Are you a business owner, entrepreneur, or high-net-worth family looking to protect your assets and avoid probate? In this episode of the My SBA Loan Pro Podcast, estate planning attorney Rodney Hatley breaks down everything you need to know about living trusts, irrevocable trusts, asset protection strategies, probate, estate taxes, healthcare directives, and wealth preservation.

Learn how successful business owners structure their companies and trusts to safeguard wealth, minimize taxes, and create long-term financial security for their families. Rod also shares practical strategies for protecting inherited assets from lawsuits, creditors, and divorce settlements.

▶️In This Episode:
➡️Living Trust vs Irrevocable Trust explained
➡️How to avoid probate court
➡️Asset protection strategies for entrepreneurs
➡️LLCs, S Corporations & business structuring
➡️Estate tax planning for wealthy families
➡️Protecting family wealth across generations
➡️Healthcare directives & powers of attorney
➡️How adult children can help aging parents plan their estate
➡️Why funding your trust is critical
➡️Trust planning mistakes business owners make

Whether you're a startup founder, real estate investor, small business owner, or simply planning for your family’s future, this episode delivers valuable estate planning insights every American family should understand.

Key Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Why Estate Planning Matters
01:08 – Rod Hatley’s Background & Navy JAG Experience
04:52 – How Probate Works & Why It Can Take Years
08:12 – Living Trusts Explained for Business Owners
10:28 – Revocable vs Irrevocable Trusts
14:35 – How Wealthy Families Use Trusts to Protect Assets
18:22 – Can You Put Your Home in an Irrevocable Trust?
23:40 – How Business Owners Protect Their Companies & Wealth
27:05 – Asset Protection Strategies for Entrepreneurs
30:15 – Protecting Family Wealth From Lawsuits & Divorce
34:42 – Estate Planning for Children & Future Generations
39:18 – Healthcare Directives & Power of Attorney Explained
45:10 – Why Funding Your Trust Is Critical
49:20 – LLCs, S Corporations & Avoiding Probate
53:08 – Best States for Asset Protection (Wyoming & Nevada)
57:12 – Estate Taxes & High-Net-Worth Planning
01:01:35 – How to Talk to Aging Parents About Estate Planning
01:07:02 – Preventing Family Conflict & Inheritance Disputes
01:11:44 – Final Estate Planning Advice for Families & Business Owners

More ThinkSBA Resources

⁠https://calendly.com/thinksba - Schedule Call
https://g.page/thinksba - Google Business Page & Reviews
https://thinksba.com/faq - Frequently Asked Questions
https://mysbaloanpro.com⁠ - My SBA Loan Pro Podcast
http://youtube.com/@thinksba - YouTube Channel

In this episode, host Ryan Smith is back in the studio with Kalen Foster to break down a complex pari passu transaction that took over two years to get across the finish line. They pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes of complex SBA deals and show how expert-level knowledge of the guidelines can turn a highly challenging file into a successful closing.

This specific deal involved borrowers operating a daycare and a Montessori school who were looking to acquire a new business and real estate while also refinancing existing high-interest debt. Because the transaction exceeded the $5 million SBA aggregate limit, the lending team had to employ advanced structuring to make the numbers work.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Structuring Large Transactions: How the team managed an $8 to $9 million deal using a pari passu structure alongside the SBA loan.
• Navigating SBA SOPs: Why deeply understanding the SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is critical, and why lenders must meticulously interpret the rules to ensure eligibility.
• Overcoming Setbacks: How the team navigated changing SBA rules over the two-year timeline, including evolving affiliation rules and guarantee requirements for owners.
• Creative Problem Solving: How the team utilized different NAICS codes between the daycare and Montessori businesses to separate lending buckets and maximize funding.

Key Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: The Two-Year Pari Passu Deal
01:31 - Client Background & Deal Needs
02:34 - Deal Complexity & Borrower Sophistication
04:44 - Keeping the Deal Alive Through Setbacks
07:23 - Initial Structuring & Real Estate Hurdles
10:20 - Utilizing NAICS Codes for Separate $5M Limits
12:23 - Navigating SBA Ownership & Guarantee Rules
14:55 - Securing the SBA eTRAN Approval
17:03 - The Importance of Bank & Banker Expertise
20:01 - Winning the Deal with Structure & Servicing
22:36 - Becoming a Student of the SBA SOP
24:55 - Adapting to Changing SBA Rules Over Time

More ThinkSBA Resources

⁠https://calendly.com/thinksba - Schedule Call
https://g.page/thinksba - Google Business Page & Reviews
https://thinksba.com/faq - Frequently Asked Questions
https://mysbaloanpro.com⁠ - My SBA Loan Pro Podcast
http://youtube.com/@thinksba - YouTube Channel

How do you expand a successful business and buy commercial real estate when the project exceeds the $5 Million SBA loan limit—and you want to do it with 100% financing?

In this clip, Kalen Foster breaks down a real-world scenario of a Southern California family entertainment business looking to duplicate its success in a new location. We dive deep into the SBA rules that make this possible and how to structure a winning deal.

🔑 In this video, you'll learn:
• The 10% Rule: The critical difference between a "Change of Ownership" (which requires a 10% equity injection) and a "Business Expansion" (which can technically be done with 0% down).
• Exceeding the $5M Limit: How to use a pari-passu loan structure to fund projects that go beyond the standard SBA maximum limit.
• What Lenders Look For: Why strong historical cash flow, low debt, and proven operational success are the true keys to securing a zero-equity expansion loan.
• The Vetting Process: How top institutions evaluate high-growth projects to ensure stability and success for both the business and the bank.

If you are a business owner looking to scale, buy commercial real estate, or understand your complex financing options, this breakdown is for you!

If you liked this content, let's connect on social media:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysbapro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mysbapro
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ryanpatryck

More ThinkSBA Resources

⁠https://calendly.com/thinksba - Schedule Call
https://g.page/thinksba - Google Business Page & Reviews
https://thinksba.com/faq - Frequently Asked Questions
https://mysbaloanpro.com⁠ - My SBA Loan Pro Podcast
http://youtube.com/@thinksba - YouTube Channel