Agenda

Wednesday, Oct. 21

12:00 p.m. Lunch & ITA Peer Group Meetings
Join your peers prior to the conference for an afternoon of discussion on ideas that pertain to you! This is a great opportunity to meet fellow trust industry professionals, while getting ideas on best practices, answering questions and developing resources. Conference registration is not required for this event and wit open to anyone who would like to attend. Please contact ITA’s Darcy Burnett at dburnett@iowabankers.com for more information.

12:30 p.m. Iowa Division of Banking Update
Roger Roland, Crystal Huisman, Tracy Bergmann; IDOB; Des Moines
Trust examiners from the Iowa Division of Banking will provide an update on hot topics and answer your questions.

1:30 p.m. Group Discussion

Thursday, Oct. 22

8:30 a.m. Registration & Exhibits Open
Breakfast sponsored by Infovisa

9:00 a.m. Welcome
Nicole Olson, First Citizens Bank, Mason City

9:05 a.m. Economic Outlook: What Leaders need to Know about Markets, Policy, and Global Risk
Dr. Sung Won Sohn
Today’s economic environment is being shaped by rapid policy shifts, geopolitical uncertainty, financial market volatility, and the accelerating influence of artificial intelligence. In this timely and insightful program, business leaders will gain a clear understanding of where the U.S. and global economies are headed and what those trends mean for strategic decision making. Attendees will learn how inflation, interest rates, labor markets, government policy, and global instability are impacting growth, investment, and long-term planning. This session translates complex economic forces into practical business insight, helping organizations make smarter decisions and build resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world.

10:15 a.m. Break with Exhibitors
Sponsored by MainStreet Advisors

10:45 a.m. Estate Planning After OBBBA: Turning Theory into Practice
Michael Miranda, Miranda CPA & Consulting, Sioux Falls
This session provides a practical, application-focused overview of post-OBBBA estate planning strategies considering the increased basic exclusion amount (approximately $15 million). Examine how the expanded exemption creates new planning opportunities for both middle-wealth and high-net-worth clients, while also introducing long-term risks and policy considerations. Develop actionable planning techniques, including the use of trusts, lifetime gifting strategies, portability elections, and structures for closely held business owners. Special attention is given to balancing estate tax minimization with asset control and flexibility, as well as compliance considerations involving key IRS forms and elections. Leave with a structured framework for advising clients on estate planning decisions in 2026 and beyond, including how to adapt strategies in response to potential legislative changes.

Noon Lunch
Sponsored by Federated Hermes

1:00 p.m. AI and Regulatory Compliance
Jamie Schupp, Pohl & Associates, Dixon, IL
Just like in other areas of the banking industry, AI is being used increasingly in the compliance area. This session will talk about what does AI mean for risk and compliance for a trust organization. We’ll also cover key policy and procedure updates necessary to address AI – the use of it, the prohibition against it, guardrails, limitations, etc. Finally, learn some real examples of where AI already being used in trust organizations and how it can help with your compliance and risk management.

2:00 p.m. Break with Exhibitors
Sponsored by MainStreet Advisors

2:20 p.m. Managing Clients with Special Needs Trust – Practical Strategies
Samantha Shepherd, JD, CEO, Assured Trust Co.
Serving clients with mental health challenges, drug addition, and other concerns requires both legal precision and practical sensitivity. This session offers guidance including effective communication, risk mitigation, balancing discretion with oversight, and coordinating care with families and other professionals. Shepherd will share her experiences to help practitioners provide effective, compassionate, and compliant service.

3:20 p.m. Break with Exhibitors
Sponsored by MainStreet Advisors

3:35 p.m. Iowa Medicaid Estate Recovery
Ben Chatman, Estate Recovery Program, Des Moines
Iowa’s Estate Recovery law requires the state to be reimbursed from the estate of a person who has received benefits under certain Medicaid programs. This session will share how the program works and answer common questions such as who is subject to recovery, what Medicaid costs are included, waivers, and more. Ben will also address the recovery process and details on income trusts and special needs trusts.

4:35 p.m. Reception with Exhibitors
Sponsored by Steffes Auctioneers

Friday, Oct. 23

8:00 a.m. Full Breakfast Buffet & Annual Meeting

8:45 a.m. Administering the Discretionary Trust
David Repp, Dickinson Bradshaw
This session will review what a discretionary trust is and how it compares to other types of trusts. Iowa specifics will be covered with trust code statute and examples from court cases. The session will also include abuse of discretion by definition and examples.

9:45 a.m. Break

10:00 a.m. The Change Equation – From Resistance to Results
Steve Richman
This engaging session covers something we all have to address – change. We’ll cover the change acceptance process, lessons in leadership, effective communication throughout the process, and optimizing optimism during change. Steve draws on his success as a court-room litigation attorney, an account executive and business manager, negotiations and sales trainer, Six Sigma Black Belt, DJ and father.

11:15 a.m. Adjourn & Grand Prize Drawing
Sponsored by Cheetah