2025 Wholesaler Leadership Summit

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving financial services industry, gaining access to financial professionals and influencing their decisions has become increasingly challenging, regardless of wholesaler tenure. This "new age" of wholesaling demands more than ever before. This session will uncover emerging themes and delve into the essential, yet often overlooked "operating systems" of planning and organization that are crucial for thriving in this dynamic environment.

Hank Schulthesz, North Pointe Partners

Discover innovative ways to harness technology, data, and AI to elevate the sales experience for your distribution partners and boost productivity. Engage in lively conversations with your peers about the latest platforms and tools making waves in the industry. Share stories about which solutions are excelling, and given the changing tides, what the future holds.

Return to the general session room where select groups will share highlights from their discussion groups.

In this engaging session, we will unravel AI’s transformative impact on distribution and how wholesalers can harness AI-driven insights, automation, and personalization to boost their effectiveness. Gain exclusive insights from the 100+ member LIMRA and LOMA AI Industry Group and walk away with a practical understanding of AI's real-world applications, industry best practices, and future trends. Empower yourself to see AI as a competitive edge, not a threat. Join us to explore the future of wholesaling in an AI world and learn how to protect more lives, ensuring a safer, more financially secure future for all.

Kartik Sakthivel, Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer, LIMRA and LOMA

Unlock the secrets to wholesaling in today’s modern era! In this session, we will hear from wholesaler leaders, a wholesaler, and a seasoned financial professional on how to build and nurture powerful relationships given the challenges of connecting with, educating, and meeting expectations of their distribution partners.

Learn from these industry leaders as they share their invaluable insights and real-world experiences in creating the “across the desk” feel in a virtual environment. You will gain practical strategies for thriving in today’s dynamic market and turning challenges into successes.

David Barnes, Divisional Vice President, Retirement Strategies, Prudential

Jennifer Zimmer, Senior Vice President, Internal Sales, Global Atlantic Financial Group

Cathy Borgman, Vice President, Distribution, LPL Financial

As leaders, you hold the key to empowering your wholesalers to succeed, even amid challenges. Embrace this opportunity to connect with your peers, sharing and learning from each other's daily struggles. This is your time to voice your priorities and concerns, to find inspiration and knowledge, and to realize that you are part of a supportive community.

Return to the general session room where select groups will share highlights from their discussion groups.

It may be 5 o’clock somewhere but we’re starting at 6 with some Margaritaville magic! Dive into an evening filled with a delicious dinner, exciting games, groovy music, and endless fun. Wear your best beachwear and embrace the laid-back vibes as you catch up with old friends, make new connections, and simply enjoy the fantastic company!

Dive into the dynamic world of talent management! Discuss, share, and learn from each other’s experiences. Explore the daily challenges and triumphs of recruiting, developing, managing, motivating, measuring performance, compensating, and balancing new talent expectations with your legacy team members. This is your chance to gain fresh insights, exchange ideas, and enhance your strategies in a collaborative and supportive environment.

Return to the general session room where select groups will share highlights from their discussion groups.

You already know how crucial branding is for a business, but have you ever thought about the impact of having a unique and recognizable personal brand?

This interactive session will blend insightful materials with engaging workshop-style activities. You'll walk away with a clear understanding of personal branding, its benefits, and the first steps towards crafting your personal value statement.

In this session, you will:

• Understand why personal branding is essential for your success.
• Gain tools to start crafting your authentic story.
• Learn guidelines to make your personal brand statement memorable and relatable.
• Explore ideas on how and where to effectively use your personal brand

Amy Osborne, Lead Investment Learning Consultant — Franklin Templeton Academy