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Upcoming events

    • Tuesday, September 16, 2025
    • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34237

    In partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, please join us for a Distinguished Speaker Series program.

    Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025

    Speaker: Alan Gassman, Esq. 

    Registration and Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
    Program: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Community Foundation of Sarasota County

    Topic: SLATS – Spousal Limited Access Trusts

    Synopsis: This session provides a deep dive into Spousal Limited Access Trusts (SLATs), a powerful estate planning tool for high-net-worth individuals and married couples. Designed for attorneys, financial planners, and tax professionals, the course explores SLAT fundamentals and progresses to more nuanced planning considerations. Participants will examine the tax implications, structural requirements, and risk factors associated with SLATs, and will learn to tailor strategies to client-specific needs. Real-world scenarios will be used to compare SLATs to alternative planning techniques and to equip professionals to confidently advise clients on the benefits and limitations of these irrevocable trusts.

    Registration and Lunch: 11:30 a.m.

    Program: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Community Foundation of Sarasota County
    2635 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34237

    Registration for SWFEPC Members: Click Here to Register
    Registration Deadline: September 12, 2025

    Guest Fee: $60

    In-person seating is limited, so please register now should you wish to attend the meeting at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Online participation through Zoom will also be available. Please select your preference when registering online. (Once the in-person seats are full, Zoom will be the only option available.) 

    For this program, we are offering 1.0 credit for Attorneys, CFPs, CPAs, and Trust Officers.

    ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: 

    Alan S. Gassman, JD, LL.M. (Taxation), AEP® (Distinguished)

    Alan S. Gassman is a board certified Trust and Estates lawyer practicing with the Clearwater, Florida law firm of Gassman, Crotty and Denicolo, P.A., which he founded in 1987. The firm focuses on the representation of high net worth families, physicians, and business owners and their companies in estate planning, taxation, and business and personal asset structuring.

    Mr. Gassman is the primary creator and developer of EstateView software, which allows for the design, illustration and analysis of estate tax, estate planning and charitable strategies. Jerry Hesch, Jonathan Blattmachr, Robert Keebler and Mr. Gassman serve as the Creative Team that continues to develop this software.

    He is also the lead author of many books, including Gassman and Markham on Florida and Federal Asset Protection Law, The Estate Planner's Guide to Bankruptcy, Florida Law for Tax, Business & Financial Planning Advisors, Eight Steps to a Proper Florida Trust and Estate Plan, A Practical Guide to Kickback & Self-Referral Laws for Florida Physicians, The Florida Power of Attorney & Incapacity Planning Guide, The Florida Advisor’s Guide To Counseling Same Sex Couples, and is co-author of the Legal Guide To NFA Firearms and Gun Trusts, among others.

    Mr. Gassman is a frequent speaker for continuing education programs and has published well over 200 peer reviewed articles with publications such as Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, Trusts and Estates Magazine, Estate Planning Magazine, The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, and Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI).

    He is also a past President of the Pinellas County Estate Planning Council and has co-chaired over 40 Florida Bar continuing legal education programs, including over 15 years each for Wealth Protection and Representing the Physician. Mr. Gassman is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, where he created a course entitled “Law Practice Management and Professional Mastery” and lectures occasionally on estate planning topics. He has also served as an expert witness in tax, creditor protection and estate planning matters in both Federal and State Court.

    Mr. Gassman holds a law degree and a Masters of Law degree (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida, and a business degree from Rollins College. Mr. Gassman is board certified by the Florida Bar Association in Estate Planning and Trust Law and was inducted into the Estate Planning Hall of Fame Class of 2021 and has received the Accredited Estate Planner Designation from the National Association of Estate Planners & Council (NAEPC). Mr. Gassman has maintained an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 years and is listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Florida Super Lawyers.

    THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM SPONSOR: 


            

    • Tuesday, October 14, 2025
    • 5:15 PM - 7:30 PM
    • Michael's On East, 1212 East Ave South, Sarasota, FL 34239
    • 80
    Register

    Each year, the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council invites a local organization to provide a meaningful update about issues affecting our community and programs making a positive impact. This annual event is known as our "Charity Night."

    On October 14th, we look forward to learning more about Big Waters Land Trust (formerly known as Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast). This local nonprofit is committed to protecting land and water for the benefit of people and nature.

