BEPC BEACON

March 2022

Come celebrate the first-ever hybrid Boston Estate Planning Council Gala on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place! Reunite with fellow BEPC members and friends, catch up on the last few years and help us honor the 2022 Excellence Award recipient. There will be a limited number of slots available for a virtual experience. Jared Bowen, Emmy award-winning host of the weekly television series, “Open Studio with Jared Bowen,” is the emcee for the evening. Registration is now open, choose to attend in person or secure one of the limited virtual experience tickets. Interested in sponsoring the Annual Gala? Contact the Sponsorship Committee to learn more.

President's Corner

Dear Fellow BEPC Members:

Although it is still cold outside and the snowflakes are still flying, there is a sense of spring in the air at the Boston Estate Planning Council. With the majority of our members reporting as vaccinated, and with continued safety measures in place, at BEPC we excited to be getting back to in-person events in the coming months. The 2022 Boston Estate Planning Gala is going forward in person and, believe it or not, it’s only two months away! On May 4, at 5:30pm, in the ballroom at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, we will gather as a group for the first BEPC Gala since May 2019. We will celebrate the winners of BEPC’s two greatest honors, the Excellence Award and the President’s Award. We will welcome the Council’s newest officer and a new class of Board members. And we will recognize the BEPC members who have most recently received the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation from the National Association of Estate Planning Councils (NAEPC). It will be wonderful to see fellow members and enjoy each other’s company, after such a long time away. We are incredibly excited to begin bringing back in-person events for those who feel able to attend them. At the same time, we recognize that not everyone is comfortable or medically able to attend events in person. Just as we will continue to offer virtual and hybrid regular events, there is a virtual option for the Gala, with several great virtual experiential sessions from which to choose. For more information and to register, please visit our website.

News & Resources

Susan M. Ogrodnik-Smith Named the 2022 BEPC Excellence Award Recipient

BEPC congratulates Susan M. Ogrodnik-Smith, AAI, CIC, CPRIA, president of private client group at HUB International, as the 2022 Excellence Award recipient!

This prestigious honor is bestowed in recognition of outstanding contributions to the estate planning profession. Ms. Ogrodnik-Smith will be honored at the 2022 Annual Gala on May 4th.

2022 Annual Gala

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 2022 Annual Gala. Held on May 4th, the Annual Gala is our most significant and well-attended event of the year. We look forward to and evening of celebration at the Boston Marriott Copley Place honoring the 2022 Excellence Award Recipient.

With the success of BEPC's virtual experiential sessions last year, we are excited to announce the added opportunities for our 2022 sponsors, both virtual and in-person. Complete sponsor benefits, as well as the event timeline, are detailed within the 2022 prospectus.

Sponsors and members will be able to attend virtual or in-person. If you have additional questions, please contact the Sponsorship Committee Chair Emma Penick, and Vice Chairs, Paul Nadeau and Heather Bartel.

Remote Notarization Included in Extended Emergency Relief

BEPC's Legislative Committee reports remote notarization in Massachusetts has been extended through July 31, 2022. On February 15th, the Governor signed a new session law extending various measures adopted during the COVID-19 emergency. The new law, Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022, included an extension of remote notarization. Massachusetts estate planners can use remote notarization and witnessing through July 31, 2022.

Learn More

BEPC's Online Communities

BEPC members are posting in BEPC's LinkedIn group. Join us there for helpful information for your business, life, and more.

Dara Lynn Freytag shared information on the Baker-Polito Administration’s tax proposals that include a doubling of the Massachusetts estate tax threshold.

David Keefe presented on How to Decipher your Medicare choices.

Kathleen Sablone is seeking an estate planning attorney for a young couple based in Seattle.

Curious what your fellow BEPC members said? Check out the group to find out more.

Education Corner

Featured Articles

New Life Expectancy Tables – An Opportunity to Provide Value to Clients

This article discusses how you can provide value to clients by understanding the new IRS tables. Reproduced courtesy of Leimberg Information Services, Inc. (LISI)

Authors: Vanessa L. Kanaga, JD and Natalie B. Choate, Esq., AEP® (Distinguished)

Read Here

New Applicable Distribution Tables for Required Minimum Distributions from Qualified and Individual Retirement Accounts, Effective for 2022

A review of the new IRS tables used to compute annual minimum required distributions. Reproduced courtesy of Leimberg Information Services, Inc. (LISI)

Author: Michael J. Jones, CPA

Read Here

Community Corner

Recognized in March

During March, BEPC recognizes the following:

March is National Women's History Month - A celebration honoring women as significant agents of historical change.
March 2nd, Ash Wednesday- The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches, a 40-day period of spiritual preparation for Easter, not counting Sunday.
March 8, International Women's Day - A celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women worldwide.
March 18-20, Hola Mohalla - This Sikh celebration is an annual event with a martial arts parade historically coinciding with Holi, the Hindu festival of colors.
March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Call to action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination worldwide.
March 21, Naw-Ruz - The first day of the Bahá'í calendar year and one of the nine holy days for the Bahá'í faith. It occurs on the vernal equinox.

Minds Matter Recognized by New York Times

Minds Matter was recognized by New York Times as a commendable charitable cause in their 2021 Holiday Giving Guide. You already see the value and importance of our mission, so I hope you will share our pride in seeing it highlighted among other worthy causes.

Minds Matter Class of 2023

December means early college decisions and our seniors exceeded expectations! The Class of 2023 gained acceptance to Stanford University, Brown University, Spelman College, Tufts University, and more. Watch Angie reveal to her Dad that she will be going to Bryn Mawr College with a full-ride -- this video encapsulates our impact and how your support makes a difference.

Our Members

Welcome New Members

Anthony Forcione,

Rockland Trust Company

Maxwell Marsden,

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

BEPC's Speed Networking Series Continues

Conveniently connect with your colleagues, BEPC Alumni, and new BEPC members at BEPC's virtual speed networking events, offered monthly. Join us at Breakfast with BEPC or The BEPC Lounge!

Next upcoming event is The BEPC Lounge, March 9th.

Committee Spotlight

Annual Gala Committee

The Annual Gala Committee is responsible for planning of the BEPC Annual Gala, the Council's premier event held each May. The Gala pays tribute to the recipients of the BEPC Excellence Award and the President's Award; announces the current year's AEP® designees; and also introduces the change of BEPC leadership from the current president to the president elect. The Annual Gala Committee plans and organizes the entire evening in close coordination with the BEPC staff. In 2022, the committee has taken on the enormous challenge of planning a hybrid gala experience.

Leadership

Joe Scanga, Chair

Lauren Atsalis, Vice Chair

Karen McKenna, Vice Chair

Learn more about BEPC's committees.