The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada is the leading national organization for trust and estate professionals advising families across generations. STEP Canada was established in 1998, and represents over 3,000 practitioners countrywide across 11 branches and chapters. The association's activities are driven and overseen by a national board of directors; and supported by 14 national committees and 11 regional branch and chapter committees. The STEP Canada national office is based in Toronto, Ontario with 10 professional staff members. STEP Canada is an extension of STEP Worldwide, founded in London, England in 1991, which represents over 22,000 practitioners across 95 countries. STEP's aims include raising the public profile of trust and estate work as a profession, promoting education and high professional standards, and providing a forum for discussion and advancement of practitioner knowledge of relevant tax, accounting, administration, statute and case law through regular branch/chapter seminars, symposia, and national events. STEP is also active in making representations of a technical nature to government, policymakers and related professional bodies, with the goal of promoting better understanding of trusts and estates, and improving related law and policy. STEP administers the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation through a number of educational routes, which demonstrates expertise in the field of trusts and estates. The TEP formally distinguishes qualified practitioners from non-specialists, while offering a competitive advantage to develop clientele during this exceptional age of inter-generational wealth transfer. STEP membership is diverse with accredited professionals from all facets of the trust and estate planning industry, including legal, accountancy, corporate, trust, banking and insurance backgrounds.