Past Events

We regularly hold educational programs for clients and the public on various estate planning topics. To view and register for upcoming events, please refer to our Events Page.The following is a list of past events sponsored by our firm:

Gretchen Kenney

September 8, 2011: Medicare, Medi-Cal and Long Term Care Planning

Presented by Gretchen Kenney and HICAP LTC Educator and Program Specialist Christine Tschummi
Do you know the difference between Medi-cal & Medicare? How do these government programs factor in to Long-Term Care planning? How does the new economy, budget and politics affect these programs? Please join us for a sobering discussion of these critical issues that affect the security of our aging clients and their parents, and learn about planning opportunities that may soon be extinct.

John Levy

The Economy - a New World Order? Changing Factors That Need To Be Part Of All Economic Planning presented by John Levy, CPA, PFS, CFP®
Thursday, August 25, 2011: 1 - 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at: 1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402
 
The impact of the credit crisis and the massive governmental responses will impact everyone's future - worldwide.   Fold in the critical changes in demographics due to the retirement of U.S. baby boomers and the evolutionary/revolutionary changes in information exchange, and your basic thinking about planning for economic realities should be "revisited.”  This will be an economic discussion about The Future.

Robert D. Vale

Planning to Preserve Property Tax Benefits presented by Robert D. Vale, Esq. of McDowall Cotter, APC
Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at: 1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402

With a $5 million exemption, many clients have been lulled into thinking that they don't need to pursue estate planning. Of course, as planners we know that there a thousand other reasons beyond the estate tax to properly plan one's estate. Come to learn about the tax that affects virtually 100% of our clients - the property tax - and what should be done to preserve exemptions and benefits that are available to our clients, but only if they affirmatively plan and claim them.

Gretchen Kenney

Legal Capacity and What to Do Before You Lose It presented by Gretchen J. Kenney of Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Thursday, July 28, 2011 -- 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at:  1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402

More and more often, we are finding that "Legal Capacity" is being questioned by our clients' children. What is the standard for legal capacity? Do medical diagnoses impact capacity? Who can determine if someone is "incapacitated" or "incompetent" (do we use that word in California?)? If you or your client still has it, what should be done to ensure a secure future, minimize conflict and expense and to take advantage of legal and financial planning opportunities?

Legal Realities of Turning 18: The Life Prep Course for Parents & Young Adults
Saturday, July 16, 2011-- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at:  1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402

• Is your child turning 18 and leaving home or heading off to college this fall?
• Have you sat down and explained how life changes when a person is a legal adult?
• Have you thought about how this might impact your own exposure and liability?

This workshop is designed for parents and their 18-22 year old children to help them understand the legal realities as children go out into the world as young adults. We’ll cover the legal implications regarding:

• Moving out and apartment leases
• Credit, finances, identity theft       
• Cars, driving and auto insurance
• Alcohol and drugs                              
• Health care and medical information                        
• Civil liabilities
• Criminal behavior - web, financial, and sexual activities
• And most importantly, how to legally protect the family  

                                     
Parents and children are strongly encouraged to attend and learn together. Registration is $25 per family (up to 6 family members, additional family members are $5 each). For more information, please call 650.525.0234.
 

Lori Adasiewicz Palmatier

Thursday Insights: The Anatomy & Implementation of your Future Practice facilitated by Lori Adasiewicz Palmatier, Esq. of Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Thursday, July 14, 2011 -- 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at:  1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402

Times for our industry have been tough. This session is designed to help advisors learn more about what your practice is and what it needs. We will take you through an unique and objective way to look at your practice that allows you to discover the realities of your business and gain clarity on what you do and why it's important to consumers, and how to better communicate your value proposition.

David Rosenbaum, McDowall Cotter APC

Thursday Insights: What Wealth Planners Need to Know about Estate Litigation - 2011 Update with David Rosenbaum of McDowall Cotter APC
Thursday, June 23, 2011-- 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at:  1528 S El Camino Real #108, San Mateo, CA 94402

Understanding financial & legal strategies is one thing, but understanding the litigation that might arise out of it is another.  Learn from David how seemingly straight-forward investment actions, situations, and/or trust language can cause litigation between family member beneficiaries and how advisors can help before, during, and after.  Explore and understand the world of estate and probate litigation and how it will affect your client families and how to help.

