BALTIMORE ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

AGENDA
07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast and Networking
08:00 - 9:40 Program
9:40-10:00 Questions 

Program Description and Benefits:

Life insurance is often one of the largest but least reviewed assets on a client’s balance sheet. When a policy is no longer needed, affordable, or aligned with a client’s estate or business objectives, a life settlement may provide a materially better alternative than surrender or lapse. This program examines how the secondary market for life insurance can unlock hidden value for high net worth individuals and business owners, while helping advisors satisfy fiduciary obligations through informed, disciplined policy reviews.

Before a client lapses, surrenders, replaces, or materially modifies a life insurance policy, the client and the client’s advisors should understand all reasonably available options, including the policy’s potential value in the secondary market. This program explains how the life settlement market works, the policies and circumstances most likely to create value, retained death benefit and other settlement structures, the factors that affect pricing, and the legal, regulatory, tax, and practical considerations involved in evaluating and completing a transaction.

Highlights of the presentation include:

Legal and Fiduciary Considerations
Understand the legal and fiduciary considerations involved in evaluating life settlement opportunities and protecting clients’ best interests.

Tax Implications and Planning Opportunities
Understand the tax impact of life settlements and how recent legislative developments may affect estate and tax planning strategies.

Understanding the Secondary Market
Learn how the secondary market values life insurance policies and how to identify clients and policies that may benefit from an evaluation.

Life Insurance in Estate and Business Planning
Explore planning considerations involving estates, trusts, and business owned policies, including situations where coverage is no longer needed or aligned with the client’s objectives.

Settlement Options
Understand the differences among surrender, a traditional life settlement, Enhanced Cash Value, and retained death benefit transactions.

Fiduciary Risk and Best Practices
Learn how regular policy reviews, policy appraisals, due diligence, and documentation can help fiduciaries fulfill their responsibilities and avoid missed opportunities.

Scott Etish is Vice President of Advanced Markets at Coventry, where he works with attorneys and fiduciaries to help high-net-worth clients maximize the value of life insurance in estate and financial planning. A former litigation partner with nearly 17 years of experience, Scott frequently speaks to estate planning councils and bar associations on life settlements and strategies for unlocking the value of unneeded life insurance policies. He earned his J.D. from Rutgers University Law School.

Thank you to our generous sponsor Berman McAleer. 

Two Meeting Requirement: To maintain membership in the Baltimore Estate Planning Council, active members are required to attend at least two (2) IN-PERSON educational meetings annually.

Cancellation Policy: Reservations must be canceled in writing or by e-mail and received no later than Friday, October 23, 2026.