Diane Doiron, CLU chairs the Planned Giving Committee. Marilyn Anticouni, Esq., Michael Bergquist, JD, CFP, Dennis Forster, CFP, Joseph Green, Esq., Suzi Schomer, and Joe Lanza serve as committee members.
Since 1982, under the guidance of a premier group of volunteer estate and financial planning professionals, United Way has offered a variety of techniques which are individually tailored to meet the philanthropic desires of our donors. These gifts provide perpetual support for United Way of Santa Barbara County's unique and innovative programs and improve the lives of children, families, and seniors in our community.
Diane Doiron, CLU is a Past President of the SB Estate Planning Council, the Planned Giving Round Table and United Way of Santa Barbara County. She has served on this committee since 1983, and as the committee chair since 1992. Diane has been in the insurance business since 1974, working with individuals, families, business owners and professionals in the areas of risk management, Estate Planning and Long Term Care insurance. She has specialized in Charitable Estate Planning since 1981, working directly with many non-profits throughout California. She has taught classes on Medicare and on Long Term Care for Santa Barbara City College's Adult Ed program and UCSB.
Marilyn Anticouni, Esq. is an Elder Law Attorney. She has been a committee member since 1990. Marilyn specializes in elder law, estate planning, probate, and trust law. She is a Continuing Education of the Bar lecturer and author, and is a past president and member emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Colleges of Law. She has served as co-chair of Elder Law Section and past president of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association. Marilyn is a member and past president of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council and serves as State Bar Special Master. She serves as a member and chair of the Santa Barbara County Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, Board No. 1.
Michael J. Bergquist, JD, CFP is a semi-retired fee-only financial adviser and former trust department VP/Manager. He has been a committee member since 1990. Mike has a practice which is focused on advising high net worth clients on financial and estate planning matters, including charitable giving. Mike earned his JD at the University of San Francisco and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Willamette University. He is a Certified Financial Planner ® and a member of the California Bar Association. He is a member and past president of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council.
Dennis Forster, CFP has been an advisor at Morgan Stanley since 1979. He has had a long tenure with Morgan Stanley and its predecessors, assuming roles from Branch Manager to Financial Advisor. Dennis is the leader of The Forster Group at Morgan Stanley. He focuses on investments and estate planning strategies for high net worth families, strategic consulting to businesses, the management of endowments, and education funding. As an active member of the community, Dennis has served as a past president of the Jaycees, Santa Barbara Newcomers, Santa Barbara Ski and Sports Club and the Marian Medical Foundation. He has also served on the committees of the Santa Barbara Bowl, YMCA and the Santa Barbara Council on Self-Esteem. Dennis is a member of the Rotary Club of Goleta. https://fa.morganstanley.com/forster/index.htm
Joseph F. Green, Esq .is a Partner at Mullen & Henzell, LLP. He has been a committee member since 1983. Joe has a practice which is focused on working with and advising clients on estate planning matters. He works closely with a number of charitable organizations in the Santa Barbara area and their planned giving programs. Joe regularly presents public seminars on estate planning and on planned giving, and teaches an estate planning course at Santa Barbara City College. Joe graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University, and he attended University of California, Hastings College of the Law. http://www.mullenlaw.com/people/joseph-green/
Joseph M. Lanza retired from McGowan Guntermann (now Prosperity Partners) in 2019. He has been a committee member since 2010. Joe became a CPA in the 1979 and has worked in Santa Barbara since 1984. At McGowan Guntermann, Joe provided expertise in tax planning and financial management. He specialized in estate and trust taxation, high net worth individuals, and private companies in the real estate, construction, insurance and high-tech industries. Joe served as President of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council, the Channel Counties Chapter of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA), and the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North. He graduated USC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.
Suzi Schomer is Wealth Strategist at Montecito Bank & Trust. Her experience includes the successful development and implementation of wealth management strategies for multifaceted, complex trust, investment management, nonprofit and private banking clients. Suzi has been a committee member since 2000 and has been an active volunteer in the Santa Barbara area for over two decades. Suzi is on the planned giving committee of five local organizations and has experience on several non-profit boards and advisory boards. She earned both her BA and MA at USC. https://montecito.bank/about/team/bio?memberName=Suzi Schomer&Team=Wealth Management
Shanna Wasson Taylor joined United Way of Santa Barbara County, as the Gift Planning Services Officer in 2016, to help create solutions for donors who wish to accomplish their personal financial, estate planning, and philanthropic goals through planned giving arrangements. Prior to United Way, Shanna spent 20 years as CEO for Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties. Shanna started her non-profit career working for 10 years in membership and program for the Girl Scouts on California's Central Coast and in San Diego. Shanna earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and her Master's degree in Education, Leadership & Organizations from UCSB. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanna-wasson-taylor-uwsbc/