Lawrence Pon

Thursday Insights:Charitable Techniques, including Charitable IRA Rollover presented by Larry Pon, CPA
Thursday, June 9, 2011--4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at: 1528 South El Camino Real, Suite 108, San Mateo, CA 94402  

We'll review why retirement plan assets are good source of charitable gifts, tax update on retirement plan benefits, and when does the Charitable IRA Rollover make sense. Larry is one of the best and most comprehensive speakers on income tax planning that we've met and his presentations tend to be full to capacity. Be sure to reserve your seat early for this can't-miss presentation. Also, you are invited to bring your real-life case studies and issues encountered in your practice.

ElderCare Faire

ElderCare Faire
Saturday, April 30, 2011--9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Located at: Silicon Valley Community Foundation - San Mateo Conference Center

This event is specially designed for people who are caring for an elder loved one at home, or who may be soon. The idea for the day is to:
 

• Learn in workshops with community experts
• See demonstrations and gather information
• Interface with public agencies
• Meet local service providers
• Find non-profit organizations that can help
• Be informed, have fun and get support!

 
Think this doesn't affect you? Guess again! A number of societal and medical factors are combining into the “perfect storm” for our aging population:

• People are living longer physically, but science has not cured the brain of the aging process, and more people will rely on assistance as they age than ever before;
• Nearly 70% of Americans do not have any estate plan at all (do your parents? if so, how long ago was it done?);
• Among the ones who do have an estate plan, many do not have adequate long term care insurance or specific provisions relating to incapacity;
• The proliferation of claims made against long-term care policies that have already been issued has caused the price to go up and for many people to fail to qualify; and
• More than 65 million people in the U.S. take care of a chronically ill, disabled or elderly loved one.

Because of this, it’s very important for all adults and not just elders to be educated before any kind of health or capacity crisis occurs. We will have local resources on site at informational booths, and to have two tracks of speakers and panel discussions on various topics throughout the day on topics such as:

• Long Term Care & Financing Options
• Senior Housing
• Medi-Cal Eligibility & Planning
• Duties of Successor Trustees, Agents & Conservators
• Nutrition & Activities for Longevity
• Probate and Trusts
• Alzheimers News & Treatments
• and more!

Judy Schwartz

Andy Block

2011 Mortgage Planning Update with Judy Schwartz and Andy Block

Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm
 
Judy will focus on uses of Reverse Mortgages, especially in light of changes implemented in October.  Andy will discuss the current state of the Forward Mortgage environment, including changes in qualifying guidelines and the important differences between Conforming and Jumbo loans

.

Tom Zachystal

The Well-Diversified and Risk-Managed Portfolio with Tom Zachystal, President of Individual Asset Management, Inc.
Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 4:00 pm

Most of the “investment”-type presentations are geared towards “where to invest” rather than how to set up an investment portfolio to mitigate risk. Even within the wealth planning industry, many people don’t fully understand proper investment diversification, risk control using derivatives or hedging, and so on. This presentation will address these issues and more, including how to manage a concentrated stock position in a portfolio – something that is quite common in Silicon Valley. Also covered will be the hot topic of holding foreign currencies like the newly available Chinese Yuan as part of an investment portfolio.

Gretchen Kenney

The Realities of Conservatorship with Gretchen Kenney, Esq.
Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 4:00pm

Most clients have never heard about "Conservatorship" until someone they love is in the situation of needing one. Come to learn about the various kinds of conservatorships, the process the courts follow in conservatorship matters, the alternatives to conservatorships and why your clients need to plan to avoid Conservatorship altogether.

Lori Adasiewicz Palmatier

Planning for 401(k) and IRA Accounts with Lori Adasiewicz, Esq.
February 10, 2011 at 4:00pm

Retirement accounts are among the most complex assets when it comes to estate planning. Come to this program to learn about beneficiary designation options, the rules for naming a trust and how best to maximize income tax deferral for your clients.

Elder Care: A FamilyCare Workshop on Growing Older, Incapacity & Long-Term Care Planning
Wednesday, February 9, 2011--9:30 am to 11:00 am
Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Located at: 1528 S. El Camino Real, Suite 108, San Mateo, CA 94402

Bay Laurel Law Group invites you, your loved one, friends, neighbors, anyone confronting the possibility of caring for aging parent to this special question and answer session

The Unique Risk Management Challenges of the Affluent with Alan Kimberling, Chartis Insurance
January 27, 2011 at 4:00pm
 
NOTE: This program qualifies for one hour of continuing education credit!!
 
