Thursday, Oct 14

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

Registration/Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m

Opening Remarks – Speaker Introduction

9 – 11 a.m

Col. Oliver North Keynote Address and Book Signing

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

VA Pension Planning – Briefing on Rules and Operations

This session serves to outline the guidelines of what can and can not be done for clients who qualify for VA Pension. Topics include VA case rulings regarding accreditation of agents and attorneys; attorney fees, eligibility for nonservice- connected disability, and what claimants must do to remain qualified each year.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Overview of a Profitable Practice: From Development to Implementation

Information will be shared on how to build a profitable practice, using Swain Law Firm as a benchmark. Session highlights include an outline of the various services you may provide clients, as well as recommendations for appropriate fee structures.

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

Developing Referral Sources as a Marketing Practice

This session provides ideas on how to build your client base through referral sources using marketing techniques that include networking, public seminars, and group affiliation. Outreach ideas will be presented, as well ideas on how to build your name recognition through generating awareness of VA Pension benefits.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

How to Move Prospect to Client

Your VA Pension knowledge is power to be used for helping Veterans and their families secure financial resources needed to pay for their care. Tap into this knowledge as a sales technique to gain new clients and increase your practice revenue.

Friday, Oct 15

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10 a.m.

Annuities as a VA Planning Tool

This session provides insight into annuities and the role they play in serving VA Pension clients. Expect to leave this session fully aware of annuities, and the importance of forming relationships with financial advisors to better serve your clients. You will know how annuities work, when they work, and the pro’s and con’s of each type.

10 – 11 a.m.

Excess Asset Management

Find opportunity in what would otherwise be a hindrance when applying for VA Pension benefits. Dealing with excess assets proves to be an area where your services are crucial, in order for clients to qualify for VA Pension benefits.

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Profitable Office Procedures

This session serves to provide a working business model for administrative staff to streamline operations while maximizing your revenue. Learn how to train existing staff to serve as VA Pension Case Managers through pre-screening prospects, managing communications, legal documents, and records.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 – 5 p.m.

Case Studies

Presentations will focus on a series of scenarios that apply to VA Pension cases. Potential problems will be identified and you will be provided solutions for managing various issues including:

• Various Documents and Legal Services Needed by Claimants to Qualify for VA Pension
• Real Estate Issues that Require Profitable Practice Services
• Dealing with Family Dynamics
• The “and/or” Factor: How and When to Use
• Opportunities in Appeals

5 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Tuesday, Oct 12

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10 a.m.

Understanding the Riches in this Niche

This session will cover how attendees can build a profit niche in the area of Veterans Benefits, and the effect of this practice area on their overall business.

A 10,000 Foot View of Pension

During this session attorneys will learn what basic pension, pension with housebound allowance, and pension with aid and attendance is, how to identify a client who may be eligible, and the maximum benefits associated with each pension benefit.

10:10 – 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Building a Solid Case - Medical Requirements for Pension, Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

This session will discuss what medical evidence is necessary to qualify a veteran or surviving spouse for aid and attendance or housebound pension benefits and how to document this evidence in a claim for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits.

12:10 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 – 3:10 p.m.

Financial Requirements for Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

This session will discuss planning strategies to reduce a veteran’s countable income and strategies available to protect assets for a veteran enabling him/her to qualify for VA benefits while considering the effect the planning strategy will have on the veteran’s ability to qualify for Medicaid.

3:10 – 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 – 5:10 p.m.

The Client Has Too Much Income and Too Many Assets – Now What?

This session will discuss planning strategies to reduce a veteran’s countable income and strategies available to protect assets for a veteran enabling him/her to qualify for VA benefits while considering the effect the planning strategy will have on the veteran’s ability to qualify for Medicaid.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 13

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10 a.m.

Using Irrevocable Trusts as a Planning Tool

This session will look at how irrevocable trusts may (or may not) be used as an asset protection tool for VA pension benefits, and the benefits and detriments of using an irrevocable trust.

Putting Your Knowledge to Work - Case Studies

This session will provide fact patterns for attendees to analyze whether a veteran or surviving spouse would qualify for aid and attendance including how the VA would analyze the claimant’s income and assets, what medical evidence would be necessary for the claim, and what the potential award would be.

10 – 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m. – Noon

The Medicaid Effect

What happens when a claimant qualifies for Medicaid? When should Medicaid be pursued rather than pension? This session will cover those questions, using sample fact patterns and a suggested process for determining the answers to these questions.

An Overview of Other Long Term Care Benefits Available Through the VA

This session will provide an overview of the long term care programs available from the VA, including State Veterans Homes, medical care and hospitalization, and an introduction to compensation and pension benefits including dependency and indemnity compensation.

12:10 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1 – 3 p.m.

How to Prepare A Claim That is Ready to Be Approved

During this session, attendees will learn how to prepare and file a claim for aid and attendance and the proper documentation to submit with the claim.

The Denial Letter – It’s Not the End of the Case

This session will also cover what to do if a claim is denied – what the appeals process is, and how to file an appeal or notice of disagreement.

3 – 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 – 5 p.m.

Your First Steps to Incorporate VA Pension Into Your Practice

How will you schedule appointments with potential pension clients? How will the conversation with potential clients take place? What do you want to earn from this area? What will it take to get there? These questions will be explored and possible solutions offered during this must-attend session.

5 p.m.

Adjourn