american academy of estate planning attorneys 11 essential … · 2017-03-15 · 2 system 1:...

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

11 Essential SystemsSystem 1: Strategic Planning

Aligning Your Business with Your Personal Values

Aligning Your Business with Your Personal Values 1

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2 System 1: Strategic Planning


SPEAKERSROBERT ARMSTRONGPresidentRobert Armstrong is Co- Founder and President of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Robert is a visionary, innovator, and gifted conceptual thinker who

has practiced law for more than 35 years. For the past two decades, he has coached successful entrepreneurial attorneys to have a balanced life and record breaking revenues.

In 2010, he co-authored The E-Myth Attorney, Why Most Legal Practices Don’t Work and What to Do About It with Sanford M. Fisch and small business legend Mi-chael Gerber. This Amazon best seller shows how for-ward thinking law firms can systematize their practices and develop unique delivery systems to prosper in an increasingly commoditized world. The following year he co-authored Dominate Your Market, The Attorney’s Complete Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media to help attorneys effectively use cutting edge strategies to ensure market leadership.

Robert is committed to making the business-savvy practitioner the standard for professional success in es-tate planning. His philosophies, systems, and strategies help good lawyers become great, satisfied, and success-ful business owners. The American Academy was in-spired by his conviction that attorneys, in order to be successful, need more than just technical legal skills. Today, Robert serves as President of the Academy and is responsible for collaborating on the strategic direction of the organization. On a day-to-day basis, he oversees the Academy’s Marketing, Technical Support, and Soft-ware Development departments, as well as authoring new Academy programs and initiatives.

Several years ago he saw the need for intensive personal coaching for attorneys who wanted accountability and help applying the programs the Academy provides. The elite Peak Performer group was founded with multiple face to face sessions and daily accountability. With the aid of his leadership, these dedicated Peak Performers are transforming every aspect of their lives.

In addition to the E-Myth Attorney and Dominate Your Market, Robert is co-author of several books, including the practice management book for attorneys, Creating a Loving Trust Practice, and the books, Total Wealth Management, Estate Planning Basics: A Crash Course in Safeguarding Your Assets, Dominate Your Market, and Legacy Wealth Planning. He also contributed his exper-tise to the bestseller, Terry Savage on Money.

Professional ExperienceRobert has been a practicing attorney since 1976 and is the founder of one of the most successful estate planning practices in the country. In 1989, he joined forces with fellow estate planning attorney, Sanford M. Fisch. To-gether they serve as principals with the San Diego, Cal-ifornia law firm, Armstrong, Fisch & Tutoli, where they have created thousands of quality estate plans for grate-ful clients. In 1993, Robert co-founded the American Academy to help Members build successful and robust practices through a rich array of products, services, and systems. His innovative, real-world solutions to com-mon professional and business problems help Members become the premier estate planning attorneys in their communities. With step-by-step coaching, the Academy helps Members effectively use technology, successfully and ethically market estate planning services, create pre-cise accounting systems, inspire law firm staff, and stay current with the ever-changing estate planning laws.

EducationAfter four years in the U.S. Navy, including a decorated combat tour of duty in Da Nang, Vietnam, Robert at-tended the University of California at San Diego, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Greek. In 1976, Robert earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego, where he was a staff writer for the Law Review and was awarded the prestigious American Jurisprudence Award for excellence in Insurance Law. Robert holds Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses and a California Life Insur-ance License, ensuring that clients receive the benefits of coordinated estate and financial plans.



SANFORD M. FISCHCEOSanford M. Fisch has spent over 30 years combining his keen business sense with an unparalleled understanding of strategic law firm manage-ment, marketing, and client

relations. His ardent desire and deep commitment to helping fellow attorneys drove him to co-found the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

Today, Sanford continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer at the Academy. He is responsible for collaborat-ing on the strategic direction of the Academy, working with Members on strategic planning in their law firms, and increasing firm productivity, as well as building alliances with other organizations which provide re-sources to Academy Members.

By constantly seeking better and more effective ways of doing things, he continues to make a real difference by transforming law firms, the industry, and some lives along the way.

