Eldercare Planning Symposium

Peter A. Lichtenberg Related Seminars and Products

Peter A. Lichtenberg, Ph.D., ABPP is the Director of The Institute of Gerontology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute. He is also a Professor of Psychology at Wayne State University. He received his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and his Master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University. After his internship he completed a post doctoral fellowship in geriatric neuropsychology at the University of Virginia Medical School where he also became a faculty member. A clinician and researcher throughout his career Dr. Lichtenberg has made contributions to the practice of psychology across a variety of areas including in long term care, in medical rehabilitation with those suffering from late life depression, and age-related dementias.. He is particularly interested in the area of intersection between financial capacity and financial exploitation; finding ways to balance autonomy and protection for older adults. His work in this area led him to be a contributor to the 2008 Assessment of Diminished Capacity of Older Adults: A Handbook for Psychologists published jointly by the American Bar and American Psychological Associations. In 2013 he published the first nationally representative study on predictors of older adult scam victims. He recently completed the creation of the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Making Rating Scale, a tool to be used to assess major financial decisions and/or transactions of older adults.

Sanford J. Mall Related Seminars and Products

Senior Partner

Sandy is the founder and senior partner of Mall Malisow & Cooney, PC - The Holistic ElderCare, Special Needs & Estate Planning Law Firm located in Farmington Hills, Oakland County, Michigan. Sandy is a past Chairperson of the Elder Law & Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is nationally board certified as an elder law attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, a VA Accredited Attorney and is a member of NAELA’s Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP). Mr. Mall is a contributing editor and faculty for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE).

Sandy’s credentials including his CELA & CAP designations further distinguishes him in the practice of law as a nationally recognized expert in his practice areas of estate planning, elder law, special needs disability planning and advocacy, VA benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and probate and estate administration. He was also selected by Worth Magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the country and has been designated a Super Lawyer. He is a frequent speaker for the legal, accounting, health care, mental health and financial advisory professions as well as being the author of numerous articles and seminars on all topics within his areas of expertise.

In addition to his membership on the State Bar of Michigan Elder Law & Disability Rights Section Council, he also serves as Chair of the Section’s Litigation Committee, the Probate & Estate Section, the Health Care Section and the Social Security Section, Sandy serves on the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology (IOG) Elder Law and Finance Committee, the Federal Reserve Money Smart Week Advisory Committee, Chair of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Benefits and Finance Section Steering Committee, and as an ElderCare Matters Editorial Board Member. Sandy is also a member of the ARC, the Financial Planning Association of Michigan, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the Michigan Association of Justice (MAJ), Wealth Counsel, and the International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers.

Mall Malisow & Cooney, PC provides holistic legal counseling and advocacy services to individuals, families and estates. The firm's full service legal practice areas include estate planning, elder law, mediation, Medicaid / Medicare beneficiary rights, elder care advocacy, special needs disability planning and advocacy, VA Benefits planning, probate litigation, and estate administration. The firm works collaboratively with professional colleagues throughout the United States primarily serving the Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Macomb and Livingston Counties. 

Christopher W. Smith Related Seminars and Products

Christopher W. Smith concentrates his practice on special needs planning, elder law, and estate planning. Having a sister with Down Syndrome, Christopher has had a lifelong passion for special needs issues and has extended that passion to elder advocacy. He is licensed to practice law in both Indiana and Michigan and was a litigation attorney in Indianapolis before moving to Michigan. Christopher graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) where he also served as managing editor of the Indiana Law Journal. Prior to law school, Christopher majored in business and history at the University of Virginia and worked in finance for Procter & Gamble.

Christopher and his wife love to travel in and around Metro Detroit (often with fold-up bikes in tow) searching for hidden gems. They are even rumored to have a podcast discussing their adventures.

Some of his accomplishments and memberships include:

• Council Member, Elder Law and Disability Section of the State Bar of Michigan
• Selected as a “Rising Star” in both the Indiana edition of Super Lawyers Magazine (in 2009 and 2010) and the Michigan edition (2012 and 2013).
• Volunteer Counselor, Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, Inc.
• Volunteer, Guardianship Reviewer for the Oakland County Michigan Probate Court
• Past Volunteer, Elder Law and Advocacy Center in Wayne County, Michigan

Leon C. LaBrecque Related Seminars and Products

Leon LaBrecque has invested more than thirty years in pursuit of one goal, enriching the lives of everyday people by helping them understand their financial lives. As an attorney, a CPA, a CFP®, and a CFA, he is passionate about making the complex world of financial planning, investing, retirement planning and taxation simpler and more accessible. Whether he is spending time with college students or CEOs and business owners, Leon embodies the principle of placing the best interest of his client at the heart of everything he does.

George W. Gregory, CPA, JD Related Seminars and Products

George W. Gregory is a CPA, but practices law in Troy, Michigan, specializing in tax law, estate planning, business law, and probate.  George is active in the Taxation Section and the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. George has been active in MICPA committees.   He has written about tax related topics in various publications.   George has a B.A. from Michigan State University (B.A., Economics), an M.B.A. and J.D. from Wayne State University.  George has been a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel since 1998.  Martindale Hubble rates George as AV (very high to preeminent in legal abilities, general recommendation is very high).  George has been listed in every issue of The Best Lawyers in America since 2000, and every issue of Michigan Super Lawyers since 2006.

Stan Sterna, JD – Risk Control Consulting Director Related Seminars and Products

CNA Insurance Company, Chicago, IL

Tina Abbate-Marzolf – Chief Executive Officer Related Seminars and Products

Area Agency on Aging, Southfield

Garry Cole – Vice President - Sales & Marketing Related Seminars and Products

Andrew W. Mayoras, JD – Principal Partner Related Seminars and Products