MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Are you an estate planning professional? We would love to have you join us!
Join our organization to network and connect with fellow local estate planning professionals. As a member, you’ll have access to our educational resources, online directory, monthly newsletter, and exclusive events. Our organization is interdisciplinary, so you’ll be able to connect with professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Whether you’re a lawyer, financial planner, trust officer, or life insurance agent, you’ll find valuable resources and connections through our organization. Join today to start building your professional network.
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
All members must have practiced in estate planning for their respective specialties for a minimum of two years, and be licensed by the appropriate licensing authority. Other than Certified Public Accountants and Attorneys, each category shall have the credential listed by the respective member bodies, below. All members shall be in good standing with their respective licensing organizations. All members shall meet one of the following seven (7) categories for membership.
The Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council is an organization with attorney members who are dedicated to providing the highest quality of estate planning services to their clients. Membership in REEPC is limited to attorneys who are licensed members of the State Bar of California. This requirement ensures that our members have the expertise and experience necessary to provide the highest level of service to their clients. REEPC is a valuable resource for estate planning attorneys, and we welcome new members who share our commitment to excellence.
The Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council (REEPC) is a professional organization with Certified Public Accountant members who are involved in estate planning. REEPC was established to provide its members with an opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise on estate planning topics. To become a Certified Public Accountant member of REEPC, you must be licensed by the California State Board of Accountancy. REEPC offers its members many benefits, including networking opportunities, educational resources, and access to industry experts. If you are a Certified Public Accountant who is involved in estate planning, we encourage you to join REEPC today!
The Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council is a professional organization with Financial Advisors who specialize in estate planning. To become a member of REEPC, Financial Advisors must have either the ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant) or CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation. The purpose of REEPC is to provide its members with educational opportunities, networking events, and resources that will help them better serve their clients. REEPC also advocates on behalf of its members and the financial planning profession as a whole. By joining REEPC, Financial Advisors can take advantage of all these benefits and more.
The Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council is a leading organization for Life Insurance Agents in the area. As such, we require that all of our Life Insurance Agent members have the CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter) designation. This designation is a mark of excellence in the Life Insurance industry, and it ensures that our members are highly skilled and knowledgeable in all aspects of Life Insurance planning. By requiring the CLU® designation, we can provide our clients with the highest level of service and expertise. If you are interested in joining the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council as a Life Insurance Agent, then the CLU® designation is a must. Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of our organization.
The Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council (REEPC) welcomes Trust Officers and Private Fiduciaries as members. Trust Officers are individuals employed by a corporate trust organization. A Trust Officer’s duties typically include administering trusts, managing assets, and providing fiduciary services. Private Fiduciaries are individuals who are licensed by the state of California to provide professional fiduciary services. These services may include serving as a conservator, executor, or trustee. Private Fiduciaries must meet strict educational and experience requirements set forth by the state of California. REEPC is a trusted resource for Trust Officers and Private Fiduciaries who are dedicated to providing professional and ethical fiduciary services.
Member at Large members of the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council is expected to be actively engaged in work that is instrumental in the estate planning or administration process and that will contribute to the purposes of REEPC. Member at Large members may serve on committees and participate in other activities of the Council as requested by the Board of Directors. Member at Large members are also expected to attend Council meetings and events, and to support the Council’s efforts to promote education and exchange of information among its members.
This category is not available to those eligible for the other membership categories.
Shall be members who do not have 2 years of experience in estate planning or someone who is in the process of becoming certified under a professional designation. A member who has all the qualifications but does not meet experience requirements shall automatically become a full member when in the year after time requirements are met. An associate member shall notify the Membership Chairperson in writing when requirements to become a full member have been completed. The associate member shall be a provisional member and send written notice with dues payment that they are actively engaged in meeting the qualifications within the normal time frame of the designation. Should an associate member not make proper notification for ongoing requirements, the associate member must re-apply after the requirements are met. Associate members shall not have any voting rights in the Council.
The primary requirement in order to become a member is that you spend a significant portion of your professional time performing estate planning services.
You will be asked during the signup process about how long you have been in estate planning and what percentage of your professional time is spent performing the services below.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU JOIN
Attend Two Dinner Meetings
You must have attended two REEPC dinner/continuing education meetings as the guest of a current REEPC member. You can register as a guest for one of our dinner meetings here.
Endorsement From A Current Member
All applicants must be endorsed by one current REEPC member unless applying as Member-at-Large or as an Associate Member.
PREPARE BEFORE REGISTERING
During the initial registration process, you will be asked about your estate planning experience. Be prepared to provide a narrative summary about how long you have been in estate planning and what percentage of your professional time is spent performing estate planning duties.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES
The cost to join and continue your membership is only $350 per year.
$350
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Hopefully, you can find the answer below. If not, feel free to use our contact us form with your questions.
Once you register and pay for your membership, our membership committee will review your application. If everything looks good, your application will be brought up for a vote at our next monthly meeting. Our members vote on whether or not to approve new applications, and we generally reach a consensus fairly quickly. If you’re approved, you’ll be notified and sent a welcome packet with information about our organization and how to get involved. We’re always happy to have new members, and we hope you’ll take advantage of all we have to offer. Thanks for your interest in the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council!
Yes, you have the option of joining as an ASSOCIATE MEMBER. Associate Members shall be members who do not have 2 years of experience in estate planning or someone who is in the process of becoming certified under a professional designation. A member with all the qualifications but does not meet experience requirements shall automatically become a full member when in the year after time requirements are met. An associate member shall notify the Membership Chairperson in writing when requirements to become a full member have been completed. The associate member shall be a provisional member and send written notice with dues payment that they are actively engaged in meeting the qualifications within the normal time frame of the designation. Should an associate member not make proper notification for ongoing requirements, the associate member must re-apply after the requirements are met. An associate member shall not have any voting rights in the Council.
The questions we ask when applying for membership are all straightforward and should have no problem answering. Check out the screen recording of the process below. We do recommend that you prepare a short narrative about your estate planning experience before starting the process since it can be difficult to elaborate on such information in an online application form! You will also need to upload copies of your headshot as well as any company logo that you want to be associated with you.
If you’re looking to get a member endorsement from REEPC, the best way to go about it is to reach out to members during one of our dinner meetings. Introduce yourself, and ask questions. We are a friendly group and we are confident you will find a member willing to endorse you. If you take the time to build relationships with members of REEPC, you’ll be well on your way to getting the member endorsement you’re looking for.
Stay Informed
Subscribe to our email list to stay current on everything that’s going on in our local estate planning community. You’ll get notified about our upcoming events, the latest news, and member updates. We promise to only send you relevant information that you’ll find interesting and useful. Subscribe now and stay connected!
