Sarah Escolas

Partner, Wesley Clark & Peshkin LLP

What has been your biggest success over the past year?

At WCP our entire focus is on protecting the legal rights of our clients and their families. I am so proud that our dedication to our clients has resulted in the firm being recognized as one of the top estate planning firms in the area. In addition to offering our clients traditional estate planning services, we also take great pride and care in estate planning for blended families, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and family business succession planning.

What advice would you give someone starting trusts and estates practice right now?

Estate planning can be overwhelming for many clients, especially if they work with multiple trusted advisors (CPAs and Financial Advisors) who contradict one another. Confusing situations, like this, often lead to no planning at all. Understanding and flexibility are necessary when collaborating with clients’ trusted advisors so that everyone works together to meet the client’s needs and deliver the outstanding service that clients deserve.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

My goal for next year is to practice what I preach. When clients tell me that they are stressed from caring for elderly parents, going through a divorce, fighting cancer or balancing work obligations with family obligations, I remind them that life is precious. I regularly tell clients to set aside time to block out distractions and focus on what is most important, be present, and make lasting memories. I rarely do this myself, so my goal for next year is to follow my own advice and find more time for my family.