PODCAST · education
Life's Third Act
by Life's Third Act
Welcome to Life’s Third Act, hosted by attorney and CPA Joe Cordell. We explore the fascinating lessons learned from celebrity estates, uncovering insights into estate planning, wealth management, and family dynamics. Through the triumphs and pitfalls of high-profile legacies, we delve into the stories that shape lasting legacies and inspire smarter planning for the future.
Episodes
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Jimmy Buffett Estate Update: Widow vs Co-Trustee Over $275 Million
Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate is headed back to court, with a January 2027 trial in Florida set to decide control of his QTIP trust. Welcome to another episode of Life’s Third Act, hosted by attorney and CPA Joe Cordell. We focus on the planning side of life, especially for celebrities, and...
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Lessons Learned from Dolly Parton’s Estate
Dolly Parton did planning for her estate, but conflict still arose after her passing. This episode explains the latest filing and what it teaches about intent and communication. Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an estate planning...
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Plan Before You Need It: Protecting Yourself From Elder Financial Abuse
For this special installment of Life’s Third Act, attorney and CPA Joe Cordell welcomes Arizona probate attorney Tom Asimo to discuss the legal response behind a complex elder protection case. This conversation concludes our three part series on the Rhonda Lynn Orr case and elder financial abuse....
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How a Niece Stole Her 92 Year Old Aunt’s Life Savings to Buy a $529,000 House
Attorney and CPA Joe Cordell walks through how a 92 year old woman’s life savings became the target in a family exploitation fight. In the second part of our three part series, Joe details the real life story behind our protection planning discussion. Mildred Callahan, a 92 year old retiree in...
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Staying Protected In Your Later Years
Many parents assume their children will step in to protect them as they age. Attorney and CPA Joe Cordell explains why that assumption can leave you vulnerable, and what to plan instead. In this episode of Life’s Third Act, Joe lays out a practical message we call balance of life planning. As...
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Estate Planning Meets Divorce: What Makes a Prenup Hold Up in Court
You can write a prenup that says anything. Getting a court to enforce it is the whole game. In the second part of our two part crossover with the No Judgement Podcast, estate planning attorney John Sauter and senior litigation partner Wil Halaz pick up where they left off and walk through what...
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Estate Planning Meets Divorce: What a Prenup Actually Protects
When divorce and estate planning collide, most people only think about the breakup, not the paperwork. In this crossover episode with the No Judgement Podcast, estate planning attorney John Sauter and litigation partner Wil Halaz sit down to tackle the intersection of family law and estate...
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Why You Need an Estate Plan: A Real World Example
A real life example can teach you more than a hundred hypotheticals. In this episode, Joe shares the story of a friend’s brother, a 75-year-old retired physician who spent his life saving carefully, built an estate worth roughly $3 million, and never put a single piece of planning in place. Then…
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Will vs Trust Explained: What Actually Protects You and Your Family
Estate planning is usually framed as a matter of what happens after you’re gone. But as attorney and CPA Joe Cordell explains, a trust may matter most for the years you’re still here. In this episode of Life’s Third Act, Joe breaks down the difference between a will and a trust, why the family...
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Back to School: Legal Paperwork Your College Student Needs
When your child turns 18, the law treats them as an adult. That means you lose the automatic right to make decisions for them, even if you are paying for college. Cordell & Cordell Senior Estate Planning Attorney John Sauter explains why parents overlook this moment, and the three documents that...
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Bob Weir’s Final Act: Family, Trusts, and a $60 Million Fortune
In the final part of our three part series on Bob Weir, we look at how the Grateful Dead’s rhythm guitarist turned a lifetime of chaos into one of rock’s most disciplined financial legacies. Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an…
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Bob Weir’s Publishing Deal: The Real Source of His Wealth
Bob Weir’s business acumen, specifically his management of song publishing rights, is the secret engine behind his enduring financial legacy. In this episode, we break down how the Grateful Dead moved beyond traditional touring revenue to build a powerhouse of intellectual property ownership.…
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Bob Weir’s $60M Legacy: The Business Behind the Grateful Dead
Bob Weir passed away in January of this year at 78, leaving behind an estimated $60 million estate — but the real story isn’t the number, it’s how a band built on chaos, “socialistic” values, and zero interest in profit somehow protected that fortune for five decades. Call 866-323-7529 or visit...
