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Every potential retiree is different and has different needs. This interactive session will help you recognize the needs of the clients you serve and how to provide solutions for them. Using case studies and advanced planning strategies, we’ll help you expand the reach of your practice and create clients for life.
Thank You to Our Presenters
Assistant Vice President, Relationship Management
As an assistant vice president on the Advisor Relations team, Dragos is responsible for championing our strategic efforts around creating a community feel at LPL by creating and running multiple Peer to Peer study groups as well as being responsible for creating a strategy around improving the LPL experience for our Freedom and Director’s Club advisors. His team is tasked with connecting thousands of LPL advisors to all of the great tools and resources available at LPL and can assist with a variety or business related issues such as succession planning, staffing, acquisitions and business planning which allow our advisors to grow and prosper. Since joining the financial services industry back in 2006, Dragos has held roles in areas including group plans services, wholesaling, relationship management and practice management consulting. He is especially passionate about the benefits of having the right business plan in place and making sure you have the right staff to accommodate of your growth plans or monetization goals. Originally from Bucharest, Romania, Dragos and his family immigrated to the US as political refugees and was granted political asylum to escape the former communist regime. After graduating from Northeastern University, he now calls Boston his home where he resides with his wife and two kids along with his parents all in the same multi family home. He enjoys traveling, cycling and gardening and recently took up beekeeping this spring.
Digital Marketing Manager, Marketing Solutions
Emily Barrowclough is a manager of one of the Marketing Solutions teams at LPL Financial. She manages a team of six marketing consultants, responsible for the digital marketing and online presence for advisors within the program. Emily joined LPL Financial in July 2019. She is dedicated to driving results for advisors while leading her team with positivity, empathy, and support. She has over a decade’s worth of digital marketing experience, including Google analytics, Google AdWords, Facebook ads, social media analytics, content creation, email marketing and more.
Assistant Vice President, M&A Solutions
Sarah Cray is an AVP with M&A Solutions, part of a team within the Advisor Financial Solutions group. In this role, she led the development of the Deal Support platform, an industry award-winning end-to-end offering to simplify the acquisition process. She is passionate about providing advisors with the education and tools to facilitate a smooth business transition. Prior to joining LPL, Ms. Cray was an original member and manager of the succession planning and acquisition department at Raymond James Financial Services. She coached advisors through the development and execution of continuity and succession plans, practice benchmarking, business valuation and the acquisition process. She also spearheaded numerous initiatives, including broker/dealer practice acquisition lending and next generation successor programs. Ms. Cray has more than 20 years of advisor-facing financial industry experience. She earned a BS in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She is an Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM (AAMS®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), a Registered Corporate Coach™ and is currently FINRA Series 7, 66 and 24 registered through LPL. Raised in Iowa, she now currently enjoys the milder seasons and infrequent snowfall of Indian Land, South Carolina with her husband, dog and cat. In addition to visiting her 2 step daughters and son-in-law, she also enjoys being a Gigi.
President and CEO
Dan Arnold is president and chief executive officer of LPL Financial (NASDAQ: LPLA), a leading retail investment advisory firm and the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer*. Mr. Arnold sets the strategy and direction for the firm with the board, while leading the senior executive team in shaping and communicating the values and operating principles of the organization. Mr. Arnold has been president since 2015, driving the development of the firm’s long-term strategy for growth, overseeing the company’s primary client-facing functions, and leading its Advisor and Institution Solutions business unit focused on business development, existing advisor and institution growth, enhancing the client experience, research capabilities, and sponsor partnerships. Mr. Arnold was previously the firm’s chief financial officer, responsible for formulating financial policy and leading the company’s capital management efforts. He joined LPL Financial in 2007 as managing director of Institution Services, with responsibilities for the growth and support of the firm’s bank and credit union clients. Mr. Arnold joined LPL through its acquisition of UVEST Financial Services, a leading provider of investment services to banks and credit unions, which he led as president and chief operating officer. He has more than 20 years of industry experience, including seven years in leadership roles in corporate finance, sales, and marketing at the telecommunications companies BellSouth and MCI. Mr. Arnold received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and an MBA in finance from Georgia State University. He is FINRA Series 7, 24, 27, and 63 registered through LPL Financial.
