Message from the President Walter Lee Davis, Jr., Attorney, CPA, AEP, EPLS Walter Lee Davis Jr. PC, Johnson City, Tennessee Dear Council Leaders and Members, At Large Members and Designees, We have two exciting pieces of information to announce today! First, registration for the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and The NAEPC Foundation 45th Annual Conference has opened! This event is sure to be as exciting and fun as it will be educational; and the education will be "as good as it gets". The conference will be held November 12—14, 2008 in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona! Please review the information found below in the conference section and visit our website. Then, if you have any questions, just let us know. This event is not just for affiliated local estate planning council leaders; it's for every estate planner! The two full days of technical education are unsurpassed and should not be missed! The cost of attendance is highly subsidized by our fantastic sponsors so it's really a bargain, too. Second, NAEPC and The NAEPC Foundation have teamed up with InterActive Legal Systems to provide webcasts on the first and third Wednesday of every month. A schedule of upcoming events appears below. You won’t want to miss these webinars with prominent national speakers on a variety of topics. Please take a moment to read through this exciting issue of NAEPC News. Within this publication you will find new information about the many benefits, programs and services to which you are entitled as a member. In addition, it will update you on what’s happening at the national level, including the progress of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, the Estate Planning Day in a Box program for your council to easily present to the general public, our online Speakers Bureau and the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning. It just keeps getting better and better. I look forward to seeing you in November in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona!

In This Issue  AUG. 2008 Message from the President Member Benefits & Discounts The NAEPC Foundation 45th Annual Conference Information NAEPC Council Relations Committee Happenings NAEPC Administered Designation Information Subscription Options NAEPC National Website {ADDRESS_2}

Member Benefits & Discounts

Robert G. Alexander,  JD, LL.M., AEP, EPLS The Professional Development & Education committee continues to work hard to offer high quality professional products, services and educational opportunities at value pricing for our members. We diligently look for opportunities that will enhance the significance of your membership in NAEPC and make your individual practice more efficient.

InterActive Legal/NAEPC Webinar Schedule - August / November 2008

Visit InterActive LegalSuite™ to register for any of these exciting programs! You will need to enter a discount code when registering to obtain the NAEPC’s member pricing of $85. The code appears under the date of the program below.

Sept 3, 2008—1:00-2:00 p.m. EST Discount Code: qesudduhif "Life Insurance as an Asset Class: Utilizing Modern Portfolio Theory Concepts to Better Understand & Manage Life Insurance" with Richard M. Weber, MBA, CLU, The Ethical Edge, Inc., Pleasant Hill, CA This presentation will discuss: Life insurance is property: efficient frontier, asset allocation, and portfolio management concepts can be used to understand and evaluate new and in-force policies; We can infer appropriate styles of life insurance policies from client risk tolerance and timeframes; When used for lifetime coverage, the unique characteristics of policy living and death benefits make life insurance an asset class within a client’s portfolio; No single policy style can fulfill most clients’ lifetime objectives; building a "portfolio of policies" can optimize and fulfill those objectives; and Older policies may no longer be fulfilling original expectations; there are processes to evaluate and optimize remediation of needed insurance.

Sept 17, 2008—1:00-2:00 p.m. EST Discount Code: luqeqokumu "Selection and Planning Opportunities with Domestic Trust Jurisdictions" with Al W. King, III, JD, LLM, South Dakota Trust Company, LLC & South Dakota Planning Company, LLC

October 1, 2008—1:00-2:00 p.m. EST Discount Code: hffekivupf "Advanced Planning Issues with Installment Sales to Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts" with Derek L. Fletcher, JD, CPA Shareholder, Winstead Attorneys This presentation will discuss structuring installment sales to intentionally defective trusts including proper drafting of self canceling installment notes and important tax issues regarding S.C.I.N.s. The presentation will include a thorough discussion of current topics and drafting techniques with respects to installment sales to IDITs, grantor trust statues, "seed" money and guarantees.

