Everyone deserves legal protection. Now, with LegalShield, everyone can affordably access it.
Proven, professional advice from highly rated, qualified and experienced attorneys on all matters, from the trivial to the traumatic without worrying about the high hourly cost.
LegalShield is a 44 year old Company and the leader in the legal plan industry. Along with Kroll Inc. the world's leading risk consulting company, they protect you, your family, assets, business and employees with nationwide coverage, legally and against identity theft. Individual and Family Plan benefits cover you and your entire family, including you, your spouse or significant other, and any "age eligible" children, for a low monthly fee of less than $20. per month. It is effective immediately, there is NO long term commitment and it is "rate-stable" regardless of the number of family members. (In 44 years, LegalShield has never raised their rates to existing members).
The color of justice is green and you only get as much justice as you can afford.
A LegalShield "Life Events Legal Plan" levels the playing field and makes "Equal Access To Justice" a more affordable reality for all North Americans.
To review State Specific plans, simply go to the website: www.legalshield.com/hub/sbyrtus or www.MustHaveBenefits.com Review information on all plans available in your State or Province and give me at call with any questions. There is also a convenient online enrollment option.
Please feel free to contact us directly for additional information, questions, or to enroll, Contact: Susan Byrtus at 954-448-3661,
or email: sbyrtus@legalshieldassociate.com
Keywords: pre-paid legal,legal,legal services,attorney,identity theft,employee benefits, legalshield, will, wills, last will and testament, living wills, foreclosure, bankruptcy, loan modification
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
The company, LegalShield, has been in business for 45 years. I have personally been involved with the company as an Independent Agent since July 2003.
What is your primary product or service?
Legal Service Plans and the most comprehensive Identity Theft Plan available
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
My husband owned a flooring installation business and LegalShield has a specific legal plan for businesses. An agent shared how their Small Business Legal Plan could benefit our business saving valuable time and money. I actually inquired if they had a plan for individuals/families. The agent shared the benefits of the Family Plan and I inquired if there was an income opportunity, because I was "looking" for something where I could be my own boss, dictate my own schedule, be there for the important events in our young daughter's life and have no limit on my income potential.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
LegalShield is the oldest, most experienced company in North America offering legal service plans, the only one that was ever listed on the NYSE (before choosing to become a private company)
We are the ONLY "closed-panel system" of Provider Law Firms. (every other company offering legal plans use an "open-panel system" of law firms which is similar to signing up for an HMO or PPO where you receive a big book full of doctor's name and numbers and have no idea how much experience they have, etc.) LegalShield uses a carefully screen and selected, customer service trained, highly rated and experienced "closed-panel system" of Provider Law Firms. We also have a monitoring system in place to ensure that our members get the high quality of service we expect for our members and they deserve.
In the "old guard" legal system, attorneys are paid "by the hour" at $200. or MORE per hour.
Our law firms are paid by LegalShield and receive 1/3 of each and every members monthly membership fee and average anywhere from $500,000 to $1,500,000 per month! So, because of "collective buying POWER, when you call the law firm, you have their attention, you are in most cases their number one client, and they want to do everything they can to make your experience a positive one. And their motto is: "Under Promise and Over Deliver"
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
With its humble beginning in Ada, Oklahoma, LegalShield has now grown to a 170,000-square-foot corporate office on an 80-acre campus with over 700 employees dedicated and committed to serve. Our leaders have decades of experience and our goal remains the same � to provide outstanding legal coverage by quality law firms at an affordable price.
Provide detailed directions to your location
We come to you!
What type of payments do you accept?
When enrolling on-line at www.sbyrtus.legalshield.com , or on a paper application, we accept payments via checking account, and the following debit/credit cards Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. Payment by money order is only accepted when paying one year in advance (and only on paper applications).
Which areas do you service?
