This past week I had the pleasure of attending Wealth Counsel’s Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts. This annual conference brings together some of the best minds in the estate planning and business law field from around the country. This year’s conference featured some of the top experts in their fields. It was a fantastic experience and, respectfully stated, I’m smarter than …
Entrepreneurial Anguish: The Cost of Doing Business
Building a business empire, enterprise, or even just a start-up has its price. The image of the confident and charismatic CEO often falls short of reality. Before, during and after public visibility often comes personal self-doubt, anxiety and mental anguish. Many business owners don’t readily divulge the distress they feel because they don’t perceive it as a positive for the …
Mentorship Matters: How to Learn From Leadership
Early in my Marine Corps career, one of our instructors told us “watch the leaders above and below and pick out the tools you believe would work for you. Discard those that are ineffective or not part of your style. In this way, we work to put leadership errors into the past.” Watching others perform their chosen craft provides lessons …
Is your startup making these 3 costly mistakes?
“Entrepreneurs are the action athletes of the business world.” Stephen Kotler made this observation in his book, The Rise of Superman. Kotler founded his writing on the importance of “flow” for action athletes to be successful in their endeavors. You might have heard of the concept of “flow” being referred to as being “in the zone” or “dialed in”. One aspect …
How to Incorporate Family Values in Your Estate Planning
Baby boomers know money isn’t the only important aspect of estate planning. A 2012 study released by the Allianz Life Insurance, Co. showed baby boomers wanted to leave their family more than just financial assets. Researchers found baby boomers identified family values as some of the most important things to pass down to heirs. In 2012’s economic climate, it’s no …
Tragedy in Paris, Part III: San Bernardino, & Enemy Preparedness
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” Sun Tzu As the massacre in Paris fades from the headlines, terrorists are determined to keep their cause at the forefront of western civilization. In San Bernardino, California a married couple came to disability services Center, opened fire, and killed 14 people …
YOU LIED! Lessons in Business Fraud Prevention
In hindsight, I should have asked more questions. One of the most well known of Master Sun’s instructions is that “all warfare is based on deception.” The business community adopted many of Sun Tzu’s teachings in the last twenty years. Thus, in some manner, thousands of people engage in deceptive interactions with their fellows in countless different matters. Depending on …
Tragedy in Paris, Part II: Taking Legal Action
Letters of Marque & Reprisal Over the past ten days, the response to the Paris massacre has been swift and deadly. AA, Daesh’s team leader, was killed in a shootout with police. The day after the attacks in Paris, French President Hollande authorized a series of airstrikes against Daesh positions in Syria. Russian President Putin directed Russian forces in Syria …
The Entrepreneur’s Money Team: The 5 people you want on your side when building your advisory team
“You’re only as good as the people around you.” I constantly heard this phrase from my parents and teachers. Now as an entrepreneur, I can confidently say that the phrase’s meaning resonates more deeply. When looking at the people that surround me, I realize that this saying is the principle I apply when building my advisory team. Entrepreneurs are sometimes …
Defining the Legal Relationship Between Grandparents and Their Grandchildren
Raising a grandchild (or even spending a lot of time with your grandchild while his or her parents work) can be fraught with legal and financial complications. Lacking many of the inherent rights parents have, grandparents who are responsible for the care of their grandchildren may encounter unexpected legal challenges. Even if you are your grandchild’s full-time caregiver, consider obtaining …