
This year, Ignite your purpose, your process, and your people
OCTOBER 2-4, 2023 | RENTON, wa
DAYS
SESSIONS
ATTENDEES
EXHIBITORS
WHY ATTEND?
Financial Advocates’ Ignite is 2 ½ days of networking, fun and education. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to connect and exchange ideas, in person, with your peers.
By registering, you receive:
- Access to all keynote, main stage, and breakout speaker sessions
- Access to insight on niche topics like practice development, financial planning, and marketing
- Dedicated networking times to connect with industry experts, advisors, and Financial Advocates team members
- An abundance of ideas and takeaways you can implement immediately in your practice

ABOUT THE VENUE
Located on the shores of Lake Washington, Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle’s Southport, perfectly combines the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest with modern amenities. Enjoy close proximity to Sea-Tac International Airport, downtown Seattle and Bellevue, Mount Rainier National Park, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, and more.

COUNTDOWN TO IGNITE
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CONFERENCE AGENDA
Meeting topics and times are subject to change.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2
START TIME | PRESENTATION TITLE | PRESENTER |
12:00 PM | Registration Opens | |
1:00 PM | Town Hall | Angie Vlach, President, Chief Executive Officer Gary Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer Soliman Popal, Chief Growth Officer |
1:45 PM | Introduction to FA Day | Soliman Popal, Chief Growth Officer |
2:00 PM | Segmentation: Know Your Book, Know Your Practice | Ron Mendoza, Business Consultant Heather Pratt, Business Consultant |
2:45 PM | Break | |
3:00 PM | Practice Metrics & Why Prospects Care About Segmentation | Andy Hart, LPL Vice President & Wealth Consultant of Northwest Kristy Vetter, Marketing Director |
3:45 PM | GROW Your Practice | Gary Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer Soliman Popal, Chief Growth Officer |
4:30 PM | Q&A | |
5:00 PM | FA Day Reception | Sponsored by Macquarie |
6:00 PM | Close / Free Evening |
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3
COLOR KEY:
Main Track
Operational Track
START TIME | PRESENTATION TITLE | PRESENTER |
Morning | Registration Opens | |
7:00 AM | Networking Breakfast | |
8:00 AM | Mainstage – Ignite Your Practice: Best Practices for People, Purpose and Process | Angie Vlach, President, Chief Executive Officer Soliman Popal, Chief Growth Officer |
8:20 AM | Mainstage – Creating a World Class Business |
Sandro Forte, Certified Speaking Professional Sponsored by Security Benefit |
9:30 AM | Mainstage – Vanguard’s Advisors Alpha: Putting a Value on Your Value | Chris Pettit, Senior Strategist Sponsored by Vanguard |
Operations – Account View 2.0 & Client Death Distributions | Geneva Foster, Sr. Client Care Specialist | |
10:20 AM | Mainstage – Building Momentum Amidst Uncertainty |
Kevin Bishopp, Advisor Consulting Performance Coach Sponsored by First Trust |
Operations – Annuity Order Entry (AOE) & Alternative Investment Order Entry (AIOE) | Geneva Foster, Sr. Client Care Specialist | |
11:10 AM | Mainstage – What is the Opportunity? | Brad Croft Sponsored by Goldman Sachs |
Operations – Round Tables | FA Staff | |
12:00 PM | Lunch | |
1:00 PM | Breakout – Target Outcome ETFs | Ben Johnson, Vice President Sponsored by First Trust |
Breakout – How to Be Brilliant | Sandro Forte, Certified Speaking Professional Sponsored by Security Benefit |
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Breakout – Elevate Your Independence |
Scott Ferrette, Western Divisional Director Sponsored by Horizon |
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Operations – Client Experience Training | Kerry Prichard, Chief of Staff | |
2:00 PM | Breakout – Target Outcome ETFs | Ben Johnson, Vice President Sponsored by First Trust |
Breakout – How to Be Brilliant | Sandro Forte, Certified Speaking Professional Sponsored by Security Benefit |
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Breakout – Elevate Your Independence |
Scott Ferrette, Western Divisional Director Sponsored by Horizon |
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Operations – Conflict Management | Kristy Vetter, Marketing Director | |
3:00 PM | Breakout – Overcoming the Bottleneck in Your Business | Casey Miller, Advisor Consultant Sponsored by Hartford |
Breakout – Social Security Advanced Claiming Strategies, Unique Circumstances and More! | Natalia Keene, Advanced Sales Counsel Sponsored by Securian |
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Breakout – Build a Moat Around Your Business | Andrew Lane, Director of Equity Research Sponsored by VanEck |
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Breakout – The Owner Operator Advantage – Actively Buying Long Term Quality | Tim McQueen, Director of Wealth Management Sponsored by Principal |
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Breakout – Managing Both Sides of the Balance Sheet | Brad Croft, Regional Banking Director Sponsored by Goldman Sachs |
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4:00 PM | Mainstage – Advisor Panel | Sam Sharples and Travis Gray |
4:50 PM | Happy Hour | |
5:50 PM | Sponsor Dine Around |
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
START TIME | PRESENTATION TITLE | PRESENTER |
7:00 AM | Networking Breakfast | |
8:00 AM | Mainstage – Welcome | Financial Advocates |
8:10 AM | Mainstage – Scaling Advice: From Financial Advisor to Financial Advicer | Michael Kitces, Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com Sponsored by Horizon Investments and Financial Advocates |
9:00 AM | Principal Business Owners Insights | Paul Schieber, Managing Director Sponsored by Principal |
10:00 AM | Breakout – The Changing Landscape of IRAs | Travis Allan, External Wholesaler Sponsored by Eagle Life |
