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What Team Support Means During VA Claims Process

by with No Comment Legal TechnicalVA

On Saturday, January 24, 2015 I received a text message from my employer, Victoria Collier. Though not unheard of, it was strange for her to text me on the weekend unless I had planned to work. However, she had been out of town on Thursday and Friday and I imagined that she wanted to get a head start on something for the coming week. Her text message simply read, “VA has issued the proposed look-back change in laws. Public comment period open 60 days.” By now you may know of RIN 2900-AO73, the proposed VA rules regarding net worth, asset transfers, and income exclusions for needs-based benefits and the potential impact that this will have for VA planning, found at www.regulations.gov. So as a paralegal, what did this mean to me? It had a lot to do with me.

Bigstock-success-and-winning-concept---53462125In response to the proposed rule, the first step in the process was to discuss when and how this may affect our clients.   The next action was to provide the attorney with an updated list of all of our pending VA claims – those we had filed fully developed claims or informal claims and those we had not yet filed anything with the VA – and especially to identify which of those involved transfers of assets as defined by the VA. Then we prioritized the claims that had not yet been filed and set a goal to file as many of those as we could by the end of February 2015, to lock in a March 1, 2015 eligibility date in an effort to beat any possible effective date of the rule changes.

The second step in our process was to inform our clients with pending VA claims of the proposed changes. While we could not provide them with definitive answers, we could assure them that we were aware of what was going on and that we would be doing our utmost to complete, file, and follow up with their claim in the face of this potential game-changer. This communication also enlisted our clients in actively participating in the process as it urged them to gather outstanding documents that we still needed to verify and file the claim as expeditiously as possible.

The final step was the actual completion of all the unfiled VA claims. This meant an incredible ramp up of our usual production, all while accepting new clients in the process.  Whether it meant working directly on the claims themselves or supporting those producing the claims by assisting them with other tasks, the office as a team had to cooperate in order for the firm to produce this unusual volume of VA claims within a matter of 30 days.

Did we accomplish all of this just because of the proposed rule change? Yes and no.  We definitely wanted to protect our clients in the best way possible, thus extra time was put in.  However, because of the team atmosphere and the Lawyers with Purpose workflow systems, we were able to efficiently complete and file four times as many claims as usual in one month.

Whether the caseload is status-quo or there is a crisis situation, team members are always able to best support the attorneys and clients by:

  • Staying flexible with priorities of tasks and files
  • Sticking to the systems
  • Maintain an overview status of all claims (globally and in detail)
  • Ask questions when necessary and
  • Anticipate the next action or step necessary and make efforts to complete.

In this way, not only do you support the attorney by thinking one step ahead of them, your questions also inform the attorney of possible gaps in your knowledge that require the attorney, in turn, to support the team with further training.  Teams can accomplish nearly impossible feats when working together with the same goal. 

If you are interested in learning more about Lawyers With Purpose, join our Having the Time To Have It All webinar on Monday at 8 EDT.  Click here to register.

In this one hour webinar, you will learn how all entrepreneurs have the same amount of time in the day and how they use it differently.

Here's just some of what you'll discover in this practice-transforming event…

  • How to effectively utilize your time to enroll your team to help as many people as you choose and profit from it too
  • To work effectively with your team
  • How to balance your work life and your personal life to ensure you are able to create the maximum amount of value in both
  • How to have sufficient time to market consistently which will ensure consistent cash flow and free up the time you're currently spending chasing dollars

It will give you the confidence and path to create a law practice that provides estate planning, elder law, asset protection, Medicaid, veterans benefits, special needs, and tax planning in a way that helps your clients and your community!

Most importantly, you will be able to ensure your clients are able to maintain their dignity as they age and protect the assets they have worked their whole life for.

If you're passionate about helping people, reserve your space for this one hour webinar essential to help you break through your time restrictions to help more people and create more value!

Just register above to reserve your seat… it's 100% FREE!

