There are three winning personality traits Attorney Samuel Ledwitz inherited directly from his parents. The first is the empathetic patience he extends to every client that walks into his office; he creates an atmosphere conducive for someone to tell their story from their heart, not just recite the facts of their case. “I want to know who you are,” Atty. Ledwitz told me in his Torrance office, “Tell me what is important to you, and what your objectives are first, before we get into the nuts and bolts of your case. What is your family like? Are there any special factors to consider? What kind of pets do you have? It’s the small facts that usually give me the big picture. After all, we’re going to be working closely together, so let’s talk.” This character quality comes from his mother, who was a nurse and British Military Captain.
From his father, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and an Engineer by trade, he gained his razor-sharp analytical skills. “Once I know what the problem is, I come up with a myriad of ways to solve it, then I narrow the results down to the best possible solution for my client.”
Atty. Ledwitz describes the third trait as the most important integrity. “My father never made a promise that he couldn’t keep. If you make a promise to a client, don’t break your word.” It’s a belief that Atty. Ledwitz keeps in mind during every meeting.
HW: “Who were some of your early influences in law?”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “I would have to say Judge Gregory O’Brien. He really showed me how attorneys should conduct themselves, and how important your interaction with your client is. He was the master at getting people to disclose what the real issue at hand was. He showed me how talking about the small stuff would lead to the bigger picture. It’s a concept I use every day.””
HW: “Why do you love your job?”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “I get to talk to nice people who tell me about decades of successful family relationships and wealth accumulation. I hear what they went through and how they saved every penny that they have now. And I’m honored that they are trusting me to pass their life’s work onto the family they love. It is really a positive uplifting experience.””
HW: “What are some of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning?”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “Thinking that your family will work out the details if you leave them your inheritance. Leaving an 18-year-old child a trust fund with no guidance will most likely result in a broke 19-year-old, so you may want to have stipulations about how the money is disseminated. Some people have family members with drug and alcohol abuse problems, so you definitely don’t want to just turn over large sums of money to them.””
HW: “It sounds like you have a lot of trust between your clients and yourself to divulge that kind of information.”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “Without that kind of honesty, I can’t do my job effectively. I want to give each client peace of mind, and that means I have to have an accurate picture of who will be receiving this money.””
HW: “Who is your average client?”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “That’s an interesting question. It could be a single mom with a child, a couple that just bought a house or had a child, a rich executive trying to lessen his tax burden or a grandmother trying to provide funds for education. Honestly, there is no average client. Each client is different and needs a tailored plan.””
HW: “What are some things people should think about, but don’t?”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “Well, most people think estate planning is just about money. However, what would happen to your child if something happened to you? I mean not only who would take care of him, but how would he be taken care of? What religion should they follow and what schools will they attend? Also, your health care directive is important. If you’re in a persistent vegetative state, then do you want to be kept alive no matter what or do you want to pass away peacefully? And, which loved one should be the one to tell the doctors your wishes.”
HW: “Tell me about advanced planning; I read a little bit about it on your website – which is very informative, by the way.”
ATTY.LEDWITZ: “There are numerous techniques that we can use for clients. For instance, if there is rental property, we can create a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to reduce estate tax and provide protection from lawsuits. That’s a very general explanation, but I’m more than happy to explain this to anyone who comes in my office.””
HW: “So, you have no doubts about the career you’ve chosen for yourself.”
ATTY. LEDWITZ: “None. When the family of one of my clients comes into my office after they’ve passed away, and they’re filled with worry and concern, the look on their face when they realize that the legal paperwork will be taken care of for them, it’s the most satisfying feeling in the world. My job consists primarily on delivering on a promise I’ve made to my clients. It just comes down to what my mom and dad taught me— patience and integrity.”
(310) 769-4783 ESTATE PLANNING LEDWITZ