The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils was formed in 1962 and incorporated in 1963. > Read our expanded history The association’s core belief is that the team concept of estate planning best serves the client. Each program, benefit, and service is developed with this single value in mind. Now, in 2018, NAEPC boasts over 270 member estate planning councils and provides services to their estimated 30,000 individual members. In addition, the association has nearly 2,000 active Accredited Estate Planner® designees with representation in nearly every state of the country. Our professionals are typically within the accounting, insurance, legal, trust services, philanthropic, or financial planning fields, all with a focus on estate planning. Other professionals are admitted to estate planning councils as their bylaws dictate. A goal of the NAEPC is to encourage specialization programs to increase recognition and acceptance of estate planning as a specialty. NAEPC has two separate and distinct specialization programs: Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) is available to individuals in the disciplines of accounting, insurance, law, philanthropic, trust services, and insurance & financial planning who have met the requisite requirements, including estate planning experience and recommendations by colleagues, and may require completion of certain graduate estate planning courses. All individuals obtaining the AEP® designation must demonstrate a continued commitment to the team approach to estate planning and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) is available to attorneys practicing in the estate planning arena. Attorneys who become Board-certified under this program demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to the concept of specialization. This program is run by The Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. We welcome you to browse our website for more information about the association. Within you’ll find information just for professionals, for estate planning council leadership, and even for the public! Near the bottom of this page you can read statements with regard to estate planning and their relationship with NAEPC from several top professionals within the field of estate planning.