8:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Opening Keynote
SECURE Act 2.0: Retirement Planning Opportunities and Challenges
1.5 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Jeffrey Levine, CPA/PFS, CFP® , CWS, BFA, MSA I Lead Financial Planning Nerd, Kitces.com & Chief Planning Officer, Buckingham Wealth Partners
Nearly 3 years to the day after its predecessor was passed, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, an omnibus spending bill that includes the much anticipated and long-awaited retirement bill known as SECURE Act 2.0. While one of the biggest headlines of the new Act was the raise of the Required Minimum age, it’s far from the only change. The impact of this Act stretches across what feels like every part of retirement planning; from new measures to encourage increased savings, a renewed focus towards Roth IRA and Roth accounts in employer retirement plans, enhancing access to retirement funds during times of need, all the way to creating new rules surrounding annuities in retirement accounts and the introduction of ETFs within variable products.
There are far more provisions in SECURE 2.0 that may have a significant impact for some clients than there were in the original version. With such large changes comes new opportunities but navigating SECURE 2.0 may just prove more challenging than its predecessor for financial advisors and other professionals. In this session, attendees will learn about some of the key changes made by SECURE Act 2.0, exploring both the new challenges, and planning opportunities, each create.
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM: Networking break with sponsors
9:45 AM - 10:35 AM: Breakout sessions
I. Major Changes to the College Planning Process
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Cozy Wittman I Education & Partnerships I College Inside Track
The college search continues to become more complex, making it harder for families to identify right fit schools. College have also shifted their admission and scholarship policies to favor certain criteria. The number of schools on the "more selective" list continues to grow. Some colleges are going back to requiring standardized tests, while others don't. SECURE Act updates have introduced significant changes to the college financial aid process that will require new planning strategies for both parents and grandparents. New rules around the 529 plans and other college contributions, how multiple students in college are treated, financial aid for divorced families, and more. Join us for this session to learn about these changes to help families successfully navigate the process and minimize debt.
II. Planning Strategies to Mitigate the 10-Year Rule
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Jeffrey Levine, CPA/PFS, CFP® , CWS, BFA, MSA I Lead Financial Planning Nerd, Kitces.com & Chief Planning Officer, Buckingham Wealth Partners
The “Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act” introduced substantial updates to long-standing retirement account rules. One notable change was the elimination of the ‘stretch’ provision for most non-spouse designated beneficiaries of retirement accounts and the introduction of a new “10-Year Rule.” This has resulted in a substantially compressed timeframe over which distributions from many inherited retirement accounts may be spread, increasing the likelihood that more of these accounts will be taxed at higher rates. Thankfully, though, with proper planning, the potential for increased taxation can be significantly mitigated, preserving more of a client’s hard-earned, unused, retirement savings for their heirs. To assist clients in this type of planning, attendees of this session will take a deep-dive into the current rules for post-death distributions, including the latest guidance from the IRS on the implementation of the 10-Year Rule. The session will also explore strategies that can be used by retirement account owners to help reduce taxes for their future beneficiaries, as well as strategies that can be used by those beneficiaries to minimize their own taxes.
III. Your Aging Client: What Advisors Need to Know About Dementia and Fraud
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Amy Florian, MA, CT, FT I Expert in Life Transition I CEO I Corgenius, Inc.
As clients age, they become increasingly susceptible to diminished capacity and/or elder abuse. In fact, 1 in 8 seniors over the age of 65 are living with some form of dementia, and signs can start occurring a decade earlier. You can't afford to be uninformed. Learn the nature and causes of diminished capacity and signs to watch for. Gain tools to educate clients about exploitation and fraud and to alert them to scams in their area. Know your legal responsibilities. Develop protocols to implement when you suspect diminished capacity, exploitation, scams, or all of the above, including how to talk with clients when there is suspicion. Become an informed, prepared, and trusted resource for your clients and their families as they age.
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM: Networking break with sponsors
10:50 AM - 11:40 AM: Breakout sessions
I. Adapting to Change: The Latest Developments in Long-Term Care Solutions
1 CE: TDI, CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Sharon R. Luker, CLTC I Owner I LTC Planning Consultants
Covering potential Long-Term Care expenses is fast becoming one of the most asked questions when preparing a financial plan. The stand along LTC insurance policies of the past have been a nightmare because of the rate increases and stricter underwriting for new policies. What do you tell clients? What are the current strategies available? Many advisors plan for their clients to pay for these expenses out of their income/savings (self fund), but is there a better way? This talk will address the new modern Long-Term Care strategies and the current solutions available. These solutions can go up to age 89 with simplified underwriting. Don't let lack of knowledge stop you, the advisor, from broaching this subject with clients as well as their heirs.
