In this episode of The Agent of Wealth Podcast, host Marc Bautis is joined by Sara Ecklein, Founder of Trust & Honor and host of The Legacy of Love podcast. With over a decade of experience in fiduciary services, Sara specializes in trust administration, special needs trusts, and guiding families through end-of-life planning. Together, they discuss how proactive estate planning can prevent common pitfalls and ensure a smooth financial transition for loved ones.
In this episode, you will learn:
- The role of a professional fiduciary and how they simplify trust administration.
- Why incapacity planning is just as important as estate planning.
- The biggest mistakes families make when preparing for end-of-life transitions.
- How technology is shaping the future of estate planning.
- And more!
Tune in to gain expert insights on preparing for the future with clarity and confidence.
Resources:
Trust & Honor | The Legacy of Love | Sara Ecklein – LinkedIn | Bautis Financial: 8 Hillside Ave, Suite LL1 Montclair, New Jersey 07042 (862) 205-5000 | Schedule an Introductory Call
Disclosure: The transcript below has been edited for clarity and content. It is not a direct transcription of the full episode, which can be listened to above.
Welcome back to The Agent of Wealth Podcast, this is your host Marc Bautis. In today’s episode, we’ll explore a vital yet often overlooked aspect of financial planning – end-of-life and legacy planning. Navigating this sensitive territory with empathy and clarity can make a world of difference for families.
I’m joined by a special guest, Sara Ecklein. Sara is the Founder of Trust & Honor, a fiduciary agency committed to making end-of-life planning and financial transitions seamless and meaningful. In addition to over a decade of professional experience, Sara has managed complex cases, supported senior care initiatives, and volunteered with organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and Sacramento Hospice Consortium.
She’s also the host of the Legacy of Love podcast, where she shares practical advice and heartfelt stories about family support, trust administration, and end-of-life care.
Sara, welcome to the show.
Marc, thank you so much for having me. I’m so happy to be here.
Sara Ecklein’s Journey to Starting Trust & Honor
I’m looking forward to today’s topic. I think it is definitely an overlooked aspect of financial planning. I know the work you do is unique and deeply personal. What led you to create Trust & Honor, and focus on these types of services? Was there a pivotal moment or experience that influenced your decision?
That’s a great question. I love sharing my personal journey of finding this work. It really started for me when I witnessed a loved one’s final three days of life. That experience had a profound impact on me. Being present for her death forced me into the moment, and I can only describe it as a deeply spiritual experience — where worries about the past and future just melted away.
At the time, I didn’t have a plan, but I felt called to be fully present in that experience. Initially, I thought I would become a hospice nurse. I saw, and still see, that most people shy away from these topics. They don’t want to confront their own mortality, and many struggle to be with loved ones during their final moments.
I think, collectively — especially in the U.S. — we are an anti-death culture. We avoid talking about it. Our focus is always on the new, the young, the future, while our elders are often pushed to the side. That realization started my professional journey. I went back to school, believing I would become a hospice nurse, but I quickly realized that wasn’t quite the right fit.
A family friend who was a professional fiduciary suggested I explore her field, thinking I would love the work. I took her advice and found myself working for a professional fiduciary in Sacramento, California. From there, the rest is history — I absolutely fell in love with the work. It combines personal finance, legal elements, and end-of-life care, making it both intellectually engaging and deeply meaningful. More than anything, this work is about leading with heart and service. That passion sparked over 11 years ago, and in 2021, I started my own practice, Trust & Honor.
Understanding Fiduciary Services
Who typically needs these services, and how do you help simplify complex processes like trust administration, special needs trusts, and end-of-life planning?
In California, things are a bit different because we have a specific license for professional fiduciaries. Some professionals — such as attorneys or CPAs — can perform fiduciary work under their existing licenses. But in California, we also have a dedicated fiduciary license, which I describe as an umbrella term.
