This Just In... Special Estate Planning Law Specialist review course & exam to be held at 50th Annual Conference Click for more details. Message from the President Joanna Averett, MBA, CFP®, AIF®, AEP® First American Trust San Bernardino, California Dear Colleagues: I feel it is most appropriate to take a moment to reflect on my year as president of this association as that year of service comes to a close. It has truly been my pleasure to serve you, the members of our affiliated local councils, during 2013. NAEPC is "the association of choice for estate planning professionals" and for me as well! Perhaps the most exciting new initiative this year is our webinar program. Events were hosted on September 11th and October 9th and the schedule will continue on December 11th with Erica Nedeau, CPA and Scott E. Squillace, Esq. presenting "The Changing Landscape of Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples: Opportunities (and Risks) Post-DOMA." Past programs may be purchased for on-demand viewing at http://www.naepc.org/events/webinar and additional information about the December program appears later in this newsletter. With the 50th Annual Conference just two short weeks away, we are on-track for the largest attendance in history. While record attendance is exciting, it is much sweeter to be able to meet this milestone during the 50th annual celebration. My special thanks to the entire conference committee for their efforts and to Jordon Rosen, CPA, MS (taxation), AEP® for his excellent leadership as chair of the committee during 2013. It's not too late to register… read on for more information! As many of you read within the last newsletter, the number of Accredited Estate Planner® designees has surpassed 1,700 during 2013. This is also quite a milestone! Thank you to all who referred a new designee to the program this year – it is with your help that we have continued our pattern of growth. I commend the designation committee chair, M. Eileen Dougherty, CTFA, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, and all of the committee members, for their vision and growth this year. The highlights above are simply that; highlights.  The goals and advancements this year are too numerous to list in a single newsletter.  I am sure you will hear more about the "happenings" at NAEPC during the presidency of Gregory E. Sellers, CPA, AEP®, who takes office on December 1st of this year and will also begin writing this section of the newsletter. I would be remiss if I did not thank the entire NAEPC board of directors for their service during 2013, they are: S. Mark Alton, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, MSFS; Hartman Axley, CLU®, ChFC®, JD, CFP®, MSFS, RHU, AEP®; Thomas M. Borchert, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, CLTC; Julie A. Buschman, CPA, AEP®; M. Eileen Dougherty, CTFA, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®; Charles V. Douglas, JD, CFP®, AEP®; John P. Garniewski, Jr., CPA/PFS, CFP®, AEP®; Pettus C. Gibbons, MEd, CLU®, ChFC®, LUTCF, AEP®; Robert P. Goodman, CPA, AEP®, CFP®; Christopher P. Jakyma, JD, CTFA, AEP®; Al W. King III, JD, LL.M., AEP® (Distinguished); William D. Kirchick, Esq., AEP®; Lawrence M. Lehmann, JD, AEP®; Clark B. McCleary, CLU®, ChFC®, MSFS, AEP® (Distinguished); Paul J. Pantano, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, CASL, MSFS; Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, MS (taxation), AEP®; Gregory E. Sellers, CPA, AEP®; and Paul S. Viren, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®. All of these individuals contributed to our growth and success this year! I do hope to see you in Las Vegas later this month. Until then, be well. NAEPC Monthly Webinar Series

In This Issue NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2013 This Just In Who We Are Message from the President 50th Annual Conference Webinars Accredited Estate Planner Designation Information Member Benefits, Programs & Services Estate Planning Law Specialist Designation Information Get Involved! Subscription Options   Who Are We? For over 25 years I have been involved with my local Spokane Estate Planning Council. Over these years I have developed wonderful friendships and working relationships with many fellow advisors, who together we have assisted many families in accomplishing their goals and dreams. The feeling of stewardship to our council membership and the clients we serve, for me, is at the core of my work and reason for my being in this industry. Paul S. Viren, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®                                  • NAEPC App for iOS              • NAEPC App for Android NAEPC National Website {CouncilName} Follow us on:

Jordon N. Rosen CPA, MS (taxation), AEP® Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, PA Wilmington, Delaware

The 50th Annual Conference will be here before you know it – have you completed your registration? It's
not too late!

The full registration brochure, along with online registration, information about speakers, continuing
education credit, overnight accommodations, and the very popular companion program, can be found
online at http://www.naepc.org/conference. Take a look today!

