Continuing Education

Tuesday, October 8

Back-to-Basics: The ACP Toolkit
Chip Simon, Taconic Advisors (Retired)
Susan Einberger, Enjoy the Ride: Financial + Life Planning

This presentation will  take a deep dive into the ACP Retirement Analyzer, Bond Ladder, and more. Take a closer look at the ACP Toolkit and how to maximize the resources within.

Learning Objectives:

1.) Review of ACP Retirement analyzer to baseline client’s current cash flow and offer a framework for future retirement transition.
2.) Review of the Bond Ladder concept and implementation as a link between the retirement cash flow need and the projected balance sheet.
3.) Using the W-2 calculator as a source of tax planning and retirement funding efficiency.
4.) Reviewing role of the tax return as a primary financial planning resource.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Technology; 1 NASBA CPE - Information Technology

Wednesday, October 9

Ten Tips to a Better Practice
Diane MacPhee, DMAC Consulting
Come learn a fast-track plan to execute the ten tips Diane believes are significant and causative for success in building a better business.
Learning Objectives:
1.) Define your unique vision of a ”Better Business”.
2.) Become skilled at measuring progress and cultivating accountability.
3.) Learn how to create and execute a marketing plan.
4.) Evaluate your financial goals in specific terms.
5.) Develop a solid role clarification platform.

CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization

Tiny Houses: Planning Outside the American Dream
Laura Lynch, CFP^® ABFP™ AAMS^® CDFA^®, The Tiny House Advisor, LLC

According to a 2024 story from Marketplace.org, home prices have risen 423% in 40 years. The compounding of the price and current interest rates has accelerated a trend of many Americans considering alternative housing solutions, including tiny homes. Join Laura Lynch, CFP® ABFP™ AAMS® CDFA®, Founder of The Tiny House Advisor, for a session designed to satisfy your curiosity about the tiny home trend and provide useful guidance on how to support clients who are considering this path. Questions to be answered: Who is a tiny home for? What is the technical definition of a tiny home and why do the nuances matter? Is a tiny home an appreciating or depreciating asset? Are there tiny home mortgages? Can a client get insurance on their tiny home? What are blind spots clients face when attempting to go tiny? How is health insurance complicated by a domestic, nomadic lifestyle? Bring your questions to this fun session in which we discuss this change happening in housing.

Learning Objectives: 
1.) Learn about the complexities of tiny homes definitions and legalities. 
2.) Learn issues that can arise when clients attempt this non-traditional path.
3.) Learn how to guide client questions and research with the aim of protecting client goals.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Investments;1 NASBA CPE - Finance

20 Years Lessons, Lies, and Laughter
Troy Von Haefen, Von Haefen Financial Management

Running a financial planning practice is not easy, and it’s not for everyone. As with many things in life, implementation is different from the design - similar to the old thought: “Every pugilist has a plan until the first punch is thrown!”  Learn real-life lessons and tips to set your practice up for success, as well as how to avoid traps that lead to failure.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Establish client expectations to strengthen relationships and increase efficiency. 
2.) Learn how to avoid pitfalls that can derail a practice.
3.) Review messages we tell ourselves and how they can be harmful.
4.) Laughter is powerful. Learn how to laugh at yourself to help your clients. 
5.) Fees, why they matter? (And not just to your pocketbook.)

CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization

An Advisor's Tips to Successfully Integrate Asset Dedication Into Your Practice
Adam Broughton, PBL Wealth Management
Brent Burns, Asset Dedication
Brian Duvall, Asset Dedication

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

A New Twist on Target Maturity Bond Funds
Doug Longo, Dimensional

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning;1 NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