As a fiduciary, I can serve in different roles depending on the client’s needs. Sometimes, I act as a healthcare decision-maker, a trustee, or even a conservator. In my firm, I specialize in trust administration and special needs trusts, and I also enjoy working with clients during the planning phase. This means I am named in successor roles, such as a successor trustee, an alternate agent in a durable power of attorney, or an agent in an advanced healthcare directive.
Every fiduciary has their niche. Some focus solely on court-supervised cases — such as probate and conservatorships — which I do not handle. Instead, I work with clients privately. Another aspect of my practice is that, being younger, I provide long-term continuity for clients who don’t need immediate services but want someone they can trust for the future.
Can you expand on the topic of fiduciaries a bit? What sets fiduciaries apart, and how does your business differ from those who are not fiduciaries in your location?
The term fiduciary means that we put our client’s best interests ahead of our own. That principle is at the core of what we do.
Going back to licensing, California is one of only two states that require a professional fiduciary license. Probate law is state-specific, so for listeners outside of California, I recommend checking with the National Guardian Association. I am also a National Certified Guardian, and that organization allows you to look up professionals based on your state. I’m happy to share that link for the show notes.
When do people usually engage with you and Trust & Honor?
It’s usually long before services are needed, which is when I am named in estate planning documents.
For active cases, the situation is different. Sometimes, a current fiduciary is stepping down — this could be a professional reaching retirement or a family member who no longer wants to act in that role. Then, there are court cases where a fiduciary is appointed due to disputes or legal complexities.
I’ve found that my clients typically fall into two categories. The first includes individuals who are proactive about planning. These are usually high-net-worth individuals who work with a team of professionals, including an estate planning attorney, a financial advisor, and a tax professional. They bring me on board as part of their well-structured plan.
The second group consists of individuals who either never created a plan or had one that was incomplete or poorly executed. Often, family dynamics and dysfunction cause disputes, leading to heavily litigated cases. In these situations, when no one in the family can agree, the courts step in and appoint a neutral third-party fiduciary — someone like me — to ensure everything is handled properly.
Oh, so the courts will actually place someone like yourself?
Yes.
Okay. If it’s not the courts, and it’s during the estate planning process, is it typically the attorney who drives the decision to have trust administration done externally? Or is it the client who says, “I don’t really have a good person I feel comfortable naming?”
Yeah, it really depends. That’s a great question. I find that most of the time, an estate planning attorney sits down with their clients, drafts their estate plan, and for various reasons, it makes sense to involve a professional. Sometimes, these are solo agers — people without children — or they may have children who don’t live locally or aren’t able to act in a fiduciary role.
I also serve as a trustee for special needs trusts. Families with disabled children know their child will never be able to administer a trust, manage an estate, or make healthcare decisions for their parents. In those cases, if they don’t have a trusted person in their community or extended family, working with a professional makes sense. Typically, the estate planning attorney makes that referral.
Our profession is still relatively small. Licensing for professional fiduciaries in California only began in 2007, and I believe there are around 900 to maybe 1,000 actively licensed professional fiduciaries in the state. That’s why increasing awareness of this work is important — so people know professionals like us exist.
Another reason families choose to work with a professional fiduciary is that, while they may have children, those children often have demanding jobs, especially in places like Silicon Valley, where I’m based. Many are top executives with little time, or they don’t live nearby. These families need to plan for aging parents.
Additionally, we’re seeing more second and third marriages and blended families. In those situations, having a neutral party can be beneficial to prevent any perception of favoritism among the children.
Common Pitfalls in End-of-Life Transitions
Yeah, that makes sense. What are some of the most common pitfalls or misunderstandings that arise during end-of-life transitions?
One of the biggest pitfalls I see — even for clients working with me and an estate planning attorney in the planning phase — is that they only think about what happens after death.
Let’s look at the statistics: In the U.S., only one in three people has an estate plan. That means two-thirds of Americans — the majority — don’t have one. The clients I work with are ahead of the curve, but even among them, I often find they haven’t considered incapacity planning.
