CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Aaron Klein - Thursday, April 21
CEO – RISKALYZE
Aaron is empowering fearless investing through innovation and advisor-focused technology.
He is the co-founder and CEO at Riskalyze, a financial technology company that provides software as a service to financial advisors across the United States. Aaron’s company is the creator of the Risk Number, an objective, quantitative measurement of an investor’s true risk tolerance and the risk in a portfolio.
Riskalyze serves tens of thousands of financial advisors through its platform of tools for analyzing investment risk, delivering 401(k) plans, and building and implementing investment portfolios.
Aaron has spoken at a multitude of conferences and events such as the Fearless Investing Summit, the T3 Advisor Conference, Tiburon CEO Summit, Wealth Management CEO Roundtable, the Benzinga Fintech Awards, DataDisrupt, Startup Grind, Lifesong Celebrate Life, and an untold number of conferences for wealth management enterprises such as TD Ameritrade, Pershing, Carson Wealth, SSG, United Planners, Founders Financial, Waddell & Reed—among many others.
Chad Hymas - Wednesday, April 20
Award-winning speaker and Author
Chad is an internationally known speaker and author. He is one of the youngest ever to receive the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) and to be inducted into the National Speaker Hall of Fame (2011). Hymas is founder and president of Chad Hymas Communications, Inc.
He is a Certified Speaking Professional and speaks throughout the world on the subjects of mastering change, leadership, building teams, and providing excellent customer service. He speaks to companies, kids in schools at all grade levels, and families and individuals whose lives are being remodeled by their own events.
In 2006, The Wall Street Journal featured him as “one of the hardest-working inspirational speakers” in the world.[1]. He is the author of Soaring to New Heights and Doing What Must Be Done.
At the age of 27, he became a paraplegic when a 2,000-pound hay bale fell on him and shattered three vertebrae in his neck.
He is now a world-class wheelchair athlete. In 2003, he set a world record by wheeling his chair 513 miles from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. He participates in other wheelchair athletic competitions, including rugby, snow skiing, and basketball. He officiates basketball games.
David DeVoe - Thursday, April 21
Founder and CEO of DeVoe and Company
From “rockstar” to “therapists with spreadsheets”, David DeVoe’s unique perspective on RIA practice management is well-known in the wealth management world. Named ‘RIA M&A Guru’ by Barron’s magazine, David has been a thought leader on RIA practice management for over 18 years. He has provided strategic counsel to over 500 advisors.
Previously, he served as managing director of strategic business development at Charles Schwab Advisor Services. In this role, he developed and led Schwab’s Transition Planning platform, which provides comprehensive M&A and succession planning services to registered investment advisors.
DeVoe & Company was formed in 2011 to help wealth management companies run better businesses—and has supported hundreds of firms in consulting, investment banking and valuation engagements since launch.
David is a passionate advocate for the independent wealth management community.
JT Thorpe - Thursday, April 21
Senior Director Executive Consultant – Invesco Global Consulting
JT Thorpe specializes in a behavioral approach to team dynamics, performance and leadership. JT has helped develop and coaching new financial advisors for almost three decades.
Currently, JT is responsible for representing Invesco Global Consulting’s personal and professional development programs to financial professionals across the Great Lakes and Southwest. His extensive knowledge as both a partner and a corporate coach has given advisors many advantageous insights.
JT joined Invesco when the firm combined with OppenheimerFunds in 2019. Prior to joining OppenheimerFunds in 2014, he worked at Team Performance Group LLC, as a partner and registered corporate coach. He began his career in the financial industry in 1981 as a financial professional with a small RIA clearing through Raymond James, and, in 1983, he was hired as an account executive at EF Hutton. From 1991 to 1995, he managed Shearson’s advisor training and development department in New York City, training 2,000 financial professionals each year.
Luke Rahbari
CEO — Equity Armor
Luke Rabhari is well-recognized figure in the derivatives industry with over 25 years experience. Luke is an expert in strategies for market volatility. Currently, Luke is a managing partner and is responsible for risk management and overall portfolio construction at Equity Armor Investments. He has been widely quoted or featured in the WSJ, Reuters, Dow Jones Newswire, TheStreet.com, The Financial Times, and Pensions and Investments.
Previously, he served as the largest independent market maker at CBOE for LETCO Trading, and became LETCO’s most profitable independent trader within the Designated Primary Market-Maker group.
