Upcoming event - estate and business succession planning seminar

On Wednesday, April 27, I'll be speaking to a group of Scotiabank customers about estate planning and business succession planning. Also speaking at the seminar will be a representative of Roynat, who will talk about options for financing in business succession planning. Refreshments and mingling start at 6:00. Presentation starts at 6:30 and goes to 8:15. It's being held at the Ottewell Scotiabank branch at 6304 - 90 Avenue, Edmonton. Care to join us? Call the branch manager, Eman Oliver, at 780-448-7861 to reserve a seat (there is no charge to attend).

Canadian Conference on Elder Law

This year's theme for the conference is "Developing an Anti-Agist Approach to the Law". Registration is open now. Click here to register online or just to find out more about the conference. It is being held in Toronto from October 28 to 30, 2010.

Upcoming event - Fort Saskatchewan Lifestyles Fair

If anyone will be attending the Fort Saskatchewan Lifestyles Fair on October 5, come by and say hello. I'll be there, with one or two of my colleagues. It's being held at the Pioneer House, 10102 - 100 Avenue. I'll also be giving a seminar there at 11:00 for about 45 minutes. We'll talk about estate planning and incapacity planning, all the usual fun stuff. As usual, I'll be available to answer questions or chat about things with people who stop by. See you there!

Upcoming events - seminars around Alberta

Summer is always slower for me in terms of seminars because so many people take their vacations during the summertime. However, September's calendar is already starting to fill. I've just booked September 14 in St. Albert and September 23 in Rocky Mountain House. It's going to be another great fall season and I look forward to meeting many of you readers in person.

Upcoming events - Sunlife advisors, and Red Deer Scotiabank

I have two events coming up next week that should be really interesting. On Monday, June 28 I'm off to the Sunlife office to give a talk to about 50 independent financial advisors. We'll be talking specifically about Enduring Powers of Attorney - what to watch out for, which clients need them, etc. My assistant and I are invited to stay for their barbecue as well. Should be a fun day.

On Tuesday, June 29 I'll be travelling to Red Deer to talk about business succession planning with guests of several Scotiabank branches. We still have room at this event, which runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., if you'd like to join us. Let me know if you'd like to attend. The Red Deer folks are always friendly so this should be another good day!

If you'd like me to come out to speak at a seminar or other event you're holding, call or e-mail Sarah Yu, whose contact information is listed on the right hand side of my blog.

Upcoming event - Riverbend Public Library

On Tuesday, May 25 I'll be presenting a seminar at the Riverbend Public Library, Edmonton, with the assistance of the staff of the Heritage Branch of Scotiabank. The session starts at 1:30. We'll talk about Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives. As always, I'll be answering all questions - the more the merrier! If you'd like to attend this free session, please call Mike Gee at 780-616-8021 and let him know you read about it on my blog. See you there.

Upcoming event - King's College

Sometimes it seems that I do so many seminars, there can't possibly be anyone left that hasn't heard me speak :) But just in case there is, I invite you to attend a seminar on Wednesday, April 28 at 2:00 pm. Perfect time for retired people! It's being held at King's College, which is at 9125 - 50th Street in Edmonton.

We'll be talking about bulletproofing your Will, and how to make the most of Enduring Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives. I always seem to be asked tons of questions, which I like and encourage, so it's a good way to find out those bits and pieces of legal information you've always wondered about.

Please come and join us. There's plenty of free parking and there is no fee to attend the seminar. To ensure that we have enough hand-out material and refreshments, please call 780-498-1685 and let us know you'd like to attend.

Upcoming event - St. Albert Seniors' Centre

On April 22, I'll be presenting a seminar at the St. Albert Seniors' Centre at 7 Tache Road, St. Albert (across from the Legion). It goes from 6:30 to 8:00.

The session will be packed with information and practical ideas. Those of you who read my blog know that I'm not big on theory but like to find solutions and plans for my clients that are practical, workable, tax-planned and cost-effective. We'll cover planning for incapacity (Enduring Power of Attorney, Personal Directives), estate planning and charitable giving. My seminars always become interactive, as I welcome questions from the audience.

There will be other guests as well, including Bob Kelly, a Financial Consultant from Scotiabank. It should be a really informative, interesting evening. Bob and I will both be bringing written material for attendees to take home. You will also be able to take a look at my book "Protect Your Elderly Parents" and even buy a copy if you want to.

The seminar open to anyone who wants to attend, particularly seniors and people whose parents are seniors. It's a great way to talk to experts one-on-one.

There will be light refreshments. There is no charge to attend, but to ensure that we have enough hand-out material and refreshments on hand, please RSVP to Bob Kelly at 780-907-9543 no later than April 19, 2010.

See you there!

upcoming event - Sobeys corporate office

On March 17, 2010 I'll be giving a seminar to the folks who work in the Sobey's corporate office in Edmonton. We're expecting about 80 people to bring their lunch and hear about the basics of estate planning. The seminar is put on by Sobeys at the suggestion of their in-house lawyer, Anu Chaitanya, as a way to make sure that their employees have access to top-notch, current information and strategies. The seminars are not lectures, but are very interactive, giving everyone a chance to ask questions.