Vice President, Head of Advisor Diversity and Inclusion
As head of Advisor Diversity and Inclusion at LPL Financial, Lauren is responsible for leading the firm’s strategic efforts to advance representation, community, and business growth for financial advisors of underrepresented demographic segments. Her team was recognized in 2019 with an InvestmentNews Diversity Champion award, as well as a WealthManagement.com Industry Award for their efforts in advisor diversity and inclusion. While these accolades are encouraging, she is motivated to continue doing her part to create a more inclusive and equitable industry for the benefit of financial advisors and the investor communities they serve. Since joining the financial services industry in 2010, Lauren has held roles in areas including financial consulting, relationship management, and practice management consulting, before transitioning to diversity and inclusion in 2018. She is especially passionate about amplifying the financial services industry as a viable career path for young women, and women of color. Lauren currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of African American Financial Advisors. She holds a B.S. degree in Finance from Clemson University, and is an avid fan of their football team (Go Tigers!). She also holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA licenses.
Senior Consultant, Advisor Diversity & Inclusion
Nena Chhoum is a senior consultant of Advisor Diversity and Inclusion for LPL Financial. She is responsible for supporting the advancement of representation, strategic programs, and business growth for financial advisors of underrepresented demographic segments. Since joining LPL Financial, Nena has held roles in service, trading and operations before transitioning to diversity and inclusion in 2019. She is committed about building strong relationships with clients and communities, and executing programs at scale to enable financial advisors to grow their practices and support their investors. Nena holds FINRA Series 7 license.
Keynote Speaker
Alex Banayan is the youngest bestselling business author in American history. The Third Door chronicles Banayan’s seven-year quest to uncover the definitive mindset of exponential growth and success. The book is a #1 international bestseller, has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and has been acclaimed by The New York Post as “a joy to read.” Over the course of his unprecedented journey, Banayan’s research led him to interview the most innovative leaders of the past half-century, including Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, Larry King, Maya Angelou, Steve Wozniak, Jane Goodall, Jessica Alba, Quincy Jones, and more. Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful People Under 30,” Banayan is his generation’s leading expert in high-performance and personal development, having been featured in Fortune, CNBC, Businessweek, The Washington Post, MSNBC, Fox News, and NBC News. A renowned keynote speaker, Banayan has presented the Third Door™ framework to corporate leadership teams around the world, including Apple, Google, Nike, IBM, Snapchat, Salesforce, Delta Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Mastercard, and Disney.
TWG Wealth Partners
John Davila started his financial services practice in July 2001. He established TWG Wealth Partners in June of 2012 and TWG Wealth Partners evolved to become TWG Wealth Planning in 2018. He helps clients develop a comprehensive strategy to pursue their goals. Although he works with a wide variety of clients in different phases of their lives and non-profits, TWG Wealth Partners has developed a few niche markets: Women Decision-Makers (women business owners or women who are in charge of the financial decisions for the household or organization) and The Emerging Family (couples who married a little later in life and are raising young children while being 10 to 15 years away from retirement). Although TWG Wealth Planning is headquartered in Naperville, IL, twenty-five percent of clients reside outside of Illinois and are located across the country. John enjoys spending his free time golfing and spending time with his family: wife, Rebecca, and his children Mateo and Isabella. He also served for three years on the Hispanic Professional Advisory Committee of Chicago for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Rutledge Financial Partners
Johnny Rutledge is the founder and President of Rutledge Financial Partners, LLC and an Registered Representative with LPL Financial. With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, he is passionate about the opportunity his career provides to make a positive impact in other people’s lives. Developing long-lasting relationships with sports and entertainment figures, families, executives, and business owners, he offers a comprehensive range of investment and financial services. Johnny first started his career in 2001, working as a commodities broker with a private firm in Florida for seven years. After moving to North Carolina with his family, he worked with Edward Jones as a financial advisor. He opened the first Edward Jones office in Wesley Chapel and built a successful practice from the ground up, working with hundreds of clients for six years before becoming an independent wealth manager. Working with LPL Financial, he formed his own firm, Rutledge Financial Partners, in Matthews, North Carolina. Also, expanding into Greensboro, North Carolina. Johnny holds FINRA Series 7 with LPL Financial and his Series 66 registration with LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance. Johnny is an Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM. Actively involved in his community, Johnny serves as a member of the Weddington Optimist Club and the Union County Chamber of Commerce. Outside of the office, Johnny spends much of his time with his wife, Shirley, and their son, Jaylyn, and niece, Nia. He enjoys attending sporting events, especially football, as well as playing golf and traveling the world.