In addition, he is a co-author of The E-Myth Attorney, which reflects the vast experience gained over a more than 30 year career in practice, and as an advisor and coach to lawyers throughout the country. Other books he has co-authored include Total Wealth Management, Estate Planning Basics: A Crash Course in Safeguard-ing Your Assets, Dominate Your Market, and Legacy Wealth Planning.

Professional ExperienceIn addition to building a prominent estate planning law firm, and co-founding the Academy, Sanford has used his experience to add the Academy Peak Per-formers coaching program as well as a special coach-ing program for effective consultations to his regular duties. Through his work at the Academy, he has be-come a recognized leader and much sought-after ad-visor, speaker, and consultant to law firms throughout the United States.

His early career was spent as a Tax Specialist with Coo-pers and Lybrand, an international accounting firm. He also taught at the American College for Certified Finan-cial Planners and Chartered Underwriters. In 1989, he joined forces with fellow estate planning attorney and Academy co-founder Robert Armstrong and is current-ly a principal of Armstrong, Fisch & Tutoli, APLC. In 1993, Sanford co-founded the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

EducationA solid legal education, including a Masters degree in tax law from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982, was the foundation for Sanford’s career. He graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 1977, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Eco-nomics, where he was a member of the National Mortar Board Honor Society. In 1980, he went on to earn his law degree from the University of San Diego, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for excel-lence in Civil Procedure. He was also published in the Law Review, “To Be or Not to Be—Tax is the Question?”

Sanford holds Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses and a California Life Insurance License, ensuring that cli-ents receive the benefits of coordinated estate and fi-nancial plans.



11 ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS TO BUILD YOUR DREAM PRACTICE

1. Strategic Planning System: Aligning your business with your personal values

2. Finance and Operations Management System: Managing by the numbers to keep in touch with your profitability

3. A Systems Approach to Leadership: Mindset, unique abilities, time management, mastery and more

4. Staff Accountability and Team Building Systems: Putting the right people with the right skills in the right positions

5. Comprehensive Technology System: Leverage online and offline tools to save hundreds of hours of drafting documents and managing your firm

6. Integrated Marketing and Public Relations System: Integrated Marketing and Public Re-lations System: Tap into the power of multiple marketing channels to generate a steady stream of qualified clients.

7. Successful Consultations: No stress client engagement system

8. Efficient Workflow Systems: Drafting, reviewing, and executing state-of-the-art estate plans

9. Continuing Legal Education System: Staying on the cutting edge of effective legal strategies.

10. Ancillary Business Systems: Developing multiple sources of revenue through your law firm platform.

11. Staying on the Cutting Edge: Participating in a community of like-minded attorneys events, listserv, webinars, and calls with attorneys from around the country



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Participants on this webinar will receive a free copy of the E-Myth Attorney, co-authored by Robert and Sandy, as well as an invitation to see

if you’re qualified to attend our upcoming Boot Camp and Summit in Indianapolis, IN (details about that training are below).

INDIANAPOLIS BOOT CAMP TRAINING INFORMATION

Begins Wednesday, May 3, 2017 ✓ 8:00am–9:00am: Complimentary Boot Camp attendee breakfast ✓ 9:00am–6:00pm: Boot Camp training on Systems 2-11 with Academy founders Robert Armstrong

and Sanford M. Fisch ✓ 7:00pm: Dinner with VIP Boot Camp students and Academy leadership

Concludes Thursday, May 4, 2017 ✓ 9:00am–11:00am: Academy Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer Price, and the Academy Member Ser-

vices team will review the Academy Marketing Calendar and best practices, followed by a quick re-view of the Academy’s Executive Starter Kit

Membership-Wide Summit May 4–7, 2017 ✓ Thursday, 1pm–5pm: Welcome and Keynote ✓ 6:30pm–9:30pm: Cocktail and Dinner Reception with all summit attendees ✓ Friday, 8am–5pm: Sessions with evening Social Event (VIP guests are provided one complimentary

ticket to social event) ✓ Saturday, 8am–5pm: Sessions with evening Roundtable option ✓ Sunday, 8am–Noon: Sessions and close of the Summit

* Approximately 12-15 hours of CLE are associated with the Summit portion of this training

There is no obligation to join the Membership. This is a no-risk way to take a peek behind the curtain at what Membership offers. 15 VIP Guest law firms will be invited to this event.

