Estate Planning Insights

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Wong,-Sindy_Round

Opening Plenary Speaker: 
Sindy Wong, CPA
Partner, Smythe LLP


Worland,-Ian_photo_circle-(Sep-2021)

Opening Plenary Speaker:
Ian Worland, LLB, TEP
Principal, Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers

October 30, 2025
8:30am - 4:30pm
Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building

Current Issues. Trusted Experts. Meaningful Connections.

Presented by CPABC in conjunction with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Vancouver branch, this joint conference-format PD Day is a must-attend event for estate planning practitioners, including professional accountants, lawyers, trust officers, and other financial professionals.  

Why you should attend

  • Stay ahead with the latest estate planning insights
  • Gain access to highly regarded speakers covering the most relevant estate planning issues
  • Connect with other estate planning professionals to expand your network

Register Now

Time

Event

8:30 - 8:45am

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

8:45 - 10:00am

PLENARY

Evolving Certainties: Tax Update for Estate Planners

Presenters:
Sindy Wong, CPA | Partner, Smythe LLP
Ian Worland, LLB TEP | Principal, Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers

Death and taxes remain certain, but the rules continue to change. Obtain an overview of recent tax legislative amendments, court decisions, and CRA rulings and interpretations relating to tax in the estate planning context.

10:00 - 10:15am

Break

10:15 - 11:15am
PLENARY

From the Bench to the Bedside: Estate & Trust Law Update

Presenters:
Andrea Frisby, LLB, TEP | Partner, Farris LLP
Amanda Stacey, JD, TEP | Partner, Miller Thomson LLP

Review key court decisions in estates and trusts law since 2023, and learn what these decisions mean for estate planning professionals and their clients.

11:15 - 11:30am

Break

11:30am - 12:30pm
BREAKOUT 1

Exit Ahead: Business Succession Opportunities

Presenters:
Yogesh Bhathella, CPA, CFP, TEP | Partner, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
St. John McCloskey, JD, LLM | Associate, Clark Wilson LLP

This presentation will review current law and developments affecting business owners planning for ownership succession. Topics covered will include intergenerational business transfer rules, lifetime capital gains exemption increases, the Canadian Entrepreneur’s Incentive, and employee ownership trusts.

A Fading Light: Advising Clients with Declining Capacity

Presenters:
Said Wetzel, LLB, TEP | Counsel, DLA Piper LLP
Kirk O’Brien, CPA, CFP, TEP, FEA | Director, Wealth & Tax Planning, BMO Wealth Management

As clients age and face cognitive challenges, advisors must balance respect for independence with a duty to protect. This session explores how to recognize signs of diminished capacity, navigate ethical and legal obligations, work with substitute decision-makers, and recognize possible abuse. Attendees will gain practical tools for documentation, communication, and risk management when advising vulnerable clients.

12:30 - 1:45pm

Lunch

1:45 - 2:45pm
BREAKOUT 2

Autonomy, Benefits and Care: The ABCs of Disability Planning in BC

Presenter:
Geoffrey White, KC, TEP | Lawyer, Geoffrey W. White Law Corporation and Clark Wilson LLP

This session will provide a practical overview and update on disability planning in British Columbia, focusing on tools and strategies that protect autonomy, secure access to government and private benefits, and ensure long-term care and support for vulnerable individuals.

Bridging the Gap: Life Insurance Update

Presenters:
Tony Lee, CPA, CA, TEP, LLM (Tax) | Assistant Vice President of Tax, Retirement, and Estate Planning, Manulife
Sarah King, PFP | Estate & Insurance Advisor, BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services

Explore trends and developments in insurance planning, including new and updated products, changes to regulatory and tax regimes, and changing risk profiles.

2:45 - 3:00pm

Break

3:00pm - 4:15 pm
PLENARY

With Friends Like These: Cross-border Planning in a Changing World

Presenters:
Cheyenne Reese, JD, LLM, TEP | Principal, Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers
Ryan Gill, CPA, CA | Partner, Private Client-Cross Border Tax, KPMG LLP

As global alliances evolve and tax regimes shift, cross-border planning has never been more complex - or more critical. This session explores recent developments affecting Canadians with U.S. or other international ties, as well as non-Canadians seeking to build ties in Canada. 

4:15 - 4:30pm

Closing