Affluence, by its nature, also creates new loss exposures. Never before have the wealthy been as exposed to loss as they are today. Property damage and theft of valuable assets is always a problem. But the wealthy also have to be concerned about the threats of terrorism, natural catastrophes, identity theft and other forms of cyber-crime, political instability (in regions of the world in which they travel and/or own property), liability claims and even kidnapping.

These new and growing threats have changed the paradigm in dealing with the insurance needs of the wealthy. Historically, loss exposures were dealt with simply by purchasing insurance to address a specific need. Today, risk management strategies (which had formerly been the exclusive province of corporations) are critical to effectively address these exposures in a pro-active, comprehensive manner.  During this program, Alan will review the principles and concepts underlying risk management planning for the affluent. The program will be particularly valuable to producers and others who have direct contact with the insurance buyer, as this strategy has the potential to develop long-term, profitable client relationships.
 
About Alan Kimberling
 
Alan Kimberling is the Business Development Manager in the San Francisco region for Private Client Group, a division of Chartis Insurance. Private Client Group provides personal insurance and risk management solutions to affluent individuals and their families.  In this role, he is responsible for the strategic growth of PCG business in his territory.  Mr. Kimberling is married with two sons, ages 9 and 12.

Mr. Kimberling has over 15 years of professional experience in the personal insurance world. Prior to joining Private Client Group in 2007, he managed the Northern California territory for The Hartford Insurance Group.  He has also worked at Progressive Insurance Corp as a Territory Sales Manager, managing a territory consisting of over 150 independent brokers and agents throughout the Western Zone.

Mr. Kimberling has a Bachelors of Science degree in Communications, with an option in Media Arts.   Prior to his career in insurance, Mr. Kimberling was a news/sports reporter for an ABC affiliate.  He has taken this experience to the insurance world, specializing in conducting local events and continuing education courses for the property & casualty market, focusing on risk management protection for affluent individuals and their families.

Lawrence Pon

Income Tax Update with Lawrence Pon, CPA
January 13, 2011 at 4:00 pm

This program was one of the best-attended in 2010! Please join us for an up-to-the-minute briefing on the 2011 tax law changes. Larry is an informative and fun teacher on tax topics, and this is sure to be one of the best programs of the year!
 
Mr. Pon is a Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist, Certified Financial Planner, Enrolled Agent, and United States Tax Court Practitioner. He has been providing tax and accounting services to small businesses and individuals for the past 25 years. Mr. Pon speaks regularly to groups about tax, financial, and estate planning. His articles and tax tips have appeared in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, San Jose Mercury News, and Money Magazine.

He lives with his wife Tracie and daughter Sydney and son Andrew in Redwood Shores. Mr. Pon serves on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau, Advisory Board of the Asian Pacific Fund, and Professional Advisor Committee for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Mr. Pon is the chair of the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee, serve on the Bond Oversight Committee, and the New Shores School Advisory Committee for the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District.

Larry’s professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Planning Association, Northern California Planned Giving Council, Peninsula Estate Planning Council, National Association of Enrolled Agents, California Society of Enrolled Agents, and California Society of CPAs.

Last Thursday Insights of 2010 and Holiday Party at Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
December 2, 2010: 4:00 - 7:30pm
Please come by for one last THINs for 2010, followed by an Open House and holiday party for all.

Should We Pull the Plug on Grandma, or Just Convince Her to Give It Away Before the End of 2010? with Mark Shepard, Esq., Crist, Biorn, Shepherd & Roskoph
Thursday, November 18, 2010 - PEPC
Peninsula Estate Planning Council regular meeting
Crowne Plaza, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City

Hannah Shaw Grove

A WEBINAR WITH HANNAH SHAW GROVE ...
Women of Wealth: Understand and Work More Effectively with Today's Wealthy Females
Monday, November 15, 2010 at 11:00am
 
Women are rapidly becoming a bigger part of the high-net-worth population, but there are key factors that make them different from their wealthy male counterparts. These characteristics influence how they think, make decisions, manage businesses, spend money and engage in relationships, among other things. This webinar will highlight the unique qualities of affluent females and provide insights on their financial, philanthropic and lifestyle behavior.

Event Highlights

• Demographics and Psychographics
• Primary Financial Interests and Concerns
• Expectations for Advisory Relationships
• Bonus Discussion
• The Priorities and Preferences of Affluent Widows

Hannah Shaw Grove is author of Women of Wealth: Understanding Today’s Affluent Female Investors and Executive Editor, Private Wealth magazine.

