BALTIMORE ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

Greetings fellow Baltimore Estate Planning Council members, Emerging Planners, and visitors to our website,

My name is Colleen McCloskey, your Council President for the upcoming 2023–2024 year which kicks off on July 1, 2023. I have been a Trust Member of the Council since 2005, a Board Member since 2018, and an Executive Committee Officer since 2019. As President, I look forward to continuing to help make our Council the absolute best that it can be as it is truly an honor to serve in this role.

Thank you to our Immediate Past President, Joel Simon, our amazing Executive Director, Melissa Dornan, and all the Council Officers and Board Members for their hard work and professionalism this past year. I also want to thank each of you, as Council Members, for your continued support. Even with the challenges stemming from the pandemic, our Council continues to be strong as demonstrated by our record membership growth this past year. Thank you as well to all of our sponsors for their continued support, which has allowed us to offer quality programs with national speakers. Please consider them as you grow your professional relationships.

As we continue to move beyond the pandemic, the Council will return to full IN-PERSON educational meetings. While a live hybrid/virtual option will not be offered, with the approval of our speakers, the presentations will be recorded and shared with Council Members as a complimentary benefit following each program. However, to obtain continuing education credit, in-person attendance is required. Our Council provides two distinct benefits: high quality continuing educational programs and the opportunity to network with top industry professionals. These benefits can simultaneously be obtained through in-person meetings.

Our Programs Committee has worked diligently to identify a diverse group of national speakers for our 2023–2024 educational meetings:

Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Sharon Klein
“Intersection of Divorce and Trust & Estates: Top Tax/Planning Tips and Traps”

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Bob Kirkland
“The Secure ("Setting Everyone up for Retirement Enhancement" or "Sending Everyone Cowering Under Reduced Expectations") Act”

Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Joshua Rubenstein
“Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Advising the Wealthy in Times of Change & Pressing the Do-Over Button: Strategies for Modifying Wills and Trusts after Formation”

January 2024 (specific date TBD)
John Snider
“Life Insurance Topic and Update”

Thursday, February 22, 2024
Anirban Basu
“Economic Update”

May 2024 (specific date TBD)
David York
“Charitable Presentation”

Please note that it is a requirement of Council membership to attend a minimum of two of the above programs. As in prior years, members may pre-pay for all six breakfast programs in advance during the annual membership renewal period, which is not only convenient, but it also provides a slight cost benefit. In addition, the Council will host several social events, monthly NAEPC webinars, Emerging Planners events, and our end-of-year Annual Meeting. 

Membership renewal will begin on July 1, 2023. Due to the rising costs of catering fees along with the additional cost of recording the education programs, annual membership dues will increase slightly to $200. The good news is that the social events and the end-of-year Annual Meeting will be included in the membership price so there will be no additional cost for members to attend those events.

As we enter into our 86^th Council year, the Council continues to have a strong commitment to grow, diversify, and provide stellar educational programs and networking opportunities. The benefits offered are numerous and I encourage you to engage in these opportunities to make the most of your Council membership. On behalf of the Officers and the entire Board, I look forward to seeing you this upcoming year!

Sincerely,

Colleen McCloskey
President
Baltimore Estate Planning Council