The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys recently held its semi-annual Summit event in San Diego, October 5 – October 8, 2023.
The Academy’s Summit is a semi-annual conference bringing the latest developments in Estate Planning and Elder Law to the many Member attorneys of the American Academy who live throughout the country. As is traditional, the Academy’s Fall Summit was in San Diego, with its typical beautiful weather.
Here are some highlights of the Summit regarding substantive legal education:
- Academy Co-Founders, Robert Armstrong (President) and Sanford Fisch (CEO), who have been innovating in the practice of law for more than three decades, provided their vision of the future of the practice: The Enterprise Model Law Firm. This was a wonderful segue to Bryan Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity, who gave the keynote address on Wholistic Planning for Life, Health & Wealth with Integrity. Together these trailblazers provided a roadmap for a thriving practice for the 21st
- Academy Co-Founders, Robert Armstrong (President) and Sanford Fisch (CEO) were joined by Tim Ash, CEO of Ash Brokerage, in Insurance Audits: Why They Help Your Clients and Your Practice. This presentation demonstrated how insurance audits can present great opportunities.
- Stewart Albertson and Keith Davidson, Partners at Albertson & Davidson LLP, presented Avoiding Ethical Traps, Tricks, and Trip Ups in Estate Planning. They showed how hidden traps can lurk when representing estate planning clients, especially those in certain situations such as questionable cognitive skills or new marriages.
- Rachel Baer, Counsel and Director of New Client Services at CCT (Commonwealth Community Trust) gave practical tips in her great presentation on Pooled Special Needs Trusts.
- Tereina Stidd, the Academy’s Associate Director of Education, and Randy Murray, the Academy’s Senior Technical Support, Training, and Product Manager, unveiled the much-anticipated Trust Administration Unleashed: Academy’s New Trust Administration Module and CounselProÔ8 Workflow. They showed a great new, streamlined way to handle Trust Administration in the Academy’s software.
- Trust Administration continued to be the focus when Tereina examined Advanced Issues in Trust Administration.
- Finally, Tereina and I examined Trust Administration from the tax perspective with Deeper Dive into Taxation of Trusts.
In addition to the substantive legal sessions, Academy Members learned many tips regarding marketing:
- Academy Practice Building Coaches focused on Marketing in the Marketing Roundtable and in Marketing Certification Program Redux. The Practice Building Coaches were joined by Rita Chaires, the Academy’s Director of Web and Online Marketing Services (OMG), for Planting the Marketing Seeds for Trust Administration.
- Rita Chaires again took the stage to explain How AI Can Help You Win at Online Marketing. Rita was joined by Rochell Javier of the OMG Team in Pay-Per-Click: Attract More Clients and Grow Your Business.
Finally, Academy Members learned many tips regarding practice management:
- Human Resources experts Jill Hutchins and Ania Behm presented Why It’s Imperative You Have an Employee Handbook and showed Members what needs to be in the Handbook and why.
- Will Crist, Certified EOS Implementer, presented Unlocking Your Business Potential: Embracing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This introduced the EOS system to those not currently using it. Meanwhile, Erin Mathew, the Academy’s Director of Projects and Event Planning, and Carrie Smith, the Academy’s Associate Director of Member Services, teamed up to present Fine-Tuning EOS in Your Law Firm for those currently using EOS in their firms.
One of the most important aspects of the Academy and the Academy’s Summits is the camaraderie among the Members. Many longtime Members have strong friendships and the Academy has networking and interaction both formal (such as a cocktail party or new Member lunch) or informal, such as a social event (mini-golf this time) to cultivate enduring relationships and establish new ones.
It’s always wonderful to meet established friends and new acquaintances at the Academy Summits. Once again, this Fall’s Summit combined learning, re-inventing, and camaraderie. An Academy Summit is an experience like no other. It takes the whole team to bring together a transformative experience for our Members.
Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M.
Director of Education
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 453-2128
www.aaepa.com
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