This Just In...

The NAEPC Education Foundation 2010/11 Report Released, Just in Time for National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

Message from the President

Joseph V. Falanga, CPA, AEP®, TEP
FTI Consulting

Dear Colleagues,

The 48th Annual Conference, our signature event, is roughly two and one-half months away—will you be there? In addition to offering two full days of continuing education and credit, phenomenal national speakers, and a fabulous look at San Antonio from the River Walk, the conference provides a networking opportunity that just can't be found in our virtual world of today. Registration is open and the early bird discount expires September 30th, don't delay!

The NAEPC Education Foundation has come a long way in its few short years of existence. With the publication of the 2010/11 Foundation Report, the organization is moving "full steam ahead" with a grassroots fundraising and awareness campaign, activities during National Estate Planning Awareness Week 2011, and many more exciting initiatives. Please read on for more information. We encourage and gratefully accept contributions from individuals, businesses, and affiliated local estate planning councils—those interested in doing so can find the information here.

NAEPC seeks your input on the 2011 Industry Trends Survey, presented by WealthCounsel and Trusts & Estates magazine. Your participation will assist us in understanding your thoughts on the many recent changes in the profession, a bit about you and your practice, as well as where NAEPC overlaps with other organizations and designation programs. Thank you for your consideration and participation! The survey can be found by following this link:

www.wealthcounsel.com/2011_industry_trends_survey.aspx

Finally, as I move into the final quarter of my presidency, I wish to thank every affiliated local estate planning council leader and member, and our many Accredited Estate Planner® and Estate Planning Law Specialist designees for a great nine months of service. This has been an exceptionally exciting time to be involved with NAEPC and The NAEPC Education Foundation!

The 5th Annual Industry Trends Survey is Now Open

NAEPC members are invited to participate in the 5th Annual Industry Trends Survey—the estate planning industry’s only source for comprehensive insight on emerging trends. Take the survey now. The survey is sponsored each year by WealthCounsel® and Trusts & Estates magazine. All participants are automatically entered into a random drawing for a chance to win more than $5,000 in incentive prizes.

While participation in previous surveys had been limited to attorneys, the survey is being expanded to include all wealth management professionals. Capturing the insight of all members of the client’s professional advisory team is essential to taking an accurate pulse of the industry. . If you are an estate planning attorney, CPA, trust officer, financial planner, wealth advisor, registered representative, elder law practitioner, insurance professional, etc., you should take the survey and tell your colleagues about it!

This year’s survey features some interesting questions! Here’s a sampling of what you can expect:

• How has the 2010 Tax Act impacted the way you practice?
• Do you believe the majority of your clients would support a lower estate tax exemption if they thought the additional tax revenue would help to lower the budget deficit or stabilize the economy?
• To what degree do you believe that the lack of financial literacy on the part of American consumers contributed to the purchase of adjustable rate mortgages involved in the subprime mortgage crisis?
• As baby boomers enter their retirement years, to what degree do you believe this demographic group has adequately saved for a 20-year retirement?

Key findings will be published in the January 2012 issue of Trusts & Estates magazine, with bonus distribution and reprints circulated at the 46th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate planning in Orlando, Florida, January 9-13, 2012. Plus, all survey participants will receive an advanced copy of the findings prior to public release.

The NAEPC Education Foundation board of directors is excited to announce the release of the 2010/11 Foundation Report.

The NAEPC Education Foundation, Inc. was formed in 2005 with a mission to:

• Provide the public with financial awareness programs and improve financial literacy
• Educate the public regarding the benefits of the multi-disciplinary team concept of estate and financial planning as espoused by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
• Develop educational programs for estate and financial planning professionals
• Develop and promote a community outreach program for the general public
• Hold educational conferences, seminars, forums, and meetings regarding estate and financial planning

The organization's underlying vision is to significantly improve both the public's financial awareness and their financial literacy, while developing educational content to assist professionals in providing high-quality, cost-effective services to the public.

The 2010/11 Foundation Report outlines successes to date and provides a vision for future projects and initiatives. Read the full report document.

