Designing flexible distribution rules

Welcome to episode 319 of Grow Your Law Firm, hosted by Ken Hardison. On today's episode, Ken is joined by David Carrier, a Michigan-based estate planning and elder law attorney and Founder of the Law Offices of David L. Carrier, P.C., with more than three decades of experience helping families protect and preserve life-changing assets. The conversation explores a critical but often overlooked issue for personal injury attorneys: what happens to clients after they receive a major settlement. Ken and David discuss why large awards frequently disappear within months, the psychology behind sudden wealth, and the ethical opportunity law firms have to guide clients beyond the resolution of the case. David explains how tools like irrevocable trusts, structured distributions, and professional co-trustees can help prevent settlements from being lost to overspending, creditors, or poor investments. The discussion also highlights how offering post-settlement guidance can deepen client trust, improve long-term outcomes, and create lasting referral relationships. What you'll learn in this episode:

1. Why Life-Changing Settlements Often Disappear - How most large awards are spent within 12–18 months - The psychological patterns behind sudden wealth loss
2. Protecting Clients Beyond the Case Resolution - Why "here's your check" isn't enough - The ethical responsibility attorneys have after a settlement
3. Using Irrevocable Trusts to Preserve Wealth - How trusts protect assets from creditors and bad decisions - Why access with structure matters more than lump sums
4. Avoiding the Pitfalls of Annuities and Windfalls - Why annuities often fail to solve long-term problems - How structured planning slows spending and improves outcomes
5. Turning Post-Settlement Care Into Long-Term Value - Strengthening client relationships through ongoing guidance - How better follow-through leads to trust, referrals, and reputation growth

Resources: Website: davidcarrierlaw.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidlcarrier Facebook: facebook.com/DavidCarrierLawInstagram: instagram.com/davidcarrier_law/?hl=en Additional Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind AI for PI Expo: www.pilmma.org/ai-for-pi-expo