Professional Advisors

The Team Approach

     I work closely with other professional advisors, including Certified Financial Planner™ Professionals, investment advisors, financial consultants, insurance professionals, Certified Public Accountants, and tax advisors. I believe the team approach provides clients with the most comprehensive, realistic and effective estate plan. I work to keep you informed and involved at all stages of the estate planning process. As a CFP^® certificant, I understand the financial planning process, and I am uniquely positioned to work with you and your clients. I will be happy to meet with you personally to discuss how we might pool our expertise to better serve your clients. Please feel free to call my office at (303) 623-9242 to schedule an appointment or to speak with me.

Caring for Your Clients

To better serve you and your clients, I provide the following:

• Client Education, Understanding & Counseling;
• Cutting-Edge Estate Plan Design, including:
     » Individually Customized Designs;
     » Client Participation in Design;
     » Federal Estate and Gift Tax Planning;
     » Personal Protections for Family Members and Beneficiaries:
          ¤ Pre-Marital Agreements;
          ¤ Divorce Protection;
          ¤ Creditor/Predator Protection; and
          ¤ Spendthrift Protection.
     » Multi-Generational Trusts;
     » Stretch IRA Multi-Generational Retirement Planning; and
     » Business Continuation Planning.
• Advance Disclosure of All Costs (No Surprises);
• Timely Service;
• Attorney Access Without Additional Charge; and
• Peace of Mind.

How I Work with Your Clients:

• Step One: The Initial Consultation
  I offer all prospective clients a complimentary initial consultation. With the clients' permission, I encourage you to attend this initial consultation as well. If this cannot be arranged, I will seek the clients' permission to discuss their estate planning with you afterward.
  After listening to your clients' needs, plans and goals, I will generally make some estate planning recommendations. If the situation is complex, I will ask for a follow-up meeting to present a summary and specific recommendations.
  After making recommendations, I will quote a flat fee for design, drafting and implementation of the plans. Your clients then may choose to engage my firm by signing an engagement letter.
• Step Two: Review and Signing
  A follow-up meeting to review and sign documents and begin implementation of the plan will be scheduled. At this meeting I will thoroughly explain the planning documents to your clients, and to their family members if necessary. I also will explain the process for making advisable asset transfers or beneficiary designation changes -- whether your clients choose to engage my firm in this process, or prefer to complete the process themselves, or with your assistance.
• Step Three: Follow-up
  I have an extensive follow-up system, which I believe helps build stronger client relationships. Each of my clients receives a follow-up letter after their plan is complete and a continued subscription to Pocket Watch^®, my online estate planning newsletter. Through the newsletter I attempt to keep our clients informed of changes that could affect their planning, and to help them maintain an awareness of their estate planning goals. In this manner I hope to ensure that my clients' plans are never out-of-date with their current needs. Every two years they receive a personal letter encouraging them to come in to review their plans and make any necessary changes.

8 Reasons Financial Professionals Should Care About Estate Planning

1. Distinguish Yourself.
   Go the extra mile with your clients. Help start them on the right path with their estate planning.
2. See the Big Picture.
   Estate planning requires clients to pull together complete asset information, enabling better advice and perhaps consolidation.
3. Provide Better Service.
   Better informed advisors may identify more unmet client needs and may offer the right products and services.
4. Create a Legacy.
   Help clients create the legacy they want to leave loved ones or charitable causes through their estate plans.
5. Preserve the Wealth.
   Avoid investment drains. Estate plans may integrate asset protection, tax avoidance, insurance for liquidity or wealth replacement, or other strategies to deal with nursing homes, death taxes or other big hits.
6. Manage the Wealth.
   Estate plans may keep assets under management for the benefit or protection of the next generation, including the "stretch out" of retirement plans.
7. Build Lasting Relationships.
   As part of an estate planning team, you may build relationships not only with the client but also with their family, to provide multi-generational service.
8. Be a Trusted Advisor.
   Everyone wins by serving the client's best interests.