Bigstock-Red-Wall-Clock-Illustration-At-1448960

Today at 5 p.m.

May 15, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Legal Marketing Legal Technical

Real quick, I want to make sure you know the DOORS ARE CLOSING at 5 p.m. sharp today on registrations for the Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat, which happens the week of June 1 in St. Louis.

If you are remotely considering making the event happen, you MUST reserve your seat (and hotel) today. The hotel has extended our room block TWICE, and there are only a few rooms left before the entire hotel is SOLD OUT. We honestly will not be able to work our magic after 5 p.m. TODAY.

To recap what the “Retreat Week” has in store:

A boot camp on Medicaid, asset protection, VA and all things estate and elder law
Speakers school (the first in three years and not slated to be held again until 2017)
Creating your Money Plan law firm retreat
Nine different 90-minute focus sessions on legal technical, marketing, law firm operations, team training, trust drafting, cloud-based CRM workflow systems and MORE!
A personal and professional development day led by Dave Zumpano

Just to name a few items.

Don’t fool yourself and say (possibly yet again), “I can’t afford (time, money or both) this one, but I definitely will get to the next one.” In my experience, when the timing couldn’t be worse, that is the very reason why you need to be in the room. Maybe your business is booming and you’re drowning and you don’t know when that will stop, or maybe a team member just quit, or possibly you have a team member you’re on the verge of firing, or cash flow is down, etc., etc., etc.

“Reasons are the cemetery of your dreams.” Reasons that emerge from any rendition of the above are the very reason why you need to be in the room.

This WILL be our last invite. No more reminders or captivating blog posts tempting you to take the leap of faith and say, “It’s now or never.”

To reserve one of the last seats, just click here.

Can’t wait to see your name on the “A List.”

In your corner,

Molly

Bigstock-One-Two-Three-Numbers-On-Dice--36582055

Not Signing Enough Appointments From Live Events? 3 Quick Fixes & Training For You!

May 8, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Legal Marketing

Have you ever been invited to speak to a group, or hosted your own event, where a majority of the attendees failed to request an appointment at the end of the presentation?

Of course, everyone can have an “off” day where your presentation doesn’t go quite right or the event itself is a dud. But, if this is happening to you consistently, something is MAJORLY wrong.

You should be booking appointments at EVERY event that you do—whether you are invited to speak in front of a networking group, or you are hosting your own estate planning workshop, or presenting for a referral source.

At LWP’s Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat, happening June 1-5, we have included a high intensity boot camp known as “Speakers School” where we teach lawyers the art of speaking to not only educate, but to SELL estate planning or elder law services right on the spot.

If you are struggling right now to turn more attendees of your presentations into paying clients, or you are not doing as much speaking in the community as you would like to, I would encourage you to go here NOW and reserve your space.

We are hosting Speaker School because it works. Past attendees often tell us how they are now forced to carry their calendars with them or bring staff to handle scheduling because people are so anxious to get their appointment on the books after the talk (…don’t worry about what to say or do to make this happen… we’ll teach you our entire presentation outline and success formula!) If you can follow a recipe, you can host a 5 figure ROI event!)

This event is limited to 20 attendees, and spaces are filling up. If you are even remotely curious how Speaker School can help you boost your results and make speaking the most profitable thing you do in your practice, view our agenda and reserve your space HERE.

Until then, here are three areas to investigate if you are hosting a ton of workshops but failing to fill up your calendar with fresh appointments from your efforts:

1. Your marketing– If you are hosting your own events or handling the promotion of events for referral sources, it is possible that your marketing materials are attracting the wrong prospects. Try tweaking your invitations, flyers, etc. to help prospects better “prequalify” themselves or tweak the demographics of where your materials are being sent.

2. You are not speaking to SELL- Anyone can give a lecture; speaking to sell is an art. If your presentation is not designed in such a way to “seed your offer” from the start of the talk and lead your prospects down a funnel where the only obvious choice at the end of the workshop is to schedule an appointment with you, you are wasting your time, effort and resources.

3. Zero or Insufficient Follow Up– Some people need a few days to digest all that you’ve taught them before they make a buying decision. If you did not cleverly capture their email or phone number during your workshop, you will have no way to contact those people who are still on the fence a few days later. Talk about leaving money on the table!

