John M. Jennings is a prominent figure in the realm of wealth management as the President and Chief Strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office, a national wealth management firm with clients in 30 states. With over $10 billion in investment assets and $12 billion in total wealth under his leadership and guidance, John heads a team of financial experts who provide a high level of personalized service and a full range of family office services. His extensive background in investments, tax, estate planning, and trusts, combined with his educational experience in finance and law, positions him as a trusted advisor to client families. He is also a dedicated member of his community through his involvement in non-profit organizations and his teaching role at Washington University.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with John Jennings as he shares his strategies and tools in helping the 63 families he works with, as well as his insights on the responsible way to maintain wealth with purpose and avoid jeopardizing future generations. He touches on being charitable and giving back and offers his perspective on investing amidst the financial uncertainties. He also mentions his passion for sharing interesting facts through blogging and writing.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

●    Estate planning is a matter of personal preference and balancing simplicity with tax optimization, as some families prioritize keeping things straightforward. In contrast, others are willing to take on complexity to save every last dollar, as early planning can make estate taxes largely optional.

●    Achieving true wealth involves balancing your wants and needs with your current income and wealth, creating a meaningful legacy, and using money with purpose - any extra is just considered a "gravy" or a bonus.

●    To increase happiness and life satisfaction, using wealth to buy experiences and spending time with others rather than isolating oneself is key, as studies show a positive correlation between having more money and being happier.

●    Create a legacy of giving through values-based philanthropy, where you make a significant impact in a specific area and pass it down to future generations by living your values and leading by example.

●    The Uncertainty Solution, How to Invest with Confidence in the Face of the Unknown: The key to becoming a great investor is not in knowing everything about the financial markets but in developing mental models, as championed by Charlie Munger, to make better decisions in life and lead to potentially more wealth in the future.

Connect with John:

Links Mentioned:

The Uncertainty Solution: How to Invest with Confidence in the Face of the Unknown: https://www.amazon.com/Uncertainty-Solution-Invest-Confidence-Face/dp/B0BDXZNZQF

The Haimish Line by David Brooks: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/opinion/brooks-the-haimish-line.html

Guest Contact Info:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigdogtwo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-jennings-433a054/

The IFOD: https://www.theifod.com/

Website: https://johnmjennings.com/

St. Louis Trust and Family Office: https://www.stlouistrust.com/

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Hillary Vaillancourt is a leading advocate for families with special needs and a founding partner of The Vaillancourt Law Firm. With a personal connection to this work as the sister of a brother with special needs, she has made it her life's mission to empower and protect families like hers. Her tireless efforts have led to the drafting and adoption of the Deaf Child's Bill of Rights in Pennsylvania. At her firm, she specializes in estate planning for families with minor children, estate planning for families with loved ones with special needs, and farm succession planning. This provides families with not just a plan but the peace of mind that their loved ones are protected for the future.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Hillary Vaillancourt as she shares her expertise in estate planning for families with special needs and the unique opportunities and challenges that come with it. Emphasizing that estate planning is a "team sport," she also shares her unique approach to doing estate planning for farmers under the special needs model.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

●    Choosing guardianship for adult children with special needs can be complicated for parents as it involves various factors such as capability, compassion, empathy, financial aspect, and values.

●    Estate planning is a team effort, and it's essential to involve professionals like insurance agents and financial advisors to ensure the creation of a successful plan.

●    Proactive estate planning is crucial for farmers to secure family farms and provide local food while avoiding complications for loved ones.

●    Hillary's legacy goal: empowering her team to help other families protect their loved ones while creating a work-life balance and a work environment where being a parent is seen as an asset.

Connect with Hillary:

Website: https://www.thevaillancourtlawfirm.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-vaillancourt-1580463a/

Instagram: https://twitter.com/hdvaillancourt

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Christopher is a certified financial planner with over thirty years of experience helping small business owners, retirees, and families in achieving their financial goals and objectives. As the founder and principal of Elliott Wealth Management Services, LLC, with offices in Madison, Connecticut and Summerfield, Florida, he is committed to devoting as much time and effort as possible to clients to explain financial concepts, strategies, and investment alternatives in a way that is easily understood. Christopher is also the host of the Simply Financial Podcast.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Christopher Calandra as we talk about getting to know your clients well, as well as his tips for opening the door to client relationships. Christopher will also discuss the value of a good financial advisor relationship and the advantages of using technology for negotiation.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        One of the ways you're able to help clients is by getting to know them. Communication and sharing your philosophies with them will increase the likelihood of them sharing their ideas with you.

·        Authenticity, open-ended questions, and regular discussions about important topics as they develop and life unfolds allow open dialogue with clients.

·        The key to serving your clients well is a good relationship between financial advisors and estate planning attorneys.

·        Consider starting your own podcast if you're an estate planner, CPA, or professional. It will add credibility to your brand and help you attract and retain clients.

Connect with Christopher:

Website: https://elliottwealth.com/

Podcast: https://elliottwealth.com/podcasts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercalandra/

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Natalie Felsenfeld has been practicing estate planning, estate administration, real estate, and business law since she graduated in 2016 from Pace University Law School. She originally started out as a tax associate, and then started doing more of the planning side and has been in private practice with multiple firms until 2020 when she started her own solo practice in upstate New York.

