Attorney and Counsellor at Law

Samuel Collins

Sam was raised in the small town of White Hall, Illinois in a farming family, and has been a licensed attorney since 2004. In his first few years of practice, Sam saw firsthand that many estate plans did not work the way they were intended. This led to his desire to focus his legal career extensively in the areas of results-oriented estate planning and trust administration in a firm that shared similar values to his own. The reputation of the Estate Planning Center, the Lifespan ™ commitment to “Plans that Work,” and Curt Ferguson’s expertise drew him to pursue a career with The Estate Planning Center and relocate to the Salem area in 2011. Sam’s focus is in trust and estate settlement, and wealth reception—helping families to secure all the benefits of estate planning after a death. He also leads the development and growth of the firm’s Elder Law practice.

MEMBERSHIPS:

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys (NNEPA)

Lifespan ™

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

Christian Legal Society, a national organization of Christian attorneys and law students

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

Graduate of NNEPA Advanced Practicum Implementation Program – 2013

THE ADVANCED PLANNING STRATEGIES PROGRAM of the National Network, a comprehensive two year course in advanced estate planning, tools, techniques and professional collaboration – 2017

Since 2015 has served as Co-Chair of the Trust Settlement Co-Development Team, NNEPA, innovating and developing trust settlement procedures, tools, and processes for the efficient transfer of wealth to the next generation.

INSTRUCTOR:

ATRA Game Changers: 2013 Spring Collegium, Indianapolis, IN, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, co-presented with attorney Curt W. Ferguson;

It’s Not About (Those) Taxes: Legal Keynote address at the 2013 Fall Collegium, Orlando, FL,

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, co-presented with attorney Curt W. Ferguson;

Settlement Process–Start to Finish: 2013 Fall Collegium, Orlando, FL, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, co-presented with attorney Jennifer Norton;

Trusts as IRA Beneficiaries: 2014 Fall Collegium, Reno, NV, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, co-presented with attorney Rick Randall

Settlement With Clayton and Bounty: 2016 Spring Collegium, Indianapolis, Indiana, co-presented with attorney Curt W. Ferguson;

Trust Settlement and Administration: 2016 Fall Collegium, Reno, Nevada. This pre-cursor event was a comprehensive, process-oriented day and a half workshop for attorneys and paralegals on procedures in trust settlement and administration, co-presented with attorney Charlotte Landvik;

Tax Efficient Irrevocable Trusts- Refresher on IRC 678 Withdrawal Right and General Powers of Appointment: 2018 Spring Collegium, Indianapolis, IN, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, co-presented with attorney Greg Gentry.

COMMUNITY AND PERSONAL:

Sam is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Centralia. He and his wife Kate have four children and live in Salem, Illinois.