II. Maximizing Client Engagement: Innovative Philanthropic Strategies
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Gary Garcia, CAP® & Kevin Betancourt, CAP® I VP of Philanthropic Partnerships & Advisor Relationship Manager I The Dallas Foundation
This session presents real-life case studies demonstrating the substantial benefits of partnerships with community foundations for clients and advisors, providing concrete examples of strategic philanthropy's impact. Participants will explore the transformative potential of gifting illiquid assets such as real estate, business interests, and artwork, delving into the mechanics and advantages of these gifts and showcasing community foundations' unique ability to facilitate philanthropic goals where others might not. Additionally, the talk will highlight innovative strategies for making meaningful community impacts, illustrating the wide range of possibilities in philanthropy enabled by community foundations. The primary objective is to demonstrate how integrating community foundation partnerships can significantly enhance advisory services, offering practical strategies that align with clients' philanthropic visions and creating mutually beneficial outcomes for firms and their clients.
III. Retain & Gain: An Evidence-based Client Communication Schedule to Maximize Referrals and Retention
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Evan Beach, CFP®, EA, AWMA® I Founder & President I Exit 59 Advisory
In this compelling presentation, Evan will equip financial planners with actionable strategies to build lasting client relationships with driving referrals. Drawing on academic research, Evan will outline an evidence-based communication cadence tailored to enhance client satisfaction and loyalty. From the frequency of client meetings to engaging with clients' personal interests, attendees will learn the optimal frequency and methods to foster trust, deepen connections, and generate more inbound referrals. Evan will breakdown complex research into practical, scalable steps financial planners can implement immediately. Whether it's investment updates, hobby-based conversations, or thoughtful gestures like handwritten notes, this presentation will cover it all -- helping you strike the perfect balance between client engagement and operational efficiency. Join this interactive session to master the art of client communication and transform your practice into a referral-generating powerhouse.
11:40 AM - 12:15 PM: Lunch & FPA State of the Chapter I Diamond Partner Spotlight
12:15 PM - 1:05 PM: Keynote
Keynote: Hal Hershfield, Ph.D. I Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA's Anderson School of Management
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Details coming soon.
1:05 PM - 1:20 PM: Networking break with sponsors
1:20 PM - 2:10 PM: Breakout sessions
I. Covering Your Ass(ets): What You Need to Know About Asset Protetion in Texas
1 CE: TDI, CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Jana Simons, J.D., LL.M., CFP® I Associate I Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman, LLP
This presentation will begin with an overview of asset protection under Texas Law. This will include a brief description of the various types of assets that are per se protected and how to seamlessly protect the vast majority of property. With that foundation, we will move to a discussion on the various types of creditors. The presentation will then discuss common client concerns and how to understand them and the risks presented. We will spend time contemplating the various mechanisms available to clients to protect their property and which strategies are appropriate for different asset classes. Such mechanisms may include entity planning, trust planning, insurance, etc. Finally, we will examine how to analyze unique client risks and how to lead a discussion on this topic with clients.
II. Is Today's Older Homeowner Sitting on a Gold Mine?
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Jerry Auippa, CRMP I Reverse Mortgage Consultant I LongBridge Financial, LLC
Elderly homeowners own close to $13 Trillion in home equity, and many are struggling with a financial plan that fully funds their lifetime expenses, yet financial advisors often overlook this hidden wealth. Why? In this one-hour presentation, we take a deep dive into the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and new attractive and low-cost proprietary products to understand how it can improve the retirement plans of clients, protect against longevity risk, be optimized to fit with client goals, and to do so in an ethical and compliant manner. Home equity is one of the largest sources of assets for clients and reverse mortgages can unlock this hidden wealth in a safe and standardized manner. With new, best interest and compliance standards for financial advisors, the value of consider home equity in the planning process is growing.
