Membership

 

How can WealthCounsel help you beat the competition?

WealthCounsel is a membership organization where estate planning practitioners collaborate in the development of exceptional document drafting software, educational opportunities, marketing tools and strategies, and practice development techniques. 

A WealthCounsel membership will provide you with ALL of the following products and services:

1. WealthDocs™: A comprehensive, customizable, automated, open architecture, legal document drafting system

2. Education: Legal technical and practice development courses that focus on strategies you can take back and incorporate into your practice the very next day

3. Practice Development: Expert assistance to help you build a profitable estate planning practice

4. Community: More than 1,600 fellow members are available to offer you advice, co-counsel and referrals

5. Listservs: Collegial and professional forums where hundreds of estate planning attorneys exchange ideas and techniques, plus a web-based questionnaire where you can ask our staff attorneys to answer your WealthDocs-related legal questions

6. Knowledge Base: A place to exchange custom clauses, PowerPoint presentations, special documents, checklists, client intake forms and letters, and other valuable tools and resources

7. Service and Product Provider Alliances and Discounts

8. Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI) Newsletters

Where did WealthCounsel come from?

WealthCounsel grew out of a friendship that began over a decade ago among a business and marketing consultant and nine nationally recognized estate planning attorneys who had taught courses to estate planning attorneys nationally. In 1998, they formed The Jackson Group, LLC to work together on significant estates and to co-counsel with attorneys across the country.

In 1998, the Jackson Group formed the National Study Group, an educational forum for advanced practitioners taught by nationally recognized experts in trusts and estates law. Over the next few years the National Study Group expanded to include a CLE-approved curriculum attended by hundreds of attorneys each year.

During this period, the original principals recognized a need in their own practices for a comprehensive drafting system that was revised continuously to reflect new estate planning strategies and changes in the law. They formed WealthCounsel, LLC to produce the drafting system and to teach attorneys how to practice well.

The drafting system, named WealthDocs™, was initially authored by the nine principals. It was designed to grow and change in response to the attorneys who use it. WealthDocs now reflects the thoughts of hundreds of estate planning practitioners. It is a mind-meld that grows richer and richer over time.

In 2003, WealthCounsel added a full-time Director of Education. WealthCounsel curriculum evolved into the EP Course Series that is now taught several times a year. WealthCounsel also added an asset transfer system and business planning documents to WealthDocs.

After many members requested help in marketing and running their law practices, WealthCounsel launched Practice with Purpose in 2004. This course helps attorneys develop practice management and development systems that work for their particular practices. It provides training and consulting that focuses on the everyday practical steps to creating and sustaining a successful law practice and business. The program is being enhanced to add an online staff training site later this year.

WealthCounsel is member driven. By listening and responding to members needs and requests, WealthCounsel will continue to develop the best practice tools and techniques for the estate planning profession. Over 1000 firms representing more than 1600 attorneys and support staff are members of WealthCounsel today.

Lets look more closely at each of the 8 major components of a WealthCounsel membership

1. WealthDocs™

What could one error in an estate planning document cost you?

Maybe nothing. But then again, maybe a lot: a client...a lawsuit...a dent in your reputation. Is it worth taking the chance?

You probably already have some type of document drafting system in place in your practice, ranging from cut-and-paste/search-and-replace word processing to one (or more) full-blown, proprietary, document drafting systems. But is your system really producing the error-free documents you want, consistent with the quality of your practice?

WealthDocs provides a complete document assembly system for:

• Individual and Joint Revocable Trusts
• Wills
• Irrevocable Trusts
• Grantor Retained Trusts
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
• Stand-alone Retirement Trusts
• Stand-alone Third Party Special Needs Trusts
• Charitable Trusts and Foundations
• Selected IRS Forms
• Family Limited Partnerships
• Business Succession Planning
• State-Specific Documents and Issues

It includes ancillary and supporting documents for every aspect of your estate planning practice, including:

• Invoices
• Agreement letters
• Funding documents

Plus, WealthDocs includes an Asset Transfer System for:

• Trust asset transfers
• Post-mortem sub-trusts
• Creating asset allocation, net worth, and transfer status reports, plus manual tracking sheets and asset schedules

WealthDocs also provides:

• Pre-programmed scenarios so you and your staff don't have to answer the same questions over and over again
• An Express Interview Process for revocable living trusts that eliminates some of the dialogue questions that do not apply to basic plans
• Custom overlays that dramatically reduce input time for the most commonly used estate plans

Here is what one WealthCounsel member had to say about the accuracy of cut-and-paste/search-and-replace document drafting compared to WealthDocs:

A couple of weeks ago I tried a shortcut I used previously drafted WealthDocs ancillaries, and a state relatively simple will. I wanted to see if the cut and replace and simple will would be faster than drafting with WealthDocs.

