--- title: How To Craft a Process that Actually Completes Estate Plans for Clients (w/ Daniel Kopp, Wise Stewardship Financial Planning) | EncorEstate Plans Blog description: Daniel Kopp (CFP and Founder at Wise Stewardship Financial Planning) shares how to craft an estate planning process that actually gets estate plans completed and funded for your clients. image: https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/Daniel-Kopp-EncorEstate-Plans-Blog-Post-Craft-Process-Featured-Image.png --- [![EncorEstate Plans](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/encore-blog/images/logo.svg)](https://www.encorestateplans.com) [About](https://www.encorestateplans.com/about) [Product](https://www.encorestateplans.com/#features) [Pricing](https://www.encorestateplans.com/pricing) Resources [ROI Calculator Calculate your estate planning savings](https://www.encorestateplans.com/roi-calculator) [Customer Stories See how advisors succeed with Encore](https://www.encorestateplans.com/customer-stories) [Contact Sales Get in touch with our team](https://www.encorestateplans.com/contact) [Podcast Listen to estate planning insights](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZTIWDej8FgPK6bojU9K4TKZBhMv3R1Si) [Blog Latest articles and news](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/) [Sign In](https://app.encorestateplans.com/login) [Book a Conversation](https://encorestateplans.com/demo) Menu [About](https://www.encorestateplans.com/about) [Product](https://www.encorestateplans.com/#features) [Pricing](https://www.encorestateplans.com/pricing) Resources [ROI Calculator](https://www.encorestateplans.com/roi-calculator) [Customer Stories](https://www.encorestateplans.com/customer-stories) [Contact Sales](https://www.encorestateplans.com/contact) [Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZTIWDej8FgPK6bojU9K4TKZBhMv3R1Si) [Blog](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/) [Book a Conversation](https://encorestateplans.com/demo) [Get Your Free Account](https://app.encorestateplans.com/signup) [Already have an account? Sign in](https://app.encorestateplans.com/login) [Podcast](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/tag/podcast) # How To Craft a Process that Actually Completes Estate Plans for Clients (w/ Daniel Kopp, Wise Stewardship Financial Planning) Ian Stuart August 02, 2024 8 min read ## Contents In this article: - [Watch the Interview](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#Watch-the-Interview) - [Crafting an Estate Planning Process that Actually Completes Estate Plans](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#Crafting-Estate-Planning-Process) - [Measure Your Estate Plan Implementation Rate and Set a Goal for Improving It](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#Measure-Your-Estate-Plan-Implementation-Rate) - [Create Your Process (Based On What's Working Well with Other Advisors)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#Create-Your-Process) - [How To Create Your Estate Planning Service Without Practicing Law](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#Estate-Planning-Without-Practicing-Law) - [End Your Clients' Estate Planning Procrastination with Encore](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/craft-estate-planning-process-that-actually-completes-estate-plans-for-clients#End-Estate-Planning-Procrastination-with-Encore) Daniel Kopp (Wise Stewardship Financial Planning) shares how to craft an estate planning process that actually gets estate plans completed and funded for your clients.   #### Watch the Interview Or listen to it on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IBE8GOk9KlJv9NvRRAcGA) or [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-advisors-guide-to-estate-planning/id1745400218)   #### Crafting an Estate Planning Process that Actually Completes Estate Plans In the past, Daniel would refer estate planning out to the partner attorneys he knew of (even that was a challenge given that he didn't know attorneys in all 50 states). And more often than not, he'd rarely hear back from the attorney and or his clients about estate planning. When he did hear back, clients would often cite the usual litany of excuses: - "It's too expensive." - "They sent me a fax. I don’t know what to do with it because I don’t have a fax machine.” > "I would do the handoff, and then the clients would never get it done right. That frustrated me as a process guy , especially given how important this is and that the objections were many." As someone who firmly believes that a well-done estate plan is a gift of love, and is dedicated to ensuring his clients are taken care of, Daniel is relentlessly focused on making sure the customer experience is top notch end-to-end. That's what today's issue is about. In our latest interview, Matt Morris (CEO of EncorEstate Plans) asked Daniel (CFP and Founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning) to learn how advisors can set up estate planning services without needing to refer it out, and create an estate planning process for their firm. Here are the takeaways: #### Measure Your Estate Plan Implementation Rate and Set a Goal for Improving It Start measuring this metric now if you haven't done so already (it might be low, but after all, what isn't measured cannot be improved). As a point of reference, Daniel had a 42% estate plan implementation rate when he first brought estate planning into his firm (i.e., he went the traditional route of referring clients to estate attorneys). From what we've heard from the advisors we work with, this rate is on par with what they've seen with their clients. After refining his process, Daniel improved his estate planning implementation rate from 42% to 85%! A good starting point for calculating your estate plan implementation rate is to look at: - The number of successfully funded estate plans divided by, - All of the clients whom you referred estate planning out to in the last 12 months.   #### Create Your Process (Based On What's Working Well with Other Advisors) Now that you have your estate plan implementation rate in mind, and determined the new rate you'd like to hit, it's time to map out how you'll get there. To do this, Daniel recommends coming up with a process and workflow, and consider [estate planning software that has a team of estate planners](https://www.encorestateplans.com/?utm_source=encoreblog&utm_content=estateplanningsoftware) backing you. Here's Daniel's process: 1. Make sure you educate yourself on UPL and emphasizing general education, not specific advice (note: Encore offers these training resources in both the platform + knowledge base). 2. Ask your clients, “Do you have an estate plan? Are you satisfied with it? Do we need to make an update?” 3. Leverage client education resources to build out custom slide decks and PDFs (get these [free client-facing plan questionnaires, email templates, and marketing resources](https://help.encorestateplans.com/en/collections/6477672-client-facing-resources?utm_source=encoreblog&utm_content=freeresources)). 4. Have clients sign a two-page extra update acknowledging:  ✅ You’re not an attorney. ✅ You’re not able to provide legal advice. ✅ Info spelling out what services they’ll be receiving as part of their estate plan. ✅ Pricing – you can: - Pay for the cost of creating an estate plan (like Daniel) - Pass the cost on to clients. - Pass the cost on + layer on the cost of your time. This process has been well-received by Daniel’s clients – he saw his estate plan implementation rate go from 42% to 85% (a 102% improvement!) Like [Tushar Kumar](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/the-advisors-guide-to-estate-planning-tushar-kumar-twin-peaks-wealth-advisors?utm_source=encoreblog&utm_content=danielkopptusharkumar), Daniel's frustration with how the traditional, broken method of referring out estate planning services led to poor customer experiences motivated him to blaze his own trail with partners like EncorEstate Plans.   #### How To Create Your Estate Planning Service Without Practicing Law From our interviews with 13+ advisors, here's a [How To guide for building up your estate planning offering for your firm without practicing law](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/start-estate-planning-practice?utm_source=encoreblog&utm_content=danielkopphowtoguide).   #### End Your Clients' Estate Planning Procrastination with Encore With pay-as-you-go pricing (yup, no subscription lock-ins, unless you want to subscribe), we'll help your clients complete their estate plans (and fund it, too, if they want revocable living trusts). Whether you need Estate Plan Review, State-specific Document Creation, or Deed Preparation + Filing, we have everything you need to make sure your estate plan completion rate is as high as Daniel's.   #### Catch the Next Episode Be the first to listen to our [latest episode](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/tag/podcast?utm_source=encoreblog&utm_content=danielkopplatestepisode) when it drops! Or, binge listen to all of them.   Ian Stuart ### Book a Conversation See how EncorEstate can help your firm add estate planning services. [Schedule a Demo](https://encorestateplans.com/demo) ### Stay Updated Get the latest estate planning insights delivered to your inbox. Subscribe ## Keep Learning [![Why Eric Negron and Forefront chose EncorEstate Plans for their clients' estate planning needs](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/Eric%20Negron%20Forefront%20Encore%20Case%20Study%20Featured%20Image.jpg)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-uncover-more-assets-aum-estate-planning-eric-negron) Podcast ### [How to Uncover $40M in AUM through Estate Planning (w/ Eric Negron of Forefront Wealth Advisors)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-uncover-more-assets-aum-estate-planning-eric-negron) ![](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/Encore-Brand-Logo.png) Encore Team · May 02, 2025 [![](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202024-02-29%20at%204.33.48%20PM.png)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-get-more-revenue-estate-planning-tushar-kumar) Podcast ### [How to Generate $200,000 in Revenue from Estate Planning (w/ Tushar Kumar of Twin Peaks Advisors)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-get-more-revenue-estate-planning-tushar-kumar) Ian Stuart · May 02, 2025 [![Learn how to get referrals from estate planning and build another revenue stream for your advisory firm](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Get%20Referrals%20from%20Estate%20Planning.jpg)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-get-more-referrals-estate-planning-yohance-harrison) Podcast ### [How to Get Referrals from Estate Planning (w/ Yohance Harrison of Money Script Wealth Management)](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/how-to-get-more-referrals-estate-planning-yohance-harrison) Ian Stuart · May 02, 2025 [![EncorEstate Plans](https://blog.encorestateplans.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/encore-blog/images/logo-light.svg)](https://www.encorestateplans.com) Estate planning software and deed filing service for financial advisors. 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