The Power of the ACP Pyramid
Sophie Kaluziak, Vista Financial Planning

In this presentation, Sophie will share her experience with and perspective on the Pyramid as a powerful tool for financial planning and portfolio rebalancing.  She will briefly examine the tools’ tabs, how they are integrated, and how each of them lead to her ability to use the Pyramid to facilitate her and her clients’ understanding of their financial position. Sophie will also briefly address some of the challenges and potential for errors with the tool.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Help advisors understand the pyramid as a powerful financial planning tool for both themselves and their clients.
2.) Help advisors visualize a variety of ways they can systematically incorporate the pyramid into their practice.
3.) Help advisors see the benefits of using the Pyramid as a portfolio rebalancing tool.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Principles of Financial Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Technology; 1 NASBA CPE - Information Technology

The C's of Creating an Aligned Culture
Kelly Adams, Triskele Coaching & Consulting
Joy McShane Oyler, Essential Connections

Develop strategies for firm owners and key (all) employees to hold hard discussions, align goals and expectations from the onset (or from today), and create a collaborative open office culture. 

Learning Objectives:
1.) Develop strategies for firm owners and key (all) employees to hold hard discussions. 
2.) Align goals and expectations from the onset (or from today).
3.) Create a collaborative open office culture.

CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Communications and Marketing

Proxy Power
The What, Why, and How of Integrating Proxy Voting Into Your Practice
Simon Zais CAIA, Eagan Jones

Join Simon Zais of Egan-Jones for a discussion on Proxy voting, the impact of votes, voting practices, and voting trends. Explore from start to finish how you can integrate voting into your financial planning practice, from values alignment to compliance. 

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand what proxy voting is, the types of votes, and how to vote in all types of elections.
2.) Recognize voting trends and the impacts of shareholder engagement, ownership, media, and type.
3.) Explore how to integrate proxy voting into financial planning, navigate client concerns, confirm value alignment and ensure compliance.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

A Simple Framework Equity Grant Planning
Adam Broughton, PBL Wealth Management

Equity compensation can make up as much as 80% of a top earning employee's compensation and often comprises over 30% of their net worth*. However, HR departments are typically prohibited from providing employees with advice related to these complex assets. This creates a planning opportunity for advisers to add significant value through financial planning. PBL Wealth Management LLC has created a simple framework (COST) for advisers to bring to clients when planning for these investments.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand the opportunity set for planning around equity incentives.
2.) Clarify the basic types of equity incentives, their features, and the planning opportunities/pitfalls each present.
3.) Introduce the COST framework for use with clients and prospects who own these investments.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

Is Today's Older Homeowner Sitting on a Gold Mine?
Jerry Auippa, Longbridge Financial

Elderly homeowners own close to $13 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 they 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.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Review changes to the FHA HECM program over the past several years that have strengthened consumer protection.
2.) Understand the core foundation of reverse mortgages. 
3.) Discover unconventional techniques for financing preferred care and appropriate housing.
4.) Learn how to "Right-size" a home without downsizing cash flow.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Retirement Savings and Income Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

Marketing Best Practices – Tips and Tricks From Your ACP Peers
Wes Stien, Lodestar Financial Management 
Thomas Cook, Retire To Tellico
Miriam Whiteley, LifeCraft Financial Planning
Keith Spencer, Spencer Financial Planning
Steve Martin, Oasis Wealth Planning Advisors
John Scherer, Trinity Financial Planning 

Marketing is a key activity to help practices build credibility and attract more clients, and there are endless tools and strategies to help you get your name out there. Where do you even begin?

Join this panel discussion and hear how your ACP colleagues have used simple strategies to harness the power of specific tools and platforms - media placement, blog & article writing, YouTube videos, and LinkedIn presence - to showcase their expertise and grow their client lists.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand how intentional content placements can increase practice/planner credibility.
2.) Discover examples of four specific content methods/techniques, and how they can be leveraged.
3.) Identify which tools could work within their own practice marketing plans, and how to begin.

