29th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals
Top 20 - or So - Insurance Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Featuring Lawrence Brody, Esq. and the presentation of the Edward N. Polisher Award to Mitchell E. Benson, CPA, MT, CFF
September 6, 2024
We are growing a better tomorrow, together.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Endowments Program is now the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia , a branch of the Jewish Federation. Our name has changed to better showcase our steadfast commitment to providing top-tier, customized service to individuals, families and Jewish institutions. We help grow aspirations to create a better future and actualize them through smart investments today.
With more than a century of experience in charitable giving, our expert team of professionals work with you and your clients one-on-one to channel their philanthropic dollars to make a lasting impact within the Jewish community and beyond for today and generations to come.
29th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals
Top 20 - or So - Insurance Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Featuring Lawrence Brody, Esq. and the presentation of the Edward N. Polisher Award to Mitchell E. Benson, CPA, MT, CFF
Program Welcome
Michael Balaban, President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Presentation of Edward N. Polisher Award
Amy S. Ufberg
Chair, Professional Advisors Network
Edward N. Polisher Award Recipient
Mitchell E. Benson, CPA, MT, CFF
Introduction of Speaker
Amy S. Ufberg
Featured Speaker
Lawrence Brody, Esq.
Closing Remarks
Amy S. Ufberg
Today. Tomorrow. Together.
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation has launched the Life & Legacy Initiative to create a strong and vibrant Jewish community for generations to come.
The thirteen participating organizations - synagogues, schools, and social service and from across the Greater Philadelphia area– receive training, coaching and monetary incentives to create a long-term philanthropic culture that embraces legacy giving.
In the first ten months, the community has generated more than $10 million in estimated future gifts from 125 individuals.
Each one of these gifts will enrich our community in the future
Join the conversation—
To learn more about Life & Legacy, contact Sonya Aronowitz at 215.832.0574 or legacy@jewishphilly.org
• Beth Chaim Reform Congregation
• Congregation Shir Ami
• Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
• JEVS Human Services
• Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
• KleinLife
• Kosloff Torah Academy
• Lubavitch of Bucks County
• Maccabi USA
• Main Line Reform Temple
• Temple Beth Hillel - Beth El
• Temple Beth Zion - Beth Israel
• Temple Sinai
The Jewish Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors whose generous contributions have helped to underwrite the cost of this seminar.
Bernstein Private Wealth Management is proud to support the
Jewish philanthropy is in our DNA. Our founder, Zalman Bernstein, ensured our firm had deep roots and connection to the Jewish community. This legacy lives on today in our people, our core values, and our culture.
• Our employees serve on the boards of over 50 Jewish organizations, including Jewish Federations.
• We invest more than $800 million on behalf of Jewish nonprofits and foundations (as of March 31, 2024).
• Our firm has an established, robust, and growing presence in Philadelphia, 20 offices across the country, and in Tel Aviv.
Since 1967, Bernstein has advised clients to invest with intention to maximize their legacy and their impact.
Lyman
Blank Rome LLP proudly supports the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the 29th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals
Blank Rome LLP proudly supports Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the 29th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals
Blank Rome LLP proudly supports the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the 29th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals
Cozen O’Connor is proud to support the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and its 29 th Annual Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Seminar for Professionals.
Helene S. Jaron
Co-Chair, Private Client, Trusts and Estates (215) 665-4657 | hjaron@cozen.com
Melissa M. Grossman
Co-Chair, Private Client, Trusts and Estates (215) 665-4641 | mgrossman@cozen.com
Goldman Sachs is a proud sponsor of The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s 29th Annual Bronstein Seminar and congratulates
Goldman Sachs is a proud sponsor of The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's 28th Annual Bronstein Seminar and congratulates
Andrew A. Goldman on being awarded the Edward N. Polisher Award
Mitchell E. Benson, CPA, MT, CFF on being awarded the Edward N. Polisher Award
Bala Law Group, LLC
Ballard Spahr LLP
Charlap & Miller, Inc
Dechert LLP
Feldman & Feldman LLP
Fox Rothschild LLP
Isdaner & Co., LLC
RSM US LLP
Rubin-Goldman & Associates
The Haverford Trust Company
Timoney Knox LLP
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
jewishphilly.org/professional-advisor-network
Featured Speaker
Lawrence Brody, Esq. is Senior Counsel at Harrison LLP’s St. Louis office. He is also a visiting adjunct professor at the University of Miami Law School, where he teaches a course on life insurance. He previously retired as an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law after 50 years. Brody has written numerous articles and books on the use of life insurance in estate and employee benefit planning, including two BNA Tax Management Portfolios, two books for the National Underwriter Company, and a number of volumes in the ABA Insurance Counselor Series.