III. Protecting Your Clients Financial Plan During Their Working Years
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA, TDI (Insurance)
Presenter: Corey Anderson, DIA I Owner I DI Geek
Protecting a financial plan for a client that is working because they need to start with protecting their income should they become sick/hurt and unable to work. 1 in 4 clients entering the workforce will become sick/hurt for 90 days or more before age 65. We will review major limitations and pitfalls of income protection planning and how to solve this with multiple strategies.
2:10 PM - 2:25 PM: Networking break with sponsors
2:25 PM - 3:15 PM: Breakout sessions
I. The Intersection of Elder Care and Estate Planning
1 CE: TDI, CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Elizabeth Forspan, Esq. I Partner I Forspan Klear, LLP
Elizabeth Forspan, Esq. an attorney with Forspan Klear, LLP, a New York based Trusts and Estates law firm will give a presentation about Elder Care Planning in light of the various income and estate tax implications. She will focus on Medicaid and Special Needs Planning, alongside Estate and Income Tax Planning. Elizabeth's discussion will cover irrevocable Trusts and other planning techniques. She will also discuss situations where good estate planning may not equal good elder care planning. This will be an interactive session and questions from the audience members are strongly encouraged.
II. AI in Financial Planning
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Matt Reiner, CFP, CFA I Managing Partner I Capital Investment Advisors & Wela Strategies
Details coming soon.
III. Retire Well: 4 Ways to Help Clients Plan for Retirement Beyond the Numbers
1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Jessi Chadd, CFP, CeFT I Chief Wealth Officer I Aspyre Wealth Partners
We know that one of the top reasons people hire a financial planner is to answer the question: Am I on track for retirement? And we know the answer to this question is not just about the money. Retirement is not simply putting a date on the calendar and moving from what was to what will be. Retirement is an opportunity to rest, reinvent, reengage, reassess, and refine. For clients to get the most out of this transition, they need a plan beyond saving money and funding expenses in retirement. What does it look like for advisors to help their clients retire well? In this presentation, we will define retirement as a wholistic life approach that goes beyond the traditional considerations of income planning, Social Security strategies, and RMD tax planning. A life center retirement plan that includes financial capital, human capital, health capital, a plan for engagement, defining life, and focusing on legacy.
3:15 PM - 3:25 PM: Networking break with sponsors
3:25 PM - 3:35 PM: Door prize drawings & giveaways
We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in the 2025 FPA DFW Conference. We hope you enjoyed the conference and had a great time. Our Corporate Partners have generously provided door prizes for the conference attendees, and we are pleased to announce the winners of the door prizes. Congratulations to all the winners! We will also be announcing the Grand Prize (provided by FPA DFW) winner at this time as well.. We hope you enjoyed your prizes and had a great time at the conference. Thank you again to our Corporate Partners for their support and commitment to providing door prizes. We look forward to seeing you all at the 2026 FPA DFW Conference.
3:35 PM - 5:00 PM: Closing keynote
The State of the Media: Finding Trusted Sources for Advisors and Clients
1.5 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA, NAPFA
Presenter: Mosheh Oinounou I Founder & Editor in Chief I Mo News
In today's rapidly evolving media environment, financial advisors face the challenge of sifting through a vast and often overwhelming flow of information to provide sound guidance to their clients. The ability to distinguish credible sources from misinformation and bias has never been more critical. Join Mosheh Oinounou, a renowned journalist and media expert, as he explores "The State of the Media" and the essential role financial advisors play in helping clients navigate this complex landscape. This session will dive into how client and planner attitudes, values, and biases influence the interpretation of financial news and how these factors can impact financial decision making. Advisors will learn to identify trustworthy media sources and effectively integrate them into their practice to support client education. Additionally, the presentation will highlight general principles of effective communication, providing practical strategies for fostering trust and improving client engagement. Participants will gain insights into how media consumption patterns can shape client behavior and planning discussions. By mastering these skills, advisors can help their clients feel more comfortable and empowered in their financial choices. Ultimately, this session aims to strengthen advisor-client relationships and enhance the overall effectiveness of the financial planning process.
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Post conference reception with FPA Partners & Sponsors
We invite you to join your FPA colleagues in the exhibit hall for a networking mixer with our Corporate Partners, powered by Nationwide. We are grateful for the generous support from our Partners, which makes this event possible and helps us achieve our mission. This is a great opportunity to foster conversation and make lasting connections with other professionals in the industry. Don't miss out on this chance to expand your network and build valuable relationships. See you there!
