Estate Planning Solutions

In-house Estate Planning Model

"Instead of being an occasional topic of conversation with your clients, estate planning should be central to each step of your financial advice.  This allows you to expand the scope of your services to your existing clients and further grow your client base."

The Topdocs In-house Estate Planning model works generally as follows (simple cases can involve less steps):

• Accountants, Financial Advisers and Legal Practitioners are trained by Topdocs in the areas of Estate Planning and Succession Planning.  This enables the advisers to become accredited Estate Planning advisers with Topdocs;

• The Advisers review their clients’ circumstances to identify Estate Planning and Succession Planning needs;
• The Advisers work with their clients to obtain the data required (Fact Finds) for their individual circumstances;
• The Fact Find data is sent to Topdocs lawyers for review and we contact the Adviser to discuss the options;
• A Topdocs lawyer conducts a joint videoconference with the Adviser and the client that is in the Adviser’s office;
• After agreement as to requirements and costs, Topdocs lawyers will review relevant documents, prepare the Estate Plan and relevant legal documentation such as Wills and Powers of Attorney;
• The Estate Plan and associated documentation are presented to the client by the Adviser, or, if necessary, an additional videoconference is conducted.

The Topdocs In-house Estate Planning solution is suitable for dealer groups, accountants and financial advisers, and legal practitioners.

For legal practitioners Topdocs provides a slightly different service mainly providing support and oversight for the practitioners.

The Topdocs In-house Estate Planning Model enables:

• The Adviser (Accountant and / or the Financial Planner) to always maintain control of the client process and remain as the hub of their clients’ affairs;
• The Adviser to be trained in the Estate and Succession Planning processes, developing their knowledge & skills.  Topdocs conducts a two day intensive and practical Estate Planning course accredited by the Financial Planning Association (FPA), Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) and a number of dealer groups. In addition Topdocs conducts ongoing workshops in this area:
• The Adviser to consider Estate Planning implications whenever accounting or financial planning advice is given;
• The Adviser to complete client interviews & fact find;
• The Adviser to derive an additional revenue stream, retain and increase their client base;
• The adviser to increase their ability to market risk and related products;
• The Adviser to receive legal, technical & marketing support, joint interviews (video conferencing), Estate Plan preparation and documentation from Topdocs;
• The Adviser’s clients to receive the best possible advice and service.

Topdocs Backup and Support

Topdocs provides ongoing backup and legal Estate Planning support such as:

• Preparation of Wills, Deeds and other legal documents or review of current legal documentation;
• Ongoing technical briefs for the advisor;
• Estate Planning templates for information gathering;
• Problem solving and legal technical solutions;
• Joint client interviews either in person or by the use of technology such as video conferencing or web conferencing;
• Provision of joint Estate Planning seminars with advisors for their clients.

Modern estate planning, conducted correctly, is a process of investigation, analysis, application of strategies, documentation and review carried out by a well trained adviser in association with appropriate team support from legal and other professional advisers.