“Estate Planning is crucial for our clients who worry that they may live longer than the assets they’ve worked a lifetime to earn. Minimizing that risk is my top priority.”
Lauren Cooper is a Partner with Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates. She joined the firm as an associate attorney on the Trust Team in 2014. However, she already had over a decade of experience with the firm as a legal assistant after college and during law school. Her experience with the firm, and her hands-on experience living in an extended family, were key to her decision to attend law school. Lauren spent two years assisting our clients and their families when a loved one passed away in settling their estate. These days, Lauren works mainly with our Trust clients to design a plan, to understand how it works and to maintain it throughout their lives so that it is easier for their families.
Lauren’s real passion is helping our clients prepare for the challenges of aging, especially assisting those clients who are concerned about outliving their assets. Lauren has presented informational seminars throughout the state regarding longevity planning, which combines Social Security claiming and income tax planning strategies. She was also a featured speaker regarding longevity planning for the American Association of Estate and Elder Law Attorneys, a national organization devoted to elder law. Lauren holds the Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies (CSSCS) designation and has attended advanced training regarding IRAs from Ed Slotts, a nationally recognized expert in the field.
Attorney Cooper graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Alma College in Michigan with a major in Spanish language and a minor in mathematics. During college, she spent time in Ecuador, Peru and Mexico furthering her language skills and cultural knowledge. She graduated cum laude from the University of Dayton School of Law. During law school, she was awarded four CALI awards for academic excellence and served on the Law Review as both a staff writer and the Executive Publications Editor.
Over the years, Attorney Cooper has been involved in every aspect of the law firm operation and brings a wealth of talent and experience to our clients. Lauren lives in Centerburg with her husband and their two children. Lauren has travelled all over the world including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Spain, Peru, Panama and Mexico. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.
Interview
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Centerburg, Ohio but grew up mainly in Nashville.
Why did you decide to become an attorney?
I wanted to help families preserve and protect their wealth from generation to generation.
Why did you decide to practice Estate Planning and Elder Law?
This is what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I began helping at the Firm when I was small. My grandmother, Arlene Cooper, was working there and I was fortunate to be able to spend time working under her watchful eye. Later, I came back to work as a paralegal at the Firm after I graduated from Alma College for a few years. This gave me the background and drive to apply for law school with the goal of continuing to work with my dad at the Firm.
What do you love about your job?
I work with a tremendous team of people who have complementary skills and a passion for helping our clients.
What do you love about helping the people of Ohio?
My clients have similar values and perspectives as I do, personally.
Why do you do this work? What drives you?
I want to help families build their legacy.
Why Cooper, Adel, Vu?
We are families helping families. There have been several times where I have been the third generation of Cooper working with the third generation of a client’s family.
What do you hope to accomplish for your clients?
My goal is for them to have peace of mind that their issues have been handled properly.
Why do clients need to consult with you?
Most of my clients are pre-retirement or have just retired having done minor estate planning. They are looking to develop a plan that will provide for them during their lifetime and to pass down a legacy to their families.