Tag: Planning for Retirement

FEATURE
Scaling Your Law Firm Nationally with Eddie Dabdoub (Ep. 72)

Scaling Your Law Firm Nationally with Eddie Dabdoub (Ep. 72)

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For law firm owners aspiring to elevate their practice from local prominence to national dominance, our latest episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast offers a treasure trove of strategic insights. We sat down with Eddie Dabdoub, the visionary founder of Dabdoub Law Firm, to uncover the secrets behind scaling your practice on a national level.

Eddie’s journey from a small firm lawyer to a national player in disability insurance law is rich with insights, strategies, and actionable advice that will inspire and guide your path to expansion.

Eddie discusses:

  • How to establish a niche within the overcrowded legal market to stand out against large firms with extensive marketing resources.
  • The importance of bringing marketing and IT infrastructure in-house for better control and efficiency in a larger operation.
  • Creating a strategic growth plan with clear benchmarks for five-year, one-year, and quarterly goals to guide your expansion journey.
  • How to build a talented team, implement incentive programs, and transition from micro-management to trusting your processes and people.
  • Understanding the tangible assets of your firm, such as cash flow and processes, and how they contribute to the overall value and potential sale of your firm.

 


Resources:

 

Connect with Edward Dabdoub:

 

 

About our guest:

EDWARD DABDOUB

Founding Attorney

Dabdoub Law Firm is led by nationally-known disability lawyer Edward Dabdoub.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, he is one of five attorneys in his immediate family. Since becoming a lawyer, he has focused his law practice on representing people who are entitled to disability benefits from insurance companies.

Why Disability Law?

Eddie’s passion for helping people with disability insurance claims started when he was in law school.

As a law student, Eddie helped a man suffering from chronic pain get back his long term disability benefits after his insurance company wrongly terminated payments, even though he was still disabled. After handling that case, he decided to dedicate his legal career to holding disability insurance companies accountable, and he built the Dabdoub Law Firm for that purpose.

About His Practice

Eddie represents clients at all stages of disability insurance claims. He has extensive knowledge of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) since many of his clients’ long term disability cases are governed by the federal statute.

With such a focus on disability insurance, Dabdoub Law Firm has successfully taken on the toughest opponents and have won major disability lawsuits. Big disability lawsuit wins include:

– Ashmore v. NFL Disability Plan, in which the firm represented a former NFL player who was denied benefits.

– Bradshaw v. Reliance Standard Insurance, where Eddie successfully argued to a federal court of appeal that pregnancy is not a preexisting condition that caused a stroke.

– Kaviani v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., in which Eddie successfully showed that Dr. Kaviani’s evidence of disability far outweighed Reliance Standard’s evidence for no disability.

– Kaviani Win in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, after Eddie won the lawsuit for a dentist with disabling cervicalgia, Reliance appealed the case. The firm won the appeal and Reliance was ordered to pay our client long-term disability benefits.

– Millis v. Ameritas, where Eddie fought against Ameritas and their specialty own-occupation disability insurance policies for his client who was a liver transplant surgeon in Illinois.

– Gimeno Win in the United States Court of Appeals, after our client lost in district court, Eddie took the case up on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court upheld our client’s right to equitable relief under ERISA.

Eddie has experience litigating disability cases in federal and state courts against all major disability insurance companies, including:

  • Aetna
  • UNUM
  • Hartford
  • CIGNA / LINA
  • Mass Mutual
  • Liberty Life
  • Met Life
  • Lincoln Financial
  • Prudential

Hear Eddie argue convincingly to a panel of federal judges that his client’s disability due to a stroke is not a preexisting condition caused by her pregnancy.

Speaker, Lecturer & Author

Attorney Dabdoub has participated as a guest speaker at law conferences both on local and national stages, discussing disability insurance benefits and ERISA for legal organizations such as the American Association for Justice and the Florida Association for Justice.

He has also authored articles on disability insurance and advises other lawyers on disability insurance and ERISA matters.

Education & Background

Eddie graduated with cum laude honors from the University of Miami School of Law. While at law school, he was the recipient of the Ambassador Sue Cobb Scholarship.

Before attending law school, he graduated at the top of his class from Florida International University, earning a Masters in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Miami.

