About Us
Scott Keifer - Attorney at Law
In 2015, Scott Keifer's life changed while camping with a life-long friend who is a financial advisor. The friend mentioned that he was unable to find a fair priced, honest, and reliable estate planning attorney to assist his clients. The following month, Scott founded St. Louis Estate Planning. Since that time, more than 200 financial advisors and their support staff have started recommending Scott’s team for their clients and 3000 people have had their estate plans completed at St. Louis Estate Planning.
Scott personally experienced the peace of knowing that his own estate plan was in order in 2022, when he was diagnosed with a dangerous brain tumor and underwent a complicated surgery for removal. Since making a full recovery, he has become a regular speaker at financial advisor conferences. The topic he most frequently presents is: "Beyond estate planning documents… what you should be doing now (but nobody tells you), to prepare for the worst.”
Scott attended Truman State University and passed the Missouri Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in 1994. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and passed the Missouri Bar in 1997. Scott and his wife, Claire, have been married since 2002 and have three children who attend Cor Jesu Academy, Lindbergh High School and DePaul University in Chicago.
Scott's contact information: 314-858-9799 ext. 2 scott@stlestate.com
Donna Pauluzzi - Firm Manager and Paralegal
Donna, our firm manager and paralegal, grew up in northern Illinois and attended the University of Illinois where she received a bachelor's in legal studies. She has more than 20 years of experience as a paralegal. Donna has been with St. Louis Estate Planning since early 2017 and has assisted over 2100 families in the creation of their estate plans. She is our resident probate expert and is highly skilled in navigating the Missouri probate court system. Donna enjoys talking to people and helping them set up individualized estate plans. Her objective is to make sure all of our clients' questions are answered and clearly understood. Donna adores spending time with her family and friends, as well as playing pickleball, reading, photography and exploring parks with her dog.
Donna's contact information: 314-858-9799 ext. 1 donna@stlestate.com
Tracy Brown - Attorney at Law
Tracy Brown joined the St. Louis Estate Planning team in December of 2022. Previously, she worked as an attorney for the Public Defender’s Office for almost 27 years, defending indigent clients accused of crimes. After Tracy retired as a public defender, she began her career as an estate planning attorney. Tracy’s past experiences and good listening skills help her create estate plans that meet the specific needs of a wide variety of clients.
Tracy grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia, later earning her law degree from St. Louis University. She currently lives in South St. Louis County with her husband and two dogs. Tracy enjoys spending her free time going to estate sales, knitting, and searching for the best pizza in St. Louis.
Tracy's contact information: 314-858-9799 ext. 6 tracy@stlestate.com
Mark Winchester - Attorney at Law
Mark Winchester joined the St. Louis Estate Planning team in May of 2023. As an attorney, Mark knows that a discussion about estate planning, while important, can be a difficult one to have. This is why Mark endeavors to put his estate planning clients at ease by taking the time to listen to their questions and concerns about their unique situation. Mark feels that the best part of his career as an estate planning attorney is seeing the relief in the faces of his clients when they realize that developing their estate plan doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult.
Mark was born and raised in southeast Missouri and received his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000. In 2019, Mark began the journey of earning his law degree and in 2022, Mark graduated magna cum laude from the Saint Louis University School of Law in the top 5% of his class. Mark is also a member of The Woolsack Honor Society at SLU Law. During law school, Mark earned recognition for academic excellence in several courses, including disability law and client counseling, and served as a Faculty Fellow.
Away from the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, Cameo, their five children (ranging in age from 10 to 23), and his two cats (Sally and Mustacha) at their home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mark also enjoys a fun evening of karaoke with Cameo and their friends and loves singing alternative and country songs from the 1990s.
Mark's contact information: 314-858-9799 ext. 7 mark@stlestate.com
Elizabeth Potz - Attorney at Law
Elizabeth Potz, an experienced estate planning attorney, is dedicated to creating personalized estate plans to provide clients with peace of mind for the future. Elizabeth combines her legal expertise with a deep commitment to individualized client care.
A native of the Saint Louis area, Elizabeth graduated with honors from Saint Louis University with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. She went on to earn her law degree with honors from Washington & Lee University School of Law, where she was selected for the Law Review. Elizabeth previously served as a JAG Officer in the United States Army and received numerous military awards in recognition of her distinguished service, including in Afghanistan.
Elizabeth’s approach is centered on understanding her clients’ unique needs and goals and developing tailored solutions to meet them. She takes the time to listen to her clients’ concerns, educate them about their options, and craft personalized plans that align with their wishes and objectives.
Beyond her legal practice, Elizabeth enjoys traveling, photography, and studying French.
Elizabeth's contact information: 314-858-9799 ext. 5 elizabeth@stlestate.com
OUR TEAM
Emily - Client Services and Success
Emily - Client Services and Success
Emily - Client Services and Success
Our client services and success coordinator, Emily, grew up in St. Louis, earned a master’s degree in education from Webster University (bachelor’s from Mizzou) and taught for seven years. After staying home with her children, she loves being back at work to assist clients with their questions and estate planning needs. Emily has been with the company since early 2019 and has assisted over 1700 families with their estate plans. Her attention to detail helps our firm run smoothly. Emily's goal is to see that all of our clients have a positive experience during the estate planning process. She enjoys creating art, visiting museums, hiking and spending time with her husband and their children.
314-858-9799 ext. 3 emily@stlestate.com
Michelle - Client Care Coordinator
Emily - Client Services and Success
Emily - Client Services and Success
Our client care coordinator, Michelle, earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Missouri State University. Michelle grew up in St. Louis, but lived in Wisconsin for thirteen years. Her work experience includes assisting commercial accounts in advertising sales and working for a construction firm as an administrative assistant and marketing coordinator. After her family relocated to St. Louis, she became an active parent volunteer and teacher's aide. Michelle started at our company in early 2021 and has assisted over 1300 families with their estate planning needs. She works behind the scenes, making sure we deliver a flawless product to our clients. Michelle is a sports fan who enjoys walking, playing golf and spending time with family and friends.
314-858-9799 ext. 4 michelle@stlestate.com
Angie - Assistant and Receptionist
Emily - Client Services and Success
Angie - Assistant and Receptionist
Our receptionist and administrative assistant, Angie, grew up in St. Louis and earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Quincy University in Quincy, IL. She has over 25 years of combined experience in the hospitality and tourism industries, including several years as an event planner for fundraising events. Angie is outgoing, friendly and client-oriented, and loves to meet new people. She will probably be one of the first employees to greet you as you are welcomed to our office. Angie enjoys spending time with her children and family and loves the outdoors and exploring in nature. She especially loves hiking, walking, and being at the lake in both Missouri and Illinois.
314-858-9799 ext. 0 angie@stlestate.com