The Financial Planning Association will host its annual conference online next month, joining other financial firms and trade groups in avoiding large in-person gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FPA meeting will now take place digitally from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. It had been scheduled for the Phoenix Convention Center.
The organization, which calls the conference “the largest annual gathering of certified financial planners,” said participants will be able to tune into an array of sessions and earn continuing education credits. Financial professionals can register online.
“It’s more imperative than ever that financial planners advance their knowledge and build connections to help them sustain and build their practices and meet the needs of clients during these uncertain times,” FPA president Martin C. Seay said in a statement. “In spite of challenges we’ve faced as a result of the pandemic, I’m excited the financial planning community will be able to come together digitally to have thought-provoking conversations, share experiences and discover new ideas so we can change the tomorrows of our members and those they serve.”
State securities regulators also have moved their annual conference online next month online. The North American Securities Administrators Association will install a new president — Lisa Hopkins, West Virginia senior deputy commissioner of securities — and offer panels on regulatory and enforcement developments on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.
The FPA and NASAA are the latest organizations to go virtual for their annual meetings. They follow LPL Financial, Morningstar and Charles Schwab Corp., among others, who also opted for digital gatherings.
Rajesh Markan earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count of criminal fraud related to his sale of fake investments to 10 clients totaling $2.9 million.
From building trust to steering through emotions and responding to client challenges, new advisors need human skills to shape the future of the advice industry.
"The outcome is correct, but it's disappointing that FINRA had ample opportunity to investigate the merits of clients' allegations in these claims, including the testimony in the three investor arbitrations with hearings," Jeff Erez, a plaintiff's attorney representing a large portion of the Stifel clients, said.
Chair also praised the passage of stablecoin legislation this week.
Maridea Wealth Management's deal in Chicago, Illinois is its first after securing a strategic investment in April.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