Of course I am here to chat if you have specific questions about Speaker School or any of the other workshops we are hosting this year at our Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat. Just email me and let me know how I can help.

Best Regards,

Molly

Do You Have Your Purpose Story Down?

May 8, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Coaching & Implementation Legal Marketing

Are you using the same dull biography to introduce your workshop, synergy meetings, and presentations and generally what you do and how you tell people. When they feel connected to you, they trust you more, and when they trust you more, they’re more inclined to hire you. Your Purpose Story will help you create the know, like and trust triad.

What you will take away from “Master Your Purpose Story” Training on MONDAY, May 18^th:

• The Ability to Instantly Connect with Any Audience, Anywhere, Anytime
• The Unstoppable Combination of Credibility and Vulnerability - The Trust Factor
• The Ability to Be Vulnerable with Any Audience Without Losing Credibility
• An step-by-step Structure to Create Your Purpose Story with Ease
• You'll Know Exactly Where to Insert Your Purpose Story in your Presentations
• Your Conversion Rates Will Increase as a Result of Mastering Your Purpose Story

If you’ve registered for the TAPER Specialty Program “How To Protect Your ‘Stuff’ In Three Easy Steps” on June 3^rd OR are planning on attending Jeff Bellomo’s focus session on “Comparing The Three LWP Workshops” you’ll want to make sure to get this 90 minute session on your calendar (and show up!) as this is a vital piece of your homework to make your attendance at these Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat events effective for your practice.

The LIVE May 18^th 90 Minute Training Workshop “Master Your Purpose Story” takes place on MAY 18^TH at 4pm EST. Members, to reserve your spot email Amanda at aross@lawyerswithpurpose.com. Seating is limited to the first 100 that register. The registration link has also been posted to the LWP ListServ.

Congratulations To Sean Curran, LWP Member Of The Month

May 8, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Coaching & Implementation Estate Planning Drafting Software

What is the greatest success you've had since joining LWP?

My greatest success has been the compressed time frame of launching from scratch to a viable practice. When I was considering whether I was going to join, I remember Molly Hall telling me the range of what I could expect in revenues within a certain time frame if I followed the system. I have tried to do everything that Nedra, my implementation coach, told me to do – even when I really didn't want to do it and experienced success because of it. Everything is there to start a viable practice, develop into a mature firm and ultimately have the lifestyle you want. Even though I am still building, I have a clear vision of where I am going to be and I know LWP will take me there.

What is your favorite LWP tool?

When I first started, I looked at the tools as separate and distinct from each other. I now look at them as elements of a single system because they all work together in a very tight process. That said, I love the Synergy meeting for client development; the Estate Planning Audit/Vision Clarifier for creating trust through understanding; and the Coaching to keep my practice on the right path. However, the most impactful tool has to be the asset protection analysis opinion letter. I have gotten financial advisors to refer clients based on the demystification of asset protection. Clients generally don't want to engage attorneys because they think they have to explain their situation which will result in expensive legal bills without adequate understanding of what we are doing with their stuff. This tool creates immense value to the client and the financial advisor because it is an immediate, no cost answer that gives them clear guidance and understanding. The first impression of you is that you have already solved a problem – it is the foundation of the value proposition.

How has being part of LWP impacted your team and your practice?

Beyond the systems, processes and resources (including the Live Listserv and Talk with Aaron relating to CCS) which have created a high confidence level and is the foundation of the growth of the firm, I have benefited greatly from other LWP members and their teams. I particularly want to thank Jeff Bellomo, and his team members Tammy, Liana, and Amber. From the time I attended one of Jeff's workshops as part of my evaluation before I joined to the numerous questions to him and his team which are promptly answered, Jeff and his team made me realize that I am part of a supportive organization that is there to help me realize success.

Knowing, Respecting, Honoring Veterans

May 7, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Estate Planning Drafting Software Legal Technical VA

As the government benefits supervisor and paralegal for The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, I work with both Medicaid applications and VA claims. However, VA cases dominate and easily outweigh Medicaid files in our outstanding caseload by a ratio of 4:1.

This may be due to Victoria’s being a wartime Veteran herself, her national recognition as the nation’s expert lawyer for VA Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance, or it may have to do with the length of time it takes to prosecute a VA claim until resolution. Regardless of the reason, I spend a great deal of time communicating with Veterans and their families and getting to know their personal history.

