Tag: Lifestyle

Mastering Profit First: Transform Your Law Firm with RJon Robins (Ep. 50)

Mastering Profit First: Transform Your Law Firm with RJon Robins (Ep. 50)

In the competitive world of law, success is not solely measured by case wins, but also by the financial strength and stability of your practice. The latest episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast offers a rigorous exploration of the tenets of financial acumen in the legal profession.

Host Darren Wurz engages with esteemed guest RJon Robins in a deep dive into the critical application of the “profit first” approach and the moral obligations law firm owners face in maintaining financial probity. With a focus on stability, sustainability, and ethical practice, this episode presents an analysis of financial strategies that align with the core values of justice and service inherent to the legal profession. Listeners will gain a wider understanding of the fiscal prudence required to navigate the future of law with confidence and clarity.

RJon discusses:

  • How the “profit first” system can revolutionize the financial health of your law firm.
  • Strategies for dealing with resistance from staff when implementing new financial systems.
  • The psychological and ethical implications of running a profitable practice for both clients and law firm teams.
  • How to stop the money leaks and transform your law firm finances today
  • The important truths most broke lawyers don’t like to hear
  • The essential financial tools included in his bonus package — bookkeeper assessment template, financial quiz, and more


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with RJon Robins:

About our guest:

RJon Robins is the one common denominator behind more multi-million-dollar law firms than anyone else on the planet. RJon believes in profit, and he detests loss.

Since he first reported for duty as a Small Law Firm Management Advisor with The Florida Bar’s Law Office Management Assistance Service (LOMAS) under the legendary J.R. Phelps (1999) and since founding How To Manage A Small Law Firm (2009) RJon and his team of wildly qualified law firm business management advisors have coached, counseled, advised, and kicked the butts of thousands of wildly successful small law firm owners. Yes, we know we used the word “wildly” twice in that sentence – what How to Manage a Small Law Firm does is that good.

The only three things that piss RJon off are:

  1. The Doctrine of Sacrifice
  2. People who would have you embrace The Doctrine of Sacrifice
  3. The BS those people often spew to try and convince you, as an entrepreneur that you should somehow take pride in how much you suffer but apologize for how much value you create for yourself and others.

Oh, and in case you’re impressed by this sort of thing RJon is a Member of The Florida Bar, he’s authorized to appear before The Southern District Federal Court, he’s a Member of The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, his company How To Manage A Small Law Firm has been named by Inc Magazine as one of the 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States every year since 2015 and after 15 years of marriage his wife still thinks he’s funny.

Why Did RJon Write Profit First for Lawyers?

After working with thousands of law firm entrepreneurs for many years, RJon wanted to write a book dedicated to business owners who are committed to growing their law firm and living a better life. RJon has seen first-hand how “conventional wisdom” has led many entrepreneurs astray and wanted to share what he knows will help them turn their businesses around.

If entrepreneurs implement what’s explained in the book, their law firms WILL become more profitable and they WILL feel more satisfied.

But this book will probably piss them off too.

Why? Because when they discover the culprits who have been keeping them separated from their profits… It will probably piss them off. One day they will wake up and be pretty pissed about all the bad advice they’ve been given.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are ready to take the next step and experience even MORE personal and professional growth, then you may be ready to become a member of How to Manage a Small Law Firm.

If you already know an HTM Member, GOOD. Now you need the courage to begin your journey “through the looking glass.”

Don’t know an HTM Member?

Several of our Members volunteer each quarter to “pay it forward” and have a conversation with potential new members about what it’s really like to work with How To Manage. Based on that conversation, they’ll send you a referral to have a formal consultation with someone from our New Member Engagement group.

If our team believes we can help you achieve your goals they’ll recommend the next-best step for you. Fill out the “I’m Interested in Joining HTM” form and you’ll be introduced to one of our members.

