About Rapps & Associates
A thoughtful, education-first approach to estate planning — where legal precision and financial strategy work together to protect your wealth, family, and legacy.
Why I Built This Firm
After years of working with families, professionals, and business owners, I saw too many estate plans that looked good on paper — but failed in real life.
They were:
- overly complex
- financially inefficient
- disconnected from tax, business, and investment realities
- difficult for families to understand or implement
I founded this firm to take a different approach — one that is:
- clear
- values-aligned
- tax-smart
- practical in the real world
- focused on protecting your family across generations
Professional background
What Makes Our Approach Different
Attorney + CFP® Perspective
Your plan is designed with legal, tax, and financial strategy aligned from day one.
Education-First, Plain-English Planning
You understand your options before decisions are made.
Structured & Practical in Real Life
Plans are designed to work when your family actually needs them.
High-Touch, Relationship-Driven Experience
We focus on partnership — not transactions or document production.
Will vs. Trust: A Simple Comparison Guide
Download our comparison guide to find out more about Will vs. Trust.
WHY I STARTED THIS FIRM
A Firm Built to Fix What Traditional Estate Planning Gets Wrong
After years working with affluent families and business owners, I saw too many estate plans that were:
- Overly complex
- Financially inefficient
- Disconnected from tax, investment, and business realities
- Hard for families to understand — and even harder to implement
I founded this firm to change that.
Our approach is:
- clear
- values-aligned
- tax-smart
- practical in real life
- focused on protecting your family across generations
This isn’t “one-size-fits-all” planning — it’s thoughtful, structured, and deeply personal.
MICHAEL BIO
Meet Michael P. Rapps, Esq., CFP®, AEP®
Michael is an estate planning attorney and Certified Financial Planner™ with over a decade of experience advising families, professionals, and business owners on estate design, wealth transfer, and long-term financial strategy.
His background in law, financial planning, and mediation informs a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach — focused on clarity, alignment, and meaningful legacy planning.
- Attorney & Counselor at Law
- CFP® | Certified Financial Planner™
- AEP® | Accredited Estate Planner
- Adjunct Professor — Taxation & Finance, NYU SPS
Our VALUES
How We Work With Clients
Clarity
Every document and decision is explained in plain English.
Compassion
Estate planning is personal — we treat it that way.
Education-Driven
You understand your options before moving forward.
Long-Term Partnership
Plans are designed to evolve as life changes.
Who We Help
We work with families, professionals, retirees, seniors, and business owners who want thoughtful, coordinated planning — not one-size-fits-all documents.
Start By Learning — Not Guessing
Most people delay estate planning because the process feels overwhelming. Our goal is to make your first step simple, clear, and educational — so you can move forward with confidence.
Ready to talk now?
Book an Intro & Overview Call (Free) use this link:
