The Estate Planner’s Podcast
This is a podcast series for Will Writers, Estate Planners and Solicitors that are interested in learning the tips, tools and technicalities to best help their clients. It covers all aspects to the Estate Planners functions including the client appointment, follow-up, drafting, attestations, registrations and concluding the service. It will explore key cases and look at client case studies for wills, trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and probate. The aim of the podcast is to help practitioners to enhance their knowledge and skills so that the vitally important services we provide can be delivered to the highest standards for the general public. The series is presented by Antony Brinkman, who started as a will writer in 1999. In addition to running his own company, he is a tutor at the College of Will Writing and currently holds the position of chair of the Professional Standards Board for the Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practitioners.
Listen on:
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
You have probably heard the proverb "For Want of a Nail", that illustrates the importance of dealing with the little details that can otherwise snowball into major situations. In this episode, we look at how that principle applies to Estate Planning.
Tuesday May 05, 2026
Tuesday May 05, 2026
This episode looks at what happens when there is not enough money in the estate to pay out the gifts in the Will. Understanding this can help us structure the Will in such a way that the client's wishes are achieved.
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Probably our most imporant skill that we employ with clients is the skill of communication. One element of that skill is the acknowledgment of a client's answer to a question. This episode looks at some of the mistakes that can be made with acknowledgements.
Saturday Apr 04, 2026
Saturday Apr 04, 2026
What is the extent of our duty of care? Is that duty only to the client - the testator of the will - or does it extend to the beneficiaries of the Will that we write? We take a look at two relevant cases in this episode to answer the question.
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
This episode is a little different to most others. It follows the progress of a journey towards retirement for one Estate Planner, and the problems and solutions that were encountered along the way. Sadly, the lady in question was diagnosed with a terminal condition during the process and passed away quite suddenly. I hope the lessons learned from her story can help you as your own story is written.
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
In this episode, we take a look at the function of proactively reaching out to clients to review their circumstances. We examine a few tips on how to do this successfully and we see what impact client reviews can have on the ultimate value of the business.
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
This episode looks at this unusual case which is a rare instance of a claim being brought on the grounds of a lack of knowledge and approval of the contents of the will, without any overlapping claims of lack of capacity or undue influence.
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
This episode looks at how the value of a business or an individual's job position can be increased by implementing policies.
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
In this episode, we will explore an idea that might be able to help us increase the value of our client's estates. This would be value in terms of both financial worth and the sentimental value to the future family.
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
This episode takes a look at five clauses that can be used to tailor LPAs, including: replacement attorney timing and ordering, maintenance clause, gift barring and access to the will.
The Estate Planners Podcast
Whether you have been an estate planner for two weeks or two decades, if you are interested in learning and improving your knowledge and skills, then I invite you to listen.
The majority of estate planners believe in what they do - that the services we bring to market have genuine value, often life-changing value, and that this is therefore far more than 'just a job'.
When a dear friend of mine passed away in 2009 at the age of 42, his several businesses, his family and the charities that he was actively involved in all suffered heavily. Whilst everyone that knew him felt the loss, so much of the suffering could have been avoided if he had made a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Since that time, I have dedicated myself to doing all I can to help estate planners achieve great results for their clients so that the same unnecessary upset is avoided for others.
I happily share my observations, research and developments with you in this podcast, and I welcome your kind attention.
- Antony Brinkman