All 50 States and 4 Provinces. Contact us for a complete list.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Rip Mason, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Ralph (Rip) Mason, III, has a vast marketing background in the MLM/direct seller space coupled with experience in the legal industry. Prior to joining LegalShield, Rip served as a Director of Neways, Inc. an MLM/direct seller with operations in 15 countries and annual sales of approximately $345 million. Rip was also a consultant and managing executive at Golden Gate Capital. He worked on the design and launch of Neways' business tools including presentations to Neways' field leadership in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuota. He co-founded M2Holding, a private fund, in 2006. Prior to that, he served six years as the Vice Chairman of Jafra Cosmetics, a $420 million MLM/direct seller company, where he was a member of the three-person Office of the Chairman with oversight of all operational, sales and marketing functions. While with Jafra, he authored the company's strategic plan, IT plan and Europe strategic plan. Rip earned a juris doctorate from Rutgers University and was a founding partner of the Mason, Taylor & Colicchio law firm with offices in New Jersey, New York and London. Since July 2011, Rip has served as LegalShield's Chief Executive Officer and Director. He oversees all operational, marketing, sales and field functions. Rip is a member of the New York and New Jersey Bar. Alan Fearnley. President and Chief Commercial Officer. Alan Fearnley has 29 years of direct selling, marketing and sales experience at several major international firms including Jafra, Avon and Neways. Alan served as Chief Marketing Officer of Jafra responsible for comprehensive re-stage of brand, logo, corporate image and business planning. He was also a featured presenter at Jafra field events and served as a liaison with Jafra field leadership. Along with Rip Mason, Alan was responsible for the execution of the Neways Business Tools launch which resulted in a first month vs. prior year gain in Associate recruitment in the Japanese market since the acquisition of Neways by Golden Gate Capital. Alan is master's degree qualified with a strong track record of growing sales and profits. Randy Harp, Chief Operating Officer. Randy Harp has been with LegalShield for over 20 years. Prior to joining the company, he served as senior accountant with KPMG, a Big Four public accounting firm. He also served as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of OKC-based RATEX Resources, Inc., a public oil and gas exploration company. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Landmark Financial Management Corporation. Randy joined LegalShield as Chief Financial Officer in 1990 before he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. He also served on the company's Board of Directors from 1990-2002. Since 1996, Randy has served as LegalShield's Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for all day-to-day operating activities of the home office. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. Steve Williamson, Chief Financial Officer. Steve Williamson has been with LegalShield for over 12 years. Prior to joining the company, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Peripheral Enhancements, Inc. from April 1997 to March 2000. Steve served as Director in Charge of Banking Practice for Horne & Company, a public accounting firm, from November 1983 to April 1997. After graduating from East Central University in 1982, he began his career with the international accounting firm KPMG. Since 2000, Steve has served as LegalShield's Chief Financial Officer. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a past board member and banking committee chair of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. Joaquim Simoes, Chief Information Officer. Joaquim Simoes served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at St. John Knits in Irvine California for almost five years. Prior to that he also served as the Chief Information Officer, South American Theater, at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and spent 16 years with Avon Products Inc. in significant domestic and global positions within the Information Technology area. Joaquim also served in general manager positions as President and General Manager of Jafra Brazil and President of ExecuTrain of Rhode Island. He also engaged in management and IT consulting during his career. Joaquim has a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) and is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Since June 2011, Joaquim has served as LegalShield's Chief Information Officer. He has restructured IT governance and redesigned project justification and prioritization processes to bring focus in IT towards the most relevant business initiatives.
What are your hours of operation?
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 10 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 9 pm
Sunday: for emergency situations by phone or via email at sbyrtus@legalshieldassociate.com
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
To refer their friends, neighbors, and colleagues to me. I always advise my members to add me to their cell phone address books under "LegalShield Rep-Susan" and my cell number 954-448-3661. I know that if I did a great job of communicating the VALUE of our service, they will use it more often, and if they use it, they will fall in love with the service and share those positive experiences with others. I also advise them that they could give my name and number out to 100 individuals, but because life gets in the way, I would be lucky to receive one phone call, however, if they tell their friends "I've got this great service. You may or may not be interested, but, you need to at least know about. I'm going to have my friend, Susan give you a call, what is the best number and time for her to reach you?", and give me 100 names and numbers, I will call all 100.
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
"People make life changing decisions when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of the change"