5 Money Scripts That Could Be Sabotaging Your Financial Success (Ep. 48)

5 Money Scripts That Could Be Sabotaging Your Financial Success (Ep. 48)

Attention, law firm owners. Have you ever stopped to consider if your personal beliefs about money could be hindering your financial success?
In this solo episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz dives deep into the concept of money scripts and how they may be quietly dictating your financial destiny. Let’s uncover what money scripts are, how they affect you, and how changing them might transform your financial future.

Darren discusses:

  • The concept of money scripts and how deeply ingrained beliefs about money shape financial behaviors and attitudes, often without realization.
  • The potential personal and business effects of money scripts, including overspending, difficulty saving, and impacts on law firm financial management.
  • Common money scripts, such as “money is bad” and “more money will make things better,” and how they may be influencing financial decisions.
  • Practical strategies for reflecting on and analyzing personal money scripts, including techniques for identifying and discussing these beliefs with others.
  • The importance of seeking professional guidance from a financial planner or financial therapist to navigate the intricate journey of unearthing and reshaping money scripts effectively.


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Profits with Jayden Doye (Ep. 47)

Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Profits with Jayden Doye (Ep. 47)

Are you a law firm owner looking to navigate the maze of taxation while maximizing your profits? This exciting episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast promises to be your guiding star.

Our host Darren Wurz sits down with Jayden Doye, a mastermind in tax strategy who has carved out a niche in optimizing law firms’ tax situations. Jayden shares valuable insights into selecting the right market, implementing innovative cash management systems, and changing your business’s financial trajectory.

As a proponent of work-life balance, Jayden also dives deep into making your firm not only successful but also a source of personal fulfillment, allowing you to enjoy life’s luxuries like six vacations a year!

Doye discusses:

  • The benefits of incorporating a ‘profit first’ system to manage your cash better and ensure year-round readiness for tax obligations.
  • Strategies for ethical law firm owners to distinguish themselves in a competitive market.
  • Why he doesn’t work for people he doesn’t like.
  • The differences between a value first firm and a volume first firm.
  • How involving family members in your firm could be a masterstroke for tax deductions, retirement benefits, and instilling strong work ethics.
  • Practical tips on leveraging business conference attendance to grow your firm’s network, expand your knowledge base, and enjoy tax-deductible travel perks.


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Jayden Doye:

About our guest:

Jayden was not always the financial guru that he is today. Growing up in a household just shy of the federal poverty line in Prince George’s County, Maryland, he knew the importance of money management but didn’t have the tools to create the financial stability he so desperately craved. After graduating Towson University with a B.S in Accounting and incurring a large amount of debt, Jayden was determined to make a change.

With a little hard work, and A LOT of sacrifice, Jayden became independent, gained professional growth as an accountant at a small CPA firm in Atlanta, and became a Certified Public Accountant. Over the next years, he’s worked with clients in just about every industry — helping them not only expand their financial portfolios, but to create plans that ensure financial sustainability and minimize taxability.

As a CPA, Jayden’s goal is to help entrepreneurs like himself gain independence and create a unique action plan to bring more to their bottom line while paying less in taxes. Invest in yourself and start working with Jayden TODAY!

Personal Injury Funding Demystified with Laura Moore (Ep. 39)

Personal Injury Funding Demystified with Laura Moore (Ep. 39)

As a law firm owner, you are intimately familiar with the tension between managing case expenses and maintaining positive cash flow. In Episode 39 of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, we dive into a solution that not only alleviates financial stress for your firm but also offers a lifeline to your clients who might feel overwhelmed by the cost of litigation.

Join us as we sit down with Laura Moore, a beacon of hope in the injury funding sphere, who brings a wealth of knowledge and an inspirational personal story to the table.

In this episode, host Darren Wurz talks to Laura Moore, the resourceful founder of Moore Injury Funding, who reveals how her innovative approach to funding is transforming the way law firms and injury plaintiffs weather the long and costly process of litigation. From the outset, Moore’s candid discussion about the realities and ethical considerations of case funding sets the stage for an enlightening conversation.