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Chuck Norris’s $70 Million Legacy: How To Protect Your Wealth and Family
Chuck Norris built a remarkable life through discipline, thoughtful decisions, and careful management of his family, businesses, and legacy. In this final episode of our Chuck Norris series, we examine his 2010 will and the estate-planning decisions designed to protect his family and preserve the...
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Chuck Norris’s $70 Million Legacy: The First Marriage and Business Deals Behind the Legend
The life and career of Chuck Norris offer a compelling case study on the intersection of personal relationships and high-stakes business success. Today, in this second of three episodes on Chuck Norris, we delve into the early years of his career, examining how his first marriage and his initial...
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Chuck Norris’s $70 Million Legacy: The Estate Planning Story Behind the Legend
Chuck Norris is one of the most recognizable names in American culture — but behind the memes and the movies is a disciplined, methodical estate builder who built a $70 million legacy from almost nothing. In Part 1 of our three-part series, we trace how it started. Call 866-323-7529 or visit...
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After a Loved One Passes: Probate, Taxes & Your Duties as Executor
Welcome to another episode of Life’s Third Act. In our previous episode, we discussed the immediate steps to take following a loss. Today, we’re moving forward to address the complex legal and financial roadmap that follows—the practical, often overwhelming reality of stepping into the role of...
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What to Do Immediately After a Loved One Passes Away
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult, and the administrative burdens that follow can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Life’s Third Act, we move past the headlines to provide you with a practical, step-by-step guide on what to do immediately after someone passes away. From securing the...
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Why Chris Watts Will Never Profit: The Slayer Rule and a $6M Judgment | MMM Series
In December 2019, a Colorado court entered a $6 million wrongful death judgment against Chris Watts — $3 million for Shanann and $1 million for each of his daughters. It was a default judgment. He didn’t even appear. In this second of two episodes on the Watts case, we examine the legal and...
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Chris Watts: The Financial Collapse Behind the Murders | MMM Series
In August 2018, Chris Watts confessed to murdering his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters in Frederick, Colorado. It became one of the most watched true crime stories in American history. But we want to come at it from a different angle. What most people don’t know is that in the...
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Kouri Richins: The Danger of the Marital Blind Spot | MMM Series
How did Kouri Richins manage to systematically drain over $500,000 from her husband’s estate despite Eric’s attempts to protect himself? In Part 2 of our deep dive, attorney and CPA Joe Cordell explores the financial fallout of the Kouri Richins case and the critical estate planning lessons we…
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Kouri Richins: The Fatal Debt That Ended a Marriage | Marriage, Murder & Money
Marriage is often called a “blind spot” for fraud. In the first part of our Kouri Richins deep dive, we explore how a $2 million secret debt, forged signatures, and a “Deal-Killer” known as financial infidelity created a motive for one of the most high-profile cases in recent Utah history. Joe...
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The Legal Aftermath of the Dulos Murders | Marriage, Murder, and Money
Fotis Dulos took his own life before he could face a jury, but that didn’t end the legal battle. From defense attorneys fighting for their retainers to the application of the “Slayer Statute,” the Dulos case is a masterclass in how a “bad actor” can drain an estate’s value while the legal system...
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When Divorce Turns Deadly: The Fotis Dulos Story | Marriage, Murder, and Money
Jennifer Farber Dulos was a mother of five who disappeared without a trace during a high-stakes divorce. What followed was a $2.5 million legal battle that exposed the unique vulnerabilities of an estate in the midst of a family crisis. Our Marriage, Murder, and Money (MMM) series continues as we...
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The Slayer Statute and The Henthorn Case | Marriage, Murder, and Money
Harold Henthorn thought he had committed the perfect crime on federal land, but the law had other plans. What followed was a legal reckoning that utilized the “Slayer Statute” to ensure his $4.5 million motive would never be realized. In Part 3 of Marriage, Murder & Money, attorney and CPA Joe...
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Did He Push Her Off a Cliff for $4.5 Million? | Marriage, Murder & Money
Harold Henthorn took his wife Toni on a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park — and came home alone. What followed was a $4.5 million battle that exposed every vulnerability in their estate plan. In Part 2 of Marriage, Murder & Money, attorney and CPA Joe Cordell breaks down the Henthorn case from...
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Marriage, Murder, and Money | Can a Murderous Spouse Inherit Your Estate? – EP. 219 – LTA
What happens to your estate when your spouse is the one who killed you? This episode examines one of estate law’s darkest questions — and the answer will change how you think about everything you’ve signed. Attorney and CPA Joe Cordell opens a new mini-series exploring what happens to marital...
