AICPA Personal Financial Planning Conference Starts Next Week

Economic and political uncertainty, the effects of the Affordable Care Act, and estimating the true cost of retirement are just some of the factors creating a complex and challenging financial landscape for Americans. This year’s AICPA Advanced Personal Financial Planning Conference, held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas January 19-21, will give planners the necessary skills and tools to navigate the ever-changing field of financial planning.

The AICPA’s PFP Conference has consistently been ranked by industry insiders as one of the top conferences for financial planners. Attendance has doubled since 2009, with attendees at last year’s conference representing financial firms with more than $240 billion assets under management. This year’s conference includes more than 65 sessions presented by the industry’s most respected figures on topics including retirement planning, tax strategies, building trust online, and estate planning strategies for high net worth clients.

Meeting an increasing demand, this year’s conference will again offer the “Emerging Leader Learning Path” track. This track is intended to help newer financial planners further develop their communications and computer science skills, and provide financial planning best practices to help them better serve their clients. Sessions for the Emerging Leaders track have been selected from the Wealth Management and Tax, Retirement/Elder Planning, Investment Management, Practice Management and Technology, and Insurance and Risk Management session tracks.

“As the population ages, life expectancy rises, and consumers face more complex financial situations, planners are in increased demand,” said Jeannette Koger, vice president of Member Specialization & Credentialing with the AICPA. “To help meet this demand, the AICPA is offering the Emerging Leaders Learning Track to ensure that the pipeline of planners remains strong and emerging planners have the tools they need to grow their practices.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the creation of more than 60,000 jobs in this field from 2012-2020, representing 24% growth. These statistics underscore the wealth of opportunities available for emerging practitioners in this field.

What: AICPA Advanced Personal Financial Planning Conference

Where: The Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. A live broadcast of keynotes and select conference sessions will be available to reporters who cannot attend in person

(Please note: Advance registration is required).

When: January 19-21, 2015

Who: Selected speakers and topics at this year’s conference include:

Mitch Anthony, President, Advisor Insights, Inc.

Topic: Moving from ROI to ROL (return on life)

Cam Marston, President, Generational Insights

Topic: The Gen-Savvy Financial Advisor

David Kelly, Ph.D., Chief Global Strategist and Head of the Global Market

Insights Strategy Team, J.P. Morgan Funds, New York, NY

Topic: From Recovery to Expansion: A Guide to the Markets

Nancy Simm, CLTC, LTCP, CSA, Sales VP, Highland Capital Brokerage

Topic: Long-Term Care Insurance: Dramatic Market Changes

Susan J. Bruno, CPA/PFS, CFP, CIC, Managing Director, Beacon Wealth

Consulting LLC

Topic: Life Insurance Diagnostic

David Blanchett, CPA, CFA, CFP, AIFA, Head of Retirement Research, Morningstar Investment Management

Topic: Estimating the True Cost of Retirement

Amy Florian, MPS, FT, CEO, Corgenius, Hoffman Estates, IL

Topic: Advising Clients Through the Toughest Times of Life

Arthur Laffer, Ph.D., Founder and chairman, Laffer Associates

Topic: Economic Reality, Myths and Fallacies

Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, CGMA, MST, AEP, Partner, Keebler & Associates

David H. Kirk, CPA/PFS, J.D., LL.M, Executive Director, Private Clients Services, Ernst and Young

Topic: Refresher on the NIIT and Planning Around 3.8% Medicare Tax