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Alert: National Estate Planning Awareness Week is the Third Week in October (October 21-27, 2013)

Estate planning is one of the most overlooked areas of personal financial management. It is estimated that over 120,000,000 Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves or their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death. This costs the affluent and middle classes wasted dollars and hours of emotional hardship each year that that can be materially minimize with advanced planning and action.

The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC), formed in 1962 as a non-profit business league, is the leading professional organization for estate planning. It provide its 28,000 plus credentialed members with ongoing education and a forum for professional networking within the financial services professions, as well as the professional accreditations of Accredited Estate Planner®, (AEP®) and Estate Planning Law Specialist® (EPLS®). Through its educational foundation, The NAEPC Foundation, (formed as a 501 (c)(3) in 2005) and its unique public awareness estate and financial education portal found at www.EstatePlanningAnswers.org, NAEPC is becoming the centralized resource for estate planning professionals and the public as a trusted resource for current quality financial content and tools.

The NAEPC Foundation has an ongoing commitment to promote financial awareness and literacy in estate and financial planning throughout the year, and in particular the third full week in October, known as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. To assist us with our commitment on September 27, 2008 Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), and 49 additional members of the House of Representatives (listed below), co-sponsored and helped to pass H. Res. 1499, (see below) proclaiming the third week in October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week.

Please join us in promoting National Estate Planning Awareness Week to your friends and family. A copy of the 2012 full media kit can be found online by clicking HERE.

We are grateful for the support and vision of Rep. Mike Thompson and the following 49 members of the 2008 House of Representatives who helped make National Estate Planning Awareness Week possible:

  • Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
  • Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
  • Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
  • Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
  • André Carson [D, IN-7]
  • Donald Cazayoux [D, LA-6]
  • Travis Childers [D, MS-1]
  • Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
  • William Clay [D, MO-1]
  • Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
  • Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
  • Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
  • Robert Cramer [D, AL-5]
  • Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
  • William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
  • Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
  • Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
  • Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
  • Bob Etheridge [D, NC-2]
  • Wayne Gilchrest [R, MD-1]
  • Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
  • Raymond Green [D, TX-29]
  • John Hall [D, NY-19]
  • Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
  • Baron Hill [D, IN-9]
  • Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
  • Darlene Hooley [D, OR-5]
  • Darrell Issa [R, CA-49]
  • Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
  • Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
  • John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
  • James McDermott [D, WA-7]
  • Jerry McNerney [D, CA-11]
  • Ed Perlmutter [D, CO-7]
  • Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
  • Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
  • Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
  • John Salazar [D, CO-3]
  • H. James Saxton [R, NJ-3]
  • Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
  • Jean Schmidt [R, OH-2]
  • Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
  • Greg Walden [R, OR-2]
  • D. Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
  • Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
  • Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
  • Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]

H. Res. 1499

In the House of Representatives, U. S., September 27, 2008.

Whereas it is estimated that over 120,000,000 Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves or their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death;

Whereas a 2004 Roper poll commissioned by the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants found that two-thirds of Americans over age 65 believe they lack the knowledge necessary to adequately plan for retirement, and nearly one half of all Americans are unfamiliar with basic retirement tools, such as a 401(k) plan;

Whereas careful estate planning can greatly assist Americans in preserving assets built over a lifetime for the benefit of family, heirs, or charities;

Whereas estate planning involves many considerations, including safekeeping of important documents, documentation of assets, operation of law in the various States, preparation of legal instruments, insurance, availability of trust arrangements, charitable giving, inter vivos care of the benefactor, and other important factors;

Whereas estate planning encourages timely decisions about the method of holding title to certain assets, the designation of beneficiaries, and the possible transfer of assets during the life of the benefactor;

Whereas many Americans are unaware that lack of estate planning and `financial illiteracy’ may cause their assets to be disposed of to unintended parties by default through the complex process of probate;

Whereas alternatives to disposition of assets after death, such as planned gift-giving, may accomplish a benefactor’s goal of providing for his or her family and favorite charities;

Whereas careful planning can prevent family members or other beneficiaries from being subjected to complex legal and administrative processes requiring significant expenditure of time, and greatly reduce confusion or even animosity among family members or other heirs upon the death of a loved one;

Whereas important considerations as to donation of organs and use of life support functions may be made through the estate planning process;

Whereas the implementation of an estate plan starts with sound education and planning, and then may require the proper drafting and execution of appropriate legal documents, including wills, trusts, and durable powers of attorney for health care;

Whereas the third week of October should be designated as `National Estate Planning Awareness Week’; and

Whereas the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, representing over 28,000 estate planning professionals, together with the Universal Press Syndicate, the largest independent newspaper syndicate in the world, are prepared to provide such educational information to the public in a focused manner during National Estate Planning Awareness Week:

Now, therefore be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) encourages the distribution of estate planning information by professionals to all Americans; and

(2) supports the designation of a `National Estate Planning Awareness Week’.

 

To view a copy of the 2012 National Estate Planning Awareness Week Campaign Report & Scrapbook click on the  download button

 

 

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For seminars, webinars, and events held during National Estate Planning Awareness Week click on the following link

http://www.estateplanninganswers.org/estate-planning-for-chronic-illness-webinars-offered-during-national-estate-planning-awareness-week/

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For a copy of the National Estate Planning Awareness Week – National Financial Literacy Month Media Kit click on the following link

www.estateplanninganswers.org/national-financial-awareness-campaigns/

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As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization The NAEPC Education Foundation generates operating capital to implement its programs through modest fees from its educational conferences, continuing education programs and publications, grants, donations and contributions of time and money from dedicated members, supporting financial service organizations, and the public.

To help us improve financial awareness and financial literacy please click here to

 

 

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Last edited Feb 14, 2013

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