History and Purpose

The NAEPC was formed in 1962 and incorporated in 1963 as a non-profit business league by 13 estate planning leaders from nine councils. Though numerous objectives have been pursued over the years, the abiding conviction is that the team approach to estate planning is essential to the creation of the estate plan to which each client is entitled.

The founders of NAEPC held two fundamental convictions:

• Estate planning, effectively done, is of paramount benefit to the community as a whole.
• The most successful way to develop effective estate planning is through estate planning councils. The team approach will produce the best results.

The initial concept for estate planning councils began with bank trust officers and life underwriters in the early 1930's. In 1937 the Trust Division of the American Bankers Association and the National Association of Life Underwriters adopted Companion Resolutions which endorsed the establishment of Life Insurance-Trust Councils. A Guide for Forming Life Insurance - Trust and Estate Planning Councils was published jointly by these organizations between 1937 and 1959. This guide enumerated six purposes for the estate planning council movement:

1. Enabling life underwriters, trust officers, attorneys, and accountants to become better acquainted;
2. Developing mutual trust and understanding;
3. Learning to cooperate - confident that there is no competition among the groups;
4. Learning more about each other's business;
5. Knowing experts in each other's fields and having the confidence and trust to call on them for their services;
6. Giving, through this cooperation and study, much improved service to clients. 

Click on the below headings to access and learn more about NAEPC's member offerings:

NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning

NAEPC Annual Conference / Continuing Education

The Robert G. Alexander Webinar Series

The Robert G. Alexander Webinar Series was launched in September 2013 to provide estate planners with accessible, high quality, multi-disciplinary and supplemental education.  Programs typically take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 3:00 pm ET. 

AEP Designation

Administered by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, the Accredited Estate Planner® designation is awarded only to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character.

Estate Planning Law Specialist Board

The Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an ABA-accredited, attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils in Cleveland, Ohio, administers the only national, board certification of an attorney as an Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS). 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, to Board-certify attorneys as Estate Planning Law Specialists.