This is really a great idea for companies to give a perk to their employees. I've done a number of these seminars in Edmonton businesses and I get tons of positive feedback from the employees and from the company itself. If this is something you'd like to see at your company, ask your HR department to get in touch with me.

coming event - Women in Business Expo

Later this month, I'll be speaking at the Women in Business Expo in Calgary on the basics of business succession planning. Most of what I'll be speaking about is also addressed in my latest book, "Succession Planning Kit for Canadian Business."

It looks like they've got a fantastic line-up of speakers for both days of the Expo. Hopefully I'll see some of you there. If you'd like to check out the seminar schedule, with summaries of the speakers and topics, click here. I'm really excited about this event!

Upcoming event - Terra Losa Scotiabank

On March 10th I'll be giving a seminar at the Terra Losa branch of Scotiabank, in Edmonton, with the help of the branch manager and their financial consultant. I hear that about 50 customers have accepted our invitation to hear a free seminar about estate planning. We'll be covering the basics of wills, powers of attorney, personal directives, choosing an executor, what not to do, etc. It's being held in the evening so that people who work during the day can attend.

We find that these seminars are really enjoyable and informative for the customers. They get a chance to ask questions and spend some time chatting over a cup of coffee. The seminars are also a really good chance for me to meet customers in person that otherwise I might not get to meet.

If this is the kind of seminar you'd like to see at your local bank, mention it to your branch manager or banking officer next time you're there.

Upcoming event - Spruce Grove retirement planning

On Saturday, March 20, 2010, I'll be speaking at a retirement planning seminar in Spruce Grove. The seminar runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 at Norquest College (3201 - 43 Avenue). This is a popular semi-annual event that gets a good turn-out each time, though it will be my first time attending.

I'm only one of several speakers for the day and I'll speak about Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Personal Directives etc. The other speakers - of which there are five or six - will cover Financial Planning for Retirement and the Changing Landscape of Retirement. This is a great opportunity to hear from some people that really know their stuff, and to chat one-on-one with a few professionals. There will be tons of up-to-date information, hand-out materials and ideas that people can put to use to plan their futures.

This session is open to the public. I'd love to see you there. There is no charge to attend and lunch is provided. To make sure that enough food and supplies are ordered, you do have to register in advance. Here is the link.

By the way, for those of you reading this who think they are too young to plan for retirement, you're not. Planning is all about starting early enough to keep your options open.

As the event is co-sponsored by the City of Spruce Grove, you can find out more by calling Family and Community Support Services (Spruce Grove) at 780-962-7618. Or you can call Francis Isaac, Financial Advisor at the Scotiabank branch in Spruce Grove, at 780-960-1942.

See you there.

Upcoming event - Advocis

I've been asked to give two presentations at the upcoming Advocis national congress. This is the group that independent financial advisors belong to. We're going to do a session on Wills and another on Enduring Powers of Attorney. I'm happy to do two sessions because, as those of you who know me are aware, I'm a chatterbox and love to talk about estate planning.

Taking friends to see the Oilers tomorrow night

Any hockey fans out there? I'm excited to be taking three top Wills and Estates lawyers with me to the Scotiabank suite at Rexall Place tomorrow night to watch the Oilers take on the Flames. I'm taking Paul McLaughlin and Andrew McLaughlin from Turning Point Law in Sherwood Park, and David Koski from The Estate House in Edmonton. There is no better way to see the Oilers play than from the suite!

Wills Week 2009 is coming up!

This year, as in almost every year since 2002, I will be giving a public seminar on Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives.

Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Whitemud Library, Whitemud Crossing, Edmonton
Cost: Free!

It's part of a week-long event called Wills Week, which is sponsored by the Edmonton Community Foundation. Other Wills lawyers will be giving public seminars that week as well, in other venues around Edmonton and area. You will see advertisements soon in the local newspapers. The idea is to provide the public with accurate, up-to-date informaton about estae planning.

If you get a chance to come hear me, or any of the other excellent speakers during Wills Week, please come on out. You'll hear tons of information, take home hand-outs and other useful materials and get a chance to ask questions one-on-one. I've given this seminar at the Whitemud Library twice before and both times the room was completely full, so please arrive nice and early to ensure that you'll get a seat.

I'll have my assistant with me, so you'll have a chance to buy my book from her at a discounted price. I'll be making a donation to the Edmonton Community Foundation for each book sold. You'll also be able to get a free coupon that will give you 15% off anything you buy from Self-Counsel Press's website.

Watch for me on Global TV Vancouver

Keep an eye out for me on Global TV Vancouver on Sunday morning, August 30. I'll be talking about seniors, capacity and estate planning. Let me know what you think of the show.

Conference in Fort Edmonton Park

Every summer I make at least one trip to Fort Edmonton Park to enjoy the sunshine and the history. I'll be there again tomorrow, but for a completely different reason. Right now there is a conference going on for all of the Managers of Customer Service for all of the Scotiabank branches north of Edmonton. I'll be there tomorrow morning to speak to the group about corporate executorship. What a wonderful location for a conference. Welcome to Edmonton everyone! Have a great three days in our beautiful city.

Watch for me on Global TV

Tomorrow I'll be taping a special segment with Lynda Steele of Global TV. We'll cover several topics arising from "Protect Your Elderly Parents", including how to begin the difficult conversation about estate planning. Hope you'll be watching!

Watch for me on CityTV on Friday, June 12

Recently I spent half an hour on CityTV's "Breakfast Television" talking about planning for incapacity. They've asked me back to talk in a bit more detail, so tune in at 9:00 on Friday, June 12 to learn more about this important topic.