BEPC honors the Excellence Award recipient at its May 21, 2026 Annual Gala, learn more and register to attend. All from the professional community are welcome to attend.

Congratulations, Amy!

The award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the estate planning profession, in accordance with the Council's mission statement. The Council strives to honor those who exemplify excellence within the profession through recent extraordinary efforts or those who exhibit outstanding sustained contributions.

Submit Nominations

The Boston Estate Planning Council Excellence Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the estate planning profession, in accordance with the Council's mission statement. The Council strives to honor those who exemplify excellence within the profession through recent extraordinary efforts or those who exhibit outstanding sustained contributions. BEPC members are invited to submit nominations by 12 pm ET on November 26, 2025.

Submit Nominations

According to NAEPC, councils selected for the Council of Excellence distinction exemplify the highest level of member service, helping advance not only the success of individual professionals but also the estate planning field and the broader community. The award will be formally presented during a special evening reception on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Council Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

On receiving the 2025 award, BEPC President Thomas E. Francione, CTFA, AEP®, ATFA noted “we are honored that BEPC has once again been recognized with the Council of Excellence award. This achievement reflects our vision of cultivating excellence for estate planning professionals and highlights the collective contributions of our members. Their commitment to fulfilling our organization’s mission continues to strengthen both our council and the Greater Boston community.”

The Council of Excellence Award is named for two individuals who truly sought to strengthen the bond between NAEPC and its affiliated councils during their terms on the board.  Walter Lee Davis, Jr. served as president of the association in 2008 and was instrumental in forming the Council Relations Committee, a group of volunteer members who are charged with being a liaison between affiliates and the national association.  Leonard H. Neiman served the association as a board member for over 15 years and worked tirelessly to gather information about estate planning councils from around the country. 

About BEPC

The Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC) is a community of approximately 700 dynamic, diverse and collaborative professionals dedicated to advancing the field of estate planning through fostering connections within the Council; educational programming and professional development for every stage of one’s career; thought leadership to promote subject matter expertise; and meaningful service and collaborative partnerships.

The Boston Estate Planning Council is one of the oldest and largest interdisciplinary estate planning councils in the country, tracing its roots back to 1930. The Council is a member of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, the leading professional organization for estate planners. BEPC was previously honored by NAEPC as a 5-Star Council in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and received the Council of Excellence Award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. More information is available at http://www.bepc.org.

CONTACT:
Cambria Happ, MPA, CAE
Executive Director, Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC)
Phone: 978-364-5170
E-mail: chapp@bepc.org  

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Congratulations to the six BEPC members who earned NAEPC's Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation through the Council-nominated application process.

• John W. Donahue, JD, LL.M. (taxation), AEP®
• Kristin N.G. Dzialo, JD, AEP®
• Alison M. Goodrich, CFP®, AEP®
• Matt Metsch, JD, LL.M., CAP®, AEP®
• Alyson Nickse, CFP®, AEP®
• Molly R. Soiffer, JD, LL.M. (taxation), AEP®

Estate planning councils affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils have the privilege of nominating qualified individuals to apply for the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation through the “AEP® Council Nomination Program.”

The only graduate level, multi-disciplinary credential in estate planning, the AEP® designation is awarded to professionals who meet requirements of education, experience, knowledge, and professional reputation and holding the AEP® designation helps clients and colleagues understand the designee’s commitment to the collaborative approach to estate planning.  Individuals must meet strict requirements to be considered for a council nomination and applicants must meet stringent qualifications and commit to ongoing recertification requirements.

BEPC's President may bestow this honor on an individual that has displayed exceptional service and dedication over the course of the year. The 2025 BEPC President’s Award recognizes Jennifer M. Hall, CFP®, AEP®, and Caroline McKay, JD, LL.M., AEP® for their outstanding dedication to advancing financial literacy in our community. Their leadership in delivering financial education at the Suffolk House of Corrections has made a lasting impact, and their efforts to expand the program to additional charitable organizations have been truly commendable. Most notably, their work led to the board-approved partnership with Tailored for Success, enabling virtual financial literacy courses to reach even more individuals in need. Caroline and Jennifer’s commitment to empowerment through education exemplifies the mission and values of BEPC.

Congratulations, Jennifer and Caroline! Learn more about the awardees.

Learn more about the BEPC Excellence Award.

“The estate planning councils being recognized with NAEPC’s highest council honor provide an extraordinary level of member service and are contributing to the success of their members, the estate planning profession, and ultimately their community.  We commend their leadership for their diligent work and a job well done and are looking forward to recognizing them at the 61^st Annual NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference on October 23, 2024 in Anaheim, California” NAEPC President Kitt McNee said.

On receiving the 2024 award, BEPC President Alisa Kim O’Neil noted “receiving this award is an honor for the council. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment for estate and wealth planning professionals in Greater Boston. It reflects the collective efforts of our members to not only enhance our programs and services but also to elevate the experience of each individual within our community. We are deeply proud of this achievement and remain dedicated to advancing excellence in estate planning.”

The Council of Excellence Award is named for two individuals who truly sought to strengthen the bond between NAEPC and its affiliated councils during their terms on the board.  Walter Lee Davis, Jr. served as president of the association in 2008 and was instrumental in forming the Council Relations Committee, a group of volunteer members who are charged with being a liaison between affiliates and the national association.  Leonard H. Neiman served the association as a board member for over 15 years and worked tirelessly to gather information about estate planning councils from around the country.

About BEPC

The Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC) is a multi-disciplinary community of approximately 700 estate and wealth planning professionals. The Council provides educational programs and networking opportunities to help its members build and strengthen relationships, learn about ideas and strategies, and share thought leadership. The Boston Estate Planning Council is one of the oldest and largest interdisciplinary estate planning councils in the country, tracing its roots back to 1930. The Council is a member of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, the leading professional organization for estate planners, which provides its 2,200+ Accredited Estate Planner^® designees and over 265 affiliated local estate planning councils and their 28,000 members with ongoing education and a forum for professional networking. BEPC was previously honored by NAEPC as a 5-Star Council in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and received the Council of Excellence Award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023. More information is available at http://www.bepc.org.

CONTACT:

Cambria Happ, MPA, CAE

Executive Director, Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC)

Phone: 978-364-5170

E-mail: chapp@bepc.org

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Congratulations to the six BEPC members who earned NAEPC's Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation through the Council-nominated application process.

• Amy K. Phelan, CPA, MST, AEP®
• Dara Lynn S. Freytag, Esq., LL.M. (taxation), AEP®
• Karen Witherell, JD, LL.M. (taxation), AEP®
• Michelle Harden, AEP®
• Brandon Fink, CFP®, AEP®
• Annette Eaton, JD, LL.M., AEP®

Estate planning councils affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils have the privilege of nominating qualified individuals to apply for the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation through the “AEP® Council Nomination Program.”

The only graduate level, multi-disciplinary credential in estate planning, the AEP® designation is awarded to professionals who meet requirements of education, experience, knowledge, and professional reputation and holding the AEP® designation helps clients and colleagues understand the designee’s commitment to the collaborative approach to estate planning.  Individuals must meet strict requirements to be considered for a council nomination and applicants must meet stringent qualifications and commit to ongoing recertification requirements.