Page 8 - Ohio Vol 4 No 7

AT A GLANCE
QDRO COMPLIANCE SERVICES 2101 Richmond Rd., Suite 1018 Beachwood, OH 44122
(440) 567-0000 www.qdrocs.com.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, The Ohio State University
AUTHOR
Quali ed Domestic Relations Order Handbook, 3rd Edition
Dividing Pensions in Divorce 3rd. Ed The Complete QDRO Training
Manual for Corporations and Plan Administrators
HOBBIES
Racquetball
All Genre of Movies
’60s and ’70s Rock ‘n Roll
Exotic Sports Cars
Family Time
Raised Paint and Quarter Horses for
20 Years
FAMILY
Wife: Christine
Children: Rachel, Nicole and Eric Grandchildren: Abbey, Ethan,
Maddie, Emery and Tommy
viewed countless futile QDRO attempts by attorneys. “ ere had to be a better way”, and that realization led him to write his rst book on the subject of QDROs. “I wanted to teach divorce attorneys across the country the mechanics and intricacies of QDROs so they could best represent and expedite the process for their client,” he says. e “Quali ed Domestic Relations Order Handbook” quickly became the de nitive work on the topic of QDROs nationwide and was considered a must read and the essential desk reference for all divorce attorneys. e book is now in its 3rd edition with a 4th edition scheduled for late 2019.
By 1993, Shulman was receiving calls from attorneys saying they loved his book, but then asking if he could dra QDROs for them. “ is sent my career plans in an entirely new and unexpected direc- tion and I founded QDRO Consultants Co.” In fact, one of his very rst corporate clients was Eaton Corporation.
In 1995, Shulman met Dave Kelley, who prepared actuarial valua- tions for attorneys, and they would soon become partners. Shulman said “It was like a peanut butter truck running into a chocolate truck, a perfect t – Dave would prepare the present value reports and I would dra the QDROs.”
ey grew their business together over 20 years, at which point Shulman sold his membership interest in the company to Kelley and his family.
FOUNDING QDRO COMPLIANCE SERVICES
Having already dra ed and reviewed more than 50,000 QDROs, Shulman subsequently founded QDRO Compliance Services, located in Beachwood, Ohio, where he provides QDRO dra ing and review services for attorneys and corporations.
He is also careful to note that even though QDROs have been around for more than 30 years, there still is no one-size- ts-all QDRO. Many plan administrators use law rms, or even mutual fund companies to process their company’s QDROs, and a lot of them bill by the hour, so there is no incentive to approve a QDRO on the rst go-around. is leads to unnecessary time delays and added cost burdens for attorneys, their divorcing clients and the courts themselves. QDRO Compliance Services o ers a number of at-fee options.
Shulman also believes all divorcing nonparticipant spouses are en- titled to a fair and equitable distribution of the pension assets, includ- ing those who can’t a ord a seasoned and experienced divorce lawyer. Whether speaking in front of a large CLE gathering of attorneys or talking to a single individual going through divorce, his primary goal is to make sure they understand the critical components and potential pitfalls of the entire QDRO process.
QDROS – AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR COLLECTING PAST-DUE CHILD SUPPORT
Shulman emphasizes another very important use for QDROs. “ ey are the perfect tool for obtaining past-due child support directly from the noncustodial parent’s 401(k) plan. Few attorneys use them. A child sup- port QDRO should be the attorney’s rst weapon of choice. No individual should be building their retirement on the backs of their children,” he says.
In his personal life, Shulman enjoys family time with his wife, Christine, his children Rachel, Nicole and Eric, and grandchildren Abbey, Ethan, Maddie, Emery and Tommy.
He also has a passion for exotic sports cars and o en nds reasons to visit his cousin who owns Marshall Goldman Motorcars. “It’s like going to visit the devil,” he says.
For 20 years Shulman and his family owned a horse farm where they bred world-class Paint and Quarter Horses.
He is an avid racquetball player getting together with his associates at least three times a week. He also enjoys movies of all genres especially science ction.
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · CLEVELAND · VOL. 4 NO. 7 8