Inside BS Show

An Introduction to Asset Protection

Clients call Rodney Hatley when:
(1) They are concerned about minimizing or eliminating estate, generation-skipping transfer, and gift taxes;
(2) They are taking their company public (we can move their stock ownership into special trusts so that the value of the company is out of their estates for estate, generation-skipping transfer, and gift tax purposes);
(3) They are selling their company and are concerned about claims of fraud and nondisclosure when buyer's remorse sets in (we can put the proceeds into asset protection trusts so that the money is protected from later litigation over the sale of the company); or
(4) They have been sued (we can help them understand their rights and responsibilities so that they can make informed decisions regarding next steps).

Rodney Hatley
Estate Planning  &
Asset Protection Attorney
Hatley Law Group, A P.C
(858) 465-8001
[email protected]
http://www.hatleylawgroup.com

Chapters
00:00 An Introduction to asset protection
01:29 How did Rodney become an Asset Protection Attorney?
04:35 How important is asset protection for business owners?
08:27 What distinguishes an operational business from a holding company
10:59 Why it's important to use a special purpose entity
13:33 What are the basic requirements for an estate plan?
19:19 What are the most common mistakes people make with their estate plans?
22:03 How does Rod protect his clients' private information when they buy a property?
24:26 What exactly is an Asset Protection Plan?

How to Plan for Retirement

About Patrick Cote:
AssetGrade is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor firm that provides financial planning and investment management services for HENRYs (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) and businesses.
Prior to launching AssetGrade in 2013, Pat held a number of executive roles at Fidelity Investments, including running operations for communications and investment reviews for more than 13,000 clients with retirement plan assets totaling more than $600 billion. Pat also ran strategy and acquisitions for OneShield, a KKR-backed insurance software and services provider. He is a former strategy consultant from Bain & Company in London and Boston. Pat is a Chartered Financial Analyst® and earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree from McGill University.

Patrick R. Côté, 
Founding Partner
AssetGrade
(617) 933 7257
[email protected]
www.assetgrade.com

Chapters
00:00 How to Plan for Retirement
00:51 How did Patrick become a financial advisor?
01:50 Patrick's advice for people who are unable to retire due to financial obligations
07:03 Patrick's advice for people that start their businesses late
09:35 What are the strategic differences between being an entrepreneur and a wage earner?
12:08 How does Patrick prepare his clients for what their future lifestyle would be like?
13:46 What are Patrick's clients' retirement misconceptions?
15:33 How damaging are credit cards?
20:59 How did Patrick's firm become one of the best in the country?
22:21 Who is Patrick's ideal client?
23:52 What are Patrick's strategies for dealing with clients?
25:38 What is the difference between a fee-only financial advisor and someone who earns a commission by selling a product or service?
28:52 Who is the type of person Patrick wants to work?
31:35 Why investing in only one company is a bad idea?
32:46 What is the advice Patrick has given as a result of COVID?
34:11 How does Patrick handle clients who want to invest in S&P 500 Index Funds?
36:30 People should consider their stock portfolio in the same way they consider the investment in their home

Inside the World of a Personal Injury Attorney

Michael Cushing is a Chicago personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases across Illinois.

Michael Cushing has dedicated his career to helping people who have been injured by the negligence or misconduct of others. Michael is an aggressive advocate for his clients and has made a difference in the lives of thousands of injured adults, children, and newborns since beginning his practice in 2003.

He has a broad range of hands-on trial experience and is a skilled and poised litigator who focuses on wrongful death, professional malpractice, and personal injury cases. Michael always places his clients first, giving them the individualized attention, they deserve.

Michael believes that results matter and that is why it is his goal to ensure that each of his clients recovers the full value of their injuries. To reach this end he dedicates a tremendous amount of time, energy, and focus to each case. His hard work, dedication, and commitment has resulted in millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients.

