Council Information
2024 - 2025 Advertising/Sponsor Opportunities
2025-2026 CEPC Monthly Programs Schedule
All in-person monthly program meetings will be held at the University Club of Chicago.
Please note an informal networking session will be held from 11:30 a.m. - Noon preceding the luncheon programs and from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. preceding breakfast programs.
Virtual and Luncheons Noon - 1:30 p.m..
Breakfast 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
|
DATE |
FORMAT |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSORED BY |
|
September 25, 2025 |
Luncheon |
Note-worthy Planning: Using Loans to Achieve Estate Planning Objectives |
Jane Ditelberg, Northern Trust |
Business Valuation Group, Inc. |
|
October 23, 2025 |
Luncheon |
From IRA to Impact: Charitable Giving Through Retirement Assets and Complex Gifts |
Neil Kawashima and Agnes Kawecki |
JPMorgan |
|
November 20, 2025 |
Breakfast |
Disclose or Don’t? Navigating UTC Disclosure Requirements and Family Dynamics |
Anna Nichols, Altair Advisers Julie Pleshivoy, Taft |
Stout |
|
December 10, 2025 |
Virtual |
Help! My Family Has Gone Global: Cross-Border Estate Planning Challenges and Solutions |
Olivia Brennan, Northern Trust Raveet Phull, Perkins Coie Nick Heuer, Katten |
The Northern Trust Company |
|
January 22, 2026 |
Virtual |
Planning With Purpose: 30 Essential Tips for Advising Families with Special Needs Beneficiaries |
Kristen Lewis, Harrison LLP |
Wintrust Private Trust Company |
|
February 18, 2026 |
Luncheon |
Recent Developments |
David Handler, Kirland & Ellis LLP |
Fifth Third Private Bank |
|
March 12, 2026 |
Breakfast |
Avoiding the Illinois Surprise: Strategic Planning for the State Estate Tax |
Christine Quigley and Susan Bart, ArentFox Schiff |
The Leonard Company |
|
April 22, 2026 |
Luncheon |
Beyond Heirs: Estate Planning for Childfree Clients and Those Without Descendants |
Jennifer Goode, Bernstein |
Wells Fargo |
|
May 14, 2026 |
Luncheon |
Modern Estate Planning: What to do When Family Isn't One-Size Fits-All |
Ray Prather, Prather Ebner Wilson |
The Chicago Community Trust |
|
June 3, 2026 |
Virtual |
Dirt Lawyering: Advanced Tax and Wealth Transfer Strategies for Real Estate Investors |
Farhad Aghdami, Williams Mullen |
Altair Advisers |
2023-2024 CEPC Monthly Programs Schedule
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSORED BY |
|
2023 |
|||
|
September 13, 2023 |
Fostering Longevity for Family Wealth and Legacy: Critical Structural and Governance Decisions |
Austin Fleming Award Recipient Anita M. Sarafa, J.P. Morgan Private Bank |
J.P. Morgan Private Bank |
|
October 18, 2023 |
These are a few of my favorite things—Managing and Planning for Collections During Life and At Death |
Moderator – Stacy Singer, The Northern Trust Company Fred Weber, ArentFox Schiff Michael Darling, Museum Exchange Tim Luke, Hindman Auction/Appraisals |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
November 8, 2023 |
The Sun That Rises Also Sets – Tax Planning in Anticipation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2025 Sunset |
Suzanne Shier, Levenfeld Pearlstein Joe Karczewski, Andersen |
Fifth Third Private Bank |
|
December 7, 2023 |
Practical Application of the ITC |
Jane Ditelberg, The Northern Trust Company Rebecca Wallenfelsz, Chapman & Cutler |
The Northern Trust Company |
|
November/December 2023 |
WEBINAR: Corporate Transparency Act |
Jim Cundiff and Danny Bell, McDermott Will & Emery |
|
|
January 18, 2024 |
Planning for the Business Owner: Differentiating Reality from Theory |
Lou Harrison, Harrison LLP |
CIBC Private Bank |
|
February 15, 2024 |
Recent Developments |
Ryan Walsh, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres |
Business Valuation Group, Inc. |
|
March 21, 2024 |
There's No Place Like Home |
Kirk Hoopingarner, Quarles & Brady LLP |