Awards

  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in Insurance Law, 2022
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2021
  • Selected to Super Lawyers list, 2019 – 2023
  • Clients’ Choice Award – Avvo, 2015 – 2021
  • Selected to Rising Stars list, 2014 – 2017
  • “Top Attorney” – Avvo

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FEATURE
Retirement for Law Firm Owners Pt 3: Prepare for Exit Now (Ep. 71)

Retirement for Law Firm Owners Pt 3: Prepare for Exit Now (Ep. 71)

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As a law firm owner, are you prepared for the inevitable exit from your practice? Whether retirement is on your immediate horizon or decades away, strategic exit planning is not a future consideration but a present imperative.

In this critical discussion, we delve into why planning your exit now is indispensable to maximize the value and profitability of your law firm.

On the latest episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz concludes a pivotal three-part series on retirement strategies for law firm owners.

Darren emphasizes that exit planning is an integral part of good business strategy, regardless of your age or retirement timeline. This episode underscores the necessity of contingency planning and the benefits of creating a transition-ready law firm.

Darren discusses:

  • The importance of succession planning, regardless of your age.
  • The three core areas of exit planning.
  • How making your law firm transition ready can increase its worth and profitability.
  • Practical steps you can apply to de-risk your firm, improve operational efficiency, and foster a culture of growth.
  • How to structure your retirement, safeguard your financial future, and find purposeful activities post-business life.

Resources:

 

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FEATURE
Insider’s Tips on Growing Your Criminal Defense Practice with Jay Ruane (Ep. 68)

Insider’s Tips on Growing Your Criminal Defense Practice with Jay Ruane (Ep. 68)

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As a law firm owner, you are all too familiar with the complexities of balancing financial stability and business growth.

On this episode of the The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, Host Darren Wurz is joined by guest Jay Ruane as they engage in an important conversation on effective financial planning, building strategic systems, and business optimization tailored specifically for criminal defense law firms.

Jay discusses:

  • How to mitigate decision fatigue by creating structured systems to ease decision making on a daily basis.
  • Why he focused his niche on criminal defense law and its benefits.
  • How to successfully migrate from working on your own to building a team.
  • Key strategies law firm owners need to adopt to ease tax planning.
  • How to create an effective onboarding process and training programs for employees.
  • How he overcome cash flow challenges and built a robust law firm.

 


Resources:

 

Connect with Jay Ruane:

About our guest:

Attorney Jay Ruane was admitted into practice in October 1998 and has become recognized nationally as Connecticut’s premiere DUI Defense attorney.

Attorney Ruane started his career as a public defender in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he was assigned a complicated docket of 100’s of pending DUI cases. As he developed his skills as a public defender, he realized that the complexity of these cases suited his nature and disposition.

In early 2000, he joined his father, who was then a partner in the Bridgeport firm of Gaston & Ruane, to devote himself fulltime to the aggressive defense of drunk driving charges. The two opened Ruane Attorneys, a criminal defense law firm primarily working with DUI defense. Since then, Ruane Attorneys has grown to be the largest criminal defense firm in the state of Connecticut, thanks to Jay and his father’s leadership, as well as the efforts of the associates, paralegals, and marketing team at the firm.

Since beginning Ruane Attorneys, Attorney Jay has gone on to lecture law students, other attorneys, and judges on the intricacies of DUI defense. He devotes a minimum of 40 hours yearly to continuing DUI defense education, and in November 2001 completed the rigorous NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing course of study.

He has also been certified as an operator and maintenance technician on the Intoxilyzer 5000. He has been recognized as an expert in DUI Defense, field testing and breath testing in both administrative hearings before the Connecticut DMV and in Habeas proceedings. His latest efforts in helping clients and colleagues has come in the form of several books that he has worked on and published in the past few years.

He has argued or briefed many of the seminal DUI cases to Connecticut’s Appeal’s courts, including State v. Pjura, State v. Kelley, State v. Pilotti, and State v. Hood.

Jay is the Connecticut State Delegate to the National College of DUI Defense, and members of several lawyer organizations, including the DUI Defense Lawyer’s Association (DUIDLA) and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (CCDLA).

For more information regarding Jay, you can contact him through his website, RuaneAttorneys.com.

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FEATURE
Estate Planning as a Subscription Service: Rethinking Legal Fees (Ep. 65)

Estate Planning as a Subscription Service: Rethinking Legal Fees (Ep. 65)

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Are you a law firm owner aiming to build a fortune that lasts generations? If so, our latest episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast is a must-listen!

In Episode 65, Host Darren Wurz welcomes Bobby Sawyer, a seasoned estate planning attorney, to explore innovative strategies for securing generational wealth.

Together, they delve into innovative approaches to estate planning, including the novel concept of a subscription-based model designed to adapt to your evolving life circumstances.

