Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah Evelyn Ackah

On the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast, host Evelyn Ackah interviews Alay Yajnik, a law firm success growth expert and business coach. Alay shares his background in corporate business and training, and how he transitioned into coaching law firm owners. He discusses the common issues that keep his clients up at night, such as lack of income and overwhelming workloads. Alay emphasizes the importance of hiring the right employees and investing in their development to improve employee retention. He also touches on the benefits of niching down and the challenges of working with partnerships. Alay provides insights into his coaching process and encourages lawyers to seek external support to grow their firms. Alay Yajnik is host of Lawyer Business Advantage Podcast, and author of Staffing Up: The Attorney's Guide to Hiring Top Talent.
Evelyn was a guest on the Lawyer Business Advantage Podcast with Alay Yajnik on Episode 140: Law Firm Growth, where they talked about:
The roller coaster of entrepreneurshipBuilding a remote, global teamDelegating to better serve your clientsAdversity creating business excellence
Connect with Alay Yajnik:
Email: alay@yajnikgroup.com
Company: https://www.lawfirmsuccessgroup.com
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/alayyajnik
Podcast: http://lawyerbusinessadvantage.com
The conversation highlights Alay Yajnik's expertise in guiding law firms toward sustainable growth, emphasizing the importance of implementing proven systems while maintaining work-life balance and quality of life. Here are the key takeaways from Evelyn Ackah's podcast interview with Alay Yajnik:
Alay's Background: Alay specializes in teaching law firm owners in the US (and potentially Canada) how to grow their firms using proven systems. He aims to help lawyers achieve growth without sacrificing work-life balance, enabling them to avoid working evenings and weekends.Focus on Growth and Quality of Life: Alay's approach emphasizes maximizing growth potential while maintaining a high quality of life. He assists law firms, particularly solo and one-to-two partner firms, in making more money, taking more time off and enjoying their work by implementing effective growth systems.Empowerment through Systems: Alay's Law Firm Success Group empowers law firms by implementing proven growth systems. These systems aim to streamline operations, increase efficiency, and ultimately lead to greater financial success and personal fulfillment for lawyers.Award-Winning Business Coach: Alay is recognized as an award-winning business coach, author, and speaker, further validating his expertise in helping law firms achieve their growth and success goals.Resources Available: Alay's book "Staffing Up" provides valuable insights into hiring top talent for law firms and is available on Amazon. Additionally, his podcast serves as a...

On the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast, Evelyn talks with Wayne Baxter, a cross-border wealth management expert. Wayne shares his personal immigration story, moving from Canada to the US, and discusses the unique challenges and opportunities that Canadians face when moving to the US with investment assets.
He also talks about the importance of working with tax advisors and the strategies he uses to minimize tax burdens for his clients. Wayne also discusses his podcast, the 3 Questions Webcast series, where he covers various topics related to cross-border wealth management, including estate planning, tax planning, risk management and investing. He emphasizes the importance of education and collaboration with professionals in order to create personalized wealth management plans for his clients.
Connect with Wayne Baxter at One Capital Management.
Here are the key takeaways from Evelyn Ackah's podcast interview with Wayne Baxter
Wayne's Expertise: Wayne Baxter works with families in the U.S. and Canadian residents with U.S. investments, specializing in wealth management, including capital markets returns, risk management, tax and liquidity management.Personal Immigration Story: Wayne shares his journey from being born in Toronto, raised in Nova Scotia, working in Banff, Alberta, to ultimately relocating to California in 2012.Immigration Path: Wayne's immigration journey involved initially obtaining an E-2 investor visa and later qualifying for a green card under the Exceptional Abilities Program, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen with his family.Insights on Relocation: Wayne emphasizes the importance of consulting immigration lawyers early in the relocation process and highlights the complexity of immigration decisions, suggesting tax advisors as the next point of contact.Integrated Approach: Evelyn acknowledges the significance of considering tax and wealth management alongside immigration decisions, suggesting a collaborative approach among immigration attorneys, tax advisors and wealth managers.Collaborative Decision-Making: Wayne supports the idea of prioritizing consultations with immigration attorneys and tax advisors before delving into long-term wealth management considerations, highlighting the interconnectedness of immigration, tax and wealth management issues.Education and Awareness: Wayne emphasizes the importance of education in financial services, noting the surprising lack of knowledge among many individuals regarding wealth management.Fiduciary Role: As a fiduciary at One Capital, Wayne's primary role is to educate and inform clients, offering fee-only services without earning commissions on investment trades.Customized Solutions: Wayne highlights the need for personalized wealth management plans tailored to each client's unique circumstances and goals, covering areas such as estate planning, tax planning, risk management, investing, credit, real estate and immigration.Focus on Cash Flow: Understanding a family's monthly cash flow is often the starting point for discussions, allowing for a deeper understanding of their financial situation and goals.Collaboration with Tax Advisors: Wayne stresses the importance of working closely with tax advisors, especially in cross-border situations, to ensure comprehensive tax planning and compliance.Cross-Border Expertise: Wayne shares insights into cross-border wealth management

In this podcast episode of Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah, Evelyn interviews Wilder Clements, the owner and managing lawyer of Clements Employment Law in California.