Edward N. Polisher Award
The Edward N. Polisher Award, established through a bequest from Mr. Edward Polisher, is presented to an estate planning professional in the Philadelphia community in recognition of his or her distinguished service to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s endowment programs. Throughout his career, Mr. Polisher served as an example and inspiration to estate planners through his personal integrity, leadership and service to the Jewish community.
2024 Recipient
Mitchell E. Benson, CPA, MT, CFF is a partner in the accounting and consulting firm of Savran Benson LLP. Benson specializes in income taxation of individuals and partnerships, with a focus on real estate, higher net worth families, and their estate and tax planning. He serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and locally with Boys Town Jerusalem. An Israel Bonds honoree and past president of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El, Benson also serves on Jewish Federation’s Committee for Social Responsibility and Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia Board. Benson is a regular volunteer at the Jewish Federation’s Mitzvah Food Program.
Edward N. Polisher, z"l who died at age 102 in September 2004, was often referred to as “the dean of estate planning.” A highly respected Philadelphian attorney, longtime Jewish community leader and philanthropist, Polisher was known as a true visionary. Polisher made certain that his legacy would live on in multiple ways. One of his important bequests was to establish an annual award for an estate planning professional in recognition of outstanding service to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s endowment program.
Prior Recipients
2023 Andrew “Andy” A. Goldman, CLU, ChFC
2022 Rebecca Rosenberger Smolen, Esq., LLM
2021 Robert A. Miller, CLU, ChFC, RICP
2020 Award not given
2019 Scott Isdaner, CPA, JD, AEP
2018 Morey H. Goldberg, CLU, ChFC
2017 Michael S. Paul, JD, LLM, CLU
2016 Lawrence S. Chane, Esq.
2015 Scott Barsky, CPA
2014 Ronald P. Perilstein, CLU, ChFC, CLTC
2013 Edward M. Glickman, Esq.
2012 Lowell H. Dubrow, Esq.
2011 Mark S. Blaskey, Esq.
2010 Howard H. Silverman, CLU, ChFC
2009 David H. Wice, Esq.
2008 Clifford D. Schlesinger, Esq.
2007 Matthew H. Kamens, Esq.
2006 Bennett L. Aaron, Esq.
2005 Philip M. Shiekman, Esq.*
* Of blessed memory
Philanthropic Advisory Services
Our professional staff is available to you as you work with your clients on their tax, estate and financial planning. We can partner with you as you advise individuals and families exploring philanthropic and tax-effective ways to make a gift to the Jewish community.
Bequests
We work with attorneys to provide bequest language, so that your clients can:
• Contribute to the Unrestricted Endowment Fund, which will provide funding for the Jewish community’s priorities in the generations to come.
• Create an endowed fund in their name or the name of a loved one that can:
• Continue to provide an annual gift to the Jewish Community Fund (JCF) in perpetuity. Donations to JCF will be allocated to wherever the need is greatest at the time.
• Support a field of interest, such as: caring for those in need, Jewish education, combating antisemitism, or Israel and overseas.
• Provide annual funds to benefit a specific Jewish organization or synagogue of your client’s choice.
Donor Advised Funds
We offer personalized service coupled with knowledge of Jewish programs, projects and organizations. Donor Advised Funds are an ideal charitable giving vehicle for families looking for a simpler way to manage their giving, and they can help your clients:
• Receive immediate tax advantages and a flexible timetable for making gifts
• Create an opportunity for family involvement in philanthropy
• Support any qualified Jewish or secular 501(c)(3) public charity
• Honor their family’s values and ideals
• Our competitive fee structure helps support the work of the Jewish Community Foundation
Charitable Gift Annuities
We offer charitable gift annuities as a way for your clients to make a gift and receive guaranteed, fixed payments for life. Available for clients aged 65+, these gifts can be a tax-effective strategy to generate payments for single or joint beneficiaries. A charitable gift annuity may have the following benefits for your clients:
• Offer an income-tax deduction at the time the gift is made, and a portion of the payments are received free of income tax
• Provide a potential reduction of estate taxes
• Serve as a possible retirement-planning vehicle
• Give the opportunity to make a significant gift for the Jewish Federation, community organization or area synagogue
Gifts of Life Insurance
Life insurance is an advantageous way, particularly for younger donors, to fund an endowed gift at the Jewish Community Foundation. An endowed gift can be created through relatively small premium payments.