The Chicago Trust Company |
|
April 18, 2024 |
Not Your Everyday Trusts: What You Need to Know About SLANTs, INGs, BDITs and Other Nonconventional Estate Planning Techniques |
Karin Prangley, Brown Brothers Harriman & Company David Allen, Katten |
Wells Fargo Advisors |
|
May 16, 2024 |
Confidentiality Breach or Not: Revealing Information About a Client’s Testamentary Documents |
Dr. Gerry Beyer, Texas Tech University School of Law |
Stout |
|
June 13, 2024 |
Gray Divorce: Estate Planning Tools |
Beth McCormack, Beermann, LLP |
Altair Advisers |
2021-2022 CEPC Monthly Programs Schedule
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSOR |
|
September 23 |
The Future of Philanthropy and How Wealth |
Austin Fleming Distinguished Service Award |
Stout |
|
October 21 |
Federal Legislation Impacting the T&E World |
Beth Kaufman, Caplin & Drysdale |
CIBC Private Bank |
|
November 18 |
SLATs |
David Handler, Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
December 16 |
Charitable Lead Trust Primer |
Stevie Casteel, Snell & Wilmer LLP |
Wells Fargo Private Bank |
|
January 20 |
Pivot Planning and Drafting to Maximize Flexibility |
Christine Quigley, Allison Pfeifle and Joanna Morrison Schiff Hardin LLP |
Fifth Third Bank |
|
February 17 |
Recent Developments |
Ryan Walsh, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP |
The Chicago Trust Company, A Wintrust Wealth Management Co. |
|
March 17 |
Securing the Right Result Under the New IRA |
Svetlana Bekman, The Northern Trust Company |
The Northern Trust Company |
|
April 21 |
Illinois Estate Tax Planning |
Jason Ornduff, Harrison & Held LLP |
Business Valuation Group, Inc. |
|
May 19 |
Cannabis, Guns, Wine, Pets and More. Oh MY!: Planning for the Unexpected Assets |
Wendy Goffe, Stoel Rives LLP |
JPMorgan |
|
June 16 |
Ethics: Implicit Bias |
The Kaleidoscope Group, LLC |
Altair Advisers |
2020 - 2021 CEPC VIRTUAL LUNCHEON PROGRAMS SCHEDULE
All luncheon program meetings will be held from Noon – 1:30 p.m. via Zoom
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSOR |
|
September 24 |
Austin Fleming Award Recipient Generosity Amid Uncertainty: Silver Linings and Dark Clouds for Giving in the Midst of Uncertainty |
Suzanne Shier, Northwestern University Law School |
Altair Advisors |
|
October 27 |
20/20 Vision: Drafting for the New Decade |
Adam Damerow, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Jane Ditelberg, The Northern Trust |
Business Valuation Group, Inc. |
|
November 17 |
Managing Fiduciary Issues in Challenging Times |
Adam Clark, Anita Sarafa & Monique Valbuena, J.P. Morgan Private Bank |
Stout |
|
December 3 |
Intellectual Property and Estate Planning |
Chang Chae, Hoffman, Sabban & Watenmaker |
CIBC Private Wealth Management |
|
January 27 |
Well-Being Trusts — the Future of Imbuing Trusts with Positivity, Meaning and Purpose |
Richard Franklin, Franklin Karibjanian & Law PLLC Ray Odom, The Northern Trust |
Northern Trust Company |
|
February 18 |
2020 Recent Developments |
Ryan Walsh, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
March 18 |
What Every Estate Planner Needs to Know About Fiduciary Income Taxes |
Brian Whitlock, Brian T. Whitlock, P.C. |
JPMorgan |
|
April 21 |
Family Co-Investment Entities in a Post-Powell/Cahill World |
Domingo Such, Perkins Coie LLP |
Wintrust Wealth Management |
|
May 20 |
Family Mediations and Settlements |
Michelle Canerday, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Jim Carey, Levin Schreder & Carey, LTD Fred Sperling, Schiff Hardin LLP |
Herman Agency, Inc. |
|
June 9 |
ETHICS: Dealing with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person |
Deborah Cole, Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP Caroline Manley, Center for Disability & Elder Law Dawn Lawkowski-Keller, Cook County Public Guardian's Office |
Fifth Third Private Bank |
