2024 Estate Planning Institute

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In-Person Registration is now closed. Online registration is still open.

Click here to register, sponsor, or donate to this year’s EPI!

Being held at Hotel Encanto
705 S Telshor Blvd, Las Cruces, NM.

Stay Current With the Experts

The Estate Planning Institute brings together legal and financial experts to give the latest information and updates for attorneys, accountants, bankers, investment advisors, estate planning and tax practitioners, and financial planners.

There are no qualifications or prerequisites required to participate in and benefit from this program.

Reserve your space TODAY!

Potential Continuing Professional Education Credits

This program will be submitted to qualify in New Mexico and Texas for up to:

16.2 continuing education credits based on a 50-minute hour
13.5 continuing education credits based on a 60-minute hour
Three MCLE credits of Ethics/Professionalism, 1 EIJ Credit for New Mexico Attorneys

Registration Rates

The registration rates listed below vary for the time of the registrant’s payment. Each registrant will receive one reserved spot to attend our Estate Planning Institute for both days and includes an electronic PDF file of the 2024 Speaker Manual. Printed copies are also available for an additional $50.00 per manual.

In-person registration is now closed.

Online: $300

Attendees can take advantage of a discounted rate at Hotel Encanto – reserve your room now!

Payment Information

The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico accepts credit card and check payments. Credit or debit card payments can be made online, or through the phone. Check payments need to be made out to “The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico” and should be mailed-in to our CFSNM office location. Our office location address is as follows:

2640 El Paseo Road, Las Cruces, NM 88001

Online Payment

Payments can be made online with a credit card by clicking the link directly below.

Pay Online

Company Invoice

If you will be attending on behalf of a business and they will need to be billed an invoice please email info@cfsnm.org or call our office number listed below.

Phone Payment

Call 575-521-4794 to pay over the phone with a CFSNM team member.

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel by October 25th with a $25 cancellation fee; $100 thereafter.

Testimonial

“ The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico’s Estate Planning Institute is a fantastic program. The event consistently offers a lineup of knowledgeable and engaging speakers who cover a variety of complicated topics in a way that is easy to understand and useful in my day-to-day estate planning practice. And while the education is wonderful, the ability to connect with other like-minded professionals in my field makes the event truly special. I look forward to it every year! ”

Jessica Streeter, Attorney – Streeter Law Firm, LLC

Speakers

Presentation 1 – Illuminating Stories in the Life of a Trustee

A graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, the American Bankers Association, Graduate Trust School, and a National Certified Guardian since 2006. John has worked in the fields of social and financial services for more than 20 years. In his position, John is responsible for the business development and administration of Trusts, Conservatorships and Estates. This includes experience with support, special needs and complex, multimillion dollar trust accounts.
He enjoys establishing and maintaining relationships with clients, estate planning attorneys and trial lawyers. Cardinal Trust does not offer in-house investment advice; therefore, we collaborate with the clients’ preferred investment advisor to manage the trust investment assets.John is not ashamed to consider himself an “old school” trust officer. He is enthusiastic about client service.

He has worked as a medical decision-maker (National Certified Guardian since 2006) for those with disabilities, and as a corporate trust officer with banks and trust companies, where he specialized in administering personal injury settlements, special needs trusts and conservatorships to enhance the lives of the elderly and injured, including quadriplegic, paraplegic, traumatic brain injured and those challenged with mental illness over the full scale of the spectrum. John has worked with several New Mexico Trial Lawyers, Guardians ad Litem and been a guest speaker/sponsor at the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Board Retreats.

He asks each new client or family decision maker, “How can I utilize the trust assets to enhance the quality of life of my client?” He brings this passion to each person he serves.

John serves as Treasurer for The Arc of New Mexico, Vice-President for the New Mexico Estate Planning Council, and board member for the Parker Center for Family Business (UNM Anderson Business School).
He is a proud grandfather of a sweet set of five-year-old twins and three additional, very bright grandchildren. In his free time, he loves to fish for trout in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

Presentation 2 – Disability Planning Unpacked: Key Aspects of ABLE Accounts and Social Security Disability

Feliz is a highly experienced legal professional with a distinguished career spanning over 18 years in law. Her expertise is in the specialized areas of estate planning and disability law, making her a sought-after advocate for clients seeking comprehensive legal guidance. With a passion for estate planning education and community outreach, Feliz ensures her clients’ life and wealth are handled according to their wishes. She has developed a reputation for providing compassionate, yet expert legal services, assisting families in planning for their future and securing their well-being.

