The Rich Die Richer and You Can Too (Paperback)

by William D. Zabel (Author) "A will is a legal document containing your wishes as to the disposition of your assets after your death..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, United States, Supreme Court (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Numbering among his clients Doris Duke and some Rockefeller and Chrysler heirs, New York City lawyer and estate-planner Zabel here explains tax-avoiding (not evading) measures available to the very rich in all the technical complexity of a modern democratic society's financial legalities-including certain confidential notions the IRS "need not be troubled by." He deals plainly with common wills, trusts and annuities, and expertly with more sophisticated maneuvers like intrafamily gift deductions, "defective grantor trusts" and "foreign asset protection" in the Isle of Man-along with such devices as adopting one's mistress or companion. Interesting anecdotes abound: family havoc wrought by the intestate Abraham Lincoln and Pablo Picasso, and nuggets supporting the value of precise language from Shakespeare, Donne, Wilde, Shaw and more. Fans of Jackie O. will find a complete breakdown of her sensible estate plan. So if you expect to die rich... Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Zabel is a trust and estates attorney whose clients have included such luminaries as Doris Duke and members of the Rockefeller and Chrysler clans. Although he claims that his advice applies to all income brackets, most of it will more likely meet with success if followed by rich, sophisticated individuals with competent legal help. Average readers concerned about having enough to retire on will enjoy this book chiefly for its tales of the estate problems of the rich and famous. They will also derive a vicarious thrill from its coverage of topics like providing secretly for a mistress. While there is sound advice for the less-than-wealthy, the book does not offer the technical prerequisites that would enable most readers to do their own estate planning. An appendix gives forms and legal information on living wills and powers of attorney for healthcare. Recommended where interest warrants.
Sue McKimm, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471155322
• ISBN-13: 978-0471155324
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #698,475 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fills in the ??? on wills and trusts, August 26, 2007

By	T. M. Sowell (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Author William Zabel uses both his expert knowledge and some very appropriate New Yorker cartoons to explain how various estate planning programs work. Even though it was written in 1996 and some tax amounts/pecentages have changed since then, the basic fundamentals are the same as before.

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading on Estate Planning, February 10, 2009

By	Norman "Norman R. Solberg" (Osaka, Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently had to advise a close acquaintance on a prenuptial agreement and durable power of attorney with international implications. I do deals and write all kinds of contracts, but I am a generalist lawyer, a former company general counsel. I do understand this field, having had exposure to high net worth family and estate matters early in my career, and I know how to analyze documents, However, to put it all in perspective today, I turned to my copy of Bill Zabel's excellent book, which I hadn't reread for maybe ten years.

That perspective is where this book is of unparalleled help. It also tells many great stories. Bill's book is not only an account of his work for the rich and famous on their personal estates, but it is also a thorough explanation of the practical, social and legal issues that are involved for anyone who must consider leaving an estate to others in a responsible way. There are surely plenty of stories here about those who did it wrong, including Rockefellers, Dukes, Morgans, etc. There are even some forms of clauses and agreements here.

Sadly, this book is no longer in print, but fortunately Amazon can still get you copies. It is slightly dated as to tax rules and recent developments, and a new edition would be helpful, but Bill has correctly noted that law is a changing area and that one must always check for the new. That is pretty easy these days because of the Internet, and many state bars and government agencies have been helpful in posting recommended forms for health care directions, etc. Of course, one should always have a lawyer to assure that you haven't left out critical factors.

One other thing. I have never worked with Bill Zabel, but his client list clearly speaks to his quality and integrity. I always expected this, as I went to college with two of his partners, who are not only extremely bright persons and superb lawyers, but from all I know, have all the finest ethical and public service impulses one could want.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful overview of what's possible in estate planning, June 28, 1999

By	Anurag Gupta "platform guru" (Foster City, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is not a how-to, though. Various case studies to show the finer points / boundaries / gray regions.