Laura discusses:

  • How to determine if an injured plaintiff is a suitable candidate for funding.
  • The advantages of non-recourse funding.
  • The average duration for settling personal injury cases.
  • Financing options for attorneys who want to expand their business operations.
  • The importance of medical funding for injured plaintiffs.
  • A real-life success story that illustrates the profound impact of timely funding.
  • The future of personal injury funding.


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Laura Moore:

About our guest:

Laura Moore, the founder and CEO of Moore Injury Funding, brings a diverse background and a deep commitment to helping those in need. Originally from Kaunas, Lithuania, in North Europe, Laura pursued her education at prestigious institutions, including Vilnius University in Kaunas and the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, where she studied German Philology.

In 2001, she immigrated to the United States and embarked on a journey that would lead her to make a significant impact in the personal injury arena. Laura Moore has a Pre-Medical Science Degree from Georgia State University. She spent eleven years in the medical field in various medical settings, including the ER, surgical ICU, pharmacy, cardiology, operating rooms, preventative and sports medicine, family medicine, OBGYN, emergency care, podiatry, DME, and functional medicine.

Laura’s personal experience with a life-altering accident became the catalyst for starting Moore Injury Funding. Following a T-bone collision in December 2021, Laura underwent extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, enduring numerous procedures and therapies to manage her injuries. Throughout her challenging recovery, she recognized the financial strain and emotional toll that individuals face during the litigation process. Determined to alleviate the burdens of injured individuals, Laura established Moore Injury Funding in June 2022.

With her educational background, extensive knowledge of personal injury cases, and profound compassion for those suffering from injuries, Laura provides nationwide Legal Funding services. Her goal is to offer financial relief to injured individuals, enabling them to meet their basic needs, receive necessary medical treatments, and sustain themselves during the litigation process until a fair settlement is reached. Laura’s personal journey fuels her dedication to helping others navigate the challenges of their own injury claims with compassion and support.

From crisis to triumph with Jeff Grant (Ep. 37)

From crisis to triumph with Jeff Grant (Ep. 37)

In this insightful episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz sits down with Jeff Grant, a remarkable figure in the legal field who has turned his tumultuous journey into a beacon of hope for others.

Beyond his personal struggles in the past- a past riddled with opioid addiction, financial turmoil, and professional misconduct, Jeff shares how he was able to launch a renewed law practice that’s not only thriving but helping individuals navigate the daunting waters of white-collar prosecution.

Jeff’s story is not just a testament to personal resilience; it’s an incredibly relevant narrative for law firm owners on structuring a business that aligns with their values and the modern world’s demands.

Jeff discusses:

  • His battle with addiction and its negative impact on his life.
  • His experience with the criminal justice system.
  • How to maintain financial integrity in the face of adversity.
  • Upcoming plans with AI technology, implementing live chat on his website and pushing the boundaries of client accessibility and support.
  • How he restarted his law firm with a renewed sense of purpose.
  • His dedication to helping people with white-collar legal issues without overcharging by providing valuable resources through his ministry.


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Jeff Grant:

 

 

About our guest:

Jeff Grant is on a mission. After a hiatus from practicing law, Jeff has founded the law firm of GrantLaw, PLLC, is once again in private practice in New York City and is committed to using his legal expertise and life experience to benefit others.

GrantLaw, PLLC, is a new type of law firm providing private general counsel services to clients facing, who have previously faced, or who could possibly be facing white collar prosecutions and/or regulatory proceedings, and their companies and families. In this role, Jeff and his team assist clients in making critical and timely business and family decisions, and in executing on them, so that they have the best chance to come out the other side with lives of purpose, meaning and success.

He also provides a broad range of legal services, all in a highly attentive, personalized manner. These include private general counsel, white collar crisis management, strategy and team building, services to family-owned and closely-held businesses, and support to special situation and pro bono clients. He practices in New York and on authorized Federal matters, and works with local co-counsel and criminal defense counsel to represent clients throughout country.

