Full Agenda

Wednesday, September 28

Wednesday
1:00 - 8:00 PM

Registration
Room: Minneapolis Foyer C




Wednesday
1:00 - 3:00 PM

Preconference Workshop #1

Virtual Client Engagement: Simple Strategies that Build Communication and Trust In Online Meetings

Dan Smaida, AdvisoryEDGE

Room: Minneapolis A
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 2 CFP CE Credits - General Principles of Financial Planning; 2 NAPFA CE Credits - Technology

Whether in-person or online, it’s crucial to communicate in a way that builds client trust. Does your meeting process work online? Can clients “see” you listening? Do they really understand the concepts you’re discussing? How do they feel about changing behaviors?

This workshop shows you how top financial professionals use technology to remove communication barriers and increase client comfort, clarity, and trust. You’ll see proven techniques in action, and learn how to apply them to your very next client meeting. If you can share your screen online, you already have all the tools you need for this session!

Agenda:
• How top advisors are using everyday tools to improve online meetings
• Packing your Digital Briefcase for success anywhere
• “Crossover” communication skills that help every meeting
• Simple, accessible strategies that personalize meetings and build trust


**additional registration required**
Register Here



Wednesday
3:30 - 5:30 PM

Preconference Workshop #2

Ethics CE: CFP Board’s Revised Code and Standards

Linda Leitz, Peace of Mind Financial Planning

Room: Minneapolis A
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 2 CFP CE Credits - Professional Conduct and Regulation; 1 NAPFA CE Credits - Ethics

Attention CFPs! This program fulfills the requirement for CFP Board approved Ethics CE. This program is designed to educate CFP® professionals on CFP Board's new Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, which is effective October 1, 2019. 


**additional registration required**
Register Here



Wednesday
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Room: Marquette Ballroom



Thursday, September 29

Thursday
8:00 - 9:00 AM

Breakfast
Room:
Marquette Ballroom



Thursday
9:00 - 10:30 AM

Opening Comments and Featured Speaker

Protecting your Business from Modern Cyber Threats and Implementing Cybersecurity Policies
Arash Shokouh, Ophtek LLC

Room: Minneapolis B/C
Track: Technical
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Technology; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Information Technology

More Info




Thursday
10:30 - 11:00 AM

Break with Sponsors
Room: Marquette Ballroom




Thursday
11:00 - 11:50 AM

Breakout Sessions

Why Time Matters In Equity Portfolios
Stephen J. Huxley & Brent Burns, Asset Dedication

Room: Minneapolis A
Track: Technical
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

Large cap, small cap, value, growth, international, emerging markets. Different equity asset classes behave differently at different time horizons. Bonds have a known maturity that makes timing them to goals in the financial plan clear. While stocks do not have a specific maturity date, the various equity asset classes do have characteristics that can make them more appropriate for certain time horizons than others.

A cardinal rule of investing is to never invest without a goal, and time is an inherent component of any “SMART” goals. In this presentation we will explore how you can use time to help align the equity investments in clients’ portfolios with the goals in their financial plans.


Leveraging Housing Wealth for Enriched Retirement Plans
Jerry Auippa, Longbridge Financial

Room: Symphony I,II
Track: Technical
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Retirement Savings and Income Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

Elderly homeowners own more than $10 trillion in home equity, and many are struggling with a financial plan that fully funds their lifetime expenses. Yet financial advisors often overlook this hidden wealth. Why? In this one-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 do so in an ethical and compliant manner. Home equity is one of the largest sources of assets for clients, and reverse 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.




Implementing Cybersecurity Policies and Tools

Arash Shokouh, Ophtek LLC

Room: Minneapolis B/C
Track: Technical
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Technology; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Information Technology

During this breakout session participants will review the steps discussed in the cybersecurity presentations on implementing a cybersecurity policy. We will practice identifying what business systems need to have security tools in place and what tools are available for those systems.



Working with Cognitive Bias: Communication Strategies that Build Client Trust
Dan Smaida, AdvisoryEDGE™ 

Room: Symphony III
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Communications

Cognitive biases present major challenges for financial planners. While we may be communicating clearly, client understanding is often limited by multiple “filters” that cloud judgment. How do we help clients through assumptive traps, create insight, and help them trust new ideas?

