Commonwealth Financial Network® Hosts More Than 900 Financial Advisors at Annual National Conference

Commonwealth Financial Network®, the nation’s largest privately held independent broker/dealer–RIA, recently hosted more than 900 affiliated financial advisors at its annual National Conference, October 6–9, 2014, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida.

The four-day conference, entitled Changing Viewpoints/Fresh Insights: Creating New Pathways to Success, encouraged attendees to approach opportunities from different vantage points and lead their clients to financial success. Advisors were offered a wide array of educational sessions, networking events, and sponsor exhibits.

Members of Commonwealth’s management team addressed attendees. Wayne Bloom, CEO, emphasized quality and consistency amid a successful year of growth. Darren Tedesco, managing principal, innovation and strategy, offered a technology SWOT analysis—noting 2015 objectives of bolstering Commonwealth’s information technology strengths in a simple and integrated manner. Rich Hunter, president and COO, focused on operational updates and 2015 goals. Brad McMillan, chief investment officer, provided perspective on the economy.

Two keynote speakers—Malcolm Gladwell, author, and Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology—offered thought-provoking talks on how to change assumptions in complex situations, as well as strategies and approaches that are necessary to solve today’s problems.

At the Continuity Planning booth, members of Commonwealth’s Practice Management team consulted advisors on how to safeguard their legacy and prepare for any contingency.

At the Four-Corner Marketing booth, members of Commonwealth’s Advisor Marketing team assessed attendees’ current marketing efforts and objectives, as well as recommended customizable pieces best suited for their practices.

Advisors took advantage of personalized tech help at the technology consulting booth, including advice on Commonwealth’s array of applications, while the CyberCafé offered hands-on assistance for any device requiring attention from the HelpDesk staff.

Additionally, Commonwealth hosted a mentor roundtable event, led by Joni Youngwirth, managing principal, practice management, where attendees received advice from more tenured advisors in an effective small-group setting.

“Our National Conference continually proves to be an invaluable opportunity for all members of the Commonwealth community to connect both personally and professionally with our network of advisors from across the nation,” said Bloom. “Advisors are able to immerse themselves in rich content and engage with industry experts and fellow members of the Commonwealth community, and we are pleased to deliver such a unique opportunity for continued growth and development.”

Bloom continued, “Advisor participation is crucial to the success of our event, and I thank attendees for their continued engagement. As stressed before, advisor feedback is a critical component of our programs and operations. We learn from our advisors’ thoughts and ideas—it’s what helps us continually improve, offer what advisors want, and maintain our value proposition.”

For the second year, Bloomberg Radio broadcast “The Bloomberg Advantage” at the National Conference. Hosts Kathleen Hays and Vonnie Quinn spoke candidly with Commonwealth’s thought leaders and independent advisors live on-site for two days.

Commonwealth continued its tradition of giving back during the National Conference, hosting a project at maximum capacity that benefited Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, an organization that provides shelter, nutritious meals, education, and support to families in need. More than 100 volunteers donated their time to make improvements at the local shelter.

About Commonwealth Financial Network
Founded in 1979, Commonwealth Financial Network, member FINRA/SIPC, is the nation’s largest privately held independent broker/dealer–RIA, with headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California. J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth “Highest in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, Four Times in a Row.” The firm supports more than 1,487 independent advisors nationwide in serving their clients as registered representatives, investment adviser representatives, and registered investment advisers, as well as through hybrid service models. For more information, please visit www.commonwealth.com.

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