WELCOME FROM THE TWIN CITIES ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL!
Our website is intended to help you find qualified professionals, informative articles, and other resources related to estate planning in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please review our calendar of events and the members section to become familiar with our organization.
Inquiries from individuals outside the Twin Cities area are encouraged. We invite you to submit any questions or suggestions to admin@twincitiesepc.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
2025-2026 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
July 17, 2025
Dear Current and Former Members and Guests of the Council:
We are excited that our 2025-2026 season starts again in September!
We will continue to hold our regular monthly breakfast meetings at Midland Hills Country Club, as it is conveniently located for many of our members. A majority of our meetings will be held over breakfast on the fourth Tuesday of each month. We will kick off the program season on September 23rd with the panel session “Ethical and Practical Considerations When Working with Incapacitated Clients,” featuring presenter Aram Desteian, along with additional experts, moderated by Casey Marshall.
On October 28th, we will have a luncheon in the private room at Pizza Lucé in Eden Prairie. Enjoy a hosted lunch and beverages along with great conversation. This event is free for members and $55 for guests. Revere Auctions is generously sponsoring the event, providing a complimentary lunch as a benefit for chapter members.
On November 20th, we will have our annual tax update, presented by member and board member Gregory C. Carlson, CFP®, MBT, CDFA™, RICP®, CM&AA, CPA/PFS. Between the new tax laws and the tariffs, he will have a lot to cover.
Like last year, we will hold our January Economic Outlook and Market update virtually, as well as the annual Heckerling Review in February remotely, to attract a wider audience. Last year's winter was mild, which, of course, might mean a more brutal winter this year. Not traveling on the early morning roads during the deep freeze months is our gift to you.
And finally, we plan to host two social events this year: a Winter Social on Thursday, February 12th at Clubhouse Edina and a Spring Social on May 26th. We want our members to have the opportunity to participate in more social events that facilitate networking, in addition to our educational programming.
Here is your reminder that “first-time guests” are complimentary! As always, feel free to bring guests! The personal invite is the best way to inform non-members about our group, and a complimentary program is a nice way to introduce them to the members.
New this year, the chapter is offering the opportunity to partner with us as an annual sponsor for $1,200, which includes benefits at all events, or as a single event sponsor for $500. Partnering with us is a great way to elevate your member experience! Click to read more on Partner Benefits. Monroe Moxness Berg has already signed up as an annual partner.
In a significant effort to grow the chapter, Shannon Law, Membership Director, mailed physical mailers, also known as “snail mail,” to spread the word over the summer. You can expect to see some new faces as a result of the initiative. We are currently emailing invitations to renew membership for the upcoming season.
Like everything else, costs have continued to increase. New this year, we are offering partner packages in addition to collecting member dues, ensuring the chapter remains financially stable. Costs at Midland Hills have also increased, as have costs across the board since the pandemic. The annual membership cost is $125, with the membership year commencing in September. As long as we have sponsors, the networking socials will be free to members. In addition to the annual member fee, breakfast meeting fees for members are $30. For non-members wishing to attend after their first complimentary meeting, a cost of $55 per event applies. Join as a member and save!
The board would like to extend an invitation to members who are interested in becoming more involved to join the board, start a committee, join the membership or programs committee, or assist with finding partners. Help shape the direction of the chapter and your member experience.
Thank you for being part of our group! We appreciate your continued interest and support and remain committed to meeting your needs. As always, we welcome your input on programs/topics, meeting formats, or any other aspect that is important to your experience.
If you have any questions, please email Jessica Hawthorne, Chapter Administrator, at admin@twincitiesepc.org, and she will be happy to assist you in navigating the membership and sponsorship details. She is here to help you and your guests throughout the process.
If you are a past member or guest, we invite you to consider joining or rejoining. We would love to connect at a breakfast meeting or over cocktails!
Best Regards,
Jonathan Scharlau
TCEPC President
Twin Cities Estate Planning Council is affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and joining can fulfill the requirement of belonging to an affiliated local estate planning council to become an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designee. Please contact the national office at 866-226-2224 to learn more about the Accredited Estate Planner® designation.
