Lake Michigan Estate Planning Council

Michigan Trust and Estate Caselaw Update 2021-2022
2022-10-25 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Detroit) | Barclay Event Center, 2330 Barclay Street, Muskegon, MI, 49441
David Skidmore and Laura Morris of Warner Norcross + Judd will join us to share information about interesting and sometimes entertaining trust and estate cases that have been decided in Michigan courts during 2021 and 2022. This presentation is filled with helpful updates and will give us information to help better assist our clients.
Networking: 11:30AM
Lunch/Presentation: 12:00PM
To register, please click the “Pay Lunch Reservation” button below. If you prefer to pay by mail, please send a $25 check (payable to LMEPC) to: Kathy Byma – Novotny CPA Group, 800 E. Ellis Road, Suite 584, Norton Shores, MI 49444.
Members are encouraged to bring guests at no charge! To track our headcount, please include the names of any guests with your paper registration or email guest names to maureen@myfocusfinancial.com if paying online.
We hope to see you there!

SafeSeniors of West Michigan
2023-02-08 11:30 - 13:00 | Barclay Event Center, 2330 Barclay Street, Muskegon, MI, 49441
Kris Collee (AgeWell Services) and Chris Burnaw (SafeSeniors) are excited to present information about the SafeSeniors program of AgeWell Services. SafeSeniors is a program developed to identify and address elder abuse. The program creates awareness about this important topic and creates relationships between the program’s detectives and professional advisors. Kris and Chris will identify signs to pay attention to regarding potential abuse and will provide outreach materials to us for future reference. Kris and Chris will also educate us on the new Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (“FEPA”) which includes reporting requirements we are now responsible for upholding. Please join us for lunch and learn more about the work being done to protect seniors in our community!
Networking begins at 11:30, with lunch and the presentation beginning at Noon.
The cost to attend is $25.00 per member, and members are encouraged to bring guests at no charge! If paying by mail, please send your check payable to LMEPC to Kathy Byma, Novotny CPA Group, 800 E. Ellis Road #584, Norton Shores, MI 49441. Members can also pay for lunch by clicking “Pay Lunch Reservation” below. To track our headcount, please email guest names to Maureen Brading at maureen@myfocusfinancial.com. We hope to see you there!

The Secure Act 2.0
2023-06-14 11:30 - 13:00 | Barclay Event Center, 2330 Barclay Street, Muskegon, MI, 49441
Our speakers are Patrick Caine and Daniel Fogarty from Putnam Investments. Dan is the regional consultant and has been with Putnam for 5 years. Patrick is a senior Wealth Management Specialist and researched the Secure Act 2.0 as part of his responsibility to provide unique ways to maximize benefits from taxes, estate planning, Social Security/Medicare, and Washington legislation.
Together, Patrick and Dan bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the topic of retirement security. They will be joining us to discuss the Secure Act 2.0 and the changes this legislation brings for estate planning in 2023 and beyond.
Please email any advance questions you may have to: Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com. Please put “LMEPC” in the subject line. Additional questions after the presentation are also encouraged. We want to be sure to cover as many aspects of the act that are of particular interest to our members as possible.
If paying by mail, please mail a check (payable to LMEPC) to:
Kathy Byma
Novotny CPA Group
800 E. Ellis Road, #584
Norton Shores, MI 49441
You can also pay online at the link below.
To track our headcount, please email Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com with the names of any guests.

Long Term Care - help ease your clients' burden
2023-10-24 11:30 - 13:00 | United Way of the Lakeshore, 31 E Clay Ave, Muskegon, MI, 49442
Demand for Long Term Care rises every year, and now 30% of states are considering potential legislation. Are you prepared to discuss Long Term Care options with your clients?
Jeff Levine from Duncan Financial will be our guest and discuss different product options in the market place: traditional, hybrid and acceleration of benefits. Jeff will also cover state specific licensing requirements, ongoing continuing education requirements, client applications and LTC Underwriting, indemnity versus Reimbursement coverage and more. Help ease your clients’ burden by attending this open discussion on long term care.
Please email any advance questions you may have to: Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com. Please put “LMEPC” in the subject line. Additional questions after the presentation are also encouraged. We want to be sure to cover as many aspects of long term care that are of particular interest to our members as possible.
You can pay online at the “Pay Lunch Reservation” button at the bottom of this page.
If you’d like to pay by mail, please mail a check (payable to LMEPC) to:
Kathy Byma
Novotny CPA Group
800 E. Ellis Road, #584
Norton Shores, MI 49441
To track our headcount, please email Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com with the names of any guests.

New Legislation Discussion: Uniform Power of Attorney Act
2024-05-14 11:30 - 13:00 | Terrace Point, 709 Terrace Point Road, Ste. 200, Muskegon, MI, 49440, United States
Merica S. Dobry & Catherine H. Jacobs of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP will discuss the new legislation adopting the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, and the ins and outs of the statutory form, protections offered to MI residents and the nuances of using the statutory form versus custom documents. We will also talk about using powers of attorney with financial institutions and using these documents to avoid the need for a guardian or conservator.
Additionally, Mike Bradley from Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy will bring us up to date on the changes to the Corporate Transparency Act.
Please email any advance questions you may have to: Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com. Please put “LMEPC” in the subject line. Additional questions after the presentation are also encouraged.
You can pay online at the “Pay Lunch Reservation” button at the bottom of this page.
If you’d like to pay by mail, please mail a check (payable to LMEPC) to:
Kathy Byma
Novotny CPA Group
800 E. Ellis Road, #584
Norton Shores, MI 49441
To track our headcount, please email Maureen@myfocusfinancial.com with the names of any guests.

Estate Tax Sunset
2024-10-09 07:30 - 09:00 | Frauenthal Center, 427 W. Western Ave, Muskegon, MI, 49440, United States
Join us as we hear from Kayla Kolbe from Parmenter Law and Todd Rohrback & Adriane Schrauben from Hungerford Advisors as they discuss the upcoming sunsetting of the current estate tax law at the end of 2025.

Prenups & Postnups - Do They Even Matter?
2025-02-18 11:30 - 13:00 | Spring Lake District Library, 123 E Exchange St, Spring Lake, MI, 49456
Shon Cook has a passion for supporting people through the toughest of times. For 30 years, she has been representing individuals in nearly every area of the law. Shon presently focuses on family law issues, including divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, guardianships, adoption, and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements. She is the founder and CEO of Tabono Law, a firm representing four core values: strength, confidence, hard work, and unity of purpose. Shon is not only sought after by her clients, but is frequently a speaker on legal issues for the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. She helps to train lawyers and Judges throughout the state on vital issues affecting families.
Join Shon Cook, Managing Attorney and CEO of Tabono Law and peers of the Lake Mi Estate Planning Council for lunch to hear about this topic that touches all of our lives.
Online payment available below at the “Pay Lunch Reservation”. If paying by mail, please include your name with $25 (payable to LMEPC) to Kathy Byma -Novotny CPA Group- 800 E Ellis Rd. #584 – Norton Shores, MI 49441. Payment is available at the door as well – email Maureen at maureen.brading@lpl.com to reserve your spot!
