The Elder Law Coach

Send us Fan Mail 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 step...

Send us Fan Mail Do you have trouble getting people to hire you to amend their trust done by another attorney?  Are you creating trusts with terms that are not in your client's best interest?  Unlock the secrets to effective trust management and protect your clients' interests with insights from Todd Whatley, a veteran in elder law. Discover why Todd advocates for creating new trusts ove...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets to effective elder law and estate planning as we host Ian Weiner, a Certified Financial Planner, who shares his expertise on the critical risks of using templated legal documents and "do it yourself" financial advice. Discover why DIY and advisor-mediated estate plans often fall short and how improper documentation can lead to serious consequences. Ian...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the evolving world of estate planning and financial advising in our latest episode, featuring insightful contributions from Todd Whatley, the Elder Law Coach, and certified financial planner Ian Weiner. You won't want to miss Todd's candid apology for the delay in new episodes as he commits to more frequent and valuable content. Ian takes us through the types of...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the keys to safeguarding autonomy in the face of dementia and the intricate legal decisions that follow. As your Elder Law Coach, I, Todd Whatley, guide you through the murky waters of guardianships and powers of attorney, revealing how a dementia diagnosis impacts legal capacity and the crucial steps to maintain control over personal affairs. This episode unravels the et...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a journey with me, Todd Whatley, as I sit down with the exceptional Samantha Shepherd, a beacon in the world of elder law and founder of Assured Trust. Our latest Elder Law Coach podcast episode promises to unveil the complexities of trust management through the lens of Samantha's admirable mission to provide fiduciary services rooted in compassion—a calling that ca...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a journey through the complex landscape of Elder Law with me, Todd Whatley, as your guide. Together we'll uncover the benefits and drawbacks of Irrevocable Trusts, a critical tool in asset protection. This episode promises to illuminate the path for safeguarding your clients' assets from Medicaid, while carefully considering the irreversible sacrifices that com...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the mysteries of long-term care insurance and its pivotal role in estate planning as I, Todd Whatley, alongside expert Bill Mathews, traverse the intricate terrain of safeguarding one's future. We tackle the big questions: What's the likelihood of needing long-term care, and how do traditional and hybrid policies stack up? Bill brings years of expertise to the tab...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets to smarter financial decisions with Todd Whatley and our special guest, financial planner Ian Weiner. We're peeling back the layers of the financial industry to reveal the truth behind becoming a financial advisor and how this can impact the advice you trustingly follow. Our revealing discussion traverses the terrain of broker-dealers versus registered inve...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to unlock the potential of your law practice and navigate the complexities of elder law? Join me, Todd Whatley, as I sit down with financial gurus Joel Houser and Ian Winer to demystify the process. We examine the value of building a lucrative wealth team, delegating tasks beyond your expertise, and the importance of planning for the future sale of your practice from day one...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about the intricacies of elder law and estate planning? Meet Ashley Sharek, an accomplished attorney from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who skillfully navigates this complex terrain. Get rare insights into her captivating journey—from her early interest in estate planning to the thriving practice she runs today. Discover how coaching has been a game-changer for Ashley, equippi...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to unlock the secrets to becoming a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and gain a unique edge in your profession? We promise you'll find just that in our enriching conversation with the accomplished elder law attorneys Keith Miles, Teresa Bowman, Tye Cressman, Bob Fectman, Michael Delaney, Beth McDaniel, Angela Odensky, John McNair, and Shannon Lehman Pecoraro....

Send us Fan Mail You're an attorney, fresh out of law school or a seasoned veteran.  Do you love your job?   If not, you should consider elder law. Today, you'll hear the raw, real, and riveting stories of other attorneys, just like you, who have found a unique passion in this field. That's exactly what this episode offers, as we open the floor to attorneys from across the nation, s...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have a guest, Michael Wall.  He is with Docubank.  This company provides many benefits to your clients for very little money.  Mainly, they make the client's medical documents available to them with online access with a card for their wallet.  They will also make sure the client's physician has a copy of their documents. This is a great benefit for the client bu...

Send us Fan Mail Today Todd has a special guest, Teresa Bush from InterActive Legal.  Todd uses ILS and he talks with Teresa about the benefits of 1) using software to draft documents and why you should and 2) Why InterActive Legal is the software you should be using. Teresa is super interesting and discusses some of the "behind the scene" workings of ILS and how they create great docume...

Send us Fan Mail Today Todd and Sara talk about a new IRS Ruling that would indicate that the real estate in an Irrevocable Trust would not get a step up in basis.  That is true if you do a trust that is not intentionally defective.  We as Elder Law Attorneys know to do the trust with language that ties it back to the estate for the step-up in basis and that rule is still in place. Join us today f...

Send us Fan Mail Many times over looked, if done at all, is the Advanced Directive or Healthcare Directive.  This is a crucial document for the elderly client and their family to make sure the end of life care is done as they want. Today, Todd and Sara discuss this very important document and why it should be part of the required documents you should have every client execute. Check out our new we...

Send us Fan Mail Todd and Sara today talk about an often overlooked and ignored document that really pretty important, The Advanced Directive, sometimes known as the Living Will.   This document is a necessary document in the senior's estate planning documents.  Listen to this episode to learn the intricacies of this document and why it should be part of your "package of documents"....

Send us Fan Mail Today, Todd and Sara talk about how to interview a client (potential client) who has dementia.  These are tough meetings if you don't know the brain process and how to work with that issue. Sara, as a Social Worker and Nursing Home Administrator, has lots of experience with this topic and she shares some of her tips and techniques.  Todd, having done thousands of meetings wit...

Send us Fan Mail Having a disabled child is tragic.  The Medicaid rules allow us to plan a parents estate to help protect that child allowing us to protect a very large amount of the estate from transfer penalties. However, there are some intricacies that you must be aware of when discovering this information and using this to help the client and the disabled child.  Today, Todd talks about the me...

Send us Fan Mail Today, Todd pulls from his PT career to help you when your client's family calls you to say that their loved one is being discharged from rehab when they are not where they should be.  The therapy people have a special code and language they use that most others don't know about.  Today, Todd shares with you some of that secret language and explains how is SHOULD work. A...

Send us Fan Mail Working with the family who is needing Medicaid for the Single Person can be a challenge.  It's also really exciting since most families really believe they are going to lose everything now that care is needed. In today's episode, Todd explains the rules for the single person and how to present it to the client.  He also fully explains the Half-a-Loaf strategy and also s...

Send us Fan Mail This is probably the most beneficial presentation to clients you can give.  The spouse and the kids come in having just put their loved one into the nursing home thinking they are going to spend thousands of dollars every month for a really long time.   You can help these people but how to you present it to them without "giving away the farm" and giving them enough infor...

Send us Fan Mail I tell clients and during public speaking events that the Power of Attorney is THE most important document a senior can do.  Therefore, you as an elder law attorney need to provide the best POA document you can to your clients.  Your clients NEED this document. Today, Todd and Sara discuss the 9 powers that need to be in a Power of Attorney so that your client is protected and abl...

Send us Fan Mail One of the most helpful things you as an Elder Law Attorney can do for a family is help them get the care they need for a spouse without losing everything they have.  Many people don't understand the Medicaid rules allow a family to protect almost everything when a married person needs long term care. Today, Todd talks about the basic Medicaid Spendown techniques used to prot...