Connect with a Certified Estate Planner™ Professional Near You
Search for a NICEP Professional
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. As an added measure of due diligence, we provide some additonal links in this section for you to verify these as you may see fit. It is the ethical duty of all of our certificants, as well as any reputable planner, to invite and welcome your inquiries.
Verify an Attorney’s or CPA’s License
You can 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.
When working with a Financial Professional, you may want to verify their good standing with the appropriate securities or insurance licensing authority.
Verify a Securities Professional’s License
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 to 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
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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?”
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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.
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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
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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 consumers who experience a serious problem with a NICEP certificant to 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