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The NICEP is the sole owner of the Certified Estate Planner™ (CEP®) and Master Certified Estate Planner™ (MCEP®) trademarks, and the only organization that confers these professional certifications. Certificants in good standing with the NICEP can be found by using the following search feature:

Verify a Professional License

Trust and transparency matter.

Most professional advisors are required to provide consumers with information regarding their licensing and background.


To verify an Attorney or CPA license:

You can usually check with the appropriate State Bar Association.

If you experience any difficulty, be direct and ask the professional to provide the information, or contact our office for assistance.

To verify that the Financial Professional you’re working with is in good standing with regard to their licensing, you can…

Verify a Securities License:

Broker/Brokerage Firm Search | Investment Advisor Representative/Firm Search

Verify an Insurance License:

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Why Choose a NICEP Professional?

Not all estate planners are created equal. Choosing a NICEP Professional means working with an advisor who:

  • Has specialized training in estate planning strategies

  • Stays up to date with continuing education

  • Adheres a strict code of ethics to protect your interests

  • Understands the full picture - from financial and tax implications to legal requirements

What to Expect from Estate Planning

Planning your estate is about more than just having a will. Your professional estate planning team can help you:

  • Determine whether a Will or a Trust should be the centerpiece to your estate plan

  • Minimize estate taxes and avoid the pitfalls of probate

  • Establish powers of attorney to ensure decisions are made in your best interest

  • Plan for your loved ones’ future with tailored financial, legal and tax strategies

Whether you're just starting or need to update an existing plan, a NICEP Professional can guide you through the process.

FAQ

  • Estate planning is the systematic development and updating of goals, policies, and procedures for all of the property you own, whatever it is worth, and wherever it is located.

    However, estate planning isn't truly about things.. it's about people. At the heart of estate planning most people are asking themselves What will life look like for my family...

    • when I die?

    • during my old age?

    • if I experience a prolonged illness or go through a period of incompetency or incapacity?

  • A CEP® (Certified Estate Planner™) has completed a rigorous eight (8) module course of instruction in the field of estate planning, successfully passed a comprehensive proctored examination process, shown a desire to associate with professional estate planning peers, agreed to comply with annual estate planning continuing education requirements, and ascribed to the practical guidelines and code of ethics of the NICEP.

    The MCEP® (Master Certified Estate Planner™) is conferred upon individuals who have earned the CEP® certification and then successfully completed an advanced eight (8) module estate planning course and comprehensive proctored examination.

  • It is a good idea to review your estate plan every year or two. Never let more than a few years go by without a comprehensive review. Moreover, any change in your personal, family, financial or health situation, or a change in the tax laws, could trigger a change in your estate plan. Here are some events that could prompt a review:

    FAMILY MATTERS

    • Marriage, separation, or divorce

    • Declining Health, Incapacity, Disability

    • Death

    • Birth or adoption

    • Minor becomes an adult

    • Relative becomes a dependent

    • Altered family dynamics or dysfunction

     FINANCIAL MATTERS

    • Finances change

    • Dramatic change in asset values

    • Change in business interests

    • Purchase of new real estate

    • Purchase property in another state

    • Move to a different state

    OTHER MATTERS

    • Successor trustee, guardian or administrator moves, becomes ill, changes mind

    • Federal or state tax law changes

    • Change of plans or goals

  • As part of our ongoing promise to provide estate planning proficiency through our organization and to effectively monitor the use of our professional marks, the NICEP asks that consumers experiencing a serious problem with a NICEP Certificant file a written complaint with our corporate office at:

    NICEP, 2125 West Zartman Road, Kokomo, Indiana 46902

    All properly presented complaints will be reviewed by the NICEP and resolved appropriately.

Need further assistance?

(765) 453-4300 | info@nicep.org