It's not too late to sign up as a sponsor or exhibitor! Take advantage of this affordable opportunity by visiting with Ed Socorro at ESocorro@NAEPCmarketing.org or 312-600-5303. A downloadable kit can be found at http://www.naepc.org/conference.

Webinars

Please join us for the next webinar in the 2013 series:

December 11, 2013
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

"The Changing Landscape of Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples: Opportunities (and Risks) Post-DOMA"

Expertise offered by:
Erica Nedeau, CPA & Scott E. Squillace, Esq.,
Program moderated by Paul S. Viren, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®

This presentation will outline the status of legal recognition for same-sex couples around the country and discuss, in some detail, the effect of the recent Supreme Court ruling on DOMA. The speakers will also provide practical suggestions for advisors doing planning with this community and provide helpful drafting suggestions for estate planners in particular. Finally, the presenters will cover the 'whether-to-wed' discussion that advisors all need to now have with same-sex couples for the legal and tax issues related to marriage.

Continuing Education Credit

Continuing education credit will be available at each webinar for Accredited Estate Planner® designees. In addition, a certificate of completion will be made available for those professionals that feel the program satisfies their continuing education requirements and are able to self-file. Councils may also file the program in their home state for programs offered in a group setting.

Registration Fees

• $40 / Accredited Estate Planner® designee (dues must be current at the time of registration)
• $60 / member of an affiliated local estate planning council or at-large member of NAEPC
• $100 / individual non-member
• $250 / council meeting or group gathering (council dues must be current at the time of registration)

REGISTER NOW!

Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Information

M. Eileen Dougherty, CTFA, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®
Hawthorn - PNC Family Wealth
Philadelphia, PA

As we approach the 50th NAEPC Annual Conference, I am mindful of the importance of gathering together not only to participate in the excellent continuing education programming from our outstanding national speakers but also the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. I look forward to meeting our new AEP® designees later this month in Las Vegas and to sharing information about our designation program with other conference attendees who may be interested in applying for the AEP® designation. Special thanks to fellow board member Jordon Rosen and the conference committee as they work hard to bring us a fantastic 50th Annual Conference. I hope to see you there!

For existing designees, please consider referring qualified candidates to obtain the designation. There is strength in numbers and we would be thrilled to welcome more new designees as we close out 2013!

For those of you who may not be as familiar with the program, the Accredited Estate Planner® designation is a graduate level accreditation in estate planning obtained in addition to already recognized professional credentials within the various disciplines that make up estate planning: attorneys, accountants, insurance and financial planners and trust officers. The only multi-disciplinary designation in estate planning, it is awarded to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character. See more details and download an application form.

Why should you earn the AEP® designation?

• Gain a competitive edge…success requires setting yourself apart from the competition
• Give the public a way to identify you as a qualified professional estate planner who has the expertise and experience necessary to handle complex estate planning and/or business succession needs
• Acquire access to potential clients through our national searchable database
• Tap into the resources of the NAEPC and special members' only benefits

Please join me in congratulating the following new Accredited Estate Planner® designees on their achievement:

Council Relations Committee Report

Paul S. Viren, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®
Viren & Associates, Inc.
Spokane, WA

What a year! NAEPC now boasts a record number of affiliated local councils, nearly 250! I thought this might be the perfect time to talk just a bit about our relationship with our affiliated local councils and you, readers, the members of those councils.

The structure of NAEPC is just a bit different than many of our related professional associations because our true member is the affiliated local estate planning council. Your council has chosen to create and maintain an affiliation with NAEPC, for which we are grateful, and because of that choice you can take advantage of many benefits, programs, and services offered by NAEPC. All of those benefits are discussed in this newsletter, which you receive six times each year because your council's leadership determined that it would be appropriate for you to do so.

Are you taking advantage of our benefits? Did you know that you have access to a list of over 30 "value partners," organizations that have agreed to provide their products and services at reduced pricing? If you answered "no" to either of these questions, please read more in this newsletter or contact our office for more information.

Member Benefits, Programs & Services

All members of affiliated local councils have access to the growing list of benefits provided through the council's affiliation with NAEPC, a list of which appears below. You are encouraged to visit www.naepc.org to take a look today. As you browse, please remember that some benefits are password protected. For these special benefits 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.

