Date: August 14th , 2025

Time: 1pmET | 12pm CT | 11am MT | 10am PT

Duration: 90 minutes

Description:

Over the Fourth of July weekend, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was officially signed into law, ushering in sweeping changes that will impact millions of Americans. Chief among them: a permanent increase in the federal estate and gift tax exclusion.

This course examines the sweeping changes introduced by the newly enacted legislation that permanently raises the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption. With this shift in federal transfer tax policy, traditional estate planning approaches are evolving—reducing the urgency of lifetime gifting and redefining the role of key tools such as irrevocable trusts and portability elections.

Participants will receive actionable insights on how to realign estate plans with the new exemption thresholds. The course will highlight strategic opportunities for both high-net-worth individuals and moderately affluent clients, helping advisors navigate planning in an environment where fewer clients face immediate estate tax exposure—but still require sophisticated wealth transfer solutions.

Key Topics Covered:

• Key Highlights of the 2025 Estate and Gift Tax Reform
• Strategic Shifts in Lifetime Gifting Under Elevated Exemption Limits
• Portability vs. Credit Shelter Trusts: Roles in a New Planning Environment
• Estate Planning for Clients Still Subject to Tax Exposure
• Communicating the Impact of Exemption Changes to Clients

Learning Objectives

• Explain the major provisions of the 2025 legislation, including the permanent increase to the federal lifetime estate and gift tax exemption.
• Assess how elevated exemption amounts reshape core estate planning tools such as lifetime gifting, irrevocable trusts, and portability.
• Identify clients who remain at risk for estate tax liability and tailor planning strategies to meet their specific needs.
• Review and revise existing estate plans developed under prior exemption limits to ensure they align with the current tax landscape.
• Develop client-focused strategies for effective wealth transfer, asset protection, and long-term planning in an era of reduced estate tax exposure.

Credits and Other information:

• Recommended CPE credit – 1.5
• Recommended field of study – Taxes
• Session Prerequisites and preparation: None
• Session learning level: Update
• Location: Virtual/Online
• Delivery method: Group Internet Based
• Attendance Requirement:  Yes
• Session Duration: 90 minutes

Who Will Benefit:

• CPA
• Enrolled Agents (EAs)
• Tax Professionals
• Attorneys
• Other Tax Preparers
• Finance professionals
• Financial planners

About Our Speaker

Patti S Spencer is an attorney with Metzger and Spencer, LLP and Spencer Law Firm LLC in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she provides experience and depth in estate planning, trust and estate administration, complex tax consulting, charitable gift planning, wealth transfer vehicles and retirement plan consulting, and expert witness testimony. Ms. Spencer taught estate and gift tax for eight years as an adjunct professor at Boston University in the LL.M. program, and also was a former professor of trusts and estates at Boston University School of Law. In addition, she has spoken numerous times on topics related to her areas of expertise. Ms. Spencer is the author of a weekly column Taxing Matters, which appeared in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal’s Business Monday Section for 14 years. She also has written Pennsylvania Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library: Forms and Practice Manual, Data Trace, which is updated annually. Ms. Spencer earned her B.A. degree from Dickinson College, her J.D. degree from Boston University and her LL.M. degree from Boston University. She is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.