8:30 am to 9:45 am: Registration/Visit with Partners
8:50 am to 9:30 am: Optional Pre-Conference Sessions
- Presentation by First Trust
- 3 Methods to Reach More Ideal Clients presented by Rob Hughes of Hughes Integrated
9:45 am: Welcome/Opening Remarks
10:00 am to 11:00 am: Opening Keynote
Beyond Bias: Exploring the Human Experience of Money
Brian Portnoy, Ph.D., CFA | Founder of Shaping Wealth
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Despite “behavioral finance” being fascinating, its impact in the wealth management industry has been limited. Of course, we want to help clients make better decisions in order to thrive. But our industry’s “biases and heuristics” obsession has landed us in a cul-de-sac from which we now need to retreat. This talk charts a new path forward. It presents seven distinct pivot points combining timeless insights with timely actions to empower the modern advisor to help clients figure out how money fits into a meaningful life.
11:00 am to 11:20 am: Networking Break with Partners
11:20 am to 12:20 am: General Session
The Marketing Playbook: Proven Strategies for Financial Advisors
Robert C. Hughes, MBA, IMC | CEO
Hughes Integrated
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Too many advisors rely on outdated tactics that fail to attract their best-fit clients. In this session, you’ll get a step-by-step playbook for growing your practice with modern, relationship-driven marketing. Learn how to clearly differentiate your practice, leverage Centers of Influence (COIs) for high-value referrals, and implement marketing strategies that position you as the go-to advisor in your niche. Walk away with actionable insights you can start using immediately to drive growth and impact.
12:20 pm to 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: Breakout Sessions (2 choices)
Breakout Option 1: Super CE with Prudential
Hosted by Prudential
Approved for 6 IAR and 6 Products & Practice Credits
Step into the fast lane of professional development with our brand-new Super CE session! In partnership with Prudential, this powerhouse breakout delivers 6 IAR and 6 Products & Practice credits in a single, streamlined experience. Designed for advisors who want to stay sharp and compliant without sacrificing their full workday, this session offers a deep dive into timely topics at the intersection of investment advisory regulation, insurance solutions, and client-centric best practices.
Breakout Option 2: Table Topics Roundtable an interactive session
Moderator: Jeff Nauta, CFA, CFP®, CAIA®, CDFA | Principal & Chief Compliance Officer
Henricksen Nauta Wealth Advisors
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
We are fortunate to have a wealth of experience gathered in one room. It would be a missed opportunity not to tap into that collective knowledge and learn from one another. The purpose of Table Topics is to spark fun, engaging discussions around questions that are relevant to our industry, clients, and practice management. Our moderator will present a question to the group, and each table will take a few minutes to discuss it. Afterward, one representative from each table will share their group's key insight or "best practice" with everyone. This format is designed to encourage meaningful conversations at each table while also promoting the exchange of valuable ideas across the entire room. We aim to cover as many topics as possible within the time allotted, so we can make the most of this opportunity to learn from each other.
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm: General Session
4 Strategies for a Smarter College Search
Heidi King | Education & Partnerships
College Inside Track
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
The college search continues to become more complex, making it harder for your clients to identify right-fit schools. Challenges include:
• Changing admission trends
• Standardized test requirements
• FAFSA and financial aid changes
• Fit and how to find it
Learn more about these changes, and new strategies for the best opportunity to be admitted and maximize scholarships.
3:00 pm to 3:30 pm: Networking Break with Partners
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm: General Session
Metrics That Matter Most – Dimensional Fund Advisors
Mark Colaço | Vice President
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Join Mark Colaço, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors, as he explores the KPIs that are most relevant to growing RIAs. Using data from Dimensional’s Global Advisor Study, the session will include KPIs for advisors to consider, benchmarking data, and considerations for how to incorporate KPIs into decisions around growth.