Presentation 3 – December 31, 2025: Will You Be Ready?

Kenneth C. Leach completed his education through the University of New Mexico with his B.A. in History in 1972, and his JD in Law in 1975. He was then admitted to the bar by the New Mexico and U.S. District Court in 1975. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and has been listed on Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the University of New Mexico Law School Alumni Association, the Albuquerque Bar Association, the New Mexico Estate Planning Council and Southern New Mexico Estate Council, and is a former Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Kenneth previously served on the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, An Agency of the Supreme Court of New Mexico Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate Law Specialty Committee, He is presently serving on the San Juan College Foundation Board (and served as President from 2019-2022). Mr. Leach served on the University of New Mexico Foundation Board (from 1995-2003), and as the Chairman of the Gift Acceptance Committee for the UNM Foundation. Kenneth has been listed in the prestigious “The Best Lawyers in America” publication in the Trust & Estates section for 28 consecutive years (1996-2024). He was the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico advisor for the year of 2013, and he received the Excellence in Charitable Gift Planning Award for 2006 by the Albuquerque Community Foundation.

Presentation 4 – With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Directed Trusts

Gene Wolf is a partner in the Corporate and Business department at Kemp Smith Law and managing partner of the firm. A native El Pasoan, he began as an associate in 1991 practicing primarily in the areas of securities, business and tax law. He was promoted to partner in 1997 with practice emphasis on tax, estate and business planning.

Presentation 5 – Financial Literacy For Your Clients

Andy Koch is a Senior Advisor Consultant with Invesco. As a Senior Advisor Consultant, Andy supports financial professionals by taking the time to understand their businesses and offering a broad range of insights, tools and resources designed to enhance the success of their practices.

Presentation 6 – Washington DC Updates and New DAF Regulations

Pete Davis advises Wall Street money managers on Washington policy developments that affect the financial markets. President of
his own consulting firm since 1992, Davis Capital Investment Ideas, he draws on 11 years of experience as a Capitol Hill economist
with the Joint Committee on Taxation (1974-1981), the Senate Budget Committee (1981-1983), and Senator Robert C. Byrd (1992).
He worked in the House and Senate, and for Republicans and Democrats. He brought the first computer policy model, the Treasury
Individual Income Tax Model, to Capitol Hill in early 1974, when he became a revenue estimator on the Joint Committee on
Taxation. He formulated the 1975 rebate, the earned income tax credit, the 1976 estate tax rates, the 1978 marginal tax rates, and
the Roth-Kemp tax cut. He left Capitol Hill in 1983 for the Washington Research Office of Prudential-Bache Securities, where he
advised investors for seven years.

Presentation 7 – Looming Sunset: Advising Clients on Estate Planning Before 2026

Vickie is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law, and earned her Masters of Law (LL.M.) in Taxation from New York University. Vickie grew up in Deming, New Mexico, and has been a trust and estate planning attorney in Albuquerque for over twenty-five years. She is an ACTEC (American College of Trust and Estate Counsel) Fellow and is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is honored to have been appointed by the Supreme Court of New Mexico to serve on the State Disciplinary Board.

Vickie practices in the areas of estate planning, tax law, probate, estate and trust administration, charitable giving, business planning, and business succession planning. She speaks both locally and outside of New Mexico to financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, and others on tax and estate planning, business planning, charitable giving, planning related to qualified retirement benefits, and legal ethics.