CE Credits: 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management;1 NASBA CPE - Communications and Marketing

Using a Trustee is NOT an Afterthought
Daniel Felix, The Professional Trustee

Your clients’ trustee needs to collaborate with you through any disability and then to transition after their death. Planning enhances the trustee’s effectiveness, and minimizes waste, delay, and heartache. In this program, we’ll outline trust essentials and then identify the paths for your advance collaborations. You’ll leave with concrete action steps supported by handouts and other resources.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Attendees will learn how to better help their clients to develop a successful transition plan AND
2.) Preserve their assets through their disability and death
3.) Attendees will also learn how to build a better relationship with their clients’ successors

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Estate Planning; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization

Thursday, October 10

Upping Your Question Game: 25 Questions for Better Client Connections Throughout the Financial Planning Engagement
Dr. Meghaan Lurtz, Ph.D., FBS™, Kitces

Asking great questions is an essential part of the job of the financial advisor. Great questions help us to gather important information, and great questions can help motivate clients to take action. Many advisors are aware of the difference between a close-ended question and an open-ended question, but questions can take additional forms as well. Join us and learn not only about the different types of questions that are available to advisors, but also about how and when to use these questions throughout the financial planning relationship. 

Learning Objectives:
1.) Examine the impact of different styles of questions on the brain.
2.) Review the varied types of questions advisors can use, more than just close- versus open-ended questions. 
3.) Review ideas, and reasons behind those ideas, for asking certain types of questions at specific times related to the seven steps of financial planning.
4.) Understand why continuing to ask great questions, beyond initial onboarding, is so important to keep the relationship with the client fresh.
5.) Examine question-asking pitfalls and discuss how to avoid them.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Communications; 1 NASBA CPE - Communications and Marketing

Evaluating Alternatives: Bitcoin and Covered Calls
Cole McClarren, CFP®, EA, Cambridge Financial Group
Richard "Bart" Leake, CFP®, CMT®, EA, Cadence Planning

This session will explore a methodology for evaluating alternative investments, using bitcoin and covered call options as examples.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Attendees will learn a methodology for evaluating alternative investments.
2.) Attendees will learn about Bitcoin and understand when it may make sense in a portfolio.
3.) Attendees will learn about covered call strategies and how to use them to leverage large individual stock holdings.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

Executive Compensation in the C-Suite
Tammy Goodman, Tammy Goodman Financial, LLC

A foundational overview of executive compensation topics, covering various components of executives’ compensation components and benefits, and a discussion about circumstances that are unique to C-Suite executives at publicly-traded companies.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Gain understanding of key components of an executive’s compensation and benefits package.
2.) Identify ways to add value to your clients who are public-company executives.
3.) Recognize nuances when layering equity awards into cash flow planning and diversification efforts.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Retirement Savings and Income Planning; 1 NAPFA CE - Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

Getting Coached – Notes From a Very Satisfied Client
Ken Robinson, Practical Financial Planning, Inc.

We often hear about the value of coaching. But what's it really like to have a business coach? In this session, which will introduce you to some different coaching models, Ken shares his good and not-so-good experiences with this essential part of the growth of his practice.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand different approaches to getting coaching.
2.) Consider whether coaching is the next right step for you.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization

Managing Tradeoffs – Evaluating Investment Goals in the Context of the Financial Plan
Steve Huxley & Brent Burns, Asset Dedication

All planners are aware of the tradeoff between risk and return when pondering investment allocations. But other tradeoffs exist that a thorough planner should consider. For example, assume you tell your prospects that you use a goals-based investing strategy. A list of common strategies would include those that achieve the highest of the following:  1) maximum return, 2) average return, 3) minimum return, 4) maximum Sharpe ratio, or 5) the lowest standard deviation. Which one would be best for each client? Tradeoffs among these strategies were calculated based on the historical record. The research shows that the strategy to achieve the maximum return led to a 15% average return over all past decades but also led to actual losses over some decades, the worst with losing 7% per year (reducing $100,000 to $48,000 at the end of ten years). But the same research shows that the strategy to maximize the minimum return achieved an average of 13% per year with no decade losing money and the worst decade still gaining 5% per year (growing $100,000 to $162,000 at the end of ten years). This presentation will present such tradeoffs among all the strategies listed and what they mean to planners interested in building portfolios with the knowledge of what tradeoffs they are inherently making. There are no easy choices, and the implications of the research are not for the faint-hearted!

