Course1

Trust in Estate Planning in 2024: Looking Forward

$79.00

Trust and estate planning in 2024 will require navigating many rocky patches. There are new assets classes. Inflation is rising. We are still dealing with the ongoing effects of the pandemic. There is legislation pending to substantially alter the taxability of estates. Familiar planning platforms and techniques may no longer be efficacious as change unfolds.  Planning requires not only looking at the law as it is today but as it may change – perhaps dramatically – during the year. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning in the uncertainty of 2022.   Tax legislation that will or has changed the taxability of estates Planning with rising inflation – and higher interest rates? Trends in valuation of estates with higher rates Considering how to handle new asset classes Planning for the ongoing effects of the pandemic   Speakers: Michael Sneeringer a partner in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute.  Mr. Sneeringer received his B.A. from Washington & Jefferson College, his J.D., cum laude, St. Thomas University School of Law, and his LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law. Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  Ms. Vaselaney received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/15/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Family Disputes & Trusts: Practical Strategies to Preserve Family Wealth

$79.00

Family feuds are the most destructive force in trust and estate planning. When a senior generation of a family dies or decides to pull back from leading a family business, long suppressed inter-personal conflicts rise to the surface and have often a substantially adverse impact on the business’s operations and value. These disputes often place planners in the extremely difficult spot of having gain the trust of warring factions, understand their grievances, and use the tools of planning to help them and the company find a value-preserving resolution of their conflicts. This program will provide you with a guide to identifying and resolving family feuds in trusts.   Sources of family feuds in trusts and techniques to resolve short of litigation Disputes involving distributions, control of family assets, personal rivalries, lack of communication Techniques for resolution – outside consultants, ongoing family meetings, lifetime gifting, distribution standards How choosing trustees can provoke or alleviate family disputes How to work with warring family factions while protecting yourself as lawyer   Speakers: Michael Kenny is counsel in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on commercial, probate, construction, and maritime litigation.  He has represented clients in domestic and international arbitrations, including proceedings before the American Arbitration Association and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. His litigation and arbitration experience includes the preparation and trial of warranty claims and ship repair disputes. Sean Vallencourt is a Litigation Associate in Wiggin and Dana’s New York office.  He represents businesses and individuals in a diverse array of disputes before federal and state courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution tribunals. Prior to joining Wiggin and Dana, Sean served as a law clerk to two federal district judges: Judge Neil V. Wake (District of Arizona) and Chief Judge Sara Darrow (Central District of Illinois). Prior to clerking, he practiced at Phillips Nizer LLP.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/17/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Trust and Estate Planning for Family Businesses, Part 1

$79.00

Most successful businesses are owned by one or more families.  Because they are family owned, these companies create many special planning challenges.  Ownership and control do not shift among non-owner managers. Rather, succession in ownership and management is a momentous and often highly emotional process for members of the family.  Frequently, these transitions are caused by the retirement or death of members of a family member.  And these transitions, if not carefully planned and delicately handled, can be ruinous, damaging the family and their company.  This program will provide you a practical framework of trust and estate planning and succession planning for family businesses.    Day 1: Succession planning in family businesses Counseling clients on how to avoid family drama on succession Valuation issues for financial and tax purposes Buy-sell planning with family members or key employees Selling to third parties where intra-family succession is not possible Planning for the incapacity of the founding generation   Day 2: Life insurance trust planning – or as a compensating asset to certain heirs Structuring private annuities to transfer a business and provide income to founders Self-cancelling installments notes and intentionally defective irrevocable trusts Use of GRATS and “redemptive freezes”   Speaker: Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/22/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Trust and Estate Planning for Family Businesses, Part 2

$79.00

Most successful businesses are owned by one or more families.  Because they are family owned, these companies create many special planning challenges.  Ownership and control do not shift among non-owner managers. Rather, succession in ownership and management is a momentous and often highly emotional process for members of the family.  Frequently, these transitions are caused by the retirement or death of members of a family member.  And these transitions, if not carefully planned and delicately handled, can be ruinous, damaging the family and their company.  This program will provide you a practical framework of trust and estate planning and succession planning for family businesses.    Day 1: Succession planning in family businesses Counseling clients on how to avoid family drama on succession Valuation issues for financial and tax purposes Buy-sell planning with family members or key employees Selling to third parties where intra-family succession is not possible Planning for the incapacity of the founding generation   Day 2: Life insurance trust planning – or as a compensating asset to certain heirs Structuring private annuities to transfer a business and provide income to founders Self-cancelling installments notes and intentionally defective irrevocable trusts Use of GRATS and “redemptive freezes”   Speaker: Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/23/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

