ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL OF CLEVELAND

About the Program
In this unprecedented regulatory environment, several key factors (record-low interest rates and low values) have converged to create opportunities for intergenerational wealth transfer. Our panelists will discuss impactful Estate Planning solutions and finding a path forward in these challenging times. The discussion will be focused on identifying and implementing strategies to assist real clients in real-world situations.

About the Speakers

James R. Bright, Partner at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP
Jim Bright has practiced law since 1976. His practice is focused on probate and trust administration; estate planning for individuals and family groups; estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; charitable gift planning; income tax planning; and providing counsel to trustees of private foundations on administration, initial formation and tax qualification. Jim served as President of Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell Co., L.P.A. after 2009. Jim is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He has served on the Board of Directors/Trustees of many charitable institutions in Cleveland, including The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Play House. He has also been a member of the Princeton University Planned Giving Advisory Committee since 2002. Jim has also served as Honorary Consul for the Duchy of Luxembourg since 1995, and has been a partner in Cleveland Social Venture Partners since 2004. Jim was also President of the Cleveland Racquet Club in 1982.

Leon LaBrecque, JD, CPA, CFP®, CFA, Chief Growth Officer at Sequoia Financial Group
With more than 45 years of experience in the financial industry, high impact enrichment for Sequoia’s clients and potential clients is Leon’s personal mission as Chief Growth Officer at Sequoia. He has long been driven by intelligent planning and financial literacy for all, and the combination of the two allows for reduced uncertainty so clients can focus on doing what they love, instead of worrying about tomorrow. Leon also focuses continually growing the breadth and depth of client offerings to connect clients and potential clients to new and expanded opportunities for growing their wealth, protecting future resources and propagating financial literacy through families and communities. In addition to being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, attorney and CPA, Leon is a current Forbes.com contributor, Chairman of Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants Special Task Force on New Tax Legislation, and serves on the Troy, Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Scott Swain, CPA, CFA, CFP®, MT, Tax Partner at Cohen & Company
Scott has more than 25 years of experience working in the accounting and financial services industries, including over 15 years focused on planning and tax compliance for high-net-worth individuals. He specializes in income and estate tax planning for individuals and has a tremendous amount of experience working with complex trusts, family partnerships and other entities from an estate planning perspective. Scott also has significant experience in assisting clients with their investment assets, including global asset allocation construction, investment selection and performance monitoring.

Heather Welsh, CFP®, AEP®, MSFS, Vice President, Wealth Planning at Sequoia Financial Group
As Vice President of Wealth Planning at Sequoia Financial Group, Heather determines the strategic direction for the planning solutions created for Sequoia’s clients and oversees the management and career development of the firm’s Wealth Planning Team. She collaborates with the firm’s advisors and external partners to help clients achieve their wealth planning goals and objectives. She focuses on planning for business owners through leadership of the Wealth Planning Department’s closely-held entity pillar. Heather is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Accredited Estate Planner®, and earned a Master of Science in Financial Services. She is an active member of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland and NAEPC’s AEP® Committee, Secretary-Treasurer for the Cleveland-Akron Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and was selected as a Greater Akron Chamber 30 for the Future recipient (2019) and awarded Professional Excellence recognition by the Women’s Network of Northeast Ohio (2019).

Kimberly Stein, Esq. │ 2019-2020 Program Chair

Reservation Policy – This webinar program is complimentary and all attendees are encouraged to register in advance to ensure there is time to receive appropriate webinar login credentials.

Continuing Education – EPC Cleveland will request credit for this program, which will offer one hour of CE from the CFP® Board of Standards for CFP® designation holders. A general certificate of completion and one for CPA designees who feel the program satisfies their continuing education requirements will also be available. You must be attentive on the webinar for at least 50 minutes of programming to receive credit.

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