Sunny beaches and bright ideas: 2025 MDRT Annual Meeting recap

Courtesy of MDRT

Thousands of financial services professionals from all over the world gathered in the United States last month, traveling to sunny Miami Beach, Fla., for the 2025 MDRT Annual Meeting.

MDRT members and guests had access to over 150 sessions ranging from panels on best practices for advisors, to Focus Sessions on industry trends. The five-day conference welcomed members from 59 countries, turning the Miami Beach Conference Center into a hub of international financial expertise.

Members gained insights they can apply to their work with clients and personal goals:

- Ten-time, Top of the Table MDRT member Michelle Bender, CFP shared, "I always love getting to see the ladies in my MDRT study group. We have been meeting monthly to discuss personal and professional goals, and I consider them my greatest source of encouragement and great friends. We've been together for babies, divorces, career transitions, and more. Their support has helped me grow my practice tenfold, and I love the chance to check in on our goals and simply enjoy each other's company in person."

- Donald White, CLU, ChFC, AEP, AIF found after attending over 30 MDRT Annual Meetings that they still provide valuable insight for himself and others, sharing, "Discovering that the advice I have provided to colleagues over the years is still helping them provide premier client service has made me ecstatic. I have spent the better part of my 40-year career reminding myself and others that the best success is found when you take a personalized approach to each client, learning what is important to them through candid conversation and a focus on listening to their fears and goals."

- Jennifer Mann MBA, LUCTF, CLU, ChFC, CFP and 21-year MDRT member, found her favorite insight from Diana Kander, a presenter at Annual Meeting. “Kander shared in her ConneXion Zone presentation the importance of receiving feedback from your clients, which is something I’ve always found awkward but helpful to obtain. Kander gave great advice on how to start a conversation on how you are doing and getting recommendations in a way that feels natural to me.”

- Financial advisors often gain insight from colleagues, like ten-year member Irene Stolte, ChFC, CLTC, LUTCF: “Rob Cullen, a fellow MDRT member, told us in a session that he writes out a list of all the ideas he has while at Annual Meeting each year. These could be big or small goals. A few days after returning home, Rob takes time to sort through each of these ideas to decide which are possible in the short term, which goals need more thought and time to act upon, and the goals that seemed like a good idea at the time but not viable upon further reflection. We take in so much information at MDRT events, this will greatly help me to take action on what I learned and continue improving myself."

- Three-year MDRT member Nathan Graff shared, “I always feel so energized and excited leaving the Annual Meeting, Miami Beach was no exception! This year I am headed home with a renewed sense of commitment to personal growth and development, resolute in my resolve to live out my core belief: Focus and patience lead to progress.”

The 2025 conference inspired members to continue their premier service for their clients. Whether reuniting with long-time friends, developing policies to ethically leverage AI in financial planning or volunteering to keep events running smoothly, attendees made the most of their time in Miami Beach.

The next annual meeting will take place in Anaheim, Calif. in June 2026. Visit mdrt.org for more information.

About MDRT
Founded in 1927, MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals from 85 nations and territories and more than 700 companies. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. For more information, please visit mdrt.org.