Wellspring President & CEO Michael Novak Recipient of Distinguished Estate Planner Award

 
May 1, 2024 – Wellspring Financial Advisors (Wellspring), a registered investment adviser and multi-family office catering to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, is thrilled to announce President & CEO, Michael Novak, has been named the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland’s 2024 Distinguished Estate Planner (DEP). This award honors local accountants, attorneys, financial planners, insurance professionals, philanthropic professionals, or other related professionals, for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. The Distinguished Estate Planner Award is presented to one individual annually.
 
To be considered for this award, candidates must be engaged in practice or recently retired with 15 years involvement in their respective field of estate planning and must also have been a member of the Cleveland Council for at least five years. Those eligible to receive the award are required to hold one of the following certifications: Accredited Estate Planner^®, Attorney (licensed to practice in State of Ohio), Certified Financial Planner^®, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Trust & Financial Advisor, Certified Wealth Strategist^®, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^®, Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Financial Consultant^®, and/or Chartered Life Underwriter^®.
 
Recipients reflect, in practice, the goals for which The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland was created, which includes furthering the education of the members of the council and of the public, fostering a better understanding of the proper relationship among professionals of various disciplines, and providing a better understanding of estate planning. As such, the criteria for the award may include teaching, speaking, authorship, service to the Council, professional, civic or charitable service and creativity or accomplishment in development of services, products, solutions, legislation.
 
Past recipients of the Distinguished Estate Planner Award include: Janet L. Lowder (2023), James A. Goldsmith (2022), Lisa Roberts-Mamone (2021), Don Laubacher (2020), Ginger F. Mlakar (2019), Alan D. Gross (2018), Patrick J. Saccogna (2017), Howard B. Edelstein (2016), Joseph M. Mentrek (2015), Radd L. Riebe (2014), M. Elizabeth Monihan (2013), Matthew F. Kadish (2012), Gary A. Zwick (2011), M. Patricia Culler (2010), Stephen H. Gariepy (2009), Marcia J. Wexberg (2008), James G. Dickinson (2007), Herbert L. Braverman (2006), Roger L. Shumaker (2005), Jeffry L. Weiler (2004), Robert M. Brucken (2003), J. Donald Cairns (2002), and P. Thomas Austin (2001).
 
The Awards celebration will be hosted by The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland on June 10^th.
 
Additional information on the Distinguished Estate Planner Award can be found on the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland website: https://www.epccleveland.org/members/directoryAddl.