Gaining knowledge is one thing, implementing it quite another.
It’s the reason for a heavy emphasis on practical advisor strategies at this year’s Excel 401(k): The Advisors’ Conference from Advisor2X, which wrapped in Dallas last week.
The fast pace and energetic flow was meant to engage brain, body and business in 401k tips and techniques for immediate implementation upon returning to the office.
Indeed, closing workshops were added this year for the sole purpose of creating custom “2X Success Plans,” where attendees developed written plans of action to execute ideas from the conference.
“Sometimes going to these events is like drinking from a fire hose and it can be overwhelming,” one advisor said of the result. “It was nice to close up the conference with next steps and a plan, and made the conference something that had real value to me.”
The sold-out conference (both in sponsorships and attendance) saw well-over 600 practitioners and partners, with an average overall session rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Advisor-led, peer-to-peer sessions singled out for specific praise include:
- David Reich from HUB International shared insights he has gained from working with CEOs of leading advisor practices in “Lessons from Top Advisors.”
- Greg Middleton from CAPTRUST shared tips and best practices for advisor RFPs.
- Kim Perry of Stifel, Tom Parzakonis of LPL Financial, Taylor Hammons of Kestra Financial, and Edward O’Neal of Benjamin Edwards discussed the challenges their advisors are facing in “Home Office Insights.”
- intellicents’ Brad Arends helped attendees look honestly at their book of plans to determine the success of their participant outcomes.
New this year
The Podcast Corner, new this year, was buzzing with live interviews throughout the conference.
In addition to business and practice management-related insight, the conference’s “Live Better” sessions added a mindfulness session led by a corporate wellness firm, a panel on favorite books and apps coordinated by Strategic Retirement Partners’ Lisa Petronio, and travel hacks by The Wagner Law Groups’ Tom Clark which, judging by attendance, were front and center with many advisors.
Show organizers have always been strong supporters of diversity and inclusion in financial services. In addition to hosting events from Women in Pensions Network (WiPN) at the conference, they committed to a goal of at least 30% female speakers at all of their events for 2019 and 2020, which they exceeded with 40% female speakers at this year’s Excel event.
The event also unveiled the long-awaited overall ‘2019 Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes’ (TAPO) recipient, as chosen by an independent panel of industry experts.
After a bit of anticipation, it was announced that Jamie Greenleaf, Lead Advisor and Principal with Cafaro Greenleaf, took home the honor.
“The steering committee for Excel 2020 will be making lots of exciting changes to the format of the agenda,” Lisa Allen, Chief Revenue Officer at Advisor2X, concluded. “Stay tuned.”
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.