Gretchen Kenney

Caring for our Elders: Financial Abuse, Conservatorships, and Prevention with Gretchen Kenney, Esq.
Thursday, November  11, 2010 at 4:00pm

Beyond Medi-Cal, what are the planning issues most relevant to the elder population? Come to learn how to issue spot, what are the alternatives to conservatorship, the identifying characteristics of elder financial abuse and who are mandatory reporters.]]

California Forum: Focus on Real Estate
November 10, 2010 - All Day

Location in SF Bay Area TBA. For more information, please contact Bay Laurel Law Group.
 

Brett lytle

Realities of Defined Benefit and Pension Plans with Brett Lytle and Matt Bond at Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
October 28, 2010 at 4:00 - 5:30pm

We will learn and revisit "The Pension Protection Act of 2006" and what it means to us today.   We will discuss how to maximize the funding of these plans and ways to create tax free income.  We will also discuss how pension plans can be your clients best asset protection and wealth transfer tool.  Finally, we will show examples of incorporating Defined Benefit Pension Plans with the 2010 Roth Conversion to create the maximum benefits for you and your clients.

Peninsula Estate Planning Council Meeting
Debt Forgiveness with Michael J. O'Connor, CPA, Seiler & Company held at Crowne Plaza Foster City, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA
October 21, 2010

For more information, please visit:
http://peninsulaestateplanningcouncil.org/

Barry Williams

Investment Strategies to Mitigate Today’s Low Yield, High Tax Environment presented by Barry Williams, Merrill Lynch
Friday, October 14, 2010
 
Low yields? higher taxes?  Ever considered Municipal investments as a possible solution? The benefits and risks of investing in these types of vehicles will be reviewed  and  compared to other fixed income instruments as they pertain to the current environment.  Build America bonds as an alternative to Municipals for investors and issuers will also be explained as far as their use and basic details.  The risks of low interest rates, high joblessness, and state budgets will examined and open for discussion.  Barry will explain how one may use these vehicles to reduce risk, manage cash and avoid taxes.

Kathryn Ullrich

Getting to the Top with Kathryn Ullrich at Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
October 7, 2010 at 4:00 - 5:30 pm

• Have you set a long term business goal for success?
• Do you have the skills and experience to be a trusted advisor?
• Are you preparing your practice for resiliency to weather economic downturns?
• Do you understand the skills needed to achieve professional success?

Kathryn Ullrich is an executive recruiter with her own boutique firm in Silicon Valley. She is also the author of the book Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success, where she summarizes what she learned through countless interviews with high-achieving executives. She has identified the skills that are vital to career advancement (aka Business Development), including: Strategic Vision, Customer Perspective, and Communications. Whether you are an employee of another firm, or your own, come to gain insight into the things that set you apart, and maybe one or two things you might need to master in becoming a trusted advisor to your clients and reaching your professional goals.

The Needs-Benefit Approach to Estate Planning (2 day course, CFP, CAP, Insurance credit). Held at McDowall Cotter APC.
Thursday, September 30 - Friday October 1, 2010

18th Annual Estate & Charitable Gift Planning Institute with Roy Adams & Christopher Hoyt (live via webinar) at
SGC Financial, 3 Waters Park Drive, Suite 115, San Mateo, CA
September 23, 2010, 7:00am to 1:00pm

Please join us for the national broadcast featuring two of the nation’s leading authorities on estate planning, taxation & charitable giving: Roy Adams & Christopher Hoyt.  They’ll cover: recent developments in estate taxes, ethics, charitable planning & the use of disclaimers in charitable planning in a six hour live webcast.   The target audience for this web-cast are estate planning attorneys, trust officers, CPA’s and CFP’s. Application will be made for continuing education credits for CLE, CPA, CTFA and CFP. Co-sponsored by SGC Financial, Peninsula Estate Planning Council, Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP and McDowall Cotter APC.

