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56th Annual Sidney Kess Estate, Tax & Financial Planning Conference
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Sessions
Schedule
Leadership
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Don’t miss your chance to hear from top experts at this year’s Sidney Kess New York Estate, Tax & Financial Planning Conference. You’ll learn the latest on all aspects of the OBBBA affecting estate, tax, and financial planning, and discover how to navigate these evolving processes.

Nontransitional Credits Offered
14 NY CLE Credits (including one Ethics, one Technology, and one Diversity credit)
14 NY CPE Credits
CE Credits for CFP professionals will be offered
Credits will be given for each session attended in accordance with CLE, CPE, and CFP requirements.

Hot Topics for this year include:

  • Comprehensive Income Tax and Estate Planning Updates for OBBBA
  • Creditor Protection Without Asset Protection Trusts -- How to Create an Effective Estate Plan That Protects Assets from Creditors While Achieving Tax and Practical Goals for Families and Businesses
  • Using the Charitable Gift Annuity to Defer Reporting the Gain Realized from the Immediate Sale of Marketable Securities
  • What the New OBBB Act Means for Philanthropy
  • Advising Clients When a Beneficiary Has Mental Health Issues
  • Tax Aspects of Divorce
  • AI and Ethics: Practical Stuff You Must Know
  • Income Tax Planning in the Current Tax Environment
  • Estate Planning in the Current Environment

Conference Fee: $195 per person, which will include a link to a downloadable e-binder. UJA estimates that the fair market value of attending the conference is $195 and does not qualify for a charitable deduction. No other goods and services will be provided.

Financial Aid Policy — Applicants for financial support may apply for reduced fees or scholarships based on financial hardship. Under this policy, any individual who has a genuine financial hardship may submit, in writing, on letterhead, an explanation of the hardship and, if approved, may receive full or partial assistance, depending on the circumstances. Please send financial aid requests to .

Cancellation policy: $25 handling fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations after Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Sessions

10/22/2025 - Session 1

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 10:00 AM - Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM

location_on

Virtual

10/23/2025 - Session 2

Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 10:00 AM - Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 6:00 PM

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Virtual

Schedule

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

10:00 am
Sharon L. Klein
The State of the States: Latest Key Planning Developments Across the U.S.
Hear about the most important recent state-level developments, trends, and estate-planning ideas, including legislative developments; case law updates; estate, gift, and other tax law changes; and other breaking state-level developments.


11:00 am
Alan S. Gassman
Creditor Protection Without Asset-Protection Trusts — How to Create an Effective Estate Plan That Protects Assets From Creditors While Achieving Tax and Practical Goals for Families and Businesses
This course explores how to design and implement estate plans that offer robust creditor protection without relying on traditional asset-protection trusts. Participants will learn practical and tax-efficient strategies to shield assets using such legally sound structures as business entities, tenancy by the entirety, retirement accounts, discretionary trusts, and integrated family arrangements. The program emphasizes how to balance creditor protection with family dynamics, business continuity, and estate tax planning goals, offering actionable tools for lawyers, advisors, and financial professionals who serve high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses.


12:00 noon
Steven G. Siegel
How to Review Trust Documents with a Planner’s and Tax Mindset and a Focus on Non-Estate Tax Matters, Such as Income Tax Status of Trust, Distribution Provisions, and Other Matters, So That the Trust Can Be Administered Properly
This session will explain how the elements of a trust should be reviewed and understood. We will address issues such as tax implications of revocable and irrevocable trusts; the income tax treatment of grantor and nongrantor trusts and how trust beneficiaries are taxed; distinguishing among simple, complex, and grantor trusts; the meanings of specific trust clauses (HEMS, 5/5 power, etc.); special charitable deduction rules for trust income; and special trusts that can hold S corporation shares. We will learn how to determine what trust language distinguishes the type of trust involved, evaluate which tax treatment is appropriate for the reviewed trust, and recognize key clauses that govern the trust administration.

2:00 pm
Jerome M. Hesch
Using the Charitable Gift Annuity to Defer Reporting the Gain Realized From the Immediate Sale of Marketable Securities 
For individuals who intend to sell appreciated marketable securities while living, the income tax step-up in basis at death is not available. Today’s presentation examines how the sale of a substantial portion of the asset in exchange for an annuity payable for the seller’s life allows the gain realized on the sale to be reported as each annuity payment is received. In addition, the seller is entitled to an immediate charitable income tax deduction for the portion of the asset given to the charity. The presentation is designed to demonstrate how the seller can be financially better off using the part-sale/part-gift treatment with a charitable gift annuity as opposed to selling the entire asset for cash and paying the income tax on the gain at the time of the sale.

3:00 pm
Ted Batson, Bill Samers, Rachel Schnoll
What the New OBBB Act Means for Philanthropy
Join us and explore how the landmark OBBB Act is likely to impact the landscape of charitable giving — for individuals, corporations, DAFs, private foundations, or charities. We will review tax law changes impacting charitable gifts and other provisions that may positively or negatively affect donors and organizations.

4:00 pm
Amanda Koplin, Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, Martin M. Shenkman
Advising Clients When a Beneficiary Has Mental Health Issues — How Money Impacts Treatment
The presenters will discuss common pitfalls across the financial spectrum when determining mental health treatment recommendations, and how each can impact a beneficiary’s wellbeing as they go through treatment. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to support better outcomes for both clients and their beneficiaries. When a beneficiary struggles with mental health challenges, financial decisions can either support recovery or unintentionally undermine it. This session explores the complex intersection between mental health and money, helping advisors and trustees understand how financial structures, boundaries, and expectations influence treatment outcomes. The presenters will offer insight into the psychological and systemic pitfalls that can arise, along with strategies to foster stability, autonomy, and dignity for beneficiaries receiving care. 