Michael Cushing
[email protected]
312 726 2323
https://cushinglaw.com

Chapters
00:00 Inside the World of a Personal Injury Attorney
01:32 How did Mike become a Personal Injury Attorney?
02:59 Mike's approach to assisting his clients
06:04 What are Mike's criteria for accepting a case?
08:12 What is Mike's process for working up a case?
11:45 How important it is to know a good personal injury attorney?
14:08 How to tell if there is a case in a situation
18:14 How does Mike persuade someone, such as a police officer, to cooperate in a case?
19:47 Understanding the insurance company
21:18 What is Mike's leverage as a personal injury attorney to get the insurance company to perform what they are contractually obligated to do?
23:41 What percentage of cases go to trial, and what factors force certain cases to proceed to trial while others settle?
26:56 What is the best question to ask a personal injury attorney before hiring them?
30:36 How does a client know he has hired the best personal injury lawyer?
34:36 How long does a case take?
36:33  What is the statute of limitations?
38:28 What is a "runner" in a personal injury matter?
40:34 Dave’s story: How did Dave get a call from an attorney shortly after the accident without asking for one?
42:26 Where do good cases come from?
43:41 How does Mike's Law Firm do business?
45:46 What is tort reform all about?

How to Tell Better Stories

About Karl (from Karl's point of view)
I’m the owner of Squash and Stretch Productions, and help people who want to have a big impact on their communities attract more of their best clients and employees with engaging empathetic stories. I beat two brain tumors when I was 15, thanks to the help of my friends, family, community, and medical team. It’s why I’m so driven to help others build the sort of strong, empathetic connections that got me through the worst year of my life.

If I could cast a spell that made everybody on Earth as empathetic as humanly possible - but casting the spell would kill me - I’d do it.

It would solve big problems we’re facing like political and social divides, war, and inequality. And, it’d make challenges like Climate Change, Cancer, and Alzheimer's much easier to overcome.
I enjoy working with professionals in the tech, biotech, healthcare, and professional services industries and believe that everybody has a story worth sharing.

Karl Pontau
(925) 386-2274
[email protected]
https://squashandstretch.net/

Chapters
00:00 How to Tell Better Stories
00:57 How did Karl get to be the guy who helps people tell better stories?
03:51 What is the outcome of Karl's brain tumor diagnosis?
07:02 How did Karl come up with the name Squash and Stretch, and who are their ideal clients?
08:57 How does Karl assist his client?
11:47 What are the components of a good story?
15:17 How Story Can Help Business
19:05 How stories can be a major differentiator in any business?

The Inside BS About Mortgages

Craig Achtzehn
Residential Loan Officer
Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp
(312) 961-7763
[email protected]

About Craig Achtzehn
For over 21 years, mortgage loan officer Craig Achtzehn has been a trusted home financing resource for consumers and professionals across Chicagoland and beyond. Craig has distinguished himself as a top producer throughout his career, and Mortgage Executive Magazine has also consistently ranked him on their annual Top 1% Mortgage Originators in America list.

Much of Craig’s success can be attributed to his passion for organization, effectiveness and communication. A former Army officer with a degree in Engineering Management from West Point and an MBA from Notre Dame, his attention to detail and personal involvement in each loan helps ensure a smooth and positive loan experience for his clients. Craig’s expertise includes a wide range of loan, property and client types, and he specializes in helping military borrowers obtain VA home loans.

Craig’s favorite parts of his job are meeting new people, helping clients purchase their dream homes and seeing everyone leave the closing table happy. The majority of his clients are referred to him by satisfied past borrowers and his network of real estate agents, accountants, financial advisors, builders and attorneys.

Outside of the office, Craig can be found spending time with his family or serving his community. He resides in suburban Chicagoland with his wife and two children where he coaches youth basketball. He is also an ambassador to the Folded Flag Foundation, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships and support grants to the spouses and children of service members who have fallen in the line of duty.

