The Event for
Estate and
Financial Planners

Christopher Kelly brings more than 28 years of experience in trust, estate and philanthropic planning to his role of Vice President and Planned Giving Product Specialist with PNC Institutional Asset Management. Prior to joining his colleagues at PNC, Mr. Kelly served with the Comerica Charitable Services Group as Vice President and Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Chair of the Grant Committee and President of the Comerica Charitable Trust and Comerica Legacy Foundation, with a combined value of $120 million+. He served in a similar role with Merrill Lynch Trust Company Center for Philanthropy as Senior Philanthropic Consultant and Manager of the Merrill Lynch Community Foundation Alliance, a program he grew to over 225 community foundations across the United States and approximately $1.3 billion+ of assets. He is a frequent guest speaker at conferences, educational programs and donor seminars across the country. He is a member of the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, the Past President of the Council Board, Leave-A-Legacy Chair and is now Chair the Mentoring Program. He served on the National Board Member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and was the Chair of the 2013 National Conference in Minneapolis. Mr. Kelly was a professional Opera Singer, debuting with the Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, Michigan and has performed with various opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States and in Europe.

Numerous studies are conducted each year to determine what the higher net-worth client/donor is expecting when contemplating a substantial gift to a nonprofit organization. While many of these current and potential donors have a solid working knowledge of gifting strategy, they prefer to have the confirmation of their professional advisors to affirm their planning goals, as well as the ultimate impact. This session is designed to review and discuss the data and findings of these studies and apply this to our everyday interaction with our donor/client base. In addition, we will discuss how this information applies and enhances the various components of the traditional Planned Giving Infrastructure along with the customized benefits of the “Blended Gift Strategy”. Finally, this session will contain an overview of best practices in interacting with the nonprofit community with the ultimate goal of building and maintaining a team approach to good philanthropic practice.

Thomas F. Commito, JD, LLM, CLU, ChFC, AEP is Director – Sales Concepts for Lincoln Financial Distributors. A graduate of Cornell University, he earned a juris doctorate, cum laude, from Boston College Law School and a master's of laws degree in taxation from Boston University School of Law. Tom is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Vermont, and is also Series 7 and Series 24 licensed. He is the author of two books, Working with LLCs: A Practitioner's Guide to Limited Liability Companies and Comprehensive Buy-Sell Agreements, both published by the National Underwriter Company. He writes the column “Accounting and Taxation” in the Journal of Financial Services Professionals, and was formerly an assistant editor for The American Alpine Journal. He has been elected to the Estate Planning Hall of Fame, and has also been awarded the Distinguished AEP certification by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. He is a frequent speaker to and a member of several insurance and legal associations.

The “Tax Cuts and Job Act” has dramatically changed the taxation of individuals and businesses. This session will examine both, but it will focus on the business changes particularly as it pertains to life insurance planning for business. In depth analysis of having life policies owned by LLCs (as opposed to trusts) and the use of split dollar life insurance will be covered in detail.

Terence B. Stanaland, JD, ChFC, C.P.A., is Of Counsel to the Greensboro, North Carolina law firm, Teague, RotenstreichStanaland Fox & Holt, P.L.L.C. He was graduated from East Carolina University Magna Cum Laude, and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida School of Law. While in law school, he was a member of the Order of the Barristers and a successful competitor on the National Moot Court Team. Now an experienced attorney and Certified Public Accountant, he earned his Chartered Financial Consultant designation in 1988. In addition, he is a member of the Florida, North Carolina and Greensboro Bar Associations. A frequent lecturer and author on financial and tax topics, he has served on the Board of Directors of several organizations, including the Greensboro Association of Life Underwriters, Greensboro Bar Association and the Greensboro Chapter of Financial Services Professionals. He is formerly a National Director of the Society of Financial Services Professionals and is also on the Board of several Non-Profit Foundations. He has previously enjoyed a career in broadcasting as the former co-host of a syndicated radio talk show. Mr. Stanaland regularly consults with insurance companies and brokerage houses on technical tax matters involving financial products and services. He is recognized as a national expert on technical tax matters and maintains an active Estate and Trust Practice in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Terence Stanaland has devoted his practice to Asset Protection Planning with an emphasis on Estate Tax Planning. In this presentation Terry will demonstrate how, in a world with little threat from the estate tax, experienced practitioners can use their time, talent, and techniques to address the numerous non-tax issues threatening a client’s asset base. It is hoped that, by focusing on practical applications of our tools and techniques, practitioners will leave this presentation with a renewed sense of purpose.