In America Builds an Aristocracy, an article published by the New York Times last summer, Professor Ray D. Madoff voices the opinion that “dynasty” trusts should be eliminated. These trusts, permitted under the laws of a number of states, are designed to keep wealth within a family for many generations, shielding trust assets from taxation […]

I shared in my last post that clients’ healthcare directives are useless if they cannot be produced at the hospital when they are needed. To close this gap between the legal and the medical worlds, registries for advance directives have been created that provide rapid access to these important documents by storing them electronically. How […]

Taking on other attorneys as subtenants can be a great way to defray your firm’s operating costs, and it can even give you a little help in building your practice. Currently, I have three subtenants. One has been with me for nine years, another for five years, and the third for two years. Here are […]

As highlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal blog post, IRS audits of taxpayers reporting $10 million or more in income increased sharply last year. In 2008, 9% of taxpayers in this group were audited. In 2009, that number increased to 10%, and in 2010, there was a significant jump – 18% of taxpayers in […]

Many folks have told me in the last 25 years that marketing does not work in certain areas, or with certain people, or with certain products or with certain services. It’s normal and it happens to thousands of businesses. Direct mail doesn’t work anymore, this part of the country doesn’t do well with seminars, it’s […]

We were recently visiting with one of our Peak Performers about their hiring process. It reminded me that, indeed, little things can and do matter. The attorney had just conducted a group interview for a new staff person and told us “… any of the people who came would be a fabulous addition.” That triggered […]

The world’s attention has been focused on Japan since March 11. We watched in horror at video broadcasts of the magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused death and destruction throughout the country. The bad news just seems to keep coming. Multiple aftershocks have been reported, with a magnitude 6.5 quake striking on March […]

Some days are better than others. This day started like every other day, arrive at the office, grab a quick up of coffee and hit the ground running. As the morning was getting up to full steam, one of our Legacy Safeguard Advisors came to my office and asked if she could share with me […]

Not too long ago, I read a blog post asserting the very true idea that all of us – lawyers, doctors, accountants and business people – are actually in sales. Lawyers in particular have been hesitant to embrace the idea that, not only are they business people as well as technicians, but that being an […]

The New York Times recently ran an op ed piece by Christian Longo, an Oregon death row inmate. In 2001, Longo murdered his wife, Mary Jane, and their three young children, Zachery, 4, Sadie, 3, and Madison, 2. He was sentenced to death for the murders, and from prison he has founded an organization, Gifts […]