For more than 20 years, Jeff served as managing attorney of a 20+ employee law firm headquartered in New York City and then Westchester County, New York. The firm’s practice areas included representing family-owned and closely-held businesses and their owners, business and real estate transactions, trusts and estates, and litigation. Jeff also served as outside general counsel to large family-owned real estate equities and management and brokerage organizations.

Jeff is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, and in the Federal District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Guiding people forward in their lives

After an addiction to prescription opioids and serving almost 14 months in Federal prison (2006 – 07) for a white collar crime he committed in 2001, Jeff started his own reentry. He earned a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, majoring in Social Ethics. After graduating, Jeff was called to serve at an inner city church in Bridgeport, CT as Associate Minister and Director of Prison Ministries. He then co-founded Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. (Greenwich, CT), the world’s first ministry devoted to serving the white collar justice community. On August 10, 2023, Jeff celebrated 21 years of sobriety.

An ordained minister, Jeff has more than three decades of experience in crisis management, business, law, reentry, recovery (clean & sober 20+ years), plus executive and religious leadership. He works frequently with people prosecuted for white collar crimes (and their families) who want to emerge from isolation and join a supportive community. In this role he helps them navigate their journey through the criminal justice system to new, ethical, productive, joyful lives on the other side of their issues.

Sometimes referred to in the press as “The Minister to Hedge Funders,” Jeff regularly uses his experience and background to guide people forward in their lives, relationships, careers, and business opportunities – and help them avoid making the kinds of decisions that resulted in loss, suffering, and shame.

Service and more service

A verified Psychology Today professional, he also serves on the ministry team at St. Joseph Mission Church (Cliffside Park, NJ) and as Chaplain to the Woodbury Fire Department (Woodbury, CT).

From 2016 – 2019, Jeff served as Executive Director of Family ReEntry, Inc. (Bridgeport, CT), a 100+ person criminal justice organization with offices and programs in eight Connecticut cities. Jeff is the first person in the United States formerly incarcerated for a white collar crime to be appointed Executive Director of a major criminal justice nonprofit.

Jeff has served on numerous criminal justice-related Boards. They include the Legal Action Center (New York, NY), Co-Chair, American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Reentry & Collateral Consequences Committee, (Washington, DC), American Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Programs Advisory Commission (Chicago, IL) , Co-Chair, Mayor’s Advisory Council on Reentry Affairs (Bridgeport, CT), Family ReEntry (Bridgeport, CT), Community Partners in Action (formerly the Connecticut Prison Association, Hartford, CT), and Healing Communities Network (New York, NY). He has also served on the Advisory Boards of Creative Projects Group (Los Angeles, CA) and Reentry Survivors (Bridgeport, CT).

Recognition and more recognition

Jeff was twice selected a Nantucket Project Scholar (2012, 2014) and was recognized by JustLeadershipUSA as one of 15 Inaugural National Leaders in Criminal Justice (2015). He was selected a Keepers of the Commons Fellow (2017) and a Keepers of the Commons Senior Fellow (2018). Jeff has been the recipient of the Elizabeth Bush Award for Volunteerism (2011), received the Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative Advocate of the Year Award (2013, 2014, 2015), and was selected the Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative Professional of the Year (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). He has also been recognized by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2017) and by the Connecticut NAACP (2017), and was selected a 2019 Collegeville Institute Writing Fellow.

A Professional Member of the National Speakers Association, Jeff is an in-demand keynote speaker, panelist, moderator, and guest preacher. Speaking venues include Main Stage Presenter at The Nantucket Project (Nantucket, MA), American Bar Association Criminal Justice Conference (Washington, DC), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Webinar (December 2022), the Greenwich Leadership Forum (Greenwich, CT), the Corrections Ministries and Chaplains Association (CMCA) Correctional Ministry Summit (Wheaton College, IL and Philadelphia, PA), Delaware Trust Conference (Wilmington, DE), Salons at Stowe – Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (Hartford, CT), Community Health Network of Connecticut Social Determinants of Health Summit (Wallingford, CT), The Neighborhood Project (Greenwich, CT), U.S. Small Business Administration Conference (Fairfield, CT), Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (NY, NY), Yale Divinity School (New Haven, CT).

