Apr 26 2023 8:05AM

Opening Keynote: State of Business in CT & Legislative Update

Chris DiPentima, President and CEO of CBIA, the state's largest business organization, will address Connecticut’s economic outlook and the state’s business climate and provide an update on the 2023 General Assembly session, which runs through June 4.

Apr 26 2023 9:25AM

Avoiding the Top Mistakes in Retirement Planning

Doug Orton, CRPC, Senior Business Development Strategist, MFS Investment Management
This course discusses some costly mistakes in planning for retirement and advice for avoiding them. Topics include spousal contributions, required minimum distributions, capital gain treatment for company stock, penalties and more! An overview of SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act will also be provided.

Learning Objectives: (1) Understand the rules governing spousal contributions to maximize savings for retirement. (2) Understand the rules governing required minimum distributions and apply them to specific client situations. (3) Learn the rules on “net unrealized appreciation” to provide long-term capital gain treatment for company stock. (4) Review the changes made by SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act.

Apr 26 2023 9:25AM

Funding Strategies for Trust-Owned Life Insurance

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current estate-planning landscape as well as how and why insurance planning (especially involving trusts) should be at the forefront of client conversations. Participants will gain an understanding of the various methods of funding premiums via illustrative case studies.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Understand the current estate-planning landscape and upcoming tax and legislative changes. (2) Understand the tax treatment of personally owned versus trust-owned life insurance. (3) Understand the various methods of funding premiums within a trust.

Apr 26 2023 9:25AM

Mortgages Today & Their Place in Financial Planning

This presentation will serve as an introduction to the world of mortgage products and how they can serve clients throughout their lifetime. As financial planners, you understand the importance of helping your clients make informed decisions about their finances. Homeownership is one of the most significant investments they will make and it can have a significant impact on their financial wellbeing. Lisa Moriello of loanDepot.com LLC will discuss how to compare mortgage products and their providers so you can help your clients achieve their financial goals.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Understand how a reverse mortgage can be a safe, effective vehicle to supplement retirement needs. (2) Understand how credit, income and assets are viewed from the mortgage world. (3) Learn how trusts, life estates and comingled credit can affect financing requests. (4) Understand why a mortgage carried into retirement should be considered in conjunction with income distribution.

Apr 26 2023 10:35AM

Advanced Tax Mitigation Strategies

This session will address Internal Revenue Code tax law and provisions designed by the United States Congress to direct private investment to specific sectors and areas through tax incentives and continuity of capital. Examples of potential tax-mitigation strategies illustrating specific incentives, deductions, deferrals, and other benefits will be cited. Finally, how advisors can implement them within their practice to expand their planning role with clients will be reviewed.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Understand how and why the federal government uses the Internal Revenue Code to direct private investment. (2) Understand specific tax provisions forming the basis for incentives, deductions, deferrals, and other benefits. (3) Learn how to access programs and implement tax-mitigation strategies as part of holistic financial planning.

Apr 26 2023 10:35AM

Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts in Connecticut: The Intersection of Asset Eligibility Planning and Defective Grantor Trust Rules

Apr 26 2023 10:35AM

Medicare: Effectively Transitioning at 65 PLUS What's New with Medicare Planning

Finding the right Medicare plan requires careful consideration. Our presenter, a Medicare insurance specialist, will discuss the many options and plans that are available to Medicare-eligible clients. This session will take the mystery out of Medicare, a mandatory federal health-insurance program, and, in some cases, penalties may be incurred if your clients do not sign up when they are supposed to. It will also cover the enrollment process and how to choose a plan that’s right for a client’s individual situation and budget. For example, if they are turning 65, retiring, or moving to a new address, they need to know the dates for enrollment and plans available in their state or county. Also discussed will be how to cover medical expenses that traditional Medicare does not cover.

Learning Objective(s): By the end of this session, attendees will: (1) Know when, how and who needs to enroll in Medicare. (2) Be able to guide clients to resources available to make an informed decision as a first-time Medicare enrollee or to evaluate their current individual Medicare-plan options at age 65 or post-retirement. (3) Be educated on the various Medicare options and statewide plans available so they can help their clients understand and receive all the benefits they are entitled to as well as find coverage that best suits their budget and current and future health-care needs.

Apr 26 2023 11:45AM

Keynote Address: Geopolitics in the Age of Destruction

John Emerson, former US Ambassador to Germany, will share his insights on: • Recently concluded Munich Security Conference; • Geopolitical analysis of Russia and Ukraine; • European cohesion and energy crisis; • Germany’s economic and defense transition; • Relations between China and Europe; • Relations between China and US; • Politics in the US; • Expectations regarding the new Congress and the Biden Administration; and • His “curtain raiser” on the 2024 US Presidential Election.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Review circumstances behind and possible paths forward for the major theaters of geopolitical tension. (2) Review circumstances of and relations between predominant world powers of Russia, China, Europe and the US. (3) Review political environment in the US. (4) Consider economic implications of geopolitical environment.

Apr 26 2023 2:30PM

Hot Topics in Estate Planning

This session will provide an up-to-date review of estate planning in Connecticut, including asset- protection trust planning, supplemental-needs trust planning, and insurance trust planning. Participants will receive practical tips to further engage clients in solid planning in today’s environment.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Understand the broad utility of asset-protection trusts and related considerations for structuring. (2) Understand supplemental-needs planning and how it compares to asset-protection planning. (3) Understand the basics of life insurance trusts and how to structure them to avoid negative tax treatment.

Apr 26 2023 2:30PM

Today’s Inherited IRA

Many individual beneficiaries will have ten years to take distributions and pay taxes on the IRAs they inherit. Others still have the option to take distributions and pay taxes over their individual life expectancies. Learn who’s who and what clients should do as beneficiaries and owners of IRAs. This presentation will include information about: payout periods and rules, conversations with beneficiaries, and conversations with account owners.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Review retirement income planning. (2) Discuss common considerations and strategies regarding retirement income planning.

Apr 26 2023 2:30PM

Unconstrained Fixed Income: How Does It Fit?

income solutions for clients. Whether pairing core or core-plus funds with nontraditional bond funds or making strategic allocations to fixed income plus sectors such as high yield, bank loans and emerging markets, nontraditional bond funds can serve as an important diversifier and complement in fixed-income allocations.

Learning Objective(s): (1) Learn a framework for implementing unconstrained fixed income into client portfolios. (2) Utilize Sharpe ratios and correlation analysis to identify appropriate allocations. (3) Understand key issues when customizing your framework. (4) Understand benefits of unconstrained fixed income beyond duration diversification. (5) Evaluate different approaches for implementation across client portfolios.

Apr 26 2023 3:35PM

Keynote Address: The Future of Financial Planning: Title Protection, Fiduciary Duty & Fees

We wrap up our 39th Annual State Conference with a panel discussion with James Lee, FPA President, and Knut Rostad, President of Institute for the Fiduciary Standard, moderated by FPACT Board Member Chuck Failla, on three critical issues for the future of our profession: Title Protection, Fiduciary Duty and Fees. We’ll hear the opinions of our panelists, then open up the conversation to a robust audience-driven Q&A. With all the talk surrounding these topics, we’re certain to have a very lively debate! Be sure to come with your questions and opinions!