Engagement & Compliance Notes
The Art of Planning works alongside advisor teams in a deliberately defined lane. This page explains the scope of our services, where we are licensed, and the relationship between the firm, the advisor, and the advisor's clients. It is informational and is itself attorney advertising.
The Art of Planning, PLLC provides advisor-facing advanced planning support: planning-risk review of existing documents and processes, prospect case review, advisor education and training, speaking and custom presentations, and consulting on building an advanced planning function.
Our reviews are issue-spotting in nature — designed to help advisors identify questions, risks, and opportunities. They are not a substitute for a comprehensive legal opinion, a tax opinion, document drafting, or implementation, each of which requires a separate, documented legal engagement.
Kevin M. Donovan is licensed to practice law in the States of Michigan and Tennessee. He is not licensed in other jurisdictions.
Where a matter calls for the practice of law in a state where the firm is not admitted, the firm will associate with appropriately licensed local counsel or limit its role to advisor education, training, and consulting that does not constitute the practice of law in that jurisdiction. The firm does not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
When engaged by an advisory firm or advisor, our client is that firm or advisor — not the advisor's underlying clients. Reviewing materials relating to an advisor's client does not, by itself, create an attorney–client relationship between The Art of Planning and that client.
If direct legal representation of an end client is ever appropriate, it will be handled through a separate, signed engagement with that client, with conflicts and informed consent addressed at that time. The firm does not replace a client's own attorney, accountant, or investment adviser.
The Art of Planning, PLLC does not provide investment advice and is not a registered investment adviser. Nothing we provide is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or insurance product, or to engage any investment strategy. Investment decisions and advice remain with the advisor and the advisor's firm.
An attorney–client relationship is formed only through a separate, written engagement agreement signed by the firm and the client. None of the following creates such a relationship:
Please do not send confidential or time-sensitive information until an engagement is in place and the firm has confirmed there is no conflict.
The firm takes confidentiality seriously and runs conflict checks before accepting an engagement. Because we work with multiple advisory firms, an engagement may be declined or limited where a conflict exists. Sensitive client materials should be shared only through channels agreed in the engagement.
Statements on this website describe the nature of our services and are not promises of any particular outcome. We do not guarantee tax savings, planning results, client retention, or business-development outcomes. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
This website is attorney advertising under the rules of professional conduct of Michigan and Tennessee. Kevin M. Donovan is the attorney responsible for its content. The firm's principal office is located at 93 Seaboard Ln #1004, Brentwood, TN 37027. This material is informational only and does not constitute legal advice.
If any portion of this website is found not to comply with the professional conduct rules of a particular jurisdiction, the firm does not seek to represent clients based on that content in that jurisdiction.
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A short strategy call is the best way to scope an engagement and confirm fit — with no confidential details exchanged until an engagement is in place.
