Advocis and STEP Canada partnership brings new programing to the Advocis Learning Centre

TORONTO, March 8, 2016 -- A new partnership between Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP Canada) will make the first course of the Certificate in Estate and Trust Administration (CETA) program available from the Advocis Learning Centre.

The CETA1 course, Foundations of Estate and Trust Administration, is offered online in self-study format and introduces students to the legal systems that govern trusts and estates.

"Higher education continues to be a primary focus at Advocis. We are pleased that our new relationship with STEP Canada will give trust and estate professionals widespread access to this important base course," says Brenda Molnar, director of education at Advocis. "It is a wonderful complement to the CLU designation program, which explores complex components of wealth, tax, and estate planning in greater detail."

CETA1 offers an overview of the roles and responsibilities held by trustees, personal representatives, and substitute decision-makers. This course also examines the law of wills, the steps necessary for administering an estate, and the Canadian tax rules that apply on death and the taxation of trusts.

"We welcome Advocis members to the first course of our CETA program. STEP has been working hard to build this in-demand, specialized offering for estate and trust professionals. Upon completion, students have gained professional recognition and will have an enhanced ability to service clients in today's dynamic market," says Gillian Musk, TEP, national director of fiduciary trust management at BMO Private Banking, and chair of STEP Canada's CETA program advisory committee.

Learn more about CETA1: Foundations of Estate and Trust Administration at www.advocis.ca/ALC/STEP-Canada.aspx

For media enquiries or more information please contact:
Darlene Francis, director, corporate communications and marketing, at 416-342-9896 / 1-800-563-5822, ext. 9896 or [email protected].

About Advocis

Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the association of choice for financial advisors and planners. With more than 11,000 members in 40 chapters across the country, Advocis is the definitive voice of the profession, advocating for professionalism and consumer protection. Advocis works with decision-makers and the public, stressing the value of financial advice and working toward an environment in which all Canadians have access to the advice they need. Follow us on Twitter @advocis or visit www.advocis.ca.

About STEP Canada

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners is the leading international organization for trust and estate professionals with more than 2,300 members in Canada, and 22,500 members worldwide. STEP Canada works to raise the public profile of trust and estate work as a profession and provide a forum for discussion and advancement of practitioner knowledge of relevant tax, accounting, administration, statute and case law. STEP Canada is also active in making representations of a technical nature to government, policymakers and related professional bodies, with the goal of promoting better understanding of trusts and estates, and improving related law and policy. For more information, please visit www.step.ca.

CONTACT: Darlene Francis, [email protected].