Mark D. Munson, CELA, CAP
You practice in the areas of elder law, public benefits (including special needs trusts), estate and trust planning, and taxation. Moreover, you regularly advise clients in the areas of asset protection and medical assistance eligibility as well as probate and estate administration, trust administration, and guardianship. Why is this work important?
For me, it is important because it touches everyone. Everyone can benefit from what we know and what we do. The true value that we provide is our knowledge, which comes from our education, training, and experience. Many times, clients come in predisposed as to what they think they need or want, but I have “changed their minds” after our meeting. Why? In most cases, it is because they did not know that an alternative was available. When I am asked, “Why was I not made aware of this before?”, it means two things. First, it means that I have made a positive connection (or impression) with my client. Second, it means that the client sees the value of having me involved in assisting them.
How does this work allow families to focus on caring for one another?
As attorneys, we need to resolve legal problems as soon as possible so that clients can move on with their lives. In many cases, especially those involving uninsured long-term care expenses, I tell clients and their families to focus on one another, health care matters, and actual long-term care matters, and to let me focus on the legal and financial matters. This way, they do not need to worry about those issues and can focus on one another.
You are a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). What has this certification meant for you as a professional and for your practice?
For me, it has been a game-changer. It allows me to set myself apart from other attorneys, including other elder law attorneys.
You are very active within the professional elder law community. Why is this engagement important?
When I started practicing as an attorney, I did two things with my non-billable professional time. First, I attended CLEs (and I still do). Second, I volunteered to serve on boards of local non-profits. From both things, I learned the value of giving back. The attorneys who presented at CLEs taught me the value of giving back to the profession. When I served on boards of local nonprofits, I learned the value of giving back to the community. My focus right now is on giving back to the legal profession. I’m a strong believer in giving back somehow, someway. It allows me to continue to make a positive and meaningful impact in the lives of other people.
What’s currently driving your practice? For example, what demographic trends, marketing efforts, or changes in the law are particularly impactful on your day-to-day work?
I think there are many drivers right now. The pandemic caused people to realize they need to plan. Planning is complex and the laws around planning continue to change. The SECURE Act continues to drive work, and the political climate in Washington, D.C., is likely to drive even more work. Macroeconomic trends are also a driver. Many people are awash with cash and appreciated assets and that creates the overall sense of a need to “plan and protect.”
You are an active father of three. How do you balance work and family life? Are you successful?
I’m going to answer the second question first. I certainly try to be, and I sincerely hope that I’m successful, but that’s not for me to judge. My clients and colleagues get to judge me professionally and my family gets to judge me personally. How do I balance it? The honest answer is that I don’t. I love my work and I love my family. I suppose that some parents view parenting as work, and I suppose in a way it is. But there’s nothing wrong with loving your work. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with loving your “non-work.” Being perfectly honest about it, I want to love what I am doing irrespective of what it is. I want to love parenting my children, being a family member, and being a co-worker to my colleagues at the office. I also want to love being a zealous advocate to provide advice, counsel, guidance, and legal representation to my clients. In short, life is precious. It is very precious and it is very short. In my view, we need to live it to the greatest extent doing what we love to do. That is how I try to balance it.
What are you reading?
I am reading about politics. Politics is a hobby of mine. I am fascinated by it because, in my view, politics is a microcosm of the spoken and unspoken feelings in our communities. What some of us are not willing to say in our communities, our elected officials may very well be willing to say out loud. Is what is said “out loud” truly the way we feel about our neighbors, our colleagues, and those we interact with daily? I’m interested by this, and I tend to read about it as much as possible.
Anything you’d recommend?
Yes! Read where your passions take you. Read where your heart takes you. Read where your mind wants you to go. Again, in my view, life’s too short and you need to read for your own enjoyment.
What was your favorite concert?
That’s really tough. But, if I had to say one, it would have been seeing U2 at Madison Square Garden in New York. For me, there is no city like New York, and there is no band like U2. It was an amazing experience. If (and, hopefully, it is “when”) I see U2 in Dublin, Ireland, that will most likely be my favorite concert.
What’s so special about U2?
Interestingly, U2 almost did not become U2 because they didn’t know if they could live a “rock band life” and live by their religious values. For me, their music is inspiring, spiritual, political, soulful, intellectual, and, of course, musical. U2 is a great studio band in that they make incredibly great music, but I think they are an even better live band. Here is a snippet that shows why I find U2 so special: “I believe in the kingdom come, when all the colors will bleed into one, but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”