Thank you to our co-chairs for helping design an inspiring event!

Jessica Beavers Sawmill Trust	Jeff Lang Seneschal Family Office	Kelly Maregni Pathstone
Holly Pantzer FORVIS	Chris Quinn CIBC Private Wealth

Tuesday, March 5

5:00pm: Opening Remarks

5:15pm: Alliance Outlook: What’s on the Horizon for Family Wealth? 

Tom Livergood will provide an overview of the family wealth landscape, competition, and major trends in client demographics, demands, assets, and services, including insights from FWA’s Landscape of Family Wealth: 2023 Report. 

• Tom Livergood, Founder and Head of The Family Wealth Alliance

6:00pm: Welcome to the Jungle – The Next Phase of the Evolution of the Wealth Management Industry

Hear Mark Hurley present insights from his recent paper on the future of wealth management. He will address the immense opportunity ahead for MFOS – and why most firms are unprepared to capitalize on it. Learn how the terms of competition and M&A will soon change, what to expect from the upcoming all-out war for talent, why cybercrime is an existential threat to everyone, and ten traits common to the most successful wealth management firms. You won’t want to miss this provocative view from an industry luminary that will challenge the way you think about today and tomorrow.

• Mark Hurley, CEO, Digital Privacy & Protection, LLC

6:45pm: Opening Reception

Wednesday, March 6

6:00am: Optional Recreation Activity: Yoga on the lawn (pre-registration is required)

8:00am: Registration & Breakfast

9:00am: Welcome Remarks

9:15am: The Art of Transition: Looking Back & Lessons Learned

It is estimated the average person will spend one third of their life at work – roughly 90,000 hours over a lifetime. Making the decision to step away is no small feat. Many first-generation leaders say they have a plan. When challenged, that claim often evaporates into a mere wish to do what will eventually be necessary…but not today, please. Executives need to navigate both a shift in personal identity and new relationship dynamics that evolve throughout the succession process. Join us for a discussion with executives who have moved into their next chapter as they reveal how they navigated transition, what worked well, and lessons learned from firsthand experience and observation.

• Speakers:
  • Christine Galloway, Director/Advisor
  • Jack Thurman (formerly of BKD)
  • Tim Kochis, CEO, Kochis Global (formerly of Aspiriant)
  • Moderator: Bruce Benesh, Managing Principal, Benesh Consulting Group (formerly of Grant Thornton)

10:00am: The Art of Transition: Looking Forward & Planning for The Firm

The ripples of executive transition spread beyond the C-suite and throughout the firm. All eyes are on the incoming successor, who must balance the expectations of colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Thoughtful planning is necessary to ensure the entire firm is set up for success. This panel will feature a candid discussion between three incoming executives on how they handled their debuts personally and professionally, the “messy middle” of succession, the effect on their respective organizations, and how they think about the future.

• Speakers
  • Andy Busser, President & CEO, Pitcairn
  • Drew McMorrow, President & CEO, Ballentine Partners
  • Moderator: Bruce Benesh, Managing Principal, Benesh Consulting Group (formerly of Grant Thornton)

10:45am: Break

11:00am: Table Discussions: Succession Planning

Everyone in the room is at a slightly different stage of their career. Whether you are just stepping into a C-suite role or in the middle of moving into your next chapter, we could all benefit from discussing our personal succession strategy with peers. After spending this morning considering the many facets of executive transition, this table discussion will allow you to connect with peers in a similar career stage and share your own insights and questions related to succession planning.

11:45pm: Networking Lunch

1:00pm: Alliance Updates

1:20pm: M&A: Running the Business Post-Acquisition

M&A can bring new opportunities, team members, and resources to a firm, with all their associated excitement. But after the dust settles, there are often more nuanced and complicated effects on company culture and team morale. This panel will dig into the challenges that arise post-M&A and how firms can emerge from the integration phase stronger than ever.