Presentation 8 – Planning for a Lifetime: Financial Planning for Families With Disabled Loved Ones

Hinds Team, Financial Advisors in Albuquerque, NM 87110 | Merrill (ml.com)

Presentation 8 – Planning for a Lifetime: Financial Planning for Families With Disabled Loved Ones

Hinds Team, Financial Advisors in Albuquerque, NM 87110 | Merrill (ml.com)

Presentation 9 – Basics of Trust Accounting: How to Comply With Rule 17-204

Anne Taylor is Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Disciplinary Board of the New Mexico Supreme Court. Ms. Taylor has been with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel since January of 2002, starting as Assistant Disciplinary Counsel and then later serving as Deputy Disciplinary Counsel before becoming Chief in 2020. She is involved in all levels of attorney discipline, including investigating and prosecuting complaints against attorneys, investigating petitions for reinstatement to the practice of law, monitoring attorneys on probation, and filing petitions for reciprocal discipline. She also serves as a liaison to the Supreme Court’s Client Protection Fund and as Special Counsel to the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners. She is a member of the National Organization of Bar Counsel and has taught numerous continuing legal education programs in legal ethics, particularly in the areas of lawyer fees and trust accounting.

Presentation 10 – General Ethics

Christine E. Long is Deputy Disciplinary Counsel for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. A native New Mexican, Ms. Long attended New Mexico State University and after a brief stint working for a winery in Denver she returned to New Mexico to attend law school at the University of New Mexico. Initially Ms. Long worked at the Roswell firm of what is now Hinkle Shanor LLP before joining the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in 1993. Ms. Long is active in the community and is currently serving as the Chair of Saranam, a refuge to empower families to end their homelessness and poverty through housing, education, and supportive communities.

Presentation 11 – Buy-Sell Planning After Connelly vs. United States

As a partner of Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Luke Britt leads the Advanced Planning Practice for its wealth planning group, Level Four Financial. In this role he serves business owners and ultra-high-net worth families and their advisors by creating plans that solve complex problems in the areas of tax, estate, and business succession planning. A key part of his practice is integrated estate planning, a process that brings professional advisors together to deliver clear, data-driven recommendations and strategies to his clients.

Luke also leads the Level Four Business Solutions practice. This work is focused on helping business owners enhance their company’s value with strategic consulting engagements in the areas of tax planning, employee retention & executive benefit planning and exit/transition planning.

In 2023 Luke was named by Forbes, in collaboration with SHOOK research, as one of the Top Financial Security Professionals in the State of Texas.

Presentation 12 – Ethical Justice for All: Considerations When Serving Clients in Southern New Mexico

Through her work in the Survivors of Crimes Program at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, Valeria Garcia Tavarez provides mentorship and support to the Program while also performing direct representation to NMILC clients who qualify for humanitarian-based immigration relief.

Valeria was born and raised in Albuquerque, and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. She obtained her BA from the University of New Mexico in Spanish and Sociology with a concentration in Law, and her Masters Degree in Latin American Studies. Valeria obtained her JD from the same institution, where she was a Professional Articles Editor with the Law Review and President of the Mexican American Law Student Association. She was also part of the Community Lawyering clinic, where she focused her work on serving the immigrant community.

After graduating law school, Valeria worked for a civil defense firm in Albuquerque, where she refined her research and writing skills. She then worked as an Associate Attorney and manager at Rebecca Kitson Law, where she practiced in all areas of immigration law, including advanced humanitarian, family, and citizenship case types. Valeria has represented clients in immigration court hearings and has attended multiple USCIS interviews in Albuquerque and other field offices in the United States.

Presentation 12 – Ethical Justice for All: Considerations When Serving Clients in Southern New Mexico

Anna currently serves with the Survivors of Crime Program and the Economic Justice Program at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC), following two years with the Asylum and Detention team. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business in Latin America and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, both from the University of New Mexico (UNM), where she graduated in 2012. Anna also earned her Master of Business Administration from UNM in 2015 and her Juris Doctor in 2021. During her law school years, she was the President of the Mexican American Law Student Association, was Vice President of the Immigration Law Student Association and contributed to the Tribal Law Journal.

Raised in Moriarty, NM, Anna is a proud first-generation American and daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her deep connection to her community drives her commitment to give back to the state that has offered her family numerous opportunities.

Presentation 13 – The Art of the Disclaimer

Gregory E. Martin received his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law and his LL.M. in Taxation from SMU Dedman School of Law. He passed the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s board certification exam in Estate Planning and Probate Law in 2021.

Gregory spent 9½ years practicing in El Paso, Texas at Kemp Smith LLP before returning to his hometown of Midland Texas in February 2022 when he joined Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin & Browder, Inc. His practice focuses on estate planning, probate, and entity formation and governance (nonprofit and for-profit) in Texas and New Mexico.

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