For married couples, while both partners are alive, they typically trust each other to make end-of-life decisions. But what about the surviving spouse? Many clients don’t even think about that scenario.
It’s crucial to consider an advanced healthcare directive and a durable power of attorney. Many people don’t understand the difference between the two. In California, for example, if you own real estate, you’ll likely need a trust to avoid probate, which currently applies to estates valued at around $180,000 or more. When a trustee is named, they step in if you become incapacitated. Similarly, a durable power of attorney for finances becomes active at that point as well.
I’ve had clients come to me thinking they only need a trustee, but when I ask about a durable power of attorney, they realize they need to name me in that document, too. I had assumed these were conversations estate planning attorneys were having, but I’m finding they’re not always explaining these documents thoroughly.
That’s why I love conversations like this — so more people can ask informed questions and carefully consider who they name in these critical roles. The person managing your financial assets, filing your taxes, and making end-of-life care decisions should not only be capable but also willing to take on those responsibilities.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, people are juggling so many demands, and we’re living more independently than ever. The traditional family support system has changed, which is why I’m seeing more families turn to professionals for help.
Overcoming Barriers to Estate Planning
You mentioned that two-thirds of people don’t have an estate plan. Do you think the primary reason is, as you said earlier, that people don’t want to confront death? Or do you think other factors — like complexity or procrastination — play a role?
I think fear of mortality is a big piece of it, but it’s not the whole story. Many families feel intimidated by the process.
There’s also a common misconception that estate planning is only for the wealthy. People hear “trust fund” and assume you need significant wealth to justify setting up a trust. But in reality, if you own a home or have a retirement account, it often makes sense to have one — especially in California.
Beyond that, estate planning touches on difficult topics: death, money, and family dynamics. People avoid conversations about who gets what, and it’s easy to keep kicking that can down the road.
The Importance of Comprehensive Estate Planning
Estate planning attorneys help with certain legal documents — wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives — but there’s so much more to aging and end-of-life planning. Where will someone live? What are the financial considerations? There seems to be a gap in the estate planning process when it comes to addressing the full picture of aging and end-of-life transitions.
I absolutely agree. That’s part of why I launched my podcast, The Legacy of Love, to encourage more conversations around these issues. Estate planning is just the starting point, but there are so many additional steps. One of the biggest is funding the trust, which many estate planning attorneys don’t handle — or if they do, it’s costly.
Once you have an estate plan, you need to ensure your assets are in the trust. That means retitling property — like your bank accounts and primary home — so the trust actually owns them. Attorneys usually help record the new deed, but beyond that, it falls on the client. If bank accounts and other assets aren’t moved into the trust, you could still end up in probate, even with a perfectly drafted estate plan.
It’s similar to a common mistake in retirement planning: Someone contributes to their 401(k) but never invests the funds, so it sits in cash for years. I’ve seen this happen, and it’s shocking how often it does.
That example resonates — more people are aware of the investment piece, but estate planning has a similar overlooked step. Getting affairs organized is just as crucial. If you pass away suddenly, someone has to step in and figure everything out. If your financial life is a mix of paperless statements and physical documents, that’s a mess for your executor to untangle.
Communicating with your named proxies — your trustee or executor — is essential. A will or trust won’t organize everything for you. That’s up to you.
Exactly. And another big gap is that people aren’t having conversations with their loved ones about their estate plans. Most people name a family member or friend, not a professional, yet they never tell that person they’ve been named — or discuss their wishes.
When you start working with a new client, how do you incorporate their personal values and wishes into their estate plan?
It starts with deep conversations. I listen, ask questions, and guide them through the process. Since I’ve done this for over a decade, I know the key areas to focus on, but estate planning isn’t a one-time event — it’s an ongoing process.