4:30 pm to 5:20 pm: General Session
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down (on Certain Tax Provisions): An Overview of 2025 Tax Reform
Griffin Bridgers, J.D., LL.M. | Independent Estate Planning, Tax, and Wealth Strategist | Attorney | Educator
Bridgers Wealth Strategies, LLC
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
This program will examine the state of Congressional tax reform, and highlight any income, estate, and gift tax changes that are proposed or that actually pass as part of a tax bill prior to the date of the Symposium. Discussions will be against the backdrop of the potential sunset of certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 at the end of 2025, with highlights of tax provisions that will either change or be extended.
5:20 pm to 6:00 pm: Cocktail Reception
7:30 am to 8:30 am: Continental Breakfast/Visit with Partners
7:30 am to 8:10 am: Optional Pre-Conference Sessions:
- Compensation Structure, presented by Mark Colaço, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors
- Closing the Protection Gap, presented by Derek Archey, President of CPI Insurance Partners
- Unlocking Hidden Value: What Financial Professionals Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages
8:30 am to 9:30 am: General Session
The Strategic Growth Blueprint
Duncan MacPherson | CEO
Pareto Systems
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Duncan MacPherson’s presentation captures the mindset and best practices of top financial professionals, drawing on years of experience with the most effective teams in the financial services sector. Designed for teams striving to elevate their performance, this presentation provides actionable strategies to:
• Achieve Professional Contrast: Stand out in a crowded marketplace by enhancing your unique value proposition.
• Streamline Client Experience: Add efficiency and consistency to ensure every client interaction reinforces your brand.
• Foster Organic Growth: Unlock referrals by delivering a remarkable experience that turns clients into advocates.
Top teams don’t rest on their foundation—they build on it. By implementing these proven strategies, you’ll avoid plateaus, maximize fee worthiness, and reach new levels of sustainable growth.
9:30 am to 10:30 am: General Session
Planning Risks and Solutions for Today’s Business Owners
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Derek Archey, CFP® | President | CPI Insurance Partners
John Snider II, J.D. | AVP & Associate Counsel | John Hancock
Business owners face evolving risks to the continuation and successful transition of their businesses. This program will provide an update of current challenges and offer alternative solutions to protect a business owner client’s greatest asset.
10:30 am to 10:45 am: Networking Break with Partners
10:45 am to 11:45 am: General Session
Today’s Reverse Mortgage: Are Older Homeowners Sitting on a Gold Mine?
Jerry Auippa, CRMP | Senior Account Executive
Longbridge Financial, LLC
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Elderly homeowners own over $14 Trillion in home equity, and many are struggling with a financial plan that fully fund their lifetime expenses, yet financial advisors often overlook this hidden wealth. Why? In this 1-hour presentation, we take a deep dive into the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and new attractive and low-cost proprietary products to understand how it can improve the retirement plans of clients, protect against longevity risk, be optimized to fit with client goals, and to do so in an ethical and compliant manner. Home equity is one of the largest sources of assets for clients, and reverses mortgages can unlock this hidden wealth in a safe and standardized manner. With new, best interest and compliance standards for financial advisors, the value of considering home equity in the planning process is growing.
11:45 am to 12:15 pm: Lunch
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm: General Session
The Power of the Fork
Michelle Norris | Owner of Altitude Wellness
Striving to improve the health and wellbeing of busy professionals
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
The Power of the Fork dives into the confusing and often misleading nature of the food industry, where buzzwords like “natural,” “low-fat,” and “high-protein” can make it hard to know what’s truly healthy. With clever marketing and hidden ingredients, even so-called "healthy" foods can derail our nutrition goals. In this presentation, we’ll break down how to make better choices at the grocery store, from decoding food labels to spotting marketing traps. Plus, you'll walk away with practical meal and snack ideas that make eating well simple, sustainable, and stress-free!
1:15 pm to 2:15 pm: General Session
Future-Proofing Your RIA: An AI & Automation Playbook
Ben Olsen | Founder & CEO
Beemo Automation
Pending approval for 1 CFP CE
Discover the concrete ways AI, no/low-code tools, and advisor-focused AI software can slash administrative time and elevate client service. We’ll map the highest-impact use cases, walk through a step-by-step implementation framework, and outline a compliance-first governance model so your firm can innovate without risk.
2:15 pm to 2:30 pm: Closing Remarks/BIG GIVE AWAY!