October 15, 2008—1:00-2:00 p.m. EST Discount Code: sisiddqodd "The Mathematics of Gifting & Inter Vivos Sales" with Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, DEP, Virchow, Krause & Co LLP During this webinar, we will discuss the mathematics behind the most popular estate planning transactions used today and how these transactions can be used in combination with each other so as to create the perfect hedge against estate and gift taxes. The program will touch on the following items of interest: Tax exclusive nature of gift taxes; Leveraging of the GST exemption; Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs); Installment sales to Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs); Self-Canceling Installment Notes (SCINs); Private Annuities; and "Tax Burn" SCINSM technique

October 29, 2008—1:00-2:00 p.m. EST Discount Code: piriptffvn "Asset Protection Entities of Choice" with Mark Merric, JD, CPA, CIA, CMA, MT, The Merric Law Firm, LLC & The Alliance of International Legal Counselors, LLC This presentation will discuss: How much protection does charging order protection provide; What states have provided more asset protection that just sole remedy charging order; What are the opportunities and concerns with domestic asset protection trusts; What are the lead trust jurisdictions for domestic asset protection trusts;  If I do not live in a domestic APT state, which states or countries should I forum shop; and Is the offshore asset protection trust still "king" of the asset protection planning tools?

The online Speakers Bureau is currently being revamped! You can expect to see more and specific information about all of the participants very soon. The additional information will better assist our affiliated councils in finding speakers that are the right fit for their events. This project will be complete by September 30, 2008. 

The next issue of the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning will be published in August 2008—don’t miss the new issue as it’s sure to contain a wealth of technical material. As a reminder, the journal is posted online only and print subscriptions are not currently available. Click on the link above to review the current edition.

We are particularly proud of our newest Value Partners: 

Estate++: Protecting Estate Planning Documents & Information
Klark Proposal Software, Inc.
Retirement Snapshot
Trusts & Estates
Wealth Management Business

See complete information about all of our valuable member benefit programs.

The NAEPC Foundation

Gary L. Flotron, MBA, CLU, ChFC, AEP G.L. Flotron & Associates St. Louis, Missouri NAEPC Foundation Co-Chair

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

We would like to thank those that have made personal contributions to The NAEPC Foundation during calendar year 2008:

The NAEPC Foundation Committee is hard at work finalizing two very important projects.

• National Estate Planning Awareness Week—October 20-26, 2008 has been named National Estate Planning Awareness Week by the NAEPC & The NAEPC Foundation! All affiliated local estate planning councils will be encouraged to host public estate planning day programs within their communities.
   
• Estate Planning Day in a Box—This is a three-phase program designed to assist estate planning councils in planning a publicly-focused event that can take place in tandem with National Estate Planning Awareness Week.
   
  • Phase 1, the organizational phase, is available now to assist the council in presenting the idea to the Board, with committee formation and by offering basic structure for the planning period. See Phase 1 packet of information.
     
  • Phase 2, the technical data, will be available soon for presenters to utilize at the event. It will be appropriate for programs one—eight hours in length and customizable to the needs of the council and presentation team.
     
  • Phase 3, marketing materials, will be released nationwide on September 2, 2008 via a press release through MarketWire wire service. A copy can be found online here. Each and every affiliated local council Board of Directors is being asked to assist with this project!
    
    
    • If your council Board will meet before the September 2nd release date, please ask the Board to discuss who has a direct link to local print, online and television media outlets and to make contact with those folks in an effort to get the release picked up locally. Your assigned contacts can then report back with the outcome of their request.
    • If you council Board will not meet before the September 2nd release date, please ask your Board to follow the same steps noted above via e-mail.

While we are utilizing a national wire service to handle this big job, it will only be with your assistance that the National Estate Planning Awareness Week press release will be present in every city and state in our country! The importance of a local personal contact cannot be overlooked and we appreciate your help in spreading the word.

See more information about The NAEPC Foundation.

45th Annual Conference Information

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2008 - REGISTER TODAY!

Registration for the 45th Annual Conference of The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and The NAEPC Foundation is now OPEN! The conference is located at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort. The property is the winner of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award, offers luxury, resort amenities and visually stunning Sonoran Desert views on 22 acres of lush, tropical paradise in Scottsdale, Arizona. This Diamond in the Desert is just minutes from Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall (the largest mall in the Southwest), Arizona State University, and the hundreds of shops, boutiques, galleries, pubs, and eateries in historic Old Town Scottsdale. 

