October 2014

Highlights: 51st Annual Conference, November 5-7, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas Member Benefits & Discounts Learn more about the Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Program

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Message from the President

Gregory E. Sellers, CPA, AEP® Warren Averett, LLC Montgomery, Alabama My how time flies! This will be my final "Message from the President", and it seems as if it were just a few months ago that we were all in Las Vegas celebrating NAEPC's 50th Annual Conference and my inauguration. The staff told me that the party was for the conference not for my Presidency, but I chose to think otherwise. Seriously, it has truly been my honor and pleasure to serve as President of this association. I can honestly say that when I was a young CPA pup, learning the ropes from some seasoned veterans in Montgomery, Alabama, I never envisioned being the national leader of a group of over 28,000 professionals. Thank you for that opportunity. Ya'll (I just have to do it) have endured pieces about snow in the deep south and college football championships interspersed with excitement about the success our annual conference and the momentum following. I have written about collaborative teamwork, the trials and tribulations of tax season, and an introspective on "Why" we choose to serve our clients with estate planning. We have a year of our Robert G. Alexander Educational Webinar series under our belt, and are having growing success. I am proud to see this project to fruition after Bob Alexander and I started investigating the feasibility of this project several years ago. The "Estate Planning For Your Coon Dog" program will never be given, but Bob and I shared some great times developing the prototype. The NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning continues to provide outstanding articles from multi-disciplinary sources, in a concise and searchable database for your reference. It also continues to have increasing readership. NAEPC has an "App for That" and you can join LinkedIn groups to quench your thirst for technology. Most recently, the AEP® committee has announced our partnership with Forefield Advisor to provide their valuable resource that will allow AEP®'s to access a database of promotional materials. This benefit, for AEP®'s only, will be a significant investment by NAEPC in our designees. I am confident that our AEP® designees will receive value for this investment. Finally, our 51st Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX is quickly approaching this November 5-7. New council-oriented initiatives will be announced. Exciting multi-disciplinary educational programs will be presented. And, as always, this year's conference will provide yet another opportunity for you, as estate planners, to network and learn what others in your profession are doing. All of this in a fun-filled location in the Marriott Rivercenter, just steps from the San Antonio Riverwalk, the Alamo, and other historical sites. There is no shortage of entertainment and extracurricular activities. Come join us and see if you can tell "Why" we do this. I close this newsletter message a bit melancholy. I have led this year in the absence of my friend and mentor, Bob Alexander. I had looked so forward to his guidance, but am thankful for the years we had together. I like to feel that one trait I took from him was the ability to sit back and let everyone do their job. That being said, this organization functions so smoothly at the hands of a great leadership team headed by our Executive Manager, Eleanor Spuhler, and the management team of MJM Services. Also, the many board members and volunteers who serve on NAEPC committees spend countless hours making this organization "The Association of Choice for Estate Planning Professionals". This board is the reason for the many successes we have had and will have in years to come. I thank each and every one of them for their dedication to our organization. See ya'll in San Antonio!

Who Are We? by Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, MST, AEP® Until recently, I thought that my CPA designation said it all. I was a Certified Public Accountant and everyone knew what I did, so why muddy the waters with another set of initials after my name. Two things changed my thinking about the Accredited Estate Planner® designation. First, I noticed that other members of my local council who had gotten the designation were working more with one another and gaining prominence within the council and local estate planning community at large. I immediately wanted to become a part of that circle to have access to the same resources and contacts, which not only would enhance my estate planning practice, but also allow me to partner with other highly regarded professionals to get the best results for my clients. The second thing that changed me was when I started getting involved with NAEPC. By happenstance I became a member of the Council Relations Committee when one of our local council members decided to step down. I quickly found that this committee (as is the same for all of the NAEPC committees) consisted of highly motivated individuals who wanted to make a difference for the better for estate planners everywhere. I quickly got involved and became a "liaison" between NAEPC and several local chapters. Through this effort, I was able to bring ideas from other chapters across the country to these local chapters. Today, I remain active on several committees and have become a member of the executive committee, which gives me the best opportunity to serve others in the estate planning profession. As for having those three letters after my name, I couldn't be prouder. Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, MST, AEP®   RESOURCES   NAEPC National Website {CouncilName}

51st Annual Conference – Please plan to join us on November 5th – 7th, 2014 in San Antonio

Registration is still open; you can download and view the conference brochure! Marriott Rivercenter room block expires October 17, 2014 - Reserve Today!

Speakers Attendees will avail themselves to continuing education provided by the nation's top speakers. We are exceptionally pleased to have the following presenters at our podium:
Susan T. Bart, JD Jonathan G. Blattmachr, Esq., AEP® (Distinguished) Samuel A. Donaldson, JD, LL.M., AEP® (Distinguished) S. Stacy Eastland, JD, AEP® (Distinguished) Todd A. Fithian Jerome M. Hesch, JD, AEP® (Distinguished) Stanley M. Johanson, JD, LL.M., AEP® (Distinguished)	Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP® (Distinguished) Bernard A. Krooks, JD, CPA, LL.M., CELA, AEP® (Distinguished) Nominee Elizabeth L. Morgan, JD Jeffrey N. Pennell, JD Thomas Rogerson Lee J. Slavutin, MD, CLU®, AEP® (Distinguished) Nominee
Click HERE to download the full registration brochure.