Existing policy – Your clients can transfer the policy to the Jewish Community Foundation, naming Jewish Federation as owner and beneficiary. These gifts provide income-tax deductions at the time of the gift and for all future payments.
New Policy – The Jewish Federation can purchase a new policy on your client’s life, with the Jewish Federation designated as owner and beneficiary. Younger donors wil typically qualify for a lower premium payment, and your clients may qualify for income-tax deductions when premiums payments are made.
Premium Match Program – The Jewish Community Foundation offers a life insurance matching program for qualified policies with an aggregate premium of at least $50,000 over five years.
We Take Care of Your Clients
We provide the following ways to recognize your client’s generosity, while respecting their privacy when they choose to remain anonymous.
Donor Recognition Societies
• Legacy Society – Honors individuals and families endowing gifts of $100,000 or more through all types of vehicles. Members may designate their gifts for general or special purposes. Members enjoy an annual celebration.
• Tikkun Olam Society – Honors individuals and families endowing gifts of any size up to $99,999 through bequests, charitable gift annuities and planned gifts.
• Circle of Partners – Honors over 3,000 members for their 25 years or more of contributions to Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. Members enjoy special Gala celebrations.
Endowment Fund Reporting
When your client creates an endowment fund with the Jewish Federation, we provide them and/or their family members with annual reports to illustrate their fund’s impact.
Additional Programs of Interest
We offer the following programs and groups that your clients may find meaningful for their Jewish Philanthropy.
Women of Vision
The Jewish women’s foundation, comprised of more than 500 members, offers the opportunity for joint investment and collective grantmaking that support initiatives and organizations that advance the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls.
Legacy Philanthropy Program
This cohort-based program provides learning, insights and tools to inspire participants from families with significant philanthropic legacies to competently and confidently address the issues and impact that are important to them. Led by skilled facilitators, a nationally recognized Jewish educator, and expert speakers from around the philanthropic world, your clients will participate in guided conversations that focus on values, family legacy, identity and charitable vision.
Use YOUR Pennsylvania Taxes to Make an Impact on Jewish education!
The Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, a Commonwealth-recognized Scholarship Organization, manages Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC/OSTC) program, a strategic and easy way to invest in Jewish education. Through this program, individuals and businesses can direct their annual state taxes to private educational institutions and receive a 90% state tax credit.
The Foundation for Jewish Day schools provides these funds as scholarships to students from lower-and middle-income families attending one of the Jewish day or pre-schools in the Greater Philadelphia area.
For the 2024 - 2025 school year, the Foundation has thus far awarded over $13.2 million to almost 1,000 Jewish day school students and over $700,000 to 165 Pre-K students. In addition, the Foundation provided almost $100,000 in support of innovative programs for public school students hosted by one of our region's Jewish institutions.
To learn more, visit jewishphilly.org/eitc or contact: Ellen Horowitz Matz, Director, Education Tax Credit Programs, Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, at 215.832.0525 or ematz@jewishphilly.org
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia
Mark Fishman Co-Chair
Karen Kramer Co-Chair
Amy S. Ufberg
Professional Advisors Network Chair
Jennifer M. Brier, Esq. Chief Planned Giving Officer
Sonya Aronowitz, CAP ® Philanthropy Officer
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Michael P. Markman Board Chair
Michael Balaban President and CEO
Sarah Solomon Chief Development Officer
Bronstein Seminar Planning Committee
Amy S. Ufberg, Chair
Mark Blaskey
Larry Chane
Karen Schechter Dayno
J. Richard Greenstein
Scott Isdaner
Michael Kirsh
Howard Silverman
Douglas Simon
Rebecca Rosenberger Smolen
A branch of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, growing a stronger community and a brighter future.