AI and Digital Law Practice in Trust and Estate Planning

$79.00

Generative artificial intelligence – the ability of technology to generate creative works that mimic human intelligence – is a growing and potentially dominant reality across industry and the professions, including the legal professions.  The idea that software might someday supplant the role of lawyers in certain areas of practice has suddenly become reality with the advent of ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI.  This program will explore the forms of generative AI and their potential to supplant certain functions performed by lawyers or paralegals, but also how those tools can be harnessed by lawyers to aid their work.   History of Technology in the Law Practice What is AI? What Types of Issues are Present in a Digital Society? Considering how to handle innovative ideas versus tried and true planning Law Firms and Their Usage of AI/Technology   Speakers: Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.   Michael Sneeringer an attorney in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute. 

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 3/8/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Special Issues in Small Trusts

$79.00

There are many more small trusts than large trusts and they pose special challenges for trust planners and administrators.  The fees paid to trustees and to investment professionals, together with ongoing reporting and fiduciary income tax compliance costs, can consume a substantial portion of the trust’s liquid assets or income.  There are also the challenges in the types of assets commonly held by small trusts. In other instances, trusts may cease to be practically and financially viable, and may need to be restructured or even terminated. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting, structuring and administering small trusts – and what to do when they cease to be viable entities.    Economics of small trusts – trustee compensation, reimbursement of expenses, investment fees Challenges of trust management of operating businesses and real estate Restructuring or terminating trusts that are no longer economically viable Custodial accounts and other alternatives to small trusts Choosing a trustee for a small trust versus a larger trust   Speaker: Victoria Bowling is an Associate at Midgett Preti Olansen concentrating in the areas of estate planning and administration. Ms. Bowling has experience crafting uniquely tailored estate plans for her clients and guiding them through the administration process. Ms. Bowling especially enjoys the educational aspect of estate planning, so her clients truly understand their documents and the estate administration process. She is admitted to practice law in Virginia and a member of the Virginia State Bar. Before attending law school, Ms. Bowling was a Deputy Clerk in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and worked as a paralegal for a local family lawyer. 

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 3/16/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Charitable Giving Planning in Trusts and Estates, Part 1

$79.00

Charitable giving can be a major portion of clients’ trust estate planning and introduce substantial complexity. Charitable giving may be motivated less by a desire for tax savings and more by a desire to have an impact on a specific charity or a community.  Clients may also want to retain some measure of control during their lifetimes over the property they are donating and retain income from the property. Though there is a vast array of vehicles and planning techniques to achieve these goals, working through the alternatives is daunting.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the range of charitable giving vehicles, planning techniques to achieve client goals, tax and non-tax tradeoffs, and integrating charitable giving with overall estate plans. Day 1: Charitable giving vehicles and techniques & advantages and disadvantages of each Integrating charitable giving into overall estate plans Use of Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts to achieve client goals Donating life insurance policies and proceeds and related trust issues How to restructure restricted charitable gifts Tax pitfalls of charitable giving Post-mortem charitable giving techniques Day 2: Advantages and disadvantages of using private foundations, supporting organizations, and donor-advised funds Structuring funds to provide maximum flexibility to the endowment and satisfy donor demands for control Donating illiquid and difficult-to-value assets to charity – real estate, interests in closely held businesses, works of art Review of faith-based giving initiatives and related legal issues   Speakers:  Michael Lehmann is a partner in the New York office of Dechert, LLP, where he specializes in tax issues related to non-profits and in the tax treatment of cross-border transactions.  He advises hospitals and other health care providers, research organizations, low-income housing developers, trade associations, private foundations and arts organizations.  He advises clients on obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, executive compensation, reorganizations and joint ventures, acquisitions, and unrelated business income planning.   Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 4/5/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Charitable Giving Planning in Trusts and Estates, Part 2

