What’s the deal with Estate Planning?
Are your clients playing a winning hand, or are they at risk of getting cleaned out? Now is the time to learn the ins and outs of effective estate planning, and how the most current rules and tax legislation can really raise the ante. Our annual Estate Planning Institute brings together leading experts and professionals to help you come up with a sure-fire strategy to protect your clients’ assets. When the chips are down, it takes more than a good will to safeguard property and cash. Effective estate planning is always a sure bet.
Who should attend?
This informative Institute will benefit attorneys, accountants, bankers, investment advisers, estate planning and tax practitioners, financial planners, and anyone interested in learning more about effective estate planning for their clients. Seating is limited, so reserve your space TODAY!
There are no qualifications or prerequisites to participate in and benefit from this program.
How do I register?
You can reserve your space online, over the phone, through email, or by visiting our CFSNM office. Registration costs and payment information are as follows:
Registration Rates
The registration rates listed below vary for the time of the registrant’s payment. Each registrant will receive one reserved spot to attend our Estate Planning Institute for both days and includes an electronic PDF file of the 2017 Speaker Manual. If you would like to have a printed out version of the 2017 Speaker Manual it will be an additional $25.00 per manual. Registrants interested in the printed version must reserve their copy either by noting this request at the time of registration or by contacting a Community Foundation team member by Friday, October 20th.
Early Bird: $350.00
Include printed speaker manual: $375.00
NO LONGER OFFERED
Standard: $425.00
Include printed speaker manual: $450.00
Friday, September 1st – Wednesday, November 1st
Walk-In: $450.00
*A printed speaker manual will only be offered after the event for walk-in registrants*
Include printed speaker manual: $475.00
Thursday and Friday, November 2nd and 3rd
Payment Information
The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico accepts card and check payments. Credit or debit card payments can be made online, through the phone, or by coming into our CFSNM office location. Check payments need to be made out to “The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico” and should be either dropped-off or mailed-in to our CFSNM office location. Our office location address is as follows:
2600 El Paseo Road
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Online Payment
This year you can reserve your spot directly through our website! Follow the steps outlined in the PDF file below and learn how to process your electronic payment.
2017 EPI Online Payment How-To Guide
Phone Payment
Call 575-521-4794 to pay over the phone with a CFSNM team member.
Email Reservation & Invoice
Email CFSNM Special Events Coordinator, Alexia Goodwin, at alexia@cfsnm.org to reserve your registration spot. You will then receive an email containing an electronic invoice for further processing.
Two-Day Schedule
CLICK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD:
2017 EPI Speaker Reference Manual
Speaker Information
Terra Winter, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
Topic Presentation: Estate Planning Case Study
Terra joined the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico team in June 2017 as the Executive Director. Recently, she served as the Associate Vice President for Development at the New Mexico State University Foundation in which she was involved in the campus’s most ambitious campaign to raise $125 million. Previous to this position, Terra served at the Assistant Dean for Donor Development and Alumni Relations for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Her love for the NMSU Aggies and NM Agriculture drives her continued connection as an alumna and donor.
As a lifelong New Mexico resident, Terra is passionate about nonprofit work throughout the state. Her professional background includes ten years with Mesilla Valley Hospice where she served the organization in many facets of community outreach, education, fundraising and board development. She has volunteered for multiple organizations including the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Las Cruces.
Terra obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, minoring in Health Sciences, and a Master of Public Health from NMSU. She is in the process of completing an Interdisciplinary Doctorate with an emphasis in philanthropy, nonprofit management and leadership.
Margaret “Peggy” Graham, Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC
Topic Presentation: Ethics & Professionalism
Margaret “Peggy” Graham began her career in Topeka, Kansas where she practiced for 15 years before returning to Albuquerque. While practicing in Kansas, Peggy tried many cases to a jury verdict while an Assistant Attorney General, represented the State in numerous child and adult abuse cases, established guardianships and conservatorships for hundreds of vulnerable adults, represented the State in Medicaid and welfare benefits appeals, and served as an Administrative Law Judge for seven years where she presided over hearings for state agencies, boards and commissions, including Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Human Rights Commission, and the Kansas Department of Labor.
Upon moving back to Albuquerque with her family in 2009, Peggy has focused her practice on elder law, specifically in representing individuals and families in the appointment of guardians and conservators for the elderly or disabled as both the petitioning attorney and Guardian ad Litem, estate planning, probate, and fiduciary litigation. Peggy has tried cases in both state and federal court, and has represented clients before administrative bodies, including the Social Security Administration and New Mexico Human Services Department.
Peggy has a unique perspective on the representation of families who have members with developmental disabilities and special needs as she is the mother of a special needs child.