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Paris & Bigi Jackson vs. The Executors: Michael Jackson’s Estate Drama – PT2 – EP. 218 – LTA
In Part 2 of this Life’s Third Act series, we continue breaking down the Michael Jackson estate and trust, focusing on the real-world conflicts that arise after the plan is in place. This episode explores the growing tension between trustees and beneficiaries, including disputes over spending,...
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Paris & Bigi Jackson vs. The Executors: Michael Jackson’s Estate Drama – PT1 – EP. 217 – LTA
More than 15 years after his death, Michael Jackson’s estate is still making headlines and still tied up in complex legal and financial issues. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Life’s Third Act breaks down how Jackson’s trust was structured, what went right, and what created ongoing...
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Inside Robert Duvall’s Estate Plan (And Why It Worked) – PT2 – EP. 216 – Life’s Third Act
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, we wrap up our two-part series on Robert Duvall by breaking down how his estate plan actually worked in practice. From trusts and LLCs to intellectual property management and real estate, we walk through the structures he used to protect his wealth, minimize...
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Inside Robert Duvall’s Estate Plan (And Why It Worked) – PT1 – EP. 215 – Life’s Third Act
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, we take a closer look at the life and legacy of Robert Duvall—not just his career, but how he approached the later stages of life and estate planning. With an estimated $70 million estate and no children, Duvall made intentional decisions about privacy, wealth...
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Anna Nicole Smith’s Estate: Tragedy, Probate, and Family Battle – PT2 – EP. 214 – Life’s Third Act
In Part 2 of our deep dive into Anna Nicole Smith’s estate, we break down how one of the most complex and drawn-out legal battles in recent history finally came to a close. After years of litigation involving the estate of J. Howard Marshall, the case expanded into disputes over paternity, burial...
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Anna Nicole Smith’s Estate: Tragedy, Probate, and Family Battle – PT1 – EP. 213 – Life’s Third Act
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, John Sauter breaks down the life, death, and legal aftermath of Anna Nicole Smith. From her marriage to Texas billionaire J. Howard Marshall to the probate fight, bankruptcy case, and Supreme Court battle that followed, this story touches nearly every corner…
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Five More of the Strangest Wills – EP. 212 – Life’s Third Act
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, Cordell & Cordell Senior Estate Planning Attorney John Sauter takes a look at five more unusual and fascinating estate plans. This is a continuation of a previous episode where we covered five other strange wills, and today John breaks down five more…
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Steve Irwin’s Estate Plan: The Lesson Behind the Legend – Pt.2 – EP. 211 – Life’s Third Act
In Part 2 of our discussion on Steve Irwin, we focus on what happened to his estate and conservation mission after his sudden death at age 44. When the face of a business or nonprofit is gone overnight, the real challenge begins. How do you keep operations running? Where does liquidity come from?...
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Steve Irwin’s Estate Plan: The Lesson Behind the Legend – Pt.1 – EP. 210 – Life’s Third Act
What really happened with Steve Irwin’s estate planning? The internet often suggests his plan fell short, but the full story is more nuanced. In Part 1 of this two-part discussion, Life’s Third Act takes a closer look at the legacy of Steve Irwin and the estate planning lessons business owners…
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Healthcare Power of Attorney Explained – EP. 209 – Life’s Third Act
In this solo episode of Life’s Third Act, senior estate planning attorney John Sauter breaks down the essentials of a Healthcare Power of Attorney and why it plays a critical role in protecting your wishes if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself. He explains how key documents like a…
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Five of the Strangest Wills – EP. 209 – Life’s Third Act
Explore five of the strangest wills on record, from Jeremy Bentham’s “auto-icon” still attending meetings in London to a Portuguese aristocrat who picked beneficiaries straight from the phone book. Attorney CPA Joe Cordell and Senior Estate Planning Attorney John Sauter unpack the real legal...
