This two day conference consists of a series of lecture sessions designed to examine in detail current developments in the estate and gift tax field; strengthen the practitioners knowledge and application of estate planning techniques to a multitude of diverse and complex problems; and to provide a forum for the discussion of important estate planning problems and their solutions. The sessions will be led by a group of conference faculty members comprised of estate planning and tax practitioners and legal scholars. Faculty members have been selected for their knowledge of the subjects, teaching skills, and ability to communicate clearly.
Billing in a Pareto Optimal World: Creative Practice Management Techniques to Match Excellent Estate Planning with the Clients Willingness to Pay for Services
1:15pm - 2:45pm
Louis S. Harrison, Harrison & Held LLP
This presentation will review best practices that should be considered by estate planners in their management of clients estate planning expectations and billing. Areas to be discussed will include fees and structuring fee arrangements with clients, understanding and developing bill formats and protocols, and re-tooling practice styles to match client expectations when it comes to billing. Specific items include the importance of demonstrating value to clients relative to the expected fees and tolerance for fees; how to manage clients expectations; hourly rates versus fixed fees for estate planning work; how to improve on clients perceptions as to the hourly fee; how to increase collections upon billing; setting flat fees and the types of projects for which they are acceptable, as well as the process by which the planner should discuss this alternative with the client and also set the fee; taking into account client behavior as to their estate planning and the payment of fees and focusing on client behavior in developing the estate planning project, expectations, timetable, and billing structure; and structuring estate planning work so that it is done both economically and effectively. We will focus on steps to enhance the profitability of an estate planning and administration practice, while reducing risk, by focusing more on the importance of the billing process and integrating effectively that process into the overall estate planning project.
Break
2:45pm - 3:00pm
Protecting the Surviving Spouse: If Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy
3:00pm - 4:00pm
John T. Midgett, Midgett & Preti, PC
This session will provide an examination of various rights a surviving spouse may have in a decedents estate. A review of the laws of various states will reveal techniques to provide benefits to a surviving spouse during probate administration and provide guidelines for drafting wills and trusts to avoid disputes and litigation.
The Twists and Turns of 529 Accounts
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Susan T. Bart, Sidley Austin LLP
529 savings accounts provide a tax-advantaged way for clients to save for college and graduate school, but advisors need to be able to guide their clients through the complicated rules and potential pitfalls. This presentation will examine the tax and other advantages of 529 accounts. Ms. Bart will also discuss the complexities of five-year election, gift tax consequences of changing beneficiaries, income tax consequences of nonqualified distributions, estate tax inclusion, and anti-abuse rules.
If you intend to take a course for CLE credit, please make sure your state is listed in the "Accreditation" section to the upper right of the program description. Accreditation displayed is unique to the purchased program format (live conference, live webcast, on demand, podcast). Credit totals listed for live conferences are the maximum credits available. Credits issued will be based upon actual time in attendance. Credit totals for other formats are for complete programs. Partial credit is not available for any online or downloadable format.
West LegalEdcenter will not provide accreditation for states not listed.
This product is intended for individual use by the named purchaser. Group viewings for online programs may be arranged for five or more attorneys within the same organization prior to viewing by emailing sales@westlegaledcenter.com.
