Before the Sunset: Estate Planning in Turbulent Times

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The estate planning landscape is shifting rapidly. The federal estate tax exemption, now at a historic high of $13.99 million per person, is set to sunset at the end of 2025, potentially cutting the exemption nearly in half unless Congress takes action. But that’s just the beginning. This inflection point comes amid a time of broader economic volatility, one that demands clarity, foresight, and a proactive plan. 

In this webinar, Marla Matthews, Trusts & Estates Attorney at Pierce Atwood LLP, and Hope Martin, CFP®, Principal at Vigilant Wealth Management, LLC, will lead a candid, conversational exploration of what this moment means for your estate, your business, and your legacy. You’ll learn what questions to ask, what actions to consider now, and how to protect what matters—regardless of what comes next. 

You’ll gain: 

  • A clear understanding of the 2025 exemption sunset, and how it could reshape your estate’s tax exposure 
  • Strategies for planning in uncertainty—from gifting to succession, with flexibility built in 
  • Insights into team-based planning, and why aligning your attorney, CPA, and wealth advisor is crucial right now 
  • Hard-earned lessons from past market shifts, and how to avoid repeating them 

The rules may change. The headlines will shift. But your planning not only doesn’t have to wait; it shouldn’t. Join us to stay ahead of the curve—and make this moment count. 

This webinar was held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Panelists

Marla Matthews

Marla B. Matthews
Partner
Pierce Atwood 

Marla has extensive experience in trusts and estates planning, which includes general wealth transfer, gift and estate tax planning, and business succession planning. 

She particularly enjoys working with individuals and families, where she can collaborate with them to find practical, understandable, and efficient solutions to complex and emotionally-charged issues related to transfer of wealth and legacy planning. 

In addition to estate planning, Marla has a busy guardianship practice. She frequently represents clients who are petitioning for guardianship over an incapacitated person in the probate court, and advises clients on their fiduciary duties once they are appointed as guardian. 

Hope MartinHope W. Martin, CFP®
Principal & Wealth Advisor
Vigilant Wealth Management  

Hope is a Principal and serves clients as a Wealth Advisor. As a member of the firm’s Wealth Advisory Committee, she contributes to the firm’s approach to financial planning for wealthy families with complex financial lives. She started her career at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in Boston working with high-net-worth clients before moving to the New Hampshire seacoast. She earned her MBA in Paris, France at Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC) and an A.B. in English Literature at Dartmouth College. Hope completed the Boston University Financial Planning Program and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. An avid skier and former lacrosse player, Hope has remained active in both sports, and has helped out with the Seacoast Lacrosse League in various capacities over the years. Hope is the President of Dartmouth Club of the Seacoast, a past member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council, a past board member of Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth, and Co-Founder of Harbor Forum. She also serves in a number of ways on the board trustees of The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Hope and her husband Chip have two children and live in Portsmouth. 

Moderator

Ernesto 200x200Ernesto Burden
Vice President and Publisher
Yankee Publishing | New Hampshire Group 

Ernesto has been vice president digital for Newspapers of New England (NNE), group publisher at PennWell,  vice president of digital media for The Telegraph and NH.com and related sites, as well as digital media director for the Rutland Herald and Times Argus newspapers in Vermont, online editor for The Telegraph and NH.com, and a print editor and reporter with daily and weekly newspapers. He’s spent his career at the intersection of publishing, digital evolution and marketing helping both publishers and advertisers maximize their digital visibility. 

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