They discuss various topics related to employment law, including the importance of a people-first approach in the workplace, the unique challenges and obligations faced by employers in California, the legal implications of trends such as AI, automation, remote work, the gig economy and the significance of building a strong employer brand.
Wilder also shares insights and advice based on her experience as an employment lawyer and entrepreneur.
Connect with Wilder Clements on LinkedIn.
Here are the key takeaways from Evelyn Ackah's podcast interview with Wilder Clements, a California employment lawyer:California Employment Law
More complex than federal law and many other states.Employers have stricter obligations regarding meal and rest breaks, pay stub accuracy, and misclassification of employees.EPLI insurance is highly recommended due to the prevalence of lawsuits and high potential penalties.
The Future of Work
Remote work is here to stay, but employers need to find a balance between flexibility and team building/training.Clear communication, established values, and employee surveys are crucial for remote work success.Legal compliance and data protection are essential for remote work setups.Monitoring can be done ethically to ensure productivity, but shouldn't be excessive surveillance.
Employer Best Practices
Develop a strong employer brand to attract and retain talent.Encourage open communication and feedback from employees.Invest in HRIS systems and consider HR consultants for record-keeping and conflict resolution.Focus on preventing discrimination through training and diverse recruiting practices, avoiding quotas.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Lawyers can find success with their own firms by offering alternative fee structures and prioritizing client alignment.Preventative law services can be valuable for both employers and employees compared to litigation.Business skills are crucial for lawyer-entrepreneurs, and some may wish they had learned more about accounting and bookkeeping.
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On the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast, Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah talks with Sean Murphy, a mortgage banker with BMO. Sean specializes in home mortgages for Canadian citizens in the US looking to buy in the "lower 48" and use Canadian income to qualify. Sean and Evelyn discuss programs available for Canadian snowbirds and expats in the U.S. to buy property in the United States.
Connect with Sean Murphy on LinkedIn.
Here are the key points from their discussion:Gateway Program for Canadians:
Sean discusses BMO's Gateway program designed for Canadian citizens purchasing property in the U.S.The program offers more favourable terms, including lower down payments and interest rates.
Gateway Program for Canadians:
Sean discusses BMO's Gateway program designed for Canadian citizens purchasing property in the U.S.The program offers more favourable terms, including lower down payments and interest rates.
Assistance for Snowbirds:
The Gateway program is available for primary residences, second homes or investment properties.Snowbirds interested in buying property in the U.S. can benefit from the program.
Challenges for Canadians Buying in the U.S.:
Sean addresses challenges faced by Canadians, such as higher down payments and interest rates, when considered foreign nationals.The Gateway program aims to provide better options for Canadian citizens.
Timeline for Mortgage Approval:
Sean mentions that the mortgage approval process typically takes around 60 days.Documentation conversion from Canadian to U.S. standards is part of the process.
Market Insights:
Sean discusses the recent changes in the interest rate market, with rates coming down from their peak in the previous year.Advises potential buyers not to wait, as market timing may lead to higher home prices.
BMO's Specialized Loan Programs:
BMO offers specialized loan programs for professionals like physicians and dentists.These programs provide tailored options for professionals with specific needs.
Support Beyond Mortgages:
Sean emphasizes BMO's support beyond mortgages, including assistance with opening bank accounts and other financial services.Networking connections with professionals in various fields are available to support clients.
About Evelyn Ackah
Evelyn Ackah is the Founder and Managing Lawyer at Ackah Business Immigration Law. With offices in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, we work with individuals and business owners from all over the world who want to cross borders seamlessly. For more information on immigration to Canada or the United States, Ask Evelyn Ackah at Ackah Business Immigration Law today at (587) 854‑3821 or email Evelyn directly at contact@ackahlaw.com.
The Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast by Calgary Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah was named #1 Best Canada Immigration Podcast in 2023 by Feedspot.
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On the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast, Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah interviews Jean-Philippe Couture, a business and tax lawyer who is passionate about technology and innovation. He is also the founder of Ingenio Solutions, a company that provides software for the corporate law practice. The software aims to automate and streamline corporate tasks, such as incorporation, annual maintenance, and dividend payments, while reducing errors and improving efficiency. Ingenio Solutions also offers services such as minute book storage and can act as a representative for companies in certain provinces. The software utilizes artificial intelligence to extract data from documents and improve accuracy.
_Jean-Phillipe emphasizes the importance of innovation in the legal profession and welcomes inquiries from fellow innovators and clients. Connect with _Jean-Philippe Couture on LinkedIn
Evelyn Ackah and Jean-Philippe discuss the following immigration topics:
The development of Ingenio Solutions and its focus on automating corporate law tasks.The increasing availability of corporate incorporations across Canada for non-residents and directors.The pros and cons of federal incorporation versus provincial incorporation.The upcoming launch of a federal transparency registry for corporations.
Jean-Philippe also
provides insights into why a company might choose to incorporate federally, such as for the name protection and modern registry.notes that federal corporations need to extra-provincially register in the province where they are carrying on business.
About Evelyn Ackah
Evelyn Ackah is the Founder and Managing Lawyer at Ackah Business Immigration Law. With offices in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, we work with individuals and business owners from all over the world who want to cross borders seamlessly. For more information on immigration to Canada or the United States, Ask Evelyn Ackah at Ackah Business Immigration Law today at (403) 452‑9515 or email Evelyn directly at contact@ackahlaw.com.
The Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast by Calgary Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah was named #1 Best Canada Immigration Podcast in 2023 by Feedspot.
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In this episode of the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast, Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah talks to Business Immigration Lawyer Saja Raoof, a U.S. immigration attorney specializing in extraordinary ability visas for individuals wanting to move to the United States. Saja shares her personal background as an immigrant from Iraq and her journey to becoming a lawyer. She discusses the Alien of Extraordinary Ability category and the criteria for eligibility, including original contributions, publications, awards and impact on the field. Saja also talks about the challenges faced by immigrants and the importance of standing up for one's freedoms and liberties. She shares her experiences with clients and the delays caused by COVID-19 in the immigration process. Saja concludes by discussing the increasing interest in EB-1 applications as an alternative to H-1B visas, particularly in the STEM field.
Connect with Saja Raoof on LinkedIn
On the podcast, Evelyn and Saja discuss as an Iraqi immigrant to America, Saja's journey to becoming a business immigration lawyer.
Key points from Evelyn and Saja's conversation:
Saja shares her background, including being born in Baghdad, Iraq, and later moving to the UK and Saudi Arabia before immigrating to the US.Saja's family decided to immigrate to the US in the early '90s under the category of Alien of Extraordinary Ability, which her father qualified for. She assisted in putting together the application.Saja discusses the challenges she faced as a woman, Arab American, and Muslim when she first moved to the US for college. She also talks about the decision to wear a hijab in college as a way to connect with the Muslim community and how 9/11 and its aftermath affected her choice to continue wearing it despite the challenges.Evelyn and Saja discuss the importance of standing up for one's freedoms and liberties, especially during difficult times.Saja talks about her transition from pre-med to law school and her focus on immigration law, particularly extraordinary ability visas. She shares her passion for helping clients navigate the criteria and process.The conversation touches on the challenges and delays in immigration processes caused by COVID-19.Saja explains the criteria for an Extraordinary Ability visa, which can be demonstrated through factors like original contributions to a field, publications, awards, and impact on the field.They discuss the variations in processing times for immigration applications, influenced by factors like place of residence and country of birth.Evelyn asks about the trend of individuals exploring EB-1 visas as an alternative to H-1B visas, especially for those in STEM fields. Saja confirms that it's a popular topic among immigration lawyers.Saja's practice primarily focuses on business immigration with a special emphasis on EB-1 visas for those with extraordinary abilities.
About Evelyn Ackah
Evelyn Ackah is the Founder and Managing Lawyer at Ackah Business Immigration Law. With offices in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, we work with individuals and business owners from all over the world who want to cross borders seamlessly. For more information on immigration to Canada or the United States, Ask Evelyn Ackah at Ackah Business Immigration Law today at (403) 452‑9515 or email Evelyn directly at contact@ackahlaw.com.
The Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah podcast by Calgary Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah was...