Estate Planners' Council of Hamilton

May - TBA
2023-03-02 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Toronto) | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Pitfalls of Probate Avoidance with Heather McKinnon
2023-03-14 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Heather McKinnon practices with Nolan Ciarlo LLP in Hamilton. Her practice focusses on Real Estate, Wills & Estates, Commercial Law and Civil Litigation.

Prior to entering law school, Heather worked for over 15 years in business, gaining valuable practical experience in accounting, business administration, sales, insurance, personal property security and leasing.

She is committed to achieving effective results for her clients with special attention to their personal sensitivities, never forgetting the human aspects of their legal issues.

April - TBA
2023-04-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Ontario

September EPC - Strategic Philanthropy: Benefits of Partnering with the Charitable Sector - Lisa Gonnering & Judith Drost
2023-09-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Strategic Philanthropy: Benefits of Partnering with the Charitable Sector – Lisa Gonnering & Judith Drost
This session will define strategic philanthropy, explain motivations for charitable giving, tax-effective ways to give and the importance of incorporating charitable giving in your client’s estate plan.
The presenters are Lisa Gonnering, Manager Estate & Planned Giving and Judith Drost Storey, Director of Development (St. Joesph’s Healthcare Foundation)

Oct EPC - Estate Planning: Uncovering Hidden Opportunities Using Segregated Funds
2023-10-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Jon Hreljac, CPA, CMA of Manulife Investment Management will speak to segregated fund contract strategies and how their flexibility can help provide estate planning benefits in specific situations. Jon will also discuss real life examples which demonstrate the consequences from a tax and estate planning perspective of failing to plan.

What’s Happening Out There? – Dianna Flannery, JD, TEP – Head Office Tax, Retirement and Estate Planning Consultant – Manulife Financial
2024-04-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
This presentation will review some of the trends being noted in the financial services industry relating to beneficiary designations, addiction/mental health issues and capacity. The presentation will also consider the impact insurance trusts have on planning where these issues arise. There will be a focus on capacity and what can be done when a policy is owned by an incapacitated individual. The presentation will conclude by reviewing recent case law that relates to a variety of issues using life insurance.

September EPC Meeting – Phil Kriszenfeld – Conflict Resolution in the Family Business
2024-09-10 17:30 - 20:00 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Member Phil Kriszenfeld B.A. Q. Med., FEA, CEA will be presenting on conflict resolution in the family business.
Phil Kriszenfeld is a Family Business Advisor and Mediator focusing on high conflict Family Businesses and Partnerships who will be talking about how to address conflict within these environments. Phil also works extensively on with Estates and their various Conflict Resolution needs.
While working within and with Family Businesses for over 30 years, Phil, has spent the last 15 years developing his practice exclusively within this world and often acts as a “secret weapon” in assisting other professionals who help these Families.

October EPC Meeting – Adam Cappelli – “Banton Trusts - Protecting Your Assets From Yourself”
2024-10-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Adam co-founded Cambridge LLP law firm in 2010 and co-manages the Estates Group where the focus is estate planning, administration and estate litigation. Adam has been certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law which has been the sole focus of his practice for nearly three decades.
Adam’s extensive experience in resolving hundreds of estate disputes, caused by poor planning or bad advice, has enhanced Adam’s problem-solving skills for clients with special planning needs. Adam often advises executors, trustees, and attorneys in respect of their fiduciary obligations and he is often retained by beneficiaries and trustees in respect of bringing or defending a claim involving an estate or a trust.
The Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association (CIBPA) for Hamilton & Halton selected Adam as the sole recipient of it’s distinguished “Professional Excellence Award” in 2021. Adam’s professional experience inspired him to produce and host two local weekly cable TV shows “Heirs & Omissions” and “Legal Ease”, and more recently a weekly live webcast “WillPower Wednesdays”, which examine many contemporary legal issues. Adam’s expertise also gave him the opportunity to lecture estate planning in McMaster’s DeGroote MBA program for several years.
Adam is one of the select group of lawyers who have successfully completed both the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) program and the membership requirements of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Every year since 2006 Adam has been voted by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers in Canada” in the area of Estates and Trusts Law. Adam completed his Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree at McMaster University and then received his MBA and law degrees from the University of Windsor.
Every year since 2008 Adam has participated in JDRF’s “Ride for a Cure” to raise money to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Outside of law Adam is passionate about live music and sports.

