Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970) – Lawyer & Author Erle Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, like his best-selling Perry Mason series. He attended law school for approximately one month, then settled in California where he became a self-taught attorney and passed the state bar exam in 1911. He opened his own law office in Merced, California, then worked for five years for a sales agency. In 1921, he returned to the practice of law, creating the firm of Sheridan, Orr, Drapeau and Gardner in Ventura, California. Gardner later gave up the practice of law to devote full-time to writing. Even though Gardner gained popularity with his detective series, consider what happened to his estate. 35% Shrinkage of the Estate $1,795,092 Gross Estate $ 636,705 Total Settlement Cost $1,158,387 Final Estate Value Erle Gardner was a famous author, but even well-known authors an fail to properly plan. If you want to minimize your estate planning taxes and/or avoid the probate process, then contact The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. for a free initial consultation on estate planning, trust planning, and/or probate issues.

Philip Berber (1958- ) – Businessman & Philanthropist

Philip Berber is an Irish millionaire and philanthropist. Berber attended University College Dublin and graduated with a Business Communication degree. In 1984, he set up a high-tech London-based company, Financia, which was bought in 1991 by Frontier Financial of Houston. Berber set up CyberCorp in 1995, and it was one of the first online trading firms for retail investors. In 2000, he sold the firm to Charles Schwab in 2000 for $488 million.

Berber and his wife, Donna, founded A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, using $100 million to fund it. The Glimmer of Hope Foundation focuses on Ethiopia, and they have financed 3,600 water wells, 400 schools, and 6,500 micro loans, reaching an estimated two million Ethiopians. In 2003, the Berbers founded The Glimmer of Hope Austin. A Glimmer of Hope Austin is focused on making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of at-risk youth (up to age 25) and seniors (over the age of 60) in economically disadvantaged parts of the city. In 2004, the foundation committed $5 million toward supporting local programs over the ensuing 10 years. To date, it has funded more than 70 projects around the city that have had a direct impact in the lives of thousands of people. The foundation was named the city’s Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the Year for 2006 by Austin chapter of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals.

We honor Philip Berber because his philanthropic work makes him a Legacy Champ. If you want to be a Legacy Champ in your own special way, then contact The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. for a free initial consultation on estate planning, trust planning, and/or probate issues.

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Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney

Mr. Stephen Mendel is an attorney who focuses a substantial part of his practice on estate planning. Mr. Mendel’s guiding principle is to provide his clients with quality legal services tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.

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