This Just In...

The AEP® designation program is growing! 2009 Annual Conference Information.

We are very proud to report that the number of designees has increased.

See Accredited Estate Planner® designation section for more information

The Annual Conference is fast approaching! Don't miss your chance to register and attend.

See 46th Annual Conference Information

Message from the President

Kathleen J. Belmonte, CTFA, AEP®
Sabal Trust Company
Tampa, FL

Welcome to the current issue of the NAEPC News. The NAEPC is the nation's premier, multi-disciplinary estate planning association and through The NAEPC Foundation we are committed to providing estate planning professionals with timely, pertinent education materials that will be useful to all members of our affiliated local estate planning councils, as well as individual members who are located in areas where local council membership is not available.

We trust that you will find the this publication a compelling read and hope that you will find it useful in gaining knowledge about all of the wonderful benefits available to you.

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 19-25, and we hope your Council is planning to participate. Please be sure to check out the details in this publication.

It is time to register for the 46th Annual Conference at the Amelia Island Plantation from November 11-13. We have a quality CE program lined up for you, so please be sure to read all about it in this issue!

I hope to see you in Amelia Island!

Very truly yours,

NAEPC National Website

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46th Annual Conference Information...it's not just for council board members!

While the Wednesday, November 11, 2009 sessions are devoted to council leaders, the two full days of technical education that follow are appropriate for every member of an affiliated local estate planning council.

Early Bird Discount Extended Until September 30, 2009!

TOP FIVE REASONS TO ATTEND
  1. Two full days of multi-disciplinary education led by nationally know experts
  2. New this year, continuing education credit for insurance, legal, accounting, CFP®, CTFA, AEP® and PACE for sessions on Thursday, November 12, 2009 & Friday, November 13, 2009 (pending approval by governing bodies)
  3. Repeated educational breakout sessions
  4. Outstanding networking opportunity available only through attendance at face-to-face conferences
  5. Experience fabulous Amelia Island and the Amelia Island Plantation

The conference is located at the Amelia Island Plantation. The resort is a AAA-Four Diamond, 1350 acre property with four 18-hole championship golf courses & 23 clay tennis courts located just 30 miles North of Jacksonville. The Amelia Island Plantation also features a health and fitness center, award-winning youth programs, fine shops, a full service spa and excellent dining options.

Online conference, resort and rental car reservations, along with the event brochure, are now available.

NAEPC would like to thank Coventry for their support of the 46th Annual Conference.  A complete sponsor kit is available and opportunities are limited – register today!

Member Benefits, Programs & Services

Robert G. Alexander, JD, LL.M., AEP®, EPLS
Alexander Law Offices, S.C.
Milwaukee, WI

The Professional Development & Education Committee focuses their efforts on offering high quality products, services and educational opportunities at value pricing for our entire membership of councils and council members. We diligently look for opportunities that will enhance the significance of your membership and make your individual practice more efficient. See a complete list of benefits.

All members must utilize a user name/password to access detailed ordering links and information. If you are an At-Large member or member of a council that utilizes passwords on a website hosted by NAEPC, you can use the "I forgot my password" option. Others should contact NAEPC if they have any questions about the appropriate user name/password combination.

Featured Benefit

Amicus Creative Media
Amicus Creative Media has designed the most comprehensive, feature-packed attorney website system that can also be implemented for other professional disciplines. Online marketing success requires a quality website with content, tools and features. Amicus Creative Media's key components consist of custom and professional design, editable content, advanced search engine optimization, a state of the art site manager, dozens of tools and white glove customer service. NAEPC members receive a 20% discount on services provided by Amicus Creative Media. Please visit www.amicuscreative.com or call for a consultation at 877-269-0076.

Other benefits available to you include...

A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts
Acquire Direct Marketing
Boot Camp for Advisors
Business Week
Civicom
DocuBank
Estate++
Family Foundation Advisor
Journal of Taxation of Investments

Kettley Publishing Software
Klark Proposal Software
PESI, LLC
Private Wealth magazine
Retirement Snapshot
Trusts & Estates ($99 subscription)
Wealth Management Business magazine
Wealth Transfer Planning
New! Webinars with InterActive Legal

   

The NAEPC Foundation Report

Geoffrey M. Rogers, TO, AEP®
The Glenmede Trust Co., N.A.
Wilmington, Delaware
The NAEPC Foundation Committee Chair

An Update on National Estate Planning Awareness Week
National Estate Planning Awareness Week is just around the corner – October 19 – 25, 2009! Take this opportunity to talk to your clients about the need for proper planning or a thorough review of existing estate planning documents. NAEPC will be co-hosting a special webinar for professionals in conjunction with AICPA on September 22, 2009. See details below.

