Beyond The Booth At Annual Advisor Conference

By Cyril Tuohy

InsuranceNewsNet

As retirement plan professionals gather for the 2013 PLANADVISER National Conference on Monday, Sept. 9, in Orlando, Fla., advisors can expect hours of expert one-on-one discussion and small group conversations around all things retirement.

Headlining this year’s topics are 401(k)s, fiduciary standards, fee disclosure, optimizing plan design, pricing for services, and updates on developments in Washington and among the regulatory agencies, according to planadviser.com.

The conference, Sept. 9 to 11 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, is being held in conjunction with the 529 Conference and 529 “Essentials” Seminar, according to planadviser.com. As many as 250 plan advisors are expected to attend.

Major sponsors this year include Allianz, Guardian Retirement Solutions, LPL Financial, Nationwide Financial, Prudential Financial, Principal Financial Group and Transamerica.

In addition, MassMutual Retirement Services is promoting its “Get Real” advisor experience, promoting the “going beyond the booth” initiative, the company said.

The “beyond the booth” effort will include tools and resources to help retirement plan advisers and professionals build their brand and win more business, the company also said.

Sure to attract attention will be MassMutual’s on-the-spot professional high-resolution headshot photography that advisors will be able include in their marketing materials, the company said. Professional studio-quality headshots typically run more than $100.

“MassMutual’s goal is to help retirement plan advisors bring their own brand to life which will, in turn, help them win more business,” E. Heather Smiley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division, said in a news release.

Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division, is scheduled to participate in the CEO Roundtable on Sept. 10, where she will share her insights on the future of the retirement industry, the company also said.

Pat Riley, president of the 2012-2013 NBA champions Miami Heat, will deliver the traditional opening night after-dinner keynote. Riley, former head coach of the New York Knicks, retired from coaching in 2008 as one of the most successful coaches in NBA history.

He will talk to attendees about the keys to gaining and keeping competitive advantage and winning, according to planadviser.com.

Cyril Tuohy is a writer based in Pennsylvania. He has covered the financial services industry for more than 15 years. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Cyril Tuohy is a writer based in Pennsylvania. He has covered the financial services industry for more than 15 years. He can be reached at [email protected].