| At the
end of the initial meeting with a potential client
and after I have recommended a particular strategy
to achieve that client?s goals and objectives the
client inevitably asks, what does it cost? I usually
spare the client my complete lecture on what ?it?
is but it includes all of the services that I
provide, services that start with the first contact
with my office and includes my availability well
after all documents are signed, sealed and
delivered. Those services include my ability to
listen to your cares and concerns, identify for you
issues that you might have trouble articulating
yourself, suggest options that you didn?t realize
you could do, and ultimately I give you a sense of
fulfillment and satisfaction. I also prepare
documents.
Admittedly it is
those documents that are the vehicles to implement
the strategies that you have chosen to achieve your
goals. For individuals those documents might include
wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, insurance
trusts, charitable trusts, family limited
partnerships, family foundations and more. For
business owners, additional documents might include
buy/sell agreements and tax-free sales of business
interests. For non-profit entities, services could
include a planned giving review and seminar
presentations for the group?s members and
benefactors.
However, my services
do not end with the design of a plan or even with
the preparation of plan documents. I also assist
with the implementation of the plan. For the typical
client for whom we have prepared a revocable living
trust, services include funding the trust, that is,
transferring assets into the name of the trust. It
may even include a seminar for your heirs and family
so that they know how to proceed upon your death or
disability.
And for some
complicated situations the parameters of my services
will be defined by the client?s answers to these
questions: 1) Shall we spend some time discussing
how this estate plan might affect your lives day to
day and the day-to-day lives of your beneficiaries?
2) Should we include your intended beneficiaries in
these discussions? 3) Shall we meet before or after
you have decided on a final plan?
What I do impacts the
family both financially and emotionally. It is
important to me and to you that you understand all
of those possible consequences. That is part of the
service. |
