On Friday, February 7, 2025, the Jewish Community Federation’s Professional Advisors Network (PAN) hosted its first event since the pandemic. A long-awaited favorite, the Federation’s Professionals Tax and Estate Planning Seminar made its return, featuring the dynamic and humorous Professor Samuel A. Donaldson, who captivated the audience for two and a half hours with insightful updates on recent tax developments.

For many attendees, this marked their first opportunity to experience the Federation’s newly remodeled offices. Federation President and Chief Executive Officer Joy Sisisky welcomed the distinguished group of trust and estate planning professionals, speaking about the Federation’s new role as the vibrant Center for Jewish Philanthropy. She highlighted its role as a forward-thinking, 21st-century organization that is responsive not only to the needs of the Jewish community but to broader societal challenges as well.

Board member and PAN Steering Committee member, Jeff Zlot, Managing Director of AlTi Tiedemann Global, briefly discussed how the Professional Advisors Network is evolving to deliver programming that inspires innovation and meaningful change.

Professor Donaldson’s presentation on tax updates was highly informative and delivered with his trademark wit, leaving the audience both educated and entertained. Donaldson’s talk was focused on how the tax code changes will impact the professional’s clients’ estate plans.

“I never expected to learn so much and laugh so hard.”
—Seminar Attendee

Federation Board Chair Laura Lauder concluded the session by expressing her gratitude to the attendees and emphasizing the importance of their partnership with the Federation. She explained that by partnering with the Federation, professional advisors can broaden their services and amplify their impact with their clients through the Federation’s variety of financial and philanthropic vehicles including donor-advised funds.

We are thrilled to have successfully re-launched the Federation’s PAN to provide educational and networking events for trust and estate planning professionals and wealth advisors who work with clients who are part of the diverse and evolving Jewish community in California and beyond.