ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL OF CLEVELAND

About the Program
2020 has brought many changes to our world personally and professionally. During this time, we have swiftly adapted to work at home, learned and interpreted new regulations, adopted new procedures; while simultaneously providing sound advice to our clients in a world that changes daily. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us the CARES ACT, changes to the life insurance industry, extreme market volatility and an unprecedented low interest rate environment.  These changes impact all of our industries but more importantly our clients. Amid the crisis we see not only challenges but opportunities in our respective practices. Hear from our mulit-disciplinary panel of professionals on how they have adapted to the new "normal". 

About the Speakers

Elaine B. Eisner is a Principal of the Eisner Gohn Group (EEG). EEG helps families and businesses protect all that they care about. Specializing in life insurance, long-term-care strategies, income solutions and disability planning are the firm’s core competencies. With an extensive background in all aspects of the financial services industry, combined with her previous work as an attorney, Elaine offers clients insightful, integrated solutions.  She collaborates in concert with the client’s team of advisors to ensure everyone is working to provide the best solutions to meet the client’s long-term needs. Ms. Eisner received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Colorado and her law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. In 2007 Elaine returned to Cleveland to start The Eisner Gohn Group with her husband, Scott Gohn. Elaine is passionate about giving back and spends much time advocating for the special needs community. She helped found LiveSpecial.com and currently works to expand its offerings throughout Northeast Ohio. She currently serves on Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Professional Advisory Council and is a board member of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland and The Community Fund Management Foundation. In her free-time she enjoys skiing with her daughter Alana and golfing and traveling with husband, Scott.

David Lenz joined Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP in 2006, became a Partner in 2013 and was elected to serve as Managing Partner in 2020. His practice focuses on planning for and administering wealth transfer for individuals and families. Beyond representing individuals with respect to their personal charitable planning, David also counsels organizations on issues ranging from formation and filing of applications for tax-exempt status for start-up nonprofit organizations to planned giving for established public charities and governance and compliance for private family foundations. David is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law and was a part of the Ohio State Bar Association’s subcommittee that led to the adoption of the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act in Ohio in 2017.  He is a frequent speaker and author on estate planning with digital assets and charitable planning. David has also served as a leader in the local legal community, primarily through his volunteer efforts with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Michelle Taylor joined the Luma Wealth as Advisor in 2017 and brings more than 20 years of wealth management experience. In her role, she is responsible for both client deliverables and managing client relationships. Michelle also heads up the Widow, Inheritor, and Divorce Niche group.  Michelle’s experience and strategic skill set make her particularly adept at working to help grow Luma Wealth’s footprint. Michelle worked at Charles Schwab & Co., most recently as Vice President and Branch Manager of the Legacy Village office, as well as Fidelity Investments in a number of roles. She is a CRPC designee, has her Financial Wealth Certification, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky School Of Business. Michelle lives in Westlake with her husband Nathan and their daughter, Sophia. In the warmer weather, she enjoys spending time boating on Lake Erie with family and friends.

Jessica L. Tepus, CPA, MTax is senior manager in the tax services department at Bober Markey Fedorovich where she brings more than 15 years of experience. She focuses on income tax, estate and succession planning needs of business owners, high-net-worth individuals and their families, and works closely with clients to understand their primary objectives and develop tax planning and savings strategies that accomplish and maximize these goals. Within the firm's core tax practice, Jessica specializes in areas of trusts and estates, individuals and nonprofit. Part of her primary responsibilities include working closely with staff in ensuring that they are learning and receiving the opportunities necessary to succeed. Jessica joined BMF in 2010 after working for a large financial institution in Cleveland in the area of Fiduciary Tax Services.

Katherine E. Wensink │ 2020-2021 Program Chair

Reservation Policy – All attendees are encouraged to register in advance to ensure there is time to receive appropriate webinar login credentials.  Webinar cost is free for members and $25 for guests. You will receive login credentials at least 24 hours before the start of the webinar.  

Continuing Education – EPC Cleveland will request approval for this program from the CFP® Board of Standards for CFP® designation holders and from the Supreme Court of Ohio for Ohio attorneys to receive CLE credit. EPC Cleveland will also request credit from the Ohio Department of Insurance. A certificate of completion will be available for those AEP®, CTFA, CPA, and CWS designees who feel the program satisfies their continuing education requirements. You must be attentive on the webinar for at least 60 minutes of programming to receive credit for any of the credentials listed above.

Registration for this event has closed.