What Our Clients Say
Estate Planning is a very personal matter, and only a few clients are willing to have their comments or identity made public. Occasionally we do get a letter from a client who gives us that permission. Here’s what those clients say about our unique LifeSpan™ Planning Process:
Feb. 12, 2010
Dear Curt,
It was a year ago on Feb. 17, 2009 that we first attended one of your information sessions. That was one of the best things we have done. We have been talking-discussing and putting off that we should do with our land and personal effect after our deaths for years. We had tried one time to get a will/plan put in place and immediately realized that our wishes were not being heard. So we paid the fellow and never went back.
We signed up for your program we immediately realize that we were going to be listened to and our wishes were going to be met. You had a step by step program we could easily understand. We however, had no idea how thorough your plan was going to be until you took us through step by step. Our children were thrilled that there is a plan in place too. They are happy that they have been invited to be a part of it…
Again thank you so much…Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it!
We look forward to attending your follow-up sessions.
We feel good about what you have helped us accomplish.
J & MJ B
Spring 2009
LifeSpan™ estate planning is planning that is tailored to fit our needs. Our meetings with Curt (and the forms-our homework) really made us think about exactly what we wanted in an estate plan and then helped us achieve that goal. All of this was done with the personal touch of Curt and his staff.
F. Steele
Princeton, IL
Dear Curt and Staff of Estate Planning Ct.,
We were invited to Estate Planning meeting by Gary Goodwin [accountant with Farm Business Farm Management] and Ron Kirby Investment Planners Inc. and introduced to Curt Ferguson of Estate Planning Ct. Later we met at Ron Kirby’s office and discussed our estate. We felt comfortable with Curt and estate plan he offered. We then set up our Living Trust and Limited Partnership. After five years [in your maintenance and education program] we are satisfied with [our] unique plan and would recommend [your approach] very highly - [you] have a wonderful staff and are very helpful and explain to anyone who ask or who has any questions. We appreciate [your] concern for our family.
N.M.
Princeville, IL
Dear Curt,
I am writing to let you know how much I and my entire family appreciate the work you have done for us on our estate planning. My mother and I truly enjoyed our meetings with you as we developed the plan together. Your ability to clearly and simply explain some complicated questions made the process much easier. Plain English is a wonderful thing!
I also appreciate the time you spent with our entire extended family, going over our plan and explaining its consequences to all of us. That helped get everyone on board with the plan; now they know what to expect. Many of us are now pursuing similar plans of our own.
Your help in organizing our ongoing farming businesses will enable the third generation to continue farming the family farm. Now that the organizing is done, we can focus on the farm itself.
Thanks so much, from our whole family.
T.H.
Warren County, Illinois
4/1/06
Dear Curt:
Some six years ago, I came to you and your law firm believing my reason for coming to you was the fact that I was a “special needs” client [with disabled beneficiaries] in creating a living trust. I would like to say a deep and sincere “thank you” for your services to me which reach far beyond “special needs.” I have learned that rather than being “special needs” on my part as a client, you and your law firm represent “special and much-needed services” to clients. Most importantly to me has been your professional emphasis on “counsellor at law” which I have found to be unique and also of great client value. Your law firm has helped me, as a client, to move from seeking legal services FOR me and my beneficiaries, to finding a law firm that works WITH clients and their beneficiaries as you and your staff do. That unique part I find in the “counsellor” part of “at law”.
Through your LifeSpan and legal and client services which have included ongoing and regular educational workshops for clients and their beneficiaries, regular updates on the existing trust, and the coordinating of trust funding vehicles, I have felt that I have added real value of a legacy and vision as well as a financial gift to my beneficiaries. Certainly my beneficiaries have benefited from the services of your law firm. And I, as a client, have greatly benefited with the most important benefit to me now being a peace of mind regarding my personal estate planning. Thank you.
Sincerely,
C.B.
Assumption, IL
February 10, 2007
During 1992 after the death of both my wife’s parents we decided we needed a revocable trust. At our first meeting with the attorney, which lasted about two hours, we discussed heirs, split of assets, and a few other subjects. Our next meeting was to pick up our trusts. Maybe this was appropriated with our asset amount and the trust attempts to cover all contingences. We were never contacted by that law firm again.
From then until 2006 we were fairly diligent in funding our trusts, but no other updates even though we had several changes in our lives. We had no built-in update method.
In 2006 we felt an urgency to update our trusts, but where, who, and how to do this. I saw an article in the “Prairie Farmer” written by Curt Ferguson. I read his web site and we decided to attend his “The Truth About Estate Planning Workshop”. This satisfied our question as to who was going to help us update our trusts.
This experience was completely different. We went step by step through each article of the trust addressing many questions. Most important were the distribution of some assets that had particular ramifications and protection of these assets, and disability and medical power of attorney. This took us over 4 hours. Totally we were face to face with Curt for 12 or 13 hours and spent over two hours in a telephone conference involving our financial advisor.
Curt and his organization are making sure our assets are titled correctly so they go where we desire. We like his method of helping us keep our trusts updated with changes in the law or our circumstances. Since trusts are fairly complicated we were concerned how our heirs were going to handle our trusts. Now Curt will help them, if desired.
All fees are upfront so there are no hidden surprises.
We now have a complete package. We were willing to travel 220 miles one way and Curt has worked to keep our travel to a minimum.
M. Davenport
Minooka, IL