Her practice now includes working with families, couples, students, and retirees on estate planning matters, focusing on estates under the federal estate tax limit. She has also developed a wide range of experience in business law, including the establishment of 501(c)(3) organizations and LLCs, as well as the purchase and sale of real estate.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Natalie Felsenfeld as she walks us through her work as an attorney and what makes her approach to estate planning unique. We also discuss how to build rapport with your clients and get them to open up to you, what to consider before signing your will, and the importance of work-life balance.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        As an attorney, it is essential that your clients understand what they are signing, what these documents are used for, and what will happen in the future for estate administration.

·        It all starts with a conversation, with you trying to connect with your clients on a more personal level before going deeper into the assets to help them in preparing their will.

·        The best part about going solo is having a very good work-life balance where you can offer a more boutique experience to your clients while also being able to do what you love and desire.

·        Comfortability is the key. When your clients are in a comfortable environment, particularly their homes, they will tell you more information and you will learn a lot more about them.

Connect with Natalie:

Website: https://www.nsflegal.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 914-323-8052

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With over six years of experience, Donald Cunningham, a financial service consultant and wealth coach has specialized in helping families and business owners by protecting their income, planning a tax-free retirement, and creating generational wealth protection. He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and just recently relocated to El Paso, Texas with his wife and kids.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Donald Cunningham as he shares his expertise in life insurance and financial planning, and how these areas can help you to protect the things that are most valuable to you and your family.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        Investing in the right life insurance can secure your family's future, create generational wealth, and you can still enjoy the living benefits

·        A life insurance plan is much more than a tax-saving tool

·        By taking out a death benefit policy, you can provide financial support to your immediate family upon your death

·        The power of financial literacy

Connect with Donald:

Website: https://dscfinancialservices.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-cunningham-689933167/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donaldacham/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dscfinancialservices/

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During her 20 years as a notary and Signing Agent, Amy Seitz has become adept at recognizing trends and knowing what works and what doesn’t for her business. When she became a remote notary, she knew this was a game-changer for notaries across the nation. After a successful first few months, she became frustrated with the ongoing cost of the technology required for remote online notarization (RON), so she decided she wanted to start her own remote notarization platform to provide affordable service for notaries, and so the idea for CyberizeIt was born. Today, CyberizeIt provides remote notarization in 33 States and the territory of Guam, and Amy is also a certified notary trainer working with other Notaries on the process of RON setup.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Amy Seitz as we dive into the topic of remote online notarization, or RON, and talk about Amy’s online platform for notaries and clients alike, CyberizeIt.com. Having a certified, legitimate remote notary can hugely impact how you get things done when it comes to your important paperwork, and a rigorous ID verification process will help you have faith in the safety of the process.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        What goes into making sure remote notaries are meeting legal compliances?

·        Instantaneous access to a notary can be convenient, practical, and sometimes necessary

·        What are some of the limitations behind online notarization?

·        How safe is online notarization?

·        How does CyberizeIt work to connect you to a relevant Notary?

Connect with Amy:

Website: notary.cyberizeit.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cyberize-it-llc

Instagram: instagram.com/cyberizeit

Facebook: facebook.com/cyberizeit

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David Wright, Executive Director of Practice Development at M&O Marketing, recruits financial professionals and helps them reach new levels of success with their practice. David prioritizes the needs of everyone he works with and works diligently to ensure that they feel supported in the growth of their business. Using creative marketing, branding, and consultation, he has already proven to be a valuable asset since he joined the team in 2016 achieving exponential growth for the reps he works with.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with David Wright as we take a look at the synergy between financial advisors and estate planning professionals, and how those two can work together to the benefit of both sides if there are similarities in processes or profiles. David and M&O Marketing help connect like-minded advisors and planners with each other, more clients, and more success!

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        What is “total practice development” and how can it help your practice?

·        Framing expectations clearly and upfront when advisors and planners initiate a collaboration leads to a smoother, easier relationship

·        Having the client present for advisor/planner meetings can improve client relations and potentially improve referrals from that client

·        How M&O Marketing helps connect and develop financial advisors and estate planners

·        The true importance of those professionals that have an impact on someone else’s life cannot be understated

Connect with David:

www.mandomarketing.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-wright-wms-485b39a3/

Instagram: instagram.com/teamdavidmomarketing

Facebook: facebook.com/mandomarketing

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A big-picture thinker who practices with precision, sharp insight and a touch of humor, Zakiya J. Norton delivers innovative, top-notch advice in terms everyone can understand. She serves as the Vice Chair for the Board of Directors of the non-profit, Cancer CAREpoint, which provides valuable services free of cost to all cancer patients and their families. Zakiya has also served as special liaison to the California Lawyer's Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee. 