    President Christine Johnson looks forward to sharing details about how Big Waters Land Trust saves land throughout its service area, encompassing Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and parts of Hillsborough, Hardee, DeSoto, and Glades Counties, with a special focus on the Manatee, Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee River areas. To date, the organization has permanently protected over 20,000 acres across 63 properties with the support of our dedicated and growing conservation community. 

    Charity Night with Big Waters Land Trust
    Tuesday, October 14, 2025
    Time: 5:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
    Location: Michael’s On East, 
    1212 East Ave South, Sarasota, FL 34239

    Registration Deadline: Friday, October 10

    This program is free for SWFEPC members, with guests of members encouraged to attend! Members are welcome to include their guests when registering. Guest Fee: $60

    About Big Waters Land Trust

    At Big Waters Land Trust, we envision a future in which the human and natural worlds flourish together.

    To help bring this vision into reality, together with our conservation community we work every day to protect the land and water for the benefit of people and nature.

    Through strategic collaborations with individuals, groups, organizations, and government, we help ensure all people have access to clean water, fresh air, nutritious food, abundant wildlife, beautiful natural areas to enjoy, and all the other physical and mental benefits nature provides. Our vital work strengthens the region’s resilience to storms and floods, enriches lives, and helps safeguard our community for generations to come.


    About Our Speaker: Christine P. Johnson
    President, Big Waters Land Trust

    Christine P. Johnson is a fifth generation Floridian who shares the Big Waters’ vision for the human and natural words of Southwest Florida to flourish together. After earning a BS in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and an MBA from the University of Florida, Christine worked in management and consulted with Fortune 500 companies in fields ranging from manufacturing to media. Her Florida roots run deep though and this Manatee County native couldn’t stay away for long.

    Christine has worked in our region’s nonprofit sector since 2004. She successfully completed the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s $7M capital campaign to build a regional headquarters and then served as Director of Development for Ringling College of Art and Design overseeing their largest fundraising campaign, leading a team of five to raise over $100M. In October of 2011, she was named President of Big Waters where she works to save land, ensure good land conservation public policy, and that all have access to natural places. She is past chair of the Science and Environment Council, past chair of Visit Sarasota County, board member of Crowley Museum & Nature Center, past chair of the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, vice chair of the Florida Alliance of Land Trusts, on the national Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council, and a member of the International Women’s Forum. Nature is where Christine’s family spends their time together. Her husband, Bill, and their college-aged children, Grace and Tommy, enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, and being anywhere there is water to swim, fish, sail, or scuba.

    Special Thanks to Our Dinner Sponsor: 



    • Tuesday, November 18, 2025
    • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Community Foundation of Sarasota County

    In partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Manatee Community Foundation, please join us for a Distinguished Speaker Series program.

    Please save the date!

    Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

    Speaker: Kathleen Bilderback

    Time: 11:30 a.m. – Registration and lunch

    Program: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Community Foundation of Sarasota County

    Topic: TBD

    THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM SPONSORS: 


            



    • Tuesday, January 20, 2026
    • 5:15 PM - 7:30 PM
    • Michael's On East, 1212 East Ave South, Sarasota, FL 34238

    In partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Manatee Community Foundation, please join us for a Distinguished Speaker Series program.

    Please save the date! 

    Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – Joint Councils Meeting

    Topic: TBD

    Speaker:  Michele McKinnon

    Time:
    5:15 p.m. – Registration and Cocktails
    6:00 p.m. – Dinner and Opening Remarks
    6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. - Program

    Location: Michael’s On East

    THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM SPONSORS: 

             



