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Todd Whatley is a Certified Elder Law Attorney, practicing attorney and now the Elder Law Coach. His passion is to help attorneys become proficient Elder Law Attorneys. He still practices law with over 22 years of experience with offices in two states. He is the Past President of the National Elder Law Foundation, the ABA accredited certifying organization for the ABA. He LOVES working with new and experienced attorneys to help them have the best job in the world and help a great population. Visit him at www.TheElderLawCoach.com. This podcast was formally known as Elder Law in a Box.
63 Episodes
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Send us a text We map how AI and zero-click search are changing legal marketing, and we show a clear path from traditional SEO to answer engine optimization. We share practical steps to build Q&A content, apply FAQ schema, and earn citations that turn AI answers into paying clients. • why zero-click answers reduce site traffic • how answer engine optimization differs from SEO • building question-first content that AI can quote • using real client questions from workshops and intake • app...
Send us a text Most elder law firms try to speak to everyone and end up convincing no one. We take you inside a practical, field-tested approach to defining three high-value audiences—seniors, adult children, and caregivers—and crafting messages and channels that meet each where they already are. Seniors want independence, asset protection, and clarity about Medicaid and probate. Their adult children want quick answers, financial safety for mom and dad, and easy ways to take action. Caregiver...
Send us a text We lay out the biggest myths about elder law and show how a compassionate, human-centered practice can protect families from crushing care costs while giving attorneys more control and purpose. From Medicaid and VA benefits to avoiding guardianship and probate, we share practical paths to pivot and thrive. • elder law as more than simple estate planning • drafting with long-term care and incapacity in mind • Medicaid eligibility and ethical asset protection • VA benefits for v...
Send us a text We share a step‑by‑step path to launch and grow an elder law practice, from education and mentorship to marketing that actually reaches seniors and their families. Along the way, we explain flat fees, specialization, and why calm counseling wins more trust than courtroom swagger. • choosing elder law for meaningful, non‑adversarial work • compressing years of learning with coaching and mentorship • building forms, processes and clear timelines • marketing to seniors with talks...
Send us a text We unpack long-term care insurance through an elder law lens, from traditional policies and hybrid designs to short-term coverage that pairs with Medicaid timing. Clear frameworks help you advise clients on affordability, underwriting, and when a trust outperforms a premium. • Why a 70% care risk changes planning • Traditional long-term care insurance pros and cons • Hybrid annuity-life structures and payout design • Short-term coverage to bridge Medicaid penalties • Underwrit...
Send us a text Ever wondered if there's a faster way to master elder law without years of costly mistakes? In this episode, Todd Whatley unveils his groundbreaking Transformational Weekend Summit, a revolutionary program designed to compress what typically takes years to learn into just one intensive weekend. Drawing from his 26 years as a practicing elder law attorney, Todd shares how his own journey took five painful years of trial and error to become proficient in elder law. Now, he's cre...
Send us a text Todd Whatley reveals the transformative power of attorneys and financial advisors working side-by-side to provide comprehensive elder law services that truly meet clients' needs. Drawing from 25 years of experience and recent success implementing this collaborative approach, Todd explains how breaking down professional silos creates superior outcomes and increases profitability. • The current system forces clients to shuttle between separate attorneys and financial advisors wh...
Send us a text Analyzing a real client case reveals how proper business valuation prevented millions in estate tax liability for a family business succession plan. • Late 70s couple with three children (one running the family business) needed trust updates • Initial assumption: $6 million estate ($4M personal assets, $2M business) was non-taxable • Deeper analysis revealed business actually worth $15-18 million based on revenue multiples • Without planning, estate would face massive ta...
Send us a text Todd Whatley tackles the complex topic of irrevocable trusts in elder law practice, focusing primarily on Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts and when they're appropriate for clients. He draws on personal experience to provide practical guidance on implementing these powerful legal tools correctly. • Irrevocable trusts require relinquishing control and ownership of assets, making them subject to Medicaid's five-year lookback period • Many attorneys incorrectly structure these tru...