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

 

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Where Are The Lawyers? What We Can Do About The Proposed 3 Year Look Back!

by with 5 Comments Legal TechnicalVA

The Veterans Administration issued proposed changes to regulations imposing a three-year look back for gifts of any kind – gifts to charity, gifts to churches, gifts to children who have medical or financial crisis — when a Veteran is applying for Improved Pension, to include aid and attendance. Penalties would also apply to financial transactions wherein the Veteran uses his own money to create a guaranteed income stream to pay for his own care, but still seeking assistance from the VA to fill in the shortfall.

Bigstock-Honor-And-Valor-1883321The look-back and associated penalties are not the only changes to the regulations. The VA also intends to completely exclude the costs of independent living facilities as medical expenses, unless the facility provides 24/7 custodial care supervision or assistance with two activities of daily living (or directly contracts with a third party, professional care provider to do so).  This will eliminate anyone who is housebound needing to live in a safe environment due to physical or cognitive limitations. Moreover, the VA wants to arbitrarily cap the amount of deductible home health care expenses to an hourly rate of $21, which was the national average rate in 2012, which means that 50% of home health care recipients already pay more than that.

The public can respond to these proposed changes by March 24, 2015.  As of March 5, 2015, there have been 144 comments published on the www.regulations.gov website, the mass majority opposing the changes.  What is interesting is that of the 144 submissions, there are fewer than 10 identifiable as lawyers or other professionals who assist and advocate for Veterans. 

We, as professionals, have the greatest ability to articulate the legal reasons why these proposed regulations should not pass as proposed. While it is necessary to hear from individuals who are receiving the benefit, and of the harm to them if the benefits were terminated, it is just as necessary to hear from professional advocates, especially lawyers.  In our capacity, we can point out the following:

  • Only Congress has authority to impose look-backs and penalties for transfers per statutory requirements
  • An administrative agency, when making permissible changes to regulations, must still follow the expressed intent of Congress and must not make changes that are arbitrary and capricious
  • The proposed changes, specifically in how the penalty divisor for transfers, would penalize widows almost twice as harshly as Veterans
  • The proposed changes will eliminate the Veteran from choosing the least restrictive environment to receive care because independent living facilities will not be an option
  • The proposed changes will limit the Veteran’s ability to hire quality home health care if the expense is above $21 per hour
  • The proposed changes would force a Veteran to sell his property if it exceeds 2 acres, seriously affecting our rural Veterans
  • The proposed changes would penalize any Veteran who has engaged in solid estate and elder care planning because they used trusts and/or annuities that would assist in paying for their care.

 

Perhaps you, the lawyer, are still crafting your well-articulated response and intend to file it before March 24, 2015.  If so, I applaud you.  Perhaps you are not sure what to write.  If so, I encourage you to attend the upcoming webinar on March 10, 2015, presented by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, for guidance.

I also encourage you to read the proposed changes and comments made by others, found at www.regulations.gov by searching RIN 2900-AO73.  Perhaps you are spending your time connecting with your Congressman and your local community to raise awareness.  If so, I commend you. However, this is not enough.  Public comment must be made so that the reviewing authorities know how you feel about the changes and have solid legal arguments to review and respond to. You can submit your response directly to www.regulations.gov. 

Much like the proposed regulations placing limitations on benefits for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, we have LIMITED time to respond. Please submit your formal responses by the deadline of March 24, 2015 and help make a difference for our nation’s wartime heroes.

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, Chari of the 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 for Wartime Veterans, Co-Founder of Veterans Advocate Group of America.

 

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The Veterans Administration Proposes 3 Year Look Back On Gifts

by with 3 Comments Asset ProtectionEstate Planning Drafting SoftwareLegal TechnicalVA

On Friday, January 23, 2015, the VA issued proposed new Veterans Administration regulations that would penalize wartime veterans up to ten years for making gifts of assets for less than fair market value. The VA is trying to stop what they perceive as lawyers and financial advisors “taking advantage of veterans” when helping them strategically plan to preserve assets and qualify for the Improved Pension benefit.