Bobby discusses:

  • The essential documents involved in Estate planning.
  • The innovative Forever Estate Plan and its benefits.
  • Why you need to select a competent trustee.
  • How to safeguard your assets from increasing tax liabilities.
  • Key considerations for succession planning in law firms.
  • Essential estate planning tools for law firm owners.


Resources:

 

Connect with Robert (Bobby) Sawyer:

About our guest:

Attorney Robert Sawyer, known as Bobby, is a highly skilled attorney focusing on estate planning, business law, and helping families continue their legacies. With experience representing individuals, companies, and local governments, Bobby is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal solutions to his clients.

Before embarking on his legal career, Bobby served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he held the position of combat engineer platoon leader and executive officer. During his service Bobby was awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal.

Bobby graduated from Auburn University in 2001, obtaining a BS degree in Education. Following his military service, he pursued his passion for law and achieved remarkable success. Bobby graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Charlotte School of Law in 2011 and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam in August of the same year. Subsequently, he obtained admission to the South Carolina Bar in February 2012.

In 2015, Bobby established Sawyer Law, a law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal counsel and services to clients. Recognizing the value of collaboration, he later co-founded Johannesmeyer & Sawyer, PLLC in June 2016, further expanding his legal expertise.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Bobby cherishes spending quality time with his family. He has his pilot’s license, loves to barbecue all sorts of meat and pork. He and his wife Katie, also an accomplished attorney serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Cleveland County, have been proud residents of Belmont, North Carolina since 2005. Together, they raise their three children.

With his diverse background, dedication, and commitment to his work, Bobby Sawyer is a trusted legal professional who continues to positively impact the lives of his clients and his community.

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FEATURE
Master Your Firm’s Cash Flow with Accounting Best Practices (Ep. 63)

Master Your Firm’s Cash Flow with Accounting Best Practices (Ep. 63)

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Are you a law firm owner grappling with your firm’s financial planning and cash flow management? If so, this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast is tailor-made for you! In our latest episode, Darren Wurz sits down with Rachel Blackburn, an experienced CFO consultant, to discuss critical accounting practices that can transform your firm’s financial health.

Rachel discusses:

  • The significance of starting the year with strong financial processes and goal alignment
  • How consistent and accurate bookkeeping can prevent costly mistakes and ensure timely financial reporting.
  • How to streamline billing processes and reduce clerical errors with tools like Quickbooks.
  • The importance of proactive communication with CPAs for better tax planning and financial management.
  • The benefits of a fractional CFO for law firm owners.
  • Why you must do today’s work today when it comes to accounting?

 

Resources:

 

Connect with Rachel Blackburn:

About our guest:

Rachel Blackburn is a proven business leader with over 15 years of experience in developing and leading executive-level engagements, as well as building and managing high-functioning teams and practices.

Rachel possesses a deeply rooted passion for understanding the needs of business owners and identifying optimal strategies to support their goals in an ever-changing marketplace. Before joining TP4 Advisors, Rachel held senior management positions at Cincinnati-based companies, including TRAK Group and Titan Chair.

As the Business Development Executive, Rachel leads the organization in engaging with potential clients to understand how TP4 Advisors can best support their needs and develop financial foundations for sustainable business growth.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys outdoor activities, reading, biking, traveling, bonfires, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

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FEATURE
How We Serve Law Firm Owners as Chief Wealth Counsel (Ep. 52)

How We Serve Law Firm Owners as Chief Wealth Counsel (Ep. 52)

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Are you a law firm owner tirelessly chiseling away at the bedrock of your practice, feeling the weight of financial complexity bearing down on you?

On this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz explores the rugged terrain of wealth management and business expansion, Darren breaks down how meticulous financial planning is not just a service, but a transformative experience for your practice and personal prosperity.

Darren exposes the reality that many law firm owners face – a landscape riddled with financial convolutions and missed opportunities.

Darren provides a powerful in-depth analysis of how his role as a Chief Wealth Counsel can provide clarity and growth to both your personal finances and business endeavors.

Darren discusses:

  • The importance of demystifying your financial positions, both personal and business, to make informed decisions for your future.
  • How to utilize passive income streams that allow you to earn you while you sleep and diversify your earnings beyond billable hours.
  • Proactive tax planning and cash flow optimization to ensure every dollar is working its hardest for you.
  • How to transcend the traditional plateau of law practice growth, and build a roadmap toward selling your firm as a significant wealth asset.
  • The distinctive financial planning model Wurz financial services adopts, which contrasts sharply with generic advisors and offers a flat, transparent fee structure.

