Let’s face it…. there’s nothing very sexy about financials. It’s a topic that most business owners roll their eyes at and resist having to deal with. Admittedly, if I were in the accounting department of any company, that company would be in serious trouble. I hate numbers so much that I’d do anything to avoid them. […]

The candidates’ standings in the polls go up and down. But how would each of them affect our clients and estate planning? This week I’ll look at Hillary Clinton’s tax plan and next week I’ll look at Donald Trump’s tax plan. First, estate taxes. Hillary Clinton would keep the estate tax. In fact, she would […]

The cult classic film Harold and Maude features an awesome piece of automotive engineering: the Jaguar hearse Harold constructs after his mother takes away his beloved 1959 hearse (a Cadillac Superior coach, owned by a collector in Modesto, CA). Sadly, the original Jaguar hearse was destroyed during the filming of the movie in 1971. But there’s […]

We have added a few new Members to our team over the last couple of months. It has been quite a while since we’ve had new team Members, so I’m thrilled to have their fresh perspectives, experience and skills added to our already talented team. Their presence creates a unique dynamic and positive energy in […]

On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 took off from LaGuardia airport in New York, NY, bound for Charlotte, NC. It started off as a routine flight, but then it struck a flock of geese. The birds crippled the plane so it was gliding, powerless at less than 3,000 feet over the most populous […]

Have you considered using advance directives, and especially the health care power of attorney, as a way to invite prospective clients into your office?  Or as a way to communicate to current clients the importance of this non-monetary piece of their estate plan that you create? If so, you might want to use some of […]

In recent weeks, I have been on a crusade to protect my most precious asset: my time. I have undertaken the task of blocking every minute of my time during the day to be the most effective team member I can be. While I was initially surprised at the effort it takes to simply NOT […]

In early August, the IRS issued Proposed Regulations for section 2704. The Treasury Department has been trying to fix what it considers loopholes in that statute since at least 2009. It has sought legislative changes to section 2704 to address what it perceives as abuse. Due to the lack of progress on the legislative front, […]

Modern law firms recognize the power of constructive feedback. It helps staff get and stay on track, which can be very motivating, resulting in increased satisfaction and productivity. I’ve previously shared best practices for giving feedback, but what about the other part of the equation? The effectiveness of feedback is only as good as the […]

Is our next Boot Camp for you? Mark your calendar and join us next Wednesday to find out! On September 7th at 2pm PT / 5pm ET, the Academy founders, COO, some of our Members, and Kathryn Adams will all join you for a webinar that we like to call, “All About That Boot Camp”. […]