New Benefits

Legal Binders Now

Legal Binders Now (LBN) is proud to be a Value Partner with NAEPC. Legal Binders Now manufactures high quality presentation products for your clients, featuring our Premium Estate Planning Portfolio Binders. Our products, manufactured with the highest quality standards, will enhance your client presentation. LBN's line of presentation products will keep your clients' important documents and information organized and neatly stored for easy access at all times. And, our manufacturer-direct pricing will help you to reduce costs without comprising quality.

LBN's presentation products are manufactured in our state-of-the-art facility located in the Heartland of America. We manufacture using only the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Each and every one of our products will allow you to be confident in the professional image that you want to display to your clients. To personalize your presentation products, we offer the option of custom imprinting your firm's information on all of our products.

As a Value Partner, we are pleased to offer special manufacturer-direct pricing on all of our products and for our custom imprinting options to all members of NAEPC and its affiliated local councils. Additionally, with each case of our premium or deluxe binders ordered, NAEPC members will receive 6 sets (1 case) of any of our stock line of Index Tab Dividers free with their purchase. Please visit our home page and click on NAEPC Members to create your Legal Binders Now account and access our NAEPC specials.

To receive your free Index Tab Dividers, select the divider set you want from the dropdown menu appearing with the binder. You can find detailed information about the dividers titles we offer by clicking on Dividers under the New Products tab on any page.

Please visit us at www.legalbindersnow.com to view all of our products available.

If you have any questions regarding our products, please contact one of our product specialists at sales@legalbindersnow.com. We will be glad to assist you.

All of us at Legal Binders Now look forward to working with you!

Existing Benefits

ABA Book Publishing / The ABA Checklist for Family Heirs Acquire Direct Marketing Advisys American Dream Planner LLC Amicus Creative Media & Legal Vault BizActions LLC Business Valuation Resources, LLC Cards for a Cure CBData™ Charitable Planning Desk Reference for Advisors / Strategic Philanthropy CrummeyService Discuss Directives, LLC - Heart2Heart Workbook & Deck of Cards DocuBank Estate Planning Smarts / Pensworth EstatePlanningBinders.com Family Business Magazine Fiserv Investment Services Florida Domicile Handbook

International Genealogical Search Inc. Klark Proposal Software Konica Minolta Business Solutions Lawgic, LLC LegacyQuest, LLC Midwest Transaction Group My Perfect Will My Personal DataSafe LLC Oswald Companies Personal Excess Liability Private Wealth Magazine PS Awards Ruby Receptionists Sterling Cut Glass The National Underwriter Company The Ultimate Estate Planner Trusts & Estates 2-Part Webinar Series with Robert S. Keebler - Planning After the DOMA Decision WealthManagement.com Wolters Kluwer Law & Business

Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) Designation Information

Estate planning is an increasingly complex area of practice that requires specialized skill and education.

The Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, is the only ABA-accredited program for certification of an attorney as an Estate Planning Law Specialist (other than certain state bar association programs which are only for residents of their particular states.) To obtain board-certified status, an attorney must demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to the concept of specialization and meet the following requirements:

• Five or more years practicing as an estate planning attorney during which at least 1/3 of the attorney's practice is devoted to estate planning
• 12 or more hours of continuing legal education in estate planning topics per year for the three years preceding application
  
• Verification of professional liability insurance coverage
  
• Recommendation from at least five colleagues who are not with the same firm as the applicant
  
• Passing a comprehensive exam designed for estate planning practitioners

A special review course will be offered by J. Randall Gardner, JD, LL.M., MBA, CPA, CFP® on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at the 50th Annual Conference. An exam will take place immediately following the review course. Download course information HERE or contact Susan Austin-Carney for more information at susan@naepc.org or 866-226-2224.

Please join us in congratulating those attorneys who obtained the EPLS designation in 2013:

Get Involved!

Talented Volunteers Needed!

NAEPC is a dynamic and growing association comprised of affiliated local estate planning councils, their 28,000 members, and Accredited Estate Planner® designees, led entirely by a volunteer board of directors, a strong committee configuration, and many volunteers serving on an as-needed basis for project-based or task force work. We are always looking to expand our volunteer base and encourage council leaders, council members, and designees to get involved by serving on one or more committee. Visit our website for a list of committees and an application.

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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