The Boston Estate Planning Council (BEPC) has awarded the 2025 Excellence Award to Sarah M. Allen, JD, LL.M., AEP®, a shareholder and director at Rice, Heard & Bigelow. This recognition honors her outstanding contributions to estate planning and her substantial community impact. Allen was celebrated at the BEPC's Annual Gala on May 21, 2025, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Robert G. Bannish, President of RHB, praised Allen for her dedication and leadership, noting her role as a professional trustee and family advisor, as well as her two decades of experience in estate planning law.
Allen's involvement with the BEPC includes serving on various committees, as a board member, and as president from 2019 to 2020. Her commitment to the estate planning community and her professional achievements underscore the importance of this award. The recognition matters because it highlights the value of sustained expertise and service in a field critical to financial security and legacy planning. It also emphasizes the role of professional organizations like the BEPC in fostering excellence and community engagement.
Allen's career highlights include her tenure at Pabian & Russell, LLC, where she was a partner and co-manager of the estate planning department, and her academic achievements from Syracuse University and Boston University School of Law. Her work at Rice, Heard & Bigelow continues a tradition of personalized, discreet service in trust management and estate planning, a legacy that spans over 200 years. This award has implications for the broader estate planning industry by setting a benchmark for professional standards and encouraging mentorship and leadership among practitioners.
The implications of this announcement extend to clients and the legal community, reinforcing trust in experienced advisors and promoting the importance of comprehensive estate planning. For more information on the Boston Estate Planning Council, visit https://www.bepc.org. This recognition serves as a reminder of the critical role estate planners play in safeguarding assets and supporting families through complex financial decisions.
