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This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. At EsqWealth, we recently completed a comprehensive financial plan for a couple in their early 50s with approximately $2.5 million in 401(k) and IRA accounts. Our original analysis—completed before the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—projected that by strategically converting their tax-deferred…

In a powerful affirmation of California’s workplace retaliation laws, a San Diego jury recently awarded $3 million to former Orange County prosecutor Tracy Miller, finding that she was effectively forced out of her position after standing up for colleagues who reported sexual harassment. Miller, a 25-year veteran and one of the highest-ranking female prosecutors in…

This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. When Estate Planning Goes Off-Key Jimmy Buffett made a fortune selling the dream of island life, margaritas, and stress-free living. But if the latest headlines are any indication, his estate plan missed the vibe entirely. In June 2025, Buffett’s widow, Jane Buffett, filed a…

In re Mohawk Industries, Inc. Derivative Litigation, Lead Case No.: 4:20-cv-00110-ELR (N.D.Ga.).  On June 30, 2025, after more than five years of hard-fought litigation, the Hon. Eleanor L. Ross granted final approval of a shareholder derivative settlement which resolved claims brought on behalf of and for the benefit of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (“Mohawk” or the…

This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. At EsqWealth, we believe that comprehensive financial planning goes far beyond what stocks you own, how your assets are held (for tax efficiency, asset protection, and long term security), and when you should start taking Social Security benefits. While those may be important questions,…

This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. At EsqWealth, we believe income-generating investments should be both rewarding and resilient. One method we use to identify opportunities in today’s market is a disciplined, dividend-focused stock selection strategy grounded in logic, data, and a healthy dose of skepticism. While this dividend-focused approach is…

This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. When the markets get jittery, smart money often looks for shelter—not in the form of burying cash under the mattress, but in shifting strategy toward assets that can grow quietly and predictably, without the gut-wrenching volatility. Enter annuities. Once considered sleepy vehicles for conservative…

In re RenovaCare Derivative Litigation, Case No. 2:21-cv-20569 (D.N.J.).  Johnson Fistel, as co-lead counsel in a shareholder derivative action pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alongside counsel in related actions pending in Arizona and Nevada, on behalf of RenovaCare, Inc. (“RenovaCare” or the “Company”), helped RenovaCare negotiate a settlement…

This article is reprinted with permission from Esq. Wealth Management, Inc. When does a tax strategy become a federal crime? A recent case out of Mississippi provides a crystal-clear answer—and a cautionary tale for advisors and clients alike. On May 14, 2025, the Department of Justice announced that Stephen T. Mellinger III, a financial advisor from…