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Financial Power of Attorney Explained – EP. 208 – Life’s Third Act
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, senior estate planning attorney John Sauter breaks down the financial power of attorney and why it matters while you are still alive. Learn what a financial POA is, how a durable POA works, and what can happen if you do not have one in place, including the…
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Estate Planning Questions, Answered | How Trusts Work – EP. 207 – LTA
How do trusts actually work once they’re created? In this episode of Life’s Third Act, we break down how revocable trusts function in real life, what it means to fund a trust, how assets are managed while you’re alive, and what happens if something is left outside the trust. We also address…
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Diane Keaton’s Estate Plan: Trusts, Residuals, and Real Estate – EP. 206 – LTA
In this episode of Life’s Third Act, we take a closer look at how Diane Keaton built her career, managed her wealth, and thoughtfully planned her estate. From understanding residual income and long-term royalties to strategic real estate investments and the use of trusts, her story offers…
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Estate Planning Questions, Answered | Wills & Probate – EP. 205 – LTA
This week on Life’s Third Act, Joe Cordell and Cordell & Cordell estate planning attorney John Sauter continue their conversation answering commonly searched estate planning questions, picking up where last week left off. In this second half of the discussion, they focus on wills, probate, and…
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Estate Planning Questions, Answered | Beneficiaries & Irrevocable Trusts – EP. 204 – LTA
This week on Life’s Third Act, Joe Cordell kicks off a new series answering the most commonly searched estate planning questions on YouTube, joined by Cordell & Cordell estate planning attorney John Sauter. In part one, they start with a big one: the difference between a will and a trust. John...
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Ozzy Osbourne’s Estate: More Miracle Than Role Model – Pt 2 – EP. 203 – LTA
In Part 2 of our Ozzy Osbourne series, we shift from the headline moments of his career to the decisions that shaped his legacy. We discuss the family groundwork Ozzy built over time, why communication and consensus matter in estate planning, and how the Osbournes reportedly structured goals like...
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Ozzy Osbourne’s Estate: More Miracle Than Role Model – Pt 1 – EP. 202 – LTA
Ozzy Osbourne lived a life defined by extremes: early fame, public collapse, and an improbable comeback that lasted decades. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Life’s Third Act, we focus on Ozzy’s career, personal struggles, and the forces that helped stabilize his life, including the pivotal...
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Bruce Lee’s Estate: From Martial Arts Legend to Multimillion Dollar Brand – Pt 2 – EP. 201 – LTA
In part two of our Bruce Lee conversation, Joe and Sherry pick up the story at the moment of Bruce Lee’s death and follow what happened to his assets, his image, and his legacy over the next several decades. They walk through how his widow Linda and daughter Shannon managed his name, image,...
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Bruce Lee’s Estate: From Martial Arts Legend to Multimillion Dollar Brand – Pt 1 – EP. 200 – LTA
Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an estate planning consultation. For a limited time, mention LIFE’S THIRD ACT for 15% off eligible estate planning services! Bruce Lee changed cinema and martial arts forever, but his real story as a...
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Lizzie Borden’s Estate: Lessons From a Century-Old Estate Plan – PT. 2 – EP. 199 – Life’s Third Act
Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an estate planning consultation. For a limited time, mention LIFE’S THIRD ACT for 15% off eligible estate planning services! In this follow-up to our live Lizzie Borden Halloween episode, attorney…
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Conway Twitty’s Estate: Bloodlines and Blended Families – PT. 3 – EP. 198 – Life’s Third Act
Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an estate planning consultation. For a limited time, mention LIFE’S THIRD ACT for 15% off eligible estate planning services! In the final episode of our three-part series on Conway Twitty, we bring…
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Conway Twitty’s Estate: Bloodlines and Blended Families – PT. 2 – EP. 197 – Life’s Third Act
Call 866-323-7529 or visit https://cordellcordell.com/practice-areas/estate-planning/ to schedule an estate planning consultation. For a limited time, mention LIFE’S THIRD ACT for 15% off eligible estate planning services! In Part 2 of our Conway Twitty series, we shift from his music legacy to…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Life’s Third Act, hosted by attorney and CPA Joe Cordell. We explore the fascinating lessons learned from celebrity estates, uncovering insights into estate planning, wealth management, and family dynamics. Through the triumphs and pitfalls of high-profile legacies, we delve into the stories that shape lasting legacies and inspire smarter planning for the future.
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How many episodes does Life's Third Act have?
Life's Third Act currently has 243 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Life's Third Act about?
Welcome to Life’s Third Act, hosted by attorney and CPA Joe Cordell. We explore the fascinating lessons learned from celebrity estates, uncovering insights into estate planning, wealth management, and family dynamics. Through the triumphs and pitfalls of high-profile legacies, we delve into the...
How often does Life's Third Act release new episodes?
Life's Third Act publishes regularly with 243 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Life's Third Act is created and hosted by Life's Third Act.
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