VIP Students Must Be Qualified ✓ All law firm offices must be in an area where an Academy Member is needed

✓ Must have a clean State Bar record



✓ Three professional references are checked

✓ Must be in a financial position to build a practice. Credit references are also checked

✓ Guest financial advisors are approved by Matson Money

DETAILSMonthly Fee is: $2,495

✓ Most Members average between $3,000 and $4,500 for an average estate plan, making the Monthly Fee equivalent to less than 1 estate plan per month

✓ The Monthly Fee does not begin until May 15, 2017 during this Boot Camp and Summit promotion. For those attorneys starting right away, that comes to a savings of as much as $7,500

Initiation Fee is: $28,500 ✓ For those opting to begin membership prior to June 1, 2017, there is a credit of $4,000

✓ The total initiation fee is equivalent to about 6 estate plans

✓ Academy Payment Plan details available upon request

This is not a sales pitch in disguise. If you feel like we’ve wasted any of your time at the Boot Camp and Summit, we will reimburse you for up to $1,000 of your travel expenses!

The invitation for approved VIP students includes two other people from the firm. We highly recommend partners, spouses, office managers, or other key people to attend with the owner.

[email protected] • 800.846.1555

There is no obligation for guests to join the Membership. This is simply an opportunity to take a closer look at what Academy Membership offers.

Strategic Planning Worksheet 11

STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHEET

STEP 1 VISION

2 Strategic Planning Worksheet2

LAW FIRM NAME: DATE: If you’re a new member, do your best to provide all the information requested. Once completed, please email this form along with the Profit & Loss Statement to your PBC to schedule the Strategic Planning call.

VISION: STRATEGIC PLAN S & Cs are internal to the business and O & Ts are external. All points should be only in one area, for example, something is either a Strength or a Challenge but cannot be both! Enter up to six items under each heading.

STRENGTHS:

CHALLENGES:

OPPORTUNITIES:

THREATS:

PRIMARY AIM Provides a sense of purpose, direction and inspiration. It motivates you to your highest levels of energy, using your unique abilities, allowing you to be the best you can be. It is about leading a life and creating a practice that is consistent with your core values and beliefs.

VISION What will the business look like in 3-4 years’ time? Revenue, # of employees, attorneys, focus, etc. Does this support your exit strategy?

MISSION STATEMENT What you want potential customers to know about your business and why your firm is different – short, succinct and clear. Can be posted in your lobby.

CORPORATE VALUES Describe the values and standards that business decisions will be based on and relationships with employees, community, clients, and vendors. What moral code do you operate by or litmus test can you ask yourselves? (i.e. “we always take the high road”)


VISION: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE About My Practice If you are submitting last year’s financials, the information below can be submitted on this plan or on your financials, there is no need to provide it in both places.

CURRENT YEAR NEXT YEAR

STAFFING

1. Number of Owners

2. Number of Attorneys

3. Number of Employees (F/T & P/T)

4. Document Production Person? F/T , P/T or No

5. Marketing Coordinator? F/T , P/T or No

6. Trust Admin Person? F/T , P/T or No

7. Final Signing Person? F/T , P/T or No

8. Skills and Personality Testing in place? Yes or No

9. Weekly Staff Meeting Yes or No

Day of Week _______________

10. Weekly Marketing Meeting Yes or No

Day of Week _______________

CONTACTS

11. Number of Prospects in your database

12. Number of Clients in your database

13. Number of Professional Contacts in your database for networking purposes

14. Name your Niches for private seminars (i.e. business owners, special needs, farmers, doctors, employers, non-profit groups)

NUMBERS

15. What percentage of gross is spent on Marketing? (Seminars, mailings, advertising, no marketing coordinator salary).


16. Number of total CASES retained (amendments and restatements are cases, just not “new clients”, etc)

17. Cost per Client: Divide the amount spent on marketing by the number of cases retained, what is your average cost per case?

