Tailored for Trust: Why Estate Planning Calls for a Suit
In an era where casual attire has infiltrated even the most formal settings, you may wonder why law firms like ours still stand by the time-honored tradition of wearing suits. After all, a hoodie might be more comfortable on those long conference calls! But the suit represents something deeper: a commitment to excellence, precision, and the white-glove service you’ve come to expect from us. It’s our way of saying that, while some may cut corners, we tailor our approach-literally and figuratively-to meet the highest standards.
Estate planning is a deeply personal process, one that requires not just expertise, but trust. And just as your estate deserves the highest level of attention, our presentation is a reflection of the white-glove service and thoughtful guidance we provide to safeguard your future. While some may favor comfort, we wear our suits as a reminder that the work we do-securing your family’s financial wellbeing and legacy-is nothing short of our highest priority.
While professionalism is at the core of everything we do, it’s just one piece of the story. We’re excited to share some recent milestones and updates that highlight how our firm is continuing to grow, innovate, and enhance the services we provide to our valued clients.
Strengthening our Pacific Northwest Reach
Last year, we opened an office in Washington State to better support our clients’ evolving needs while simultaneously enhancing the quality of our service and responsiveness. Such expansion allows us to handle state-specific regulations and multi-state matters with greater efficiency. What’s more, by including multistate funding services, we can eliminate probate in both states, which is a huge savings at death.
New Portland Office Opening
We recently opened the doors to our new Portland office, and it (beautifully!) accommodates the continued growth of our team. Myatt & Bell’s new home allows us to better support our clients by ensuring our employees have the resources and space needed to deliver top-quality service. Rest assured, while our team grows, our commitment to personalized attention and high standards of client care remains the same. The new office simply provides us with the opportunity to enhance collaboration and efficiency, so we can continue meeting your needs with the same focus and dedication you’ve come to expect from us.
Holistic Expertise
Did you know our attorneys practice in both Estate Planning and Trust Administration practice areas? Estate Planning helps you create a clear plan for the future, protecting your wealth and minimizing taxes, while Trust Administration ensures an estate plan is executed smoothly after death. By working with attorneys skilled in both areas, you benefit from a seamless transition between planning and administration, reducing the potential for disputes and ensuring your loved ones are well taken care of according to your wishes. This comprehensive, holistic expertise ensures your estate is managed efficiently, offering tremendous peace of mind.
Innovative Technology
Our firm uses Clio for Clients because it provides a secure, streamlined way for us to collaborate with you on your legal matters. With Clio, we can easily share documents, communicate, and keep you updated on your matter’s progress in real-time, all through a platform designed to protect your sensitive information. Clio’s strong encryption and security protocols ensure that your data stays safe, while allowing us to offer you a more efficient and transparent service. It’s part of our commitment to using innovative tools to better serve you and keep your information secure.
Legacy Milestone
We are celebrating 64 years of law practice this year! Clients looking for a proven legal partner with a long history of success need to look no further. We are proud of our longevity and stability, and we look forward to the next six decades of service.
Sommer Rice
HR, Training and Development Manager
Tell us something fun about you: I was born in Germany! My dad was stationed there while he was in the military. We moved back to the States when I was around one.
What are you currently reading: I just finished listening to the Rebel Wilson audiobook and loved it. Hearing the inflections and emotion in her voice while she read it made the book ten times better.
What is your all-time favorite movie: Bridesmaids and Disturbia are tied for first place.
What do you like to do for fun: I enjoy thrifting, finding it so rewarding when I can pick out a “diamond in the rough.” Getting together with my girlfriends is also important to me. When I want some time to myself, you can find me practicing my photography skills!
Most memorable place you have vacationed: Mexico! Not only did I get engaged on this trip, but my now husband and I got to release baby sea turtles on the beach.
Banana Bread Recipe*
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mashed very ripe bananas**
- 4 eggs
- 2⁄3 cup canola oil (or melted butter), plus a little more to grease the pan
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus a little more for dusting the pan
- 2 cups sugar (or half brown sugar, half white sugar)
- 1 (3.5-ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix***
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 (3.5-ounce) bar dark chocolate, chopped into chunks (or anything you love – peanut butter chips, nuts, etc.)
- + Salted butter, for serving
**Get six brown bananas. Not four. Not five. Six. You will think you only need five because it looks like enough, but it will not be enough. You will get five, you will mash them, you will be about half an inch short and that makes a difference, and you cannot get around it. Trust me.
***I won’t tell you what brand to use, but the right brand rhymes with smello. Don’t use banana-flavored pudding mix. I tried it. It is gross. To substitute the pudding mix, you can also try equal parts powdered milk and half powdered sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, and oil. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well BUT GENTLY. I swear this came out differently when I used an aggressive electric mixer. Fold in the coconut and chocolate chunks.
- Grease and flour a Bundt pan (wipe a little grease all over the inside of the pan, dust it with flour, and tip it upside down to shake out any extra flour). Pour the batter into the pan. (This can also make two 8 × 4-inch loaves, but it’s so much more moist in one Bundt pan!)
- Bake until the cake springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. (Test it with a toothpick at around 50 minutes.) Let it cool slightly in the pan, then use a butter knife to gently release the cake from the sides of the pan and around the inner circle, then flip it onto a plate.
- Let it cool and cut it into slices. Rewarm them and serve them with salty butter!!!
*Source: Cravings by Chrissy Teigen
Estate Planning & Peace of Mind
Have you found yourself making excuses for why not to get your estate in order? Maybe you’re convinced that you really don’t need estate planning. If you have assets and loved ones, you need an estate plan. Having an estate plan that is right for you ensures your loved ones are taken care of and that the transition is as easy as possible.
Attend one of our complimentary estate planning webinars and see for yourself. Having your estate plan prepared and understanding the why’s behind the importance of estate planning can bring you the peace of mind you have been needing.
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From Our Clients
“As a couple of “Boomers” we needed a will/trust. Everyone who we came in contact with were very professional. As we were clueless to the whole process, Bryce Kaufman very patiently led us step by step. His suggestions were very helpful. He made what appeared to be an arduous process much easier than I anticipated. Wholeheartedly recommend them.” – Steve
“Our living trust creation was smooth, expertly done. Bryce was great, expert, excellent communicator/educator.” – Leigh A.
Families choose Myatt & Bell to design their estate plans with honest optimism and meticulous attention to detail.
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And, if you run into someone who needs help with a will or trust, please tell them about Myatt & Bell. Thank you!
