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No Will, No Trust, No Good!

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

There’s nothing more tragic than watching a hard-earned legacy go up in smoke because of one avoidable mistake: no proper estate plan. It’s a tale as old as time—someone spends a lifetime building wealth, providing for their loved ones, and imagining the comfort their memory will bring. And then… silence. No trust. No will. And no defense against the coming legal and financial inferno.

When there’s no plan in place, the law doesn’t grant grace. It grants probate. That slow-moving, bureaucratic nightmare where families grieve not only a loved one’s passing—but the unraveling of everything they left behind.

Trusts and Wills: Your Two Shields Against Chaos

A trust allows assets to transfer privately, quickly, and often tax-efficiently. It bypasses probate entirely. It can control when and how assets are distributed, even years after death. A will, meanwhile, expresses who gets what, but it still must be dragged through the courts. Without either, the state steps in, with formulas and strangers deciding who inherits—and when.

But even having them isn’t enough. They must be funded (in the case of a trust), clearly written, regularly updated, and tailored to your life’s complexities.

Real-World Disasters: Famous Fortunes Destroyed

Take Prince. A musical genius who died with no will. The result? His $300 million estate was frozen in legal limbo for six years. Hundreds of claimants surfaced, legal fees skyrocketed, and his loved ones waited—powerless. The court, not Prince, decided how his legacy would be sliced up.

Or Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. She passed with handwritten wills stashed in couch cushions. A family civil war broke out over which version was valid. The lawyers? They got paid. The heirs? They got headaches.

Howard Hughes, one of the wealthiest men in American history, died intestate. What followed was a circus: 600 would-be heirs, 40 forged wills, and billions tied up in courtrooms for decades.

And Marilyn Monroe? She had a will—but no trust. That meant her estate was public, taxable, and vulnerable. Nearly half vanished to taxes, and the remaining fortune wound up in the hands of someone she barely knew—a friend’s widow who built an empire on her image. A woman who likely wouldn’t have made Marilyn’s top 100 list of preferred beneficiaries.

The Osbourne Case: A Near Miss

When Ozzy Osbourne passed, his estate—worth over $220 million—wasn’t left to chance. He had a trust and a will. Sharon got a lifetime interest. The kids received staggered distributions, some with clauses tied to age and behavior. Aimee’s inheritance, for example, was placed in trust until she turned 50. That’s structure. That’s clarity. That’s foresight. Rock On!

Still, even Ozzy’s plan has potential weak points. Cross-border assets, blended families, and fame create landmines. If any clause had been vague, the knives would have come out.

What Happens Without a Plan

If you die without a will or trust in Ohio, the state determines everything. Your spouse may not inherit all. Stepchildren may be completely excluded. Taxes take a bigger bite. And every single asset must march through probate—a public, time-consuming, expensive ordeal. I’ve seen families reduced to tears not by grief—but by court orders, frozen accounts, and the betrayal of a system they didn’t understand.

This isn't just about the rich or famous. This is about the retired factory worker with two homes. The single mom with life insurance and a pension. The grandparent whose farm has been in the family for 80 years.

Conclusion: Plan, or Be Planned For

You wouldn’t build a house and skip the roof. Don’t build a life and skip the plan. A will tells the world your wishes. A trust ensures they happen efficiently and privately. Without them, your legacy becomes a battleground.

You built something worth protecting. Now make sure it survives you.

Because if you don’t write the ending to your story… the court will. And it won’t be a happy one.

Secure Your Legacy—Before Someone Else Decides What It’s Worth.

Your estate plan isn’t a stack of paperwork—it’s the final chapter of your life story. And if you don’t write it with clarity and care, the courts will write it for you—with probate delays, legal fees, and family heartbreak in every paragraph.

We offer complimentary 10-minute consultations for families who want to protect what they’ve built, avoid the nightmare scenarios, and leave behind more than just confusion.

Whether you need to set up a trust, update an outdated will, or finally take control of your estate plan—it starts with one conversation.

📞 Call 614-943-2265 to schedule your consultation today.

Don’t wait for a crisis to realize what was missing. Your legacy deserves structure. Your family deserves peace.

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How the One Big Beautiful Bill Rescues Social Security, Supercharges Withdrawals, and Triggers a Refund Windfall in 2026

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Client: Eric, I’ve seen talk about the OBBB and tax cuts. But I’m retired—or close to it. Does this bill help people like me? And what’s this I’m hearing about “massive” refunds in 2026?

Eric:
The One Big Beautiful Bill doesn’t just help people like you. It’s one of the most meaningful shifts for retirees and the middle class in modern legislative history.

This bill rewires the tax code, and not in some abstract Washington think-tank way. I’m talking real dollars, real benefits, and yes, real refunds.

2026 will likely bring the largest tax refund season the middle and upper-middle class have seen since the Bush-era stimulus. And for many Americans, it will come just in time.

What’s Fueling the Refund Rebound?

Several key provisions go into effect January 1, 2026:

1. Social Security Tax Relief
If your total income is under $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (joint), you’ll owe nothing on Social Security income. This alone is estimated to boost average refunds by $800 to $1,600 for qualified filers.

2. Retirement Withdrawal Cushion
The first $12,000 (single) or $24,000 (joint) withdrawn from IRAs, 401(k)s, and TSPs is taxed at half your normal rate. This dramatically reduces taxable income for retirees who rely on distributions—and it increases refund eligibility.

3. SALT Cap Lifted
The cap on state and local tax deductions rises from $10,000 to $40,000, with phase-outs at higher incomes. This is a game-changer for upper-middle-income earners in high-tax states who will see thousands back on their returns.