This session shares how top financial professionals use modern meeting strategies to work with Conformation Bias, not against it. You’ll learn a thoughtful, science-based approach that helps you authentically influence belief, enhance understanding, and build trust in your next client meeting.




Thursday
12:00 - 1:30 PM

Lunch and Dessert with Sponsors
Room:
Marquette Ballroom




Thursday
1:30 - 2:20 PM

Breakout Sessions

What's your plan? Three Keys To Succession Planning
Joe Haupert, Credent Wealth Management

Room: Symphony III
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

Chief Business Officer Joe Haupert shares how to begin succession planning and how to maximize value for yourself, your clients, and your team. We'll cover the differences between the aggregator and the integrator model and identify key considerations throughout the process.



Is This The End of The Traditional 60/40 Portfolio?
Sunil B. Shah, Dimensional

Room: Minneapolis A
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

The traditional 60/40 asset allocation portfolio has come under pressure in 2022. Will using equities and fixed income still be a reliable way to capture market returns going forward? And has the new COVID economy changed the way we should view investing? Please join Sunil Shah, Dimensional’s head of portfolio consulting, as he explores this topic in detail and offers a practical approach to asset allocation. 



Audit Proofing Your Tax Advice—How to Marshal Authority, Satisfy Your Professional Responsibilities, and Defend Your Position
Troy Thompson, Thompson Advisory Services, LLC

Room: Minneapolis B/C
Track: Technical
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Tax Planning; 1 IRS CE Credit - Federal Tax Law Topics/Federal Tax Related Matters; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Income Tax Planning; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Taxes

ACP Planners are heavily engaged in our clients’ tax matters, from strategic advice to return preparation. As tax practitioners, we all must be familiar with the authoritative sources of tax law, understand and adhere to our professional responsibilities, and be prepared to defend the advice we give. This talk will review primary and secondary sources for tax positions, Circular 230 practitioner obligations, and best practices for building a solid tax case.

Online Presence & SEO Best Practices for Advisors
Marie and Jonny Swift, Impact Communications, Inc.

Room: Symphony I, II
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Communications and Marketing

SEO, backlinking, keyword optimization… what does it all really mean? Join Marie Swift and Jonny Swift of Impact Communications to learn some of the best practices to boost your online presence, help make your website stand out, and ultimately climb the Google search ladder. They'll use real examples of ACP members' websites in an interactive coaching session designed to leave you with actionable steps to improve your SEO.




Thursday
2:35 - 3:05 PM

Gold Sponsor Sessions

How to Efficiently Get New Hires Up to Speed and Productive

James Wheadon, Hubly

Room: Minneapolis B/C
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: N/A

Sometimes it feels like you need to slow down to speed things up. Whether you are scaling your firm quickly, or hiring for your first support role, onboarding a new employee takes time. Often it can be months until a new hire becomes productive and you see a return on investment from your time and money. During this breakout session, you will learn how you can go from dreading onboarding new employees to getting them up to speed and productive as efficiently as possible within your firm.



How to Grow Through Acquisitions
Liz Milacek, Carson Group

Room: Minneapolis A
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: N/A

Whether you are new to the M&A space or an expert, this session focuses on getting back to the basics. Do you have a defined value proposition, candidate profile, and deal structure? Are you running a healthy business with capacity to prospect and support new advisors? Who is in your network, how do you grow it, and what steps are you taking to engage?  

  • Creating a foundation for recruiting
    • Firm Value Proposition
    • Ideal advisor
    • Defined Deal Structure
    • Healthy Business Characteristics
  • Building and growing a network of advisors
  • Establishing a game plan with consistency and accountability



Provide Your Clients with Long Term Care Insurance Alternatives
Jill MacNeil, LLiS

Room: Symphony III
Track: Practice Management
CE Credits: N/A

The Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi) industry has changed in the last few years, but the need for long term care (LTC) is still the same. Learn which groups of people need LTC the most and the most current cost of care in the U.S. Learn which alternatives can benefit your clients when traditional LTCi is not enough.

