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2024 Estate Planning Institute
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.
Potential Continuing Professional Education Credits
This program will be submitted to qualify in New Mexico and Texas for up to:
19.8 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
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 Early Bird: $400 (through 10/3)
In-Person After 10/3: $450
One Day: $225
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
John Attwood., VP – Trust Officer and NCG
First American Bank
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.
Feliz Martone, J.D.
Martone Law Firm
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.
Kenneth C. Leach, Managing Partner
Kenneth C. Leach & Associates, P.C.
Presentation 3
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 a 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 26 consecutive years (1996-2022). 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.
Luke Britt
Carr, Riggs & Ingram
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.
Vickie Wilcox
Wilcox, Myers, & Jones, P.C.
Presentation 8 – 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.