2020 Advanced Sales Virtual Forum Agenda

All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time.

Monday, August 3, 2020

10:30 am - 11:00 am - Opening Welcome & Platform Orientation

Welcome to the virtual conference!

Deidra W. Hubenak, J.D., CPA - Vice President, Advanced Markets, AIG Financial Distributors

11:00 am - 11:50 am - General Session: Washington Update

Politics and elections influence the laws that affect your business. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, SEC Reg BI, The SECURE Act, The CARES Act…what policy change will produce the next wrinkle for your clients and your work? Remember the DOL fiduciary rule…what are the chances it rises from the grave? The federal government has spent trillions responding to COVID19 and the aftermath will affect how serve families and businesses in the coming years. Informed advisors have extra credibility with their clients. Attend this informative discussion on the intersection of politics and policy, delving into the tax and regulatory challenges and opportunities coming our way.  Always informative, insightful, and well-received, this session is not to be missed!

Armstrong Robinson - Chief Advocacy Officer, Finseca

11:50 am - 12:00 pm - Break & Exhibitor Visits

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

12:00 pm - 12:50 pm - General Session: Planning Opportunities after the SECURE Act Eliminated Stretch IRAs

Advisors should provide clients with new estate planning advice now that the Secure Act has passed. This law, which eliminated the stretch IRA planning for most non-spouse beneficiaries and replaced it with a 10-year rule, applies for deaths that occurred in 2020 and beyond. While clients can still achieve their legacy goals, the planning techniques used to transfer money after death will have to change. 

In this session, you will hear about planning techniques that can help clients achieve their estate planning and legacy goals: Techniques like Roth conversions, life insurance, charitable trusts, spray trusts, Section 678 trusts, and out of state non-grantor trusts will be addressed and you will learn how they can help clients achieve their goals.

Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA - Partner, Keebler & Associates, LLP

12:50 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch Break

1:30 pm - 2:20 pm: Breakout Sessions

1. Hot Topics in Practice Management

CYNTHIA HEARING, JD, CExP, CLU, ChFC, CAP, CLTC, Lead Senior Consultant, The Business Resource Center, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America; KIRSTEN LEES, AIG; CHANNING SCHMIDT, JD, CFP, Advanced Sales Director, Securian Financial; Moderator: NICHOLE CRAWFORD, JD, LL.M., CLU, ChFC, CAP, AIRC, Advanced Life Manager & Counsel, Federated Life

From social distancing rules that closed offices, to the low interest rate environment that impacts a wide range of advanced planning techniques, unprecedented changes in the world have caused us to rethink how we, as an industry, do business.  Join us for a discussion with representatives from a range of carriers and hear about how they’re adapting to the new “normal.”  Learn best practices for connecting with remote employees and holding effective online meetings, new approaches to training, and how to refresh sales ideas for today’s environment,

2. Advanced Markets Concept Tours

DAVID HAYWARD, CLU, ChFC, FLMI, ACE, Associate Director, National Life Insurance Company; GARY PENCE, CLU, ChFC, Advanced Marketing Consultant, Pacific Life Insurance Company; MORGAN SCOTT, JD, Vice President, Advanced Markets and Field Development, Columbus Life Insurance Company

Come join our Advanced Markets specialists as they talk to us about the stories that have resonated in their practices.

Can't Make This Stuff Up - Gary Pence
Premium Funding - David Hayward
Life Insurance As an Asset Class - Morgan Scott

2:20 pm - 2:30 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

2:30 pm - 3:20 pm: Breakout Sessions

3. A Clear Vision of Annuities in 2020

CHRISTOPHER PRICE, MLT, CLU, ChFC, CFS, AVP, Advanced Sales/Business Development-Variable Annuities, Lincoln Financial Distributors; DAVID VOGEL, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Senior Advanced Sales Specialist, Advanced Markets, Allianz Life Insurance Company of America; Moderator: KEVIN RUSS,  CFP, CLU, Advanced Markets Consultant, Brighthouse Financial

This panel discussion will provide effective, proven advanced sales ideas to help generate sustainable retirement income using annuities.  Each topic of discussion will center around practice management, sales ideas and technical concerns pertaining to annuity uses in multi-generational wealth strategies and the future use of annuities in employer sponsored retirement plans. The session will also cover annuity product innovations that have resulted from recent legislation including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, SECURE Act and CARES Act.

4. COVID-19 and Changing Trends in Life Insurance

ERIC BERG, CFP, Advanced Markets Consultant, Thrivent Financial; JORDAN SKOG, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Director, Advanced Markets, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; Moderator & Presenter: WENDELL STALLINGS, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Sales Director – Advanced Markets, Ameritas

At the beginning of 2020, who could have predicted the emergence of COVID-19 and its effects on the world economy? As the pandemic’s effects on the economy become more widespread, will COVID-19 produce temporary or lasting changes to the life insurance industry?  To some degree, the pandemic will certainly affect underwriting, sales, insurer’s general accounts, and general work practices.  This workshop will explore these issues and how we, as advanced sales professionals, can navigate these changes and provide optimum value for our advisors and their clients?

3:20 pm - 3:30 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

3:30 pm - 4:20 pm - General Session: Small Screen, Big Impact

The world changed overnight. Virtual is the new reality. That means today’s leaders must become effective “virtual communicators”–– and understand how to capture audiences who are not just distracted, but also distant and distressed. In this fast-moving session, Mindset Digital CEO Debra Jasper, Ph.D. will show you how to:

  • stay close with clients and colleagues in this time of social distance;
  • use rapid visual storytelling to transform webinars and live-streamed events
  • communicate with clarity and impact on a small screen

It’s more important than ever to achieve clarity in this world of uncertainty. This session will show you how to reimagine how you communicate and connect in a new virtual age.

