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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Results from our February meeting of the Board of Directors are already beginning. Chaired by FPF member Grayson Williams, the committee will be meeting this week with our webmaster to review several concepts for upgrading the appearance and functionality of our website. We will be adding a PayPal function, so you may register and pay on line.  There will be links from the FPF website to your own firm's website. There will be a section available "for members only."  There will be added opportunities for you to communicate with other members, and to promote your services to the public. We hope to have the changes in effect by June 1.

Holiday Note: If "April Showers Bring May Flowers," then we should anticipate a floral explosion next month.  The first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox brings us the Easter and Passover holidays which are celebrated this week.  Whatever our culture and tradition, Spring reminds us of the annual renewal of life, and gives us the opportunity to bring fresh energy, fresh ideas to our lives, both personal and professional. I wish each of you a joyous holiday season.

Change of Meeting Room: Our meeting on April 25 will be in The Duck Club, the hotel's restaurant on the first floor. Save your self a trip to the third floor, and come directly to The Duck Club.

Feedback Welcome: Your comments, criticisms and suggestions for improvement are always welcomed.  Please send them to me at ken@kenkaye.com

Last Month's Program

FPF member John Prokey discussed valuation issues in the estate planning context, the probate or trust administration and distribution process, and in succession planning. After leading us through a helpful reminder of the theory and mechanics of valuation in this context. John provided a very useful and informative fact pattern for us to analyze.  Each table had the opportunity to analyze and recommend a proposed division of assets from the perspective of one of the family members.

Programs for the rest of the year

On April 25, Brad Elman will bring us up to date on insurance issues (see below for more information).

On May 23, Palo Alto attorney Peter Stern will talk about the issues facing us as we advise our client who are parents, facing our clients as they try to "parent" their parents, and facing us as we deal with these same issues in our own lives.  Peter will address practical and legal issues facing professionals as they try to advise their clients.  Peter is an expert in representing seniors in all sorts of estate planning situations, including Medi-Cal issues.

As an added incentive for you to attend  the May meeting, it will begin at 5:00, with a hosted bar and light appetizers.  Our thanks to Krista Conover and Borel Private Bank & Trust for sponsoring this event with a major contribution to the Forum

More About April's Program

This month's speaker is FPF Board Member Brad Elman, CLU, who will give us the "inside scoop" on new products and planning techniques with health, life, and disability insurance. Brad has made nearly 100 television appearances as NBC 11's consumer finance expert, and his practice has been featured in Kiplinger magazine and Morningstar Advisor.Com.  Brad has also been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, CBS Marketwatch, The Street.com, San Jose Mercury News, CNET News and others. He recently completed an article on insurance planning for families with special needs children.

Brad is a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network where he is a member of The Northwestern Mutual Forum for representatives with the highest levels of productivity and excellence. Brad was also the 2005 company leader for Northwestern Mutual's Group (Corporate) Long Term Disability Insurance product.

Brad specializes in helping closely held businesses with their health, disability, and life insurance, as well as business succession strategies.

He serves on the El Camino Hospital Foundation Planned Giving Council, is the Chair of The El Camino Hospital Community Action Network, is a board member for the Financial Planning Forum, and coaches his son's Little League team for Special Needs Children.

Check out Brad's website at www.bradelman.com