Dear Valued Client and Friend,

This is the most important letter I’ve ever written and while it’s not short, I strongly recommend you read it all the way through.  So, sit back, relax, put your feet up and join me for a few minutes while I share with you where I’m going and how it affects you.

2008 has been a year of profound change.  If you’ve been following my journey, you’ve probably wondered what this change means for the future of Martin Neely & Associates.   Frankly, I have too.

It wasn’t until the last day of 2008 that I had the answer and now I’m sharing it with you.

Before I do that though, I’d like to review a little history with you so that you have a better context for what’s to come and where you fit within the huge future that is unfolding before my eyes. (If you'd like to skip my story and go right to the part about what this means for you, click here.)

Ten Years Ago, My Life Really Began

Perhaps every year that ends in 9 will be a year of new beginnings. 1999 sure was. In February, I got married. By March I was pregnant and in May I was graduating law school. In August, Todd and I moved down to Florida so I could begin my clerkship for Judge Peter T. Fay on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and in November my daughter, Kaia, was born.

I was too busy that year to question my purpose.  To ask why I was really here. 

The questioning didn’t really begin until I’d moved out to Los Angeles to be an associate at the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson (some say the most prestigious law firm in the country) and very quickly became aware that the practice of law was not at all what I expected.

By 2001, I knew there was a greater purpose for my life, but had no idea what that was and spent much of the year beating myself up for not being happy at a job that most people would die for.

The questioning had started in full force. 

But, that year, was mostly about questioning my own sanity.  What was wrong with me that I couldn’t appreciate and be satisfied with achieving what I had spent my life up until that point working for?

I vacillated between wondering if I had wasted three years of my life in law school and taken on nearly $100,000 in student loans just to drive an hour each way to and from work, push paper around all day and bill my time in 6 minute increments and wondering if I had some major character defect that meant I’d never be happy no matter what I was doing and should just suck it up.

In 2002, as my thirtieth birthday approached, I began to get a clue that there was something much bigger waiting for me and that I’d never find out what that something was if I let the golden handcuffs of the big law firm keep me shackled to a life of working for someone else.

I began to feel the pull of what author Michael Gerber calls the entrepreneurial seizure.  And, I began to listen to myself in a new way.  I released some of my judgments and preconceived notions and found a still, small voice within me that had the answers to all my questions.  I began to listen.

I wanted to make a real difference in my client’s lives, have real relationships with the people I served and be the trusted advisor they turned to before making life decisions.  This wasn’t going to happen in the confines of a traditional law firm.

In 2003, 5 months after Noah was born and just a few months shy of my thirtieth birthday, I launched the law firm of Alexis Martin Neely, Attorney and Counselor at Law.

My Entrepreneurial Life

It was a wild ride right from the beginning.  I knew nothing about business, marketing, sales, customer service, employees, systems … nothing.  Luckily, I didn’t know how much I would have to learn.  If I had, I might never have made the leap.

And it wasn’t just about business that I had to learn.  More than anything, I had to learn about myself.

As an entrepreneur, I got to ask myself every day what I wanted.  How I wanted to do things.  And there was nothing holding me back from making my dreams happen.  Nothing but fear, of course.

Fear of running out of money, of not knowing where the next clients would come from, fear of failing my family.

The process of learning to convert fear into faith has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.

As I grew my business, I found my faith and discovered a set of Universal Laws that were predictable, transcended all religions and have now become the guiding principles of my life.

Discovering the Laws of God

Applying God’s laws, I began to have faith that my dreams would come true and I allowed my dreaming to grow bigger and bigger each year.

In 2004, we moved into the Beryl Street office, which is in itself a testament to the Law of Attraction.  Out of a garage with no walls, ceilings or floors I envisioned a quaint, cozy, yet elegant office where I would serve my clients.  It’s been my absolute joy to serve many of you there over the past years.

2005 was the most challenging year I’ve ever experienced as I was both growing my business and experiencing a difficult divorce.  Through it all, I held a vision of Todd and I one day being a family again, just in a bit of a different way and it is with the greatest joy that I report that vision has become reality.

