Almost 5% of the Population Identifies as LGBTQ. What Skills Do Planners Need to Properly Serve the Modern Family? The structure and composition of the modern family has evolved and continues to evolve. In 2018 approximately 4.5% of the U.S. population identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or queer (“LGBTQ”). Estate planners, financial advisors, insurance consultants, trust officers, and others must be prepared to interpret existing estate planning documents and plans in light of the evolving family and have the skills to craft new estate plans to address the modern family, including evolving concepts of gender.
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Steve is an attorney in Levenfeld Pearlstein’s Trust and Estates Practice Group. As a part of his estate planning practice, Steve generally focuses on counseling high net worth individuals and families on structuring and implementing their unique estate planning goals. Although he is experienced in all aspects of trust and estate administration, he concentrates on estate and gift taxation, wealth preservation and asset protection, and succession for closely held businesses.
Steve is involved in the Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC) as Chair of the Workshops and Roundtables Sub-Committee. Steve has written or presented for BNA Tax Management Estates, Gift and Trusts Journal, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and CEPC.
Steve received his B.A. from the University of Illinois, J.D. from the UIC-John Marshall Law School, and LLM in Taxation from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Melisa is an Assistant Vice President in the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group (SWAG) within Merrill Private Wealth Management. Melisa works closely with the advisors of wealthy families and individuals, helping clients to achieve their financial, personal, and legacy goals. She works collaboratively with clients’ advisors, providing holistic service to aid in pursuing sustainable, long term strategies.
Melisa is a Trust & Estate Fellow with the American Bar Association’s Real Property Trust & Estate Law Section, serves on the Chicago Community Trust’s Young Professional Advisory Committee, and participates in the Young Leaders Fund, providing grants to small Chicago charities focused on Childhood Development and Education. She is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School (J.D. 2016) and Loyola Law School (LL.M. Taxation 2017).
Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, NJ, and New York City. His practice concentrates on estate and tax planning, planning for closely held business, and estate administration. Mr. Shenkman is an author of over 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. He is an editorial board member of Trusts & Estates Magazine and the Matrimonial Strategist, and an advisor for InterActive Legal. He is the recipient of many awards including being a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Accredited Estate Planners (Distinguished) award from the National Association of Estate Planning Counsels. Mr. Shenkman was named Financial Planning Magazine 2012 Pro-Bono Financial Planner of the Year for his efforts on behalf of those living with chronic illness and disability. Investment Adviser Magazine featured him on the cover of its April 2013 issue naming as the lead of their “all-star lineup of tax experts.”