Director, Estate Planning

EP Wealth Advisors (EPWA) is a wealth management advisory firm with over $32.6 billion as of March 31, 2025, serving predominately high net worth individuals. EPWA fosters an inclusive environment that offers opportunities for our associates to learn, grow and enhance their skills to take on new challenges to progress in their professional careers.

Our office in Seattle, WA is hiring for a Director, Estate Planning.  The Director will be responsible for proactively engaging in firm-wide initiatives for Estate Planning and Trust Services. The Director is in charge of leading a collaborative team with a client-first mindset, ensuring high-quality, responsive support for advisors in a fast-paced environment. This role demands confident, strategic thinking and the ability to provide guidance while managing trustee relationships and estate planning needs across a nationwide client base. You will join a team of dynamic, collaborative, and client-focused professionals who are focused on delivering on our founding core values: Integrity, Entrepreneurial, Inclusion and Connection.

Salary Range: $200,000 - $220,000 plus annual bonus

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develop and oversee estate planning and trust services strategies in alignment with company goals
• Collaborate with executive leadership to integrate estate planning and trust services
• Rapidly analyze data, documentation, or requests to quickly determine appropriate steps
• Identify and implement systems for innovation, scale and efficiency
• Align with Managing Director of Family Office Services to address client goals
• Assist in the development and structure of the department
• Lead, mentor, and manage team of professionals and staff
• Oversee workload management and staffing needs
• Delegate effectively across team to ensure timely communication and accurate execution
• Provide direction and mentoring to team members while maintaining appropriate oversight
• Conduct internal meetings and collaborate cross-functionally to align initiatives
• Serve as a SME in foundational estate planning, advanced estate planning, estate & gift tax planning
• Work directly with other WMS directors to coordinate comprehensive estate planning initiatives
• Coordinate with the Financial Planning Director to illustrate estate planning concepts in our financial planning software as part of the financial plan delivery
• Review of trust and estate documents for advisory purposes
• Provide advisory services to clients on estate planning, estate tax planning, wealth succession planning and charitable planning
• Facilitate the preparation of estate planning documents by outside counsel
• Identify and maintain strategic partners to assist in the preparation of foundational estate planning documents and advanced estate planning documents
• Maintain relationship with third-party corporate trustee service and its trust officers/administrators
• Provide guidance on trust planning options, trustee selection, and fiduciary risk mitigation
• Act as a knowledge resource for advisors, helping them identify appropriate trustee solutions
• Review internal workflows involving trustee appointments to ensure appropriate oversight
• Maintain documentation, templates and procedures that protect firm and clients
• Oversee Action Plans and validate client-facing disclaimers/disclosures
• Demonstrate maturity and discretion in all interpersonal communication
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures and perform business functions with focus on consistency, quality and compliance
• Partner with advisors and their teams to integrate estate planning into financial plans
• Collaborate with marketing regarding educational content (including overseeing firm intranet)
• Provide training, tools, guidance to advisors on estate planning and trust services matters
• Support business development in prospect meetings
• Publicly represent the department through participation in firm marketing initiatives, including client and prospective client seminars, writing articles and blogs, and other activities
• Perform additional functions, duties and specific tasks of a similar nature as necessary in order to achieve the firm’s business development and client retention objectives.

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience counseling clients on complex or taxable estate planning
• Minimum 3 years of experience in trust administration (probate or trust litigation experience preferred)
• Advanced degree required to meet certification compliant to a State Bar and certified by an organization accredited by the State Bar
• Proficient knowledge in estate planning tools and working knowledge of tax law
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office and CRM software
• Efficient and effective written and oral communication skills
• Experience and willingness to participate in public speaking events, prospect meetings
• Extremely detail oriented, exceptional follow through, reliable
• Ability to maintain positive attitude, self-motivated, ethically sound judgement
• Excellent client relations skills with ability to apply problem solving skills, and communicate solutions to clients
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work well with all levels of the firm and within a collaborative environment
• Ability to work independently and exercise discretion without direct and immediate supervision

What We Offer

We offer a highly competitive suite of holistic benefits designed to help our team members balance their personal and professional life commitments. These include options designed to encourage employee's health, happiness, and financial well-being.

• 11 Paid Holidays + 2 floating holidays
• 3 Weeks (PTO)
• Paid Parental Leave 
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Highly subsidized Health, Dental, and Vision Plans
• 401k Retirement Account with company match contributions
• Free Mental Health services, Life Insurance, Long & Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Financial Education
• Employee Educational Expense Reimbursement
• Employee Charitable Donations
• Employee Referral Incentives
• Employee Team Building Activities
• Employee Assistance Program

#LI-Hybrid

EPWA is an equal opportunity employer. Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination because of race, creed, color, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.