After Toronto Dominion Bank (TD) acquired LETCO in 2002, Luke launched TD’s U.S. Institutional Equity Derivatives desk for listed and OTC client orders and proprietary portfolio trading. The desk grew from zero volume to trading billions in notional value across US single names and indices. During this period, Luke traded with the largest overlay and volatility managers in North America. After leaving TD, Luke established a FSA approved, UK asset manager, Peachtree Asset Management, managing assets in the structured settlement space.
Rachel Wilson - Thursday, April 21
Managing Director & Head of Data Protection and Infrastructure Risk – Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Rachel Wilson is nearly peerless in the realm of cybersecurity. During her 15 year tenure at NSA, she led the planning and execution of thousands of cyber exploitation operations against foreign intelligence, military, and cyber targets. She has served as the committing official for some of NSA’s highest risk intelligence-gathering activities. In 2020, Rachel was named one of the Top Women in WealthTech by ThinkAdvisor.
Rachel joined Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in 2017 as Managing Director and Head of Cybersecurity where she is responsible for protecting the layers of cybersecurity of Wealth Management systems and the integrity and confidentiality of Firm and client data.
As a seasoned cybersecurity leader in financial services and the Defense Department, she advises the leadership of Wealth Management on numerous cybersecurity issues and drives innovation for new cybersecurity and authentication technology.
WATCH: Cybercrime is the new organized crime: Rachel Wilson (Morgan Stanley Minute)
Rick VanDermyden - Thursday, April 21
Professional EOS Implementer – EOS Worldwide
Rick grew up in an entrepreneurial household which translates to being the cheapest labor available. From spending every school break on a tractor seat to handling sales and marketing for his dad’s development company, he experienced the successes and failures of family businesses.
After a period in corporate America, the passion to determine his own course took him back to his entrepreneurial roots. Opportunity in the real estate game began with sales, which led to leadership and then ownership. Leading five companies through the 2006-2009 real estate crash led to one spectacular failure, two saved after being on life support and two that weathered the storm relatively well. The lessons learned were both valuable and expensive. Implementing the franchise’s proprietary proven systems and models lead to doubling in agent count and sales volume in the next decade.
Transitioning into strictly an ownership position allowed him to pursue his passion of leadership development. Through his leadership consulting, he was introduced to “Traction” by a leadership client. This provided an operating system to help entrepreneurs implement models he had used for years.
Today, Rick helps entrepreneurs and their leadership teams solve root problems, lead more effectively and gain Traction™ in their business through a simple, proven operating system.
Susanne “Susie” McEuen - Thursday, April 21
Vice President, Strategic Markets Sales – Oak Street
Susie McEuen has experienced many trends in her 20-plus years as a commercial lender and private banker, and she has a strategy for them all.
As the Vice President of Strategic Markets of Oak Street Funding, Susie provides strategy and structure for RIAs and Independent Advisors looking to fuel growth. Her wealth of knowledge and expertise helps firms clear the pathway to expansion by utilizing capital for acquisition and succession planning.
WATCH: Succession Plan Financing: Susie McEuen (Onpoint Podcast)
Victor Hwang - Friday, April 22
Victor & Company
Victor Hwang is an economic growth expert whose ideas have shaped the lives of many people worldwide. He has collaborated with communities, cities, companies—and even countries, to create prosperity. An entrepreneur who has started several companies, organizations, and initiatives, Victor works to remove barriers to success.
Few understand ecosystems and what makes them thrive like Victor. Acclaimed by The Atlantic as “America’s next guide”, he co-authored the bestseller, The Rainforest, which was awarded BOOK OF THE YEAR Gold Medal in Business & Economics (ForeWord Reviews) and is esteemed as “a big idea that defines a way of thinking.”
Alex Hsiao - Friday, April 22
Co-Chief Investment Officer – Sowell Management
Alex Hsiao, who joined Sowell Affinity in 2020, brings more than 20 years of institutional investment management experience to our investment management division. His expertise in early stage investing, dynamic asset allocation, building diversified investment portfolios, providing outsourced customized solutions, and product development supports and advances Sowell Affinity in providing clients with tailored solutions. He also serves as a strategic advisor to many of the firm’s clients.
Prior to joining Affinity, Alex was chief investment officer of Progress Investment Management Company. He oversaw and managed the firm’s entire multi asset platform of fund‐of‐funds strategies and institutional investor relationships across multiple asset classes such as global equity, fixed income, venture capital, and hedge funds. He also served as a member of the Management Committee and was chair of the Investment Committee at Progress. Previously, he served as chief investment officer for The California Endowment and was vice president of Bankers Trust Company in Hong Kong.
