The Philadelphia Estate Planning Council will present its 2019 Distinguished Estate Planner Award to Thomas M. Forrest at the November 19, 2019 luncheon meeting at The Union League of Philadelphia. The purpose of this annual award is to honor an individual for outstanding contributions in the field of estate planning.
Thomas M. Forrest, is President & CEO of U.S. Trust Company of Delaware. Tom is past President and founder of the Personal Trust Division for Charles Schwab Bank in Wilmington, Delaware. He opened and staffed the Schwab personal trust office in 2007. Before joining Charles Schwab, Tom was co-founder, President and CEO of U.S. Trust Company of Delaware. Tom joined U.S. Trust Company in 1999 and opened the U.S. Trust office in Delaware in 2000, where he managed the office through 2007. Tom returned to U.S. Trust Company of Delaware in 2012.
Tom was Vice President and Manager of the Trust Tax and Financial Planning Division for Wilmington Trust for 18 years. Mr. Forrest is a past President of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, past President of the Delaware Estate Planning Council, past Treasurer of the Delaware Society of CPA’s and past Chairman of the Tax Committee. Tom is a past board member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, Delaware Chapter and has served as a board member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. He is also a past President of the Bank and Trust Tax Association of Mid-Atlantic States, a member of the American Institute of CPAs, The Delaware Society of CPAs, and The Wilmington Tax Group. Tom is past board member of Autism Delaware and past Chairman of The Mary Campbell Center Foundation. Tom is a member of the board and executive committee of The Delaware Bankers Association.
Mr. Forrest assisted the IRS with the development of fiduciary income tax returns on magnetic media and became the first bank in the country to file fiduciary income tax returns on magnetic media. Mr. Forrest has lectured to professional groups on a variety of tax and estate planning topics at numerous meetings and seminars around the country including the National Graduate Trust School, ABA Tax Compliance Seminar, Financial Planning Association, American Bar Association Tax Section Meetings, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Bank Administration Institute, and The National Association of Estate Planners and Councils.
Tom graduated from the University of Delaware in 1982 with a B.S. in Accounting, and received his M.S. in Taxation from Widener University in 1985. He received his Certified Public Accountant Certificate in 1986 and Accredited Estate Planner in 1995. Tom received the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils 2005 Distinguished Accredited Estate Planner award.
Previous PEPC Distinguished Estate Planner award winners include: (2018) Mark Blaskey; (2017) Cliff Schlesigner; (2016) Nina Stryker; (2015) John A. Terrill, II; (2014) Daniel B. Evans, Evans Law Office; (2013) Charles K. Plotnick, Plotnick & Ellis, P.C.; (2012) Robert J. Weinberg, Pepper Hamilton LLP; (2011) Martin A. Heckscher; (2010) Beverly R. Budin, Esq. - Ballard Spahr LLP ; (2009) Francis J. Mirabello - Morgan Lewis; (2008) Edward M. Watters, III - Pepper Hamilton LLP; (2007) Joseph E. ("Jeb") Bell, Jr., MBA, LLM (Tax), (2006) Eugene H. Gillin, Esq., Harkins and Harkins; (2005) Albert E. Gibbons, CLU, ChFC, AEP - AEG Financial Services; (2004) Samuel N. Rabinowitz, Esq. - Blank Rome LLP; (2003) Matthew H. Kamens, Esq. - Wolf Block; (2002) John J. Lombard, Jr. - McCarter & English LLP; (2001) Selwyn A. Horvitz, Esq. - Horvitz PC; (2000) Martin J. Satinsky, CPA/PFS - Smart and Associates, LLP; (1999) Robert L. Freedman, Esq. - Dechert LLP; (1998) Pam H. Schneider, Esq. - Gadsden Schneider & Woodward LLP; (1997) Morey S. Rosenbloom, Esq. - Blank Rome LLP; (1996) Paul C. Heintz, Esq. - Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel; (1995) Stephan R. Leimberg, Esq. - Leimberg Information Services, Inc.; (1994) J. Thomas Dunlevy - The Glenmede Trust Company; (1993) William T. Walsh - Equitable Life Assurance Society; (1992) Edward N. Polisher, Esq. - Cozen & O'Connor; (1991) M. Paul Smith, Esq. - Smith Aker Grossman & Hollinger; and (1990) Davis W. Gregg - Boettner Institute.
