The conference was well-attended this year with more than 800 participants, slightly better than last year's New York conference. There is a lot going on at IMCA, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. The association straddles the advisory space; about 55% of its membership comes from wirehouse firms, 25% from the independent RIA, B/D or B/D-RIA hybrid world, and the balance of its membership is made up of advisors from banks and asset management firms.
IMCA introduced its new President, John Granzow, who began a two-year term on January 1. As managing director of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Granzow runs a practice that has about 100 clients and $500 million under management. He holds a BA in finance from Western Michigan University and is a graduate of the Business Securities Institute of The Wharton School.
In addition, IMCA announced that Sean Walters will be its new executive director, when Edythe (Dede) Pahl retires on March 1. Pahl announced her plan to retire last summer. Walters, who has been IMCA's deputy executive director since June 2007, graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in history, and earned his MBA at the University of Indianapolis.