I often pore over military records for information – some of these so fragile that I fear making photocopies of them. Some Veterans keep meticulous records of their service and every administrative detail of their time in the military is recorded in documents that surely no one has looked at in years. Others have barely any record of their tour of duty at all and we must file a request for a copy of their discharge paperwork.

As I began to prepare for a trip to D.C recently, I automatically planned a trip to the National Mall, in particular the National World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. I am a first-generation American of Argentine-born parents, neither of whom served in the American Armed Forces. My father did serve conscripted service in his home country and was told by his superiors that he was the worst soldier in the history of the Argentine army. However no one else in my immediate family has served. Then why is it so important to me that I visit these memorials on my trip?

It is important to me because of the Veterans that I have come to know and respect through my work. And by visiting these memorials, I can in some small way honor their service and that of their fallen comrades. But then I also remember sitting on bleachers on just about the hottest and most humid August day on Parris Island watching my nephew become a United States Marine and I have a son who may yet live to serve in our Armed Forces. Even to the contact that I have had with the many, many Veterans currently working at the Department of Veterans Affairs and who must routinely thank callers for the Veteran’s service. I must in turn thank them for their service in whatever way I can.

If you want to learn more about Veteran Benefits Planning, Asset Protection or Medicaid Planning, join us for the Estate Planning Industries Only Practice Enhancement Week in St. Louis, June 1st – 5th. There are still a few seats left so grab them before they're gone. Doors close in one week and we always sell out. If you're even thinking about showing up, click here to register now before seats are gone.

By Sabrina A. Scott, Paralegal, The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC and Production Coordinator for Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, LLC.

How To Add Insurance Services To Your Practice

May 5, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Asset Protection Estate Planning Drafting Software Legal Technical

One of the greatest challenges (dare I say, frustrations) of being an estate or elder law attorney is dealing with the nature of a “transactional practice.”

It can be a constant effort and struggle just to find new clients. Then, once current business is completed and files are closed, the attorney has to start the next month over at ZERO again… hunting fresh prospects from scratch. Yuck!

It’s no wonder why the idea of creating “residual” or “multiple” streams of income is all the rage in estate planning and elder law circles. We all want the gut-wrenching financial rollercoaster to stop!

Yet very few lawyers ever take the plunge into this territory, despite the many benefits (…financial, mental, emotional AND practical). Why is that?

Here’s what I think: there are just way too many webinars and seminars out there that teach WHY the additional of financial services is so wonderful, but no one ever stops to show you HOW to step out and make magic happen.

That stops today.

At our upcoming Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat happening June 1-5 in St. Louis, MO, we have an entire session devoted to helping you incorporate insurance services into your practice.

You will have the opportunity to learn from, strategize with and bounce ideas off of attorneys who are already successfully doing what you want to do!

Whether it’s tips for dealing with ethics issues, suggestions for getting started (even if you have ZERO experience with financial services), or uncovering practical strategies for running a more holistic estate or elder law practice that serves every need of the client, we are here to guide you toward success.

Reserve your space now to ensure you are registered for this in-depth session, and the rest of the trainings at our Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat.

We are already 92% full and now making preparations for overflow seating! Reserve space now for you and your team before we are completely full.

REGISTER NOW HERE

Victoria L. Collier, Veteran of the United States Air Force, 1989-1995 and United States Army Reserves, 2001-2004. Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, Author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors, Author of Paying for Long Term Care: Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit, Founder of The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC, Co-Founder of Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, Co-Founder of Veterans Advocate Group of America.

Veteran Benefits For Widows

April 28, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with One Comment Uncategorized

While the Veteran is often the focus when discussing Veterans Benefits, we must not forget the range of benefits available to surviving spouses of Veterans. Widows are entitled to an array of benefits, some commonly known and others more obscure. But, for almost every type of benefit discussed, the Veteran must be deceased. During a Veteran’s lifetime, there are no benefits payable to the spouse even though the latter’s existence as well as their medical expenses, income, and assets can positively or negatively impact the benefit for which the Veteran may qualify. For more information from the VA website: http://explore.va.gov/spouses-dependents-survivors.

