This Just In...

Last chance to register for the 47th Annual Conference! It's National Estate Planning Awareness Week!
Nov. 17-19, 2010. Don't Delay Help us spread the word!!

Message from the President

Michael W. Halloran, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, CFP®, REBC, RHU, LUTCF, MSFS, MSM
Northwestern Mutual

Dear Colleagues,

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is upon us! Join NAEPC & The NAEPC Foundation, our 225 estate planning councils from across the country, their 26,000+ members, and our Accredited Estate Planner® and Estate Planning Law Specialist designees in spreading the word about this annual public service event from October 18th - 24th. Additional information can be found with The NAEPC Foundation section of this newsletter.

The most stimulating project during my presidency has surely been the online library of public content, www.EstatePlanningAnswers.org. Launched this fall, this resource is available to the entire world with easy to understand information about estate and financial planning, along with a link back to the NAEPC designee search engine. Check it out today! You may also contact our designation administrator if you are not currently an AEP® or EPLS designee, but would like to become one.

As my presidency nears its end, I must thank all of the affiliated local estate planning councils that allowed a speaker from the no-charge program to present to their council this year. All six speakers truly enjoyed visiting the councils across the country and look forward to doing so again next year. Those councils that are interested in learning more about this valuable benefit should contact our national office.

And finally, I do hope to see you at the 47th Annual Conference from November 17th - 19th in San Diego.

Respectfully,


 

NAEPC National Website

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47th Annual Conference Information

The NAEPC / The NAEPC Foundation annual conference is fast becoming the "go-to" event for estate planners throughout the country! Our exciting line-up of nationally-recognized speakers coupled with unique social events, a resort location, and an incredibly competitive registration fee, make the 47th Annual Conference an event that is not to be missed. With the addition of national continuing education credit in 2009*, the event has become a signature program within the estate planning community.

The November 17 - 19, 2010 conference is scheduled in beautiful San Diego, California. The full registration brochure, online reservation links and general information can be found at http://www.naepc.org/convention.web.

Experience the beautifully transformed Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina while attending this event. A stunning transformation brings the epitome of California coastal chic into this San Diego hotel, with incredible ocean views, waterfront dining, a contemporary poolside lounge, an eco-friendly spa, and redesigned guest rooms. NAEPC is delighted to be hosting this conference in San Diego, the premier ocean-front destination! Online resort reservations are now available!

The NAEPC Foundation / NAEPC 47th Annual Conference provides a unique and affordable opportunity to reach estate planners through sponsorships of the annual conference. Those that have an interest can review the conference sponsor kit or contact the NAEPC office for more details.

*Continuing education credit will be available for AEP® designees and will be requested nationwide for accountants, insurance professionals, attorneys, Certified Financial Planners® and Certified Trust and Financial Advisors. Monitor the status of course approvals online.

The NAEPC Foundation Report

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

The NAEPC Foundation was formed in 2005 with the following mission:

        • to educate the public regarding the benefits of the multi-disciplinary team concept of estate planning as espoused by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
        • to develop educational programs regarding estate planning for estate planning professionals
        • to develop and promote a community outreach program for the general public
        • to hold educational conferences, seminars, forums, and meetings regarding estate planning

National Estate Planning Awareness Week
October 18 - 24, 2010

As you know, estate planning is one of the most overlooked areas of personal financial management. It is estimated that over 120,000,000 Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves or their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death. This costs the affluent and middle classes wasted dollars and hours of emotional hardship each year that that can be materially minimized with advanced planning and action.

The NAEPC Foundation and its unique public awareness estate and financial education portal, www.EstatePlanningAnswers.org, is fast becoming the centralized resource for estate planning professionals and the public as a trusted reserve of current, high-quality financial content and tools.

The NAEPC Foundation has an ongoing commitment to promote financial awareness and literacy in estate and financial planning throughout the year, and in particular the third full week in October, known since September 2008 as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Please join us in promoting National Estate Planning Awareness Week to your friends and family.

 
In conjunction with National Estate Planning Awareness Week, NAEPC members have been invited to attend the following webinar on Monday, October 18, 2010 hosted by AICPA:

Financial & Estate Planning: What Should Your Clients Do Now? offered by AICPA

Monday, October 18th, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET

The uncertain political, economic and tax picture, has delayed clients in making decisions and taking action on their financial and estate plans. In recognition of Estate Planning Awareness Week, this web seminar brings together a panel of experts from across the country who will discuss the planning considerations advisors and their clients should address now and into 2011 to ensure proper long-term planning is in place to mitigate negative outcomes as well as to take advantage of opportunities.

This web seminar will be taught in a format that will be valuable for you and your clients. Invite your clients to listen in with you at your office or send them the registration link so that they can join the session from their home or office.

A client letter and practitioner checklist will be distributed to attendees to assist you in addressing the panel's action-oriented advice with your clients NOW.

In this web seminar, you will learn about the multitude of issues you should consider in the following areas of planning regardless of the uncertain political, economic and tax picture we currently face, including:

  • The current status of the estate tax repeal and what it means for planning
  • Dealing with estate administration factors when a client has died in 2010 - including a discussion of carryover basis
  • How documents should be worded to address issues as a result of the repeal
  • Gifting, including generation skipping transfers and charitable giving
  • Planning opportunities in the low interest rate, declining asset values environment
  • Retirement planning, including qualified plans, IRAs & Roth conversions
  • Year-end planning in this uncertain climate
  • Other planning considerations, including investment, tax, life insurance and succession planning
  • Generally, what you - the advisor - and clients should be doing NOW!