The proposed changes in regulations would:

  • Establish a 3 year look back for gifts
  • Impose penalties for up to 10 years
  • Create a bright-line net worth standard of $119,220, which includes annual income
  • Deny any expenses related to independent living facilities as care costs
  • Require Veterans to sell their home place property if the lot coverage exceeds 2 acres.

Bigstock-new-year-concept-79384237How will this work?  When a veteran or widow of a veteran applies for the Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance, the VA will ask if any transfers of assets for less than fair market value have been made in the three years prior to the application.  If so, the VA will presume it was for the purpose of meeting the VA eligibility standards.

Penalized gifts include gifts of money or assets to children or others, establishing estate plans with the use of trusts, and establishing retirement plans through the use of annuities which can provide a life time income stream. 

When a gift has been determined to have happened during the look back period, the VA will calculate the penalty by dividing the value of the gift by the claimant’s pension rate with aid and attendance. Each classification of claimant varies, thus, the penalty periods will be different depending on who makes the claim.  The pension rates with aid and attendance are as follows:

(1)   Married veteran = $2,120

(2)   Single veteran = $1,788

(3)   Widow = $1,149

Thus, if a married veteran gives away $15,000 and a widow gives away $15,000, the widow is penalized almost double that of the veteran.  (Married veteran $15,000 divided by $2,120 = 7 month penalty; widow $15,000 divided by $1,149 = 13 month penalty.) 

Also, because the “net worth” standard will include income, high income earners will be allowed to have low to no savings for emergency items; whereas, very low income earners will be permitted to keep much more in savings.  Because of the strict ruling on how the VA plans to define “medical care,” veterans who have dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or other degenerative diseases and live in independent living facilities because they no longer drive and need a safe environment in which to live, will not be eligible for the benefits because they may not yet the hands on care for bathing, dressing, eating, toileting or transferring (ADLs).  Although they are unsafe to live at home due to their health care condition of cognitive decline, the VA refuses to consider any expenses of care for a facility as deductible from the claimant’s income unless the claimant needs assistance with no less than 2 ADLs.

Between 2012 and 2014, Congress introduced two different bills, each imposing a three year look back penalty.  Both bills were died.  Nevertheless, the VA is moving forward on their own to create the look back and penalties.  These changes will not only hurt wartime veterans, specifically WWII and Korean war vets, but it will further exacerbate the enormous claims back logs that already exist. 

To fight this from happening, everyone who cares about a veteran must respond.  Public comments must be received no later than March 24, 2015 and can be sent through http://www.regulations.gov or by mail or hand-delivery to: Director, Regulation Policy and Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273-9026.  Comments must include that they are in response to “RIN 2900-AO73, Net Worth, Asset Transfers, and Income Exclusions for Needs-Based Benefits.”

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.  

If are in the Charlotte NC, area, or will be attending our Practice With Purpose Program or our Tri Annual Practice Enhancement Retreat, consider joining Victoria for her Specialty Program on Wednesday, February 4th, and get your initial VA Accreditation through the VA.  If you provide legal advice to Veterans about specific VA claims, to include drafting asset protection trusts for VA Benefit qualifications, you MUST be accredited by the VA.  Contact Molly Hall at mhall@lawyerswithpurpose.com for registration information.

**  Before attending this course, you must have submitted an Application for Accreditation, VA Form 21a, to the Office of General Counsel and received approval.

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Annual Termination Of VA Aid & Attendance

by with No Comment Legal TechnicalVA

We just started a New Year and many recipients of the VA Pension with Aid and Attendance will lose their benefits this year.  Why?  Because of a letter VA applicants receive after they have been approved for benefits. The first letter, issued in January 2013, contained the news, originally given in a VA press release on December 20, 2012, that the annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) was no longer a requirement. For individuals who had experienced the “old” EVR process, this was quite exciting. 

Va_specialty_frontWhy the excitement? The EVR was the yearly submission by the Veteran to update the VA with current income and medical expenses.  It is a tedious task, both for our clients who had to keep records of all medical expenses and for law firms who cannot charge for these additional services. Foregoing this task saves time and stress.

