Avapp Recession Proof Your Practice

How working with veterans can enhance your law practice. There is a free webinar at www.avapp.org

1. RecessionProofYourLawPractice

ThroughVAPensionPlanning
James (Jim) Swain, JD
Founder and CEO of the Academy of
VA Pension Planners
WealthCounsel Member
More than 26 years experience in
Estate and Income Tax Planning.
Co-Developer of ElderCounsel’s 2
Day VA Pension Course.

2. ChallengestoYourLawPractice
Challenges for Estate Planning and Elder Law practices in current
economy:
•Discretionary spending is being cut
• No urgency to plan
• Competition among growing number of attorneys
•Clients want guarantee that plans will benefit them

3. RecessionProofYourLawPractice

withVAPensionPlanning
•There are more than 20 million
people who potentially could qualify
for the VA Pension
•This is the fastest growing segment of
the population

4. LivingWarPeriodVeterans

andSurvivingSpouses
• World War II - 2,300,000*
• Korean War – 2,300,000*
• Vietnam War – 7,130,000*
• Gulf War and Iraq War – not determined
• Surviving Spouses – 3 to 5 million
* VA November 2008

5. Benefits of Adding VA Pension
Planning to Your Law Practice
•Seniors are living longer
•Family concern over paying for long-term care
•There is an urgency to complete planning
•Knowledge in the legal community is limited
•With VA pension planning you are selling money
•Fees are an investment not an expense
•Gives you access to other family members and friends
•Huggable Clients

6. WhatistheVA
?
ImprovedPensionBenefit
The VA pension is a benefit available through the Department of Veterans
Affairs to assist Veterans and their Surviving Spouses in paying for medical
expenses.
It is only available to veterans (and their surviving spouses) who served
during a war period.
The benefit can be significant:
$1,949 per month for Veteran with dependent
$1,644 per month for Single Veteran
$1,056 per month for Surviving Spouse

7. WhatistheVA
?
ImprovedPensionBenefit
There are Four Tests for qualification:
Military Service and Marriage,
Medical Condition,
Income for VA Purposes
Net Worth

8. HowcanyourPracticeBenefit
?
fromServingtheseClients
Income and asset limitations open opportunities.
This allows you to offer billable services to provide, such as:
Analysis of options
New legal documents
Administration of trusts
Review of investments
Access to family members
Tax returns
Medicaid applications
Investments
Referrals

9. HowcanyouBuildNewReferralSources
?
throughVAPensionPlanning
Reaching out to the elder population can increase referrals.
If Seniors are not Veterans they have friends and relatives who may be
Seniors share information
People who work with Seniors need your services

10. You help pay for their services.
They are at a competitive disadvantage
You help them get in front of prospects
You can provide referrals to them
Associated groups will market your services for the following reasons:

11. •Assisted Living Homes
•Senior Residences
•Home Healthcare Agencies
•Financial Planners
•Retirement communities
•Pre-Need Planners
•Retirement Groups
•Churches
•Funeral Homes
People who work with Seniors need your Services

12. HowcanYouIncorporateVA
?
PensionPlanningintoYourPractice
Attend our 2 hour Webinar on VA Pension Basics (DATE TBD) – We will
apply for CLE. Fee is $100.
Attend our 2 Day Spring Conference on Advanced VA Pension Planning
Techniques and Practice Implementation - training designed to expedite
your effectiveness in this exciting, growing practice area. We will file for
CLE and webinar fee will be deducted from conference fee.
April 22-23, 2010
Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort –Stone Mountain, GA

13. HowcanYouIncorporateVA
?
PensionPlanningintoYourPractice
File for Accreditation with the VA.
Join the Academy of VA Pension Planners www.avapp.org to become a
Certified Academy Attorney (CAA).
Attend our 3 hour CLE Class via Webinar (Dates TBD) for VA Accredited
Attorney (this class is required within the first 12 months of being accredited
with the VA)

14. Two Day Educational Seminar (15 hours of CLE)
Conference Training and Reference Material
Practice Manual for VA Pension Benefits
Breakfast and lunch each day
20% discount to all Academy members
AVAPP Charter Membership Rates for Attendees
Book early to receive conference room rate of $109
per night
•Register for Advanced VA Pension Planning Techniques and
Practice Implementation Course includes:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atleg-
evergreen-marriott- conference-resort/

15. Thanks for attending
Together we can help those who built this country
James B. Swain, JD, MBA
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
678-461-7848/888-928-2779
www.avapp.org