18. What is your Average Transaction Fee?


VISION: ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Consider staffing based on the Academy’s Benchmarks for Revenue per Employee and Revenue per Attorney.

PRESIDENT ( )

MARKETING MANAGER

( )

MARKETING COORDINATOR

[Lead Generation] ( )

PUBLIC MARKETING ( )

PRIVATE MARKETING ( )

REFERRAL MARKETING

( )

ADVANCED EP ( )

CE PROGRAM ( )

ONLINE/EMAIL MKTG ( )

CLIENT MARKETING ( )

SEMINAR SPEAKER [Lead Conversion]

( )

SEMINAR PARALEGAL

[Lead Conversion] ( )

ATTORNEY [Lead Conversion]

( )

OPERATIONS MANAGER

( )

RECEPTIONIST ( )

DATABASE ENTRY ( )

ATTORNEY [Professional Review]

( )

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR

( )

LEGAL SERVICES MANAGER

( )

ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY


ASSISTANT ( )

PRODUCTION PARALEGAL

( )

PROOFING ( )

FUNDING ( )

FINAL SIGNING ( )

NOTARY SERVICES ( )

DEED PROCESSING ( )

ESTATE/TRUST ADMIN ATTORNEY


ESTATE/TRUST ADMIN ASSISTANT

( )

ADV EP ATTORNEY [Lead Generation/

Conversion] ( )

FINANCE MANAGER ( )

ACCOUNTING ( )

BOOKKEEPER ( )

PAYROLL ( )

ACCOUNTS PAY/REC

( )

VENDOR PURCHASING

( )

BANK RELATIONSHIPS

( )

FINANCIAL PRODUCTS MANAGER

( )

LICENSING & COMPLIANCE

( )

MARKETING ( )

CONVERSION ( )

FOLLOW-UP ( )



STEP 2 GOALS


GOALS: FEES FEES

CURRENT YEAR NEXT YEAR

DATE OF LAST FEE INCREASE:

SIMPLE WILL

COMPLEX WILL

SINGLE LIVING TRUST (bundled plan or tiered pricing)

MARRIED JOINT LIVING TRUST (bundled plan or tiered pricing)

SINGLE FAMILY WEALTH TRUST

AMENDMENTS

RESTATEMENTS

MEDICAID TRUST WITH RLT:

STAND ALONE:

MEDICAID CRISIS QUALIFICATION

TRUST ADMIN

CLIENT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

SEMINAR CREDIT


GOALS: DAILY NUMBER EXERCISE Determine your gross revenue number and write it down. The next step is to figure out how much revenue your practice needs to bring in on a daily basis to turn the number you’ve just written down into a reality.

1. First, break the year into weeks. There are 52 weeks in a year, but you don’t want to be a slave to your practice, so give yourself four weeks of vacation. Plus, if your office is anything like most firms, things tend to grind to a halt around Christmas, so you’ll want to subtract another two weeks at the end of the year, bringing you to 46 working weeks.

2. Next, break those 46 working weeks down into working days. If you worked seven days a week, that would be 322 working days, but I’m assuming you’ll want weekends and national holidays for yourself. There are 11 national holidays and 46 weekends (92 days) each year, leaving you about 219 working days.

3. So, let’s assume the dream number you wrote down at the beginning of this exercise was $2 million. Divide that by 219 days, and your daily revenue number is $9,132. If your operating expenses run at 50% of gross, then this number puts $1 million in your pocket annually, before taxes.

GROSS REVENUE AND DAILY NUMBER (PAST, CURRENT & FUTURE) Estimate revenue goal(s), then determine number of weeks total you’ll work (less vacation and holidays), next determine number of days you will work each week (i.e. 4 or 5 days) and divide the number of days by your revenue goal to determine your true Monthly, Weekly and Daily Number. LAST YEAR CURRENT NEXT YEAR IN 2 YEARS IN 4 YEARS

GROSS REVENUE

MONTHLY NUMBER

WEEKLY NUMBER

DAILY NUMBER

OWNER’S COMPENSATION (PAST, CURRENT & FUTURE) Include draw, car, insurance, net income.

