US
AEP® | Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Education Program
AEP® | Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Education Program
program
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AEP
Accredited Estate Planner
Education Program
Best For
Financial professionals looking to specialize in estate planning.
Timing
3-6 Months
Format
Call the admissions department at 866-372-5289 or email
GraduateSchool@theamericancollege.edu
100% Virtual
Tuition
Starting at $2,050/course
Apply Now
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Request More Information
Provide us with your information and we will get back to you with additional details.
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Discover the AEP
Education Program
Specialized Estate Planning Knowledge
Distinguish yourself as an estate planning specialist and a valuable member of a holistic planning team.
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Program at a Glance
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Admissions Requirements
The AEP
is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC). The designation is available to individuals who hold one or more of the following designations or degrees in active status and good standing:
Attorneys (JD)
CAP® Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®
Chartered Life Underwriter
Chartered Financial Analyst
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Trust and Financial Advisor
Certified Private Wealth Advisor
Chartered Financial Consultant
Certified Specialist in Planned Giving
Master of Science in Financial Services
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Students with less than 15 years of estate planning experience must satisfy the education requirements.
Visit NAEPC
Tuition & Scholarships
Program tuition can be paid on a per-course basis. Tuition covers all required study materials, access to convenient online learning tools, and your examination. The materials provided include:
Downloadable content for easy following
Video lectures and expert interviews
Individual course:
$2,050
Scholarship opportunities are available for those who qualify,
learn more here
What You'll Learn
In this program, you will build the skills you need to deliver sophisticated estate planning services. You will complete two courses, including a required course and an elective. These courses are designed to meet the requirements of the
NAEPC accreditation process
Your learning outcomes will include:
Detailed knowledge of tax law and tax planning for estates
Strategies for transferring property during clients’ lifetimes and after death
Approaches to integrating life insurance planning into your estate strategies
Tools for effective charitable giving
Course Delivery
Study at your own pace, engage through virtual office hours, and receive support from the nation’s preeminent estate planning thought leaders and our academic advising team.
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Why Become an AEP
50%
Increase in the number of 18-34 year olds with estate planning documents has occurred since the pandemic.
63%
Of high-income earners without a will say they haven’t got around to it – a major opportunity for you.
67%
Of Americans report they have no estate plan.
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Why Enroll With Us?
You Are Ready to Specialize
In-Depth Skills Benefit Experienced Professionals
Qualified financial professionals know that offering specialized services can drive growth and boost their business. The AEP
can support your path to specialization.
You Care About Your Clients
Estate Planning Matters to Clients
Effective estate planning is a core part of financial well-being for your clients. The AEP
can help you deliver what they truly need.
You Want to Stand Out
The AEP
Sets You Apart from the Competition
When clients need estate planning services, your AEP
designation gives them confidence in your knowledge, skills, and commitment to excellence.
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Course Overview
Courses to Complete
Two
Typical Completion Time
3-6 Months
MSFP 615 Advanced Estate Mgmt. and Planned Giving
This course is an advanced gift and estate planning course which presents an overview of the basics.
Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:
Understand gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes
Identify key considerations related to the ownership and taxation of transfers of property during lifetime and at death.
Provide charitable giving planning advice
Evaluate the role of life insurance planning in estate planning
MSFP 589 Fin Statement Analysis and Small Business Valuation (ELECTIVE)
Examines a broad set of business finance skills and concepts to help serve small and family business clients.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Understand the basics fundamentals of corporate finance
Cover the numbers language that is required for a business
Understand the connection of a firm owner’s personal assets and their business assets
Use financial measures to understand a company’s strengths and areas for future focus and development
Guide clients in navigating how a major concentration of their personal wealth contained in the value of their business impacts their financial future
Help firm owners achieve their personal financial goals along with their business goals
MSFP 543 Business Succession Strategies (ELECTIVE)
This elective course covers advanced topics in business succession planning.
This knowledge will help you:
Facilitate business succession planning objectives through charitable transfers
Distinguish between the different estate planning needs of those with family limited partnerships and limited-liability companies
Value sales and gifts of business interests using discounting techniques
Use retirement plan strategies to facilitate succession planning
CAP 539 Planning for Impact in Context of Family Wealth (ELECTIVE)
This elective course focuses on wealth in families.
After completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Elicit client or donor goals for self, family and society
Convene a team to achieve those goals now, later, at death or beyond death, through a financial plan, business exit plan, estate plan, or gift plan
CAP 549 Charitable Giving Strategies (ELECTIVE)
This elective course explores charitable tax strategies, tools, and techniques.
After completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Open a client-specific or donor-specific conversation about the features and benefits of appropriate charitable tools
Convene a planning team, or in simpler cases, close for the gift
MSFP 584 Executive Compensation (ELECTIVE)
The executive pay package is designed to drive the performance of the executives, owners, or leaders themselves as well as the organization. Through this course, students will:
Understand executive pay packages such as base salary, bonus, short- and long-term incentives, executive perks, and other benefits
Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these components, including taxation, policy, and regulations (ERISA)
Learn how to leverage this knowledge to advise their clients or apply to their own situations
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Empower Your Career. Enroll Today.
The AEP
designation recognizes true expertise and excellence in estate planning. Enroll in our AEP
Education Program today to begin your journey.
Apply Now
Visit NAEPC
footnotes
The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) partners with The American College of Financial Services to offer comprehensive graduate courses in estate planning to individuals interested in pursuing the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation. NAEPC owns the AEP® designation, which it awards to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character.
Caring.com. 2022 Wills and Estate Planning Study. 2022.
CNBC. 67% of Americans have no estate plan, survey finds. Here’s how to get started on one. April 11, 2022.