Episodes

  • Crypto Custody Strategy: Exchange Risks vs. Self-Custody Wallet Security for Estate Planning

    Crypto Custody Strategy: Exchange Risks vs. Self-Custody Wallet Security for Estate Planning
    Dec 25 2025
    This episode explores the critical financial planning differences between holding digital assets on custodial exchanges versus in non-custodial self-custody wallets. We analyze the trade-offs between convenience and control, highlighting the profound impact on risk management, estate planning, and asset accessibility for heirs. By examining historical exchange failures and the responsibilities of sovereign ownership, we provide a framework for making informed decisions that align with long-term financial security and legacy protection. - What is the single most important difference between an exchange account and a personal crypto wallet? - If an exchange goes bankrupt, what really happens to your assets? - Why is "not your keys, not your coins" more than just a slogan for serious investors? - How does your choice of custody affect how your heirs can access your assets? - What are the unique estate planning challenges for self-custody wallets? - Are exchanges located in different countries riskier for your portfolio? - What security questions should you ask before trusting a custodial platform? - Can a financial plan account for the risk of a platform freezing your account? Digital Asset Planning is hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®. He is a seasoned financial professional specializing in complex cases for high-net-worth individuals and families with international backgrounds. Unlike standard crypto commentary, this podcast focuses on the intersection of digital assets and real-world financial planning—including tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and risk management. We help serious asset holders move beyond speculation toward long-term responsibility and protection. For more resources, visit https://digital-asset-planning.com.
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    3 mins
  • Navigating Digital Asset Taxation: A Guide to Crypto Capital Gains, Staking Income, and 2025 Estate Tax Rules

    Navigating Digital Asset Taxation: A Guide to Crypto Capital Gains, Staking Income, and 2025 Estate Tax Rules
    Dec 24 2025
    This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the primary tax implications for digital asset holders. We explore how capital gains are triggered not just by selling, but also by trading and spending cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The discussion also covers how activities like staking, airdrops, and getting paid in crypto are treated as ordinary income. Finally, we break down the critical and time-sensitive rules for estate and gift taxes, highlighting the 2025 exemption amounts and the urgent planning considerations given the upcoming regulatory changes at the end of the year. - Did you know swapping one cryptocurrency for another is a taxable event? - How are your staking rewards taxed, and when do you owe the IRS? - Are you prepared for the significant drop in the estate tax exemption after 2025? - What is the difference between long-term and short-term capital gains for your digital assets? - How can you gift NFTs or crypto to family without creating a surprise tax bill? - Why is tracking the fair market value of airdrops and other income crucial for tax reporting? - Could your digital assets be subject to a 40% federal estate tax? Digital Asset Planning is hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®. He is a seasoned financial professional specializing in complex cases for high-net-worth individuals and families with international backgrounds. Unlike standard crypto commentary, this podcast focuses on the intersection of digital assets and real-world financial planning—including tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and risk management. We help serious asset holders move beyond speculation toward long-term responsibility and protection. For more resources, visit https://digital-asset-planning.com.
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    3 mins
  • Why Your Will and Trust Are Legally Incomplete Without Specific Digital Asset Clauses

    Why Your Will and Trust Are Legally Incomplete Without Specific Digital Asset Clauses
    Dec 23 2025
    This episode explains the critical need to explicitly include digital assets in your will, trust, and other estate planning documents. We discuss how outdated legal language can prevent heirs and fiduciaries from accessing, managing, or inheriting digital property, from cryptocurrency to cloud-stored data. By understanding frameworks like the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) and ensuring your legal documents contain specific, unambiguous instructions, you can prevent your valuable digital legacy from being lost or frozen. Key Questions: - Does your will or trust specifically mention digital assets like cryptocurrency, NFTs, or even social media accounts? - What is the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) and how does it affect your estate? - Can your executor legally access your online accounts without your explicit permission in a will? - Why might a service provider's terms of service prevent your family from accessing your digital property? - What happens to funds in a PayPal or Venmo account if it's not addressed in your estate plan? - What's the difference between the "catalog" and "content" of your digital communications, and why does it matter for your trustee? - Is the phrase "all my property" enough to cover digital assets in a legal document? - How can you ensure your fiduciaries have the authority to manage your private keys and crypto wallets? Host Introduction (approx. 30 words): Digital Asset Planning is hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®. He is a seasoned financial professional specializing in complex cases for high-net-worth individuals and families with international backgrounds. Unlike standard crypto commentary, this podcast focuses on the intersection of digital assets and real-world financial planning—including tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and risk management. We help serious asset holders move beyond speculation toward long-term responsibility and protection. For more resources, visit https://digital-asset-planning.com.
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    3 mins
  • Crypto Inheritance Strategy: Securing Private Keys & Seed Phrases for Estate Planning

    Crypto Inheritance Strategy: Securing Private Keys & Seed Phrases for Estate Planning
    Dec 22 2025
    This episode addresses the critical need for a robust succession plan for digital asset credentials. We explore the central conflict between lifetime security and fiduciary access after death, outlining the limitations of legal frameworks like RUFADAA and the necessity of a practical, technical plan. The host details strategies such as creating a letter of instruction and utilizing advanced security measures like multi-signature wallets and Shamir's Secret Sharing to ensure assets are protected and transferable, not permanently lost. - How can you give your executor access to your crypto without compromising your security today? - Why is putting your private keys or seed phrases in your will a catastrophic mistake? - What is the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), and what can't it do for your heirs? - Are multi-signature (multisig) wallets a necessary part of your estate plan? - What is Shamir's Secret Sharing and how can it protect your legacy? - How do you create a letter of instruction that guides your trustee without exposing your credentials? - What is the single biggest reason valuable cryptocurrency is permanently lost? - How can you balance the need for privacy with the legal duties of your fiduciaries? Digital Asset Planning is hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®. He is a seasoned financial professional specializing in complex cases for high-net-worth individuals and families with international backgrounds. Unlike standard crypto commentary, this podcast focuses on the intersection of digital assets and real-world financial planning—including tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and risk management. We help serious asset holders move beyond speculation toward long-term responsibility and protection. For more resources, visit https://digital-asset-planning.com.
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    3 mins
  • Secure Your Digital Legacy: The Essential Crypto & NFT Inventory Checklist

    Secure Your Digital Legacy: The Essential Crypto & NFT Inventory Checklist
    Dec 21 2025
    This episode addresses the critical first step in all sound digital asset management: creating a comprehensive and accessible inventory. We explain why a detailed record of your cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and digital wallets is essential for tax compliance, incapacity planning, and ensuring your assets aren't lost to your heirs. Learn what to include, how to store this sensitive information securely, and why this foundational task is the cornerstone of protecting your digital legacy. Digital Asset Planning is hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®. He is a seasoned financial professional specializing in complex cases for high-net-worth individuals and families with international backgrounds. Unlike standard crypto commentary, this podcast focuses on the intersection of digital assets and real-world financial planning—including tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, cross-border jurisdictional issues, and risk management. We help serious asset holders move beyond speculation toward long-term responsibility and protection. For more resources, visit https://digital-asset-planning.com. - What happens to your crypto if you become incapacitated or pass away? - How can you ensure your family can find and access all your digital assets? - Is a simple list of your coins and tokens enough for your executor? - What specific information should be included in a digital asset inventory for tax and estate purposes? - Where is the safest place to store login credentials, seed phrases, and private keys? - How does a proper inventory protect you from losing access to your own self-custody wallets? - Why is an inventory crucial for accurate tax reporting to the IRS? - What are the risks of failing to document your DeFi positions and NFT collections?
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    3 mins