SOUTH BAY ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

The Board of Directors seeks to clarify and stabilize the membership requirements of the South Bay Estate Planning Council to avoid arbitrary means of selecting potential members, attract quality members and speakers, and protect the integrity of the Council. A categorical approach to membership will increase objectivity and Board efficiency in regulating membership in the present and future years, centered on the Council’s stated mission.

A General Member is an individual who is experienced in his or her profession primarily consisting of estate planning and/or administration, and/or who is considered part of a client’s team of professional estate-related advisors. A General Member will typically provide the clientele base that expert outside speakers and Resource Members want to access for potential business referral opportunities. General Members are also the primary target audience that the General Meeting and Focus Group speakers speak to in terms of content. The SBEPC should seek to build a large, stable group of General Members to attract quality speakers and quality Resource Members. General Members are usually motivated to become members due to the educational content of the meetings directly relevant to his or her profession and to a lesser extent, continuing education credit, resource offerings, and networking opportunities.

A Resource Member does not categorically qualify as a General Member but rather is an individual who possesses knowledge and experience in his or her field that includes a substantial nexus with estate planning or administration. A Resource Member will typically provide as-needed, periodic, or one-off services that a General Member individual may often seek or make business referrals to in the course of servicing his or her client base, such as realtor, appraiser, care provider, estate liquidation/auctioneer, geriatric psychiatrist, and the like. A Resource Member is typically motivated to become a member not so much for the educational content of the meeting but to access the General Member’s client base for marketing and referral purposes. A Resource Member would categorize its membership activity as marketing/networking rather than education.  The ratio of Resource Members to General Members should be capped so that Resource Members are not predominant.  Capping Resource Membership will also attract more General Members and quality speakers. In addition, Resource Members will appreciate the cap due to less competition introduced by other Resource Members.

An Emeritus Member is a former General or Resource Member who is retired and seeks to be connected to the Council and attend meetings (if even occasionally). The advantage of creating an Emeritus Member category is to provide an economical manner for the former General or Resource Member to be a part of the Council while on a fixed or limited income. utilize the wisdom and life experience of the individual for the benefit of the group and reward the individual for having a long history and investment of SBEPC membership.

An Associate Member is a potential General Member (not Resource Member) who does not qualify as a General Member due to lack of experience.

Categories Defined:

General Member

A General Member is an individual who:

1. is engaged in one or more of the following licensed and/or certified estate planning or administration-related professions:

1. Attorney with at least 50% or more of his or her practice in the areas of estate planning and/or administration (may include litigation);
2. Professional fiduciary or trust officer;
3. Wealth or investment advisor;
4. Certified Financial Planner;
5. Certified Public Accountant;
6. Enrolled Agent;
7. Geriatric care manager; and
8. Insurance professional.

2. has been in the full-time business of his or her profession for at last three (3) years immediately prior to application;
3. has attended at least three (3) but no more than six (6) meetings as a Guest within the previous five (5) years prior to application;
4. has received two (2) endorsements from existing members; and,
5. has submitted a completed SBEPC Membership Application that has been reviewed and approved by the Board.

The annual membership fee is $300/year for the 2022-2023 year.

Resource Member

A Resource Member is an individual who:

1. possesses the requisite licensing or certification, knowledge and experience in his or her field that includes a substantial nexus with estate planning or administration;
2. has attended at least three (3) but no more than six (6) meetings as a Guest within the previous five (5) years prior to application;
3. has received two (2) endorsements from existing members; and,
4. has submitted a completed SBEPC Membership Application that has been reviewed and approved by the Board.

The annual membership fee is $300/year for the 2022-2023 year.

Total Resource Members shall be capped not to exceed one-third (1/3) of the total membership as measured at the time of application.

A maximum of three (3) resource members may serve on the Board at any one time.

Emeritus Member

An Emeritus Member is an individual:

1. who must have been a former member of the SBEPC for at least ten (10) years immediately preceding application for emeritus membership;
2. who must be retired, defined as working a yearly average of fifteen (15) hours or less per week in any field or profession; and,
3. whose eligibility must be reviewed and approved by the Board. 

The Emeritus membership fee is set to cost (currently $30 per meeting).

A maximum of three (3) Emeritus Members may serve on the Board at any one time.

Associate Member

An Associate Member is an individual who must qualify to be a General Member in all other ways but for lack of three (3) years of full-time experience in his or her profession immediately prior to the time of application.

The annual membership fee is $225/year for the 2022-2023 year.

An Associate Member shall not serve on the Board.

Guests

Any individual may attend the General Breakfast Meeting as a Guest for a fee of $60 per meeting and is prohibited from attending Focus Groups. Guest attendance is capped at no more than six (6) meetings within any five (5) year time period. If the Guest becomes of member during the course of a SBEPC year (September to June), his or her guest fees paid that SBEPC year are credited toward to his or her annual membership fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may bar any guest at any time for any reason or no reason whatsoever in its absolute discretion.

President and Board Membership Requirements

A maximum of three Resource or Emeritus Members may serve on the Board of Directors at any one time with the remainder of the Board comprised of General Members.  Associate Members are not eligible to serve on the Board. The President of the SBEPC must be a General Member.