Chapters
00:00 The Inside BS About Mortgages
01:23 What is the current state of mortgage rates?
02:37 Don’t let rates scare you when buying a house
04:35 The process of refinancing
06:05 What is a popular mortgage product?
07:50 What mortgage product should individuals avoid?
10:05 What is the subprime market and how has it changed over time?
11:53 How can an entrepreneur obtain a mortgage with a poor credit score?
13:14 How Craig assists investors in purchasing investment property
15:53 Substantial equity refinance
17:05 What drew Craig into the mortgage industry?
18:45 How Craig approaches various clients
22:35 How often should a realtor come to Craig to discuss mortgages?
24:00 How should people know their credit score before buying a home?
26:09 What a self-employed person should prepare for when buying a property
27:18  What a co-signer actually means
28:34 The Future of the residential loan industry
30:01 History of the home loan industry
30:57 How does a mortgage affect a second house if the first is rented?
33:05 What are private loans and hard money?

How To Build a Law Practice That Supports Your Lifestyle

00:00 How To Build a Law Practice That Supports Your Lifestyle
01:45 How did John become a Coach Lawyer?
06:03 Why does John believe that people who pursue law as a second career often succeed where others fail?
07:13 What they don't teach you in law school
08:25 Why is it so difficult for some lawyers to separate their professional and personal lives?
10:27 What advice does John have for law students about money in the legal profession?
13:30 How should a litigator set up a system for their firm to run continuously?
17:31 Three ways to make money in a professional services firm
18:26 Why there is such a mental health issue in the legal profession
22:07 The importance of seeking help for a mental health problem
23:07 What is John's mission to return the practice of law to a noble profession?
24:47 Why does John only work with lawyers?
26:11 How does John determine who he will work with?
28:08 What are John's client selection criteria, and how does that set him apart from others in his profession?
31:22 How does John attract clients, and what is his business model?
37:00 How does John talk to a lawyer about an exit strategy?

The Value of a Medical Sherpa

Dr. Gerda Maissel, known as "Dr. Gerda the Medical Sherpa" is a physician with 10+ years of hospital/health system c-suite experience.  When her mother was pregnant with her older brother she caught German Measles.  Her brother was born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome.  Growing up, Dr. Maissel saw the medical system treat both her mother and brother with a lack of dignity and respect.  She chose to become a physician to help improve others' experiences. She chose the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation because of the focus on function in the context of people's lives and families.  Dr. Maissel was pulled into leadership early on, rising up to become a Chief Medical Officer or Medical Group President inside several different health systems. My MD Advisor is her 'pandemic baby'.

Gerda Maissel
Patient Advocate
(845) 316-0175
[email protected]
www.Mymdadvisor.com

00:00 The Value of a Medical Sherpa
01:08 How did Dr. Gerda become a patient advocate?
04:57 How valuable is Dr. Gerpa's work to her patients?
08:30 How Dr. Gerda can assist you if you receive a serious diagnostic result
15:14 What role does Dr. Gerda play in helping patients better understand the doctor's explanation of diagnosis results?
20:51 How can Dr. Gerda assist patients in making treatment decisions?
23:47 A case using Dave's Son.
28:12 The benefits of working with a patient advocate
30:19 A case scenario: How Dr. Gerda's assistance saves a patient time and money
32:57 What is the difference between a patient advocate and a primary care physician?
38:26 Dave's story: How can a doctor's straightforward honesty about a patient's medical results be helpful
39:52 What Dr. Gerda enjoys most about being a patient advocate 

Everything You Want to Know About Franchising But Were Afraid to Ask

Ms. Liss’ practice emphasizes all aspects of franchising, business sales and purchases, intellectual property licensing and protection, trademarks, health law, and commercial real estate matters. She enjoys representing individuals, start-ups, and established national brands through their business life-cycle. Prior to joining Liss & Lamar, P.C., Ms. Liss practiced in the same areas in Denver, Colorado.

She is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and a past-chair of the franchise subsection of the Colorado Bar Association.

Ms. Liss received her B.A. degree from the Tulane University and her J.D. degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She is a frequent speaker on the legal aspects of franchising, success in business sales and purchases, and brand protection strategies such as trademarks.

