About Us

The Conejo Valley Estate Planning Council is an incorporated California Mutual Benefit Corporation incorporated on September 27, 2019. The general purpose of the Council is to advance the education of estate planning professionals and the publication of estate planning information to the general public. The specific purpose is to assist its members in keeping current on estate planning laws and techniques and in providing the highest level of estate planning service to the public, to inform the public as to the need for and benefits of professional estate planning, and to develop a closer understanding and cooperation among the members of different groups of estate planning professionals. This association is not organized for the private gain of any person or entity, and no part of the net earnings of this Organization shall inure to the benefit of any member. 

Membership in the Conejo Valley Estate Planning Council shall be available to individuals licensed or otherwise certified by a licensing or certifying authority to practice in any of the following nine (9) Membership Categories and residing in or doing business in one or more of the Counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, or Los Angeles:

  1. Certified Public Accountants (CPA);
  2. Attorneys;
  3. Fiduciaries: officers of bank and trust companies; CA Licensed Professional Fiduciaries; Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) devoting at least 50% of their professional time to estate planning;
  4. Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU)/ Life Insurance;
  5. Wealth manager/ financial planner: Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) devoting at least 30% of their professional time to estate planning matters and recognized by members of their profession as being specialists in estate planning;
  6. Philanthropic Advisors (CAP or CSPG) who are actively employed as a planned giving professional by a non-profit organization; 
  7. Associate Members ("AM") - anyone who has not met the 2 year minimum experience requirement but has one-year minimum experience and meets the requirements for any of the Membership Categories (AM's are not eligible to vote, sponsor new members or be a member of the Board of Directors or an Officer);
  8. Emeritus Members - anyone who has been a member in good standing for 5 or more consecutive years and has retired from normal professional activity may be elected to Emerictus Membership in the Council by the Board of Directors (Emeritus Members have no voting rights and shall pay dues at an annual reduced rate as determined by the Board from time to time and shall be required to pay for meals at guest rates); and
  9. Member-at Large - admitted at the discretion of the Board of Directors and meeting one of the requirements above. Admission may be based on demonstrated qualifications, including the type and length of employment related to the estate planning process, level of formal education, and activities in the estate planning arena (memberships; speaking/ teaching engagements; published articles; general stature in the business and/or acaemic community.)

All members are licensed and in good standing with their discipline’s governing organization. Further, all members shall be actively practicing estate planning in their particular professional for at least two (2) years and exhibit superior knowledge of estate planning or be otherwise recognized by members of their profession as specialists in estate planning matters.  Any individual applying for membership in the Council must be sponsored by two (2) current members in good standing; be approved for membership by the Board and pay the applicable membership dues as determined by the Board each year. No one membership category shall exceed fifty percent (50%), except for the Member-at-Large category, which shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the number of members admitted to the Council in any one Membership Category.

The Council holds five (5) educational program meetings per year (in addition to the Through the Looking Glass all-day estate planning symposium) with continuing education credit for attorneys, CPA's, CFP® designees and AEP® designees.

The Mission of the Conejo Valley Estate Planning Council is to promote the highest quality estate planning services – by developing and improving the capabilities of Council members, fostering cooperation among its professional disciplines, and familiarizing the public with estate planning matters.

If you meet the criteria listed above and are interested in joining the Council or attending an upcoming meeting as a guest, contact us!