Today, a true testament to the power of the Laws of Love, Gratitude, Abundance and Forgiveness, Todd and I are lovingly co-parenting our children, supporting each other in ways I only dreamed were possible and are better friends than ever.  At a couple of points, it didn’t look like we would ever get here, but we did and I am so grateful.

A Whole New Business Model

By 2006, with the divorce behind me and my kids with Todd half the time, I was able to focus my attention on learning how to integrate the Universal Laws into my business and build the business I had dreamed about when I left the security of the big law firm.

You see, I had gone to law school with a dream of making a difference in my client’s lives.  A dream of having a lifetime relationship with my clients.  A dream of providing something far more profound than a set of legal documents that would become meaningless as soon as the clients acquired a new financial asset or had some other life change in their family.  I talked about relationship a lot.  I wanted relationship a lot.

Yet when I looked around my law firm, I didn’t see a whole lot of relationship.  We had a whole lot of new clients coming in, but the business model didn’t provide any way to maintain the relationship.

What I discovered is that if I was going to provide real relationship to my clients, I was going to have to break free of the traditional/broken business model of most lawyers and law firms and invent something radically new.

2006 was about reinvention and the birth of the Kids Protection Plan®, which was received with rave reviews and the concept of what I now call being a Personal Family Lawyer®, though at the time I didn’t know that’s what it would be called.

I just knew I had to do something different. 

And so I experimented and tested and threw spaghetti against the wall to see what would stick.

Here’s what I came up with:

Estate planning is not a one-time process as many lawyers would lead you to believe.  It’s an ongoing process that should be started when you are young and continued throughout your lifetime.  And, only part of it has to do with your estate.  If you see it as just a one-time process, your plan will fail when your family needs it because your assets won’t be owned properly and your plan will be out of date.

What estate planning really has to do with is making life as easy as possible for your loved ones when something happens to you and it’s not just about passing on your money, it’s about making the right financial and legal decisions during your lifetime that will bring you and your family freedom from worry and about passing on far more than just your money.

Out of these philosophies, was born the Family Wealth Planning Institute, so that I could educate both the public and lawyers on this whole new model of personal legal services.

The Birth of the Family Wealth
Planning Institute

I had invented a new business model at Martin Neely & Associates.

We eliminated hourly billing from our service model completely. All planning fees would be flat fees, agreed to in advance so there would never be any surprises.

I empowered my team to meet your needs without having to wait for me to answer every little question and developed a process for making sure your assets were titled in the right way (remember, if they are not, your plan will not work).

We began reviewing your plans and the structure of your assets every three years. We created our Family Wealth VIP Membership program for those of you who wanted to make sure your plan would continue to work throughout your lifetime and wanted us to monitor the structure of your assets, wanted to be able to consult with your own lawyer before making any legal or financial decisions and wanted discounts on legal services for yourself and your family.

We built Kids Protection Planning into our service so that every family would have a plan that provided for their kids well-being not only long-term, but in the immediate hours after an accident, and began our Priceless Conversations so that you would easily leave behind more than just your money.

And in 2007, my focus became solidifying that model and finding lawyers throughout the country who were also disillusioned with the transactional, forms and documents-based nature of the practice of law.  I began to train these lawyers and designate them as Personal Family Lawyers®.

If there’s one word I can use to describe 2007, it’s challenge. 

I was busting my butt more than I ever had before.  Single handedly running Martin Neely & Associates, building the Family Wealth Planning Institute, having my kids every other week (which makes childcare a killer) and dealing with a complex IRS audit stemming back to the year of my divorce.

Something had to give.

Stepping Off Into the Unknown

The first 6 months of 2008 were some of the most exhilarating and frightening months of my life. I knew there was something bigger and bolder just waiting for me, but I was going to step off into the unknown, without a safety net, to get to it. Relying completely on my faith and the lessons I’d learned 5 years before when I left the safety of the big law firm (so long as I’m living on purpose and committed to my Truth, God provides everything I need), I leaped.

It was time to let go of everything that was keeping me boxed in and that meant

1. not taking on any new clients,
2. publishing my book, and
3. focusing my attention on national media instead of local marketing.

