Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts: A Practitioner’s Primer and Advanced Planning Considerations (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:15:00 GMT

Michelle Hanlon, JD
Principal
Friedman + Huey Associates LLP

Christian Klaas, CPA, MST
Partner
Friedman + Huey Associates LLP

Register Today!

Join Michelle V. Hanlon, JD, and Christian Klaas, CPA, of Friedman & Huey Associates, LLP, for a practical discussion of Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs). The presentation will address when a SLAT may be appropriate, the characteristics of an ideal client, key structuring and drafting decisions, and the advantages and trade-offs involved with this strategy. The presentation will also explore approaches to donor access, including distributions, loans, and swap powers, as well as grantor trust rules, tax-reporting considerations, and potential income and gift tax traps.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this presentation, participations will be able to:

Explain the purpose, structure, and defining characteristics of a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT), including situations in which a SLAT may be an appropriate estate planning strategy.
Analyze key SLAT design considerations, including trustee selection, powers of appointment, and the advantages and trade-offs associated with implementation.
Identify common income, gift, and grantor trust tax issues associated with SLATs and apply a planning framework to evaluate SLATs and alternative wealth transfer strategies for clients.

Program Schedule:

7:15 am – Check-in/Breakfast
7:50 am – Welcome/Introductions
8:00 am – Presentation and Q&A
9:00 am – Announcements and Adjournment

Target Audience:
The target audience is financial planning professionals who advise clients who reside in the state of Illinois or non-residents who have exposure to the Illinois estate tax through ownership of Illinois real property. This could include tax and estate planning professionals as well as other financial planning professionals who manage client assets and advise on the balance sheet.

Complexity Level:
Intermediate-level presentation and assumes participants have a basic understanding of estate, gift, trust, and income tax concepts.

C-E: 1-Hour CLE; CFP, and CPE Credits (approval pending)

Location
The meeting will take place in Room #1/Suite 357 on the third floor of the HuttleUp office at 1600 McConnor Parkway in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Registration
Registration closes on Friday, October 16. An email with a link to download the handout will be sent before the meeting.

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Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council upcoming events

Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts: A Practitioner’s Primer and Advanced Planning Considerations (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)