Jeff has also spoken at many universities, colleges, and religious institutions across the country. For information or to book Jeff to speak, guest preach, or for a panel or other presentation, please see his e-speakers profile here.

Magazines, radio, television, podcasts, books

Jeff has authored, been the subject of, or been prominently mentioned in many national and regional publications. They include The New Yorker (Aug. 2021), Entrepreneur (Sept. 2021 & Apr. 2020), Bloomberg Law (Oct. 2021), Wells Street with CNBC’s Jane Wells (Oct. 2021), Reuters (May 2021), American Bar Association Criminal Justice Magazine (Spring 2021), Business Insider (July 2021), Forbes (July 2020), Philadelphia Inquirer (Oct. 2020), Vanity Fair (Aug. 2019), Greenwich Magazine (Mar. 2018), Law360, Inc., Medium, The Huffington Post, Absolute Return/HedgeFund Intelligence, Institutional Investor, CFO Dive, New York Magazine, Real Men Real Faith Magazine (cover story), Fairfield County Business Journal, Nonprofit Quarterly, Reentry Central, The Vision (the newspaper of the United Methodist Church NY Conference), Weston Magazine Group, Weston Forum, Hartford Courant, New Haven Register, New Haven Independent, Inner City News, Connecticut Post, Greenwich Sentinel, Greenwich Time, Greenwich Free Press, The Hour and others. Jeff authored a chapter in the book, Suicide and Its Impact on the Criminal Justice System (2021), served on the Editorial Board of the book The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration has Hijacked the American Dream (2014)and was prominently mentioned/quoted in the books Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury (2021), Trusted White Collar Offenders: Global Case Studies of Crime Convenience (2021) and the Teal Book of Wisdom (2022).

He has been featured or interviewed on many radio shows, televisions segments and podcasts. They include the Rich Roll Podcast (# 644 November 2021, #440 May 2019), The Confessional with Nadia Bolz-Weber (May 2021), The Sydcast (October 2021), Newsy (October 2021), Business Talk with Jim Campbell (June 2021), Tha Yard Hangout (June 2021), the Colin McEnroe Show on WNPR (October 2019), The Same 24 Hours podcast with Meredith Atwood (March 2020), the Fraud Stories podcast (September 2020), the Taxgirl Podcast (July 2020), Landmark Recovery Radio (November 2020), Clara CFO podcast with Hanna Smolinski (January 2021), and Founders Focus podcast with Scott Case (April 2021), among others.

Jeff is also editor of the important, widely-read website and blog prisonist.org, for which he authors, edits, and curates content around national and international criminal justice advocacy/ministry issues. He also co-hosts the Criminal Justice Insider podcast, hosts the White Collar Week podcast, and leads a weekly online confidential White Collar Support Group (the first in the country). The group, which has had more than 650 participants, held its 350th weekly online meeting in March 2023.

 

How law firm owners can build their brand and attract clients with Ali Awad (Ep. 35)

How law firm owners can build their brand and attract clients with Ali Awad (Ep. 35)

Are you a law firm owner looking to build your brand and attract clients?

In this exciting episode of The Lawyer Millionaire podcast, Host Darren Wurz is joined by Guest Ali Awad, a renowned law firm owner whose expertise as a personal injury attorney and a savvy business owner & marketer has propelled his firm to great heights. With over 1.5 million followers on Instagram, he is known as the CEO Lawyer.

Ali sheds light on his early realization of the importance of hard work, the power of perseverance and how he transformed his law firm from a one-man operation into one of the fastest growing firms in the country.

Ali discusses:

  • How he started his law firm from the trunk of his car.
  • How to use social media to reach and engage with potential clients.
  • The two essential ingredients you need to build your business.
  • Why your expertise and qualifications are not enough to attract clients.
  • Why you need to choose a name you can grow into when branding your business.
  • Why the money you don’t take is way more important than the money you do take.
  • Why you don’t learn how to practice law in law school.