2019 - 2020 CEPC LUNCHEON PROGRAMS and WORKSHOPS SCHEDULE
All luncheon program meetings will be held at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Ct., 5th Floor Ballroom, Chicago, IL
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
2018 - 2019 CEPC LUNCHEON PROGRAMS SCHEDULE
All luncheon program meetings will be held from Noon – 1:30 p.m. at
The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSOR |
|
September 25, 2018 |
Choice of Entity in Light of 2017 Tax Law Changes |
Steve Gorin, Thompson Coburn LLP |
Northern Trust Company |
|
October 18 |
Charitable Giving for Entrepreneurs after TCJA |
Brian Whitlock Brian T. Whitlock, P.C. 2018 Austin Fleming Award Recipient |
MB Wealth Management |
|
November 2 |
Workshop: Basics of Charitable Planning |
Pat Bitterman, Quarles & Brady |
Quarles & Brady |
|
November 7 |
Workshop: Supplemental Needs Planning |
Larry Rivkin, Rivkin & Rivkin |
Mesirow Financial |
|
November 7 |
Webinar: Uniform Powers of Appointment Act |
Susan Snyder and Kathleen Eggers Buchar, The Northern Trust Company |
|
|
November 14 |
Dealing w/Basis Planning and Income Taxation (and other higher lifetime exemption planning) |
Jim Raaf, Andersen Tax LLC |
Stout |
|
November 15 |
Basics Course: Part 1 Introduction to Estate Planning |
Eileen Trost, Freeborn & Peters; Janet Montgomery, Daluga Boland & Montgomery |
Freeborn & Peters
Taft Stettinius & Hollister |
|
December 13 |
Tax and Estate Planning for Crypto Assets |
Andrew “Drew” Hinkes, Athena Blockchain |
Altair Advisers |
|
January 9, 2019 |
Basics Course – Part 2 Overview of Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax |
Christine Quigley, Schiff Hardin; Steve Bonneau, The Northern Trust Company |
Schiff Hardin |
|
January 23 |
Basics Course – Part 3 Fidicuiary Responsibility and Income Tax Matters |
Susan Bart, Schiff Hardin; Michelle Huhnke, SFG&H Paige Goepfert, Andersen Tax |
Andersen Tax |
|
January 24, 2019 |
Ethics: Estate Planning for Aging Population |
Ben Neiburger, Generation Law Ltd Martha Kern, LifeCare Innovations |
CIBC Private Wealth Management |
|
January 30 |
Basics Course – Part 4 Drafting Estate Planning Documents |
Erica Lord and Reetu Pepoff, Northern Trust; Natalie Perry, Rathje Woodward LLC |
Northern Trust
JNJ & Associates |
|
February 6 |
Basics Course – Part 5 Putting It All Together: Case Studies on Estate Planning and Reporting |
Jeffrey Bergman, Charles Schwab Bank; Rebecca Solomon, Plante Moran |
BMO Wealth Management
Plante Moran
|
|
February 21 |
2018 Recent Developments: Selected Federal and Illinois Statutes, Rulings and Cases |
Ryan Walsh, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
March 13 |
Changing Residency from IL for Business Owners, Executives, and Retirees |
Tim Halleron and Mary Kay Martire, McDermott Will & Emery |
Herman Agency, Inc. |
|
April 18 |
Ethics: The ABC and E(thics) of LGBTQ |
Lauren Wolven, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC |
J.P. Morgan Private Bank |
|
April 23 |
Workshop: Planning for Younger Generations |
Claudia Sangster Emily Rustemeyer The Northern Trust Company |
The Northern Trust Company |
|
April 25 |
Networking Breakfast |
Members are encouraged to invite a non-member(s) who is in the industry and would be a potential candidate for membership. As you think about who to invite, keep in mind CEPC's goal of building a more diverse membership body, including racial, ethnic and gender diversity, and the next generation of estate planners. |
Plante Moran |
|
May (tbd) |
Workshop: Beyond the Fundamentals: Introduction to Trust Modification and Common Estate Tax Planning Techniques |
Julie Pleshivoy, Taft Stettinius & Hollister Christine Quigley, Schiff Hardin |
|
|
May 16 |
State Law Pitfalls: Don’t Step In It When Your Client Steps Across State Lines |
Professor Gerry W. Beyer, Texas Tech University School of Law |
