AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner®
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
$1,995/course
Have Questions? We Can Help!
Provide us with a few details, including your question or comment, and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you as soon as possible.
Discover the AEP®
Specialized Estate Planning Knowledge
Distinguish yourself as an estate planning specialist and a valuable member of a holistic planning team.
AEP® Program at a Glance
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)
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: $1,995
Scholarship opportunities for active-duty military personnel, veterans, and spouses, African American financial professionals, women, and other qualifying groups are available. Discover scholarship opportunities.
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.
Why Become an AEP®
50%
Increase in the number of 18-34 year olds with estate planning documents has occurred since the pandemic.1
63%
Of high-income earners with no will say they haven’t got around to it – a major opportunity for you.2
67%
Of Americans report they have no estate plan.3
The AEP® is Right For You If:
Inside the AEP® Program
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
GS 803 Fin. Statements & Business Valuation Analysis (ELECTIVE)
This elective teaches students the “language of business” – accounting.
After completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Understand and analyze financial statements to evaluate the financial stability and performance of a company
- Apply the fundamentals of equity valuation
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
GS 839 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
GS 849 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
GS 842 Executive Compensation (ELECTIVE)
This elective course covers executive compensation plans, emphasizing owner-employees of closely held businesses.
After completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Design cash and bonus compensation, stock options and other forms of compensation
- Understand and evaluate life insurance, including split-dollar plans and other death benefits; nonqualified deferred compensation; health and disability plans; and various other fringe benefits.
Empower Your Career. Enroll Today.
The AEP® designation recognizes true expertise and excellence in estate planning. Enroll in our AEP® program today to begin your journey.
1 Caring.com. 2022 Wills and Estate Planning Study. 2022.
2 Caring.com. 2022 Wills and Estate Planning Study. 2022.
3 CNBC. 67% of Americans have no estate plan, survey finds. Here’s how to get started on one. April 11, 2022.