 

Resources:

 

Connect with Darren Wurz:

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

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

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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!

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FEATURE
Using Automation to Scale your Law Firm with James Grant (Ep. 41)

Using Automation to Scale your Law Firm with James Grant (Ep. 41)

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In the competitive arena of law firm ownership, every decision can make the difference between lasting success and missed opportunity.

In the 41st episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz takes an incisive look into the journey of James Grant, a civil engineer turned law firm co-founder who mastered the art of converting professional hurdles into strategic growth for Georgia Trial Attorneys.

Join us as we delve into the vital role of refining processes within your niche, leveraging technology and automation to streamline operations, and the continuous journey of embracing change that every entrepreneur faces.

James Grant’s story is a testament to strategic acumen and the power of resilience in the face of the trials he endured on his path to achieving triumph in both the courtroom and the financial market.

James discusses:

  • The immense value in hiring experts and not cutting corners when it comes to business and financial operations.
  • Why he is a massive fan of AI and the disruptive effect it is poised to have in the legal industry.
  • The importance of implementing strategic systems and procedures that will streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
  • How niching down in a specific area can differentiate your firm and lead to greater profitability.
  • How law firm owners can save time by automating payment processes.
  • Tax strategies that law firm owners can explore to benefit their business and their employees.
  • Why entrepreneurs need to embrace change and creative disruption.

 


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with James Grant:

About our guest:

James Grant isn’t just an attorney; he’s a game-changer. As the co-founding partner of Georgia Trial Attorneys, he’s revolutionized the field of personal injury law in Georgia. He has created a powerhouse law firm that serves as the outsourced litigation arm for other personal injury firms. Gone are the days of personal injury lawyers juggling pre-litigation and courtroom battles. James’ mantra says it all: “We litigate, so you don’t have to!”

Together with his co-founder, Mark Kirchen, James has designed a form that embodies the future of law: where partners thrive, justice is swift, and technology leads. His leadership has shaped Georgia Trial Attorneys into a beacon of:

  • Absolute Accountability: We own it, fix it, and finish it
  • Forward Momentum: We accelerate cases, not just activity
  • Relentless Refinement: We are always looking to elevate
  • Every Conversation Is A Chance To Excel

Not just a powerhouse litigator, James is a tactical businessman. His dual expertise proves that you can win in the courtroom while maintaining a well-balanced life. A seasoned veteran in the courtroom, his prior roles include stints as an Assistant Solicitor-General and Senior Associate Attorney, where he honed his skills in both criminal and civil litigation. His diverse experiences make him the ultimate weapon against insurance companies and their greed, leveling the playing field for every client he represents.

But James isn’t all business. Outside the courtroom, he’s an amateur strongman competitor and an avid golfer. He values the harmony of a fulfilling personal life,. He lives in Roswell, Georgia with his wife Meredith and their children, James and Leah.

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FEATURE
What It Looks Like to Help Attorneys to Achieve Financial Independence (Ep.2)

What It Looks Like to Help Attorneys to Achieve Financial Independence (Ep.2)

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When you hear the words client experience, what do you think of? 

In this episode, we spend more time getting to know the host, Darren Wurz, MSFP, CFP®. He discusses what client experience means to him and his team at Wurz Financial Services, and shares the process he uses to help his clients plan for retirement. 

Darren discusses:

  • What it is like to be a client at Wurz Financial Services
  • Common questions clients have when it comes to retirement planning
  • The three step process to creating a financial plan
  • The importance of investing in powerful software for financial planning
  • How a client’s account is managed in his office
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Wurz Financial Services:

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FEATURE
Meet Your Host, Darren Wurz, MSFP, CFP® (Ep.1)

Meet Your Host, Darren Wurz, MSFP, CFP® (Ep.1)

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The highly anticipated podcast, named after the book “The Lawyer Millionaire”, has officially launched! 

In this inaugural episode, get to know your host, Darren Wurz, MSFP, CFP®. He highlights what led to the start of his business and what made him so passionate about creating successful financial plans for professionals working in law firms. Along with some insight into what’s to come on his show.

 Darren discusses:

  • How Wurz Financial Services was created – this includes following in his dad’s footsteps of being a financial advisor in the family business
  • How the majority of his clients turned out to be attorneys and how that reshaped his business entirely
  • The importance of investing time into understanding your clients’ needs and not treating every client with the same advice
  • How “The Lawyer Millionaire” is an extension of his business
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz and Wurz Financial Services:

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