$79.00

Charitable giving can be a major portion of clients’ trust estate planning and introduce substantial complexity. Charitable giving may be motivated less by a desire for tax savings and more by a desire to have an impact on a specific charity or a community.  Clients may also want to retain some measure of control during their lifetimes over the property they are donating and retain income from the property. Though there is a vast array of vehicles and planning techniques to achieve these goals, working through the alternatives is daunting.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the range of charitable giving vehicles, planning techniques to achieve client goals, tax and non-tax tradeoffs, and integrating charitable giving with overall estate plans. Day 1: Charitable giving vehicles and techniques & advantages and disadvantages of each Integrating charitable giving into overall estate plans Use of Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts to achieve client goals Donating life insurance policies and proceeds and related trust issues How to restructure restricted charitable gifts Tax pitfalls of charitable giving Post-mortem charitable giving techniques Day 2: Advantages and disadvantages of using private foundations, supporting organizations, and donor-advised funds Structuring funds to provide maximum flexibility to the endowment and satisfy donor demands for control Donating illiquid and difficult-to-value assets to charity – real estate, interests in closely held businesses, works of art Review of faith-based giving initiatives and related legal issues   Speakers:  Michael Lehmann is a partner in the New York office of Dechert, LLP, where he specializes in tax issues related to non-profits and in the tax treatment of cross-border transactions.  He advises hospitals and other health care providers, research organizations, low-income housing developers, trade associations, private foundations and arts organizations.  He advises clients on obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, executive compensation, reorganizations and joint ventures, acquisitions, and unrelated business income planning.  Mr. Lehmann received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School, and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law. Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 4/6/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Defending Estate and Gift Tax Audits

$79.00

The IRS reviews every estate and gift tax return and audits them at a far higher rates than income tax returns. When a client return is chosen for examination and audit, an estate is subject to a very time-consuming and costly process.  Understanding the steps in the process, the personnel involved, and the limits of what you can reasonably expect as part of a settlement are all essential to successfully concluding an audit. It’s also very important to understand how returns are selected for exam. This program will provide you with a practical guide preparing for and defending and audit and tips for reducing the risk of triggering an audit. Timeline, process, personnel and deadlines – understanding how an audit unfolds Common audit triggers and how returns are selected for examination Review of common issues on audit – FLP/FLLCs, defined value clauses, insurance policies and lifetime gifts Drafting responses and working with IRS personnel Determining the range of reasonable settlement proposals Important attorney-client privilege, statute of limitation, and evidentiary considerations Speakers: Brian R. Harris is a partner in the Tampa, Florida office of Fogarty Mueller Harris, PLLC, where he represents clients in federal, state, and local tax controversy and litigation throughout the United States. He also represents clients before the IRS, state departments of revenue, and municipalities.  Earlier in his career, he was a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, and lead attorney for the United States and IRS in federal courts across the country. 

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/3/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

How to Hold Business Interests in a Trust

$79.00

There are tax and other benefits to holding a closely-held company or other business interests in a trust.  But there are also substantial risks.  Trusts are typically required to diversify their holdings. But when a company is held in a trust there is almost a highly concentrated, and thus risky, position. Similarly, holding real estate or nontraditional assets also involves issues of liquidity and proper fiduciary and income tax administration. This program will provide you with a real world guide placing business interests in a trust. Dilemmas of operating companies in trusts – concentrated assets, speed, decision-making Concentrated assets and the fiduciary duty to diversify Counseling clients about the right trust for different asset classes Preserving S Corp status or other tax benefits in trust Business succession planning for family businesses Managing minority stakes in operating companies or assets Financial and tax administration traps Speakers: Michael Sneeringer a partner in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute.   Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/16/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

2024 Trust Litigation Update

$79.00

The world is in the midst of the greatest transfer of wealth ever recorded. Baby Boomers retired with more wealth than any earlier generation and retired with more complicated family circumstances.  This wealth and family complexity are giving rise to more trust litigation. This litigation includes the extent to which trust interests are reachable in divorce proceedings; fiduciary investment decisions, the handling of concentrated positions in closely held companies, and arguably tortious interference with trust interests. This program will review significant developments in fiduciary litigation.  Disputes over discretionary decisions, including distributions Tortious interference with inheritance interests Handling concentrated positions in closely held companies Disputes involving operation of family businesses in trusts Counseling clients when fiduciary litigation involves family animosity Speakers:  Steven B. Malech is partner in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he is chair of the firm’s probate litigation practice group.  He is represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries and creditors in disputes involving alleged violations of the Prudent Investor Act and its predecessors, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, disputed accountings, and will contests. He represents clients in cutting edge probate litigation matters involving trusts and estates with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars.   

