May through July is a busy time for parents. Many of your clients may be celebrating their children’s academic achievements, and even getting ready to send them off to college. During this hectic and emotionally tumultuous time, parents may be all-consumed with helping prepare their soon-to-be college student for the next phase, causing them to overlook important estate planning matters.

This is where you—the estate planner—come in. Now, is the perfect time to help remind your clients that there are a few important things they should add to their to-do list as they get ready to send their kids off to college.

When it comes to practicing law, mistakes can and do happen. Despite our best efforts, they can sneak into even the most thoroughly reviewed document or estate plan. Most clients can forgive the occasional error–attorneys are human after all. However, when it comes to big mistakes, especially those that cost clients money or don't meet their estate plan goals, can result in ruined client relationships and even negatively impact your practice's integrity.

Good news for the world of philanthropy: charitable giving is not dead. With the recent changes to the tax code, it’s an appropriate time for estate planning professionals to revisit charitable giving with a view toward identifying these new opportunities and assessing how a charitable giving plan works within the broader estate planning strategy.