Download Printable Article By Philip J. Kavesh, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation), CFP®, ChFC, California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law You may be thinking I’m nuts. It may have taken you years of your blood, sweat, tears, time and money to get your current office up and running smoothly and profitably (or you’re still in the process of getting that done). So why would you want to open another office? There are lots of good reasons. Here are a few: Gain access to a larger audience of potential clients (particularly if your current market has a…
Is Your Receptionist Losing You Business?
By Kristina Schneider, Executive Assistant | In a time when a lot of people utilize e-mail communication, the telephone is still, by far, one of the most common forms of communication for businesses. In a personal service industry such as estate planning – – regardless of whether you’re an attorney, financial advisor, CPA, life insurance agent, trust officer or some other kind of advisor to clients – – telephone communication plays an even bigger role for having a successful business. So, why is that we see so many estate planning professionals have flawed systems for answering the phone? (If you…
When and How to “Fire” a Troublesome Client (or Convert Them Into a Good One!)
By Philip J. Kavesh, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation), CFP®, ChFC, California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Some of the first jobs that I ever had were in the retail and customer service industries. I can recall, in much of the training that I received, being told the old adage that the “customer is always right”. Having run my own practice now for over 43 years, I can tell you that, although the old saying is usually true (or at least should be your guiding principle), there are times when the client is not right and,…
How You & Your Assistant Can Work Better Together
By Kristina Schneider, Practice Success Coach Trust in the workplace is always a difficult, but necessary, part of running a successful practice. A lot of estate planners, regardless of his or her professional designation, struggle with this concept. Although just about every single one of these professionals could benefit from having some kind of assistant or other administrative support, they have difficulty in trusting others to take on important tasks. Unfortunately, estate planners are only ever making any real money if they are either meeting with clients or doing some kind of marketing or networking to develop potential new business. …
Fight Back Against “Commoditization” and Low-Priced Competition
By Philip J. Kavesh, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation), CFP®, ChFC, California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law The estate planning profession, and in particular the basic Living Trust-centered practice, has been hammered by new challenges. There’s the proliferation of Internet “zoom” document providers and do-it-yourself trust kits (Suze Orman and the like). There are non-attorney trust mills increasingly grabbing market share (often in violation of the state statutes prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law). And there are bargain-priced, low-end attorneys (many of whom have jumped aboard the Living Trust craze from other areas of the law)…
Do You Hate Marketing?
By Kristina Schneider When it comes to the idea of marketing, most lawyers cringe. For many lawyers, marketing seems tacky, unprofessional, and perhaps even “beneath” them. They didn’t study for countless hours and pay thousands of dollars to get all those degrees and credentials behind their name to then be bothered with the idea of marketing. But, here’s the reality. If you run your own practice, you are a business owner. And, if you’re a business owner, marketing is essential to the success and, frankly, the survival of your practice. Marketing your business doesn’t mean you have to go out and…
Unlocking Growth Potential with Virtual Assistants: A Guide for Law Firm Owners
By Traba Legal The modern law firm landscape demands efficiency, adaptability, and innovative solutions to remain competitive. Among the game-changing strategies many law firms have adopted is the use of Virtual Assistants (VAs)—remote professionals who provide a range of administrative and specialized services. Today, VAs have become a mainstream option for firms looking to streamline their operations and focus on core goals. This article explores the growing trend of Virtual Assistants, their benefits, and why law firms should consider leveraging services like Traba Legal to maximize efficiency and scale effectively. What Are Virtual Assistants and How Do They Work? Virtual…
Look Inside Your Practice for the Answers, Not Outside
By David Giuliano, Business Coach Whether you’re a new solo practitioner or have many years running a practice under your belt, often the biggest problems you face in the workplace reflect some confusion or lack of clarity you carry inside of yourself. You may have some clear goals: Make more money. Find ways to grow the practice. Work less (or more!). Have more satisfaction and peace of mind. The problem is, you’re having trouble achieving them, but don’t know why. You know something’s wrong: wrong staff, wrong marketing, wrong economy, etc. But the real reason may not be what you…
Staff Reviews & Setting Goals at the Beginning of the New Year
By Kristina Schneider, Practice Success Coach Thanks to the over 43 years of success of our affiliated law firm—Kavesh, Minor & Otis—we have found it vitally important to periodically meet with each employee (even ones that may be part-time or independent contractors) to review their job performance and set clear and defined goals. Once you do these reviews on a regular basis, you will be amazed how much more motivated and productive your staff will be! We do these reviews semi-annually—at the beginning of January and again in the middle of July, rather than just once a year. We do…
Conduct a Successful 2025 “Kick-Off” Meeting with Your Firm
By Philip J. Kavesh, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation), CFP®, ChFC, California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law I’ve found that the best way to ensure a successful new year is to start off with a big stride in the right direction, by holding a firm “kick-off” meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to establish clearly defined goals for the year, outline the implementation process and get everyone on board, excited and motivated! It also provides an action checklist that you and your firm can periodically refer back to during the year, so you stay on…