top of page

HOW STEP CAN HELP
NEW ZEALANDERS

Family-100.jpg
What is STEP?

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. We work to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promote education and high professional standards among our members.

How can I find a STEP member?

You can use our Member Search to find a STEP member near you, or to check whether your advisor is a STEP member. You can find a Member via our Online Directory.

What do STEP members do?

As specialists in inheritance and succession planning, STEP members draft wills and trusts, administer estates, act as trustees and advise families on how best to structure their finances to ensure compliance and preserve their assets for future generations. Some examples of what STEP members may advise on are:

  • providing for someone following their partner’s death, while protecting the interests of their children 

  • ensuring elderly or vulnerable relatives are cared for and supported 

  • helping families with interests spread across the world to be compliant with the laws and tax rules of different countries 

  • ensuring that a family business will pass safely from one generation to another 

  • helping clients to support charitable causes in an effective way.

 

What is a 'TEP'?

'TEP' stands for Trust and Estate Practitioner, and is the designation given to full members of STEP. To become a TEP, practitioners must have a combination of specialist qualifications and experience, including significant involvement at a specialist level with inheritance and succession planning.

​

Affiliate and Associate members

There are other categories of STEP membership, including Affiliate (entry-level) and Associate (mid-level) members. These members are either working towards gaining the requisite qualifications and/or experience for full STEP membership (TEP), or have chosen to remain at Affiliate or Associate level. All members, including Affiliate and Associate members, must adhere to STEP's Code of Professional Conduct.

​

If you are unsure of the level of membership of a practitioner, you can search for them on the Member Directory.

 
Why use a TEP?

Choosing a professional to help you to deal with such important and often sensitive issues can be difficult. Many aspects of planning are non-regulated, meaning anyone can write a will, for example, regardless of training or expertise. With a TEP, you’re in safe hands.

 

Expertise: TEPs are recognised experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience. By joining STEP and maintaining their membership they have also shown significant commitment to their continued professional development in this specialist area.

 

Integrity: TEPs are subject to an extensive Code of Professional Conduct (PDF 24KB), requiring them at all times to act with integrity and in a manner that inspires the confidence, respect and trust of their clients and of the wider community. In England & Wales, STEP members who draft wills are also bound by STEP's Will Code. These professional standards provide you with a clear understanding of what to expect from a TEP, and importantly if you feel one of our members is not acting in accordance with these standards, you can make a complaint under our Disciplinary Process.

 

Knowledge: TEPs are required to maintain and develop the knowledge and skills relevant to their role as a condition of their continued membership. This means TEPs will always be up to date with the latest legal, technical and regulatory developments that may affect you and your situation.

 

Connections: TEPs have access to a global network of 20,000 advisors and professionals, enabling them to share knowledge and expertise across professional and geographic boundaries and to offer a joined-up service that can really add value to you as a client.

bottom of page