FSI’s First FA Conference Attracting Attendees, High-Profile Speakers

There are three tracks in the conference program, Paulitz reports, "yourself, your business, and your community." Stressing that "we're not competing with other broker-dealer conferences," the conference's Business track will include succession planning and practice management sessions, but also "how to read body language, looking at advisors' websites–what you're doing right and wrong" and even an advisor's clothing choices: "What are you wearing? What does that convey?" asks Paulitz, to clients and prospects.

The Yourself track will include advice on how advisors can stay healthy, how to care for their own aging parents, and how to achieve a "better work-life balance–all which will better your business" as well, he says.

The Community track will focus on how advisors can get more involved in their communities, including looks at how regulation "changes your community," how to run for public office, and a panel of advisors who've won philanthropic awards. There's an "altruistic side and a business side for being involved in your community," Paulitz points out.

In addition to the standard education and networking, attendees will be able to get free professional headshots from a photographer and "free website strategy" advice, along with "collateral to help FAs sell the value of independence to existing and prospective clients that has been  "FINRA reviewed."

A panel of trade press editors and a public relations professional will discuss the best ways get press coverage (this writer will participate in that panel,) and attendees will receive discounted "one-on-one image consultations" by consultant Jane Seaman during the conference.

"The real purpose of this summit is to grow the engagement" of FSI's members, says Paulitz, which he characterizes as the "voice of one through the strength of many," which he said will come in handy "when this rule from DOL comes out."