Please note: Agenda is subject to change. Last updated 7/6/26.

Wednesday, July 22

 

Time Session Title Speakers
12:00 PM Doors open
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Working Lunch: New Technology to Support Practice Management Diane Yohn, CLU®, RHU®, FLMI, Operating Officer
Layten Sjogren, Technology Support Service Specialist
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, CPFA®, CLTC®, Senior Partner (Durham)
Shaun McDuffee, AEP, CLU®, ChFC®, CEPA®, Senior Vice President, Founder and President of Twin Oak Advisors (Austin)
2:15 PM – 2:50 PM How North Star Investment Resource Center is Supporting Your Success
Sponsored by Fidelity Investments		 Steven Vacinek, CIMA®, Director of Investments
2:50 PM – 3:00 PM Break
Sponsored by Midland Retirement Distributors
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 Peak Performance: Top Advisors Who Scale 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 – 8:00 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
Sponsored by Weitz Investment Management
7:35 AM – 7:50 AM Charitable Highlight: Black and Brown Run Around Carter Amundson, Financial Advisor (Milwaukee)
Naryan Leazer, Financial Advisor (Milwaukee)
7:50 AM – 8:00 AM Break
Sponsored by Principal
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM Welcome
8:10 AM – 8:15 AM Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance Bert Nijssen, Financial Advisor (Minneapolis)
Logan Rowe, Financial Advisor (Minneapolis)
8:15 AM – 8:55 AM Remarks from Ed Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®, Chief Executive Officer
8:55 AM – 9:30 AM Cetera Update Tony Martins, Community Leader, Cetera Wealth Management Group
Theresa Crist, CLU®, Managing Director, Digital Solutions at Cetera Wealth Management Group
9:30 AM – 10:10 AM 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
10:10 AM – 10:25 AM Break
10:25 AM – 11:40 AM Breaking Into the Business Markets Eric McDermott, Managing Partner at Pacific Advisors
11:40 AM – 12:10 PM Negative Eighty-Four Dollars Holly Ruckel, RICP®, Financial Advisor (Austin)
12:10 PM – 1:20 PM North Star Recognition & Awards Lunch
1:20 PM – 1:50 PM Health Care: Plan for Costs in Retirement David Harris, Founding Member and Vice President of Retirement Strategy and Solutions at Nationwide Retirement Institute®
1:50 PM – 2:30 PM Sink or Swim: My Advisor Story Ann Wengronowitz, CFP®, RICP®, Senior Partner (Minneapolis)
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Break
Sponsored by The Standard
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM The Trusted Guide 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 AssetMark
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Dinner & Recognition
Sponsored by Athene

Friday, July 24

 

Time Session Title Speakers
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM DEI Service Project
Location: Minneapolis Marriott Southwest