The MIDWEST REGION's Iowa Local Group is hosting an in-person meetup and will offer two educational sessions.
For more information and to register, visit the IOWA Local Group Community page.
Session One - 2026 Tax Updates and Impacts on Client Planning
Presenters:
Bartley Troyer, CPA from Meade CPA
Quinn Arnold, CFP from Arnold & Mote Wealth Management
Program Description:
The 2026 tax year includes important federal and Iowa tax developments that may affect retirement income planning, charitable giving, Roth conversion decisions, education funding, and year-end tax strategies. This session will highlight key federal tax changes, selected provisions from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, 2026 inflation-adjusted tax figures, and Iowa-specific planning considerations. Particular emphasis will be placed on practical opportunities for advisors to identify tax-planning strategies and coordinate effectively with clients’ CPAs.
Understanding these changes can help advisors better serve clients by identifying opportunities to reduce taxes, improve retirement income outcomes, optimize charitable giving strategies, and avoid unintended tax consequences. Participants will leave with a practical framework for recognizing planning opportunities most relevant to Iowa households and retirees.
Session Two - To Trust or Not to Trust – Titling and Beneficiaries
Presenter: Joseph Conway, Attorney from Conway Law PLC
Program Description:
Revocable living trusts are often recommended as a key estate planning tool, yet many clients struggle to understand when a trust is appropriate, what benefits it provides, and how it should be coordinated with their broader financial plan. Financial advisors are frequently the first professionals clients turn to with questions about probate avoidance, beneficiary designations, asset titling, incapacity planning, and trust administration.
This session will explore the practical considerations surrounding revocable trusts and the important role advisors play in helping clients evaluate and implement estate planning strategies. Topics will include the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, the advantages and limitations of revocable trusts, alternatives such as beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death registrations, and common titling and beneficiary mistakes that can undermine an otherwise well-designed estate plan.
Through the combined perspectives of a financial advisor and estate planning attorney, participants will gain a framework for identifying planning opportunities, recognizing implementation risks, and coordinating effectively with legal professionals. By improving advisor understanding of trust-based planning, clients can benefit from more efficient wealth transfer strategies, reduced administrative burdens, improved incapacity planning, and greater confidence that their estate planning documents align with their financial accounts and assets.