Avoiding Pitfalls Through Sound Estate Planning

Bellosguardo, the summer estate bought by the Clarks in 1925 in Santa Barbara, California, has been unoccupied by its owners since the early 1950s, but remains fully furnished and carefully preserved. Huguette allowed few visitors. The house surrounds a reflecting pool with orange trees on each side.
 

This Continuing Legal Education event with Bill Dedman is offered to invited guests.

The sensational story of a reclusive heiress to the second-wealthiest American of their time, her eccentric relatives and the perils of transferring a family fortune to the next generation is the subject of Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune. This New York Times best-seller by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Bill Dedman is also the topic of The Pittsburgh Foundation’s spring Continuing Legal Education event, sponsored by F.N.B. Wealth Management.

The book provides practical lessons for estate-planning experts and identifies common philanthropic hazards such as the failure to appreciate the tax implications of generosity,
and questions of undue influence by caregivers, charities and advisors. Join Dedman as he walks attendees through the captivating history of the Clarks and illustrates the importance of effective financial advising.

About Bill Dedman

Journalist and author Bill Dedman, who has reported for numerous publications and television stations, received the 1989 Pulitzer Prize as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for his investigation of the racial discrimination practiced by lending institutions in Atlanta, which led to significant reforms in those policies.

Dedman stumbled onto the mystery of the reclusive heiress Huguette Clark in 2010. The Clark series became the most popular story ever on NBCNews.com, with more than 110 million page views. Empty Mansions debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times best sellers list and was chosen among the best books of 2013 by critic Janet Maslin, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads readers. Learn more at emptymansionsbook.com.

This event is also offered to invited guests on April 25 in Pittsburgh. For questions, please email event@pghfdn.org.