Chapters
00:00 Everything You Want to Know About Franchising But Were Afraid to Ask
01:12 How did Laura get into franchise law?
03:48 Real franchise explanation
06:25 Why is there a franchise regulation, and how does it work?
08:52 Why are franchises regulated at the federal level?
09:49 What level of detail is required in the disclosure documents?
11:46 What normally gets added when a company is franchised?
14:14 What actions can I impose on my franchisees?
17:01 Why having approved or designated required vendors is important for quality control?
17:48 What restrictions do franchisors need to be aware of when franchising?
19:18 How does Laura handle client documents when franchising in a different state?
22:49 How should Laura advise clients on obtaining franchise approval in a different state?
25:43 Is territorial exclusivity a franchise requirement?
27:52 Can a franchisor limit what a franchisee charges the final customer?
31:03 What is the difference between franchising and licensing?
33:21 What are the boundaries of franchising and licensing?
37:33 What is Laura's legal view on what potential franchisees should look for when looking to buy a franchise?

How to Handle Your Finances After Divorce 

About Beth Krazewski
Beth has been empowering clients for the past 22 years to discover a greater purpose for their financial wealth and to pursue it with confidence. Her area of expertise is financial planning for life’s transitions especially divorce, retirement, and widowhood. These are complex financial situations and Beth enjoys holding the big picture for her clients while collaborating with their accountants, attorneys, and other members of their team.

Beth has a unique passion for divorce planning and for helping people at that difficult juncture. Her compassion for these clients led her to get a CDFA/Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation, allowing her to assess their settlement sweet spot by analyzing short-term and long-term projections. Knowledge is power. And the strategic advice Beth offers clients based on her findings helps them feel confident negotiating and signing their agreements.

In her 12th year as a planner and manager, Beth founded Purposeful Wealth Advisors, a division of Keating & Associates. Though she’s based in Chicago, Beth works with clients across the US and around the world. When she’s not working, Beth is busy living the dream she and her husband hatched along with their three cherished children who throw a wrench into the plan every now and then. As they should!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethkraszewskicfp/
https://purposefulwealthadvisors.com/

Chapters
00:00 How to Handle Your Finances After Divorce
01:12 Why did Beth choose to become a Divorce Financial Planner?
02:39 Importance of Choosing the Right Divorce Lawyer
04:22  What financial advice might Beth provide people before they divorce?
08:21 When and at what point should the person contact Beth in the divorce process?
10:38 How far can a divorce lawyer go in the divorce process?
12:36 How much should be spent on divorcees on a percentage basis?
14:47 Understanding divorce custody and finances
17:32 Divorce advice from Dave
19:32 What is the significance of having a financial advisor during a divorce?
21:45 How does the post-divorce process work?
24:23 How Beth engages with her divorce clients
25:40 How does a divorce affect a 529 College Plan?
26:53 What are some divorce-related errors that smart people make?
28:40 How should the mortgage be handled during the divorce process?
30:10 What is Beth's greatest recommendation for choosing a divorce attorney? 
33:03 How does referral work when looking for the best divorce attorney? 
35:02 What type of divorce lawyer should you avoid hiring?

00:00 Insurance Master Class | How to Be Sure You Get What Deserve
01:55 How David Scheidemantle’s superpower led him to be a lawyer
04:14 How David's musical career helped him become a brilliant lawyer
09:11 What drives David to continue his professional work?
10:40 The significance of David's violin playing to his life
14:26 How David's musical career is beneficial to his law career
17:14 Where can David's services be found?
21:08 How is insurance a valuable asset?
25:38 When people should call David when their claim is denied?
32:47 Is the insurance policy negotiable?
37:13 Understanding the Insurance Policy
40:47  Insurance policy rule
42:30 Why an insurance company may initially deny a claim?
45:48 When does someone require an independent Council separate from the insurance companies' Council?
50:36 Example of a conflict of interest
51:17 Who is David's ideal client?
52:04 David's ideal referral source
55:22 What types of policies are not a good fit for David?