The first day of the conference is Council Leadership Day and at that meeting council representatives will gather, share ideas, and learn techniques that will help to develop the best possible estate planning council. This day is appropriate for an officer, director and/or administrator from any council to attend. The two days of continuing education that follow feature prominent national and local speakers. We truly believe you will not find a better continuing education program in the country. These two days of programming are appropriate for every single member of your council! The day after the conclusion of the educational program, Saturday, November 15, 2008, will offer a volunteer experience at St. Mary’s Foodbank Alliance. Please see the online registration brochures for full details. 2008 Conference Brochure (PDF).

See conference information, including registration, hotel reservations, car rental discounts and shuttle service reservations.

Mark your calendar now for the 46th Annual Conference!
Please plan on joining us in Amelia Island, Florida from November 11-13, 2009.

NAEPC Council Relations Committee Happenings

Gregory E. Sellers, CPA, AEP
Wilson Price
Montgomery, Alabama
Council Relations Committee Chair

The Council Relations Committee has been busy contacting member councils, meeting and talking to 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 all of our new member benefits and initiatives to discuss with these councils. Those benefits consist of discounts on subscriptions like Trusts & Estates magazine, Business Week magazine, Leimberg Information Services and Private Wealth magazine, products like CCH publications, Civicom conference calling services, and quality educational opportunities like the Board Member Speaker program, Interactive Legal Webcasts, and Boot Camp for Advisors. All of these products and services are available to councils and members, at significantly discounted rates, just as a result of their council membership to NAEPC. In addition, we have developed some referral documents to assist your council with things like insurance, creating or amending Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, etc.

Council officers—be sure that your officer and contact information is up to date on your website and with the National office. The website is your council’s "window to the world", and each time our committee members contact a council, we check to see if the website information is correct. We want every council to be reached not only by our committee, but also by area professionals seeking membership opportunities and the general public searching for professionals who can help them with their estate planning needs.

Our committee can use some help in the Midwest. If you live in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky or Ohio and would like to get further involved with the NAEPC, please feel free to contact Eleanor Spuhler or Greg Sellers. We would welcome your involvement.

NAEPC Administered Designation Information

Professional estate planners can now achieve an accreditation that acknowledges their experience and specialization in estate planning. 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.

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.

Nominations for the 2009 Class of Distinguished Accredited Estate Planners are now open! The Estate Planning Hall of Fame and Distinguished Accredited Estate Planner designation are designed to recognize significant and outstanding lifetime achievements and contributions to the practice and profession of estate planning within the five professional estate planning disciplines of attorney (JD), accountant (CPA), life insurance professional (CLU), trust officer (CTFA) and financial planner (CFP®/ChFC). We consider this award and designation to be the highest professional honor and recognition of the pinnacle of achievement and accomplishment within the field of estate planning. If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please contact Susan Austin Carney at susan@naepc.org to request a nomination form.

Your affiliated local estate planning council is able to honor its most highly respected and distinguished members by nominating them to receive the AEP designation as a Council Nominated Candidate. Your estate planning council has been authorized by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils to recommend for the AEP designation individuals from each of the following five disciplines: Attorney, CPA, CLU, ChFC/CFP®, and CTFA. If your council has a membership of 100 or less, you can designate one individual from each of the five disciplines per calendar year. If your council has a membership of more than 100, you can designate two individuals from each of the disciplines per calendar year. The individuals nominated to receive the AEP designation must have a minimum of 15 years experience in estate planning and estate planning activities and will be subject to current AEP qualifications and requirements, except the requirements for professional references and affiliated local estate planning council membership verification. The application fee for these candidates will be $125, which is 50% of the usual fee. Contact Susan Austin Carney at (866) 226-2224 if you have any questions about this program.

National Association of Estate Planners & Councils  1120 Chester Avenue, Suite 470  Cleveland, OH   44114
Phone: (866) 226-2224   ~   Fax: (216) 696-2582   ~   E-Mail: admin@naepc.org

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