5:30 P.M. – Social
6:00 P.M. – Dinner
6:45 P.M. – Presentation
7:30 P.M. – Adjourn

November Tri-Chapter EPC Meeting – Hemal Balsara, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA, Head of Tax, Retirement and Estate Planning, Individual Insurance, Manulife – “Post mortem planning and corporate owned life insurance”
2024-11-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Tax deferral through a corporation has provided entrepreneurs an opportunity to maximize cash and minimize personal taxes. However, tax deferral is not tax elimination, as one of the biggest tax issues facing business owners with corporations is the issue of double/triple taxation at the time of death. This presentation will help the attendee understand why and how double/triple taxation arises and how post mortem planning when combined with life insurance can be a solution to help manage terminal tax obligations when private company shares are involved. This presentation will also review the impact to changes in capital gains inclusion rates on post mortem planning and recent changes to various rules including 164(6) and 212.1(6)(b). Additionally, this presentation will look at the impact of corporate owned life insurance and various beneficiary designation considerations resulting from recent case law.
Location: King George South Ballroom
5:30 P.M. – Social
6:00 P.M. – Dinner
6:45 P.M. – Presentation
7:30 P.M. – Adjourn

December EPCH Meeting - "Charitable giving strategies with Jay Morrow AVP Independent Distribution at Serenia Life"
2024-12-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Charitable giving strategies – providing tax efficiencies to your philanthropic goals
Charitable giving is an activity that can allow people to help the most at risk. However, it does not end there. Charitable groups in Canada consist of educational institutions, amateur sports organizations, religious groups and even governments at various levels. According to Statistics Canada, 82% of Canadians give to some form of charity on an annual basis. Although Canadians give large amounts, they do not make all donations with tax and estate planning in mind. The presentation gives insight around planning your charitable giving to help meet your estate and tax minimization goals.
Location: 2nd Floor
5:30 P.M. – Social
6:00 P.M. – Dinner
6:45 P.M. – Presentation
7:30 P.M. – Adjourn

“The Top 5 Estate Cases of 2024 In Review” – with Adam Cappelli from Cambridge LLP
2025-01-14 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

February EPCH Meeting – “Refresher of Important Updates to the Succession Law Reform Act in Ontario” with Heather Watson from Agro Zaffiro LLP
2025-02-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Heather is an associate lawyer at Agro Zaffiro LLP, focusing in the area of estates. Her practice consists of estate litigation, estate administration, and estate planning (which includes the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, etc.). She has appeared in Small Claims Court, the Superior Court of Justice, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Heather enjoys working in estates and relishes an opportunity to answer questions or give talks about the importance of having an up-to-date Will and Powers of Attorney in place. She recognizes that clients need to be informed to make informed decisions.
A proud Hamiltonian, Heather completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at McMaster University majoring in History with an interest in legal philosophy.
She obtained her Bachelor of Laws at the City University of London, in England, graduating in 2015. While in law school Heather enjoyed contributing to various pro-bono initiatives, frequenting London’s many museums, and working at her pub job.
Heather returned to her hometown of Hamilton where she worked for a general practitioner as a law student while completing the National Committee of Accreditation examinations. After receiving her accreditation, Heather articled in the areas of criminal law and family law.
She joined Dermody Law as an associate shortly after being called to the bar in January 2017 and has been proud to work at Agro Zaffiro LLP since its joining with Dermody Law in June 2018.
Memberships:
Hamilton Law Association
Hamilton Council on Aging

5:30 P.M. – Social
6:00 P.M. – Dinner
6:45 P.M. – Presentation
7:30 P.M. – Adjourn

March EPCH Meeting – “Succession Planning” with Jeff Noble, CMC, FEA from The BDO Private Wealth Family Office | BDO Canada LLP.
2025-03-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Executive summary
Jeff is a senior consultant in the BDO Advisory Services Practice. With 20+ years of facilitation and coaching experience, he helps family enterprises, select private companies and not-for-profits effectively deal with the transition from one stage of their lifecycle to the next. The fourth generation to spend several years working in his family’s firm, Jeff thoroughly understands the challenges facing privately-owned businesses, their key stakeholders and the high net worth families they support.
Over the past 20 years, Jeff has applied his knowledge and experience to help private companies and not-for-profit organizations adapt a truly holistic approach to planning for the future. He has become renowned for his expertise in business strategy, value enhancement, successor development, management & leadership transition and governance. In 2003, he earned the Certified Management Consultant designation, globally-recognized as the highest standard of consulting and adherence to a code of professional conduct. More recently, Jeff earned the designation of FAMILY ENTERPRISE ADVISORTM. The FEA Designation represents the pinnacle of professional expertise in the field of family enterprise advising.

Professional affiliations
Member and National Ambassador, the Family Enterprise Exchange
Member, Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario

5:30 P.M. – Social
6:00 P.M. – Dinner
6:45 P.M. – Presentation
7:30 P.M. – Adjourn
