Advanced Estate Planning Conference

August 17th

7:30 a.m. – International Update for Domestic Planners

Gain an overview of international planning issues most commonly of interest to domestic professional advisors. Discussion will include advising multinational families and businesses with cross border activities.

Robert D. Colvin/Principal/Robert D. Colvin & Associates/Houston

Thomas M. Wright/Partner/RSM US LLP/Houston

8:30 a.m. – Economic Outlook for Investors and Business Decision Makers

Analyze global and national factors that will impact investment and business decisions in 2017, including inflation, interest rates, global and national monetary policy and U.S. tax and fiscal policy.

Mark G. Dotzour, PhD/Real Estate Economist/College Station

10:00 a.m.  – BREAK

10:15 a.m. – Federal Case Law Update

Learn of noteworthy current developments affecting transfer tax practice. Cover the significant federal transfer tax cases, including fiduciary income tax cases, rulings and pronouncements from August 2016 through July 2017.

R. Bradley Fletcher/Partner/Strasburger & Price, LLP/Dallas

11:45 a.m. – LUNCH BREAK

1:00 p.m. – Series LLCS: Tax, Transactional and Estate Planning Strategies Using Series LLCs

Review the treatment of Series LLCS under the Texas Business Organizations Code and federal law.  Examine planning techniques using Series LLCs in the business and estate planning contexts.

Peter J. Marmo, Attorney/Partner/Crady Jewett & McCulley LLP/Houston

2:3O p.m. – BREAK

2:45 p.m. – Current Issues in Estate and Gift Tax Audits and Litigation

Address a number of current audit and litigation issues from the perspective of seasoned litigator who deals with the IRS on a daily basis.  Discuss issues related to the transfer of hard to value assets, including the Section 2704 Proposed Regulations, formula clauses, GRATs, BDITs, tax return preparation issues, privilege issues and the avoidance of penalties.

John W. Porter/Partner/Baker Botts, LLP/Houston

4:00 p.m. – The 990-PF: How to Reap Savings and Avoid Pitfalls

Learn key tips when preparing Form 990-PF, which private foundations must submit annually. Understand how, when prepared carefully, this form can yield unexpected savings, yet mistakes can expose clients to unpredicted penalties.

Jeffrey D. Haskell, JD, LLM/Chief Legal Officer/Foundation Source/Lake Success, NY

5:00 p.m. – ADJOURN

August 18th

7:30 a.m. – The Heart of Darkness: A Journey Into the GST Jungle

Gain an overview of the basic mechanics of the generation-skipping transfer tax.  Focus on many of the more technical and difficult aspects of this tax, including proper reporting practices and planning. 

Brett T. Berly, JD/Shareholder/Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry/Houston

8:45 a.m. – Marital Property Issues in Estate Planning and Administration

Understand Texas marital property principles and their importance both in planning for, and administering a Texas client’s estate.  Highlight key concepts that will enable better service to married clients.

Tom Featherston/Professor/Baylor Law School/Waco

9:45 a.m. – BREAK

10:00 a.m. – Current Developments in Estate, Gift and Trust Planning

Focus on recent developments in tax and property law of particular significance to high-net-worth individuals and their family offices.  Discuss the current state of federal tax reform, proposed change to state death tax laws and the impact of those changes on estate, gift and trust planning.  Cover topics such as consistent basis regulations, the state of valuation discounts and recent rulings on definted value clauses and charitable gifts.

L. Timothy Halleron, JD/Partner/McDermott Will & Emery LLP/Chicago, IL

Todd Welty, JD, CPA/Partner/Chair Tax Controversy Practice Group/McDermott Will & Emery, LLP/Dallas

11:30 a.m. – LUNCH BREAK

12:45 p.m. – 678 Trusts and Other Advanced Planning Alternatives

Compare and contrast advanced trust planning strategies, focusing on potential benefits achieved and risks involved.

Michael V. Bourland, Attorney/Shareholder/Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC/Fort Worth

Rhonda H. Brink, Attorney/Member/Brink Bennett Flaherty/PLLC/Austin

2:00 p.m. – BREAK

2:15 p.m. – Planning for Privacy in a Public World: The Ethics and Mechanics of Protecting Your Client’s Privacy and Personal Security

Discover how increasing public access to information drives clients to seek solutions securing their privacy and personal security, and how this need is particularly acute for public figures and high net worth clients. Discuss how clients can structure estate plans, charitable gifts and financial transactions in a confidential manner, prevent the disclosure of confidential information by third parties, avoid public litigation, maximize privacy at death and protect themselves against physical and cyber attacks. Review ethical issues practitioners should address when assisting clients with their privacy planning.

Jeff Chadwick, Attorney/Winstead PC/The Woodlands

Jordan M. Ware, Attorney/Shareholder/Winstead PC/Austin

3:15 p.m. – Handling Valuation Experts

Learn how valuation is the key to most factual disputes in transfer tax controversies. Selection and preparation of experts is crucial to resolving these cases at the earliest possible state. Avoid duplication of effort and needless expense by doing it right the first time.

William R. Cousins, III, CPA, JD, LLM/Of Counsel/Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman, LLP/Dallas

4:15 p.m. - ADJOURN

Basic Course Information