This was a huge decision because new clients still made up the great majority of my income and I was supporting two households on that income, mine and my ex-husbands.

If the Family Wealth Planning Institute couldn’t support us, I’d be toast.

Fortunately, my faith and my commitment to my purpose was greatly rewarded.

1. The Universe led me to my dream house, which costs me $2,000 less per month than I had previously been paying and got me back to a Hermosa Beach walkstreet;
2. My book, Wear Clean Underwear!, debuted to rave reviews and hit #8 on the Barnes & Noble bestseller list and was #1 in all its categories on Amazon.com.
3. I appeared on the Today Show, became the CNBC legal expert and the Better TV Family Financial and Legal Expert.
4. The Family Wealth Planning Institute designated 60 heart-centered lawyers as Personal Family Lawyers®.

Most importantly, I found a lawyer willing to come in as a partner at Martin Neely & Associates, run the day to day operations of the law firm and see the new clients.

Finding a lawyer to take things over was harder than you would think considering the success of the firm.  But, we have a radical philosophy as Personal Family Lawyers® - no hourly fees, no surprises when it comes to fees, returning phone calls within 24 hours, making sure assets are owned properly, regular plan reviews, Family Wealth VIP Membership program, helping you to pass on more than just money.

These are radical ideas.  Most lawyers are totally stuck in the old mindset that they cannot comprehend of making a change. 

Art Swerdloff was a Personal Family Lawyer® in Marina Del Rey and had been training with me for over a year, so he thought he’d be able to seamlessly step into my shoes at the firm.

After 6 months of trying to run both his law firm in Marina Del Rey and our firm in Redondo Beach, he has thrown up the white flag of surrender and let me know he just can’t do it and do both firms justice.

Letting Go of My Baby

As your lawyer, I committed to you that you would receive a certain standard of service, the Personal Family Lawyer® way. And, Art and I have both come to the conclusion that he cannot provide that degree of service to you and continue to operate his own firm.

Therefore, we have made the decision to close down the law firm of Martin Neely & Associates.

As you can imagine, this is a heart wrenching decision for me.  The law firm was my baby and it’s difficult to accept that it won’t continue.

But, I also know I was put here on this Earth to carry a huge message that will transform the minds and lives of millions of people.

And that by holding myself back and keeping myself small, I’m actually doing a disservice to you.

Part of my life purpose is to be an inspiration to you.  To give you the faith to live your purpose, by living my life on purpose.

So, What Does This Mean For You?

The first thing it means is that the Martin Neely & Associates law firm will no longer be available to handle your estate planning matters on an ongoing basis.

I will continue to provide legal services to select private clients on a limited basis, which you can learn about below.

If you are an existing client of Martin Neely & Associates, the Personal Family Lawyers® throughout Southern California have agreed to treat you as client’s of their own firm and provide you with ongoing service without the need for you to start your planning over (which would mean a whole new planning fee, new documents and a whole new planning process) with their office.

Each of these lawyers have each been trained by me in the Personal Family Lawyer® way.  They have:

• committed to flat fees, agreed to in advance with no surprises;
• a team that is available to you for quick questions so you don’t have to wait hours or days for phone calls back
• agreed to make sure your plan continues to work throughout your lifetime with no charge plan reviews every three years
• an ongoing membership program for those of you that want to make updates to your plan, have continued assurance that your assets are titled properly, and be able to call on your lawyer for consultation without charge. 

Each one of these lawyers also uses the Kids Protection Planning™ process to ensure your kids are always taken care of in the right way and Priceless Conversations™ to ensure your family is left a gift that is far greater than all the money in the world.

If you are not a client of Martin Neely & Associates, but you were considering becoming one, congratulations for making the decision to get your financial house in order and provide your family with a gift that will last several generations.

I strongly recommend you choose one of these awesome lawyers who will not only keep your planning updated throughout your lifetime, but will be available to consult with you throughout your lifetime before you make any financial or legal decisions and will be there for your family after you are gone. 

If you are outside of the Southern California area, you can find all of the Personal Family Lawyers throughout the United States, here.

