2025 Forbes | SHOOK Top Teams Summit Agenda

TIME

EVENT

PLACE

3:30 - 5:00pm

Registration

OCEAN LAWN

4:00 - 6:00pm

Welcome Reception

OCEAN LAWN

6:30pm

Dine-Arounds with Partners

TIME

EVENT

PLACE

7:00 – 8:00am

Breakfast

LUSTER GALLERIE

8:00 – 8:05am

Welcome, America’s Best Teams

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research

SPARKLE BALLROOM

8:05 – 8:15am

The Match

• R.J. Shook, Co-Founder & President, SHOOK Research, Senior Forbes Contributor

8:15 – 8:30am

SHOOK Ones: Our Team’s Best Idea

• Nestor Vicknair, Merrill Wealth Management
• Kyle Kelley, Merrill Wealth Management
• Moderator: Steve Samuels, Merrill Wealth Management & The Private Bank Communications Executive
• Introduction: Maddie Hart, Senior Director, National Account Manager, Columbia Threadneedle Investments

8:30 – 8:50am

Thoughts for Advisors, Teams, and Clients

• Raj Bhatia, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Sue van der Linden, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: John Nersesian, Head of Advisor Education, PIMCO
• Introduction: Steven Pogorelec, EVP, Western Divisional Sales Manager, U.S. Global Wealth Management, PIMCO

8:50 – 9:10am

A Conversation with Scott Kapnick

• Scott Kapnick, Chief Executive Officer, HPS Investment Partners
• Moderator: Christopher Toomey, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Introduction: John Christmas, Co-Head of Business Development & Investor Relations, HPS Investment Partners

9:10 – 9:30am

Areas of Focus for 2025: The Tactics of the Elite

• Rob Montella, Vice President, Performance Coach, First Trust

9:30 – 9:50am

How Top Teams Can Maximize Tax Efficiencies for Top Clients

• Travis Musgrave, Merrill Wealth Management
• Andy Harbour, Graystone Consulting from Morgan Stanley
• Moderator: Robert Holderith, Head of PGIM Custom Harvest, PGIM Investments
• Introduction: Jonathan Koss, Vice President, Regional Sales Coordinator, PGIM Investments

9:50 – 10:05am

Snack Break

10:05 – 10:25am

Allocate Like an Institution: Trends for 2025 and Beyond

• David Levi, Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield’s Global Client Group
• Moderator: Stephen Scanapicco, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Introduction: Nicole Pecoraro, Senior Vice President, Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions

10:25 – 10:45am

Conversation With America’s #1 Advisor & Team

• Jeff Erdmann, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Erin Cleary, Client Associate, The Erdmann Group
• Glen Mathews, Investment Management Specialist, The Erdmann Group
• Dijana Stanisic, Private Wealth Management Specialist, The Erdmann Group
• Introduction: Lindsey Nacht, Vice President | Director of Operations, SHOOK Research

10:45 – 11:05am

Building the Future of Infrastructure

• Sean Klimczak, Global Head of Infrastructure and Chairman of BXINFRA
• Moderator: Joe Lohrer, Senior Managing Director & Head of U.S. Retail Sales, Blackstone Private Wealth Solutions

11:05 – 11:10am

SHOOK Ones: Our Team’s Best Idea

• David Berdon, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Introduction: Jacob Shook, Senior Analyst, SHOOK Research

11:10 – 11:30am

From Laggard to Leader: Identifying AI Opportunities in Healthcare

• Tim McCarty, Research Analyst, Janus Henderson Investors
• Brandon Bergstrom, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Introduction: Jeff Pawliger, Executive Director, Advisor Solutions Group, Janus Henderson Investors

11:30 – 11:45am

Refreshment Break

LUSTER GALLERIE

11:45am – 12:25pm

Breakouts

SPLASH ROOMS

Breakout #1: Survey Says: Insights on Allocating to Alts

• John Sievers, Managing Director and Head of The Alts Institute, Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions
• Nicole Pecoraro, Senior Vice President, Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions

SPLASH 9-10

Breakout #2: Team Compensation: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid

• Manuel Escobio, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Eric Applewhite, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: Paul Brunswick, Head of Invesco Global Consulting, Invesco

SPLASH 11-12

Breakout #3: Ideas to Create the Optimum Service Model

• Edmund Agresta, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Crystal Garrett, Ameriprise Financial Services
• Moderator: Caroline Gundeck, Managing Director, Head of PWM, Client and Field Engagement, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

SPLASH 13-15

12:35 – 1:40pm

Lunch

SPARKLE BALLROOM

12:50 – 1:10pm

Things to Avoid Prior to Succession

• Liubruv Cabrera, Executive Director, Head of Advisor Legacy Program, Morgan Stanley
• Moderator: Rob Meredith, Managing Director, Regional Director – Mid America, Morgan Stanley
• Introduction: Robert Bruno, Head of Retail Distribution, First Eagle Investments

1:10 – 1:40pm

TBD

1:55 – 2:35pm

Breakouts

SPLASH ROOMS

Breakout #1: Private Credit: Past, Present, and Future

• John Christmas, Co-Head of Business Development & Investor Relations, HPS Investment Partners
• Moderator: John Shadden, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management