Families who successfully navigate this are the ones that treat it as an evolving discussion, not just a task to check off. They regularly talk about death, dying, and their wishes. That’s a big shift from how estate planning is usually approached.
People think once the documents are signed, they’re set, but estate plans are living documents that should be reviewed regularly. Every attorney has a rule of thumb, but I’d say every three to five years is a good interval to reassess and make updates.
I’ve seen cases where estates weren’t well organized, and it took years to sort everything out. Some people resist estate planning because they feel like they’re giving up control — or they don’t want to confront aging and mortality. How do you help them overcome that?
Honestly, the families who go through my intake and onboarding process are the ones who want to do this work. That’s the difference.
Trends and the Future of Estate Planning
What trends do you see in estate planning moving forward? Do you think technology will play a bigger role, or will it always require a personal, one-on-one approach?
I think technology is definitely starting to play a role. I recently came across a company called Buried in Work, which has both a podcast and a software platform designed to help people organize their files and estate plans. Their tools make it easier for family members or professionals to step in when needed. They also have software specifically for trustees and executors to help with estate administration.
There’s a huge opportunity for innovation in this field. Many professionals I know still work exclusively with paper, and some even insist on faxing documents. So, I’m excited to see more tech solutions emerge. That said, professionals like myself will continue to be essential. There’s only so much technology can do, and I’m not a big proponent of DIY estate plans.
Partnering with a professional ensures your family’s unique needs are addressed, and the upfront investment can pay off in ways families don’t even realize—because when things go wrong, the consequences can be significant. As a professional trustee, I’ve seen what happens when people try to cut corners, and it reinforces how crucial expert guidance is.
I also believe the demand for estate planning professionals will only grow. The baby boomer generation is aging rapidly, and family structures are shifting. Unlike in the past, families today don’t all live on the same street or in the same town. Many people are having fewer children — or none at all — which means there’s less built-in family support for aging parents.
In the past, it was more common for parents to move in with their children as they got older. While that still happens in some cultures and families, it’s not the default expectation in the U.S. This is where estate planning professionals, elder law attorneys, and other experts are becoming increasingly necessary.
You also host your own podcast, The Legacy of Love Podcast. How does that platform help you share your mission and expertise?
It’s been a fantastic way to have more conversations like this. I sit down with estate planning attorneys, financial professionals, tax experts, and healthcare specialists to discuss estate planning, end-of-life care, and legacy building. My goal is to demystify estate planning and make this information accessible to everyone.
A lot of professionals take a top-down approach — where they position themselves as the authority — but I want to meet people where they are. That’s why I started my business and launched the podcast. Many people find working with attorneys intimidating, so I aim to make these conversations more approachable. We don’t just talk about estate plans — we explore the bigger picture of how to live and leave a meaningful legacy.
For me, this mission became even more personal when I became a mother at the end of 2022. Parenthood deepened my passion for this work and reinforced the importance of leading with love, not just expertise. Helping families think beyond legal documents and truly consider the legacy they want to leave behind is incredibly fulfilling.
Sarah, that’s all the questions I have for you today. Thank you for joining me on The Agent of Wealth Podcast and sharing your expertise. Before we go, how can our listeners connect with you?
Thank you, Marc. This has been a great conversation, and I really appreciate the thoughtful questions.
Listeners can find me on social media — I’m active on LinkedIn, as well as Instagram and Facebook. I also encourage them to visit my website, trustandhonor.co. There, they can download my free Legacy of Love workbook. It’s designed to help people go beyond the legal aspects of estate planning and clarify their values and wishes. My hope is to shift estate planning from being just another task on a to-do list into a more meaningful, intentional process.
Great. We’ll include that information in the resources section in the show notes. Thanks again, Sarah. And thank you to everyone who tuned into today’s episode. Don’t forget to follow The Agent of Wealth on the platform you listen from and leave us a review of the show. We are currently accepting new clients, if you’d like to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with our advisors, please do so below.
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