Having practiced in the estate planning field for almost 23 years, I'm amazed when I review many trust plans done by lawyers that are still "boilerplate," with nothing distinguishing them other than the names of the client and beneficiaries. Interestingly, even when reviewing trusts created by software systems from well-known organizations in the estate planning industry, I am perplexed about the over-complexity, but also the under-simplicity, of how they work. Most trust systems in the estate planning industry have many options to designate different legal technical phrases and provisions to enter into the trust document. Unfortunately, once an attorney chooses the "standard provisions," nothing else changes in the document but the client names. So while they believe they have a very comprehensive estate planning trust system, they really have a glorified trust mill system (a better mouse trap?).
The Lawyers with Purpose client centered document creation system is unparalleled in the industry. It is the only software in the industry that was reverse-engineered. Rather than identifying the specific legal provisions required, it instead identifies the particular needs and goals of the client. Once those goals and needs are determined, the software then allows you to custom tailor every single core element of the trust to accomplish those client objectives. As you complete the client needs and their particular customizations, the software automatically inserts the necessary legal provisions and clauses to accomplish the client goals. No two LWP drafted trusts are ever the same. There are over 5,000 combinations of choices, and that's not even including the customization element in each of the decision levels.
While it sounds scary, the systemization of it makes it quite easy. In fact, it is the only document creation system in the industry that is integrated into a complete estate planning practice module. What does that mean? The marketing, legal technical training, workshop presentation, and client design are all integrated to facilitate and work with each other. Each one supports the other. For example, the initial client educational workshop helps identify the various issues that can be addressed in planning – which flows into the vision meeting, where, based on a series of questions – the client is able to self-select one of five different plans that will accomplish the specific goals the client identified. Next, the design meeting is tailored to focus on the specific plan (legal documents) chosen by the client. Then, the most exciting part: the attorney can customize every single aspect of the general plan to meet the client’s individual needs.
The cherry atop all of this is that the attorney designs the custom plan using specific design templates that permit others in the office to actually draft the trust (the software follows the template, including all customizations). Don't be a trust mill – learn how to put the client first. Client-centered document creation software is the first key. Click here to discover how the Lawyers with Purpose Client Centered Software can transform a mere practice, and discover the impact you can have on your client. Reserve a day and time that works for you now.
David J. Zumpano, Esq, CPA, Co-founder Lawyers With Purpose, Founder and Senior Partner of Estate Planning Law Center
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