Meet Jan Meyer: Family Protection Planning attorney & First time Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jan Meyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The short answer- my family. I started law school with a 9 month old daughter and a 5 year old son. And during my three years of law school, I watched my children grow so quickly and myself miss so much of that growth. I was constantly having to choose between being there for my children as a mom or showing up for myself as a student. After graduating, I realized that a law firm job would require greater compromises from me. I also realized that the time with my children was limited and precious. I created my practice because I wanted the flexibility to actively cheer my kids on in their pursuits while also building my career, my way. What I didn’t realize at the time is that this approach was going to inform so much of my business including my approach to estate planning which is helping couples and individuals protect what is oftentimes their most valuable asset, their families.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At the Law Office of Jan A. Meyer, we’ve always looked for ways to service our clients efficiently, while also making estate planning fun (yes, we laugh while we’re discussing your mortality), and we leverage technology and systems to make sure that our client experience from contact to finished product is impeccable. There have definitely been growing pains, and missed opportunities because of fear and inaction. One of my turning points in this journey was while reading the book, The E-Myth Lawyer by Michael E. Gerber and Robert Armstrong, JD. The authors challenged my mindset with regard to my business and my family. The key lesson that stuck is that my business and my family are interconnected; one cannot succeed without the other. My business failures actually equate to failing my family. That was the mindset shift I needed to begin thinking more strategically about my business. I started right away to continue the mindset work and to also take the actions necessary to fix the problems in my business so that I could start making it work for me and most importantly, for my family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For exercise and the best view of the LA skyline, hiking of Runyon Canyon is perfect. Find a neighborhood parking spot so that you can enjoy some incredible old architecture before getting lost in nature in the middle of a city. Thai town is a must for some delicious curry. Riding bikes from Venice to Malibu is a must do. The Brazilian BBQ at the Farmer’s Market lunch can be followed by people-watching at The Grove. A trip to LA isn’t complete without the following staples, hiking to the Hollywood sign from Hollywood Land; learning all about Mexican culture walking around Olvera Street; taking in some prehistoric learning at the La Brea Tar Pits and of course, visiting DTLA with it’s reimagined lofts, trendy restaurants and remnants of the old DLTA in the garment district.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout goes to my best friend and partner in life, my husband, John Meyer. Ten years in the life of any business is challenging and I have been on the verge of giving up more times than I care to count. My husband listened to my complaints, affirmed my ideas, even when he thought they were crazy, supported me financially during the struggle times, and most importantly reminded me of my WHY so that I could hop off the ledge, get back on the path and keep pushing.

Website: danapointwills.com

Instagram: @meyeresqfamilyprotection

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meyeresqfamilyprotection/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meyeresqfamilyprotection

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/law-office-of-jan-a-meyer-dana-point?osq=law+office+of+jan+a+meyer

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa03uxLaNEdTJ0F__C9I5MA

Image Credits
Kait McKay Photography