Chapter Events -- Past

January 9, 2024  (Tuesday) at the Pacific Club's Card Room

Lunch at  11:30 am                    Program at Noon

Annual Program Participants

Topic:  Estate Tax Planning   (Accpeted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 320832) 

This presentation will review the changing federal and Hawaii estate tax rules and recent proposals.  It will illustrate the tax effect of the anicipated changes and alternative planning techniques along with corresponding consequences.

Our Speakers:     Joan Fujita, CPA, MBT -- Darryl Nitta, CPA -- Amber Mullis, CPA -- The  Accuity Team

     
Joan Fujita, CPA is the Tax Principal and has been with the firm since 2008 with over 30 years of tax experience. She earned a Masters in Business Taxation and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Souther California.

   
Darryl Nitta, CPA is the partner in charge of C&Y CPAs LLC, a subsidiary of Accuity.  He oversees strategic direction and day to day operations. He served on the Hawaii Tax Review Commission and more recently as the President of the Hawaii Society of CPA.  

    
Amber Mills, CPA is the Tax Manager and has been with the firm since 2017. She currently provides tax consulting and estate compliance services for the firm.

February 13, 2024  (Tuesday) at The Pacific Club - Card Room

11:30 am --  Deli Lunch Buffet                         Noon -- Program

Annual Program Participants

Topic:  Options for Long Term Care Solutions (Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 322270) 

This program will provide approaches to the LTC conversation with clients. It will review types, costs & ways to pay LTC;  hybrid life insurance & LTC vs traditional LTC vs self-funding; cash indemnity vs reimbursement. Popular care services & its related costs will be compared.  Legal & health care management issues will also be explained with a hypothetical case study to review.  

Speaker:   Steffi Obilisundar, JD, CLTC -- Brighthouse Financial

Steffi is a life & LTC specialist providing ideas and strategies that help grow your business.  Her specialty lies in providing innovative ideas with an emphasis on improving practice management techniques.  She's had 10 years of wholesaling experience throughout Colorado, New Mexico & Hawaii.  She holds a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University & a JD from Southern University Law Center.  She's a competitive mountain biker who races throughout the year.

March 12, 2024  (Tuesday) at The Pacific Club - Card Room

11:30 am -- Deli Lunch Buffet                         Noon -- Program

Annual Program Participants

Topic:  Essentials of Private Markets (Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit) 

This program will uncover the full spectrum of investing in private markets. The presentation will start by defining private markets and exploring different fund structures. It will then take deeper dive into the three largest private assets classes (Private Equity, Private Real Estate and Private Credit) to better understand the opportunity set and characteristics of each. The program will then conclude by uncovering the benefits private investments, learning how they can fit into investment portfolios, and audience.

Speaker:   Kevin Williams, CFA, MS -- Blackstone

Kevin Williams is a Principal in the Private Wealth Solutions Group at Blackstone. Mr. Williams works directly with wealth managers in greater Southern California and Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Blackstone, he worked at BlackRock Inc., Cole Capital LP and The Vanguard Group Inc. Mr. Williams holds a Master of Science Degree in Financial Analysis and Investment Management, Bachelor of Science in Economics from Saint Mary’s College of California, and is a CFA charter holder.

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants

(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 270837)

Join us for an enlightening session where we'll delve into the process and benefits of direct indexing. Learn how this innovative investment strategy can help you maximize your returns while minimizing taxes.

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and make informed investment decisions. Reserve your spot now!

Kent C. Mappin is a Managing Director with Natixis Global Investment Managers. Kent is a sought-after public speaker on various topics related to capital markets, asset allocation, and other investment areas typically engaging with end investors to help them make fact-based investment decisions. 

Kent earned a B.S. with a concentration in Economics from Northeastern University. He holds Series 6, 7, 24, 26, and 63 licenses.  

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 196629)

Join Us for a Deep Dive into Market Intelligence! John Hancock's dedicated in-house research team scours insights from over 80 asset managers, analyzing and evaluating market trends to craft a comprehensive outlook spanning 12 to 18 months across domestic equities, international equities, and fixed income.

Discover how Market Intelligence empowers financial professionals with:

• In-depth analysis of market and economic themes
• Charts highlighting key insights
• Exclusive access to invaluable data
• Networking opportunities with industry experts

Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and stay ahead of the curve in today's dynamic financial landscape.

Save your seat now and elevate your investment strategy with Market Intelligence!

Chad Ruehs, Vice President & Business Consultant at John Hancock Investment Management, brings over 12 years of wealth management experience to his role, supporting the industry in The Hawaiian Islands. With previous roles at The Vanguard Group, Chad holds a B.S. in Finance from John Carroll University and is a CFP® professional. Based in San Diego, Chad enjoys cooking, sports, and spending quality time with his wife, Jessica, and their two young children, Noah and Charlotte.