Why did the VA discontinue the practice? According to the press release, the VA stated that the change allowed them to:

(1)   Reallocate the staff who had processed the EVRs to instead tackle the compensation claim backlog, and

(2)   The VA could now obtain current income information directly from Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service. 

This sounds like a beautiful plan.  However, in the absence of updated unreimbursed medical expenses (UME), which is what reduces the “countable income” to meet VA eligibility criteria, the VA will continue to use the last reported medical expenses when reviewing eligibility for ongoing years. This means that for any VA beneficiary whose medical expenses are just high enough to offset their income at the time of application, may have benefits terminated with future increases in income (cost of living adjustment increases, etc.).   Therefore, while the VA says that it does not require annual reviews, it is important to meet with your VA benefits clients to assess changes in income and medical expenses that could impact receipt of VA benefits. The best time to meet is after the tax deadline of April 15 when it can be expected that your clients have gathered the prior year’s medical expenses in order to file their tax returns.

Use VA form 21P-8416 when updating medical expenses for the VA. The VA will consider UMEs submitted through December 31st of the following year for the prior year’s “eligibility period” in which the UME was paid.  For example, you have until December 31, 2015 to submit UMEs incurred and paid for during the calendar year 2014. It is not necessary to provide receipts of those medical expenses as long as the VA Form 21P-8416 clearly identifies the nature of the expense, the provider, the date, and for whom the expense was paid. Along with the 21P-8416 for actual unreimbursed medical expenses for the prior year (i.e. 2014), it is also recommended to complete an additional VA Form 21P-8416 with “projected” UMEs for the current year (i.e. 2015). These are both filed with VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, requesting that the VA consider these medical expenses. This should be submitted to the pension management center where you file your pension claims. You will generally only get a response from the VA to this submission when it requires a change in the monthly VA benefit; otherwise, the only indication that the submission has been received, considered and accepted is the continuation of the claimant’s monthly benefit.

Victoria L. Collier, CELA, Elder Care Attorney, Co-Founder of Lawyers for Wartime Veterans and Lawyers with Purpose, Veteran, author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors and most recent book, Paying for Long Term Care: Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit.  

If you're interested in learing more from Victoria L. Collier, join us in Charlotte, NC, February 4th, where she will be LIVE in the room offering VA Accreditation.  We only have a FEW SPOTS left so register NOW with Kyle Russ at kruss@lawyerswithpurpose.com.

 

VA Pension Rates Finally Published

by with No Comment Estate Planning Drafting SoftwareLegal TechnicalVA

Each year, with Congressional approval, Social Security and Veterans Benefits increase incrementally based on a cost of living adjustment increase. For 2015, that amount was 1.7%.  For VA benefits, the effective date is December 1, 2014. 

Even though those already getting the benefit received their increases, it was impossible for practitioners to advise applicants as to what rate to expect upon approval of a new application because the rates had not been published. As of January 12, 2015, the VA rates can be found at:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/current_rates_veteran_pen.asp for veterans and  http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/current_rates_survivor_pen.asp for survivors (spouses and children).

For a quick breakdown, see below for both the annual and monthly amounts: 

2015 VA Pension Rates – Effective 12/1/14

Veterans

Medical Deduction (5% of Maximum Annual Pension Rate) $643 (single)      $842 (with dependent)

                                                                                                       ANNUAL                MONTHLY

Base Pension (single)                                                                    $12,868                    $1,072

Base Pension (w/ dependent)                                                        $16,851                    $1,404

Housebound (single)                                                                      $15,725                    $1,310

Housebound (w/ dependent)                                                          $19,710                    $1,642

A&A (single)                                                                                   $21,466                    $1,788

A&A (w/ dependent)                                                                       $25,448                    $2,120

 

Surviving Spouse

Medical Deduction (5% of Maximum Annual Pension Rate) $431

                                                                                                        ANNUAL                MONTHLY

Base Pension                                                                                  $8,630                     $719

Housebound                                                                                   $10,548                    $879

A&A                                                                                                $13,794                    $1,149

 