Learning Objectives: 
1.) Be able to name at least four different possible investment objectives to discuss with sophisticated prospects.
2.) Know the approximate magnitude of the tradeoffs among different investment objectives.
3.) Understanding the factors and issues involved in making the tradeoffs choices among objectives.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Investment Planning; NAPFA CE - Investments; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

An Update From the Federal Reserve
Reginald "Reggie" Chever, Federal Reserve Atlanta

Reggie will share high-level data from economic indicators like inflation and labor markets along with aggregated regional information from our contacts across sectors. He'll also provide an overview of the Federal Reserve System and the Atlanta Fed.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Learn about economic indicators.
2.) Learn about the Federal Reserve System.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Economic and Political Environment; 1 NASBA CPE - Economics

A Path to Ownership
Diane MacPhee, DMAC Consulting
David Klepeisz, Accruent Wealth Advisors
Sana Haque, Gianola Financial Planning

Come enjoy a panel discussion with experienced yet newly minted ACP owners who bought the firm from longtime founders. Hear their individual stories of challenge and joy.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Identify the challenges of an Internal Succession Plan.
2.) How does an ISP become established and executed?
3.) Design your preferred ownership criteria.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization

Does a Reverse Mortgage Have a Place in Retirement Planning?
Gabrielle Welter, Finance of America Reverse Mortgage

The ultimate objective of this session is to determine what type of client profile could benefit from including a reverse mortgage in their retirement plan and how best to present it to them. See how a reverse mortgage works and under what circumstances it could help safeguard a retirement plan and enhance a legacy. Topics discussed will range from product details, including costs, interest rates, and misconceptions to specific financial planning applications, such as managing long-term risk or supplementing asset distribution strategies.

Learning Objectives:

1.) What a reverse mortgage is, including products, eligibility, misconceptions, and consumer safeguards 

2.) Client profiles where a reverse mortgage loan can safeguard a retirement while providing generational wealth transfer and other legacy opportunities

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Retirement Savings and Income Planning;1 NAPFA CE - Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits; 1 NASBA CPE - Finance

Sweat the Small Stuff: Tough Questions to Consider When Reviewing a Client's Tax Return
Matthew Lincoln, Lincoln Tax Professionals / Cadence Planning LLC

The unique nature of the tax preparation industry crams the majority of it's complicated work into a eight-week period of time. This is a recipe for errors, omissions, and missed opportunities. In this session we will review where things tend to go wrong, common opportunities that are overlooked by even the best tax preparers, and what you can do to make it all better.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Planners will learn common mistakes to look for when reviewing a tax return.
2.) Planners will learn strategies to minimize the chance a clients misses tax opportunities.
3.) Planners will learn about tax planning opportunities, and how to maximize them.

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - Tax Planning; 1 IRS CE - Federal Tax Law Topics/Federal Tax Related Matters; 1 NAPFA CE - Income Tax Planning; 1 NASBA CPE - Taxes

Friday, October 11

The Hit-by-a-Bus Workflow
Brooklyn Brock, Ellevate Advisors

What would happen to your business if you were hit by the proverbial bus? It’s hard to think about, but every year an advisor you know is going to die unexpectedly, without a succession plan or a financial plan for their family. Join Brooklyn Brock, third-generation CFP and Exit Coach, to learn how to create a Hit-by-a-Bus Workflow with prioritized action steps for that exact scenario. We’ll cover everything from notifying clients, to potentially repapering and staying compliant along the way. It may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to share resources and help you create a plan to secure the future of your family and your advisory firm. This session is ideal for every advisory firm owner, at any stage of growth. 

Learning Objectives:
1.) Client Communication - Best practices to increase the client retention rate
2.) Operations - Coordinate with key people to transition the business smoothly
3.) Compliance - Pro tips to navigating compliance under pressure

CE Credits: 1 CFP CE - General Financial Planning Principles; 1 NAPFA CE - Marketing and Practice Management; 1 NASBA CPE - Business Management & Organization