All affiliated local estate planning councils, their membership, and NAEPC designees are asked to consider making a donation to support The NAEPC Education Foundation and its efforts. Information on doing so, as well as an automated donation link, can be found here: http://www.naepc.org/foundation_contributors.web.
 

New Educational Programs, Benefits, Programs & Services!

37th Annual Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute - See more information.

With increased exemptions, the need for estate planning for the moderately wealthy will decrease. Recognizing this trend, the 2011 Institute will add topics that go beyond gift and estate tax savings. It is intended that these add-ons will introduce topics that can create new planning opportunities and thus new business for your practice. These special features will include income tax planning ideas that estate planning professionals can introduce to their individual clients and using variations of traditional estate planning techniques for income tax planning for corporations. The Institute will also address the tax and state law issues relating to early termination of trusts, interpretation of ambiguous trust language and amending trust terms by reformation or decanting. Another focus will be communicating charitable planning techniques to encourage charitable giving that will also accomplish the individual's other objectives. As part of the communication focus, sessions will cover the mathematics of estate planning and using financial projections as part of the evaluation and communication process.

Ruby Receptionists - visit www.naepc.org for more information

Ruby is a smart and cheerful team of virtual receptionists trained to make a difference in your day. From their studio in Portland, Oregon, all calls are handled with care by delivering the perfect mix of friendliness, charm, can-do attitude, and professionalism. Best of all, callers will think they work in your office. Why is Ruby Used by Attorneys?

• Ruby is the perfect solution for solo and small firm attorneys, providing top-notch receptionist service at a fraction of the cost of an on-site receptionist. In fact, over 400 attorneys are currently served.
• They understand that you aren't always available to answer your own calls, and the value of a missed call can be enormous. Ruby gives you the peace of mind that your clients—and potential clients—will each be treated warmly and professionally by a smart, highly trained cheerful receptionist.

Educational Webinar: Special Needs Planning presented by Bernard A. Krooks, JD, CPA, LL.M., CELA, AEP®
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm ET - $39.99 NAEPC Members
Webinar series offered with the Society of FSP - See more information and registration.

It is estimated that over 40 million Americans have disabilities, one in seven. The incidence of disabilities among children is increasing at a faster rate than only a few years ago. Whether this increase is due to better diagnosis or some other factors is the subject of much debate. What is not debatable, however, is that these families need our assistance. Health care expenses for people with disabilities are increasing at an alarming rate. In addition, government healthcare benefits are more difficult to access and insurance companies are getting tougher in their willingness to pay claims. In this climate, planning for individuals with disabilities takes on increased importance in our estate planning practice. In this webinar, Mr. Krooks will review the issues which you must consider when working with a family who has an individual with special needs. By incorporating practical solutions to these concerns into your estate planning practice, you will be able to improve the quality of life of the person with special needs.

• NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning
• A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts
• Acquire Seminar Marketing
• Advisys Back Room Technician
• Amicus Creative Media
• BVR's Guide to Business Valuation Issues in Estate & Gift Tax edited by Linda Trugman, CPA/ABV, CBA, ASA, MBA
• BVR's Training Packs—webinar recordings & transcripts
• CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business
• Civicom audio recording & conference calling
• DocuBank
• Estate++
• EstatePlanningBinders.com, high quality binders & index tabs for your clients
• Estate Planning Smarts by Deborah L. Jacobs
• Evaluation Services, Inc.
• Family Business magazine
• Family Foundation Advisor
• Florida Domicile Handbook

• Heart2Hearts: Workbook and Deck of Cards
• Journal of Taxation of Investments
• Klark Proposal Software
• Konica/Minolta
• LegacyQuest, LLC
• LegalVault
• Midwest Transaction Group
• My Estate Planning Organizer
• National Center for Family Philanthropy
• Private Wealth magazine
• Robert Keebler's Exclusive Roth IRA Conversion Decision Chart
• Robert Keebler's Health Care Surtax Chart
• The ABA Checklist for Family Heirs: A Guide to Family History, Financial Plans and Final Wishes
• The Complete Trust Course offered by PESI Law & Accounting
• Trusts & Estates magazine, $129 subscription
• Wealth Transfer Planning software
• Wealth Management Business magazine

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