“It’s important to dedicate your time, talent and treasure to helping those in your community,” Rudy Beck says, regarding professional and personal endeavors. “I’ve been doing this for over 50 years, and I still love helping people find a better way.”
Rudy Beck is an attorney, a military veteran and a dedicated member of the community who serves through Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, University of Missouri Alumni Association, Duchesne High School endowment committee and the Boys and Girls Club of St. Charles County.
Rudy received the Champion of Older American Award from SSM Healthcare system, and is one of only two attorneys in Missouri selected for membership in the American Association of Trust, Estate and Elder Law Attorneys. He co-founded the national organization, Veterans Advocates Group of America, a group whose mission is to improve training and employment opportunities for veterans and their families.
Rudy also is the founder and owner of Beck, Lenox & Stolzer Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC, a St. Charles law firm comprised of attorneys who provide clients with peace of mind through the establishment of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, guardianships, asset protection and special needs planning. This niche area of law is so complex, it requires lifelong dedication to learning, teaching, adapting and investigating.
"We help clients with probate and trust administration, as well as with Veterans Administration benefits and Medicaid," he says. "Contrary to popular belief, a Last Will and Testament does not circumvent probate court. On the other hand, a Living Trust does avoid probate."
Rudy emphasizes the importance of placing as many assets as possible into a Trust, and allowing a Will to serve its function with issues, such as the care and guardianship of minor children.
Early planning for the future is imperative. The median age of St. Charles County residents is approximately 40. At this age, it is not uncommon for a resident to be employed, with children at home, and aging parents. What are the basic documents a person of median age in St. Charles County should have in place to plan for the expected or the unexpected? Rudy says every person should have Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Finances, as well as a Living Trust.
For more mature populations, it is important to protect oneself from being financially exposed in case the need for long-term nursing home or assisted living care arises.. Although it is best to plan for such circumstances well in advance, Rudy says he and his team are at the ready for long-term care crisis planning, for times when situations arise which result in the need for such care immediately.
When protecting assets for heirs, Rudy offers a unique type of trust that he says he coined as a “Heritage Trust.” This is a special trust set up by parents for their children. A Heritage Trust offers extensive benefits while providing immunity from asset exposure.
Estate planning is not exclusive to the wealthy and elite. Every person deserves to have their assets protected and used according to their wishes. Rudy says he and his law firm colleagues are there to ensure that is exactly what happens.
636.425.2926
"A Heritage Trust offers extensive benefits while providing immunity from asset exposure."