Send us a text Elder law attorneys regularly encounter clients with dementia, yet many misunderstand that a diagnosis doesn't automatically prevent someone from signing legal documents. Todd Whatley explains when and how individuals with dementia can execute valid legal documents and avoid unnecessary guardianships. • Understanding dementia as a progressive condition affecting memory and reasoning differently across stages • Document capacity depends on document risk – higher risk requires g...
Send us a text Todd Whatley continues his trust-focused discussion by exploring the critical yet often overlooked process of trustee selection. He examines why this decision deserves more attention than the typical "oldest child" default approach, emphasizing that being a trustee is a demanding job requiring specific qualifications. • Trustee responsibilities include managing assets, ensuring compliance with trust terms, distributing assets fairly, and handling administrative tasks • Commerc...
Send us a text Ever wondered what it takes to identify and combat elder abuse effectively? Join us as we sit down with Leslie Albrecht, a leading authority on elder abuse, who shares her transformative journey from her early days with the San Diego Police Department to establishing the pioneering Elder Abuse Unit in 2000. Leslie offers a candid look at the struggles of recognizing elder abuse as a criminal offense and the critical need for law enforcement training. Listen to her compelling in...
Send us a text Unlock the secrets to managing your client's family's essential information with the transformative insights from our special guest, Nat Robinson, creator of Trustworthy. Discover how this groundbreaking platform acts as a "family operating system," providing a secure and efficient way to organize, store, and share critical documents. Nat shares his personal journey to creating Trustworthy, inspired by the chaos families often face when handling important information. We explor...
Send us a text Digital assets are becoming an essential component of estate planning, yet many clients do not realize their significance. This episode discusses practical steps and legal considerations for addressing digital assets in elder law. • Importance of planning for digital assets • Conducting a digital asset inventory • Challenges of accessing digital assets posthumously • Creating a digital asset access plan • Overview of RUFADA and its implications • ...
Send us a text This episode explores the delicate balance between protecting the rights of elderly clients and preserving their autonomy in light of diminished capacity. Todd emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of elder law attorneys to advocate for their clients and the importance of legally empowering them through comprehensive powers of attorney. • Understanding the implications of diminished capacity • Importance of advocating for client autonomy • Ethical duties of...
Send us a text This podcast episode emphasizes the importance of probate avoidance and explores various strategies to ensure smoother transitions of assets upon death. Todd Whatley discusses ethical estate planning practices, focusing on revocable living trusts, beneficiary designations, and joint ownership as ways to bypass probate. • Understanding the pitfalls of defaulting to probate • The role of revocable living trusts in estate planning • Benefits of using beneficiary desig...
Send us a text In this episode, we explore the vital role of special needs trusts in elder law, discussing their importance for families and how attorneys can incorporate them into their practices. With practical marketing strategies and insights, listeners learn how to serve this unique community effectively. • Understanding the significance of special needs trusts • Navigating client needs in the realm of elder law • The impact of financial advisors and CPAs on trust planning&n...
Send us a text Discover the intricate world of estate and gift tax exemptions with Todd Whatley, the Elder Law Coach. What could the re-election of President Trump mean for your financial future? As Todd guides us through the potential shifts in estate planning, he delves into the looming reduction of the estate tax exemption from $13.61 million per individual to a potentially game-changing $5 million by 2026. With Congress's role unclear, Todd sheds light on the strategies you might need to ...
Send us a text Unlock the secret to revolutionizing your elder law practice's goal-setting strategy with Todd Whatley as your guide. Traditional methods often leave us short of our targets, but what if your objectives were not only clear but quantifiable as well? Through the power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), Todd shares insights on how you can set short-term, qualitative objectives and pair them with measurable key results. Discover how to elevate client satisfaction and improve res...
Send us a text What happens when a small oversight turns into a $6,850 lesson? Join me, Todd Whatley, on a journey through the complexities of elder law, as I recount an unforgettable personal story that underscores the critical importance of communication and documentation in the Medicaid application process. This episode isn't just about a mistake; it's about embracing errors as stepping stones to improvement and growth. Learn how the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) plays a vital...
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