Estate and Elder Care Planning attorneys are most familiar with the non-service-connected disability pension for surviving spouses also referred to as “death pension” or “widow’s pension” or “widow’s aid and attendance”. It is not necessary for a Veteran to have already filed a claim with the Veterans Administration or to have been in receipt of non-service-connected disability pension in order for a surviving spouse to file his or her own claim.

Claims Based on the Veterans Disability:

Notwithstanding, there are two particular scenarios that expand benefit options to spouses at the time of the Veteran’s death. First, if the Veteran had filed a fully-developed claim for pension that was still pending, a surviving spouse could file a substitution of claimant form in order to assume the Veteran’s claim. Second, if the Veteran had filed and been approved for pension, but had not yet received the funds, then the surviving spouse may file an accrued benefits claim to receive benefits that were due and payable to the Veteran at the time of his/her death.

The counterpart to the non-service-connected disability pension for surviving spouses when the Veteran has a service-connected disability is called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). DIC is for surviving spouses and dependent children of Veterans who were disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. Claims for death pension, accrued benefits, and DIC are all filed by using the same VA form 21-534EZ. For this reason, the claimant often receives a determination for all three types of claims in the VA award letter even when intending to only apply for death pension. More information regarding DIC can be found at http://explore.va.gov/disability-compensation/spouses-dependents-survivors.

Burial Benefits:

Apart from these monthly benefits, there are one-time flat rate benefits that are available when a Veteran dies. These include a small burial allowance as well as additional allowances for interment and transportation and those amounts vary depending on whether the Veteran’s death was service-connected or not. In most cases, surviving spouses on record are paid the burial allowance automatically once the VA is notified of the Veteran’s death, but a claim must be filed to obtain the additional allowances. See http://explore.va.gov/memorial-benefits for more information regarding these benefits.

20/20/20 Rule:

Finally, the 20/20/20 rule entitles unmarried former spouses of Veterans to medical benefits and commissary and exchange privileges as long as they were married for at least 20 years, the Veteran served at least 20 years creditable in determining eligibility to retired pay, and the marriage overlapped the service period by 20 or more years. A former spouse who meets these requirements is known as a 20/20/20 former spouse. Former spouses may also qualify for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) as long as they are not remarried before the age of 55. In fact, a former spouse may regain eligibility if the remarriage ended before the former spouse turns 55. A former spouse can be designated as a SBP beneficiary by court order or by a voluntary, written agreement with the Veteran. For more information go to http://www.militaryfamily.org/info-resources/marriagedivorce/benefits.html.

If you want to learn more about Lawyers With Purpose and how it can support you in your elder or estate planning practice, join us for our Practice Enhancement Week in St. Louis the 1st – 5th of June. You can check out the full agenda here. And if you have any questions at all, please contact mhall@lawyerswithpurpose.com.

Victoria L. Collier, Veteran of the United States Air Force, 1989-1995 and United States Army Reserves, 2001-2004. Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, Chair, National Academy of Elder Law Attorney’s VA Task Force, Author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors, Author of Paying for Long Term Care: Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit, Founder of The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC, Co-Founder of Lawyers With Purpose, LLC.

Sabrina A. Scott, Paralegal, The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC and Production Coordinator for Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, LLC.

Veteran Benefits For Widows

April 27, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Estate Planning Drafting Software VA

Claims Based on the Veterans Disability:

Burial Benefits:

20/20/20 Rule:

Victoria L. Collier, Veteran of the United States Air Force, 1989-1995 and United States Army Reserves, 2001-2004. Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, Chair, National Academy of Elder Law Attorney’s VA Task Force, Author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors, Author of Paying for Long Term Care: Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit, Founder of The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC, Co-Founder of Lawyers With Purpose, LLC.

Sabrina A. Scott, Paralegal, The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC and Production Coordinator for Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, LLC.

Bigstock-Football-Fan-Celebration-21038801

15-25 Initial Consults For Just Two Hours Of Your Time? YES!!

April 22, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Coaching & Implementation Estate Planning Drafting Software Legal Marketing Systems & Processes Team Building

Filling your calendar each month with new initial consults shouldn’t be such a struggle.

In fact, when you know how to easily generate 15-25 initial appointments in just two hours of your time, you’ll never have to lose another wink of sleep worrying about where new business is coming from.

You can just dip into your “toolkit” and make magic happen… on your own terms and on a budget that you feel comfortable with.

So how is it done? SPEAKING!