Two Vets Married to Each Other

                                                                                                        ANNUAL                MONTHLY

Base Pension                                                                                  $16,851                    $1,404

One Housebound                                                                            $19,710                    $1,642

Both Housebound                                                                           $22,566                    $1,880

One A&A                                                                                         $25,448                    $2,120

One Housebound and One A&A                                                    $28,300                     $2,358

Both A&A                                                                                        $34,050                    $2,837

Victoria L. Collier, CELA, Elder Care Attorney, Co-Founder of Lawyers for Wartime Veterans and Lawyers with Purpose, Veteran, author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors and most recent book, Paying for Long Term Care: Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit.  

If you want to learn more about expanding your VA practice, or starting a VA practice, Victoria Collier will be offering a LIVE VA Accreditation Course.  She'll be teaching the necessary information for accreditation but also providing updates and practice tips based on current VA practices February 4th in Charlotte, NC.  If you provide legal advice to veterans about specific VA claims, you MUST be accredited by the VA.  Join us February 4th, where you'll LIVE in the room with Victoria L. Collier for your accreditation.  Contact Kyle Russ at kruss@lawyerswithpurpose.com for registration information.

*Before attending the course, you must have submitted an Application for Accreditation, VA form 21a, to the Office of General Counsel, and received approval.

VA Benefits Training – Not Just For Lawyers

by with No Comment Estate Planning Drafting SoftwareLegal TechnicalVA

VA Pension Benefits Expert, Victoria Collier, is providing a live three hour VA Accreditation Training on February 4, 2015 in Charlotte, NC for just $249!  But space is limited so register today!

The course meets all the initial accreditation requirements as well as on-going VA accreditation needs.

While that is essential for lawyers to continue to help Veterans, the course is also very instructive for support staff who actually do the day-to-day work to push the applications through.  Although legal assistants and paralegals will not get CLE credit to take this course, it is an excellent primer and update of what’s happening now at the VA.  Every person in the office who touches your VA claims would benefit from this training.

Make a commitment to train yourself and train your staff.  You can learn together at the next live event hosted by Lawyers With Purpose.  To register email Kyle Russ @ kruss@lawyerswithpurpose.com.  

Lawyers With Purpose 

** Before attending the course, you must have submitted an Application for Accreditation, VA Form 21a, to the Office Of General Counsel and received approval.**

 

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The VA Rejected My Claim

by with No Comment Legal TechnicalVA

The attorney of a wartime veteran filed a claim for pension with aid and attendance, just like he had done many times before, using VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension.  Yet, this time was different.  His claim was denied for submitting the wrong form.

Bigstock-Rejected-stamp-77195957How can this be the wrong form?  It says right in the title of the form, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension.  Pension is the benefit being sought.  The most recently published form is November 2014, thus, the form itself is not outdated.

I cannot answer the above question. What I can share to all advocates who are accredited by the VA to assist veterans with claims is that the VA prefers, and is apparently requiring, that all claims be submitted through the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) process.  There are specific application forms for this.

For Veterans filing a claim for service connected disability benefits, use VA Form 21-526EZ, published in January 2014.

For Veterans filing a claim for Improved Pension (which may include aid and attendance), the VA Form 21-527EZ is the appropriate form.  It was published in August 2011, which is still the most current form to use. 

For Widows of Veterans, the 21-534EZ must be used, which is dated June 2014. 

Unfortunately, what can be confusing is that the other, non-FDC application for widows, 21-534 (without the EZ), is also still available to file and was also published on June 2014.  Like the 21-526, which permits a person to file an application for pension, the 21-534 (without the EZ) may be rejected because it is not on the EZ form.  As long as the claim is filed on a currently available, currently published (not superseded) form, then the VA should accept the claim, even if not on the EZ form.  Go to: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ to obtain the most current forms available.

