Best Foundation

When we think about mental capacity, this can sometimes be confused with the concept of mental health. It's is important to be aware that there is a distinction that is important to understand. Mental health refers more to a person's emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health and mental capacity are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things. Mental health is about our overall emotional and psychological well-being. It influences how we handle stress, connect with others, and navigate challenges in life. It can change over time due to factors like stress or trauma. Mental capacity, however, is all about decision-making. It’s the ability to understand, retain, and process information to make a specific decision at a particular time. This can be affected by things like illness, injury, or aging. For estate planners, this distinction is essential to ensure clients’ wishes are respected while safeguarding their interests. How do you navigate conversations around mental capacity with clients who may be struggling with their mental health? #BeInspired #MentalCapacity #EstatePlanning

?? Our Client Guarantee: Peace of Mind for You and Your Clients ?? We’re so confident in our members’ skills and professionalism that, in the rare instance a client isn’t fully satisfied with their service, we step in to make things right. Our Client Guarantee is designed to bring quick, effective solutions, including: ? Free arbitration ? Matching clients with another qualified member ? Full or partial refunds where necessary This Guarantee offers an extra layer of assurance for both our members and their clients, so everyone can focus on outstanding results. Learn more about how we’re setting a new standard in client satisfaction ?? https://lnkd.in/e9Vjw5d6 #BeInspired #JoinTheRevolution #EstatePlanning

Mental capacity issues are not limited to for older adults; they are increasingly affecting children and young people. A 2023 survey revealed that 20% of children aged 8 to 16 have a probable mental disorder, up from 12% in 2017. For young adults aged 17 to 19, the number jumped from 10% in 2017 to 23% in 2023. As estate planners, it’s essential to recognize the implications of diminished mental capacity across all age groups. Understanding these issues can help us better serve clients and their families, ensuring appropriate planning and decision-making strategies are in place. By prioritizing mental capacity considerations, we can facilitate discussions that prepare families for potential challenges, safeguarding their legacy for future generations. ?? What strategies do you find effective in addressing mental capacity concerns during estate planning? #BeTheBest #MentalCapacity #EstatePlanning

What an inspiring day! Yesterday, members of the BEST Advisory Board had the pleasure of meeting with IPW - Institute of Professional Willwriters and The Society of Will Writers for our annual gathering. The chance to collaborate across our organizations is invaluable, allowing us to exchange insights on industry developments, explore innovative ideas, and strengthen our shared commitment to excellence in Will-writing and estate planning. With promising initiatives on the horizon, we’re eager to see what the coming months will bring. Exciting times ahead for our profession! #BeInspired #CollaborationIsKey #EstatePlanning Anthony Belcher Charlotte Ponder TEP Danielle Griffiths Nick Ash TEP Christopher Fooks Chris Whittington

BEST was created to be a professional membership body that represented all areas of the Estate Planning industry. Our mission can be summarised in three simple points: ?? PROMOTE We want to raise industry standards by insisting that our members always adhere to best practice and by setting a bar for entry. ?? GROW We aim to grow the largest community of the best professionals that the industry has to offer. We support all of our members in any way that we can alongside our ongoing campaigns to change the industry for the better. ???? EDUCATE We are passionate about educating the public on all aspects of estate planning and want to bring the younger generation into the sector by raising awareness of the rewarding careers that it has to offer. Find out more about us by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/e6hje54x #BeInspired #JoinTheRevolution #EstatePlanning

?? Collaboration is Key ?? At BEST Foundation, we believe that meaningful collaboration is essential to creating impactful solutions and advancing our shared goals. This week, we're thrilled to be meeting with representatives from The Society of Will Writers and the IPW - Institute of Professional Willwriters to explore ways we can support and strengthen our industry. By uniting our expertise and resources, we can better serve our communities and drive positive change. We're excited to discuss new initiatives and opportunities for growth, always keeping in mind that our shared vision is best achieved when we work together. #BeInspired #Collaboration #EstatePlanning

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a crucial law that protects vulnerable individuals over the age of 16, ensuring their rights around decision-making are upheld. As professionals, understanding the 5 main principles of the Act is key to providing the best support for our clients. Here’s a quick refresher: ??Presumption of Capacity: Always assume a person can make their own decisions until proven otherwise. ??Support to Make Decisions: Explore every possible way to help a person make their own decision. ??Right to Make Unwise Decisions: A person is not deemed to lack capacity simply because their decision may seem unwise or unexpected. ??Best Interests: If you need to make a decision on behalf of someone, it must always be in their best interests. ??Least Restrictive Option: Any actions taken on behalf of someone who lacks capacity should restrict their rights and freedoms as little as possible. ?? As estate planners, we often navigate delicate situations where a client’s ability to make decisions comes into question. How do you apply these principles in your client interactions? #BeTheBest #MentalCapacity #EstatePlanning

There is still time to register to join Pippa Shepherd and Jessica Steinschaden from arken.legal for our next CPD webinar on Tuesday 19th November. ?? We'll dive into a detailed case study on ‘Assessing and Navigating Mental Capacity for Mrs. Brown’. This session is perfect for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of the key steps in ensuring accurate mental capacity assessments when working with clients. Secure your spot now through the link below! And if you're a BEST Foundation member, remember to use your discount code to attend for FREE! ?? ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/dVqBuys2 #BeInspired #MentalCapacity #EstatePlanning

The BEST Foundation is The British Estates Succession and Trust Practitioners Foundation, a non-profit organisation of forward-thinking Estate Planning professionals and firms. Not only do we offer the best support for our members, but the public can also be assured that any BEST member is a trusted professional who is reliable, experienced and suitably qualified to take their instructions. We have members from a host of different estate planning backgrounds, from estate planners to accountants and solicitors to genealogists. All of our members must conform with our Code of Conduct and undergo a series of checks before joining us. We want to be at the forefront of modernising the ‘quill and ink’ culture in the industry and actively encourage the incorporation of the latest technology. Apply for membership today ?? https://lnkd.in/eD22-Rcn #BeInspired #JoinTheRevolutuon #EstatePlanning

Have you secured your tickets yet for this year's Nellie Con conference? The event, taking place on 14th November at Delta Hotels by Marriott in Peterborough is not to be missed! Nellie Con is Socio-Legal Conference taking place designed for social workers, professional deputies, attorneys, solicitors and legal professionals in the private client and litigation sectors, this unique event offers a diverse lineup of speakers from both the social care and legal sectors. ??Costs Recovery with the Court of Protection ??Life Expectancy Reports ??Contentious Testamentary Capacity Matters ??Importance of Communications in Mental Capacity Assessments ??Personal Branding ??Importance of registration for Will writers Use the QR code to secure your spot today! #NellieCon2024 #EstatePlanning Nellie Supports