BEPC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Survey

The Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC) recognizes that the landscape of estate planning is evolving, with changing client demographics creating both opportunities and challenges for our members. As we strengthen our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), we aim to help you capitalize on these changes while building a more dynamic and inclusive professional community. Your insights will help us develop resources that enable you to:

Expand your practice by better serving diverse client populations
Strengthen your competitive position in the marketplace
Build valuable connections within our professional community
Create an environment where all members can thrive and contribute
Enhance your cultural competency and client engagement skills
Stay ahead of demographic trends that potentially impact what your clients need and want from you as advisors.

Your responses will directly shape our programming to ensure we deliver meaningful value to you, your practice, and our broader professional community. In addition, your responses will help us understand what is important to you to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging within the membership. Individual responses are anonymous unless you indicate that you are willing to be available for further follow up.

Estimated completion time: 3-5 minutes

DEIB Perspectives

Question Title

* 1. How do you primarily view Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives in estate planning?

Primarily as a smart business choice

Primarily as the right thing to do

Equally as a smart business choice and the right thing to do

Not sure / No opinion

Question Title

* 2. How strongly do you believe in your choice above?

1 = Somewhat believe

5 = Very strongly believe

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 3. If you selected "smart business choice," which factors influenced your view? (Select up to 3)

Helps attract and retain diverse clients

Improves innovation and problem-solving

Enhances firm reputation and competitiveness

Increases employee satisfaction and retention

Leads to better financial performance

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. If you selected "right thing to do," which factors influenced your view? (Select up to 3)

Promotes fairness and equal opportunities

Reflects our society's diversity

Aligns with personal/organizational values

Addresses historical inequities

Improves overall societal well-being

Other (please specify)

Section 1: Your Background

Question Title

* 5. What is your primary role in estate planning? (Select one)

Accounting

Family Office Management

Financial Planning

Life Insurance

Planned Giving

Supporting Consultant

Trust Administration

Trusts & Estates Law

Wealth Management

Student

Retired or Emeritus Status

Other (please specify)

Section 2: Client Demographics and Market Trends

Question Title

* 6. Which demographic changes are you observing in your client base?

	Not seeing this trend				This is now common in my practice
Increasing racial/ethnic diversity	Increasing racial/ethnic diversity Not seeing this trend	Increasing racial/ethnic diversity	Increasing racial/ethnic diversity	Increasing racial/ethnic diversity	Increasing racial/ethnic diversity This is now common in my practice
Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base	Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base Not seeing this trend	Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base	Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base	Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base	Growing Millennial and Gen Z client base This is now common in my practice
More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members	More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members Not seeing this trend	More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members	More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members	More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members	More LGBTQ+ clients or clients with LGBTQ+ family members This is now common in my practice
Growing number of blended families	Growing number of blended families Not seeing this trend	Growing number of blended families	Growing number of blended families	Growing number of blended families	Growing number of blended families This is now common in my practice
Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs	Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs Not seeing this trend	Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs	Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs	Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs	Rise in multi-generational wealth planning needs This is now common in my practice
Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options	Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options Not seeing this trend	Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options	Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options	Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options	Clients seeking socially responsible or impact investing options This is now common in my practice
Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs	Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs Not seeing this trend	Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs	Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs	Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs	Increase in international or cross-border estate planning needs This is now common in my practice
More clients with non-traditional family structures	More clients with non-traditional family structures Not seeing this trend	More clients with non-traditional family structures	More clients with non-traditional family structures	More clients with non-traditional family structures	More clients with non-traditional family structures This is now common in my practice
Growing interest in digital asset planning	Growing interest in digital asset planning Not seeing this trend	Growing interest in digital asset planning	Growing interest in digital asset planning	Growing interest in digital asset planning	Growing interest in digital asset planning This is now common in my practice
Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning	Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning Not seeing this trend	Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning	Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning	Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning	Baby Boomer wealth transfer planning This is now common in my practice

Question Title

* 7. How prepared do you feel to address these emerging trends?

1 = Need significant support

5 = Very well prepared

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Section 3: Professional Development Needs

Question Title

* 8. Which DEIB-related topics would most benefit your practice? (Select up to 3)

Cultural competency in estate planning

Generational wealth transfer in diverse families

Building inclusive client relationships

Estate planning for LGBTQ+ individuals and families

Cross-border and international estate planning

Digital asset planning strategies

Impact investing and ESG considerations

Addressing unconscious bias in client interactions

Other (please specify)

Section 4: Engagement Preferences

Question Title

* 9. Please tell us how you would like to potentially engage with DEI work at BEPC. Please select all that apply.

	Not interested				Extremely interested
In-person workshops	In-person workshops Not interested	In-person workshops	In-person workshops	In-person workshops	In-person workshops Extremely interested
Virtual webinars	Virtual webinars Not interested	Virtual webinars	Virtual webinars	Virtual webinars	Virtual webinars Extremely interested
Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options)	Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options) Not interested	Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options)	Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options)	Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options)	Hybrid events (in-person/virtual options) Extremely interested
Peer discussion groups	Peer discussion groups Not interested	Peer discussion groups	Peer discussion groups	Peer discussion groups	Peer discussion groups Extremely interested
Case study discussions	Case study discussions Not interested	Case study discussions	Case study discussions	Case study discussions	Case study discussions Extremely interested
Online resource library	Online resource library Not interested	Online resource library	Online resource library	Online resource library	Online resource library Extremely interested
Mentorship programs	Mentorship programs Not interested	Mentorship programs	Mentorship programs	Mentorship programs	Mentorship programs Extremely interested

Other (please specify)

Section 5: Demographics (Optional)

Question Title

* 10. Languages spoken (check all that apply)

English only

Spanish

Mandarin

Portugese

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. Geographic home location within greater Boston area

Boston proper

North Shore

South Shore

MetroWest

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. Client demographic makeup (approximate percentages)

International clients:

Multi-generational families:

LGBTQ+ clients:

Racially/ethnically diverse clients:

Question Title

* 13. Years of experience specifically with diverse clients

Less than 2 years

2-5 years

6-10 years

More than 10 years

Question Title

* 14. Professional development goals (check all that apply)

Expanding client base diversity

Developing new service offerings

Building cultural competency

Enhancing technical skills

Other (please specify)

Section 6: Future Involvement

Question Title

* 15. In the future, if one of these became available to BEPC, would you be interested in contributing to BEPC's DEIB initiatives in any of the following ways? (Select all that apply)

Serving on a DEIB committee

Participating in focus groups

Sharing case studies or best practices

Contributing to educational content development

Mentoring diverse professionals

Speaking at DEIB-focused events

Not interested at this time

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* If you selected any of the above options, please provide your contact information:

Name:

Email:

Phone (optional):

Note: Your contact information will only be used for DEIB-related initiatives. Thank you for completing this survey. Your insights will help BEPC create more value for our members.