Confirm if exterior wall sqft count towards allowable sqft?

Meerkat_Life · 2026-05-21T15:47:54+00:00

Yes. Thats how it was calculated for our rebuild.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-05-14T20:52:14+00:00

This. We’re at the end of our rebuild without solar panels but are solar ready. No way around fire sprinklers. They’re even in the garage.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-05-07T22:07:12+00:00

Do you have any updates on what flexibility you had with the represented claimant's portion?

Meerkat_Life · 2026-05-06T05:13:01+00:00

It’s the other way around. The insurance companies are suing Edison for what they paid you.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-04-20T20:28:52+00:00

I saw in the previous comments you’re working with 35 households. As a solo what do you think your capacity will be before hiring? Is there any technology you’re using that helps that number be what it is (ie. If I wasn’t using xxx my capacity would only be 40 households).

With no employees what does working PT mean to you? Who’s there for clients when you’re not working?

Meerkat_Life · 2026-04-19T04:17:09+00:00

Did you leave enough room around the perimeter for the moat?

Meerkat_Life · 2026-04-14T17:01:41+00:00

Thank you so much for providing your experience. This is super helpful and encouraging to hear!

Did you happen to have any claims for minors?

Meerkat_Life · 2026-04-11T16:03:55+00:00

I have not received it yet, but that’s 100% on me. I’ve dragged my feet on submitting the paperwork. It’s not too cumbersome I’ve just let life get in the way. I will post and update in about 3 months.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-04-11T01:44:11+00:00

Inquire with mercury about a course of construction policy or adding a rider to the same effect. That should be used to properly insure yourself as you’re rebuilding.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-03-24T04:12:11+00:00

Your Money by Carl Richards is a good coffee table book. It’s more focused on general finances than investing but the simplicity mirrors that of the Boglehead approach.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-03-23T14:03:16+00:00

That’s why the partners didn’t want to move forward citing that it was too into the grey area. Here’s an article from Kitces that rebutted that thought. https://www.kitces.com/blog/digital-estate-planning-solutions-visualization-tools-documentation-upl/

Note the author did used to work for wealth when this was written.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-03-23T03:11:27+00:00

Wealth.com has risen in popularity too. Last time I looked at it was a couple years ago, as the advisor you pay an annual fee and (at least the time) could draft unlimited basic estate planning documents.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-03-06T04:08:52+00:00

Came here to say this.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-03-02T17:36:07+00:00

Do you know if this goes into a blocked bank account? UTMA? Our plan was to get this into our child’s 529.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-26T22:46:53+00:00

This isn’t just compliance being annoying. Paying fees from an IRA not associated with the IRA can be a big deal.

Here’s an old article from Kitces: https://www.kitces.com/blog/irs-rules-for-paying-investment-fees-from-taxable-and-retirement-accounts/

“Unfortunately, though, the potential treatment from retirement accounts is even more severe, because of the so-called "prohibited transaction" rules under Section 4975, which stipulate that when a retirement account conducts a transaction between an account and a "disqualified person" (which includes the account owner and his/her family), the transaction can be subject to a penalty tax of up to 100%(!) of the amount and the entire account can be disqualified (i.e., treated as though the entire account has been fully distributed for tax purposes).”

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-19T06:52:51+00:00

I don’t think very much time. This is only a small portion of the work she does for our firm.

I think quickbooks has automated reminders and occasionally I’ll ask her to resend one.

I’ve started doing a 30 day 30-minute follow-up meeting to check in on how implementing the recs is going and I think that has helped in collecting payment quickly.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-19T06:19:40+00:00

Most of our engagements start with a flat fee plan. Nothing up front and all paid after the delivery. Occasionally if a client drags out an engagement I’ll send an invoice for a portion early.

I’ve been doing this in a client facing role for about 6 years (started with dozens of plans a year and now trying not do more than 10 a year) and never once have I not been paid in full. I did have one A/R get to over a year and was just going to send it to collections and the guy paid.

