Live! From TD Ameritrade Institutional: Advisers show Mitt Romney the love

“Hail to the Chief” didn't play over the loudspeakers when Mitt Romney walked on stage, but the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee received a presidential welcome from hundreds of financial advisers in Orlando, Fla., Thursday. He was greeted by a standing ovation when he appeared at the annual TD Ameritrade Inc. 2014 National Conference for investment advisers. “Looks like I may have done well with this group in the election,” Mr. Romney said as he arrived at the lectern. He spent about an hour on stage, first delivering a speech that offered both some levity and his take on global politics, before doing an interview with CNBC anchor Amanda Drury and finally fielding questions from the hundreds of conference attendees who filled the standing-room only hotel ballroom. “If you get the chance to run for president, do it. It's a great experience,” Mr. Romney told the audience, to laughter, adding that he longer nurtures an ambition to serve in public office. Much of the speech would be familiar to people who followed his two unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012. Mr. Romney said that while President Barack Obama's health care policy and other regulations were increasing costs and obstacles for businesses, embracing climate change is an issue that governments across the world should tackle together. Advisers represent the entrepreneurial spirit that energizes the economy, Mr. Romney said. “I love you,” he said to applause. “I appreciate what you do.” About 3,200 advisers and other advisory industry figures have gathered in Florida for the TD Ameritrade's convention for independent advisers. “I thought it was great,” John J. Ceparano, an adviser with Joseph Capital Management, said of Mr. Romney's speech. “People like him address the issues that will impact economic growth and are key to people's attitudes, which frankly change how they invest.”