SPLASH 9-10

Breakout #2: Building Elite Financial Teams

• Dryden Pence, Pence Wealth Management, LPL Financial
• Katie Hancock, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: Robert Milliman, Managing Director, National Sales Manager, IBD Channel, Head of Practice Management, U.S. Wealth Solutions, First Eagle Investments

SPLASH 11-12

Breakout #3: When Is It Time to Bring on a COO

• Bill DeMatteo, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Mark Thorndyke, Merrill Wealth Management
• Moderator: Ron Insana, Senior Analyst for CNBC

SPLASH 13-15

2:35 – 2:50pm

Refreshment Break

LUSTER GALLERIE

2:50 – 3:05pm

SHOOK Ones: Our Team’s Best Idea

• Michael Chudd, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Jonathan Beukelman, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Moderator: Heather Crist, Managing Director, Head of Field Engagement, WM USA, UBS Group AG
• Introduction: Madison Rizzo, Associate VP | Partnerships, SHOOK Research

SPARKLE BALLROOM

3:05 – 3:25pm

The Next Generation of Wealth Transfer

• Moderator: Jim Bergeron, Managing Director, Advisor Education, Nuveen

3:25 – 3:45pm

Opportunities in Private Credit

• Daniel Pietrzak, Global Head of Private Credit, KKR
• Moderator: Richard Zinman, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Introduction: Corry Hyer, Director, Senior Relationship Manager, KKR

3:45 – 4:05pm

3 Hiring Techniques That Can Expand Your Advisory Team

• Kent Pearce, Merrill Wealth Management
• Troy Nelson, Edward Jones
• Moderator: Julie Genjac, VP, Managing Director, Applied Insights, Hartford Funds
• Introduction: Kevin Eberly, Regional Vice President, Advisor Consultant, Hartford Funds

4:05 – 4:15pm

Snack Break

LUSTER GALLERIE

4:15 – 4:35pm

The New World – How to Navigate within a New Order

• James DiChiaro, Senior Portfolio Manager, BNY Mellon Core Plus Strategy at Insight Investments
• Meghan Donoghue, Principal, Real Assets Portfolio Strategist, Blue Owl
• Moderator: Ron Insana, Senior Analyst for CNBC

SPARKLE BALLROOM

4:35– 4:50pm

2025: A Year of Morphing Portfolios

• Richard Bernstein, CEO & CIO, Richard Bernstein Advisors
• Introduction: Rocco Scanniello, Executive Director, Advisor Solutions Group, Janus Henderson Investors

4:50 – 5:10pm

Ideas from the Winner's Circle

• Peter Rukeyser, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Alex Williams, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Moderator: Paul Brunswick, Head of Invesco Global Consulting, Invesco
• Introduction: Derek Witte, Market Leader, Invesco

5:10 – 5:40pm

SHOOK^® Best Idea Competition

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research
• Frank Berland, Managing Partner, SHOOK Research
• Judge: Ken Correa, Managing Director, Head of Business & Client Development, Merrill Wealth Management
• Judge: Caroline Gundeck, Managing Director, Head of PWM, Client and Field Engagement, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Judge: Amy Schoenherr, Director of Financial Advisor Recognition, Wells Fargo Advisors

5:40 – 5:45pm

Cocktails Countdown!

• Frank Berland, Managing Partner, SHOOK Research

5:45 – 6:30pm

Cocktail Reception

OCEAN LAWN

6:30pm

Dine Arounds with Partners

TIME

EVENT

PLACE

8:00 – 9:00am

Breakfast

LUSTER GALLERIE

9:00 – 9:05am

Coffee with Lizzy

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research

SPARKLE BALLROOM

9:05 – 9:10am

SHOOK Ones: Our Team’s Best Idea

• Ryan Bristol, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Introduction: Luke Bartow, Associate VP | Event Programming, SHOOK Research

9:10 – 9:25am

Ideas for Team Growth

• Brian Cooke, Cooke Financial Group
• Moderator: Ron Insana, Senior Analyst for CNBC

9:25 – 9:45am

Team Compensation to Foster Growth

• Andrew Vahab, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

9:45 – 10:05am

Succession & G2 Teaming

• Phil Scott, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
• Rick Shanley, Chicago Private Wealth, LPL Financial
• Moderator: Elizabeth Sieghardt, Head of Independent Employee Advisor Affiliations, LPL Financial

10:05 – 10:25am

Advisor to Leader

• Nelrae Ali, Array Private Investment Advisory Group | Wells Fargo Financial Network
• Andrew Burish, UBS Wealth Management
• Moderator: Cynthia Chamberlayne, Senior Investment Consultant, BNY Mellon Investment Management
• Introduction: Blake Pastore, Senior Associate VP | Advisor Services, SHOOK Research

10:25 – 10:40am

Refreshment Break

LUSTER GALLERIE

10:40 – 11:00am

Rebranding Your Advisory Practice to Excel in Today’s Market

• Charles Balducci, Merrill Wealth Management
• Holly McNulty, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: Brie Williams, Global Head of Advisory Solutions & Wealth Intelligence, State Street Global Advisors

SPARKLE BALLROOM

11:00 – 11:20am

New Frontiers in Space

11:20 – 11:25am

SHOOK Ones: Our Team’s Best Idea

• Alvin Spencer, Stifel
• Introduction: Kaili Moran, Planning Coordinator | Event Associate, SHOOK Research

11:25 – 11:30am

The Last Word

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research