Please note: Agenda is subject to change. Last updated 5/20/26.

Wednesday, July 22

 

Time Session Title Speakers
12:00 PM Doors open
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Working Lunch: New Technology to Support Practice Management Robin Bjella, IT Director
Angela Konz, Senior Marketing Specialist
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Kick off Matt Vasos, Disability Insurance Specialist
1:15 PM – 1:45 PM New Advisors of the Year TBD
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM Annuities Panel Tony Hill, Distribution Specialist
Damon Lichtenberger, CLTC®, Senior Partner (Durham)
2:15 PM – 2:50 PM How North Star Investment Resource Center is Supporting Your Success Steven Vacinek, CIMA®, Director of Investments
2:50 PM – 3:00 PM Break
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Priceless: “The Language of Value” Jacquelyn Mann, Senior Director, Executive Consultant at Invesco
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing Panelists:
Andrew Jacobs ChFC®, AIF®, RICP®, CLTC®, CPFA®, Senior Partner at Jacobs Financial (St. Cloud)
Dave Nordmeier, CFP®, CFS, Founding Partner of Midwest Wealth Advisors & Financial Advisor (Elk River)
Anthony Schau, CFP®, Financial Planner & Regional Vice President (Iowa City)
Liz Witzel, Partner (Madison)

Moderator:
Gary Schwartz, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPC®, Executive Vice President
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Hotel check-in
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM DI Happy Hour
Sponsored by Ameritas and NorthCentral DI
Location: TJ Hooligans Eden Prairie
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM DI Recognition Dinner (Invite Only)
Location: Redstone Eden Prairie

Thursday, July 23

 

Time Session Title Speakers
7:15 AM  Doors open
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Don Schoeller Breakfast of Champions
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Negative Eighty-Four Dollars Holly Ruckel, RICP®, Financial Advisor (Austin)
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM Break
8:15 AM – 8:25 AM Welcome
8:25 AM – 8:30 AM Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
8:30 AM – 9:10 AM Remarks from Ed Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®, Chief Executive Officer
9:10 AM – 9:50 AM Cetera Update
9:50 AM – 10:05 AM Break
10:05 AM – 11:20 AM Breaking Into the Business Markets Eric McDermott, Managing Partner at Pacific Advisors
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM Panel: Pricing Your Financial Plans Panelists:
Mikaela Doe Harmon, ChFC®, Financial Advisor (San Diego)
Adam Jacobs, CRPC®, Senior Financial Advisor (San Diego)
Jane LaLonde, CFP®, CDFA, Senior Partner (Minneapolis)

Moderator:
Sean McTeague, CFP®, Financial Planning Specialist
12:05 PM – 1:15 PM North Star Recognition & Awards Lunch
1:15 PM – 1:45 PM Sink Or Swim: My Advisor Story Ann Wengronowitz, CFP®, RICP®, Senior Partner (Minneapolis)
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM LTC Case Studies
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Charitable Highlight
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Break
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Insights on the Profession Jim Shoemaker, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CFS, CKA®, Financial Advisor at Shoemaker Financial
3:30 PM – 4:35 PM Outperform the Norm Scott Welle, CSP, Founder of Outperform the Norm
4:35 PM – 4:50 PM Closing comments Todd Bramson, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, Senior Partner (Madison)
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Happy Hour
Sponsored by Securian Life Insurance & Annuities
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Dinner & Recognition

Friday, July 24

 

Time Session Title Speakers
TBD DEI Service Project