His early childhood was spent in Singapore and Taiwan. Alex earned an MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis. Alex and his wife Ann have two sons: Preston and Zachary. They also have a Maltese mix dog named Momo. Alex enjoys food and travel where he soaks up the culture through the food and nightlife. His favorite vacation spots are Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Alex is most proud seeing his boys become adults and graduating from college.
Bill Sowell - Wednesday, April 20
CEO – Sowell Management
Bill began his career in the financial services industry in 1990 and quickly became a top producer within the industry. In 1995, he began a fee-only practice now known as Sowell Management, which services a broad spectrum of some of the top Independent Advisor Representatives (IARs), Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and independent broker-dealers in the United States. As CEO, Bill is the firm’s visionary leader and his primary role is to champion venture deals to promote growth. Bill has strong roots in the community. He has served as past president of the Rotary Club of Little Rock and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He has been a board member and is past chair of Leadership Greater Little Rock and is a past board member of numerous other nonprofit organizations.
Bill is a bridge builder and world connector. He is passionate about helping advisors realize an independent and prosperous future by guiding them through the entire journey. He relishes being a part of a growing organization in an exciting industry.
Daryl Seaton - Thursday, April 21
President – Sowell Management
A native of Northern California, Daryl began his career in financial services in 2000 with a Fortune 100 company in Sacramento, Calif. Swiftly becoming a top producer, he was promoted and in due course held responsibilities for recruiting, developing, and leading 150-plus agents/financial advisors with more than $1 billion in assets under care. Pursuing autonomy and ready to put his vision and insights into action, he formed his own firm, first as a hybrid and then as an RIA. It was at this time that Daryl began his partnership with Sowell Management.
After a robust eight-year relationship, Daryl accepted an invitation in 2020 to join the Sowell Management team. As chief operating officer, his role as an integrator is taking the company to the next peak of growth. Daryl is central to the growth planning that remains focused on new horizons for advisors, varying the offerings, and integrated technologies.
Elyse Smith - Thursday, April 21
Managing Director of Advisor Support & Business Transitions – Sowell Management
Elyse has extensive knowledge of the advisor services industry. She is skilled in servicing advisors, helping firms create operational efficiencies, and finding solutions to complex issues. After moving to New York, Elyse has spent the entirety of her career in financial services working with Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). Formerly with Schwab and TD Ameritrade as director of advisor services and business transitions, Elyse managed onboarding for large RIAs and led a team of senior managers, data and technology specialists, and trainers across the nation.
She joined Sowell Management’s team in 2021 as managing director of Advisor Services and Business Transitions. She has 15 years’ experience in advisor and transition services, and relationship management and holds her 7, 63 and 24 licenses.
Elyse graduated from Binghamton University in New York with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She met her husband Allen at TD Ameritrade 10 years ago and they live in Fort Worth, Texas, with their goldendoodle, Barkley. Elyse is a huge NY Giants fan so NFL Sunday’s are a big deal at their house.
Erin Taylor - Thursday, April 21
Managing Director of Marketing & Communications – Sowell Management
Originally from New York, Erin came to Arkansas to run cross-country and track competitively at the University of Arkansas and fell in love with marketing along the way. After more than 30 years, Erin would consider herself a true seasoned marketer, beginning her career as a copywriter and eventually growing her own agency. In 2000, she sold her firm and moved to Little Rock, beginning a career building brands and diving deeply into all aspects of digital and direct marketing during her tenure as director of direct marketing with Alltel Telecommunications and VP of global marketing with Acxiom. Her career has spanned both agency and corporate assignments, public and private sectors, consumer and B2B markets.
Greg Lai - Friday, April 22
Co-Chief Investment Officer – Sowell Management
Greg is CO-CIO and lead portfolio manager for Sowell Affinity, our investment management division. He works to maximize the investment team’s decades of experience to the benefit of all accounts, having developed the key quantitative stock selection, risk management, and portfolio construction models. Greg’s leadership is an important aspect of the Sowell Affinity commitment to flexibility, service, and performance.
He has 30 years of experience with a variety of firms handling a wide range of clients building a well-earned reputation for his pragmatic quantitative approach to investment. Greg credits his experience as well as that of Affinity team members, who have worked through recent economic cycles of dynamic systemic change, as a primary benefit to clients today.
Greg’s industry experience includes lead portfolio manager and managing director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Van Kampen and Invesco, Ltd. heading the U.S. Active Equity team, and quantitative specialist and a portfolio manager of co-managed portfolios at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO).
He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCLA and earned an MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.