LAST YEAR CURRENT NEXT YEAR IN 2 YEARS IN 4 YEARS

OWNER’S COMPENSATION



STEP 3 EXECUTION

10

Strateg

ic Planning

Wo

rksheet10

EXECUTIO

N: M

ARKETING

PLAN

Body Count Worksheet (front)

Gross Revenue G

oal: ________________________

REVENU

E CATEG

ORY

AN

NU

AL

REVENU

E

% O

F G

ROSS

AVERA

GE FEE

NU

MBER O

F CASES

(Divide Revenue by

the Avg. Fee per

Category)

MO

NTH

LY REVENU

E G

OA

L

(Divide A

nnual Goal

per Category by 12)

MO

NTH

LY CA

SES REQ

UIRED

MO

NTH

LY

BOD

Y COU

NT

(Complete A

ttached Form

)

Corporate Work

Amend/

Restate (Clients)

Restatements

(Non-Clients)

Living Trusts

Wills

Advanced Planning

Trust Administration

Probate

Medicaid Pre-Plan

Medicaid Crisis

Miscellaneous

TOTALS

100%

PROSPECT Body Count:

CLIENT Body Count:

Strateg

ic Planning

Wo

rksheet 11

11

Body Count Worksheet (back)

Use this form

for each Revenue Category.

A

MEN

DM

ENT

RESTATEMEN

TS W

ILLS LIVIN

G TRU

STS M

EDICAID

PRE-PLAN

NIN

G

Total Cases Needed

Ex: 50 cases

Current Percentage of Retention in the Firm

Ex: 85%

Meetings N

eeded in Order to Retain the Cases You

Need

Ex: 60 (x 85% retention gives you 50 cases)

What Percentage of Cancellation D

oes Your Office

Experience?

Ex: 15%

Add Above Percentage to the Num

ber of Cases You Require (Appts Scheduled)

Ex: 60 + 15%

= 69

Total Monthly Body Count Requirem

ent

Take above number m

ultiply by 3 to determine how

m

any bodies you need to be in front of

Ex: 69 x 3 = 207

PROSPECT Body Count:

CLIEN

T Body Count:

12 Strategic Planning Worksheet

12

EXECUTION: MARKETING ACTIVITIES CHECKLIST Identify each activity you what to do and by when.

Law Firm Name ................................................................................................................................................... Year ..............................

Activity Implement

Y / N When

(mo or date) Done √

Repeat?*

PROSPECT MARKETING Fee Increase Letter Calendar 2 follow-up Postcards

Summer/Holiday Letters Revise for New Year, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Calendar 2 follow-up postcards.

Public Seminars Alternate Newspaper advertising with Direct Mail each sweep

Prospect Postcards Send them to prospects in your database for upcoming Public Seminars, broken down by zip code

*Repeat: Do you want to repeat this activity next year?

Activity Implement

Y / N When


Repeat?*

PRIVATE/NICHE SEMINAR MARKETING Create Private/Niche Seminar Hit List Professionals, non-profits, membership groups, employers, banks, doctors, farmers, special needs, business owners, churches, etc., includes niches in client database and other contacts.

Schedule Lunch Networking Meetings with Hit Lists Call 5-10 groups each week (whatever you need to meet your private seminar goal)

CPA Client Seminar Plan at least one per year in May/June or Nov/Dec – Plan 6 months out.

“Dinner’s On Us” Seminars Plan on at least 3-4 for the year. Target key clients and other contacts for endorsement.

Brownie Point Letters Send them once a month to organizations named in clients’ trusts.

CLIENT MARKETING Client Seminars Schedule them Monthly or Quarterly

Prepare Newsletter Cover Letter/Insert With updates, service offers, review reminders


Client Review Meeting Mailings With follow-up phone calls one week later

Client Advisory Board With Monthly or Quarterly lunch meeting in-office or at upscale restaurant

Send Out Cards Schedule monthly for birthdays, anniversaries, thank you’s, etc.

