American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Productivity is all about developing habits and routines that make it easier for you to complete the tasks that you need to simple. What’s not so simple is developing the habits themselves, but these hacks can go a long way in getting you on the road to productivity in 2021.

Tying the knot comes with a lot of legal considerations, life insurance being one of them. The best option is the one that fits your family's finances and needs for the future and you should consult your financial advisor, accountant, and estate planner before making any final decisions.

E-Myth Attorney Tip 400: KEEP YOUR FEES HEALTHY When was the last time you assessed your firm’s fees and increased them to keep pace with your costs? If you’re not looking at your fee structure each year, it’s likely your fees aren’t healthy. And without healthy fees, it’s hard to maintain a healthy, thriving firm.

"The longer you wait to set an estate plan in place, the longer your wealth goes unprotected and subject to taxes and other losses. Don’t put off estate planning. Now more than ever, it’s important to have your wealth and assets protected by a strong estate plan."

E-Myth Attorney Tip 395: STOP TALKING. START LISTENING. If you’re getting plenty of initial consults, but failing to convert prospects into clients, the problem could be that you’re talking too much. The client should do most of the talking in an initial consult. It’s your job to listen carefully, ask great questions, and then listen some more. You’re more likely to be hired if you can demonstrate that you are an effective counselor. And you can’t be an effective counselor if you don’t uncover your client’s true problems and issues and delve into them.

A new year brings the attitude of starting fresh, and what better way than to de-clutter!

This article provides good insight on managing digital assets such as credit cards after a loved one passes.

The new year is upon us and if you have not already done so, it is time for your business to plan for Q1. This article provides some great tips on where to start.

E-Myth Attorney Tip 394: GET A MENTOR When you’re trying to reach a goal, there always seems to be a gap between your intentions and your actions. Sometimes, you can be so blinded by your good intentions that you don’t see your actions for what they are: less than perfect. That’s where a mentor can make all the differencehaving someone to hold you accountable for reaching your goals is a reality check. It forces you to either keep moving or admit that you’re stagnating.

Many retirees’ largest investment and asset is their home. Because of this, it is a good idea to look at your real estate options when retiring and see what makes the most sense for you and your income.

As we mourn the death of Sean Connery, we remember his many memorable films spanning seven decades. From the original James Bond to Indiana Jones, Connery’s legacy will forever be remembered.

Grantor Retained Income Trusts (GRIT) are extremely tricky, but can offer tax benefits if set up properly. This article gives a great overview of what a GRIT is, but remember to always speak with your estate planning attorney or financial advisor to see if it would make sense for you.

If you choose to leave an unequal division of your assets, there are some things you might consider to reduce the odds that your children might take issue with your division and challenge your plan or cause disharmony in the family.

E-Myth Attorney Tip 386: UNDERSTAND WHAT SYSTEMS ARE, AND WHY YOU NEED THEM At the Academy, we believe you should have a system for any task that happens within your firm on even a semi-regular basis. At its core, a system says, this is what we do, and these are the steps involved in doing it our firm’s way. So, systems are not only key to ensuring that your firm runs efficiently and effectively, they’re also an essential part of establishing a distinctive personality for your firm. For more information about The E-Myth Attorney and free attorney resources, visit www.aaepa.com/academy-resources/

We're kicking off the week with our First Year Peak Members! We'll spend the next two days calibrating our mindsets, tackling hot topics, and looking towards the future. Talk to your PBC today to learn how the Peak Performers Program can transform your life and your practice.

We had so much fun with our Peak teams this week! Mastery in Motion and Peak Mastery had the chance to share personal and business updates with everyone and we look forward to seeing First Year Peak on Monday!

Empowering talented people you hire to join you in your pursuit to make a difference is one level of success you can measure. By delegating the tasks that don’t require legal advice, you are creating time to make a difference in more clients’ lives and gives you the freedom to run a business.

E-Myth Attorney Tip 385: TAKE CLIENT SERVICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL How do you want your clients to feel each and every time they leave your office? Most likely, you want them to feel listened to, taken care of, and like their needs have been met. And, like no other attorney in your community could possibly take care of them the way you do. This should be the level of client service each of your employees strives for. For more information about The E-Myth Attorney and free attorney resources, visit www.aaepa.com/academy-resources/

What if all the beneficiaries you’ve chosen and all their descendants have died? Then it would fall to the contingent remainder beneficiary.

This week is National Estate Planning Awareness week! The NAEPC adopted this in 2008 to help bring awareness to how important estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness. If you do not yet have an estate plan or have not updated yours in a while, this is a great reminder to take that next step.

There is a paradox in working from home; it is convenient, empowering, efficient, productive, and also depressing, stressful, isolating and frustrating all at the same time.

E-Myth Attorney Tip 384: HELP YOUR CLIENTS BOND WITH YOUR FIRM Here at the Academy, we talk a lot about the value of delegating work that does not specifically require an attorney or that does not fulfill your highest and best purpose. This is an obvious benefit for you, but did you know that it’s also a plus for your clients? When you let well-trained team members handle appropriate matters, your clients get to bond with your firm, not just with you. Then, when a client has a question or an issue that a team member can handle, he feels comfortable talking to the appropriate employee. This means he doesn’t have to wait until you’re available, and your firm is able to provide top-notch, efficient service. For more information about The E-Myth Attorney and free attorney resources, visit www.aaepa.com/academy-resources/