Mark Browning, Texas A&M University Foundation
Topic Presentation: Planned Giving 101
Mark Browning is a Planned Giving Officer with the Texas A&M Foundation. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.B.A. in Finance in 1988 and holds the Certified Trust Financial Advisor professional designation. Prior to moving back to College Station in 2010, he was an Executive Vice President at regional bank trust departments in McAllen, TX and Beaumont, TX for over twenty years. Mark is married to Nancy Browning and has three children, Kendall, Andrew and Whitney. Mark travels throughout South and West Texas as well as the Midwest to coordinate planned gifts with donors who want to support Texas A&M academics and student activities through their estates. Mark is also active in his church where he promotes planned giving as Legacy Stewardship. When not working, Mark and Nancy like to travel, spend time at the lake country of East Texas and volunteer with non-profits such as Junior Achievement, C.A.S.A. and Boy Scouts.
Bridget Mullins, Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC
Topic Presentation: Divorce Among the Elderly
Bridget is an attorney with the law firm of Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She represents clients in the areas of Guardianships, Probate, Wills, Trusts, Elder law, and Family law with a focus on working with Spanish-speaking clients. In Addition, Bridget has a strong trial background after spending many years prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking cases for the District Attorney and Attorney General’s Offices in Albuquerque. Being fluent in Spanish has allowed her to work with Spanish-speaking families in many different contexts – as a teacher, an advocate, and as an attorney. Bridget earned a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies as well as her Law Degree from the University of New Mexico and while obtaining her JD in 2011 taught Spanish classes to undergraduate students. She has also worked on consumer protection issues and taught Financial Literacy classes to help community members learn about debt, investing, and credit. She is an Elder Law Section Member of the New Mexico State Bar Association and member of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association, as well as a liaison for the Real Property, Trust and Estate for the Young Lawyers Division.
Martha Kaser, Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC
Topic Presentation: Divorce Among the Elderly
Martha is Of Counsel with the law firm of Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has more than 30 years of legal experience and represents clients in the areas of family law, divorce, mediation, settlement facilitation, adoption, co-parenting coordination, and Guardian ad Litem appointments. In addition, she also served as a therapist and mediator at the Samaritan Center for Changing Families at the Samaritan Counseling Center. Martha earned both a Juris Doctor and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW). Martha is the current President of the Family Law Section of the New Mexico State Bar Association and is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association. In her free time, Martha enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and jazz.
Ben Pruett, Bessemer Trust
Topic Presentation: Tales From the Dark Side
Mr. Pruett is Principal and Fiduciary Counsel at Bessemer Trust. In this role, he is responsible for working with clients and their advisors to develop practical and efficient wealth transfer plans and for guiding the firm on fiduciary issues.
Prior to joining Bessemer, Ben practiced law at King & Spalding, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Council (ACTEC) and is a frequent speaker at legal education programs across the country. His publications include Tales from the Dark Side: Drafting Issues from the Fiduciary’s Perspective, 35 ACTEC J. 332 (Spring 2010), and Internal Revenue Code Section 6166: Comments to Tax Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, 41 REAL PROP. PROB. & TR. L. J. 73 (Spring 2006). Ben earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law and B.BA. in accounting from the University of Georgia.
John Battle, Valuation & Consulting, LLC
Topic Presentation: What’s Current with Valuations?
John’s experience includes working as a Certified Public Accountant in both the public and private sectors. He has held positions as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, as an audit and tax manager at a local CPA firm in the southeast, as a CFO/Treasurer for a publicly traded real estate development company, and as a finance/operations controller for several medium-sized service and manufacturing companies. He recently oversaw the valuation, litigation support and mergers and acquisition side of a regional public accounting firm. Currently, he provides valuation, economic damages consulting and expert witness services through his company Valuation and Consulting, LLC. He also provides tax preparation and tax consulting services.
His experience as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and as a Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF) includes valuations of small and middle market companies for purposes of estate and gift planning, litigation support, acquisitions, divestitures, financial reporting, tax reporting, exit planning and shareholder divorce. He also provides litigation support to include preparing expert witness reports and providing expert witness testimony in cases of economic damages/lost profits for businesses, as well as economic damages for individuals in cases of permanent injury and wrongful death.
John also served in the United States Army at Fort Bragg, NC in the 37th Engineer Battalion (C)(A), in the Florida Army National Guard in Company B, 3rd Battalion 20th SFG, and was a Florida State Trooper prior to becoming a CPA.