Wintrust Wealth Management |
|
June 12 |
FLP & LLC Planning Developments After Tax Reform |
Louis Harrison Harrison & Held |
Business Valuation Group |
|
August 12 |
ANNUAL GOLF & TENNIS OUTING |
Ravinia Green Country Club Riverwoods, IL |
2017 - 2018 CEPC Luncheon Programs, Webinars and Workshop Schedule
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSOR |
|
September 20, 2017 |
Do Trusts Really Create Trust Fund Babies? |
Thomas W. Abendroth Schiff Hardin 2017 Austin Fleming Award Recipient |
MB Financial |
|
October 17 |
Changing Views of Philanthropy as We Face 'The Great Wealth Transfer" |
Brian Whitlock; Brian T. Whitlock, P.C.; Kirk Hoopingarner, Quarles & Brady; Shawn Donnelley, Strategic Giving |
Business Valuation Group |
|
November 8, 2017 |
‘754 Does Not Mean 6 Minutes to 8’ |
Elliott Friedman, Friedman & Huey Assoc |
CIBC |
|
November 9, 2017 |
Workshop: Estate Administration Fundamentals |
Julie Pleshivoy, Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer; Raquel Porter, BMO Harris |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
November 14, 2017 |
Workshop: Trumping Uncertainty: A Comparative Study of GRATS, Installment Sales and Private Annuities in the Current Environment |
Tom Pauloski, Alliance Berstein’s Wealth Investment and Strategies Group |
Alliance Bernstein’s Wealth Investment and Strategies Group |
|
November 28, 2017 |
Networking Evening Event and Toy Drive |
LaRabida Children’s Hospital Recipient of Toy Drive |
Fidelity Charitable |
|
December 13, 2017 |
Estate and Income Tax Planning Considerations for IRA's and Qualified Plans: the IRA Provider’s View |
Svetlana Bekman, The Northern Trust Company |
Altair Advisers |
|
January 10, 2018 |
Basics Course Part 1 – Drafting Estate Planning Instruments |
Eileen Trost, Freeborn & Peters; Erica Lord and Reetu Pepoff, The Northern Trusts |
Freeborn & Peters |
|
January 16, 2018 |
Ethics: Ethical Dilemmas for Estate and Business Planners in Representing Family Members |
Janet Rae Montgomery, Daluga, Boland & Montgomery, LLC |
The Herman Agency |
|
January 17, 2018 |
Basics Course Part 2 – Estate Gift and GST Tax |
Christine Quigley, Schiff Hardin; Steve Bonneau, The Northern Trust |
The Northern Trust |
|
January 30, 2018 |
Webinar: Tax and Wealth Planning 2018 – The Act for You |
Suzanne Shier, The Northern Trust |
|
|
January 31, 2018 |
Basics Course Part 3 – Fiduciary Responsibility and Trust Taxation |
Susan Bart, Schiff Hardin; Michelle Huhnke, Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer; Tina Milligan, CTCmyCFO |
Andersen Tax |
|
February 7, 2018 |
Basics Course Part 4 – Putting It All Together – Case Studies on Integrating and Planning and the Reporting |
Jeffrey Bergman, Charles Schwab Bank; |
|
|
February 21, 2018 |
2017 Recent Developments: Selected Federal and Illinois Statutes, rulings and Cases |
Ryan Walsh, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
February 27, 2018 |
Workshop: Results Driven Networking – Seven Simple Steps to Develop a Stronger Network |
Steve Fretzin, Author and Business Development Coach |
CTCmyCFO |
|
March 6, 2018 |
Workshop: Discretionary Distributions: Drafting and Administering Along the Fiduciary Continuum |
Holly Bailey, BMO Wealth Management; Erica Lord, The Northern Trust Company |
Barnes & Thornburg LLP |
|
March 22, 2018 |
Demystifying Divorce for Estate Planning and Probate Professionals |
Elizabeth Garlovsky, Robbins, Salomon & Patt; Carrie Harrington, Levenfeld & Pearlstein |
JP Morgan |
|
April 19, 2018 |
Ethics: Planning for Privacy in a Public World: The Ethics and Mechanics of Protecting your Client’s Privacy and Personal Security |
John Bergner, Winstead PC; Brian Hill, Computer Forensic Services |
Stout |
|
May 16, 2018 |
Life Insurance as a Funding Vehicle for Multi-Generational Wealth Transfer and Gift/Valuation Issues |