 

 




Thursday
3:05 - 3:35 PM

Break with Sponsors
Room:
Marquette Ballroom




Thursday
3:35 - 4:45 PM

ACP Annual Membership Meeting
Room:
Minneapolis B/C




Thursday
5:00 - 6:00 PM

Under the Trees
Rooms:
Minneapolis A, B/C, Symphony I/II, III, Directors Row 1




Thursday
5:00 - 6:00 PM

G2 Reception
Room:
Off Site




Thursday
6:30 - 7:30 PM

Member Reception Sponsored by Dimensional Fund Advisors
Room:
The Gallery




Friday, September 30

Friday
8:00 - 9:00 AM

Breakfast With Committee Reports
Room:
Marquette Ballroom



Friday
9:00 - 10:00 AM

Featured Speaker

Monetary Policy and the Economic Outlook
Ben Malin, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Room: Minneapolis B/C
Track: Technical 
CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Economic and Political Environment; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Economics


More Info




Friday
10:10 - 11:00 AM

Breakout Sessions

Has Factor Building Been Overdone? Assessing Tradeoffs in Systematic Strategies
Ted Randall,
Avantis Investors

Room:
Minneapolis A
Track: 

CE Credits:
1 CFP CE Credit - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

Financial science and our understanding of what drives asset prices have evolved considerably. The implications on the financial services industry have also been significant, including the introduction of passive index funds, single-factor and multi-factor strategies. But has factor building been overdone, and are there risks to becoming too factor focused?

Application for Advisors: Given that there is no shortage of factor or smart beta strategies, this presentation will dive into the published research behind factor-based investing in an attempt to equip advisors with the ability to evaluate different strategies for their clients. This presentation looks at not just the academic research behind factor investing, but also the evolution of different factor-based strategies available. It will also look at the implications of being just “factor focused” versus the actual investment goals that advisor’s clients might have.



Tax Pain Management: Common Defects in the Tax Filing Process
Steve Cruice,
Three Points Financial, Inc.
Brian Leben,
Midwest Wealth Solutions, LLC
Matt Lincoln,
Cadence Planning, LLC

Room:
Minneapolis B/C
Track:
Technical
CE Credits:
1 CFP CE Credit - Tax Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Income Tax Planning; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Taxes

Discover insider tips and best practices to help manage (or even avoid!) the pain that can come with the client tax filing process. This expert ACP member panel will address the common challenges associated with fixing past filing errors, planning for current year returns, and dealing with missing documents and deadlines. This session will also explore how best to illustrate the added value that tax planning brings to the comprehensive financial planning process. 

Creating Consistency of Delivery and Messaging Across a Growing Practice
Richard Salmen,
Family Investment Center

Room:
Symphony III
Track:
Practice Management
CE Credits:
1 NAPFA CE Credit - Marketing and Practice Management

As practices grow in clients and staff, the need to systematize your deliverables has greater importance. Richard Salmen of Family Investment Center will share how he as systemized his practice, developing power points and content outlines for many topics including the Prospective Client Meeting, Insurance Reviews, Estate Planning Reviews, and Investment Education. The advantage? Every member of his team can deliver consistent educational content to the client and regularly gather key data from prospects to enhance the client experience while streamlining staff time spent per client.




Friday
11:00 - 11:30 AM

Break with Sponsors
Room:
Marquette Ballroom




Friday
11:30 - 12:00 PM

Breakout Sessions


The 3 “R’s” of Healthcare Planning: Risk, Relationship, and (Cost) Reduction - Cancelled
Christine Simone,
Caribou

Room:
Minneapolis A
Track:
Technical
CE Credits:
N/A

A comprehensive healthcare planning strategy offers more than meets the eye. Although opportunities to reduce costs by a few hundred to thousands of dollars a year are met with appreciation from clients, the benefit of proactive healthcare planning extends beyond that. Healthcare spending changes drastically around retirement due to the source of health coverage and increased healthcare utilization as we age. Understanding how paying for future healthcare expenses fits into overall retirement income planning efforts is critical to truly reduce costs so clients reach their retirement goals, mitigate financial risk, and strengthen the client-advisor relationship.