Breakout – How to Manage and Minimize the Impact of Taxes | Dan Hodo, Senior Regional Director Adam Burleson, Regional Director Sponsored by Russell Investments |
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Breakout – Delaware Ivy Science and Technology – Investing at the Intersection of Innovation and Quality | Gus Zinn, Managing Director & Senior Portfolio Manager Sponsored by Macquarie |
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Breakout – 5 Ideas to Increase AUM and Referrals | Matthew DiFerdinado, Senior Regional Vice President Sponsored by Bluerock Capital Markets |
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Breakout – Understanding Sleep & Anxiety | Melissa Milanak, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & Executive Consultant Sponsored by Amundi |
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11:00 AM | Breakout – 7 Things No One Tells You About Retirement | D.S. Judge, Regional Advisor Consultant Sponsored by Columbia Threadneedle |
Breakout – Generation n: Winning the Client Acquisition Opporturnity | Rob Kron, Advisor Education Consultant Sponsored by Nuveen |
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Breakout – 7 Ideas to Manage the RMD rules for Owners (CE Credits) | Michelle O’Haren, Senior Retirement Strategies Group Consultant Sponsored by Pacific Life |
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Breakout – Private Capital: A Unique Private Equity Strategy | Jon Stickney, Regional Vice President Sponsored by CNL |
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Breakout – Annuities Can Do That! Discover New Strategies to Solve Problems You Never Thought You Could | Justin Talbott, Wholesaler Sponsored by USAnnuity Partners |
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11:50 AM | Networking Lunch | |
1:00 PM | Mainstage – Balance is a Lie! | Lisa Schultz, Chief Services Officer Sponsored by CNL |
2:00 PM | Breakout – Strategic Asset Allocation | Chris Pettit, Senior Strategist Sponsored by Vanguard |
Breakout – Decumulation Diversification | Schyler Adams, Director of Advanced Strategies and Planning Platforms Sponsored by Allianz |
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Breakout – The After-Tax Advisor | Damon Novelli, Executive Director Sponsored by Eaton Vance |
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Breakout – Investing in AI: Transformative New Tech, Same Old Rules | Kelly Brush, Director of Retail Intermediary Cameron Hall, Advisor Relations Associate Sponsored by Parnassus |
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Breakout – The Opportunity Cost of Waiting for Goldilocks | Jules Heyward, Market Leader Sponsored by Allspring |
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3:00 PM | Breakout – Building Trust and Creating Urgency with Clients and Prospects | Scott Tatum, Director of AB Advisor Institute Sponsored by AllianceBernstein |
Breakout – Avantis Investors: Redefining Value Investing | Jeff Cornell, Vice President Sponsored by American Century |
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Breakout – Apollo Diversified Real Estate Fund Market Update | Jonathan Baughman, Financial Analyst Sponsored by Apollo |
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Breakout – Women Investors Taking Center Stage Over the Next Decade | Ramiro Higuera, Vice President & Regional Consultant of Pacific Northwest Sponsored by State Street Global Advisors |
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Breakout – Implementing Liquid Alternative Investments for Income Strategies | Mike Hollister, Sr. Regional Sales Director Sponsored by NexPoint |
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Breakout – Opportunities in Credit | Jeff Weber, Regional Manager of Advisor Services Sponsored by Lord Abbett |
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4:00 PM | Mainstage – Understanding the Economy and Navigating the Markets | Dr. Quincy Krosby, LPL Chief Global Strategist |
4:45 PM | Close | |
5:30 PM | Boarding begins for Cruise |
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
START TIME | PRESENTATION TITLE | PRESENTER |
All Day | Departures |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where is the Ignite Conference taking place?
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
1053 Lake Washington Blvd North
Renton, WA 98056
Who can attend the conference?
The Ignite Conference is exclusive to advisors and their staff. We are not able to accommodate family and guests at the conference.
How do I book a hotel room?
Secure your hotel room at our negotiated rate of $259 + tax and fees by using this link.
I am driving to the meeting – where do I park?
The Hyatt offers both valet and self-parking.
I am flying – how do I get to the hotel?
It is approximately $30 for ride-sharing and taxis from the Seattle Tacoma airport. Ride share meet-up and the taxi stand are located on the third floor of the airport parking garage. The transfer from SEA to the Hyatt Regency is approximately 15 minutes.
What time zone will I be in during the Ignite Conference?
You will be in the Pacific time zone when you are in Renton at the Ignite Conference.
What is the weather like in October?
Washington weather averages highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid-40s in October. You may want to bring an umbrella or waterproof jacket in case of rain.
What do I wear to meetings and events during the conference?
Business casual attire is appropriate for all business meetings and functions at Financial Advocates Ignite Conference.
Business casual includes sweaters, blouses, skirts, dresses, slacks/trousers, polo, or button-down shirt. Jackets are optional.
It is likely to be cool in meeting rooms and on the evening dinner cruise – a jacket or sweater is recommended.
Where can I get more information?
If you have specific questions, please send an email to marketing@financialadvocates.com.
We look forward to seeing you October 2-4!