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MEET MARK

I. MARK COHEN, J.D., LL.M.

SUMMARY

Founder and part-time attorney for Cohen & Burnett, PLLC.  Recently retired from serving as Senior Counsel for Advanced Estate Planning, Creative Planning Legal, the largest law firm in the country that focuses on estate planning and administration.  Before that served as Chairman of the Board of the Creative Planning Trust Company (CPTC), ($2 Billion in assets), and before that as the Director of CPTC. Founder and Senior Partner of Cohen & Burnett, P.C., a law firm focusing on trusts and estates; represented over 6,000 estate planning clients and administered over 750 estates over the past 35 years. Founder and Co-Owner of Optifour Integrated Wealth Management, LLC, an SEC-registered independent RIA with assets in excess of $400 million, serving families throughout the country. Optifour is now part of Creative Planning LLC. Past President of the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council.  Past member on the Legislative Committee of the Virginia State Bar, Wills and Trusts Section.  Past chair of the ABA Task Force on Revisions to the Uniform Principal and Income Act.

Mark was the principal drafter of the Virginia Small Estate Act (2010), the IRA Creditor Protection statute (2008), and the Virginia Uniform Powers of Appointment Act (2016).  Mark was actively involved in the drafting of the Virginia Uniform Trust Code, and the Virginia Uniform Income and Principal Act.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

SENIOR COUNSEL FOR ADVANCED ESTATE PLANNING
Creative planning legal
McLean, Va
2023 to 2024

Director then Chair of Creative Planning Trust Company
Overland Park, Kansas
2021 to 2023

Wealth Manager, Creative Planning LLC
McLean, Va
2020 to 2021

Founder and Senior Partner
Cohen & Burnett, P.C.
McLean, VA
1990 to 2020

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN
Optifour Integrated Wealth Management, LLC
1997 to 2020

Associate
Adams, Porter & Radigan
McLean, VA
1989-1990

Tax Manager
Goodman & Company, CPAs
Norfolk, VA
Specialty on trusts, estates and employee benefits
1987-1989

Adjunct Professor
Golden Gate University
Norfolk, VA Campus
Federal Income Tax, MBA Program
1985-1987

Lieutenant, JAGC
U.S. Naval Reserve
Norfolk, VA
1984-1987

Mark Cohen, Owner
Mark Cohen, Owner

EDUCATION

MARSHALL-WYTHE SCHOOL OF LAW, COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
Williamsburg, VA
Masters of Law, Tax, 1989; first in the class

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Doctorate of Jurisprudence, 1984

California State University, Long Beach
Bachelor of Arts, 1979
Major: Political Science

MEMBERSHIPS

Legislative Committee of the VSB Wills and Trusts Section
1998 to 2020

Real Property Trusts and Estates Section, American Bar Association
1990 to present
Most recently chaired the ABA task force on the revisions to the Uniform Principal and Income Act (2016-2018)

Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council
Past President
1990 to 2009

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
1990 to 2009

Virginia State Bar
1989 to present

Arizona Bar Association
1984 to 2024

Cosmos Club
2009 to present (Past Treasurer)

Mark Cohen, Owner
Mark Cohen, Owner
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