Turns out I couldnt believe how many errors I created with the ancillaries forgetting to change the husbands name in one spot or another, or the date of execution, etc. or forgetting to change a social security number that appeared in a spot it was truly a disaster.

The beauty of WealthDocs is that unless theres an error from the WealthCounsel side, or a seriously bad choice in selections while drafting, the document should be as close to error free as possible. Yeah, way to go WealthDocs!!!

Gary B. Garland, Esq.
New York, NY

WealthDocs will not time out or lock up

Has this ever happened to you? Youre working late, trying to create documents in time for a crushing deadline, when suddenly the software you rely on locks up because you havent renewed your license. Chances are that no one is available to process your renewal. What do you do?

This happened to one of WealthCounsel founding attorneys, and it was the inspiration behind our buy-it, own-it approach to our comprehensive library of document drafting software. With WealthDocs, youll never be denied access to your drafting software once youve purchased it!

With WealthDocs, updates are performed automatically

Do you or someone on your staff have to update your document drafting system whenever the law changes? If so, there is always the possibility of errornot to mention the cost of your time or the time of staff members. (According to a recent ABA survey, the cost to practitioners of developing and updating their own in-house drafting systems ranged from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars!)

WealthDocs is revised continuously to reflect new estate planning strategies and changes in the law. Important changes will no longer be put off until someone has a free moment. And they wont be forgotten. They will be done immediately and automatically!

WealthDocs is completely customizable

Do you continue to use an in-house-developed document drafting system because of unique language and custom clauses that you have developed over the years?

If you answered yes, youll be happy to learn that WealthDocs is fully customizable. Its easy for you to add your own unique language and custom clauses to the system. Plus, you get to benefit from additional language that has been vetted and reviewed by hundreds of estate planning attorneys, ACTEC members, and university professors!

Our software support team is VERY responsive

Some legal document drafting software companies take days to provide support. This can have a dramatic negative impact on your output, your staffs output, billable hours, and client satisfaction.

WealthCounsel provides highly responsive legal technical and software support accessible via toll-free telephone or e-mail from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Plus, our support team provides one-stop support for all of the applications used in WealthDocs. Well never shuffle you off to another company to provide support for an application that is a component of WealthDocs!

The transition to WealthDocs is easy and convenient

Many legal document drafting software companies give you just a few hours of free training per month. If you or your staff would like more training (so you can earn a more rapid return on your software investment), you are asked to pay for "premium services". In other words, they want you to pay more money to learn how to use the software for which you are already paying them!

WealthCounsel takes a completely different approach to software implementation and training. We provide comprehensive software training CDs that give you and your staff the flexibility to learn how to use WealthDocs™ based upon the constraints of your own schedules. Plus, our highly responsive software support team is always ready to answer your How do I __________? questions.

Documents generated by WealthDocs are lengthy and comprehensive

Imagine a client calls with a new issue or problem, one of a hundred potential problems and risks that could pertain to the client's case. Do you ever find yourself wondering whether the issue was covered in the plan you created for your client?

Documents generated by WealthDocs are lengthy and comprehensive on purpose and include just about every imaginable contingency. Why? Because you can't see into the future and know with 100% certainty what will happen to the law or your clients!

Documents generated by WealthDocs are written in plain, first-person English

How much time do you spend explaining documents to your clients? Usually this time investment is required because clients can't find or understand the language in their plans. Answering client questions consumes your time and reduces client satisfaction, which in turn can negatively impact the number referrals you receive.

WealthDocs produces documents that are written in plain, first-person English. Your clients will be able to readily understand most of the content of their plans without asking you to translate a bunch of "legalese" for them!

WealthCounsel has the best, most user friendly, most comprehensive, with the most options of any estate planning software, from the most fundamental to the most advanced estate planning techniques.

Christine Weiner

*****

The WealthCounsel Drafting System has made it possible for me to practice estate planning law the way Ive always envisioned it. I enjoy the ease of customization, and WealthCounsel keeps it current and cutting edge with constant updates.

Tony Madonia
Chicago, IL

2. Education

Do you view continuing legal education (CLE) as a necessary evil?

Here are five reasons why some CLE courses have a bad name with estate planning attorneys:

1. Much of the available continuing legal education (CLE) training is boring, tedious, and cannot readily be applied to your practice.

2. Many CLE courses are too basic or too advanced. How are you supposed to figure out what level of education you need to advance your knowledge of a specific topic?

3. Some CLE instructors seem to want to impress you with their knowledge or scare you into referring to them. They don't deliver strategies and tactics you can implement yourself.

4. It can be hard to find the time to travel to attend CLE classes.

5. In many cases the CLE training you receive does not relate back to your document drafting system(s). How are you supposed to implement new information, skills and techniques?