Debra Jasper, Ph.D. - Founder and CEO, Mindset Digital

4:20 pm - 5:00 pm - Announcements & Networking Reception

Announcements & Networking Reception

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

10:45 am - 11:00 am - Welcome

Welcome to the virtual conference!

Deidra W. Hubenak, J.D., CPA - Vice President, Advanced Markets, AIG Financial Distributors

11:00 am - 11:50 am - General Session: Economic and Market Update

Join Russell Price for his analysis of the current state of the U.S. economy and a discussion on trends and predictions for economic growth, employment, inflation, interest rates, consumer spending, and savings rates. 

Russell Price, CFA - Chief Economist, Ameriprise Financial

11:50 am - 12:00 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

12:00 pm - 12:50 pm - General Session: Sweet Child of Mine: This is Our Journey

You spent months planning for a trip of a lifetime.  Every detail was perfectly mapped out.  But as your plane lands, your destination changed.  What now?  During this session, you will learn what is involved with being a parent of a child with special needs. You may not be going where you planned to, but you will do everything to ensure your child’s quality of life is maintained with proper planning. 

Meg Muldoon, J.D., LL.M. - Assistant Vice President, Advanced Sales, The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company

Nadine Vogel - CEO, Springboard Global Enterprises

12:50 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch Break

1:30 pm - 2:20 pm: Breakout Sessions

5 .Digital Media – How to be an Influencer

ANA MEDINACELI, Director, Advanced Markets, John Hancock

Join Ana Medinaceli, Director of Advanced Markets, as she explores the impact of technology on our industry and more importantly discussing some of the ways to incorporate social media, videos, podcasts into our everyday practice.  Influencers can help with driving concepts and growth by embracing new platforms and mediums to get our message out there — join in this session to understand some of the opportunities we can and should embrace.

6. Living Benefits – How To Do More with Your Life Insurance and Annuities

SHAWN BRITT, Director, Long Term Care Initiatives, Nationwide: GARY PENCE, Pacific Life;  Moderator: DEREK WELCH, JD, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, Senior Director, Nationwide

This workshop will focus on creative strategies that use chronic illness and long-term care living benefits found in life insurance and annuity products. These concepts will help inspire individuals and business owners to take effective and affordable action in order to protect themselves and their employees from future financial crisis.

2:20 pm - 2:30 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

2:30 pm - 3:20 pm - General Session: Life Insurance: The Elixir for the International Client

MONICA RHEE, JD, LLM (Moderator), Consultant, Pacific Life Insurance Company

When it comes to international clients, this workshop will explore the following:

  • The Opportunity and The Problem
  • U.S. Tax Considerations for NRAs and NCNRs
  • Life Insurance: A Problem Solver for International Clients
  • U.S. Persons as Beneficiaries of Foreign Trusts - Problems and Solutions
  • Pre-immigration Planning and Life Insurance
  • Primer on Reporting Obligations

Leigh-Alexandra Basha - Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

3:20 pm - 3:30 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

3:30 pm - 4:20 pm - General Session: Asset Protection Planning Update and Hot Topics

JAY D. ADKISSON, JD, Managing Member, Adkisson LLC

A look at contemporary asset protection planning and current items of interest in that field, including whether Nevada and Delaware trusts work and in what conditions, California Private Retirement Plans, and an update on IRS efforts involving 831(b) captive insurance companies.

4:20 pm - 5:00 pm - Announcements & Networking Reception (BYOB)

Announcements & Networking Reception (BYOB)

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

10:45 am - 11:00 am - Welcome

Welcome to the virtual conference!

Deidra W. Hubenak, J.D., CPA - Vice President, Advanced Markets, AIG Financial Distributors

11:00 am - 11:50 am - General Session: Tax Efficient Retirement Planning

Retirement income efficiency comes from financial modeling while tax efficiency focuses on asset location.  The former asks how to arrange assets and benefits to meet the clients before-tax cash flow goals while the latter seeks to position these vehicles in a way to boost after-tax results. This presentation considers how these two disciplines can be reconciled to help maximize tax-efficient retirement planning, and discusses new issues caused by the recent disruptions in the markets. 

Steve Parrish, J.D., CLU, ChFC, RHU - Independent Consultant
Law Professor, Drake University
Adjunct Professor, The American College

11:50 am - 12:00 pm - Break

Visit the virtual exhibit hall and network in chat lounges.

12:00 pm - 12:50 pm - General Session: What’s Hot, What’s Not

This session is split into two parts. The first part will cover updates on loan regime split dollar and the mistakes that are being made.  Learn how to set up donor and employer loan arrangements correctly. In the second part, learn about the important changes the SECURE Act brought us in December 2019 regarding qualified plan and IRA eligibility, contributions, and distributions.  Learn about the retirement plan changes, including the birth or adoption exception to the 10% early withdrawal penalty, RMD rules for non-spouses and eligible designated beneficiaries, 529 changes and the new “Kiddie Tax.”

Lawrence Brody, J.D., LL.M. - Partner, Bryan Cave LLP

Thomas F. Commito, J.D., LL.M., CLU, ChFC, AEP - Director, Sales Concepts, Lincoln Financial Distributors

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Grand Prize Drawing and Closing Remarks

Grand Prize Drawing and Closing Remarks