Podcast Summary

ACTEC Trust & Estate Talk

Episode Title: Planning for a Diverse Family: Cultural Competence Within the Model Rules of Professional Conduct
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Connie Icer (ACTEC Fellow, Boulder, CO)
Guest: Ritu Pepoff (ACTEC Fellow, Chicago, IL)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the importance of cultural competence for estate planners, focusing on how cultural awareness not only enriches client relationships, but also supports the ethical responsibilities set out in the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Through detailed explanation and real-world context, Ritu Pepoff offers insight on integrating respect and adaptability into estate planning for clients of diverse backgrounds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Cultural Competence in Estate Planning

[01:13 – 02:13]

• Estate planning is deeply influenced by a client’s cultural background and values.
• Different cultures have unique traditions and beliefs regarding family roles, inheritance, and discussing wealth and mortality.
• Culturally competent estate plans honor both financial/tax requirements and the client’s heritage and wishes.

Notable Quote:

“Different cultures have different traditions, beliefs and values around family dynamics and around wealth transfer... That needs to be considered in order to create an effective and meaningful estate plan.”
— Ritu Pepoff [01:17]

2. Defining “Culture” and “Competence”

[02:13 – 04:00]

• Culture = Shared customs, traditions, beliefs, and social norms.
  • Influences perspectives on family, inheritance, and even the acceptability of discussing financial matters.
• Competence = Sufficient knowledge and skill, as required by ABA Model Rule 1.1.
  • In context: Lawyers must understand and respect client backgrounds to provide effective services.

3. Four Components of Cultural Competence

[04:00 – 06:00]

• Awareness: Recognize and reflect on personal biases.
  • Self-reflection helps lawyers understand how their perspectives affect their practice.
• Attitude: Demonstrate openness and empathy; genuinely value diversity.
• Knowledge: Actively learn about different cultural values and traditions through study and social interaction.
• Skills: Apply learning to adapt communications and interactions; practice empathy and careful observation.

Notable Quote:

“It’s not just what you know, but how you use that knowledge.”
— Ritu Pepoff [05:53]

4. Cultural Competence under the Model Rules

[06:00 – 08:15]

• Model Rule 1.1 – Competence:

  • Requires not just legal knowledge, but also the cultural understanding needed to fully address a client’s needs.
  • Recognizing how culture shapes expectations around wealth, inheritance, and family roles is essential.

• Model Rule 1.4 – Communication:

  • Clear and effective communication is critical, especially when there may be language or cultural barriers.
  • Miscommunication can undermine a client’s understanding and decision-making, and erode trust.

Notable Quotes:

“An effective communication goes beyond just translating words... It really involves ensuring that the client understands the legal advice you’re providing.”
— Ritu Pepoff [07:34]

“Clients need to feel heard and understood. And when clients can’t express themselves freely... they could lose confidence in the legal representation.”
— Ritu Pepoff [08:01]

5. Privacy and Confidentiality (Model Rule 1.6)

[08:15 – 09:15]

• Lawyers must protect client privacy, especially around sensitive family or cultural matters.
• Some families prefer strict confidentiality; others involve extended family in estate decisions.
• Attorneys must balance cultural respect with legal obligations regarding confidentiality and mandatory disclosures.

6. The Ethical Imperative

[09:15 – 09:30]

• Cultural competence is not just about providing good service—it's an ethical requirement under the Model Rules.
• Intentional, culturally sensitive planning builds stronger relationships and ensures legal and personal needs are met.

Notable Quote:

“Integrating cultural competence into estate planning isn’t just good practice. It’s actually an ethical obligation under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.”
— Ritu Pepoff [09:23]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Self-Reflection:
  “Awareness of one’s own personal biases... This first step really involves self reflection to help us become more conscious of our own stereotypes and our own culture and how that influences our behavior and our attitude towards others.” — Ritu Pepoff [04:15]

• On Language Barriers:
  “When there are language barriers, conversations with clients can be sort of jumbled and unclear, which then can lead to potential misunderstandings.” — Ritu Pepoff [07:45]

• On Client Trust:
  “The attorney client relationship is supposed to be built on trust.” — Ritu Pepoff [07:59]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Episode Introduction & Theme: [00:05 – 00:38]
• Why Culture Matters in Estate Planning: [01:13 – 02:13]
• Defining Key Concepts (Culture, Competence): [02:13 – 04:00]
• Components of Cultural Competence: [04:00 – 06:00]
• Competence within the Model Rules: [06:00 – 07:45]
• Communication Challenges & Adaptation (Rule 1.4): [07:45 – 08:15]
• Privacy & Confidentiality (Rule 1.6): [08:15 – 09:15]
• Ethical Obligations Summarized: [09:15 – 09:30]

Conclusion

This episode underlines that truly effective estate planning in today's diverse society means understanding not just the law, but also the cultural backgrounds and values of clients. Attorneys are ethically bound to integrate cultural competence in their representation, ensuring client wishes are honored in both spirit and practice—thereby deepening trust and achieving the most meaningful outcomes.

For further resources and information about culturally competent estate planning, listeners are encouraged to visit ACTEC’s website and consult with ACTEC Fellows nationwide.