What is a TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner)?

Tim’s specialization offers his clients advanced estate planning advice leveraging his experience and the expertise gained through his TEP Designation.

TEP stands for Trust and Estate Practitioner.  It is the designation given to full members to STEP – the worldwide professional association for those advising families across generations.  STEP membership is diverse and highly specialized, with accredited professionals from all facets of the trust and estate planning industries, including investment management, legal, accountancy, corporate, trust, banking, and insurance.

To become a TEP, practitioners must have a combination of specialist qualifications and experience, including significant involvement at a specialist level with planning, creation, management and of accounting for trusts and estates, executorship administration and related taxes.

What do TEPs do?

As specialists in inheritance and succession planning, TEPs can evaluate wills and trusts, advise on the administration of estates,  and guide families on how best to structure their assets and finances to ensure compliance and preserve their wealth for future generations.

Some examples of topics that TEPs may advise on are:

  • Providing specialized estate planning strategies for those who have lost their partners, while protecting the interests of their children
  • Ensuring elderly or vulnerable relatives are cared for and supported
  • Helping families with interests spread across the world to be compliant with the laws and tax rules of different countries
  • Ensuring that a family business will pass safely and tax efficiently from one generation to another
  • Helping clients to support their charitable causes in an effective way
  • Through careful advanced estate planning and execution,  solidifying that family harmony remains in place during the estate administration process
Blended families are increasingly the norm today, with couples remarrying and bringing children into new relationships.  Estate planning is especially critical in such situations, or children can end up disinherited.

 

Why choose a professional with a TEP Designation

Choosing a professional to help you to deal with such important and often sensitive issues can be difficult.   Many aspects of planning are non-regulated, meaning anyone can write a will, for example, regardless of training or expertise.  With a TEP, you’re in safe hands.
Expertise

TEPs are recognized experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

Integrity

TEPS are subject to an extensive Code of Professional Conduct, requiring them at all times to act with integrity and in a manner that inspires the confidence, respect and trust of their clients and of the wider community.

Knowledge

TEPs are required to maintain and develop the knowledge and skills relevant to their role as a condition of their continued membership.  This means TEPs will always be up-to-date with the latest legal, technical and regulatory developments that may affect you and your situation.

Connections

2400 Canadian TEPS have access to a global network of 19500 advisors and professionals, enabling them to share knowledge and expertise across professional and geographic boundaries to offer a joined-up service that can really add value to you as a client.