Networking
Attendees will join over 400 estate planners from around the country, not only for the education but for a unique and intimate networking opportunity. The program registration fee includes most meals and a welcome reception, which is the perfect time to get to know fellow conference attendees and make new friends.

Exposure
We are grateful for the support of our conference sponsors and exhibitors. Their participation allows us to provide attendees with the experience the annual conference has become known for, but also gives attendees access to new resources during the three days of exhibit hall hours.

The full registration brochure can be downloaded at http://www.naepc.org/conference. The registration fee is low and the benefits are high… don't delay, you don't want to miss out!

We are most grateful for the support of our conference sponsors, including Premier Sponsor:

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.

Robert G. Alexander Webinars

NAEPC is proud to offer webinars on the second Wednesday of each month (except in November). Programs are designed with our core value in mind – the team approach to estate planning. These special programs are available to you, a member of an estate planning council affiliated with NAEPC. Please see below for information about registration fees and continuing education credit.

Our Next Program is a "Can't Miss"

Pre-conference Sneak Peek!
October 15, 2014 (please note special date) ∙ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
"Increasing Client Receptivity from The Right Side of the Table"
Todd Fithian

You are not a commodity. The problem, however, is that the market thinks you are. Our industry is an interesting one, a fascinating one. Most advisors we've met either knowingly struggle with being viewed as a commodity, or unknowingly struggle with actually being a commodity. There are hundreds of thousands of people across the country purporting to do exactly what you actually do; even if that's not really what they're doing. That's why it's so important to decide to draw the line once and for all; to ensure you are seen for the value you bring. There are many things you can do about it, and that's why we want to share a bit of our Legacy magic that will help things shift.

Todd Fithian is a 20-year veteran of the financial services industry. Following in the footsteps of three generations, he knew at an early age his calling was not only to work in the industry, but to work to improve it as well. A lifelong entrepreneur, Fithian formed his own wealth advisory firm in Boston soon after graduating from The University of Massachusetts, later joining forces with his late brother Scott to form The Legacy Companies, a professional training and consulting organization. Legacy's turn-key systems and processes are designed to enhance the way wealth advisors engage clients by clarifying first what and why a client wants to accomplish, before jumping into how to solve it. Fithian calls this "above the line conversations." He has consulted and trained thousands of advisors, several large financial institutions, and families in the United States, Canada, UK, and Australia in his unique approach to planning. Today, as the managing partner of Legacy, Fithian provides the vision and leadership for his team. In 2007, Fithian co-authored his first book The Right Side of the Table: Where Do You Sit in the Minds of the Affluent and in 2011 he wrote The Future of You: Providing Clarity Where Life Intersects Wealth, in collaboration with 19 members of his Legacy Wealth Coach network. His work has been published in several trade magazines and most recently The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Fithian is nationally recognized for his contributions to the industry and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He currently serves as a board member of The American College, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® program, and is president of the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy. REGISTER

Upcoming Programs

December 10, 2014 ∙ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Avoiding the Twilight Zone of Estate Administration
M. Holly Isdale, JD

If you had died last night, would your family, partners, executors, or clients know how to access your online information - and more importantly, what to do with your digital footprint? Our lives are increasingly online - our correspondence is often virtual, our "assets" now include online content, IP addresses, and music, books or memorabilia that exist only in the "cloud." The average home has 6 or more internet connected devices. To access these, most adults use at least five unique passwords that update at least quarterly. Could someone find, much less manage, all of your information if you died? What are the planning considerations for these unique assets? Attend this webinar to learn what structures or language you should be adding to your client's wills, revocable trusts, HIPPA documentation, and powers of attorney. The topic of digital death encompasses issues of access to data, in all its forms, as well as the problems of collecting, valuing or transferring these digital assets. Understanding the risks to investments, businesses and families from failing to plan for "digital death" is critical to preserving these assets intact. The webinar will also review the limits on digital assets, impediments to transferring assets, the current state of the law, the recently released Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets proposed legislation, and will recommend action steps advisors can take help clients organize and protect their digital assets. REGISTER

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 Fee

• $40 / Accredited Estate Planner® designee
• $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

Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Program

1. Demonstrate that you have special knowledge, skill, and expertise in the field of estate planning
2. Gain the competitive edge…success requires setting yourself apart from the competition
3. Give clients and potential clients a way to identify you as a qualified estate planner who is able to meet their needs

Please join us in congratulating the newest Accredited Estate Planner® designees nationwide:

The Council Corner

With the coming of fall there is always a flurry of activity within the local estate planning councils. Like returning to school, each of the nearly 260 councils has a focus on education for their regular meetings. From trust planning to elder care issues, insurance needs to tax planning, the topics cover the many and varied professions that make up the membership of each council. Of course, NAEPC is also focused on education and we encourage you to utilize the resources that are available to all members of the local councils. By visiting www.naepc.org, you have access to the much acclaimed NAEPC Journal of Estate of Estate & Tax Planning, monthly educational webinars which offer a wide variety of topics that speak to our core value of the multi-disciplinary approach to estate planning, and of course the upcoming 51st Annual Conference to which all are invited to attend. Whether attending a webinar program or one of the nation's leading estate planning conferences, we invite you to take advantage of the educational offerings provided by your council's membership in NAEPC. We know that strong education and ongoing learning are two of the cornerstones each local council aspires to offer. We at NAEPC applaud the efforts of our affiliated local councils and are here to support the ongoing professional development of their members.