6. Wouldnt you prefer to attend enjoyable, informative CLE training that you can implement in your practice right away?

WealthCounsel Education provides legal technical and practice development courses that focus on strategies you can take back and incorporate into your practice the very next day.

We offer more than 20 specialty courses covering all estate, tax, trust administration, business, and estate planning topics. Each year we provide more than 25 days of intensive legal-technical and practice building CLE, plus three days of hands-on computer lab for you and your staff. Plus we provide complete recordings of our CLE courses on CDROM. Cant make the time to attend a training event? No worries you can review the material whenever you wish!

"WealthCounsel teachers are the best I've ever seen. But they never assume they know everything. They're open to ideas and are responsive to our requests for new strategies and updates."

Tom O'Diam Dayton, OH

*****

"WealthCounsel faculty are practitioners who use practical examples and suggest drafting techniques. They teach us how to take what we've learned back to our individual practices. That's what sets WealthCounsel apart from other continuing legal education."

Teresa Nuccio

3. Practice Development

What's your source for knowledge to help you build and manage a profitable practice?

Law school helps you acquire the technical knowledge and skill you need to practice law. However, who is teaching you how to attract clients, hire and manage staff, and the numerous other BUSINESS activities that you must manage successfully to build a profitable practice?

A WealthCounsel membership gives you access to experienced advisors

• You can ask our experienced practice development consultant questions via telephone and e-mail
• You will receive a monthly ebook that addresses specific aspects of practice development and management
• You will have access to the WealthCounsel Practice Building Listserv, where you can post your practice development and management questions and learn from our experienced Practice Advisor and more than 1,600 estate planning attorneys
• You can participate in monthly conference calls that provide hour-long studies of the most important estate planning issues that concern your practice

4. Community

How can the WealthCounsel Community help you build a profitable practice?

Here are five reasons why having access to a community of like-minded professionals can be invaluable to your practice.

1. Where will you find other qualified professionals with whom you can brainstorm? Do you think having ready access to other knowledgeable professionals could help you solve ticklish problems and implement new concepts in your practice?

2. Why should you give up fee revenue because you don't have expertise in specific areas of estate planning? Wouldnt you prefer to keep a portion of this revenue AND expand your expertise at the same time?

3. Would your clients like their family or friends in other geographic areas to benefit from estate planning practices similar to the ones your clients are using? Do your clients sometimes move and need to find new estate planning attorneys to help them manage and evolve their plans?

4. Do your clients ever ask you, "What would happen if you were hit by a bus?" Does this type of concern ever cost you business?

5. Do you have a safe environment where you can ask any question and not be made to feel stupid or inferior?

From day one you will belong to an expanding community of 1,600 estate planning attorneys and staff members

Your WealthCounsel membership will enable you to take advantage of expertise, experience, advice, and co-counsel learning opportunities with more than 1,600 fellow estate planning practitioners. While access to this extraordinary resource is valuable to estate planning attorneys in firms of any size, it is of particular value to solo practitioners and small firms.

I do recommend that you consider joining, and want to point out another benefit that I have not yet seen mentioned. Since I have been a member of WealthCounsel, I have received referrals from other WealthCounsel members (who I don't know personally) for EP and settlement and local deed preparation work (and a couple of probate litigation cases too) that have translated to revenue in excess of what I pay for being a member. Now, I am in a "retirement / resort" area, which is "importing" people and growing, so other members may not have shared my experience, but being a WealthCounsel member actually has been a positive money-maker for my firm.

Harley D. Ruff
Ruff & Ruff LLC
Beaufort, SC

5. Listservs

Where do you turn for advice on the following topics?

• Legal technical issues
• Document drafting systems
• Building a thriving and successful law practice
• Information technology
• State-specific legal technical issues
• Asset transfer

WealthCounsel provides collegial and professional forums where hundreds of estate planning attorneys exchange ideas and techniques. These forums are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Plus, you will usually receive very rapid responses to your questions.

Your WealthCounsel membership will open the door for you to participate in the following Listservs:

• WealthCounsel Listserv: Approximately 2,500 participants; open to estate planning professionals (attorneys and non-attorneys) for the specific purpose of exchanging information related to Estate Planning

• WealthCounsel Member's Listserv: Open only to those attorneys and supporting staff who are currently WealthCounsel members; focuses are WealthDocs-specific questions, referrals, co-counsel requests, etc.

• WealthCounsel Practice Building Listserv: Focus is on practice development and management. Non-members may join for a monthly fee.

• WealthCounsel Technology Listserv: Open to attorneys and non-attorneys for the specific purpose of exchanging information related to technology

• WealthCounsel State Specific: Created for State user's groups to exchange estate planning and WealthDocs drafting information

• WealthDocs Asset Transfer Listserv: Open to WealthCounsel member attorneys and non-attorneys for the specific purpose of exchanging information related to use and support of the WealthDocs Asset Transfer system

• Also available is a web-based questionnaire where you can submit WealthDocs-related legal questions to WealthCounsel staff attorneys

6. Knowledge Base

How could the WealthCounsel Knowledge Base help YOU?

