Estate Planning Education for Financial Advisors
Helping You Support Your Clients With Clarity and Confidence
Estate planning is one of the most important — and least understood — parts of a client’s financial life. Clients often have questions about wills, trusts, probate or successions, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and what it all means for their future.
The American Estate Planning Series™ exists to make those conversations easier.
Our mission is simple:
Provide clear, plain-English education so families — and their advisors — can make informed, confident decisions.
What Advisors Appreciate About AEPS
✔ Client-Friendly Education
We explain estate planning concepts in simple, non-legal language that clients actually understand.
✔ State-Specific Perspective
Every state has different rules. Our books and resources help clients see how local law applies to their situation.
✔ Clarity Without Legal Advice
We educate — we don’t replace attorneys. Clients still work with qualified counsel, but they do so better prepared and more confident.
✔ Calm, Trust-Based Approach
No fear tactics. No pressure. Just clear guidance focused on protecting families.
How Advisors Use AEPS Resources
Financial advisors across the country use our materials to:
• help clients understand wills, trusts, and powers of attorney
• explain how beneficiary designations actually work
• identify gaps or risks clients may not have considered
• prepare clients for productive conversations with attorneys
• encourage clients to complete or update their estate plans
Some advisors simply share the book or the free Estate Planning Starter Kit as an educational resource.
About the Author
Paul Rabalais is an estate planning attorney with decades of experience helping families protect what matters most. Through books, videos, and the American Estate Planning Series™, Paul provides plain-English guidance to simplify a complex topic — while always encouraging clients to seek legal counsel in their state.
Advisor-Focused FAQs
Why should financial advisors be involved in estate planning conversations?
Estate planning is closely connected to nearly every part of a client’s financial life. When you confidently guide clients through these discussions (even at a high level), you position yourself as a trusted, holistic advisor — not just an investment manager.
Advisors who engage in estate planning conversations often experience:
✔ deeper, longer-term client relationships
✔ stronger trust and client loyalty
✔ clear differentiation among competitors
✔ more referrals from grateful families
✔ multi-generational engagement
And because clients already worry about these issues, estate planning education often becomes a door-opening conversation — not a sales conversation.
Do AEPS resources replace an estate planning attorney?
No. AEPS is strictly educational.
Clients should always rely on an attorney licensed in their state for legal advice. AEPS simply helps clients understand the terminology, options, and decisions so meetings with attorneys are:
✔ less intimidating
✔ more efficient
✔ and more productive
Is it risky for advisors to discuss estate planning?
It depends how it’s done.
We encourage advisors to remain in an educational and guidance-based role, not a legal one. That means:
🚫 not drafting legal documents
🚫 not interpreting state-specific law
🚫 not giving legal advice
Instead, advisors can:
✅ identify goals and priorities
✅ encourage clients to complete or update plans
✅ coordinate with attorneys
✅ help review how assets are structured
AEPS simply supports those conversations.
How can AEPS help me differentiate my practice?
Most advisors talk about investments.
Fewer discuss retirement income.
Very few confidently discuss estate planning.
When you help clients think through:
• how assets will pass
• how heirs will be protected
• who will make decisions if they cannot
• and how their plan reflects their values
…you naturally become the advisor who truly understands the whole picture.
That leads to stronger trust — and stronger relationships.
Do AEPS materials work for clients outside Texas or Louisiana?
Yes — the education applies nationally, while each state book focuses on the laws of that state. Where state rules differ, we say so. As the Series grows, more state-specific resources will be added.
Can I share AEPS resources with my clients?
Yes. Many advisors choose to:
📘 give clients a copy of the book
📎 share the free Starter Kit
🗣 discuss foundational estate planning concepts
🤝 encourage clients to work with an attorney
Clients value this type of support.
A Note About the Opportunity for Advisors
Most clients quietly worry about what will happen to their family one day. When you are the advisor who confidently opens that conversation, you become far more than a portfolio manager.
You become the person who helped them:
✔ protect their spouse
✔ plan thoughtfully for children or grandchildren
✔ avoid unnecessary stress and conflict
✔ create clarity during difficult times
That is the kind of guidance clients remember — and talk about.
Estate planning conversations often lead to:
⭐ deeper trust
⭐ broader engagement
⭐ multi-generational relationships
⭐ more referrals
And AEPS exists to help you support those conversations with clarity and integrity.
If You’re an Advisor and Want to Stay in Touch
We are continuing to expand the American Estate Planning Series™ and will eventually develop additional resources specifically for financial advisors.
If you’d like to learn more, collaborate, or simply stay informed as the Series grows, we’d be happy to hear from you.
👉 Email us to connect: forms@epseries.com
There’s no program to join or commitment to make — just a conversation.
Important Note
The American Estate Planning Series™ is educational — not legal advice.
Clients should always consult an attorney licensed in their state before making legal decisions.