    Wealth Manager Discusses Best Practices with Home Equity in Retirement Planning 
    Stephen J. Resch,
    Finance of America Reverse

    Room:
    Symphony III
    Track:
    Technical
    CE Credits:
    N/A

    Join Steve Resch, a practicing wealth manager and partner of his firm, as he discusses how he has used home equity to both safeguard and enhance his clients’ retirement plans.

    In this presentation, Steve will give a quick overview of how a reverse mortgage works, and then share case studies of how he has used it to supplement retirement plan distributions, delay social security, provide a safety net for long-term care risks, pay the taxes on Roth Conversions, and much more.

    With today’s highly appreciated real estate values, a reverse mortgage could provide the opportunity to effectively manage retirement risks, as well as desires, providing your clients with their best later years.




    Why You Go to Amazon For a One-Stop-Shop: Putting Efficiency at the Forefront
    Charles Rowlan,
    Advyzon

    Room:
    Minneapolis B/C
    Track:
    Practice Management
    CE Credits:
    N/A

    How do you reduce paperwork, various logins, and time spent learning every platform in your tech stack? The same way you go to Amazon for everything you need. The benefits of an all-in-one platform are undeniable. This session will feature our seamlessly integrated technology solution, Advyzon, showcasing the newest tool in our platform Quantum Rebalancing. Join us for a session on efficiency and how you can start reducing the time-consuming nuances in your practice.




    Friday
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    Lunch with Board Members
    Room:
    Marquette Ballroom



    Friday
    1:00 - 2:00 PM

    Featured Speaker

    Is There Really a “Hub” in My Tech Stack?  The Four Must Have Tech Tools
    Kristen Schmidt, RIA Oasis

    Room: Minneapolis B/C
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Technology; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Information Technology


    More Info




    Friday
    2:15 - 3:05 PM

    Breakout Sessions

    Is it Me or is it My Tech Stack? Live Q & A
    Kristen Schmidt, RIA Oasis

    Room: Minneapolis B/C
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: N/A

    This breakout session is unscripted and interactive! Join Kristen Schmidt, technology strategist and founder of RIA Oasis as she takes your live questions surrounding tech you are using, considering, or integrating. 

    Bring your vendor-specific questions or best practice inquiries surrounding CRM, Financial Planning tools, Client Experience, and much more!


    Raising a Happy, Healthy Tax Return; a CPA’s Guide to an Efficient Tax Prep Process

    Nicholas Vogel, Bluestem Financial Advisors

    Room: Minneapolis A
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Tax Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Financial Planning Process; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    Between January and April 15, a CPA firm may prepare many hundreds or thousands of tax returns. During this time, efficiency in time use is imperative. Nick will walk through processes CPA firms use to spend more time on things that matter during tax preparation and less time on things that don’t. By implementing, and adapting these processes to an advisory firm, Bluestem has allowed its advisors, and the firm as a whole, to spend less time preparing returns, and more time on other value-adding tasks. During the session we will suggest how to efficiently prepare, review, gather information, streamline documentation, and plan for the future.


    Preparing for and Surviving a Regulatory Exam: Tips and Takeaways
    Lori Neidel, Law Office of Lori J. Neidel

    Room: Symphony III
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Professional Conduct and Regulation; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Financial Planning Process; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    This presentation will prepare the member for undergoing a regulatory examination and discuss potential areas of focus in an exam for the typical ACP advisor. 




    Friday
    3:05 PM

    Free Time




    Friday
    5:00 - 6:00 PM

    Under The Trees
    Rooms:
    Minneapolis A, B/C, Symphony I/II, III, Directors Row 1




    Friday
    7:00 - 10:00 PM

    Riverboat Dinner Cruise

    6:15 PM          Buses depart Hilton Minneapolis for Boat Dock
    7:00 PM          Boat Leaves the Dock
    10:30 PM        Buses return to Hilton Minneapolis




    Saturday, October 1

    Saturday
    8:00 - 9:00 AM

    Breakfast
    Room:
    Marquette Ballroom




    Saturday
    9:00 - 9:50 AM

    Breakout Sessions

    G2 Career Path Ladder
    Brandon Hodgeson, Cambridge Financial Group
    Dani Parris-Exline,
    Peace of Mind Financial Planning, Inc.
    Jarryd Smith
    ,
    Harbor Light Planning


    Room: Minneapolis B/C
    Track: G2
    CE Credits: N/A

    Learn from three G2 planners as they take us on their career journey from being an assistant/paraplanner role to leading client relationships and bringing in new clients.

