American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Estate planning documents sometimes say one thing while meaning something far more nuanced. When clients, or even attorneys, take the language at face value without understanding the larger structure, the plan can begin to unravel in unanticipated ways.

When Estate Planning Documents Say One Thing—and Mean Another . Last week at Summit, I had several conversations that stuck with me. Not because the questions were unusual, but because of how easy they were to

Ask any attorney who's transitioned to estate planning what they'd tell their earlier self.

The answer is almost always the same: I wish I'd done it sooner.

Not because it was easy. Because the practice they built on the other side was worth it — and they spent years longer than necessary waiting for the right moment.

Don't let June 24th be another thing you meant to look into.

Free webinar. 5 days left to register: https://na2.hubs.ly/H06cRDR0

Four attorneys walked away from their prior practice areas and built thriving estate planning firms.

They each started exactly where you might be right now — curious, uncertain, wondering if the timing was right.

On June 24th they're sitting down with Susan Russel and telling everything. The timeline, the financials, the hard parts, and the moments they knew they'd made the right call.

This is the most direct access you can get to attorneys who've actually gone through the process, without joining Membership.

Free webinar — register now. Link in comments ⬇️

The #1 question attorneys ask when they start thinking about transitioning to estate planning:

What does it actually look like on the other side?

Not the brochure version — the real picture. The timeline from decision to sustainable practice, the learning curve, the moment it started working, and whether it was worth it.

We asked four attorneys who've done exactly that. Their answers might surprise you.

Free. One hour. Worth it.

Register: https://na2.hubs.ly/H0641NB0

This article focuses on children, but the issues raised apply in any situation in which a non-spouse beneficiary is added to a deed.

When Good Intentions Backfire: The Risks of Adding Children to a Deed . People know that they need to design an Estate Plan, but often look for shortcuts. Those shortcuts come in various forms, from “do-it-yourself” Wills

Let's be direct about what's happening in transactional law.

AI tools are handling work that attorneys used to bill premium hours for. Referral pipelines are tightening. The attorneys still competing on price are watching their margins shrink — and the trend isn't reversing.

The ones who aren't worried made a move. Most of them made the same one: estate planning.

Not because it was easy. Because it's relationship-based, recurring, deeply human work that genuinely cannot be automated away.

On June 24th, four attorneys who made that shift are telling you exactly how — in a free webinar hosted by Susan Russel.

Register here: https://na2.hubs.ly/H05YRmn0

📅 Wednesday, June 24 | 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET

If your consultations feel inconsistent, harder than they should be, or too dependent on personality, this session will show you a more effective way to lead them.

How to Own Every Consultation Without Stress, Pressure, or Guesswork .

Have you been thinking about transitioning to estate planning but not sure where to start?

On June 24th, Susan Russel sits down with four Academy Members who made the leap — and asks them everything you've been wondering.

The real timeline. The real numbers. What they'd do differently. What surprised them most.

No slides. No pitch. Just four attorneys telling you what it actually looked like from the inside.

It's free and it's one hour. Register now: https://na2.hubs.ly/H05WRbW0

📅 Wednesday, June 24 | 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET

For firm owners who want predictable, sustainable growth, understanding the law firm marketing funnel is not about marketing theory. It is about operational control.

The Law Firm Marketing Funnel: From Awareness to Signed Client . Learn how a structured law firm marketing funnel moves prospects from awareness to signed clients & supports predictable growth.

AI can be useful. It can also be destabilizing if adopted without discipline.

AI in Estate Planning Firms: Where It Helps and Where It Creates Risk . Explore how AI can support estate planning firms while introducing real risks. Learn where it adds value and where judgement matters most.