DENVER (August 4, 2021) — The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the largest membership organization for financial planners, is pleased to announce the line-up of keynote speakers for the FPA Annual Conference taking place in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 22-24. Erica Dhawan, Milton Ezrati, and Michael G. Thomas, Jr., Ph.D., will headline the event that is typically the largest gathering of CFP® professionals each year.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to come back together as a community at the conference this year and be able to offer our attendees a speaker line-up that will be informative and engaging,” says Patrick D. Mahoney, FPA chief executive officer. “From building trust in the digital age to diversity in financial planning to the future of our markets, the focus of their presentations will touch on the ‘here and now’ for so many in our profession.”
The keynote presenters are:
- Erica Dhawan (Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 a.m.) — An internationally recognized leading authority, speaker, and advisor on 21st-century teamwork, collaboration, and innovation, Erica Dhawan was named by Thinkers50 as the “Oprah of Management Thinkers.” She is the author of two books, Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence and Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance. Dhawan will discuss how the world of business is increasingly digital, and work practices have changed at a blistering rate in her keynote address. She will share innovative strategies to unlock the collective power of teams, build a culture of trust across any distance and create authentic engagement to ensure competitiveness.
- Milton Ezrati (Thursday, Sept. 23 at 9:15 a.m.) — Armed with a long career in finance that has taught him to present compellingly on a wide variety of economic, financial, and political topics, Milton Ezrati has spoken in North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. During the last 13 years as the senior economist and market strategist at Lord, Abbett & Co., his talks have primarily taken a top-down approach to economic and market prospects. Within that broad area, Milton has emphasized diverse topics from market valuation to policy analysis, economic prospects, and even geopolitical risks. Ezrati is the author of Thirty Tomorrows: The Next Three Decades of Globalization, Demographics, and How We Will Live as well as several other books.
- Michael G. Thomas, Jr., Ph.D. (Friday, Sept. 24 at 11:00 a.m.) — An Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and a lecturer at the University of Georgia, Michael G. Thomas, Jr., Ph.D. focuses his research on financial empathy, data visualization's effects on financial behavior, and the connection between brain function and money. In his presentation, Dr. Thomas will discuss that while industries and organizations are doing their best to recruit and retain a diverse pool of talent, a gap remains in achieving this goal effectively. He will share the roles sympathetic and empathetic paradigms play in diversity and inclusion efforts and provide a practical step-by-step process to engage in diversity and inclusion efforts effectively.
As in years past, the conference agenda focuses on sharing practical strategies, tactics, and cutting-edge thinking, with plenty of CE credits available. FPA will offer 53 breakout sessions, CFP® ethics, Knowledge Circle gatherings, an exhibit hall with many partners, and ample time for reconnecting with other financial planners, in addition to the mainstage keynote presentations.
Registration is now open with a special advance rate of $949 for FPA members and $1,149 for nonmembers. This advance registration closes August 6 when rates increase to $1,049 (member) and $1,249 (nonmember). A limited number of complimentary press registrations are available to full-time journalists. Journalists interested should contact Ben Lewis at blewis@onefpa.org.
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About the Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals, educators, financial services professionals and students who are committed to elevating the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning. With a focus on the practice, business and profession of financial planning, FPA advances financial planning practitioners through every phase of their careers, from novice to master to leader of the profession. Learn more about FPA at financialplanningassociation.org and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/fpassociation.