American Private Wealth
Kashif A. Ahmed, Certified Financial Planner in Bedford, MA. Kashif A. Ahmed, MBA, MSF, PGDMS, CFP® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, is the founder and President of American Private Wealth®. Although he was born in Pakistan, he spent his formative years in the multi-cultural environment of Kuwait before escaping the brutal Iraqi occupation. He can be regarded as truly a citizen of the world, having traveled to dozens of countries in his life. A highly sophisticated individual, “Kash” also comes from a robust background in business and finance. His career has spanned over two decades and has taken him global, consulting with top multinational corporations like Royal Dutch Shell Corporation, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank Global Relationship Banking, Fleet Bank, John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Iron Mountain, as well as organizations like The World Bank and the Government of Uzbekistan. Standing out among his many achievements is the pioneering of the design and development of a fully automated, web-based, multi-currency supply chain risk management system. Prior to founding American Private Wealth®, Kash enjoyed a very successful career as a Financial Advisor affiliated with a Wall Street-based financial services firm. He was a member of the elite Million Dollar Club. His greatest recognition remains the gratitude of the families and businesses he has helped by presiding over their financial affairs with honesty and integrity. It is because of this that Kash has garnered not only life-long clients, but life-long relationships with others. When his schedule permits, Kash teaches as a Professor of Finance, Investments and Wealth Management at the graduate level both in the United States and overseas. He has “given back knowledge” as a Professor since 1999. Volunteer work with various non-profits in the United States and abroad has also always been a big part of Kash’s life, and he continues to contribute to several community-based initiatives in his spare time. Kashif is married; his wife is a renowned Senior Economist and together they have four beautiful daughters. In his free time Kash enjoys cooking and entertaining his family and friends, along with watching movies and maintaining his cars.
Vargas Wealth Management
Laurie Barela is Founder and CEO of Vargas Wealth Management, LLC, a firm specializing in comprehensive financial planning and customized management of investments through a holistic and relationship based approach. Laurie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional who worked for Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and A.G. Edwards. After nearly 15 years, Laurie’s clients were the inspiration and reason she ventured out on her own in 2009. Laurie has been in the financial services industry since 1995. She's the recipient of 5280 Magazine and ColoradoBiz Magazine’s Five Star Wealth Manager Award* and has been featured in the Denver Business Journal. She is an accomplished speaker and has served as a mentor for college-aged students, which is an important passion of hers. Laurie graduated from CU Boulder’s Leeds Business School with an emphasis in Finance and Economics. Laurie has been involved in the local community serving on the board of directors for many non-profits that support education, business, the Latino community, and her Catholic faith. Laurie completed the inaugural Boulder Ironman in 2014, and continues to live an active lifestyle running, biking, swimming (if there is an ocean nearby), playing with her dog Tobit, snowboarding, golfing and has strong aspirations to learn how to surf. She enjoys reading, traveling, volunteering, and has recently married Daniel Barela, so she is learning how to cook.
