Estate Planners Day Agenda & Speakers

46th Annual Estate Planners Day Agenda

7:15-8:00 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast

Sponsored by Chilton Trust

8:00-8:15 a.m. | Welcome Remarks

8:15-9:45 a.m. | Session 1: North Carolina & Federal Update

Sponsored by Arcadia Art Consultancy

North Carolina Update: This session will focus on recent developments in North Carolina affecting estate planners and their clients. The program will highlight notable cases published within the last year, as well as legislative updates.

The 2024 Election: Policy, Geopolitics & Investing: This year is poised to be volatile. Congress, the Fed, the Treasury, and the White House all must make major policy decisions in a year that will be dominated by a dynamic presidential election. At the same time, geopolitical tensions continue to build in a year where 40 countries, accounting for 41% of GDP, will hold federal elections. Courtney Gelman will walk through the current election dynamics, the potential efforts by policymakers to boost fiscal and monetary policy ahead of the elections, and the implications of different 2024 scenarios.

9:45-10:15 a.m. | Break

Sponsored by Carolinas Investment Consulting

10:15-11:15 a.m. | Session 2: Medicare Planning Issues for High Income Clients

Sponsored by Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management

John Goldsbury, J.D., Medicare Volunteer, The Shepherd’s Center

This presentation will have two parts: (1) an overview of Medicare, for context, and (2) an examination of Medicare-related issues that are likely to affect high-income clients. In particular: (1) how Medicare enrollment interacts with employer-provided health insurance; (2) the Medicare premium increase imposed on high-income earners; and (3) how the Medicare rules interact with the HSA (Health Savings Account) rules, both for contributions and distributions.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Session 3: Making Hay While the Sun Shines: Navigating Industry Opportunities and the Landscape of Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)

Sponsored by Bank OZK

During this moderated panel discussion, we will explore the diverse landscape of opportunities and challenges encountered by attorneys, insurance agents, accountants, and trust officers. This guided conversation will also include a deep dive into Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), shedding light on their intricate mechanics, potential benefits, and practical considerations for implementation.

12:15-1:30 p.m. | Lunch

Sponsored by Truist Wealth

1:30-2:30 p.m. | Session 4: Making Sense of the Economy and Markets

Sponsored by First Citizens Wealth Management

Phillip Neuhart, Director of Market and Economic Research, First Citizens Bank

An in-depth look at the factors impacting both the economy and markets.

2:30-3:00 p.m. | Break

Sponsored by Carolinas Investment Consulting

3:00-4:00 p.m. | Session 5: The Corporate Transparency Act, Four Months In

Sponsored by GreerWalker LLP

Melissa Wiley, Partner, Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Enacted by Congress in 2021, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) directs the Treasury Department to create a federal database of the beneficial ownership of a myriad of entities, including most corporations and LLCs. The reporting rules went into effect on January 1, 2024, and apply to an estimated 30+ million entities.

Come learn who must report, what information must be reported, and when, as well as practical tips for streamlining reporting and compliance.

4:00-5:00 p.m. | Session 6: Over-Rated: How Surging Interest Rates and Slow Growth May Radically Change Wealth Transfer Planning

Sponsored by Bernstein Private Wealth Management

Thomas J. Pauloski, J.D., Senior National Director, Trust and Estate Planning, Bernstein Global Wealth Management

For the past decade, historically low interest rates—not valuation discounts or the huge gift and estate tax exclusion (currently $13.61 million)—have been the cornerstone of wealth transfer planning. But with surging interest rates and low growth expectations, that is likely to change. This presentation will explore why these fundamental economic changes may profoundly affect how tax professionals advise wealthy families. The next generation of wealth transfer plans may look more like those created in the 1990s than like recent plans, which have been driven largely by near-zero capital costs.

*Agenda subject to change.