“A trust, the cornerstone of any estate plan, is an abstract concept. It’s not something you can touch or feel: it’s a legal construct that operates under very specific rules of law that the courts and the IRS enforce. So I try to break down these concepts into clear and comprehensible language.”
Sonya Hong helps families plan for the future. She drafts wills and sets up trusts that safeguard their assets. She crafts estate plans to minimize their tax burden and prepares living wills, financial and medical powers of attorney, and other documents to ensure wishes are honored, and needs are met. Sonya aims to protect her clients’ children at every age from creditors, divorce settlements, and unwise money decisions.
Sonya presents clear and understandable explanations of the complex and unfamiliar concepts and is patient – guiding them through the process, the decisions they must make, and the documents they must create. Clients recognize how carefully Sonya listens and that she always has her clients’ best interests in mind.
“Estate planning is like a puzzle. You always have to be mindful of the big picture while focusing on the little picture, the specific details, and how the law will affect them. Not just the law as it is today, either: tax laws change every year, and estate plans have to be adjusted accordingly. I really enjoy solving those puzzles, getting inside the planning documents to make sure it all comes – and stays – together for my clients.”
Before joining Lassar & Cowhey, Sonya founded and ran a successful custom wedding cake business in San Francisco for more than a decade. She applies the lessons she learned in that business – in particular, the importance of listening to clients’ wishes, planning and organization – and offers clear and concise communication to achieve their objectives.
Sonya splits her time between New York City and Bergen County, where she and her husband are raising their two teenage boys.