8:00–9:00 a.m. | BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION | |
9:00–9:05 a.m. | Welcome and Introduction | Adam Damerow, Katten |
9:05–9:55 a.m. | Recent Developments / New Tax Law In this session, the speakers will discuss recent case law, statutory law and IRS rulings relating to trusts and estates. Topics will include: Important case law and IRS rulings concerning transfer taxation and planning techniques; Important new statutory law relating to trusts and estates; and Other recent developments and hot topics impacting private wealth advisors.
| Benji Lavin, Katten
Brianna Garland, Katten
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9:55–10:45 a.m. | For Richer or Poorer: Estate Planning Before, During, and After Marriage In this session, the speakers will discuss key estate planning considerations throughout the marital life cycle, from planning before marriage to strategies for spouses during marriage and the impact of divorce on an existing estate plan. The session will explore practical approaches to protecting family wealth while balancing the interests of spouses, children and future generations. Topics will include: Premarital planning strategies, including the role of prenuptial agreements and other techniques for protecting family and inherited wealth; Estate planning during marriage, including strategies for transferring wealth between spouses and planning for children and future generations; and The impact of separation and divorce on estate plans, including considerations for wills, trusts, beneficiary designations and other existing planning structures.
| Chris Hopkins, Katten
Kaitlin M. Post, Beermann Law
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10:45–10:55 a.m. | BREAK | |
10:55–11:45 a.m. | Trends in Cross-Border Planning In this session, the speakers will discuss recent trends impacting the US wealth planner. This session will involve discussion mobile US clients, US clients desiring to purchase non-US real estate, and US clients seeking better investment opportunities by opening non-US companies or shifting global hubs. Topics will include: The Mobile US Client: This topic will include a discussion on US clients seeking visas, dual passports, permanently moving abroad, or expatriating. The US Client and Non-US Real Estate: This topic will include a discussion of US clients desiring to purchase a non-US vacation home or rental property (or mix of the two). The US Client and Shifting Global Hubs for Investment: This topic will include a discussion on US clients creating non-US companies in an effort to broaden investment opportunities.
| Nicholas Heuer, Katten
Caitlyn Jensen, Katten
Kavindra Wegodapola, Deloitte
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11:45 a.m.–12:35 p.m. | The Plan Isn’t Finished: Post-Death Planning Opportunities in Estate and Trust Administration A client’s death often marks the beginning - not the end - of important planning decisions. This session will explore sophisticated tax, funding and trust-administration issues that arise after death and how estate-planning counsel, fiduciaries and wealth advisors can work together to identify planning opportunities and avoid unintended consequences. Topics will include: Post-death tax and planning opportunities, including portability, basis planning, disclaimers and other key elections and funding decisions Strategic funding of marital, credit shelter, GST-exempt and other continuing trusts Navigating difficult assets, beneficiary concerns and fiduciary succession issues Modifying or restructuring existing trusts through decanting, nonjudicial settlement agreements, trust protector powers and other techniques when the original estate plan no longer fits current circumstances Managing fiduciary risk and beneficiary relationships throughout the administration, including documentation, accountings, consents, releases and final distributions
| Kelli Plotz, Katten
Caitlin Kelly, Katten |
12:35–12:55 p.m. | BREAK | |
12:55–1:45 p.m. | Keynote Lunch: Using Taxes To Settle Trust and Estate Disputes This session will examine both proceedings that parties can bring to reduce taxes, and the ability to use tax planning in contentious situations to create additional funds with which to settle substantive disputes. Topics will include: Understanding the net impact of various forms of taxes Understanding how to correct tax problems Understanding the tax treatment of settlements Identifying appropriate settlement strategies
| Joshua Rubenstein, Katten |
1:45–2:35 p.m. | The Natural Beauty of Testamentary Charitable Trusts In this session, the speakers will discuss the wonders of charitable trusts and how families can use them at death to achieve a beautiful combination of achieving a family’s philanthropic goals while also reducing the family’s estate tax and transferring additional wealth to the next generation. Topics will include: Brief recap of charitable planning strategies at death to reduce estate tax; Using testamentary charitable lead annuity trusts (CLAT) in connection with a closely held family business; and Illustration of a combination of testamentary CLAT and charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) strategies to provide a stream of income to children after the parents’ deaths.
| Cynthia Altchek, Katten
Adam Damerow, Katten |
2:35–2:45 p.m. | BREAK | |
2:45–3:35 p.m. | Business Tax Planning: Preparing for Transactions, Transitions and Liquidity In this session, speakers will discuss key tax and business planning considerations for business owners and investors, from structuring an investment through preparing for a potential transaction or liquidity event. Against the backdrop of the current economic, political and tax environment, the discussion will explore planning opportunities and considerations that can help position business owners for after-tax efficient results for strategic alternatives, transitions and other liquidity events. Topics will include: Economic and Political Climate Choice of Entity, including Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Strategic Alternative Transactions Transition Timing and Planning Preparing for a Transaction Basic Liquidity Structuring 2026 Changes in Illinois Tax Rules
| Saul Rudo, Katten
Valentina Famparska, Katten |
3:35–4:25 p.m. | Governing the Family Office: Building Structures That Last Across Generations Family offices are becoming more institutional, yet only about a third have a defined succession plan in place. In this session, a panel of seasoned advisors will share practical, real-world lessons on how families are designing governance that endures, from family constitutions and family councils to investment committees and independent boards. The discussion will focus on the most consequential decisions families face today: preparing and integrating the next generation, planning leadership transitions within both the family and the family office, recruiting and retaining professional talent, and avoiding the common (and costly) governance missteps that derail multigenerational continuity. Topics will include: Designing the right governance framework (family charters, councils, and committee structures) and knowing when to formalize as wealth and family complexity grow. Succession and leadership transitions, including next-generation readiness and the growing shift toward outside (non-family) leadership. Building and retaining talent, plus the critical questions advisors should be asking, and the most common, costly governance mistakes to avoid.
| David Allen, Katten
Pamela Lucina, Northern Trust
Dr. David Lansky, The Family Business Consulting Group
Laura Nanette Gambineri-Giese, Trusted Governance |
4:25–5:15 p.m. | The Great Wealth Transfer: Transitioning Your Family Business Over the next two decades, an estimated $84 trillion or more will pass to the next generation in what has become known as the “Great Wealth Transfer.” For owners of family-held and closely held businesses, the decisions they make today about succession, governance, liquidity and growth will determine whether that wealth and legacy endure or erode. In this session, the speakers will walk through the critical business, legal and wealth transfer considerations for transitioning a family business, whether to the next generation or through a partial or full liquidity event and how proactive planning preserves value and options. Topics will include: Four paths for transitioning your business, and how to match the right path to your goals. Wealth transfer and estate planning strategies to minimize estate and transfer taxes, and a refresher on core planning techniques to protect your enterprise today. Optimizing for a liquidity event in order to maximize enterprise value and streamline the exit process.
| Michael Sherlock, Katten
Andrew McKay, Katten
Jay Mansker, Katten |
5:15 p.m. | NETWORKING RECEPTION | |