Resources:


Connect with Darren Wurz:


Connect with Ali Awad:

About our guest:

Mr. Awad’s personal injury practice primarily consists of auto collisions, but also involves premises liability and medical malpractice suits. Mr. Awad is fluent in three languages (Arabic, English, Spanish) and conversational in two others (Chinese, Portuguese). These linguistic skills allow Mr. Awad to effectively communicate with a wide array of clients, fostering strong long-term relationships.

During law school, Mr. Awad became a published author on Immigration Law while working as a Senior Editor for a law review journal. He also clerked with a business litigation firm and an immigration firm in Atlanta, GA to gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of client communication in a legal setting. Mr. Awad has studied internationally during his undergraduate and post-graduate career, spending extended periods of time in countries like China, Turkey, Mexico, and Brazil. This diverse international experience helps Mr. Awad connect with people from all walks of life.

Mr. Awad’s hobbies include flying planes (private pilot in training) and building show cars (from antiques to 1500-horsepower exotics). Mr. Awad also holds a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and has competed on a regional and national level over the past 15 years.

From working at a law firm to launching his practice during the pandemic: Adam Berger’s Story (Ep. 33)

From working at a law firm to launching his practice during the pandemic: Adam Berger’s Story (Ep. 33)

Are you an employee aspiring to become a law firm owner? Look no further!

In this episode, Darren Wurz and guest Adam Berger, a partner and co-founder of Miller Berger located in the great city of Chicago navigate the complexities of managing a successful law firm.

Adam shares some insights on how to build your professional network, the importance of a lean business model and successfully transitioning from an employee to a law firm owner.

Adam discusses:

  • The business models and strategies he adopted to grow his law firm even in the midst of a global pandemic.
  • The importance of delivering great work to your clients to drive business growth.
  • How to balance lifestyle considerations with high performance.
  • The importance of bringing on team members who align with your firm culture.
  • How to get business referrals by helping people.
  • Why law firm owners need to be more flexible instead of simply being taskmasters.

Resources:


Connect with Darren Wurz:


Connect with Adam Berger:


About our guest:

Adam’s focuses his practice on Corporate, Complex Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defense, and Employment matters, as well as a wide variety of Commercial Transactions including “buy-sells” and Real Estate.  Adam serves as outside general counsel to numerous privately held companies in the Greater Chicago Area, including many automobile dealerships and construction companies. He is regularly engaged to defend lawsuits alleging breach of contract, fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of Federal statutes such as the Truth in Lending Act. Adam is often retained to resolve shareholder disputes and employment charges filed with the EEOC and Illinois Department of Human Rights. Adam also has extensive experience defending construction companies against claims of negligence and wrongful death.

Adam has tried numerous cases to verdict and has an impressive appellate record.  He regularly represents clients in arbitration hearings, mediations, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

Adam has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in Construction Litigation and is the proud recipient of an Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award” for obtaining a defense verdict on behalf of an electrical contractor in a wrongful electrocution death case. Adam serves on the Boards of various public and private organizations. Prior to establishing Miller Berger, LLC, Adam was a partner in a large, multi-state law firm and the owner of a boutique law firm in Chicago.

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Federal Trial Bar

 

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • J.D. – 1999
    • Dean’s List
    • CALI Highest Grade in Legal Research
    • Best Oral Advocate, Regional Finals, National Moot Court Competition
    • National Moot Court Team
    • Winning Team, Intra-School Moot Court Competition
    • Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team
  • Washington University
    • B.A. – 1993

Professional Associations

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Northwest Suburban Bar Association
  • Illinois Defense Counsel
  • Illinois Independent Auto Dealer Association, Board Member
  • National Independent Auto Dealer Association
  • HACIA

 

Published Works

  • Co-Author, Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Real Estate Practice, The Young Lawyers Section, Chicago Bar Association

 

Honors

  • Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award”
  • Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, Construction Litigation
  • Super Lawyer 2022
  • Elite Lawyer 2020-2022

 

 

A Conversation About Money and Emotions with Christine Luken (Ep. 18)

A Conversation About Money and Emotions with Christine Luken (Ep. 18)

Why do our emotions have such a strong influence on our finances?

