Pre-Conference Intensive B – Developing and Maintaining a Professional Fiduciary Practice – Part 1

Join us on Wednesday for an all-day intensive on starting, growing, and developing your fiduciary business!

The first half of the day will be focused on setting up your business (including entity selection), how to market your business, dialing in your intake process, working with counsel, and time tracking. 

The second half of the day will include the ins and outs of hiring and firing, setting up your office space, technology dos and don’ts, how to avoid burnout. 

The day is designed for fiduciaries who are just setting up their business and those who are ready to grow! 

Who Do You Serve?

Presenters: Heather Johnston, Sapphire Law Group; Vanita Jones, Urban Fiduciaries
– Defining your ideal client
– Set up your business
  • Entity selection
    • Sole prop
    • Partnership
    • Corporation
    • LLC
  • Name of business
    • Personal
    • Generic
    • DBA
  • Insurance
    • Premises
    • Liability
    • Employee Defense
    • Cyber Security
    • E&O (advised but not required)
– Networking
  • PFAC events
  • Attorneys
  • Financial planners
  • CPAs
  • Public Administrator’s Office
  • Public Guardian’s Office
  • Organizations
  • Volunteer
  • Other Professional Fiduciaries (of person/specialty)
  • Find a mentor
– Setting fees
  • Trust
  • Guardianship/conservatorship
  • Probate
  • Trust – non-court supervised
  • Trust – court supervised
  • Contracts for private pay (bill pay, advocacy)
– Change in fee structure/pricing
  • Notice regarding billing rates?
– Website
  • Must have fees on the site
  • What to include
  • What to exclude

Break

What is your intake process?

Presenters: Shannon Downs, Downs Fiduciary Services; Heather Johnston, Sapphire Law Group
– Intake forms
  • Gather important info
– Checklist for onboarding
– PC interviews
  • Preferences
  • Family dynamics
  • Asset structure
  • Gross/net worth
  • Concerns
  • Personal info (SSN/DOB)
– Maintaining a database (for bandwidth and exit in the future)
  • Also for practice administrator nominations
  • Have template language for successor nominations
  • Request the ability to nominate your successor
– Accepting/Declining cases
  • Understand the issues/dynamics
  • Should you take case if issues are beyond your comfort level?
  • How will you get paid?
  • Can you afford to wait a year +/- to get paid?
  • Possible to get court order authorizing monthly fee allowance?
  • Is bond required?
  • Are you bond worthy?
  • Too many new cases/existing cases, overload?
  • Cases on Auto-pilot vs, new cases?
  • Set beneficiary/family/interested parties expectations

Break

Getting the work done

Presenters: Ali Goff, Goff Legal, P.C.; Vanita Jones, Urban Fiduciaries
– Engaging Counsel
  • Conflicts/waivers
  • Division of labor
  • Communications/file sharing
– Staying on top of education/ethics
– Communications
  • Duty to communicate
  • Office phone vs. personal cell
  • Texting
  • Emails
  • Written letters
  • When should communication come from you vs. your attorney?
  • Handling conflict – emotional reactions or threats from family?
  • How to communicate? Is a simple yes or no sufficient/appropriate?
  • Decisions by vote?
  • Keep clear records of communications
– Time keeping
  • Categories
  • Consider X-O for fee declarations
  • Minimum billable time
  • What can be billed for? Travel time?
  • Contemporaneous time tracking
  • Time keeping/billing program options (need to research)

LUNCH BREAK (Lunch not included)

Speakers

Vanita Jones

Urban Fiduciaries

Meredith Taylor

IMT Associates

Heather Johnston

Sapphire Law Group

Shannon Downs

Downs Fiduciary Services
Alexandria Goff

Alexandria Goff

Goff Legal, PC

Alexandria, also known as “Ali” is the owner and founder of Goff Legal, PC, a law firm focused on estate planning, trust & estate administration matters. Ali is known for her in-depth knowledge and expertise with wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and her ability to explain complex matters in an understandable way. She was drawn to estate planning to help protect people and their families and provide peace of mind so they avoid complications for generations to come.

Robert Nuddleman

Robert Nuddleman

Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C.
https://nuddleman.com/robert-e-nuddleman-esq/

Robert Nuddleman is the owner and primary attorney at the Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C.  He represents individuals and companies in federal and state court and various administrative agencies such as the California Department of Industrial Relations (Labor Robert E. Nuddleman Employment & Business Law Commissioner), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.  A significant focus of Mr. Nuddleman’s practice relates to wage and hour claims, breach of contract, trade secret protection, claims of sex, race, age, and pregnancy discrimination and/or harassment and accommodating persons with disabilities.  Mr. Nuddleman advises and represents business clients in employment and business matters in an attempt to avoid Pleasanton:  925-400-9052 San Jose: 408-498-7642 Fax: 408-400-9052 E-mail: robert@nuddleman.com Emphasis: Employment Litigation Employment Counseling Caregiver Laws Overtime and Compensation Issues Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation Contract Negotiation Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition Leaves of Absence Issues Employment Policy Review Pro Bono & Public Service Work Assistant Scout Master of Troop 999, Livermore, CA Board Member, Tri-Valley Non-Profit Alliance Member, Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley litigation and reduce potential exposure to claims of all kinds in light of developing law.

A particular focus of Mr. Nuddleman’s practice includes advising caregiver agencies, trustees, conservators, families, residential care facilities, care homes and others regarding wage and hour and employment laws in the elder care industry.  Mr. Nuddleman frequently presents seminars and workshops regarding workplace disputes and compliance with federal, state and local employment laws.