Member Since January 2024
About
As the founder of the Goralka Law Firm, I help successful families, business owners and real estate owners minimize income and estate tax, better protect assets and to transition their legacy and family values to the next generation. I'm one of the few attorneys certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in both taxation and estate planning, trust and probate. I have an AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for both ethical standards and legal ability. I am recognized as one of the best tax attorneys in the county by U.S. News & World Report and Premier Tax Attorneys. When I started my firm, I was a single dad with two small children, motivated by my dual desires to do meaningful work with my clients and to spend more time with my family. My background as an income tax auditor and hearing officer provided me with invaluable experience that has helped me structure transactions more beneficially for my clients. Outside of work, I was primarily focused on my kids while they were growing up, coaching their sports teams and scuba diving together. Now that they are grown and pursuing their own adventures, I enjoy cooking, traveling, collecting wine and spending time with my wife.
John Goralka
Published content
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Taking these steps now can help ensure your family isn’t overwhelmed with uncertainty later on. The passing of a loved one is an emotional time, and family members are often dealing with their grief in different ways. If left undecided, the many legal and financial choices families have to make after the death of a loved one can be an additional emotional drain on their already overwhelmed minds. Larger families can often suffer an even greater burden as they must make decisions that involve many parties — choices that can sometimes lead to arguments or even major fights. Making end-of-life plans ahead of time can help prevent much of the stress that comes with the financial and legal aftermath of a loved one’s death. Taking the following six steps now, as recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, can help ensure your family is taken care of in the event of your passing and are allowed to grieve without any additional burdens.
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A flexible irrevocable trust can minimize taxes on capital gains, ordinary income, estate tax and property tax.
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To achieve your financial goals this year, you’ll need to start with a clear vision and plan. Ask anyone what they want to achieve when setting goals at the beginning of a year, and at least one of those goals is likely to be related to money. Whether it’s as simple as saving more or spending less, or as complex as researching new investment opportunities or delving into real estate, setting financial goals at the start of the year is a smart way to start or improve your current financial journey. If you haven’t yet settled on what you’d like to achieve with your money in 2025, consider the following eight goals recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective. Below, they discuss the goals or resolutions they think more people should set for 2025, and how doing so might impact their future success.
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Building customer relationships is easier when you start from a place of trust and empathy. Whether someone is a financial adviser, planner or financial business owner, being new to the industry comes with its own set of challenges — especially when it comes to finding that first client. While you may have the right credentials and the passion for helping others with their money, you must also work to convince potential clients that you’re the right person for the job. But unlike entrepreneurs who have a particular product to sell, you won’t be able to rely on your product's features and benefits to help persuade them. You’ll instead need to focus on what you can offer that no one else can. To help get you started, the financial leaders of Kiplinger Advisor Collective offer their best advice for securing your first client — and what worked best for them — no matter the niche you serve.
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Trust, like in any relationship, takes time to develop. There are few topics more personal than someone’s finances. Money determines the way someone is able to live their life, and the various experiences, issues and successes they have with it can impact not only what they do but also who they are. Accepting guidance and advice on how to best handle money can be a big ask, so building trust as an adviser and/or financial services expert is essential if you want to succeed in this career path. But building this type of deep trust doesn’t happen right away; it must be earned, and the best advisers know what it takes to do so. Here, nine members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective share their best advice for building a trusting relationship with a client and how doing so will enhance your credibility and success in the financial industry.
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Why wait until January to get a head start on your goals? As the new year quickly approaches, people are readying their New Year’s resolutions and goals, hopeful for a brighter year and a new-and-improved self. But you don’t have to wait until January to start making a change. There are many steps you can take right now to get ahead on your goals and start 2025 off with a more impactful bang — especially when it comes to your finances. From designing a comprehensive financial game plan to automating your savings and investments, taking these steps now will ensure you set yourself up for success in 2025. For deeper insights into these steps and more, read on to hear from the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective and their best tips for a prosperous new year.
Company details
The Goralka Law Firm
Company bio
Founded in 1996, the Goralka Law Firm has grown over the decades into a dedicated, talented team of lawyers and support staff. We are recognized, since 2020, as one of the top law firms in the United States for taxation and estate planning by Best Lawyers. This recognition is based entirely on peer reviews from other lawyers. Our practice focuses primarily on advanced income tax planning, estate planning, business planning and transactions. We are honored to assist multiple generations of our extended client family, many of whom have been with us for over 20 years. We help successful families, business owners and real estate owners minimize income and estate tax, better protect assets and transition their legacy to the next generation, including their family values.