The presenters include Sid Kess and the following panelists:

  • Jeff Lowin
  • Steve Siegel
  • Dan Daniels
  • Marty Shenkman
  • Kevin Roach
  • Jackie Patterson
  • Barbara Weltman
  • Jere Doyle

This webinar is available to members of NAEPC at no charge! Register today!
 

Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Information

Did you know that you might already have fulfilled the educational requirements to be awarded the AEP® designation? You may have known that certain graduate-level courses in advanced estate planning and estate planning related areas offered by The American College's Richard D. Irwin Graduate School fulfill the education requirement for the AEP®. You may not have been aware that NAEPC, recognizing that many other accredited educational institutions offer comparable coursework, and AEP® candidates had taken those graduate level estate planning related courses while attaining graduate degrees such as an MBA, MTA, JD, LL.M. or the like. NAEPC felt that equivalent coursework should be allowed to qualify for those who had successfully completed it. Maintaining its strict educational requirements, all graduate level estate planning coursework is not "automatically" accepted as is The American College coursework. To qualify, the coursework must be equivalent in length, content, and difficulty as The American College pre-approved courses. In addition, the applicant must provide a copy of the official transcript and a detailed description/syllabus of the course(s). Also, the applicant must have earned a grade of "B" or better for the course.

So this goes out to all of you estate planners. You may already be part of the way to qualification as an AEP® designee. Why wait? - Start your application today to join the ranks of those estate planners who have already proven that they have the experience, knowledge, education, professional reputation and character to be separated as a professional who holds the coveted AEP® designation. Go to the NAEPC website, enter your contact information so we can follow up with you, and download the AEP® qualifications and application.

Finally, we want to congratulate the following newly designated Accredited Estate Planner® designees, and we look forward to seeing you all at the national conference in San Diego:

James A. Ballerano, Jr., JD, AEP® Boca Raton, FL
Alexander A. Bove, Jr., JD, LL.M., Solicitor, England & Wales, AEP® Boston, MA
Michael A. Fraher, ChFC®, LUTCF, CRPC, AEP® Orlando, FL
David B. Korte, CPA, MST, AEP® Grand Rapids, MI
Donald W. Paule, JD, LL.M. (Taxation), AEP® St. Louis, MO
Jeffery Alan Rozovics, CPA, CFP®, AEP® Park Ridge, IL
Robert J. Ruelle, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL, MSFS, FLMI, AEP® Milwaukee, WI
Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, PFS, MBA, JD, AEP® Tenafly, NJ

Member Benefits, Programs & Services

NAEPC strives to offer our designees, councils and the affiliated local council membership high quality benefits, programs and services at value pricing. We continually look for opportunities that will enhance the value of your membership and make your practice more efficient.

We are very proud to make the following benefits available to you at reduced prices or substantial discounts:

NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning
The NAEPC Foundation / NAEPC 47th Annual Conference
A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts

Acquire Seminar Marketing
Amicus Creative Media
Exit Planning for Advisors
Business Week magazine
CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business
Civicom Audio Recording & conference calling
Confidant
DocuBank
Estate ++
Estate Planning Smarts
Evaluation Services, Inc.
Family Business magazine

Family Foundation Advisor
Florida Domicile Handbook
Journal of Taxation of Investments

Kettley Publishing Software
Klark Proposal Software
Konica/Minolta
Midwest Transaction Group
My Estate Planning Organizer
National Center for Family Philanthropy
Private Wealth magazine
Retirement Snapshot Software
Robert Keebler's Exclusive Roth IRA Conversion Decision Chart
Robert Keebler's Health Care Surtax Chart
Trusts & Estates magazine, $99 subscription
Wealth Management Business
Wealth Transfer Planning software

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 with questions about the appropriate user name/password combination.

Council Relations Committee Happenings

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

Several NAEPC-affiliated local councils are planning public estate planning day programs in conjunction with The NAEPC Foundation's National Estate Planning Awareness Week from October 18-24, 2010—won't your council consider doing the same? From half-day events to a series of sessions spread out over a month, this valuable effort serves to further the mission of The NAEPC Foundation and educate the public on this critically-important process. Please reference our website or contact the NAEPC office if you have questions.

New features for NAEPC-hosted website platforms have recently been announced! A mobile friendly council website layout and private online document library enhance the existing features available on websites hosted by NAEPC. Contact the NAEPC office today to obtain information about initiating new service or upgrading your existing EPC site (including a 50% discount program!).

Estate Planning Law Specialist Designation Information

The Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) designation is available to attorneys and is administered 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. 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.

Volunteer!

We are looking for participants on various NAEPC and The NAEPC Foundation committees. If you have an interest in joining our group of dedicated volunteers, please send an email to eleanor@naepc.org to request information about opportunities and a brief application.

Subscription Options

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If you want to receive more frequent and timely communication about the NAEPC and its educational programming and member benefits, please be sure to subscribe for more frequent communications.

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Phone: (866) 226-2224   ~   Fax: (216) 696-2582   ~   E-Mail: admin@naepc.org


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