Biographies

Theodore D. Kuczek, III

Theodore D. Kuczek received his bachelor's degree in Business

Finance from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater School of

Business and received his Juris Doctor degree from the John

Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Mr. Kuczek has taught estate planning to attorneys through the

National Network of Estate Planning of Attorneys, to various senior

groups, accountants, financial professionals, as well as to the top

executives of several Fortune 500 companies.

Since 1984, he has been in private practice concentrating in estate planning.  The Law Firm Of Kuczek & Associates has a fully staffed service department to assist its estate planning clients.  The firm limits its practice to helping individuals and business owners in avoiding the complications of probate and preserving family wealth through tax planning and asset protection.

Mr. Kuczek is currently involved with the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. The network is a organization of attorneys throughout the country which provides educational programs and materials to attorneys, accountants, bankers, financial planners and insurance professionals. 

Independent Association of Accountants, Northbrook, IL, August 7, 2003.

Harvard Business School Club, Chicago, IL, April 20, 2003

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Estate Planning Colleguim," Kansas City, MO, October 21-26 2002.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Spring Collegium'" Reno, NV, April 7-14, 2002.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Spring Collegium'" San Diego, CA, April 30-May 5, 2002.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Estate Planning Colleguim," Chicago, IL, September 23-27, 1999.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Estate Planning Colleguim," Seattle, WA, October 21-24, 1998.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Estate Planning Practicum," Denver CO, July 20-25, 1998.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys "Train the Trainers" Seminar, Nashville, TN, March 12-15, 1997.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys Estate Planning Workshop, Atlanta, GA, December 13-15, 1996, Subject: How to Present the Best Public Seminars.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys Estate Planning Workshop, LaJolla, CA, May 7-10, 1997, Subject: How to Present the Best Public Seminars.

Money Magazine "How to Profit in 1997" Seminar; Chicago, IL,  March 15, 1997, Subject:  Estate Planning - How To Shelter Your Wealth From Estate Taxes.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys Estate Planning Workshop, Boston, MA, September 10-12, 1997, Subject: Initial Client Interview.

Social Security Administration, U.S. Federal Government seminar; Chicago, IL, October 16, 1997, Subject: Estate Planning and Social Security.

National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys Estate Planning Workshop, Chicago, IL, September 26-27, 1997, Subject: Estate Planning.

Public Seminars on a monthly basis, various locations throughout the Chicagoland area; Subject: Estate Planning and Living Trusts, Avoid Probate.

Published NNEPA manual and video 1997; Subject:  Bridges to Understanding - Overcoming Obstacles to Proper Estate Planning.

Elected to a three-year term on the "Member Advisor Board" of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys - 1999-2003

LAW FIRM OF

KUCZEK & ASSOCIATES

Robert R. Brandt

Robert R. Brandt received his bachelor's degree in

Political Science with a minor in Business from the

University of Iowa and received his Juris Doctor degree

from the DePaul University School of Law in Chicago.

He has limited his practice to estate planning since 1994. 

He is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of

the law firm; preparing, drafting and editing estate planning

documents; meeting with clients to discuss their estate

plans.

Robert has created a customized computer-based database system to improve client service and follow-up; developed marketing systems to clients and rainmaking systems to financial professionals.  The database started with 0 contacts and now has over 14,000 contacts

Robert is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction after execution of their estate planning documents - included explaining each document (revocable living trust, irrevocable trust, pour-over wills, durable special power of attorney, living will, power of attorney for health care, etc.) to the trustmaker and/or trustees and answered their questions.

Robert assists clients with the transfer of assets into their living trusts; including transfer of title for real estate and investment accounts, designation of beneficiaries for life insurance and IRA's, assignments for non-titled assets.

Part of Robert's responsibilities is to explain federal estate tax and income tax advantages and disadvantages of different estate plans; explain the creditor protection available with different estate plans; explain the income, principal, needs and upon death distributions from a trust; explain the concept of "education, health, maintenance and support."

Robert is in charge of advising clients on what to do following the disability or death of a trustmaker - including setting up a Family Trust, Marital Trust, or separate credit-sheltered trusts for beneficiaries.

With a previous law firm, Robert reorganized, computerized and supervised the Funding Department which consisted of transferring hundreds of parcels of real estate and other assets into client's living trusts each year; reorganized, computerized and supervised the Amendment Department.

He also drafted complaints and counterclaims; drafted answers to complaints; prepared clients for depositions; drafted responses to summary judgment motions; prepared interrogatories, responded to requests for production of documents; drafted a split-dollar agreement between an employee, closely-held corporation and trustee of employee's Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust.

He has also managed an office staff of five clerks and secretaries; monitored day to day activities and work projects; customized a commercial software program to manage the firm's 1,000+ clients.

On a personal note, Robert served a four-year term as a Trustee of the Village of Woodridge from 2003 to 2007.