March 2022

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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.

Upcoming Events

March 9, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Hot Topics in Estate Planning (Finding Gems in the Ashes of the Dumpster Fire)

*Registration Open via NAEPC


March 9, 2022

BEPC Lounge

*Registration Open


March 11, 2022

Engage with BEPC's Leadership: Monthly Leadership Meeting Featuring EMPath

*Registration Open

March 15, 2022

New Member/Alumni Networking Event

*Invite Only, Registration Open


March 22, 2022

Educational Seminar: US/Canada Cross-Border Planning

*Registration Open


April 5, 2022

Breakfast with BEPC

*Registration Open


April 8, 2022

Engage with BEPC's Leadership: Monthly Leadership Meetings

*Registration Open


April 20, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Ten Ways to Protect Your Client's Digital Assets

*Registration Open via NAEPC


April 28, 2022

BEPC Committee Open House

*Registration Open


May 4, 2022

Annual Gala

*Registration Open


May 11, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Topic TBD

*Registration Open via NAEPC


May 11, 2022

Educational Seminar: Planning for and with Heirloom Properties & Vacation Homes

*Registration Open


May 13, 2022

Engage with BEPC's Leadership: Monthly Leadership Meeting Featuring Minds Matter Boston

*Registration Open

May 18, 2022

BEPC Lounge

*Registration Open


May 20, 2022

Leadership Day 2022

*Invite Only, Save the Date


May 24, 2022

Platinum Sponsor Webinar: Estate Planning Current Developments

*Registration Open


June 7, 2022

June Roundtable Breakfast

*Save The Date


June 8, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: New Kids on the Block(chain): Planning with Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

*Registration Open via NAEPC


June 10, 2022

Engage with BEPC's Leadership: Monthly Leadership Meetings

*Registration Open


June 16, 2022

June Drop-In Networking Event

*Registration Open


June 28, 2022

Breakfast with BEPC

*Registration Open


July 11, 2022

Golf Outing

*Save the Date


July 13, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Topic TBD

*Registration Open via NAEPC


August 10, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Current Issues in Estate and Gift Tax Audits and Litigation

*Registration Open via NAEPC


September 14, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Topic TBD

*Registration Open via NAEPC


October 19, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Topic TBD

*Registration Open via NAEPC


December 1, 2022

Save The Date: 2022 Holiday Networking Reception

*Save The Date


December 14, 2022

NAEPC Webinar: Topic TBD

*Registration Open via NAEPC

Looking for a Replay of a Recent Virtual Event?


One of the greatest benefits of virtual events is our ability to record the sessions and make them available to BEPC members. Recordings of recent webinars and other virtual events are posted to the Member Resources page a few days after the live event (pending speaker approval).

Access Now

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.

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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.

LinkedIn

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.

Register

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.

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