What do you do if you filed an application for benefits but it was rejected or denied for having been filed on the “wrong” form?  Submit a new application using the correct form.  The good news, per the current law, is that even though the wrong form was completed, filed and rejected, the VA must still treat that “communication or action” as an “informal claim” for benefits. The advantage of “informal claim” recognition is that the filing of an informal claim “locks in” the eligibility date for approval of benefits. Thus, even though it feels like you are starting over with the claim, the approval should be retroactive to when the original claim was filed, albeit on the incorrect form.  Time in processing the claim may be lost, but not the actual benefit itself during that time.

For more information on the day-to-day operations and expectations of the Veterans Administration, become a member of Lawyers with Purpose and attend our monthly training webinars, led by national Veterans Pension Benefits expert and co-founder of Lawyers with Purpose, Victoria L. Collier, Certified Elder Law Attorney, through the National Elder Law Foundation.

Victoria L. Collier, Certified Elder Law Attorney, Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Co-Founder, Lawyers with Purpose, LLC, and author of 47 Secret Veterans’ Benefits for Seniors…Benefits You Have Earned but Don’t Know About.

Victoria Collier has been the leader at teaching lawyers how to help Veterans.  She is providing the 3 hour accreditation training on February 4, 2015, in Charlotte, North Carolina for just $249!

Even if you have had the initial accreditation, this course will also meet the on-going accreditation requirements.  Each lawyer who is accredited must continue to take 3 hours of CLE every 24 months. In addition to the required information, Victoria will bring you up to date practices by the VA.

If you are just a beginner or a seasoned VA practitioner, you are certain to learn something.  And, because it is live training, you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Don’t miss this opportunity!  To register contact Kyle Russ at kruss@lawyerswithpurpose.com.  Seats are limited so register soon.

** Before attending the course, you must have submitted an Application for Accreditation, VA Form 21a, to the Office of General Counsel and received approval.**

 

Bellomo

Being A Competent Attorney Is Only Half The Battle

by with No Comment Asset ProtectionEstate Planning Drafting SoftwareLegal MarketingSystems & ProcessesVA

I've always thought of myself as an excellent attorney — well-versed in all of the strategies that we use on a daily basis to protect our clients, their loved ones, and their legacies.

BellomoIt wasn't until several years ago, however, that I really began to understand that a thriving practice is built on more than just being a great attorney — it requires systems to handle your marketing, to generate a steady flow of referrals to your door, and a tried and true method to increase your closing rate.

I invite you to take 90 seconds and check out the video – it's all about the systems I've put into place in my office, and how you can do the same in yours. Take your practice to the next level!  

Click here if you'd like to look at the agenda and all you'll learn at the Lawyers With Purpose Practice With Purpose Program in Phoenix October 20-22nd.

Warmly,

Jeff Bellomo, Esq., Certified Elder Law Attorney, Bellomo & Associates, LLC 

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Hidden Dangers of Medicaid Qualifying Annuities

by with No Comment Asset ProtectionEstate Planning Drafting SoftwareMedicaidSystems & ProcessesVA

Today, many elder law attorneys rely on Medicaid qualifying annuities to get their clients qualified to receive Medicaid benefits. They're also used when clients seek VA pension benefits.

While Medicaid qualifying annuities have become the default solution, they are not without risk. One challenge is that MQA's do not work well for single individuals. Second, even when used in married planning, there is no assurance the amount placed in the Medicaid qualifying annuity will actually be preserved. In fact, it could all be lost with the subsequent disability or death of the community spouse.

Bigstock-Problem-And-Difficulty-Concept-51429601These are just some of the issues (not to mention the Veterans Administration's changing position on annuities when applying for veteran pension benefits) that we will be discussing at the Asset Protection, Medicaid and VA Practice With Purpose Program October 20-22nd  in Phoenix, AZ.

National Asset Protection, Medicaid and VA experts and dozens of attorneys like you will be collaborating to identify the hidden risks in the different Medicaid and veterans' benefits strategies. This program promises to be the hands-on strategic solving many lawyers crave in their practice. Click here to get a full outline and to register for the program.

