2025 Alliance Fall Forum: Forward Focus
There is little in our business that remains untouched by rapid changes in the industry. Between crafting a technology roadmap, managing client expectations, and evolving investment priorities, it is difficult to know where to begin.
Top-tier firms are looking beyond the present, identifying exactly what they can do today that will help them thrive tomorrow. But exponential growth can bring serious growing pains – when you spend all your time putting out fires, how can you find room to plan ahead?
The 2025 Fall Forum gathers forward-thinking thought leaders and peers to answer that question. Our community has always believed that the key to staying ahead of the curve lies in collaboration and continuous learning. This is your opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals committed to advancing family wealth. We invite you to join us as we uncover insights that will propel your firm into the future.
This event is open to members and non-members.
Additional details about the agenda will be available soon. Please reach out to events@fwalliance.com with questions about FWA events.
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Who Should Attend?
Please note that registration is required and subject to approval by The Family Wealth Alliance. |
To view the Event Terms & Conditions, please click here.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact info@fwalliance.com for more information.
Agenda
Speakers and additional details to be announced. Sessions, speakers, and schedule subject to change.
Monday - October 27
4:30pm: Registration
5:00pm: Welcome Remarks
5:10pm: The Economics of Family Wealth Firms: 2025 Alliance Research Findings
Rachel Hyman, President of The Family Wealth Alliance, will unveil key findings from Alliance Research’s first Economics of Family Wealth report focused on how firms make money, spend money, and set strategic priorities. Join us for insights into how revenue sources, expenditures, and operational structures evolve as firms hit key milestones on the journey to sustainable growth.
5:40pm: Economics of Family Wealth Research Panel
Putting our keynote into context, industry leaders will sit down with Rachel to bring these research findings to life. Representing firms at various stages of growth, panelists will share nuanced perspectives on the challenges of strategic prioritization and operational evolution over time.
6:15pm: Welcome Reception
Tuesday – October 28
8:00am: Registration & Breakfast
9:00am: Opening Remarks
9:10am: Keynote
10:00am: Break
10:20am: Future-Proofing Your Tech Stack
When new fintech platforms hit the market every day, it’s difficult to determine which vendors are worth your time to explore. How can you distinguish flashy promises from solutions that provide genuine value?
This panel of technology consultants will outline the future of tech in family offices, explaining how firms can leverage current technologies while positioning themselves for what's on the horizon. Panelists will discuss ways to build a realistic technology roadmap amidst the constant influx of new vendors and maintain a healthy skepticism when evaluating new tech solutions. Attendees will leave with expert insights on the current tech landscape and how to future-proof their firms for sustained success.
11:10am: Interactive Session
11:50am: Lunch
1:10pm: Client Segmentation Transitions
Segmentation is an essential growth strategy for family offices with a hybrid client base. By tailoring service levels and fees to client tiers, firms gain efficiency and scale while staying anchored in value delivery. However, clients rarely fit neatly into just one segment over the course of their relationship.
This session will delve into the complexities of managing clients as they move between segmented tiers of service. Panelists will discuss what it means to have a resilient client experience that ensures seamless, high-quality service for all clients, even as circumstances fluctuate.
2:00pm: Managing Life, Not Just Wealth
A true multifamily office must go beyond traditional financial management and offer services that support their clients’ unique administrative and lifestyle challenges. From medical concierge to travel assistance, these services significantly deepen client relationships, making the trusted advisor their first call.
However, expansion into lifestyle management creates immense challenges. When the sky is the limit to what family wealth firms are willing to do for their clients, it makes sense to take a step back and ask, “What business are we really in?” Join this panel of thought leaders as they discuss the implications of a broader service offering and why firms need to set boundaries to survive.
2:50pm: The Art of Boundary Setting in UHNW Relationship Management
To stand out and demonstrate value, excellent advisors go the extra mile – sometimes operating outside their scope to ensure client satisfaction. It’s no wonder, then, that scope creep and burnout are recurring challenges within our industry. In a business built on trust and relationships, how do you know where to draw the line?
Charles Eckart, Managing Partner of the Cathexis Group and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, will explore the delicate balance between meeting high expectations and setting healthy boundaries. In this session, attendees will learn how to define the scope of their role, say no when necessary, and still maintain the highest level of service quality. Through case studies from real clients and advisors, Charles will empower attendees with strategies for healthy, sustainable relationship management.
3:15pm: Mid-day break
6:30 pm: Dine-Arounds
Attendees are organized to attend private networking dinners hosted by FWA Strategic Sponsors. Pre-registration required.
8:00 pm: Desserts & Drinks After Party
Wednesday – October 29
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am: Welcome Remarks
9:10am: Investment Delivery Reimagined
Relationship managers aren’t the only ones who struggle with boundary setting. Investment and operational teams are also vulnerable to the industry’s pressure to stand out and overdeliver. Offering competitive and innovative investment opportunities for clients is a strategic advantage, but it often comes at a price.
In this panel discussion, we will explore what the next five years will look like on the frontier of investment strategies and their potential impact on your firm. Panelists will discuss their predictions for the future and how they are preparing within their own firms.
10:00am: The Wealth Advisor Career Lifecycle
While every individual’s career path is unique, key themes will often emerge at distinct stages of an advisor’s career progression. The challenges and breakthroughs that mark these inflection points in the wealth advisor lifecycle reveal what high-performing advisors should prioritize to accelerate their advancement.
In this session, Philip Palaveev, Founder and CEO of The Ensemble Practice, will share his research and consulting insights, focusing on the strategic decisions that can best prepare advisors for each stage of their career. Attendees will gain practical tools and strategies for prioritizing their time, investing in essential skills, and navigating the complexities of career advancement in the wealth management industry. Whether you’re building out a team or planning your next chapter, this session offers a rare opportunity to think big about long term advisor success.
10:50am: Closing Remarks
11:00am: Conference Concludes
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Thank you to our co-chairs
for helping design an inspiring event!
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| Mary Claire Allvine Doyenne Advisors |
Ivan Hoffman Fi3 Adivsors |
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| Bill Onorato RKL |
Dave Plotts Glenmede |
Speakers to be announced!
Accomodations
The 2025 Alliance Fall Forum will take place at the JW Marriott Chicago.
JW Marriott Chicago
151 W Adams St.
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Secure the event group rate by booking here.
The room block closes on October 6, 2025 but may sell out before that date. Please book accommodations as soon as possible.
Property Details:
- Check-in: 4:00 pm, check-out: 12:00 pm
- Valet parking available at a daily rate of $88
- Off-Site Parking: Tower Garage (211 W Adams St.) Recommended but not hotel affiliated, 0.1 Miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is this event being held?
The 2025 Alliance Fall Forum will be held at the JW Marriott Chicago (151 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603).
Who should attend Fall Forum?
FWA members, non-member family wealth executives (defined as any individual employed by an MFO, SFO, RIA, Ext. CIO, trust company, law or accounting firm that offers family office services to private clients.) and service providers are qualified to attend the Fall Forum.
Please be sure to select the correct ticket type when registering. Note: There are limited spots for service providers. Once those seats are claimed, no additional service provider seats will be added.
What is the dress code?
Conference attire is business casual for all events. Please remember convention room temperatures may not be to your personal preference, so come prepared with an additional layer.
How can I learn more about becoming an FWA member firm?
If you are interested in learning more about FWA membership, please reach out to info@fwalliance.com. FWA member firms receive complimentary seats to all of our in-person Signature Events.
When
Location
- JW Marriott Chicago (151 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603)