5:00 pm
Jeremiah W. Doyle
When Harry Left Sally: What Every Advisor Should Know About Tax Aspects of Divorce
We will discuss the income and gift tax consequences of divorce, including the tax traps that may be encountered in property settlements, child support, the sale of the principal residence, and the repeal of Section 682 alimony trusts. In addition, the problems encountered in dividing IRAs and qualified plans, stock options, and deferred compensation will be covered, as will the relief available from joint and several liability.

10:00 am
Sharon L. Klein
The State of the States: Latest Key Planning Developments Across the U.S.
Hear about the most important recent state-level developments, trends, and estate-planning ideas, including legislative developments; case law updates; estate, gift, and other tax law changes; and other breaking state-level developments.


11:00 am
Alan S. Gassman
Creditor Protection Without Asset-Protection Trusts — How to Create an Effective Estate Plan That Protects Assets From Creditors While Achieving Tax and Practical Goals for Families and Businesses
This course explores how to design and implement estate plans that offer robust creditor protection without relying on traditional asset-protection trusts. Participants will learn practical and tax-efficient strategies to shield assets using such legally sound structures as business entities, tenancy by the entirety, retirement accounts, discretionary trusts, and integrated family arrangements. The program emphasizes how to balance creditor protection with family dynamics, business continuity, and estate tax planning goals, offering actionable tools for lawyers, advisors, and financial professionals who serve high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses.


12:00 noon
Steven G. Siegel
How to Review Trust Documents with a Planner’s and Tax Mindset and a Focus on Non-Estate Tax Matters, Such as Income Tax Status of Trust, Distribution Provisions, and Other Matters, So That the Trust Can Be Administered Properly
This session will explain how the elements of a trust should be reviewed and understood. We will address issues such as tax implications of revocable and irrevocable trusts; the income tax treatment of grantor and nongrantor trusts and how trust beneficiaries are taxed; distinguishing among simple, complex, and grantor trusts; the meanings of specific trust clauses (HEMS, 5/5 power, etc.); special charitable deduction rules for trust income; and special trusts that can hold S corporation shares. We will learn how to determine what trust language distinguishes the type of trust involved, evaluate which tax treatment is appropriate for the reviewed trust, and recognize key clauses that govern the trust administration.

2:00 pm
Jerome M. Hesch
Using the Charitable Gift Annuity to Defer Reporting the Gain Realized From the Immediate Sale of Marketable Securities 
For individuals who intend to sell appreciated marketable securities while living, the income tax step-up in basis at death is not available. Today’s presentation examines how the sale of a substantial portion of the asset in exchange for an annuity payable for the seller’s life allows the gain realized on the sale to be reported as each annuity payment is received. In addition, the seller is entitled to an immediate charitable income tax deduction for the portion of the asset given to the charity. The presentation is designed to demonstrate how the seller can be financially better off using the part-sale/part-gift treatment with a charitable gift annuity as opposed to selling the entire asset for cash and paying the income tax on the gain at the time of the sale.

3:00 pm
Ted Batson, Bill Samers, Rachel Schnoll
What the New OBBB Act Means for Philanthropy
Join us and explore how the landmark OBBB Act is likely to impact the landscape of charitable giving — for individuals, corporations, DAFs, private foundations, or charities. We will review tax law changes impacting charitable gifts and other provisions that may positively or negatively affect donors and organizations.

4:00 pm
Amanda Koplin, Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, Martin M. Shenkman
Advising Clients When a Beneficiary Has Mental Health Issues — How Money Impacts Treatment
The presenters will discuss common pitfalls across the financial spectrum when determining mental health treatment recommendations, and how each can impact a beneficiary’s wellbeing as they go through treatment. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to support better outcomes for both clients and their beneficiaries. When a beneficiary struggles with mental health challenges, financial decisions can either support recovery or unintentionally undermine it. This session explores the complex intersection between mental health and money, helping advisors and trustees understand how financial structures, boundaries, and expectations influence treatment outcomes. The presenters will offer insight into the psychological and systemic pitfalls that can arise, along with strategies to foster stability, autonomy, and dignity for beneficiaries receiving care. 

5:00 pm
Jeremiah W. Doyle
When Harry Left Sally: What Every Advisor Should Know About Tax Aspects of Divorce
We will discuss the income and gift tax consequences of divorce, including the tax traps that may be encountered in property settlements, child support, the sale of the principal residence, and the repeal of Section 682 alimony trusts. In addition, the problems encountered in dividing IRAs and qualified plans, stock options, and deferred compensation will be covered, as will the relief available from joint and several liability.

Leadership

Planned Giving & Endowments

Vice President
William D. Samers

Director
Jaya Nahmiyas

Manager of Trusts and Estates
Tracy Doka

Associate Account Manager
Suzanne Menna

Senior Staff Accountant
Alana Weisman

Community Trust Administrator
Irina Tuchina

Planned Giving Officer
Orly Harel

Development Associate
Davida Halev

Project Coordinator
Maya Allen

Development Assistants
Inna Galperin
Yakir Kanefsky

Vice President
William D. Samers

Director
Jaya Nahmiyas

Manager of Trusts and Estates
Tracy Doka

Associate Account Manager
Suzanne Menna

Senior Staff Accountant
Alana Weisman

Community Trust Administrator
Irina Tuchina

Planned Giving Officer
Orly Harel

Development Associate
Davida Halev

Project Coordinator
Maya Allen

Development Assistants
Inna Galperin
Yakir Kanefsky

contact us

Questions? Get in touch.
Inna Galperin

212.836.1204