    This panel of emerging advisors will share what has gone well with their career path, what challenges or hurdles they have faced, and where they see themselves in the future.They will cover topics such as how clients respond to their career transitions, how to gain confidence in themselves and trust from the senior advisor, and how their share of client responsibilities has evolved.


    Long Life Planning - You Want to Offer Longevity Solutions? Here Are Your First Steps

    Miriam Whiteley, LifeCraft Financial Planning

    Room: Minneapolis A
    Track: Practice Management
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Communications; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    Aging impacts our clients’ finances and lives: healthcare, housing, risk management, investment and withdrawal strategies, estate planning, and more. Financial advisors know it’s important to offer long-life planning expertise and resources but are challenged with how to do it. This session presents common problems clients have in a complex hierarchy, provides solutions and resources through examples and explanation, and addresses how to have what may be uncomfortable conversations.


    Simple Client Conversations about Bonds
    Timothy Caban, Copper Beech Advisors, LLC

    Room: Symphony III
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    This session is designed to bridge the gap between advisor terminology and client understanding regarding the world of fixed income investing. This is a particular challenge during a rising rate environment so it is timely and will add to the investment toolbox for advisors.




    Saturday
    10:00 - 10:50 AM

    Breakout Sessions

    Who, What, When, and Why of Roth Conversions
    Elizabeth Buffardi, Crescendo Financial Planners Inc.

    Room: Symphony III
    Track: Technical
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    There are several factors that make doing Roth Conversions particularly attractive right now. Currently, we are in a very low tax regime. This tax regime is set to expire and revert back to the old rules on 1/1/2026. So we have a short amount of time to take a look at our clients' circumstances to see if Roth Conversions make sense and to get our clients' on board with the idea. There are several different options to do this and it is a matter of figuring out what works best for the client.


    Playing the Long Game: Happiness, Self-actualization, and the Changing Longevity Landscape

    Dennis McNamara, wHealth Advisors

    Room: Minneapolis A
    Track: Practice Management
    CE Credits: 1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit - Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Specialized Knowledge

    Human lifespans of 100, 110, and 120 (and beyond!) are on the brink of becoming significantly more commonplace. In fact, some gerontologists predict that there’s a 50 percent chance that by 2036 we will reach a point termed “Longevity Escape Velocity” – that is, the point where for every year we survive, we gain an extra year (i.e. indefinite life extension).

    Without even considering the prospect of immortality, it seems all but inevitable that lifespans may be getting closer to hitting an inflection point. As sci-fi as this may sound, it’s a future that planners and clients need to consider and begin planning for today.

    In light of this changing longevity landscape, planners are uniquely positioned to empower their clients who are “playing the long game” to live their happiest, self-actualized lives.

    You First!
    Troy Von Haefen, Von Haefen Financial Management

    Room: Minneapolis B/C
    Track: Practice Management
    CE Credits: N/A

    You do your best to make sure to give your clients the best advice, assistance, and guidance that is within your ability. You care deeply for the folks that rely on you and your expertise. As ACP advisors, we are different. We go the extra mile. But we can’t care for our clients if we are not first caring for ourselves. It’s easy to forget how important we are to our clients. What would your clients do without you? Sure, you might have a succession plan in place, but what else can you do? We’ll hear from a few advisors on how they have found ways to better care for themselves both mentally and physically. 




    Saturday
    10:50 - 11:10 AM

    Break 
    Room:
    Minneapolis Foyer C



    Saturday
    11:10 - 12:10 PM

    Featured Speaker

    Becoming a Better Biographer of Your Clients
    Mitch Anthony , Advisor Insights Inc.

    Room:
    Minneapolis B/C
    Track:
    Practice Management
    CE Credits:
    1 CFP CE Credit - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE Credit- Communications; 1 NASBA CPE Credit - Communications and Marketing


    More Info




    Saturday
    12:10 - 12:20 PM

    Closing Comments

    Wes Stien, Chair, 2022 Conference Committee


    Room: Minneapolis B/C