Also on September 23, 2010 at 4:00-5:30pm
Life-Cycle Buy Sells presented by Channing Schmidt, JD, Advanced Counsel with Securian at Bay Laurel Law Group

HOT Information for Clients with Real Estate Loans
at SGC Financial, 3 Waters Park Drive, Suite 115, San Mateo, CA
September 20, 2010 at 12:00-1:30pm or 4:00-5:30pm

Many of your clients may be facing challenging new legal issues related to their real estate portfolios. Many of those issues revolve around commercial or other investment property loans, financing practices, and or products. Recent laws (including the H.R. 4173 Financial Reform Bill) may impact your clients past, current or future real estate transactions and proper planning may help mitigate possible negative outcomes. Many clients are currently accessing assets under management to provide financial resources to either place under management at a bank who made the loan - or to pay down loans on underwater property. This presentation is especially important for financial advisors with assets under management, trust companies holding encumbered real estate, and any key advisor who needs to be at the top of their game. Your clients may find legal relief they and you did not know existed! As key advisors, let's help our clients understand their options.
      
Special Guest:
Joseph J. Strazzeri, Esq.
Founder of the Southern California Institute
 

Peninsula Estate Planning Council Dinner Meeting: Filing a Complete Gift Tax or Estate Tax Return with Brijinder Grewal, Estate & Gift Tax Attorney, IRS, held at Crowne Plaza Foster City, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA
September 16, 2010 at 6:00-8:00pm
For more information, please visit: http://peninsulaestateplanningcouncil.org/

David Rosenbaum

What Wealth Planners Need to Know about Estate Litigation with David Rosenbaum, Esq. @ Bay Laurel Law Group.
September 9, 2010 at 4:00-5:30pm

Understanding financial & legal strategies is one thing, but understanding the litigation that might come up because of it is another.  Learn from David how seemingly straight forward investment actions, situations, and/or trust language can cause litigation between family member beneficiaries and how advisors can help before, during, and after.  In this case study driven course, explore and understand the world of estate and probate litigation and how it will affect your client families and how to help.

Lori Adasiewicz Palmatier

The Lesse Case Study, Lori Adasiewicz, Esq.
August 19, 2010:

From this case study approach, brainstorm, consider, review and understand different integrated wealth, asset protection, income tax, and investment strategies. From an actual case, review detailed numbers, facts, goals, and concerns of “Robert & Kristi Lesse”, a young couple (45 and 34 years old respectively) who have been married for 10 years. They have a 17 year old son from Rob’s previous marriage (lives with his mother) and a 3 year old son together. Rob and Kristi have over $15,000,000 in assets and only non-integrated “planning.” Come learn how to help them to achieve their goals of maintaining their customary lifestyle while providing for each other and their family; providing for and incentivizing their children in such a way as to pass on educational and work ethic values; saving on current income taxes; eliminating federal estate taxes; protecting themselves from predators and creditors (and their children after their death); protecting their home and possible future busiensses; ensuring Kristi and the children are taken care of in the event of Rob’s death; lending a helping hand to family members; and endowing a family charitable cause in which future generations can participate.

Alexandra Gadzo

Where is the “Compromise” in Offer in Compromise?
Alexandra Gadzo, Esq., The Gadzo Law Firm
Thursday Insights, July 29 at 4:00pm:

With the IRS becoming hungrier by the minute and more of our clients and their children in financial straits, Alexandra will be giving us a primer on navigating IRS collections practices and procedures. Come to learn more so that you can guide your clients through the process, or direct them to qualified professionals who can.

Lori Adasiewicz Palmatier

Understanding Business Transfer Motives
Lori Adasiewicz, Esq., Bay Laurel Law Group, LLP
Thursday Insights, July 8 at 4:00pm:

Business succession planning is often difficult for business owners – and for their advisors – because the particular owner may have multiple and sometimes competing transfer motives. However, the owner may not fully understand these various motives, or what is truly driving the transfer of the business. Doing so, however, has a profound impact on business owners’ willingness to move forward with any proposed succession plan. Join us for this critical yet foundational business succession talk where we will address:

• The importance of determining, early on in the planning process, the business owner’s motives
• Matching the business owner’s motives with possible transfer channels
• How those transfer channels influence the ultimate transfer method or methods chosen
• How the business transfer methods selected impact the value of the company
• The importance of discussing all of the above with the business owner so as to enhance the business owner’s efficacy of the planning process, both business and personal.

Robert Keebler

Advanced Tax Planning Series: Step-Up in Basis Rules with Robert Keebler, CPA
Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 9:45am - 11:00am

As of January 1, 2010, the federal estate tax ceased to exist. However, unless Congress changes the law in the meantime – and there is no guarantee that it will do so – as of January 1, 2011, the federal estate tax comes back with a vengeance. Accordingly, during this “gap period” in the federal estate tax there are different rules that will apply to the step-up in basis. Please plan to join us at our office to listen in on this one-hour webinar where these rules will be explained in detail.
 
Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand critical issues that you can discuss with your clients now and throughout 2010.  The ATPS is designed for tax planners such as accountants, EAs and CPAs, but all are welcome.  

Tom Zirbes

ILITs and Fiduciary Responsibilities relating to Life Insurance with Tom Zirbes of Northstar Resource Group
Thursday Insights, June 24, 2010 at 4:00pm

Do you have clients with irrevocable life insurance trusts? Who is acting as trustee of those trusts? What are the Fiduciary responsibilities involved with serving as the trustee of an ILIT? Does it make a difference whether it is an individual or an institution? What responsibilities do trustees have to review the life insurance policies that they hold and how can they protect themselves and minimize the liability relating to life insurance policies? Tom will discuss and compare the traditional models for TOLI reviews and iCase, a new resource to protect individual trustees as a fiduciary. Come to learn how this can benefit you if you're acting as trustee of ILITs or your clients if they are serving in that capacity.

Needs-Benefit Approach to Estate Planning
June 10-11, 2010 (All day Thursday and Friday)

This two-day intensive covers forms of titling, use of life insurance in estate planning, wills and probate, revocable living trusts, life insurance trusts and charitable remainder trusts. Please join us for free CFP and CLU credits.
 
We hope to see you for all or some of these upcoming events and we look forward to helping you attract new clients, re-approach missed prospects, engage your current clients with new business and to increase your collaborative and cross-referral opportunities.

Successor Trustee Training for Collaborative Wealth Advisors
June 8, 2010, 9:00-11:00am

Have your clients named a child or friend as successor trustee of their living trust?
Has a client named you as successor trustee of their living trust?
Do you know what is entailed with this nomination?
Are you prepared to handle the myriad of questions from children and beneficiaries?
What are the rights and responsibilities of a trustee?
How is trust administration different on incapacity versus at death?
Are you aware that tax and investment advice may be different in these situations?
 
This no cost workshop for professional advisors will address the legal and procedural requirements of trust administration to assist client-trustees and their family members to properly discharge their fiduciary duties.

Team teaching with attorneys from McDowall Cotter, we will address the need for legal, tax, accounting, and complete investment planning in trust administration and probate. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of our Successor Trustee Handbook.

Advisors will be able to leverage the information shared in this workshop to help strengthen relationships with existing clients and their families, to safeguard your integral role in the estate administration process and to remain a trusted advisor after wealth transitions to the next generation.
 

International Wealth Planning Forum
Thursday, May 20, 2010 3:00-5:00pm
Friday, May 21, 2010 8:30pm-5:00pm
CLE and specialization credit applications are pending
 
The International Wealth Planning Forum is our big annual event - covering topics important to legal, tax and financial planners who work with non-citizen and non-domiciliary clients, and clients who have international assets or beneficiaries. This year, we will have an intensive 2 hour session on the Essentials of International Planning and a full day of more advanced topics. We have a cross-border planner, Christine Perry, coming from Toronto to discuss what to do when there's a Canadian in the mix and Max Riederer von Paar will be our keynote speaker on Advanced Strategies for International Clients. For the full agenda and a registration form, please visit: www.IWPForum.com.

Advanced Tax Planning Series: State of Federal Estate Tax with Alan Webster, JD
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 9:45am - 11:00am

As of January 1, 2010, the federal estate tax ceased to exist. However, unless Congress changes the law in the meantime – and there is no guarantee that it will do so – as of January 1, 2011, the federal estate tax comes back with a vengeance. Accordingly, during this “gap period” in the federal estate tax there are several issues that need to be addressed and opportunities that need to be considered. During this one-hour webinar, we will discuss the following topics:

• Impact of no estate tax on the administration of estates and trusts
• Impact of the new carryover basis rules
• Advantages of making gifts and generation-skipping transfers during the “gap period”
• Utilizing GRATs and sales to IDGTs to “supercharge” wealth transfers

Don’t miss this important webinar addressing critical issues you can discuss with your clients now and throughout 2010.  The ATPS is designed for tax planners such as accountants, EAs and CPAs, but all are welcome.  

Thursday Insights
Laureate Case Study: Paul Kaplan
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 4:00-5:30pm
 
Please join me this coming Thursday at 4:00pm for a Laureate Case Study featuring a real client, Paul Kaplan (not his real name) who has several businesses and a net worth of approximately $12 million. We will discuss the process used to reveal and address his concerns and what strategies were ultimately implemented to solve his complex legal and tax concerns.