4. No Tax on Overtime and Tips
For working Americans—especially dual-income households—the first $25,000 in reported overtime and tip income is completely deductible. That’s real money, real fast.

5. Expanded Credits and Deductions
Child Tax Credit increases. New catch-up contribution limits. A one-time $1,000 refundable credit for dependents aged 18–22 in post-secondary education. It’s a stack of tax relief—layered in your favor.

What This Means for 2026 Refunds

Let’s be clear: millions of Americans will receive checks larger than anything they’ve ever seen from the IRS.

• A middle-income couple in Indiana earning $130,000 with two kids and $30,000 in mortgage interest could see a refund north of $9,000—up from $3,800 last year.

• A retired couple in Ohio living on Social Security and $40,000 in IRA withdrawals could pocket a $2,500 refund instead of owing $1,200—thanks to the tax relief on both sources.

• A dual-income household in New Jersey earning $220,000 could see an extra $7,000 refund due to the restored SALT deduction alone.

But here's the hard truth: refunds aren’t wealth. Strategy is.

What Smart People Will Do With These Refunds

1. Convert to Roth Before the Window Closes
Use your refund to pay the tax bill on a Roth IRA conversion. Lock in today’s rates, enjoy tax-free income later, and keep future RMDs under control.

2. Launch the “Family Bank”
Use part of the refund to fund a high-cash-value life insurance policy structured for tax-advantaged growth and liquidity. You’re building a line of credit you own.

3. Pre-Fund Future Health Costs
Health care inflation isn’t slowing down. Refunds can be moved into an HSA, LTC rider, or gap policy to future-proof yourself before Medicare cuts arrive.

4. Reinforce the Legacy Plan
Update your trust. Maximize the $15M individual estate exemption before it sunsets. Use part of the refund to execute a gifting strategy to heirs or charities.

5. Invest in a Real Asset or Gold
Use your refund as down payment on a rental property, REIT, or tax-sheltered alternative asset. Paper money fades. Real assets stand.

Real-World Example: Turning a Refund into Permanent Income

In 2023, a Columbus couple used a $6,800 refund to pre-pay taxes on a Roth conversion and open a dividend-paying life policy. Two years later, that $6,800 is now:

• Funding part of their retirement gap plan

• Accumulating value tax-free

• Providing optional income and liquidity

They didn’t spend their refund. They multiplied it.

Client: But what if this is just a one-year thing? Should I really change my whole plan around a single refund?

Eric:
This isn’t a fluke. It’s a four-to-five-year runway of reduced taxation, increased deductions, and expanded credits. The OBBB is already law. But much of it expires in 2029. So no, you don’t pivot your entire plan. You strike while the law is on your side.

This is your opportunity to:

• Accelerate Roth conversions

• Reposition taxable accounts

• Shift the burden off your future heirs

• Lock in protection before Congress changes its mind

The Refund Is the Spark. You’re the Fire.

If you treat your 2026 refund like a bonus, it’ll disappear. If you treat it like seed capital, it’ll grow into something permanent. Something generational.

The One Big Beautiful Bill may not last forever, but the strategy you build around it can.

Schedule a complimentary, 10-minute tax strategy session with Eric Seyboldt.
Your 2026 refund isn’t just a rebate—it’s a rare opportunity to restructure your retirement, reposition your withdrawals, and protect your legacy.

Call 614‑943‑2265 to secure your spot before this window closes.
Because what you keep in retirement is just as important as what you earned getting there.

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Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

These are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

Rates Are Maxing Out! Don’t Wait To Lock These Fixed Annuity Rates In Today! 6.60% is possible now!

3-year: 5.50% (under $100k Deposited)

3-year: 5.75% (over $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.10% (under $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.35% (over $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.35% (under $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.60% (over $100k Deposited)

Please feel free to call Eric at 614-943-2265 if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy

Why the Smart Money Is Moving to Gold—and What That Means for You

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the old-fashioned retirement playbook is wearing thin. Prices keep rising, the dollar’s buying power is fading, and the markets are still bouncing around like a tractor on a washboard road. Meanwhile, the folks in charge keep printing money like tomorrow doesn’t matter.

That’s why the savviest investors—the ones who don’t like surprises—are making a shift.

They’re moving into real assets like gold. Not because it’s flashy. Because it’s solid. Because it’s been a quiet guardian of wealth through wars, crashes, inflation spikes, and everything in between.

Gold doesn’t blink when Wall Street panics. It doesn’t vanish in a recession. And it doesn’t rely on someone else's promises to hold value.

This isn’t just about hedging your bets. It’s about owning something real in a world that’s becoming more unpredictable by the day.

When the winds pick up, smart folks don’t gamble—they anchor down. Gold is that anchor.

📌 Gold has stood the test of time as a store of value across every major crisis.
📌 It provides a reliable safeguard against inflation and currency devaluation.
📌 Unlike stocks or bonds, gold is a physical asset you can see, hold, and control on your terms.

When the future feels uncertain, gold offers stability, security, and peace of mind. Make it a cornerstone of your retirement strategy today.

During market chaos, real assets don’t flinch. They thrive. History proves it. While equities tumble, hard assets often surge—shielding portfolios and delivering asymmetric returns when they're needed most.

And even in calm times? They add powerful diversification. That’s why the ultra-wealthy use them as a cornerstone—not a sideshow—in their wealth strategy.

Ask yourself:

🧠 Are you truly diversified?
🧠 What happens to your retirement if inflation stays elevated?
🧠 If the dollar weakens, what asset in your portfolio gets stronger?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s time for a new conversation.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To a GOLD IRA (see link below) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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