• Speakers:
  • Kelly Maregni, President, Pathstone
  • Kristen Bauer, CEO, LNW (Laird Norton Wetherby)
  • Jandy Rowe, Head of Client Service and Managing Director, Wealthspire
  • Moderated by: Nikolee Turner, Director Business Consulting, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

2:10pm: Leadership Opportunities for the Next Generation

Good talent is hard to find – and maybe even harder to keep. In this competitive market, firms must invest early and often in their top talent. When is the last time you asked the next generation of leaders directly, “What do you value, what do you need, and what is going to keep you happy here?” In this session, next-gen leaders explain what they are looking for and how key development opportunities have shaped their career decisions.

• Speakers:
  • Michael Clark, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, The Family Office at Synovus
  • Chris Dickson, Senior Manager, RSM
  • Katie White, Vice President, Business Development, 1919 Investment Counsel
  • Moderated by: David Plotts, Director of Wealth Strategy and Family Wealth, Glenmede

3:00pm: Recreation

6:00pm: Dine-Arounds  

8:00pm: Dessert & Drinks After Party  

Thursday, March 7

8:00am: Breakfast

9:00am: Opening Remarks

9:10am: Roadmap to the 2024 Election

Before we know it, the 2024 presidential election will be here. In a lively, entertaining, and strictly non-partisan presentation, David Wasserman cuts through the spin and offers a data-driven forecast of how upcoming elections might unfold. With Republicans at a critical fork in the road, who will win the primary nomination? Do Democrats have any hope of defending a 51-49 Senate majority or taking back a closely divided House? Wasserman draws on his extensive interviews with both parties' candidates and strategists to shed light on the top issues on voters' minds.

• David Wasserman, Senior Editor & Election Analyst, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

10:00am: Elevating Culture Through Transitions

Although leaders prefer to focus on strategy and big-picture thinking, chances are a significant amount of your time is spent on the nitty-gritty of daily firm operations. Debates about hybrid work, tensions arising from generational differences on your team, and talent retention crises can impede strategic momentum. How can leaders keep their teams engaged and committed during times of stress and uncertainty? And how should you show up to work when the future is unclear? This session will explore how leaders can prioritize culture creation while avoiding getting bogged down by firm operations.

• Suzanne Peterson, PhD, CRA Inc.

10:50am: Table Discussions: Leadership

There is no better place to candidly discuss the joys and challenges of leadership in a family office than amongst the FWA community. This table discussion will introduce you to a group of like-minded peers who are interested in honing their leadership skills and learning new best practices. Off the heels of Dr. Peterson’s closing keynote, attendees will enjoy engaging group conversation and discuss action items to implement at their firms.

11:35am: Lunch

12:30pm: Conference Concludes

1:15pm: Optional Recreation Activity: Golf (pre-registration is required)

*Sessions, speakers, and times subject to change

Rancho Bernardo Inn

17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
San Diego, CA USA 92128
Website

Tucked away among the rolling hills of San Diego's North County and bounded by a championship golf course and stately private residences, RBI's 265-acre resort is a respite from the mundane. 

Book your room via this link (Note: If the website is sold out of rooms, please call the hotel directly to book your room (855) 574-5356)

Our room rate for FWA attendees is $369 + $15 hospitality service charge per room per night + tax

Check in time: 4pm

Check out time: 11am

The daily hospitality service charge  includes the following amenities: 

• Wireless internet
• In-room bottled water
• In-room coffee & tea
• Activities (yoga, lawn games, etc.)
• Fitness center access
• Unlimited Driving Range Use
• Live Entertainment
• Game room

We highly encourage you book via the weblink; however, for those looking to speak with a reservations agent, please call 844-226-8262 and ask for the Family Wealth Alliance group rate. 

The office hours of the reservations department are as follows:

Monday-Friday: 8AM- 8PM

Saturday & Sunday: 8AM-6PM

(Pacific Standard Time)

Parking:

• There is a $37.00 fee per night for each vehicle self-parked and $45.00 fee per night for each vehicle valet parked at the facility.

Golf:

Book your tee time here.

Luxury Spa:

Learn more about the spa and book your services  here.
It is recommended to make spa reservations up to 4 weeks in advance.