By attending the Annual Symposium, you will hear outstanding keynote addresses and take part in sessions specific to planned giving in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced tracks.  Throughout the day there will be opportunities to network with your peers and visit vendors exhibits. 

MORNING KEYNOTE ADDRESS  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.


Carol Lavin Bernick, CEO, Polished Nickel Capital  Management

Lessons Learned in Philanthropy

Carol Lavin Bernick, former executive chairman of international conglomerate Alberto Culver, has invested significant time and talent in the founding, development and growth of philanthropic organizations and foundations. Her strength as an executive is matched equally by her commitment to family, community and giving back.

Bernick will share excerpts from her new book, Gather As You Go: Lessons Learned Along the Way highlighting why she is so passionate about helping others, valuable lessons she’s learned from her philanthropic endeavors, and how life’s ups and downs can be channeled to create good in the world.

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE ADDRESS  12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.


Frank Minton, Principal, Frank Minton Consulting, LLC

Gift Planning Without Tax Incentives

Tax incentives for charitable giving, though still substantial, are less than they once were.  If those incentives disappeared entirely, would gift planning continue as a profession?  To contemplate that question is to ask what fundamentally drives charitable giving.  Without minimizing the benefits of tax incentives to encourage giving at a higher level, this session focuses on the humanistic aspects of gift planning - how fundamentally it is about personal fulfillment, the quest for meaning, and the power of hope.

MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Session Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. 

Beginner Track: Bequest Administration: The Tortoise that Rarely Wins
Rob Smitherman, Northwestern University
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Intermediate Track: My CGA Donor is a Zombie: CGA's outliving their life expectancy and alternative strategies
Robert Shafis, The Salvation Army - USA Central Territory
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Advanced Track: Calming Troubled Waters: Eliminate Delays when Requesting IRA Death Proceeds
Johni Hays, Thompson & Associates
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Session Time: 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Beginner Track: Starting a Planned Giving Program: Building a Budget & Timeline
Sandy Macnab, FAHP, CFRE, Alexander Macnab & Co. 
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.

Intermediate Track: Social Media's Impact on Planned Giving Marketing
Steve Maughan, The Humane Society of the United States

Advanced Track: Impact Investing: Friend or Foe of Fundraising
Phil Cubeta, The American College of Financial Services
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Session Time: 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Beginner Track: Fantastic Prospects and Where to Find Them
Anne Morgan, JD, LLM, Edward E. Ayer Society/Field Museum
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.

Intermediate Track: Donor Insights: Why Planned Gifts Remain Secret
Katy Kotlarczyk & Gordon Trafton, University of Colorado - Office of Gift Planning
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Advanced Track: Creating Legacies of Significance
Michael G. Stuart, JD, CPA 
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Session Time: 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Beginner Track: The Wonderful World of Gift Acceptance Policies
Payson Wild, Wild Associates
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Intermediate Track: Donor Advised Funds: Beauty is in the Eye of the Donor
Carlos Byrne, CAP, BNY Mellon Wealth Management
MCLE: Participants will earn 1.25 hour of MCLE credit.  CCPG is an approved MCLE provider.
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Advanced Track: Risky Business? Mitigating Risks with Real Estate Gifts - Panel Discussion
Joseph Like, CFRE, Loyola University Chicago
Meg Cline, University of Illinois Foundation 
Chase Magnusen, Realty Gift Fund
Allen Thomas, Thomas Charitable Advisors, LLC
CFP: Participants will earn 1.5 hour of CFP credit. CCPG is an approved CFP provider.

Speaker Dinner Sponsor