Domingo Such, Perkins Coie, LLP; Rebecca Ryan, BNY Mellon Wealth Management |
WinTrust Wealth Management Company |
|
June 7, 2018 |
Tax and Estate Planning Considerations for Foreign Persons Owning US Assets and Vice Versa |
Suzanne Shier, The Northern Trust Company; Andrew Stone, Kozusko Harris Duncan |
The Northern Trust Company |
2016 - 2017 CEPC LUNCHEON PROGRAMS and EVENTS SCHEDULE
*All luncheon program meetings will be held from Noon – 1:30 p.m. at: The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago
Events locations TBD
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER |
SPONSOR |
|
*September 21, 2016 |
Illinois Descent & Distribution: Timeless Principles or Time for a Change? |
Anne-Marie Rhodes, Professor, Loyola University Law School - 2016 Austin Fleming Award Recipient |
The PrivateBank |
|
September 22 - Webinar 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
Webinar: The Proposed 2704 Regulations Limiting Valuation Discounts Are Finally Here! Now What? |
Richard Dees, McDermott Will & Emery |
|
|
*October 18, 2016 |
Disabled Persons: Planning For and Implementation of Special Needs Trusts and Guardianship |
Kristin Weaver, Northern Trust Ray Koenig, Clark Hill |
The Northern Trust Company |
|
October 27 5– 6:30 Reception 7:00 Performance |
Member Evening Event |
Lyric Opera of Chicago/ The Second City Collaboration |
The Chicago Community Trust |
|
*November 8, 2016 |
Trust and Estate Administration With Family Business Interests: Advising Fiduciaries |
Christine Quigley and David Blickenstaff, Schiff Hardin, LLP |
WinTrust Wealth Management: The Chicago Trust Company
|
|
*December 6, 2016 |
Intersection of Family Businesses & Estate Planning |
David Herzig, Professor, Valparaiso University Law School |
Business Valuation Group |
|
*January 19, 2017 |
Recent Income Tax Developments for Estate Planners |
Robert Romanoff Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC |
Altair Advisers |
|
*February 23, 2017 |
2016 Recent Developments: Selected Federal and Illinois Statutes, rulings and Cases |
Robert E. Hamilton Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP |
MB Financial |
|
*March 22, 2017 |
The Relevance of Probate In A Revocable Trust World |
John Brooks, Foley & Lardner Fred Weber, Northern Trust |
Stout |
|
*April 20, 2017 |
Family Business and NxG Development |
Andrew Keyt, President of the Family Business Network North America and Clinical Professor of Family Business- Loyola University Chicago |
BMO Wealth Management |
|
April 25, 2017 |
Fundamentals Workshop: Five Keys to Effective Time Management and Becominga Solid Networker |
Steve Fretzin, Author and Business Development Coach |
|
|
April 27, 2017 |
Breakfast Networking Event |
Plante Moran |
|
|
*May 17, 2017 |
Anatomy of a Will Contest |
John Dadkis, Holland & Knight |
Herman Agency |
|
May 23, 2017 8:30 – 10:45 a.m. |
Fundamentals Workshop: Getting Comfortable With Life Insurance: Conceps, Products and Illustrations |
Steve Fretzin, Author and Business Development Coach |
|
|
*June 8, 2017 |
Ethics: Privilege - Differences for Attorneys and Accountants |
Terry Franklin, Sacks Glazier Franklin & Lodise, LLP; Daniel Cook, Director at Deloitte Tax LLP |
JPMorgan |
|
June 2017 |
Networking Evening Event |
More Information to Come |
|
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June 2017 |
Fundamentals Workshop: GST |
Steve Bonneau, The Northern Trust Company |
|
|
August 31, 2017 |
CEPC Annual Golf & Tennis Outing – |
Highland Park Country Club, Highland Park, IL |
|
|
September 2017 |
Fundamentals Workshop: Administering Your First Estate |
Julie Pleshivoy, Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer; and Raquel Porter, BMO Harris Bank |
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November 2017 |
Fundamentals Workshop: Leveraged Wealth Strategies |
Tom Pauloski, Bernstein Alliance |