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/1/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Trust and Estate Planning for Illquid Assets

$79.00

Liquidity is an almost universal need in trust and estate planning. When a client dies, death taxes may need to be paid.  Expenses incurred in administration need to be paid.  Distributions may be required under trust instruments.  For these and many other reasons, estates need cash.  The big challenge comes when the estate has assets that, though valuable, are not liquid.  Assets may include real estate that is not quickly or cost-effectively sold.  Or a successful family business may be involved, where ownership stakes are not easily transferred or for which there is no ready market.  Complex financial assets, artwork or other unique property, hard to value and hard to sell, may also be held.  Trust and estate plans must anticipate the need for liquidity and formulate strategies for providing it or deferring taxes and distributions until liquidity can be created. This program will provide you with a real world guide to practical strategies for creating liquidity in trust and estate planning. Challenges of planning for illiquid assets like real estate, family businesses, and unique property Techniques and tools to fund tax liabilities, distributions, expenses and more Mechanics of electing a deferral of estate tax under IRC Section 6166 Use and advantages of using Graegin notes to obtain liquidity Advantages and disadvantages of use of redemptions and buy-sell agreements Use of life insurance and other financial products to provide liquidity Speakers: Jonathan Gopman is a partner with Akerman, LLP in Naples and chair of the firm’s trusts and estate practice group.  His practice focuses on sophisticated wealth accumulation and preservation planning strategies for entrepreneurs.  He also assists entrepreneurs with their personal and business planning needs at all phases of the wealth accumulation and preservation cycle.  Mr. Gopman is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and co-author of the revised version of the BNA Tax Management Portfolio on Estate Tax Payments and Liabilities.

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/26/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Secured Transactions Practice: Security Agreements to Foreclosures, Part 1

$79.00

Secured transactions are the most common form of commercial transaction and help finance businesses of every size.  They are governed by the complex provisions of UCC Article 9. Getting every detail in financing statements, security agreements, and perfection of credits is essential. Agreements can be costly and time consuming to draft, and full of risk. Failure to comply with UCC Article 9 in drafting security agreements, perfecting a creditor’s interest, or foreclosing a lien can easily cause the value of the underlying transaction to be lost.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide UCC Article 9 practice.   Day 1: Lifecycle of UCC Article 9 secured transactions Drafting cost-effective and enforceable security agreements What to do when something about the debtor changes – e.g., name, location, ownership Accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, intellectual property Anti-assignment provisions regarding collateral Enhancing enforceability of security agreements and reduce risks in foreclosure   Day 2: Framework for the foreclosure of personal property under UCC Article 9 Foreclosing on equipment, inventory, intellectual property, and accounts receivable Duties of junior creditors to senior creditors on foreclosure Rights to proceeds of foreclosure sales and reducing foreclosure costs Rights of guarantors Debtor remedies in the event of a secured party default Cost-efficient alternatives to foreclosures and circumstances when these alternatives are available   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 7/25/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE
Course1

Secured Transactions Practice: Security Agreements to Foreclosures, Part 2

$79.00

Secured transactions are the most common form of commercial transaction and help finance businesses of every size.  They are governed by the complex provisions of UCC Article 9. Getting every detail in financing statements, security agreements, and perfection of credits is essential. Agreements can be costly and time consuming to draft, and full of risk. Failure to comply with UCC Article 9 in drafting security agreements, perfecting a creditor’s interest, or foreclosing a lien can easily cause the value of the underlying transaction to be lost.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide UCC Article 9 practice.   Day 1: Lifecycle of UCC Article 9 secured transactions Drafting cost-effective and enforceable security agreements What to do when something about the debtor changes – e.g., name, location, ownership Accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, intellectual property Anti-assignment provisions regarding collateral Enhancing enforceability of security agreements and reduce risks in foreclosure   Day 2: Framework for the foreclosure of personal property under UCC Article 9 Foreclosing on equipment, inventory, intellectual property, and accounts receivable Duties of junior creditors to senior creditors on foreclosure Rights to proceeds of foreclosure sales and reducing foreclosure costs Rights of guarantors Debtor remedies in the event of a secured party default Cost-efficient alternatives to foreclosures and circumstances when these alternatives are available   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 7/26/2026
    Avail. Until
SEE MORE