Please join us on Thursday, April 24th, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. for our 2025 EST Summit at the Scott Conference Center, with cocktails to follow. 

Register here! 

Agenda

12:30 - 1:00 PM 
Registration

1:00 - 1:30 PM
The Connelly Decision: Key Lessons and Takeaways
Clark Youngman - Shareholder, Koley Jessen
Rebekah Birch - Associate, Koley Jessen
During this session, we will explore the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Connelly v. United States (2024) and its impact on business succession planning and decisions regarding ownership of life insurance intended to fund a redemption at the death of an owner. The session will also discuss options to address situations where life insurance is currently owned by the business.

1:30 - 2:00 PM
‘Til Death Do Us Part’: Understanding Elective Share Rights and Premarital Agreements
Lisa Lehan - Shareholder, Koley Jessen
Kate Hughes - Associate, Koley Jessen
Join Lisa Lehan and Kate Hughes as they explain spousal elective share rights under Nebraska law, which grant a surviving spouse a statutory portion of the deceased spouse’s estate, regardless of the provisions stated in the decedent’s Last Will and Testament. We will examine how these rights can be contractually modified or waived through a valid premarital agreement. Attendees will gain insight into premarital agreements as an important estate planning tool, particularly for clients who are business owners or have blended families.

2:00 - 3:00 PM
ESOPs as Alternative Exit Planning Solutions
Adam Cockerill - Shareholder, Koley Jessen
Lawrence Kaplan - Founder and Managing Partner, CSG Partners
Andrew Nikolai - Vice President, CSG Partners
ESOPs provide great opportunities for founders and owners to exit their business in a manner different than traditional transactional contemplations. Please join us to learn more about this legacy and wealth preservation option for founders and owners contemplating exit planning for their business.

3:00 - 3:15 PM
Break

3:15 - 4:15 PM
The Future of Philanthropy in Our Community – Panel Discussion
Moderator:
Alex Wolf- President and Shareholder, Koley Jessen
Panel Members:
Donna Kush - CEO, Omaha Community Foundation
Ann Folkers - Deputy Director, Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation
Wendy Boyer - Executive Director, Peter Kiewit Foundation
John Levy - President, William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
Join us for an insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of philanthropy in Omaha, featuring leaders from local foundations. The panel will explore the dynamic changes in community giving, generational transitions in leadership, and the shifting role of philanthropy as it adapts to new needs. Promising a rich discussion on the intersection of philanthropy, community leadership, and generational transition, the conversation will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Omaha’s philanthropic community in the years to come.

4:15 - 5:30 PM
Cocktails

Register here! 

Continuing Education Credit Information:
Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy, pending
Certified Financial Planner Board, pending
Nebraska Department of Insurance, pending
Nebraska CLE, pending
Iowa CLE, pending