Upcoming Educational Seminar: Free to NAEPC Members

Why 2009 Is So Important for Financial and Estate Planning: Reviews Everyone Should Do Now!

Join leading estate and financial planning experts in this web seminar that will draw attention to the critical need for clients to update and review their financial and estate plans.

Moderator: Sidney Kess, CPA, JD, LL.M.
Panelists: Steven Siegel, JD, LL.M.
Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, PFS, MBA, JD
Jacqueline Patterson, CPA, JD, MBT
Daniel L. Daniels, JD

As a result of the increased federal estate tax exemption in 2009 ($3.5 million); the uncertainty about estate tax changes for the years 2010 & 2011; the decreased value of investments, homes & retirement plans; the declining value of Section 529 plans; and lower interest rates, many clients will need to review their financial plans. Combining these developments with the normal stages of life (new additions to family, death, divorce, remarriage, inheritance) – they all have a continuing impact on the client's financial plan. In this seminar, you will learn:

  • New estate tax rules
  • What will be the law for 2010 and 2011?
  • Key items to consider when reviewing clients wills and other documents
  • Consequences of not reviewing and updating wills and related documents (horror stories will be shared where clients failed to review/update their plan)
  • Estate planning solutions to suggest to your clients
  • Estate and financial planning opportunities taking into consideration the current economic environment

Even if clients are not subject to the estate tax, they need to periodically review their estate and financial plan. Walk away with actionable advice and resources you can take to your clients now, including a letter that you can send to your clients to advise them of what needs to be done that will emphasize the importance of scheduling a meeting with you sooner rather than later.

To register for this Web seminar, click here. You will receive an e-mail confirming your registration and providing additional instructions.

Council Relations Committee Happenings

Joanna Averett, MBA, CFP®, CIF®, AEP®
First American Trust
San Bernardino, CA

The Council Relations Committee has been very busy contacting affiliated local councils, meeting and talking with unaffiliated councils, and reconnecting with councils who have formerly been members of NAEPC, but had not renewed membership in the last few years. Our committee is pleased to have many new member benefits and initiatives to discuss with all of these folks! I encourage you to review the information found within the member benefits section regularly!

As a local leader and volunteer, choosing the right website for your council can be a daunting experience. It can be difficult to know which company is the most reliable and if the pricing is competitive. Since 2000, the NAEPC has been offering websites to its affiliated councils that are easy to use, economical and continuously enhanced. By subscribing to a NAEPC website, your council will be able to; create a "custom" home page, provide links to sponsor and member web sites, send meeting announcements, receive RSVPs, post a calendar of events, list current officers and maintain a membership directory with photos. NAEPC is extending a special 50% discount on the first year of service for any new or upgraded website! Don't miss this fantastic opportunity for your council!
 

NAEPC Administered Designation Information

The Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation is available to attorneys, Chartered Life Underwriters, Certified Public Accountants, Certified Trust and Financial Advisors, Chartered Financial Consultants, and Certified Financial Planners® and is awarded to professionals who meet stringent experience and education qualifications including two graduate level courses administered by The American College. This designation program has grown steadily since its inception, averages 5% growth per year is on target to exceed that percentage for 2009! We’re also proud to report that the AEP® designation program is truly multi-disciplinary. 22% of our active designees are attorneys, 29% are in the financial planning arena (CFP® or ChFC designees), 31% are primarily insurance professionals, 13% are CPAs and 5% are CTFA designees (facts current as of January 1, 2008).

The Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) designation is available to attorneys by the Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Attorneys who become Board-certified under this program demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to the concept of specialization. We believe that as attorney specialization increases, it will benefit not only lawyers but the public. This program is currently the only program, other than certain state bar association programs which are only for residents of their particular states, accredited by the American Bar Association to Board-certify attorneys as Estate Planning Law Specialists.

See more information about both of these designations.

NAEPC is proud to announce that the following individuals have obtained their AEP® designation since the last publication of this newsletter:

William M. Andrews, JD, LL.M., AEP®
Cindy D. Causby, CTFA, AEP®
David L. deMuth, CLU, ChFC, AEP®
Elizabeth A. Dunn, CPA, AEP®
William E. Ebel, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, AEP®
Evan C. Gansl, JD, LL.M. (Taxation), CLU, ChFC, CASL, AEP®
Brandon R. Henry, CTFA, CIMA, AEP®
Jeffrey D. Kowal, CLU, ChFC, AEP®
Robert Charles Miller, JD, AEP®
Kurt R. Steinkrauss, JD, LL.M., AEP®

 

Volunteer!

The NAEPC is looking for volunteers to participate on our Accredited Estate Planner Designation and Council Relations Committees. If you have an interest in joining our group, please send an e-mail to eleanor@naepc.org. Thank you!

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