learn.
Massachusetts-specific - Laws here are different. This isn't generic advice from other states.
When to get help - I tell you when to DIY and when to hire an attorney. Plus the smart questions to ask.

Who These Help

You want to understand your options before making big decisions. You want to talk intelligently with attorneys instead of nodding and hoping. You need to organize your situation before spending $400/hour on consultations.

These guides do that.

​Browse the Guides