Independence Breakfast: Famous Estates, Familiar Problems: Applying Lessons from Celebrity Estates to Private Client Planning presented by PNC Bank
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About the Program
While celebrity estate administration matters provide high-visibility examples of complexity, the underlying issues—illiquid assets, family conflict, valuation disputes, and fiduciary risk—are the same challenges practitioners face every day with high-net-worth private clients. Panelists will discuss high-profile estate and trust administration matters and reveal the very real lessons applicable to everyday families. Attendees will gain practical insights into how common planning mistakes, family dynamics, tax exposure and lack of flexibility can impact clients—and how thoughtful planning can help avoid “made for Hollywood” outcomes.
About the Speakers
As Chair of Hahn Loeser’s Cleveland Trusts and Estates Practice Group, Dana Marie DeCapite dedicates her practice to serving as a trusted legal advisor for high-net worth families through estate planning, estate/trust administration, business succession planning, asset protection planning and prenuptial/postnuptial planning—with a particular focus on negotiating settlements of domestic relations matters with estate planning solutions.
Joe Ferraro serves as Director of Western Reserve Trust Company’s Family Wealth team where he coordinates legal, tax, financial, and philanthropic matters for high-net-worth and UHNW individuals and family groups. Also, in his role as Fiduciary Counsel at Western Reserve Trust Company, he provides internal guidance on trust and estate laws, tax matters, and fiduciary risk.
Kate Wensink is an estate planning attorney with McDonald Hopkins. She advises high net worth business owners, executives, and professionals along with their families in all areas of estate, business succession, charitable and tax planning.
Frank F. Gagliardi, CFP® │ 2025-2026 Program Chair
Continuing Education – The following credits will be available for 1 hour of CE (as of 3/13/26):
CFP® – PENDING approval by the CFP® Board.
CLE – PENDING approval by the Ohio Supreme Court.
General – Available for those AEP®, CPA, and CWS designees who feel the program satisfies their continuing education requirements.
Reservation Policy –
IN PERSON (only options): All attendees are encouraged to register in advance and walk-in reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis only. The meeting cost is $40 for members when paid in advance before noon on 04/21/26, $60 for members at the door, $60 for guests, and $240 for a table of six (can be mix of members and non-members - please submit names to admin@epccleveland.org by 04/17/26). If you reserve and are unable to attend, please call the office to cancel by noon 04/21/26 to avoid a no-show reservation billing.
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