Bair Financial Planning
Marci Bair, CFP®, President & Founder of Bair Financial Planning and Vice President with the Wealth Consulting Group is a native of San Diego and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with over 29 years of experience in working with LGBT Executives, Female CEO's and attorneys, as well as successful Business Owners to help them work towards their goals and pursue what's important to them. We also specialize in investing in companies that have a positive impact on our environment, are socially responsible and have high corporate governance policies (ESG). We think different, we invest different. Where investing money meets making a difference. As a boutique wealth management firm with national resources, Marci and her team have created a comprehensive practice for high net worth individuals and families. Marci becomes a client's personal CFO to help clients with all of the critical personal responsibilities of managing their finances that they don't have the time or interest to do. This would include managing their investment portfolio, stock options, retirement plans, personal and corporate insurance and employee benefits. Using a consultative approach, the goal of our team is to give our clients the guidance they need to help them retire securely and accomplish what is important to them. Marci is often called upon to speak to corporations and associations on a variety of financial and retirement planning subjects. She is also well respected in the San Diego community and has been recognized by many organizations throughout the years for her community involvement and business success. Marci is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and holds Securities Registrations: Series 6, 7, 22 & 63, Registrations held through LPL Financial, and also holds Health, Life & Disability Insurance licenses. On the weekends you can find Marci and her wife enjoying the San Diego weather, and watching their kids play in their football or basketball games, or on the golf course.
RL Davidson Consulting, LLC
For over three decades, Ron Davidson has assisted clients with their personal and business financial and insurance needs by guiding them in the development of personalized goals and strategies. His professional knowledge and experience as a financial advisor is built on a strong foundation of education and military service. After completing high school and serving in the Army, Ron attended Guilford College in Greensboro, NC where he earned his BAS in Business Management. Currently, Ron is a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable, and as a member of the Roundtable must adhere to a strict code of ethics, must focus on providing excellent client service and must continue to grow professionally through continuing education. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. In addition to being active in professional and community organizations, Ron spends much of his time sharing his knowledge as a speaker and workshop presenter for local universities, associations, and churches, as well as through publications. Ron is registered to offer securities in the following states: Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. As an LPL investment advisor representative, Ron offers fee-based financial planning, investments, and insurance, as an advisory representative of LPL Financial and is licensed to offer advisory services to residents of North Carolina. Ron is licensed to offer insurance products in the following states: California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina.
The Wealth Consulting Group
Sally Ng is an independent, fee-based financial planner, providing wealth management services to Bay Area clients for the last 32 years. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner since 1991, Sally uses her extensive academic background and practical business experience to guide her clients towards a financially secure future. Financial planning requires an experienced and accomplished professional who is a partner in your quest for financial success. A veteran in the field, Sally combines her knowledge and practicality with her zest for life to bring you a planning approach that integrates innovative ideas, creative strategies, and “a practice what you preach” integrity. Sally’s daughter, Jeanette, joined the practice in 2013 and became a partner in 2019. As a team, they will focus on your unique situation; clarify and prioritize your goals; then take what they learn and search for new ways that aim to protect and expand assets; minimize taxes; and maximize the opportunity for long-term financial security. Prior to her career in the financial services industry, Sally was an accountant and financial consultant in the corporate world for over a decade. She holds a MBA in Finance from the University of California, Berkeley (1983) and a BA in Accounting from California State University, San Francisco (1976). Born and raised in San Francisco, her family owned and operated a small grocery store where Sally developed an entrepreneurial spirit, strong work ethic and deep appreciation for close family ties. Along with her husband, Sally is an avid traveler who has explored over 65 countries to-date. She also enjoys playing golf and spending time with her extensive family.
Blackbridge Financial
Terry, a gifted communicator and experienced advisor, started his financial services career in 1988. He is dedicated to helping clients work toward their financial goals and incorporates humor and a positive attitude to explain complicated issues. As an independent advisor, Terry is able to focus on his clients' needs, not selling products. Prior to joining Blackbridge Financial in 2015, Terry was recognized for excellence as a leading performer in his field. Terry takes great pride in providing personalized service and financial education to his community, as well as helping his clients understand and navigate the world of retirement income planning and wealth management. Originally from Palos Verdes Estates, California, Terry has been a Charlotte resident since2001. He frequently travels the world with his wife, Elizabeth, and their children. Recent trips include Paris, Rome, and Nassau. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, cycling, and snorkeling.