Complete Course Curriculum

20 hours of comprehensive training covering everything you need to launch a successful estate planning practice — from technical skills to getting your first paying client.

Training Format

How the training works

📅

2 Weeks

20 hours total training spread over 2 weeks (2 hours per day, Monday-Friday)

👥

Small Groups

Maximum 8 people per session for quality instruction and individual attention

💻

Online

Live online sessions via Zoom — attend from anywhere in the UK

💡 Training Schedule

Monday-Friday, 2 hours per day for 2 weeks. Sessions typically run in the evenings (7-9pm) to accommodate people working full-time. You'll have weekends to review materials and practice.

Week-by-Week Curriculum

What you'll learn each week

Week 1: Foundation & Core Skills

Building your technical foundation in will writing and LPAs

📘 Day 1: Introduction & Simple Wills

  • Why estate planning matters (statistics, aging population)
  • Understanding the Wills Act 1837
  • What makes a will legally valid
  • Execution and witnessing requirements
  • Single wills vs mirror wills
  • Client consultation basics
Practical Exercise: Review sample simple wills, identify components

📘 Day 2: Mirror Wills & Guardianship

  • Mirror wills for couples (benefits and considerations)
  • Appointing executors (single vs multiple, professional executors)
  • Appointing guardians for minor children
  • Residuary beneficiaries and pecuniary legacies
  • Common client scenarios and questions
  • Conflict of interest considerations
Practical Exercise: Draft a basic mirror will for a married couple with children

📘 Day 3: Lasting Powers of Attorney (Property & Finance)

  • What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?
  • Property & Financial Affairs LPA explained
  • Choosing attorneys (family, friends, professionals)
  • Joint vs joint and several appointments
  • When LPAs can and cannot be used
  • Registration process with Office of Public Guardian (OPG)
  • Common mistakes to avoid
Practical Exercise: Complete a Property & Finance LPA form using Willo software

📘 Day 4: Lasting Powers of Attorney (Health & Welfare)

  • Health & Welfare LPA explained
  • End-of-life decisions and medical treatment
  • Life-sustaining treatment provisions
  • Capacity assessments (when is someone capable?)
  • Differences between Property & Finance vs Health & Welfare LPAs
  • Sensitive conversations with clients about end-of-life
Practical Exercise: Role-play: Explaining LPAs to elderly clients

📘 Day 5: Inheritance Tax Basics

  • Understanding Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds
  • Nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band
  • Spouse exemption and transferable nil-rate bands
  • 7-year rule for gifts
  • When to refer to specialist tax advisors
  • How to discuss IHT with clients without legal advice
Practical Exercise: Calculate IHT liability for sample estates

Week 2: Advanced Planning & Business Launch

Trusts, probate, business setup, and getting your first client

📗 Day 6: Trust Planning

  • What are trusts and why use them?
  • Property protection trusts (protecting assets from care fees)
  • Discretionary trusts (flexibility for beneficiaries)
  • Life interest trusts (income vs capital)
  • When to recommend trusts vs simple wills
  • Tax implications of trusts
  • Common trust scenarios
Practical Exercise: Draft a will with a property protection trust

📗 Day 7: Probate & Estate Administration

  • What is probate? (Grant of Representation)
  • When probate is required (and when it isn't)
  • Grant of Probate vs Letters of Administration
  • Executor responsibilities and timeline
  • Estate administration process overview
  • When to offer probate services vs refer out
  • Supporting bereaved families sensitively
Practical Exercise: Walk through a probate case study from death to distribution

📗 Day 8: Business Setup & Compliance

  • Choosing business structure (sole trader vs limited company)
  • Professional indemnity insurance (what you need, how much)
  • Terms of business and engagement letters
  • Data protection and GDPR compliance
  • Record keeping and file management
  • Money laundering regulations (what you must do)
  • When to register with regulatory bodies
Practical Exercise: Review sample terms of business, customize for your practice

📗 Day 9: Pricing & Client Acquisition

  • Pricing strategies (competitive analysis, what to charge)
  • Package pricing vs itemized pricing
  • Marketing channels that work (networking, referrals, online)
  • Building referral partnerships (solicitors, IFAs, funeral directors)
  • Your website and online presence
  • Local networking and community engagement
  • Client consultation process (from inquiry to signed client)
Practical Exercise: Create your pricing structure and first marketing plan

📗 Day 10: Sales Skills & Going Live

  • Conducting effective client consultations
  • Asking the right questions (fact-finding)
  • Presenting your services and pricing confidently
  • Handling objections ("I'll think about it", "That's expensive")
  • Closing the sale ethically and professionally
  • Post-consultation follow-up process
  • Your action plan for getting your first 3 clients
Practical Exercise: Role-play: Full client consultation from greeting to close

What's Included in Your £995 Investment

Everything you need to launch your estate planning practice

📚 All Training Materials

  • Comprehensive course workbook
  • Will templates (simple, mirror, trust wills)
  • LPA completion guides
  • Client questionnaires
  • Fact-finding forms
  • Reference guides

💻 Willo Software (2 Months Free)

  • Professional will drafting software
  • LPA form generation
  • Client management system
  • Document storage
  • E-signature capabilities
  • Worth £300-600

📣 Marketing Materials

  • Website copy templates
  • Business card designs
  • Brochure templates
  • Email templates
  • Social media post ideas
  • Referral partner scripts

⚖️ Legal Documents

  • Terms of business template
  • Engagement letter template
  • Client agreement forms
  • GDPR-compliant privacy notice
  • Data processing templates
  • Professional guidance notes

🎯 First Client Support

  • Referral network connections
  • Marketing material review
  • First consultation coaching
  • Proven lead generation strategies
  • Hands-on support to land client #1
  • This alone is invaluable

🤝 Ongoing Support

  • Access to alumni community
  • Monthly Q&A sessions
  • Email support for complex cases
  • Industry updates and changes
  • Continued professional development
  • You're never alone

Return on Investment

How quickly can you recoup your £995 investment?

Typical UK Pricing

Single Will £150-250
Mirror Wills (Couple) £250-400
Single LPA £150-250
Full Package (Wills + LPAs) £600-1,000
Premium Estate Plan (Trusts) £1,200-2,500

Break-Even Analysis

At average pricing of £450 per client (mirror wills + LPAs):

3 Clients

That's all you need to cover your £995 investment

After that? Every client is pure profit (minus software costs, insurance, and your time)

💡 Reality Check

Most new estate planners take 3-6 months to get their first 3 clients. Some faster, some slower. We help you accelerate this with our first client support, but success requires your effort in marketing and networking.

Ready to Start Your Training?

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss the curriculum, ask questions, and see if this training is right for you.

📞 Book Your Free Consultation:

Or email us at info@becomeanestateplanner.co.uk

Training groups run monthly • Limited to 8 people per session