Philip J. Kavesh

Philip J. Kavesh is a nationally recognized attorney, authority, speaker, educator, and technical innovator in the field of estate planning. With over 50 years of experience, Phil has set a gold standard in the profession.

Professional Credentials

• LL.M. in Tax Law from University of Miami School of Law
• California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law
• Designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

Career Highlights

• Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis has been in business since 1981 and is one of the largest estate planning firms in Southern California, having prepared over 15,000 Living Trust-centered estate plans and administered over 3,500 trusts after people have passed away.
• Active member of WealthCounsel and one of the three co-founders of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys 
• Instructor in Golden Gate University's Graduate Tax and CFP® programs.
• Former California Legislative Liaison for the International Association of Financial Planners.
• Testified before State legislative committees to regulate estate planning and eliminate "trust mills."

Contributions to Estate Planning

• Creator of groundbreaking legal tools such as the Personal Asset TrustSM and the IRS-approved IRA Inheritance Trust®.
• Licensed these tools to hundreds of attorneys nationwide through his company, The Ultimate Estate Planner, Inc.
• Influenced legislation with innovative forms and disclosure materials.

Publications and Media

Phil has been featured in prominent outlets such as:

• Money Magazine, Investor’s Daily, Los Angeles Times, Consumer Reports Magazine, and more.
• Author/co-author of consumer guides like The Ten Biggest Mistakes People Make When Setting Up a Living Trust and 21st Century Wealth.
• Former host of the weekly TV show "Preserve Your Estate", which aired in Los Angeles for six years.

Speaking and Education

• Delivered over 4,000 seminars to diverse audiences, including the general public, corporate employees, and professional peers.
• Trained thousands of attorneys and financial planners to elevate industry standards.
• Renowned for replicating and selling seminar programs to professionals across the U.S. and Canada.
• Has been asked to speak before numerous industry conferences including WealthCounsel, Million Dollar Round Table (“MDRT”), LPL Financial, Advisor Excel, Special Needs Alliance, and more!

Personal Interests

When not working on marketing projects, Phil enjoys spending time with his wife and grandsons, enjoying visiting his 99-year-old mother and taking her out to her favorite breakfast spot, spending time with his adult twins, Jeana and Jason, exploring beaches, traveling, reading, and cheering for his beloved Los Angeles Kings NHL hockey team!