Sample Tools on members.aaepa.com
The Members-Only Website consists of over 1,000 web pages containing a history of all past conference call and event recordings and materials for all education, practice management, software and marketing instruction. It also contains all legal document language, marketing and practice management letters along with available products and special pricing information and ordering systems for vendors of choice.
The following examples are actual items recently uploaded and made available to the membership. The following information is updated regularly.
Conference Calls
July Practice Building Call Now Available
Don't miss our update on Jaynie Smith's Summit Session "Competitive Advantage" survey! We discussed the options for the National Survey of consumers and Membership participation requirements and cost.
Member Submitted Items
Steve Waltar Shares Spousal Access Trust and Guide for Drafting a Survivorship Access Trust
The two items are included: 1) Spousal Access Trust (Irrevocable) and 2) Legal Counsel Guide for Drafting a Survivorship Access Trust (SAT)
Classroom Conference Calls
Upcoming Education Call: Mid-Year Law Update - July 30, 2010, 12pm PT
Please join Dennis as he discusses several significant recent cases, private letter rulings, and POMs which may significantly impact your practice. If you plan for clients with large retirement plans, advise clients regarding asset protection (including Single Member Limited Liability Companies), or draft court-created ((d)(4)(A)) Special Needs Trusts, be sure to listen to this call.
Client Newsletter
NEW! 15.3 NEWSLETTER Now Available Online!
The newsletter is a full-color, 6-page layout designed to be mailed flat as a self-mailer, so more consumers will read it. The design includes a fold-out page with a side devoted to "Your Money Matters" and the opposite side to "Your Health Matters." The health side features a client recipe section that is customizable by members. Members also have a choice for including a short "Message from the Founder" above their firm bio on the back page. This is a great feature to utilize. If you are interested but need help getting started, or are short on time, click here to view the options we have created. We will continue to have all of the great estate planning articles that you and your clients are accustomed to.
Software Training Calls
Upcoming Software Training Call
WHEN: Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 9:00 AM PST
SPEAKER: Donna Hooper, Academy Technical Support
TOPIC:CounselPro™ 6.0 WIZARDS
Classroom Conference Calls
June Education Call Now Available!
In this call, Steve Hartnett discussed the new GRAT Legislation that passed in the House. Download this call to listen in on how the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act of 2010 will affect your practice!
Educational Alerts
House Passes Bill Affecting Advanced Strategy; Fate of the Estate Tax Remains Uncertain
Do not delay! This Alert examines recent legislation which would reform GRATs, an advanced estate planning strategy, making them less attractive. The legislation has passed the House but not the Senate. As the legislation would only apply to GRATs created after enactment, there is still time to act if your clients do not delay. The Alert also examines prospects for estate tax legislation in 2010.
Ghostwritten Articles
Funding is Critical to Estate Planning
591 Words. When Ted and Emily set up their Revocable Living Trust, they thought they were done. But when Ted passed away, Emily found out how wrong they were - the Trust they had created had not been funded. Some assets passed as joint tenancy, some by beneficiary designation and other assets had to go through probate. Learn how a properly funded trust could have avoided the distribution problems Emily encountered and achieved the results they had set out initially to accomplish.
Ghostwritten Articles
Tax Saving Benefits of a Life Insurance Trust
636 Words. Most people have heard of a Living Trust, but not many have heard of an "ILIT" or Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust. This type of specialized trust is structured to hold life insurance policies on your life. This article discusses how an ILIT works and the estate tax planning advantages it offers. Learn more about the benefits of this type of trust and whether an ILIT is right for you.
Member Submitted Items
Dan Morris Shares "When You Die" Seminar
Dan Morris shares their client seminar and the results they have been receiving from them.
Classroom Conference Calls
A Formula for Success - Gifting or Allocating Assets Using a Formula Clause
Listen to Dennis on this Classroom Conference Call of recent cases and develops dealing with formula gift clauses entitled "A Formula for Success - Gifting or Allocating Assets Using a Formula Clause."
“I left an in-house counsel position at a large bank to start my own practice at a time that the bank was being prepared for a merger and my position was likely to terminate. I had no clients and only a sketch of a business plan in my head. I linked up with a couple of life insurance agents who were giving living trust seminars to prepare the documents for their customers. I was paid separately and had the clients sign a separate engagement agreement. I didn't know enough about what I was doing and needed a big jump start. I saw an ad for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and began to do a lot of due diligence. I borrowed the necessary money for the membership and to hire a very competent secretary, took the training, read the materials and started to do seminars almost immediately.
I now have a partner, an associate and a former partner who is of counsel with my firm. We are keeping 11 full-time and 2 part-time employees busy and manage to bring in close to $2M in revenue each year.”