2025 DIGITAL PROGRAM

Welcome and thank you for attending MACPA’s 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference. We are grateful that you can join us virtually this year.  

After the conference, you will log into your account on MACPA.org. Click on your name, top right, and choose CPE History. Here you will see your certificate and you will be able to access the survey which will enable you to process your certificate. 

This conference is only possible with the commitment and dedication of our volunteer conference advisory group and presenters. We are always looking for and open to growing our group. If you are interested in joining the group, please reach out directly to Natalie Antonakas at natalie@macpa.org.  


We are using conferences.io for today’s conference. Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey to help us plan future events. Click the link below find the 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference. You can post questions for our speakers in the green social Q&A box in conferences.io.

event Sponsors

Thank you to our event sponsors for their support so we can continue meeting the needs of our membership and conference attendees.

Advocacy Team
Directions

Virtual Conference Platform

If you are joining us virtually, we are pleased to host our conference on the MACPA website. You simply need to be logged into your MACPA account and click on the Upcoming CPE & Events. Find the 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference event.  The live webcast will begin on that page at 8am ET.  If the video stream does not start automatically at that time, please refresh the page or click the “play” arrow in the video window.

If you need any assistance on the day of the virtual conference, please use the chatbot in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to reach our Member Service Center or give us a call at 800-782-2036.

AGENDA

2025 PFP Conference

Agenda

October 28

Gen AI / ChatGPT for Wealth Management: A Practical Guide for Financial Planners
Speaker:

Donald Tomoff

View Bio


In this fast‑paced session, financial planners will see exactly how to use ChatGPT to speed up research, draft client communications, and refine deliverables without sacrificing quality or compliance. Through live demonstrations of Web Search, Deep Research, Projects, and Canvas, you’ll learn where AI meaningfully saves time in day‑to‑day workflows and how to review outputs with a simple quality‑control checklist. We will also showcase two ready‑to‑integrate GPTs—configured for common planning tasks—so you can plug them into your process immediately (no building required). You’ll leave with practical information and a 30‑day quick‑start plan to safely adopt AI in your practice.


Break

The Tax Bill and the Best Eight Ideas
Speaker:

Robert Keebler

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The Senate’s new tax legislation includes a $15 million estate, gift, and GST exemption per person, preserves current income tax and §199A deduction rates, and introduces a restructured SALT deduction that can be maximized through strategic trust drafting. The bill significantly enhances §1202, allowing greater QSBS gain exclusions after shorter holding periods, and reintroduces opportunity zones in 2027, prompting planning strategies to bridge gains from 2026. Overall, this bill marks a shift from traditional estate tax planning to income tax strategies, particularly those involving nongrantor trusts to optimize deductions and minimize state taxes.

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This session has been pre-approved for 1 hour of CFP Credit. Please complete the sign-in sheet before the conference concludes, the MACPA will submit the credits on your behalf.

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Break

AI + The Wealth Management Landscape
Speaker:

Patrick Hannon

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AI is transforming how financial advisors, CPAs, and other professionals find and connect with prospects. Patrick Hannon, VP of SaaS Commercialization at Fidelity Labs will walk through how new tools can quickly surface high-potential leads, create more personalized communications, and help prioritize outreach. Join Patrick to explore how these innovations are opening up powerful new growth opportunities for firms.

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This session has been pre-approved for 1 hour of CFP Credit. Please complete the sign-in sheet before the conference concludes, the MACPA will submit the credits on your behalf.

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Break

What Accountants Need to Know About The Financial Aspects of Divorce and Pre-Marital Agreements
Speaker:

Ferrier Stillman

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This program will explore current Maryland law on division of assets, including real estate, investments, retirement funds, businesses, inventions, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property, as well as alimony, and child support in divorce cases. Maryland law concerning Pre-Marital Agreements will also be addressed because of the vital role they play affecting spouses’ rights and legal obligations in estate planning and divorce.

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This session has been pre-approved for 1 hour of CFP Credit. Please complete the sign-in sheet before the conference concludes, the MACPA will submit the credits on your behalf.

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Lunch

Power of Personal Storytelling
Speaker:

Jake DeKinder

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Storytelling can be one of the most effective ways to present information, and when well-executed this communication technique has the potential to humanize data and help people view information through the lens of their own experiences.


Break

Streamlining Estate Planning: Practical Strategies & Tech Solutions for Everyday Clients
Speaker:

Patrick Carlson

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We'll explore practical estate planning strategies like Roth conversions, QCDs, QSBS planning, foundational trusts or wills, and advanced planning suitable for everyday clients. As we discuss the strategies, we'll weave in how technology tools such as AI-powered document review, automated calculations, and scenario modeling can streamline your practice and enhance client outcomes across all wealth levels.

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This session has been pre-approved for 1 hour of CFP Credit. Please complete the sign-in sheet before the conference concludes, the MACPA will submit the credits on your behalf.

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Break

How to Address Underappreciated Risks in Social Security Planning
Speaker:

Justin Fitzpatrick

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Many assume that Social Security planning is a simple matter of calculating monthly benefit amounts and projected total lifetime benefits. In this session we’ll cover how effective planning goes beyond the basics to explore important but underappreciated risks like and (i) the tax effects of aligning Social Security benefits with significant tax events (tax risk), (ii) the risk that the program may change in the future (policy risk), (iii) the risk of dying earlier than expected (mortality risk), (iv) the effects of claiming on retirement portfolios (sequence-of-returns risk). Whether you're new to Social Security and retirement planning or looking to sharpen your expertise, this session will give you practical, real-world insights you can apply with clients right away.

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This session has been pre-approved for 1 hour of CFP Credit. Please complete the sign-in sheet before the conference concludes, the MACPA will submit the credits on your behalf.

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Break


Economic Update
Speaker:

Daraius Irani

View Bio

Gain valuable insights into the current economic landscape in this timely presentation. Our expert economist will analyze key indicators shaping the local outlook, including inflation trends, labor market dynamics, interest rates, and geopolitical developments. Discover what these factors mean for your business or clients, and learn strategies to navigate emerging risks and leverage new opportunities.


HOW TO GET YOUR CPE

Virtual Conference Platform

If you are joining us virtually, we are pleased to host our conference on the MACPA website. You simply need to be logged into your MACPA account and click on the Upcoming CPE & Events. Find the 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference event.  The live webcast will begin on that page at 8am ET.  If the video stream does not start automatically at that time, please refresh the page or click the “play” arrow in the video window.

If you need any assistance on the day of the virtual conference, please use the chatbot in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to reach our Member Service Center or give us a call at 800-782-2036.


CFP CREDITS

Earn CFP® Credits at Our Conference

We’re excited to share that several of this year’s conference sessions have been pre-approved for CFP® continuing education credits. To ensure you receive credit, you must complete the required form within 7 days of the conference

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Personal Financial Planning Conference Advisory Group

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