Annie Tyler, Director of Marketing and Business Development, is a noteworthy Bay Area relationship manager with unparalleled expertise in business development and innovative marketing. Annie has a proven track record in the Silicon Valley for combining a warm and engaging presence with an unwavering commitment to ensuring her network only consists of vetted, highly specialized experts in their field ranging from financial planners, attorneys, and real estate professionals.

Somita Basu has a knack for unraveling legal, financial, and mathematical mysteries while paying meticulous attention to detail. Always analytical and objective, her tactical methods allow her to identify the optimal way to achieve any goal. Somita gives back to the community through her role as the Board Chair of the non-profit, Justice At Last. She served as the Vice Chair and Chair for the Solo and Small Firm Section of the California Lawyers Association, was the past editor of The Practitioner (the Section's premier publication) and was on the influential Project 2021 Committee for the CLA to determine the future of the association. Somita is a fluent English and Bengali speaker and knows conversational Hindi.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Zakiya Norton, Somita Basu, and Annie Tyler as they share what it's like to run a minority women-owned law firm. We talk about post-death trust administration, bust some common myths around handling a trust as a beneficiary and myths about lawyers in general, and hear how these ladies are making the most of their presence online and in person!

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        Knowing the values of the people you work with is incredibly important

·        When handling Trust administration, you need to get an understanding of the personal relationships around the money involved and not just the legal side

·        Increasing your presence online and in the community, offering free educational resources, and getting in front of others can help you reach the largest client base available

·        It always helps to know a good lawyer

Connect with Zakiya, Somita, and Annie:

Website: www.nortonbasu.com

Zakiya Norton’s Contact Info:

Twitter: twitter.com/attorneynorton

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/zakiyanorton

Annie Tyler’s Contact Info:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/annietyler

Somita Basu’s Contact Info:

Twitter: twitter.com/AttorneyBasu

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/somita-basu-esq-3825824

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Kiah Jordan launched Impact Family Office to focus on the alignment of capital resources with an impact strategy. He implements long-term perspectives on the impact of, not only his clients’ balance sheet, but also their succession plans, wealth transfer plans, and philanthropic engagement. An advocate for socially conscious ventures and entrepreneurship, Kiah has volunteered much of his time to help start-ups and organizations benefiting the California Central Coast community. He is a founding board member of the Sustainable Change Alliance and serves as the Chairperson for the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network, a non-profit focused on food access and inequality. Additionally, Kiah has served on the board of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission for 11 years, was featured in the 2015 Pacific Coast Business Times 40 Under 40, and is an adjunct professor at Westmont College’s program for social entrepreneurship.

Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Kiah Jordan as he walks us through his work as a trustee at Impact Family Office. We talk about managing family wealth as a trustee, the dichotomy of wealth as either a tool or a crutch, and how you can help align that wealth between the values of the client and the beneficiary. Money should be helpful, not hurtful, and it is always important to be intentional about the legacy you leave.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        As a trustee, it is important to understand the values of your clients and their beneficiaries.

·        Transparency on the matter of inheritance and estate plans can be a complicated issue and should be handled case by case.

·        Incentive provisions can be helpful for avoiding an impact on the beneficiaries’ work ethic and/or drive in life.

·        In terms of philanthropic charity, focusing more on community rather than a cause allows for more flexibility between generations.

·        Ritual and ceremony can be effective tools for building emotional connections around charity.

Connect with Kiah:

Kiah Jordan’s Contact Info:

www.impactfamilyoffice.com

Twitter: twitter.com/kiahmjordan

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kiahjordan

Facebook: facebook.com/kiahjordan

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Bill Cates is a high-energy speaker who motivates by sharing proven ideas and strategies that work. Bill has helped over 20,000 small business owners and salespeople build thriving referral-based businesses and has helped large companies increase sales and cut hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing expenses at the same time.

 Bill is the author of three popular books on referrals: Get More Referrals Now!, Don’t Keep Me a Secret!, and Beyond Referrals: How to Use the Perpetual Revenue System to Turn Referrals into High-Value Clients. Bill is the president of Referral Coach International and the founder of The Referral Coach Academy. Bill’s client-acquisition system has been featured in such publications as Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power, the Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

 Listen to this informative Your Life. Your Legacy. episode with Bill Cates where we talk about client relationships, referability, and relationship marketing. Bill gives us the low down on some of the best ways to leverage your client relationships to find those “right fit” prospects and how taking a more human-centric approach ultimately benefits you and your current and future clients.

 Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

·        Relationship marketing – looking for the warmest path of least resistance for both you and your potential clients can be a very cost-effective method of growing your business or practice

·        Creating client engagement to increase your referability, then leveraging your relationships to get new connections

·        Educating your clients and centers of influence on the work you do, who you serve the best, and how you do it can help you find more “right fit” clients

·        Understanding that you are a guide to your clients, not the main character in their story, is helpful in knowing how to draw in new prospects

Connect with Bill:

Resources Mentioned:

·        Radical Relevance by Bill Cates

·        exponetialgrowthguide.com

Bill Cates’ Contact Info:

Website: referralcoach.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/Bill_Cates

Youtube: youtube.com/user/ReferralCoach

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billcates/

Facebook: facebook.com/ReferralCoach

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