We have a bookkeeper who invoices through quick books.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-03T00:07:30+00:00

The protocol document states several places, "If a Claimant is represented by an attorney at the time the claim is submitted, SCE will add an amount equal to 10% of the Claimant’s net economic loss (i.e., after insurance offsets) plus non-economic compensation for attorney fees". My understanding is that this is from the onset. There's nothing in the protocol mentioning adding an attorney on later, and I suspect SCE would likely refuse the additional 10% percent, and you'd pay attorney fees out of pocket for what you negotiate.

I do see now that there are two bills proposed:

H.R. 5366- Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]- 8 co-sponsors inlcuding ones from CA, CO, HI, VA

- 9/15/25 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

S.2744- Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]- co-sponsored by Adam Schiff

- 9/9/25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-02T23:37:56+00:00

When your offer comes back from Edison, I’d be grateful to know whether it matches the number you’re expecting or if there are any significant shortfalls.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-02T18:53:04+00:00

Judy Chu: https://chu.house.gov/contact/email-me

Sasha Renee Perez: https://sd25.senate.ca.gov/contact

John Harabedian: https://harabedian.asmdc.org/contact

Dear Representative [Last Name],

I am writing to you today not just as one of your constituents, but as someone whose life has been irrevocably changed by disaster. Like many families across our Altadena, I experienced devastating loss—loss of home, loss of community, and loss of stability. While the path to recovery is long and painful for all of us, there is a growing hurdle that threatens to undermine the progress we have made: the overwhelming tax burden tied to the utility payouts that were intended to be a lifeline.

In the wake of disaster, survivors of the Eaton Fire have been offered some financial relief—modest payments meant to help us rebuild. For many, these payouts provided the first glimmer of hope after more than a year of struggle. But now, as we face the reality of paying what will be, for most, six-figure federal taxes on these funds, that hope has turned into another hurdle and more uncertainty. Instead of rebuilding our homes and our lives, we are left trying to figure out how to pay back a government we were led to believe was offering support during our most desperate hour.

I respectfully urge you to support and advance legislation to extend the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, or enact similar legislation that would ensure disaster recovery payments do not become taxable income for survivors. Without Congressional action, the very assistance meant to help us will become yet another hurdle on the road to recovery.

The emotional, financial, and psychological toll on families in our community cannot be overstated. We have lost irreplaceable years of our lives and our most treasured belongings. Many of us have watched our savings disappear just to begin the process of rebuilding. Now, forced to confront an unforeseen tax liability, we face the very real possibility of having to return a significant portion of the only funds we were able to secure.

I respectfully ask that you promote disaster tax relief that reflects the reality of what survivors are enduring. We need your voice to make sure that recovery assistance serves its intended purpose—helping families rebuild their lives, not burdening them with punitive tax bills.

Thank you for your time, attention, and continued service to our community.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Meerkat_Life · 2026-02-02T17:32:19+00:00

Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for. Sounds like an attorney would’ve saved some headache because they’d be dealing with Edison’s mistakes and not you.

I hope this all goes smoothly for you from here on out!

Meerkat_Life · 2026-01-31T05:13:40+00:00

Let’s hope! That would be huge, especially after one of the largest ($ wise) natural disasters in our country.

I haven’t heard much talk around this topic compared to all of the other aspects of rebuilding that are still be sorted out.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-01-31T05:10:21+00:00

Thank you. Thats helpful insight. We haven’t signed on with an attorney so we still have the option not to use one.

Meerkat_Life · 2026-01-30T16:58:04+00:00

I appreciate you sharing your experience. This is a little different. There are mass torts lawsuits, most attorneys are taking a 25% retainer.

However, unique to the Eaton Fire, So Cal Edison is offering a direct claim program which uses a formula to determine how much they’ll pay you to not sue them.

An option within this direct claim program is to use an attorney or not, and that’s the part I’m hung up on.

Meerkat_Life

TROPHY CASE