• Do you ever miss out on marketing opportunities because you can't find the time to develop PowerPoint and other marketing presentations?
• How often do you spend hours searching for sources for specialized agreements or forms?
• How often do you need special clauses for specific religious groups and other purposes? How much time do you invest in searching for or developing these special clauses?

A WealthCounsel membership will help you add sophistication to your law practice

The WealthCounsel Knowledge Base includes:

• Unique provisions such as:
  • Incentive clauses
  • Pet trusts
  • Miller trusts
  • Charitable trusts
    
•  State-specific documents
• Marketing presentations and PowerPoint slides
• Extensive marketing, referral, and client management tips and tools
• Custom clauses
• Checklists
• Client intake forms and letters
• Easy, 24 x 7 access to WealthDocs updates

7. Alliances and Discounts

Receive special discounts on a variety of services and products

Our special alliances with service and product providers entitle you to receive member-only discounts. Sample alliance partners include:

• Lexis-Nexis
• In-a-Bind
• Docubank
• Brentmark Software

8. Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI) Newsletters

How do you keep track of proposed and recent legislation?

Instead of wading through reams of cases and rulings, you can have the cases and rulings delivered to you by e-mail. Or, you can perform searches on a truly user-friendly, instantly available website.

Here are four other benefitsyou will receive from your LISI subscription:

1. Access hundreds of cases, rulings and legislation, plus a database of all future postings

2. Powerful Retirement and Roth IRA calculators

3. Ten-year archive of the monthly FaxNet data service

4. Section 7520 and other important rate information

What does a WealthCounsel membership cost?

Consider for just a minute how much a WealthCounsel membership is worth. What is the potential value of each WealthCounsel membership component?

1. WealthDocs: According to a recent ABA survey, the cost to practitioners of developing and updating their own in-house drafting systems ranged from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

2. Practice Development: The investment required to hire a top-notch practice development consultant can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars in retainer feesand be well worth it! If you are already using the services of a practice development consultant, we dont suggest you stop using them. But, wouldnt you agree that an initial consultation from another point of view, plus ongoing advice, is worth at least some hundreds of dollars?

3. Community: What is the value of being able to query 1,600 fellow members for advice, co-counsel, and referrals?

4. Listservs: Perhaps you have an associate attorney on staff to do research. What does that cost? More likely, you spend your own time doing research. Multiply the number of hours you spend doing research by your hourly rate, then add in the opportunity cost of not being able to spend that time with a client generating fees. What total did you come up with?

5. Knowledge Base: Imagine that you've been asked to make a presentation to a group of CPAs or your local Bar on a particular topic and you do not have the necessary presentation materials.

   • How much would it cost to purchase a "canned" presentation product? (Probably a minimum of $300.)

   • What would your time investment be to produce the slides and materials yourself? Perhaps one day to one week of evenings, plus a weekend?

   • What if you only had a couple of days to pull the presentation together and you couldn't do it? How much business might you lose? $2,500? $10,000?

6. Service and Product Provider Alliances and Discounts: The value of these discounts varies based on the value of the products and services you use that can be purchased through these partners.

7. Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI) Newsletters: $24.95 per month (the usual subscription fee)

You will be happy to learn that you can join WealthCounsel for just $550 per month. Or, if you wish, you can pay an initiation fee of $4,400 and reduce your monthly payments to just $425 per month!

Click Here to Start Receiving the Many Benefits of a WealthCounsel Membership

You risk nothing by becoming a member

After you place your order for your WealthCounsel membership, you will have a full 30 days to review the entire program. Put WealthDocs to work. Attend some CLE courses. Query the Knowledge Base. Ask questions of our support staff and your 1,600 WealthCounsel colleagues.

If for any reason you dont feel your WealthCounsel membership is a must have and worth every cent of the low monthly fee, simply return your WealthDocs CDs. Youll receive a complete refund of your membership fees.

Why do we offer this extraordinary guarantee?

Because we are convinced you will find your WealthCounsel membership to be worth far more than the low monthly fee! But dont take our word for it - read what several of our members have told us:

Try it Risk-FREE for 30 days!

Take advantage right now of the opportunity to explore all that WealthCounsel® has to offer you, completely risk free. Click on the secure ordering link and get started right now!

Sincerely,

Roberta J. Trudeau
WealthCounsel Principal

P.S. Have a question? Pick up the phone and call one of our Membership Directors at (888) 659-4069.

However, don't put off joining WealthCounsel. It may well become one of the most important business decisions youll make today...or even this year! Click here to order now.