Teleseminars With guest speakers on variety of both estate planning and other topics

Annual Client Appreciation Events Such as cruises, local plays, wine tasting, ice cream social

Client Referral System Incorporate into Seminars, Consultations, and Signings

Wealth Care Maintenance Program Kick off your program for the year and schedule workshops on special topics for program members


Activity Implement

Y / N When


Repeat?*

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING

Lunch & Learn Meetings Schedule at least 2 per week (1 professional and 1 niche/private contact). Be prepared with Agenda with clear next steps.

Send eAlerts At least monthly with educational alerts, invitations to CE Programs, and other FYIs. Tuesdays are the best day for delivery.

Client in Common Letters Send out monthly and follow up with a lunch & learn invitation

CE Courses Plan at least 4 months out – 60 days needed to get CE approvals

Mini-Educational Lunches For small groups in your conference room. Often times they don’t need the CE Credit, but want the education

Invite to Upcoming Seminars Regularly invite professionals to your seminars as “guests” to open the door for private seminars


WEBSITE & EMAIL MARKETING

Activity Implement

Y / N When


Repeat?*

Download EPAs and Educational Alerts Set a reminder to download the newest article on the last business day of the month

Update Website Monthly With EPAs, law firm announcements, seminars

Update Social Media Accounts and Blog (Weekly) Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Avvo

Send eAlerts At least monthly to clients, prospects, and professionals. Tuesdays are the best day for delivery

SEO Program Members Schedule your blog approvals and postings

Website Monthly Maintenance Checklist To track results and ensure your website is up-to-date

Google Local AdWords Set-up an account with a minimum $500 budget per month

Facebook Ads Targeting professionals and consumers in your community to increase your fans.

Google Places Make sure you’re signed up and your information is correct.

Google Analytics Review your website traffic reports every month

Activity Implement

Y / N When


Repeat?*

PUBLIC RELATIONS Press Releases To local press, online, and on your website

Radio Show Guest Make arrangements to be a guest 4-6 times per year

Sign up for Google Alerts So you’re notified every time your firm name is mentioned in the news online

Author a Book To enhance your credibility as an expert in the field with consumers and referral sources



DASHBOARD SUMMARY After completing each section of the worksheet, summarize your goals here.

CURRENT NEXT YEAR

REVENUE GOAL

DAILY NUMBER

REVENUE PER ATTORNEY

REVENUE PER EMPLOYEE

MONTHLY BODY COUNT

MARKETING BUDGET

MARKETING CALENDAR DEADLINE

AVERAGE FEE

RETENTION RATE

COST PER CLIENT

6 INTERNAL SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT Include deadlines

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.

6 MARKETING SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT Include deadlines

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys—Application for Membership 1AMERICANACADEMY 1

aApplication for Membership

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DECISION TO LOOK CLOSER AT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS TOOLS, SYSTEMS AND MEMBERSHIP!

Whether you’re attending our upcoming Boot Camp and Summit, or you know for certain you’re ready to join the Academy Membership, we will need to process and approve this application as part of our qualifi cation process.

Please be frank about the location of all branch offi ces as well as any disciplinary action you’ve experienced. We recognize that whether your practice is a well established Estate Planning practice, you’re leaving an existing fi rm and going out on your own, or you’re changing directions and shift ing from one type of practice into Estate Planning for the fi rst time—this takes capital. We work hard to ensure the Members who join the Academy are in a secure fi nancial position. Please be candid about your available resources so we can properly advise you about the timing of Membership or execution of other goals.

We appreciate your interest in the Academy! We look forward to talking with you soon.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Applicant’s Full Name: ........................................................................................................................................................................... First Middle Last Jr./Sr./II/III

Alias or Maiden Name: ............................................................................................................................................................................

Birth Date: ............................................................................... Soc. Sec. No.: ..................................................................................(Required for Credit Check)

Main Offi ce Address: ................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Cellular: ..........................................................................................

Email: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

How did you hear about us? .....................................................................................................................................................................

BRANCH OFFICES (IF ANY)

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Fax: ..................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Fax: ..................................................................................................

