I just returned from the American Academy’s Spring Summit event in Kansas City, Missouri. It was great to see old friends and to make new ones!
At the Summit event in Kansas City, I was particularly impressed by all the learning going on. Members were learning substantive law, practice management, marketing, ethics, and many other topics.
As I’ve written before, learning really is a lifelong process. At the recent Academy event, Members heard from many prominent speakers. Charles “Clary” Redd, Chair of ACTEC in Missouri, gave a great presentation about the ethical pitfalls of joint representation. Former FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza spoke to us about the wily ways of hoodlums and hackers and how to protect electronic information.
I gave two presentations, one on obtaining asset protection without using an asset protection trust and the other on fixing irrevocable trusts through the use of decanting, the Uniform Trust Code, or a trust protector.
It is essential to stay ahead of the game and learn new things continually. You never know when you will pick up some tidbit that will help you, your clients, and your practice take things to the next level. If you do not stay current with things, you’d never know that it could be possible to modify an irrevocable trust. Nor would you know that there are hackers out there who want to obtain your electronic information. In fact, if you did not stay current, you would still be using a pen and ink to draft your documents.
Staying current keeps an estate planning attorney sharp and makes life more interesting. The Academy events and all the information they provide help an estate planning attorney stay current and sharp.
Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M.
Associate Director of Education
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com
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