Pete Davis, Davis Capital Investment Ideas
Topic Presentation: Washington Update
Pete Davis advises Wall Street money managers on Washington policy developments that affect the financial markets. President of his own consulting firm since 1992, Davis Capital Investment Ideas, Pete draws on 11 years of experience as a Capitol Hill economist with the Joint Committee on Taxation (1974-1981), the Senate Budget Committee (1981-1983), and Senator Robert C. Byrd (1992). He worked in the House and Senate, and for Republicans and Democrats. Pete brought the first computer policy model, the Treasury Individual Income Tax Model, to Capitol Hill in early 1974, when he became a revenue estimator on the Joint Committee on Taxation. He formulated the 1975 rebate, the earned income tax credit, the 1976 estate tax rates, the 1978 marginal tax rates, and the Roth-Kemp tax cut. He left Capitol Hill in 1983 for the Washington Research Office of Prudential-Bache Securities, where he advised investors for seven years.
Kenneth “Ken” Leach, Kenneth C. Leach & Associates
Topic Presentation: Estate Planning in 2017—What Has Changed?
Ken has his own estate planning practice with offices located in Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and listed in the Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Ken is currently a member of the Estate Planning, Trusts, & Probate Law Specialty Committee of The New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization. He has been selected for 21 consecutive years (1996-2017) for listing in the prestigious “The Best Lawyers in America” publication (Trust & Estates section). Ken received the “Excellence in Charitable Gift Planning Award” for 2006, awarded by the Albuquerque Community Foundation and was selected as Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico’s “Advisor of the Year” for 2013.
Joshua “Josh” Dwyer, ScottHulse Law Firm
Topic Presentation: The Not So Limited LLC
Joshua “Josh” Dwyer is an attorney with the ScottHulse Law Firm and he primarily practices in the Firm’s Las Cruces, New Mexico office. He assists clients with estate planning, probate, estate, and trust administration as well as business-related legal matters.
By assisting clients in determining which estate planning documents will best meet their individual needs, Josh has been able to assist clients to plan for the future and make decisions that reflect their particular priorities and values. In addition to designing and drafting estate planning documents, including wills, living trusts, testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced health-care directives, Josh advises clients on probate matters, the administration of trusts and estates, and various matters related to business succession planning, contracts, and transfers of ownership. By advising fiduciaries regarding their responsibilities, duties, and authority, Josh has assisted personal representatives and trustees in the administration of trusts and estates.
Josh also advises clients with regard to federal and state taxation, specifically transfer taxes associated with the federal estate tax, federal gift tax, and federal generation-skipping transfer tax. This is done in a variety of ways, including properly structuring the client’s estate to minimize the exposure to transfer taxes and in some cases advising clients to undertake specific gift planning techniques.
Josh is a member of the Real Property, Trust & Estate Section, Taxation Law Section, and Business Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico. He also serves as an officer and director for the Southern New Mexico Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Planning Committee for the Estate Planning Institute housed by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico.
An active member in the Las Cruces civic and charitable community, Josh serves on the Mesilla Valley Hospice Board of Directors and is a member of the Rio Grande Rotary Club. Josh is a member of Grace Covenant Church where he attends with his wife and five children.
Debbie Lawyer, Jerry Lawyer & Associates, Inc.
Topic Presentation: Use of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
Debbie is the owner and president of Jerry Lawyer & Associates, Inc, an insurance brokerage general agency founded in 1983. Jerry Lawyer & Associates is active throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico. With over 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial industry, Debbie has seen the way the business and standards have changed over the years. Her knowledge and practice have shown to be steadfast resources to her peers and partners.
Debbie has a background in underwriting, and a passion for working with advisors to find the best offer and product that fits the needs and goals of the client. With the client always being her top priority, her desire to assist the advisor in succeeding and growing in the industry remains as a close second.
Debbie is FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, 51, 63 and 66 licensed, and holds an insurance license in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Debbie resides in Hutto, Texas with her husband; she has 5 beautiful daughters, 3 terrific sons-in-law and 5 wonderful grandchildren.
William Brown, Jerry Lawyer & Associates, Inc.
Topic Presentation: Use of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
William has been in the insurance and financial services industry for 7 years. He began his career as a registered representative for a mutual fund company. After 3 years, he was promoted to branch manager in Houston, TX. His responsibilities included training, recruiting and increasing sales.
In 2016, he joined Jerry Lawyer & Associates, Inc., which is associated with John Hancock Financial Network and Signator Investors as a registered representative and investment advisor. He currently serves as a Recruiting Director for Design your Future, as well as a Regional life insurance wholesaler for AimcoR EIG.
William is the perfect mixture of new and old. He has traditional hospitality, with a modern mentality. As a client, you are family. His enthusiasm and passion for helping his clients is unmatched in the industry.
William lives in Liberty Hill, Texas with his beautiful wife, Lana, and their adorable son, Landry. He enjoys spending time out on the golf course, cheering on his favorite sports teams, and hunting, fishing and helping out on his family’s ranch.
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