DALLAS ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT

LUNCHEON PROGRAM

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026

NOTE LOCATION!

DOUBLETREE HILTON - CAMPBELL CENTRE

8250 N. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, DALLAS

(Lunch is served Noon-12:20; Program 12:20-1:30 P.M.)

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 28 (5:00 P.M.)  

REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE - NO EXCEPTIONS

WALK-INS ARE NOT GUARANTEED A MEAL

CASH OR CHECK AT THE DOOR

$37 - MEMBER WITH MEAL

$50 - GUEST WITH MEAL

$25 - PROGRAM ONLY/NO MEAL

THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF GRANTOR TRUSTS

SAM DONALDSON

 Sponsored by The Dallas Foundation and Cumberland Trust

The income tax rules governing grantor trusts, the centerpiece of most estate plans, have been around for over 70 years, and yet there are still very basic questions for which there are no answers. This session asks and answers those questions, including the best powers for creating grantor trusts, the ability to “toggle” grantor trust status, and situations for exercising a power to substitute assets.

SAMUEL A. DONALDSON [J.D. University of Arizona; LL.M. (Taxation) University of Florida] is the Director of Curriculum and Professor of Law at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he teaches a number of tax and estate planning courses, as well as courses in the areas of property, commercial law, and professional responsibility. Prior to joining the Georgia State faculty in 2012, he was on the faculty at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle for 13 years, where he served as the Director of the law school’s Graduate Program in Taxation as well as Associate Dean for Academic Administration. In addition to Georgia State and the University of Washington, Professor Donaldson has taught law school classes at Northwestern University, the University of Florida, and Emory University. He has won nine “professor of the year” awards at three different law schools. He is an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a member of the Bar in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. He currently serves as the Tax Editor for the Probate Practice Reporter, a monthly publication from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Among his scholarly works, Professor Donaldson is a co-author of the popular law school textbook, Federal Income Tax: A Contemporary Approach, and a co-author of the Price on Contemporary Estate Planning reference volume available in the online Estate Planning Expert Library. An amateur crossword constructor, his puzzles have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets. A perennial contender for People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” honor, Professor Donaldson was recently notified by email of his selection to receive substantial sums of money from high-level Nigerian business officials in exchange for his bank account information.

Continuing ed credit is pending for attorneys, accountants and financial planners for this presentation. The presentation will be posted on the website document library a few days prior to the presentation.   

Please register online with a credit card payment on the website: scroll down to the bottom of the page and register. LOG IN IS NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER.  If you need a receipt, print out the confirmation page (receipt will not be sent to a 3^rd party).  

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR MEETING SPONSORS:  Armanino, Bessemer Trust Company, Carter Financial Management, Communities Foundation of Texas, Frost Bank, HighGround Advisors, Mercer Advisors, The Catholic Foundation, Heritage Auctions, The Dallas Foundation, Saville CPAs & Advisors, McBride & Associates at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, EisnerAmper., Ag Trust, Cumberland Trust, Brown Advisory and Wealth Advisors Trust Company. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PATRONS: Davis Stephenson, Argent Trust, Glast Phillips Murray Zopolsky, Stout, Carr Riggs & Ingram,  View Capital Advisors, Neuhoff Hunt, Phillips, Prosperity Bank, Bank of Texas, Maus & Associates, When Pigs Fly Estate Sales & Auctions, American National Bank & Trust, Signet Art, Tarleton Law Firm,Matter Family Office, Bisignano Harrison, Inspired Valuation Group, Steel Grove Advisors, Tipping Mineral Management, Atwood & McCall, Dallas Auction Gallery, Probity Advisors, Inc., Hancock Whitney and Baker Tilly

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BELOW!

THE CONTINUING EDUCATION SUBMISSION LINKS  ARE DISPLAYED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION. SIGN-IN SHEETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING. SUBMIT ATTENDANCE AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE LINKS. SAVE THE LINKS IN A FILE FOR EASY ACCESS. ASSISTANTS/ADMINISTRATORS WHO REGISTER FOR SOMEONE - PLEASE FORWARD THE CE LINKS TO THE REGISTRANT.

PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL MEAL REQUEST IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING