Council of Excellence Award

Created in 2014, the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils Leonard H. Neiman & Walter Lee Davis, Jr. Council of Excellence Award recognizes councils that are successful in their efforts to provide a strong multi-disciplinary council for their members.  Created by a group of council leaders, past presidents of NAEPC, and current Board and Council Relations Committee members, with all council sizes in mind, the Council of Excellence Award is intended to honor those councils that truly work to grow their programs and services and provide an exceptional member experience. 

The award is named for two individuals who truly sought to strengthen the bond between NAEPC and its affiliated councils during their terms on the board.  Walter Lee Davis, Jr. served as president of the association in 2008 and was instrumental in forming the Council Relations Committee, a group of volunteer members who are charged with being a liaison between affiliates and the national association.  Leonard H. Neiman served the association as a board member for over fifteen years.  He worked tirelessly to gather information about estate planning councils from around the country, both affiliated and unaffiliated, and to make contact with their leadership.

We consider this application a roadmap of best practices; things that help a council run smoothly and support a great member experience.  NAEPC recommends that all councils review it each year to determine where they might like to make improvements or specific areas on which to focus its board efforts.  It has been developed over many years of interaction with councils and their leaders and represents our current understanding of the practices that breed success. At the same time, the application is a reciprocal learning experience.  The narrative portion gives NAEPC an opportunity to learn more about your council and what is happening within the council network.  Due to rapid technological and social change and the accompanying uncertainty and unpredictability, there has never been a better and more important time for this type of council-to-council learning.

The 2020 awards ceremony will take place virtually as a part of the Council of Excellence Virtual Award Ceremony & Regional Leadership Day "Wrap Up" Party scheduled on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 from 3:00 pm ET - 4:00 pm ET (REGISTER HERE).  

Please celebrate with us as we honor the following councils for their achievement:

Council of Excellence Award Winners

Extra Small / Small Councils
     Greater New Jersey Estate Planning Council, Inc.

Medium Councils
     Spokane Estate Planning Council

Large Councils 
     Financial & Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit

Extra-Large Councils
     Estate Planning Council of Cleveland

5 Star Councils

Extra Small / Small Councils 
     Chester County Estate Planning Council
     Estate Planning Council of Bergen County, Inc.
     Estate Planning Council of Riverside County
     Estate Planning Council of Suffolk County
     Hilton Head Area Council of Estate & Financial Advisors, Inc.
     Siouxland Estate Planning Council, Inc.

Medium Councils
     Central Arizona Estate Planning Council
     Estate Planning Council of Central New York
     Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami
     Estate Planning Council of Nassau County, Inc.
     Montgomery County Estate Planning Council
     Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council

Large Councils  
     Baltimore Estate Planning Council

Extra-Large Councils
     Boston Estate Planning Council
     Philadelphia Estate Planning Council

Emerging Councils

     Citrus Estate Planning Council
     Conejo Valley Estate Planning Council
     Estate Planning Council of the Emerald Coast

Application

The 2021 application packet became available on October 20, 2020 in conjunction with the Virtual 2020 Council Awards Ceremony.  Applications are due on or before May 14, 2021.

> Download the 2021 Application in a Fillable PDF Format

Learn More

Interested in learning more about the Council of Excellence Award?  

> Download the "Achieving Excellence" PowerPoint presentation