Past events

Thursday, August 07, 2025 The Dynamic Duo: Estate Planning and Planned Giving - What Fundraisers Should Know about The Pair
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 2025 Annual Meeting & Dinner
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 2025 Golf Outing
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 The Fiduciary’s Guide to Life Settlements: Trends and Innovations
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 An $80 (or $60) Billion Dollar Business Valuation Update for Estate Planners
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Using and Misusing the Marital Deduction
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 December 2024 Charity Night with Resilient Retreat
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Looking Back and Looking Forward: Maintaining a Successful Estate Planning Practice over the Next 25 Years
Tuesday, October 08, 2024 Charity Night with Resilient Retreat - Postponed Due to Hurricane Milton
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 Planning for Inherited Retirement Accounts After Secure 2.0
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Joint Councils Program: Everyday Donors of Color
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 Annual Meeting & Wine Dinner 2024
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Washington Update
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Estate Planning Strategies in a Rising Rate Environment
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Joint Councils Meeting: Business Succession Planning
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 Fiduciary Representation
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Charity Night with Forty Carrots Family Center
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Top 10 Charitable Planning Strategies for Advisors
Thursday, June 22, 2023 Philanthropy in Challenging Times: What’s Keeping Us Up At Night & Our Role in Facilitating Good
Tuesday, May 02, 2023 Annual Meeting & "Golf" Outing
Tuesday, March 07, 2023 Top Ten Estate Planning and Estate Tax Developments of 2022
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Business Valuation in Today’s Challenging Economic Environment
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Elder Issues and Special Needs Trusts
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 Holiday Social
Tuesday, November 08, 2022 My Time in Trial – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 Charity Night: Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Charitable Foundation and Community Mental Health Crisis
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Federal Tax Update with Sam Donaldson
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Annual Meeting & Wine Dinner
Tuesday, March 08, 2022 March Meeting of the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council
Tuesday, February 08, 2022 February Meeting of the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Joint Councils' Meeting: Family and Wealth Sustainability
Tuesday, November 09, 2021 Distinguished Speaker Series Presents The Secure Act: Trust Income Tax Planning Strategies
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Food for Thought with Local Charities Featuring Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee & All Faiths Food Bank
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Distinguished Speaker Series Presents "Business Trusts"
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 How to Defend Against New Techniques to Steal Your Identity and Money - Carrie Kerkie
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Elephants in the Room - Carolann Grieve
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Estate and Charitable Planning in light of the recent 2020 Election, the Secure Act and the CARES Act - Jere Doyle
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Top Ten Reasons Trustees May be Sued...and How to Fulfill Ethical Responsibilities and Reduce Litigation Exposure - Sharon Klein
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 CHARITY NIGHT -Neuro Challenge Foundation
Friday, September 25, 2020 Practical Estate Planning in Uncertain Times - Florida Bar Tax Section
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 You Mean I Can't Bribe the Coach? Modern Ethics Issues You Didn't See Coming AND Avoiding the Trustee Risks You Didn't Know Existed - Lauren Wolven
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 Annual Outing 2020
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 CANCELLED - How to Defend Against New Techniques to Steal Your Identity and Money - Carrie Kerskie
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Topic: “The Top Ten Estate Planning and Estate Tax Developments of 2019 -Ronald D. Aucutt
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 Creditor and Trust Planning Strategies You May Not Know About - Alan Gassman
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Dr. Gerry Beyer - Avoid Being A Defendant - Estate Planing to Avoid Malpractice
Tuesday, October 08, 2019 CHARITY NIGHT - Community Foundation of Sarasota County - 40th Anniversary
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 Top 5 Innovative Estate PlanningTechniques with Life Insurance
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Annual Outing 2019
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Breaking the Internet: How auction houses find buyers, track trends and value tangible personal property online for their sellers
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 Access to Digital Assets - S. Dresden Brunner, Esq, S. Dresdent, P.A.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Tax Basis Planning -- less on basis rules and more on planning ideas
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Where the Rubber Meets the Road:Implementation of Trust Provisions
Tuesday, October 09, 2018 Charity Night: Sarasota Orchestra
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Contemporary Estate Planning Paradigms for Married Couples
Tuesday, May 08, 2018 Annual Outing 2018
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Everything You Need to Know about Business Valuations - Richard Goeldner, ASA, CPA, CVA
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Long Term Care Insurance: Everything Planners Need to Know about LTC Insurance
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Protect Vulnerable Seniors from Financial Exploitation
Thursday, November 16, 2017 Retirement Accounts: Planning Optimal Outcomes for Family and Charitable Objectives
Thursday, November 02, 2017 Construction Issues for the Modern Family in the Estate Planning Documents -- Lee-Ford Tritt
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Charity Night: Sarasota Opera Youth Progrm
Tuesday, May 09, 2017 Annual Outing 2017
Tuesday, March 14, 2017 U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Planning for International Clients
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Game-Changing social security strategies -- David Kennon, CWS©
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Charity Night - Books for Kids
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 Estate Planning and the Trustee Selection Process -- Minefields to be Aware of
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 Annual Outing 2016
Tuesday, March 08, 2016 March Monthly Meeting
Our purpose is to encourage the highest level of professional service in the Estate Planning field around Southwest Florida.

Email Us:
admin@swfepc.org

Address:
PO Box 2098
Sarasota, FL 34230