2 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys—Application for Membership2 AMERICANACADEMY

LAW FIRM INFORMATION

My law fi rm is set up as: ❏ Sole Proprietor ❏ Corporation ❏ LLC ❏ LLP ❏ Other: .....................................................

❏ I am a partner in the law fi rm of ....................................................................................................................................................... .

❏ I am a stockholder in a corporation ❏ Other ................................................................................................................................

Have you fi led bankruptcy within the last ten years, or do you have any outstanding judgments fi led against you?

❏ No ❏ Yes (Please explain with an attachment.)

Do you carry Malpractice Insurance? ❏ Yes ❏ No. If I join, I will meet the requirements.*All Members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys are required to obtain Malpractice Insurance. Make sure that you meet our Malpractice Insurance Requirement of $250,000 per incident, $500,000 per year. We recommend, however, that you have insurance coverage for $500,000 per incident, $1 million aggregate per year.

Number of claims against your Malpractice Insurance in the last 10 years: ....................................................................................

If any claims were brought against your Malpractice Insurance, please attach an additional sheet with an explanation.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

My fi nancial resources are approximately: ❏ <$50K ❏ $50K-$100K ❏ >$100K

❏ I feel I am in a strong fi nancial position ❏ I do not have confi dence in my fi nancial position

Comments: .................................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION

EDUCATION

DEGREE DATE SPECIALTY/MAJOR SCHOOL DISTINCTIONS

UNDERGRADUATE

LAW SCHOOL

POST-GRADUATE WORK (E.G. LL.M., CPA)

SPECIALTY

OTHER

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys—Application for Membership 3AMERICANACADEMY 3

LICENSES TO PRACTICE LAW

STATE DATE OF ADMISSION BAR LICENSE #

1.

2.

3.

*Please list the state for which you would like CLE credit applied in Box 1.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions, please attach a separate sheet with an explanation

Have you ever been publicly or privately censured or disciplined by your Supreme Court Ethics Com-mittee or State Bar Association?

❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever been disbarred from practicing or voluntarily relinquished your license to practice law in any state?

❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony?❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever had any securities license or insurance license suspended or revoked?❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever had any disciplinary proceedings with the SEC, NASD, or any state regulatory body?❏ Yes❏ No

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REFERENCES

PLEASE GIVE US THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THREE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REFERENCES.

Name: .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................

Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................

Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................AMERICANACADEMY 3

LICENSES TO PRACTICE LAW

STATE DATE OF ADMISSION BAR LICENSE #

1.

2.

3.

*Please list the state for which you would like CLE credit applied in Box 1.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions, please attach a separate sheet with an explanation

Have you ever been publicly or privately censured or disciplined by your Supreme Court Ethics Com-mittee or State Bar Association?

❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever been disbarred from practicing or voluntarily relinquished your license to practice law in any state?

❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony?❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever had any securities license or insurance license suspended or revoked?❏ Yes❏ No

Have you ever had any disciplinary proceedings with the SEC, NASD, or any state regulatory body?❏ Yes❏ No

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REFERENCES

PLEASE GIVE US THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THREE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REFERENCES.

Name: .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................

Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................

Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Street Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................... Email: ..............................................................................................

4 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys—Application for Membership4 AMERICANACADEMY

AUTHORIZATION TO VERIFY INFORMATION

I hereby authorize the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys to verify all information contained in this appli-cation, including contacting individuals, fi nancial institutions, credit reporting agencies, and the appropriate Bar Associa-tions, SEC, NASD, and conducting a thorough background check.

I understand that false and/or inaccurate information on this application could result in forfeiture of my opportunity to become a Member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

I understand that all information reported on this application will be held in strict confi dence by the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

Th e information contained in this application is truthful and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. A facsimile copy of this signed Membership Application and Authorization to Verify Information shall be considered as valid as the original.

Firm Name: ................................................................................................................................................................................................

Print Name of Signer: ...............................................................................................................................................................................

Signature: .......................................................................................................................................... Date: ......................................

Please email or fax the completed application with any attachments to:Jennifer Price, Chief Operating Offi cer | [email protected] | Fax: 858.874.2560

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