2025 Alliance Fall Forum: Forward Focus

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.

Speaker: Rachel Hyman, President & Executive Director, Family Wealth Alliance

5:55pm: The 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.

Speakers:

• Chris Dickson, Family Office Advisory Leader, RSM US LLP
• Gail Lust, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sawmill Trust
• Sarah Simmer, CPA, CFP®, CAP®, Partner & Managing Director of Client Experience, Heritage Wealth Advisors
• Moderated by Rachel Hyman, President & Executive Director, Family Wealth Alliance

6:30pm: Welcome Reception 
 

Tuesday – October 28

7:30am: Registration & Breakfast

8:30am: Opening Remarks

8:40am: The Anticipatory Advisor: Leveraging Disruption to Accelerate Growth

In this eye-opening and highly motivating presentation, Daniel Burrus explores the most important technology-driven trends shaping the future – including AI – and the opportunities they provide. By learning to separate hard trends (based on future facts that will happen) from soft trends (based on assumptions that might happen), advisors can accurately anticipate disruptions before  they occur—turning disruption into a choice. They can identify problems  before they happen, allowing them to pre-solve issues, move forward faster, and recognize game-changing opportunities before the competition does.

By mastering the principles of anticipatory thinking, you can confidently guide your team through change, stay ahead of disruption, and drive accelerated growth. 

Speaker: Daniel Burrus, AI Strategist & Author, Burrus Research

9:30am: Break

9:50am: 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.

Speakers:

• Rick Higgins, Founder & CEO, Risclarity
• Michelle Odom, Founder & CEO, Ellevate
• Wade Spencer, Managing Director - Wealth Management, West Monroe Partners
• Moderated by Kyle Glenn, Chief Operating Officer, HB Wealth

10:40am: Table Discussions

11:20am: 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.

Speakers:

• Lisa Colletti, Managing Director in Exclusive Family Office, Partner, Aspiriant
• Michelle Knight, CEO, RWA Wealth Partners LLC
• Chad Maggard, Managing Director, Principal, Johnson Investment Counsel
• Moderated by Todd Brand, President, CEO & Partner, Brand Asset Management Group

12:10pm: Lunch

1:25pm: Alliance Updates

1:40pm: 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.

Speakers:

• Nick DeCenso, Senior Director | Wealth Solutions, CAPTRUST
• Joe Lum, Regional President, MAI Capital Management LLC
• Robin Mirianthopoulos, Partner, Head of Solutions & Advisory, Trove
• Moderated by: Steve Czocher, Partner, Gresham Partners

2:30pm: 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.

Speaker: Dr. Charles Eckhart, Managing Partner, The Cathexis Group

3:20pm: Mid-day break

6:00 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

7:30am Breakfast

8:30am: Welcome Remarks

8:40am: 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.

Speakers: 

• Dan Flynn, Head of Independent Wealth Group, Americas, Apollo Global Management
• Carol Schleif, CFA, SASB-FSA, Chief Market Strategist, BMO Private Wealth
• Ohm Srinivasan, Global Head of Alternative Investments, CIBC Private Wealth
• Moderated by: Christine Jordan, Principal and Senior Consultant, Fiducient Advisors

9:30am: The Wealth Advisor Career Lifecycle (Interactive)

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.

Speaker: Philip Palaveev, CEO, The Ensemble Practice LLC

10:50am: Closing Remarks

11:00am: Conference Concludes

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

Mary Claire Allvine Doyenne Advisors	Ivan Hoffman Fi3 Adivsors
Bill Onorato RKL	Dave Plotts Glenmede

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.