In these three days here is just some of what we will cover:

ASSET PROTECTION:

  • Recent updates to asset protection and Medicaid compliant strategies.
  • The new asset protection strategies dominating the marketplace.
  • The death of DAPT'S, FLP'S, GRATS, GRUTS, and tax planning, and what's replaced them.
  • The five essential trusts and key drafting needs to serve 99.7% of clients.
  • The Power of Powers of Appointment, in the right places.
  • Four "must have" drafting considerations and three "most forgotten" powers in trust.

MEDICAID:

  • Four steps to Medicaid eligibility for any client.
  • How to calculate the "breakeven" to ensure the proper filing date for the shortest penalty period.
  • Medicaid Qualifying Annuities: Hidden risks and how to properly disclose them to clients or protect from them.
  • The seven key factors to calculate any Medicaid case in seven minutes (or less!).
  • IRA's: Exemption versus taxes, how to calculate if IRA's should be liquidated or exempted in Medicaid and VA cases.

VETERANS' BENEFITS:

  • New fully developed claims process for veterans and widows.
  • Qualifying assisted living facilities as UME's.
  • Key language to complete the physician affidavit for more timely approvals.
  • Update on three year look back for VA benefits.
  • The key reports no longer required for VA applications.
  • Dangers of annuities in VA benefits planning.
  • The effects of the Supreme Court decision on DOMA related to veterans' benefits.

HERE'S WHAT YOUR PEERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

  • "It will change your practice and your life!" –John Koenig
  • "Great way to grow into a real firm and help one's community." –Antoinette Middleton
  • "Go to the training session and consider and evaluate upgrading your delivery of services, for me it's modernizing what I can offer." –Wally Kelleman

Are you going to miss or attend the most important event of the year? Click here now to join some of your most successful colleagues and leave confident in the strategies you provide to your clients every day. 

David J. Zumpano, Esq, CPA, Co-founder Lawyers With Purpose, Founder and Senior Partner of Estate Planning Law Center

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How Efficient Is Your Law Firm?

by with No Comment Asset ProtectionEstate Planning Drafting SoftwareLegal MarketingMedicaidVA

Tom was making the same colossal mental mistake most attorney practitioners make, thinking he was doing everything he could to eke out a respectable living.  He certainly was working hard enough.

Bigstock-Stop-Doing-What-Doesn-t-Work-52434685Tom and his partner Richard started their practice together a few years ago.  They both thought they could earn a better living than working for their respective law firms.

It didn't take long for reality to set in. Their hours were longer and they earned far less per hour than they had when they had employers.

They hired an admin, Sally, about a year ago.  It definitely helped but there were still problems.

After Tom read the intro to the Revenue Focuser Workbook, he was definitely intrigued.

He coordinated two hours for himself, his partner, and their admin to watch the video and work through the workbook.

Tom and Richard thought about how much they really wanted to pay themselves every month.  Since they'd opened their doors, they had never been able to pay themselves that magic number.

They also recognized that, for some reason, their marketing efforts were unfocused and never attracted the right clientele. They could only help a small percentage of the prospects who called them.

Together the three identified their key revenue-generating services.  They added up the hours they spent delivering each service.

Tom and Richard also looked at the total hours they spent in the office each week.  They felt a knot in the pit of their stomachs when they discovered their office was operating at less than 20% of efficiency.  In fact, they barely operated at 19% efficiency.

Tom and Richard realized it was time to figure out how to retool their processes so they could handle their clients more efficiently; they also needed to determine how to attract the right clientele.

If you haven't worked through your Revenue Focuser, it could be the most important hour you spend.  When you decide it's time to eliminate the long hours and the feeling of being overwhelmed,take 1 hour and Complete the Lawyers With Purpose Revenue Focuser.

The income you want to earn and the ease you want to experience is within your reach.

If you have any questions about your Revenue Focuser results, send us your questions on the form on our contact page. Just send an email to info@lawyerswithpurpose.com.

And, if you're interested in learning more about Lawyers With Purpose, please click here and register today to attend our Practice With Purpose Program in Phoenix, AZ, October 20-22nd.  We'll see you then!

To your success,

Dave Zumpano 
Lawyers With Purpose