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 326673) 

Join Our Educational Presentation with Julie and Ken Kiwada from Pension Services Corporation on their take of the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program!

Join us for an enlightening seminar focusing on the new SECURE 2.0 provisions and how that impacts 401(k) Retirement Plans. Topics will include updates on the start-up credit and new contribution tax credit, mandatory automatic enrollment, changes to the long-term part-time employee rules, catch-up contributions updates, new distributions options, and more! We will also explore the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program, which will require private sector employers without a tax qualified retirement plan, to participate in the state-run program.

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

 (Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 326996) 

Boost Your Retirement Planning

Join Us for an Informative Seminar on Social Security!

Social Security is a critical element of retirement planning, providing essential benefits to millions of Americans. However, navigating its complexities can be daunting. This seminar is designed to demystify Social Security and equip financial professionals with the knowledge to guide their clients effectively.

Course Highlights:

• Overview of Social Security Benefits: Understand the evolution and current state of Social Security, including its funding and benefit structure.
• Determining Benefit Amounts: Learn about the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and Full Retirement Age (FRA) calculations, eligibility criteria, and cost-of-living adjustments.
• Optimal Timing for Benefits: Explore the implications of starting benefits early, at FRA, or delaying them for maximum advantage.
• Impact of Other Income: Discover how working, pensions, and other income sources can affect Social Security benefits.
• Spousal and Survivor Benefits: Gain insights into benefits available for spouses, survivors, and divorced individuals.
• Strategic Filing Decisions: Learn strategies to optimize Social Security benefits and integrate them into a comprehensive retirement plan.

Steven T. Sweeney is the Vice President of Advanced Markets and Solutions at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. With over 17 years in the financial services industry, he has extensive experience in financial planning and uses sophisticated techniques to assist financial professionals in guiding their clients. Before joining Allianz, Sweeney held positions at Prudential and Transamerica and worked as a life insurance and variable annuity wholesaler. He is a featured speaker at regional and national conferences and has authored numerous financial planning articles. Sweeney holds an MBA from Colorado State University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and a Retirement Income Certified Professional.

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 312155) 

Get ready for an exciting presentation event!

Private infrastructure is expected to overtake real estate as the largest real asset class by 2026. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the incredible investment potential of infrastructure and discover three global megatrends that will shape our future markets. Join us and gain valuable insights into this transformative asset class!

Steve Pointer is a Senior Vice President and Regional Director at Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in educating and implementing sophisticated private and traditional market solutions. Steve holds a B.A. in Business Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and hodls his Series 7, 63, & 65 Licenses. He is an active partner in the Financial Planning Association. Steve resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife and two sons.

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

 
(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit - Course Code: 309475)

Tax Playbook: Help Identify and Plug The Holes In Your Client's Buckets

Investment accounts can be thought of like a bucket that collects your client’s assets. While the goal of a bucket is often to fill it up, sometimes there is a hole in the bucket that can drain it. Taxes can be thought of as the holes in your client s investment bucket. These taxes, or holes, can impact multiple aspects of financial planning, including wealth accumulation, estate and trust planning, and wealth transfers. Learning how to identify these holes can help you plug these holes that could help your clients retain more of these assets. This one-hour seminar will be delivered as a classroom lecture and include a question-and-answer period. It is of intermediate difficulty and assumes a basic understanding of investments and annuities.

Chris Palladino, CFP®, ChFC®, is the Director of Advanced Planning at Jackson. He has extensive industry experience, having previously served as a wholesaler with AIG/American General for eight years and as a financial professional at Chase and Citigroup for four years. A graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in economics, Chris also completed his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification at UCLA. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations, as well as a Life and Health license. 

11:30 am Deli Lunch Buffet

12:00 pm Program

PAID Annual Lunch Participants 

(Accepted for -1- CFP® CE Credit- Course Code: 329709) 

Real Estate Planning that Eliminates Capital Gains Tax and Prevents Family Disputes

Are you ready to tackle the challenges of real estate ownership? Join us at our upcoming event where we’ll dive deep into solutions that you can implement today, including 1031 Exchanges, capital gains tax strategies, and tips for avoiding family disputes.

Gain practical insights on:

• Real estate planning essentials
• Asset performance tests
• Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST)
• 721 UPREITs
• Bonus strategies to potentially eliminate capital gains tax!

Don’t miss this opportunity to optimize your real estate investments and build a smarter financial future!

Dan Ihara is the Founder and CEO of The Ihara Team, the top Keller Williams team in Hawaii, and leader of KW Real Estate Planner. With nearly two decades of experience, he has led his team through over $1 billion in real estate transactions, helping more than 1,500 families. As a nationally recognized coach, speaker, and advisor, Dan trains over 500 real estate planners across the country, focusing on bridging real estate and financial planning. His mission is to help clients build, protect, and transfer their wealth effectively.