Many people struggle with managing their finances because they don’t fully understand their emotions about spending, or because they feel pressure to maintain a certain level of living.

In this episode, Darren Wurz sits down with Christine Luken, the founder of the Financial Dignity™ Movement and author of “Money is Emotional: Prevent Your Heart from Hijacking Your Wallet”, to talk about the connection between the way we control and spend our money and our emotions. Christine chats about certain factors that determine our financial decisions and also mentions what mentality we should have when it comes to our money.

Christine and Darren discuss:

  • How emotions can lead us to poor financial decisions and why making more money does not solve underlying issues  
  • How understanding and harnessing the power of emotions can help us achieve our financial goals
  • The power of creating a specific vision and goal with positive and negative emotions 
  • How professionals, such as attorneys and doctors, struggle with money management due to lack of time and disorganization, and pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle
  • The impact of money scripts and how they can unconsciously affect our financial behavior and decisions
  • Using money as a tool for good
  • Why budgeting isn’t the most healthy way of managing your finances
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Christine Luken:

About our guest:

Ready to master your money and become a financial success? Then you need Christine Luken, the Financial Dignity® Coach, in your corner! 

As the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement & a Certified Financial Counselor, Christine has coached hundreds of high-earning professionals to pay off staggering amounts of debt and massively increase their net worth over the past fourteen years. 

Christine’s three books, Money is Emotional, Manage Money Like a Boss, & Financial Dignity® After Divorce, have landed her over 100 podcasts, TV, and radio interviews, establishing her as the authority on money and emotions. 

When she’s not coaching clients from her office in Cincinnati, you can find this Certified Divorce Specialist & member of the Financial Therapy Association curled up with a good book, a fluffy cat, and a strong cup of coffee.

7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

One of the most important things you can do to ensure a secure financial future is to take proactive steps now to manage your finances. This involves making smart choices in the present that will set you up for long-term success and avoiding financial mistakes that can set you back. 

In this episode, Darren uncovers the most common mistakes attorneys can make that may negatively impact their retirement plans. He also discusses potential roadblocks and the steps you can take to avoid them.

Darren discusses:

  • Savings strategies when you own your own business 
  • What living too large looks like based on your personal circumstances
  • Making sure you don’t miss out on potential tax savings 
  • How to balance paying down debt and investing for your retirement 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle During The Holidays With Jerry Scarlato (Ep.11)

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle During The Holidays With Jerry Scarlato (Ep.11)

Attorneys and law firm owners are already busy as it is. Now, throw in gift shopping, holiday parties, and time away from work and this time of year can really be very stressful. How do you manage stress and stay healthy during the holidays?

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Jerry Scarlato, owner of Thriveology, and fitness coach. He will offer tips for staying healthy during the holidays and explain how shifting your perspective on what a healthy lifestyle looks like can help you live a happy life.

Jerry discusses:

  • How shifting your mindset around exercise can increase your productivity
  • Some tips on how to stay active on your laziest days
  • How to stay on track with your lifestyle when going to holiday parties 
  • The importance of balance
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Jerry Scarlato:

About Our Guest:

Jerry Scarlato is an Entrepreneur, Fitness Coach, Performance Advisor, author, speaker, foodie and book lover. His passion is helping people become the best version of themselves through fitness and lifestyle development. As a coach and advisor, he has spent the last 10+ years honing my skills on what it takes to create lasting change in my clients. Because if you’re not able to make fitness or nutrition stick, the rest of it doesn’t matter. As an entrepreneur, Jerry has been a part of a wonderful team that has grown Thriveology at a rate of 20% a year since its inception in 2014. Time flies when you’re having fun! As an author, speaker and corporate presenter, he has educated people on the importance of developing sustainable habits to fit their life. Jerry has also advised groups and individuals on a corporate level to help maximize their performance and become as productive as possible via better health and vitality.