How Can You Continue to
Work With Me?

If you would like to continue to work with me directly, there are a few opportunities to do so. They are as follows:

1. Continuing Legal Service: 
   

   While I will not be providing one-on-one legal services any longer, you can still receive my personal guidance to uplevel your life and your business. Get my free LIFT Audio Program and be sure you have all your Legal, Insurance, Financial and Tax bases covered.

2. Business Growth Coaching Services:
   
   Over the past several months, many of you have contacted me to inquire about the availability of business growth coaching. Over the years of growing my own business, I have developed expertise in helping small business owners maximize their internet presence, grow their existing core businesses, develop additional revenue streams that are complementary and related to their core business, and implement the internal systems necessary to automate the provision of their services. Please see www.DaveandAlexis.com for the opportunities available and to find out whether you would be a fit for me to help you take your business to the next level.
   

3. Personal Growth Coaching Services:
   
   Perhaps you are feeling the pull of something bigger in your own life. You've watched me blossom and grow over the past several years and wonder how you could do the same. You are tired of playing small and want the support necessary to take your life to the next level. I can help. I want to help you think bigger about yourself and what's possible. Over the past five years, as I've built two million dollar businesses, gone through a divorce, and become a national legal expert, none of it would have been possible had I not made tremendous strides in my personal growth. Today, I am thrilled to report that I have found an internal freedom that is eternal and unrelated to the circumstances of my specific situation. If you would like that freedom as well, go to www.AlexisMartinNeely.com and click the link that says Play a Bigger Game Now!
   

4. Facing a Lawsuit or In Need of Conflict Resolution:
   
   I am currently working on a book that will transform the way you perceive conflict. If you are considering a lawsuit or currently embroiled in the middle of a lawsuit or conflict and would like to get my personal counseling to help you determine how to proceed, I would love to help you. I am offering this counseling at no charge. But, there is a hitch. You must go to http://www.LawyerYouLove.com, tell me your story and then if you qualify, we'll be in touch to get you scheduled.

5. The Mommy Business
   
   Want to watch what it's like to raise kids and run a business from home? I'm taking you behind the scenes with my new video blog, the Mommy Business LIVE.

What About The Beautiful MNA Offices?

Over the years, so many of you have said you dreamed about working at the Beryl Street office. I understand! It’s been so wonderful working there and it’s an amazing place to meet with clients. If you still have a dream about how you would use the Beryl Street office, this could be your chance!

My lease on the office runs through August. 

I have two opportunities available for you:

1. Monthly lease of the non-client office.
   

   We have half of one of the cottages available for lease on a monthly basis.  The office has computers for you to use, a full service Canon copier, and a phone system.  It is not “pretty” for client meetings, but it’s a nice space to spend some time in everyday and could certainly be made pretty.

2. Daily/Hourly use of the client office.
   

   If you have small conferences or meetings to be held in a beautiful setting, our client side cottage may be perfect for you.  Daily rates begin at $200/day. 
   
   Please contact Susan at 310-697-0411 to inquire about availability.

What’s Next For Me?

2009 is going to be an exciting year for me.  I will be deepening my spiritual practice and beginning classes at the Agape International Spiritual Center and I’m hoping to begin classes in spiritual psychology at the University of Santa Monica in the Fall.

I will continue to train lawyers throughout the United States as Personal Family Lawyers® and spread my message via television, radio and books and I will be stepping into the huge vision I have for transforming the way the public thinks about lawyers in America today.

To keep up with everything I’m doing, be sure you are subscribed to my Family Wealth Secrets online magazine (and if you haven’t been there in a while, go check it out – it’s all new and you will get my brand new audio program Financial Freedom NOW when you subscribe) and be sure to subscribe to my personal blog, the Intrepid Mompreneur. 

With Lots of Love and Gratitude,

Alexis Martin Neely

To thank you for all your support over the past years, I'm giving you a gift with a monetary value of $500, but with a life value that is immeasurable. I invite you to join me in Los Angeles January 23-25 to the Freedom Formula Experience. I will be appearing with such illuminaries as Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson and James Twyman. I would love for you to join me.