The state of the insurance industry and the different Insurance Financing Options available to clients
April 8, 2010:

Thomas Brady & Associates is an Independent Insurance Firm with offices in Boston, MA and San Mateo, CA. For over 40 years Thomas Brady & Associates has provided expertise in estate planning, business planning, and insurance review with high net worth individuals and families. The firm does not manage assets, draft documents, provide legal or accounting advice, but collaborates with its clients’ professionals in each of these areas while acting as the expert in insurance planning.

Tom Brady, President and Matt McKenzie, Executive Vice President will be presenting on the state of the insurance industry and the different Insurance Financing Options available to clients. Estate planning can be very broad and certain levels of net worth require more sophisticated levels of planning. Many families are limited when it comes to gifting capabilities and trust planning. Tom and Matt will cover the different financing strategies that they utilize when planning with high net worth families and will also show how families are viewing insurance planning as an asset class.  

Catherine Cary

Mediation - Creative Problem Solving to Preserve Nerves and Wealth in Today’s Economy, Catherine Cary, Esq., LL.M.
March 25, 2010

Catherine Cary will be discussing the benefits of “Mediation.”  Learn why mediation can either help avoid litigation or curb the length and cost of a lawsuit or divorce.  What should you get out of or bring to mediation.  Mediation can not only resolve the conflict, but be economical and preserve the relationship. Discuss why medication can not only be used in your business but your personal life as well.

Irma Mitton

Sales & Marketing Tools for Wealth Advisors Series: Social Media Networking for Professional Advisors
Irma Mitton, The Mitton Group
March 18, 2010:
 
Social media can be a powerful tool for building relationships with your clients and colleagues. But where do you start? Which tools are best for you and the audience you want to reach? How do you start the conversation, establish trust, and drive demand for your services?

Veteran marketing consultant Irma Mitton will explain the social media marketing “ecosystem”, with a special focus on the best tools for wealth strategy professionals, and how to use them efficiently and effectively. Knowing how to communicate with your clients in this information-saturated age is pivotal to your continued success.

Judy Schwartz

Andy Block

Mortgage Planning Update
Andy Block, OPES Advisors & Judy Schwartz, Reverse Mortgages Only
March 4, 2010

Andy and Judy will discuss the latest regulatory and guideline changes affecting  the Traditional Mortgage and Reverse Mortgage industries.

Understanding the changed lending environment is critical in advising clients who may need to access their existing home equity or finance new residential real estate.

Sales & Marketing Tools for Wealth Advisors Series: Innovative Financial Products for 2010
Matt Bond, SGC Financial
February 11, 2010

Matt Bond will be discussing features and benefits of Minnesota Life’s Eclipse Index Universal Life product and highlight the product’s application in the wealth transfer and estate liquidity planning space.

Kevin Urbatsch

Estate Planning for Children with Disabilities, Kevin Urbatsch, Esq.
February 4, 2010

This seminar will cover: the types of disability a child must have that requires additional planning; the required provisions of a third party special needs trust to preserve eligibility for needs-based public benefits; the other important planning issues parents wish to see covered for their child with disabilities, e.g., advocating for services, education and care for the child with a disability, what happens if the child is no longer considered disabled, and who will be responsible for caring for my child when the parents are no longer able to do so, and what is a limited conservatorship and do I need one.

David Holmes

Investment Policy Statements for Trusts
David Holmes, Dunham Trust Company
October 29, 2009

An important duty of a fiduciary or trustee is the creation and maintenance of an investment policy statement. This is an important written document that should clearly define your objectives and constraints over a relevant, explicitly stated time horizon. The IPS is the linkage between you, financial advisors, investment managers, and your portfolio(s).

Come to learn how to construct Investment Policy Statements for trusts - which help to increase the probability of success in achieving long-term investment goals and help to reduce fiduciary liability for the investment of trust assets.

David L. Holmes is the Chief Investment Officer of Dunham Trust Company since the acquisition of Adagio Trust Company by Dunham Trust Company on January 1, 2009. From 2000 through 2008, Mr. Holmes founded and built Adagio Trust Company to provide a multi-family office private trust company model to wealthy clients that used proprietary separate account investment strategies and products created by Mr. Holmes. Prior to Adagio, Mr. Holmes was with Whittier Trust Company of Nevada from early 1995 through late 1999.