We’re not talking about those generic, Chicken Dinner Estate Planning Workshops, either. Chances are, you’ve tried them before–only to spend a ton of money with very little results.

Here at Lawyers With Purpose, we have a unique methodology for conducting workshops that have worked consistently for 35 years to “put butts in seats,” keep audience members engaged, and close the presentation in such a strategic way that listeners can’t help but rush the podium to schedule an appointment with you.

15-25 new initial appointments per workshop is just the average that our Lawyers With Purpose members experience. And many are conducting more than one a month!

What would your life and practice look like if you started each month with 15 + initial appointments already on the books?

We’ve got 2 programs just for you! Our Train the Trainer Speaker School AND “How To Protect Your Stuff in 3 Easy Steps” are where you learn how to make it happen.

We are opening these two intensive workshops to just a handful of attendees happening during the week of June 1st in St. Louis, MO on a first come, first serve basis.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never conducted a workshop before or if you’re an experienced speaker who just wants to “sharpen the saw” and boost results. These two programs will teach you, among other things, how to:

Fill the room with only your ideal prospects
Engage your audience and hit deep emotional pain points with our training on platform perfection, value proposition and measuring the effectiveness of stories.
Speak to SELL by “seeding” your desired outcome, leading audience members down your unique funnel and closing in such a way that incites listeners to take immediate action.

Plus, attendees of the “How To Protect Your Stuff…” Specialty Workshop will leave with our ENTIRE “done-for-you” seminar package, including handouts, PowerPoint presentations, speaker notes, evaluations marketing materials, video & audio of the workshop and audio of stories to use in your presentation.

All you’ll have to do is pick a date and venue and you’ll be ready to host your first workshop as soon as you get home!

If you’re even remotely curious about either of these programs, don’t wait to go HERE now to get all of the details and registration information. Spaces will go fast—we fill up each and every year.

To your success,

Molly

P.S. You do not have to attend the entire retreat to participate in Train The Trainers: Speaker School or the “How to Protect Your Stuff…” Specialty Program. Feel free to join us just for just these events, or stay for the entire week for the best experience and opportunity to grow your practice. Register now: retreat.lawyerswithpurpose.com

Bigstock-success-and-winning-concept---53462125

Finally! An Intensive Legal Workshop That Trains Your TEAM On Practice Success

April 21, 2015

by Lawyers With Purpose with No Comment Asset Protection Estate Planning Drafting Software Legal Marketing Systems & Processes Team Building

You’re only one person, and if you want to be successful in your practice, you need to be focused on doing ONLY that which makes you the most money—serving clients, networking with key advisors and handling legal matters.

You should not be answering the phone.

You should not be “babysitting” staff members so they stay on track.

You should not have to get too involved selling your services, either (hint: your staff members should be your most profitable evangelists… if they are not, you have a problem).

…Plus so many other things that you may find yourself “stuck” handling on a daily basis.

Your team members really don’t want to let you down or add more work on your plate; they simply don’t understand where they fit in the big vision of your practice or how to move beyond their “9 am to 5 pm, punch a clock” conditioning that they’ve been taught their whole lives.

That’s why at our Tri-Annual Practice Retreat this year in St. Louis, we are devoting two entire days to training your team for practice success mastery (June 4^th and 5^th).

We are going to transform your staff members into the most profitable assets of your practice!

This training includes our Firm Retreat, which is a dedicated, uninterrupted half-day where we will help create YOUR personalized Law Firm “Money Plan™" that will equip each staff member with a step-by-step blueprint to hitting your revenue goals in just four months!

No more “it’s not my job” attitudes. No more “9-5” mentality.

Our team training event will empower your staff members to work your practice as if it were their very own business and their own capital on the line.

Sound good?

Then don’t wait to register for our Tri-Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat. Bring your staff members to this intensive event but don’t wait, doors close in less than 30 days (May 15^th)! To view the full agenda and pricing information, visit: www.retreat.lawyerswithpurpose.com

Molly Hall

P.S. Think about all of the training you’ve attended to learn how to grow your practice and push beyond limiting beliefs and habits. Why shouldn’t your key staff members do the same? They arguably have the most interaction with your clients and help steer your practice ship each day. Make the wise choice to invest in their success to boost your own: www.retreat.lawyerswithpurpose.com