Member Benefits

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

Family Wealth Map

Use as a Client Maintenance Program

Family Wealth Map is the perfect foundation for a Client Maintenance Program, leading to stronger relationships with clients and the family members. The ability to view the content and structure of the client's estate, along with all related documents, allows for real-time due diligence and potential issue spotting. Access to complete and current information, which is clearly displayed on one dashboard, facilitates continual and comprehensive reviews of client estate plans and current asset information.

Security and Privacy

Family Wealth Map provides a highly secure platform utilizing 256-bit end-to-end encryption, 2-factor authentication, strong password requirements, password encryption, and independent privacy and security certifications. Family Wealth Map is unable to access or view any Map, and will never solicit you with offers.

Concierge Service

Our professional staff is ready to assist in the creation and maintenance of Maps. We offer a personalized service that can build the structure of the Map, assist in creating the net worth statement, populate the document files, or train you and your staff to do the same. We are here to ensure that Family Wealth Map exceeds your expectations.

For more information, please visit our website at www.familywealthmap.com or watch our video below that explains the Professional advisor platform. NAEPC members receive a 10% discount on a Family Wealth Map individual or professional subscription. Simply email us at info@familywealthmap.com, let us know you're a NAEPC member and we'll get you started.

Existing Benefits

ABA RPTE Paralegal Program Acquire Seminar Marketing American Dream Planner Software Amicus Creative Media BizActions enewsletters for practioners BVR's Guide to Business Valuation Issues in Estate & Gift Tax edited by Linda Trugman, CPA/ABV, CBA, ASA, MBA Cards for a Cure Charitable Planning Desk Reference for Advisors offered by Strategic Philanthropy Cloudia Assistant CrummeyService, America's Leading ILIT Software Company DocuBank: Emergency Access to Vital Documents Estate Planning Smarts, A Practical, User-Friendly, Action-Oriented Guide, By Deborah L. Jacobs EstatePlanningBinders.com Family Business Magazine Family Wealth Map Fiserv Investment Services Florida Domicile Handbook: Vital Information for New Florida Residents Heart2Hearts: Workbook and Deck of Cards, Discuss Directives, LLC International Genealogical Search Inc. International Association of StoryKeepers (I-ASK)

Klark Proposal Software Konica Minolta Business Solutions Lawgic, LLC LegacyQuest, LLC Legal Binder Now (LBN) LegalVault - Revolutionizing Attorney Document Storage My Perfect Will My Personal DataSafe LLC, the Nation's Most Comprehensive System for Sharing and Managing Client Information NationalUnderwriter.com Oswald Companies Personal Excess Liability Ruby Receptionists The ABA Checklist for Family Heirs: A Guide to Family History, Financial Plans and Final Wishes Sterling Cut Glass The Ultimate Estate Planner, Inc. Trusts & Estates Magazine Veracity – MTG (payment processing solutions) Wall Street-themed Greeting Cards Washington Institute for Graduate Studies WealthManagement.com Wolters Kluwer Law & Business

We are also most excited to present you with information about the upcoming

Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute

The 40th Annual Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute will take place on November 13th and 14th, 2014, in South Bend at the Century Center on the banks of the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend, Indiana, at 120 South St. Joseph Street. South Bend uses Eastern Time (same as New York City).

The 40th Annual Institute will present topics relevant for all individuals, even those not exposed to the estate tax because of the high exemptions. Several sessions are designed to evaluate financial products and planning techniques so that one can better understand and evaluate these products and proposals in determining not only the tax and financial advantages they offer, but also their limitations. In addition, the Institute offers topics not found in most estate planning CE programs such as protecting the elderly from scams and exploitation. As part of the objective of refreshing areas that can expand one's practice, a session will review the income tax consequences of debt cancellation, foreclosures, and debt restructuring. Recognizing the importance of the income tax, the Institute will continue to devote sessions to income tax planning techniques clients can use immediately.

Registration and the 2014 Brochure are available online.

If you have any other questions about the Institute, please contact Dawn Boulac Howard at (574) 631-2616 or dboulac@nd.edu.

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.

The NAEPC Education Foundation Report

The NAEPC Education Foundation board of directors spent much of 2013 and 2014 regrouping, refocusing, and setting the stage for new initiatives. The Foundation now boasts revised bylaws, a new and laser-focused mission statement and is about to host its first-ever webinar for the public during National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Learn more about us online, including programs available to all affiliated local councils.

National Association of Estate Planners & Councils 1120 Chester Avenue, Suite 470 Cleveland, OH  44114
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