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  • Live “Happily Ever After” with a Strong Financial Foundation

    Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List Do you plan to get married soon? The time to begin talking about the financial partnership you’ll be forming together once you’re married is before the nuptials. When you build a strong foundation of financial partnership at the beginning of your relationship, it will prevent many costly and stressful situations later. Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) who are marriedor living with a partner say they argue with the person over money, according to a survey of more than 1,000 people by The Cashlorette, which is owned by personal finance site Bankrate.com. Most of those fights are about spending habits, with 60 percent saying that one person spends too much or is too cheap. The remaining fights are pretty evenly split between someone being dishonest about money, how to divide the bills, and other types of money fights, from disagreements over forgetting to pay a bill to a couple’s financial priorities in life. Those disagreements often lead to divorce. Data released in January 2018 by financial firm TD Ameritrade found that 41 percent of divorced Gen Xers and 29 percent of Boomers say they ended their marriage due to disagreements about money. These money-related problems often begin early on. In fact, arguing about money early in your relationship might be the No. 1 predictor of whether or not you’ll end up divorced, according to a study of more than 4,500 couples published in the journal Family Relationships. These Discussions Are Uncomfortable—But Have Them Anyway To avoid this tragedy, you and your partner must talk openly and honestly with each other about your financial hopes and dreams, your spending habits, and your attitudes toward debt. Some of these discussions might be uncomfortable, and you might not agree on every issue. But it’s necessary to talk about these topics anyway. Here are just some of the subjects you should discuss before you get married: What assets will you each bring to the marriage? If you both own a home, where will you live, and what will be done with the second home? What debts will each of you bring to the marriage? How will those debts be paid? Do you consider yourself a saver, a spender or something in-between? What is your credit rating? What is your income? Do you save on a regular basis? How? Do you invest on a regular basis? How? How will you make saving and investment decisions once you’re married? What are your financial goals, both short- and long-term? How do you both feel about providing financial help to other family members, such as aging parents or children from a previous relationship? How will you manage your money once you’re married? In separate or joint accounts? If joint accounts, who will be responsible for managing the balance and paying household expenses? If separate accounts, how will household expenses be allocated and paid? If only one of you works outside the home, who will control the money in your relationship? If you plan to have children, what are your financial expectations with regard to raising children? Do either of you need to keep a portion of your finances separate? If so, can you both agree to that? Paying for the Wedding While there are regional variations, according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding in the United States today costs $33,391. And that doesn’t include the cost of the rings or the honeymoon! That’s a lot of money to spend on a celebration that lasts a few hours or less, particularly when you consider that some of that money could be used for a down payment on a house or to eliminate existing debt. You can spend less and still have a beautiful, memorable wedding celebration. The way you and your partner work together to plan your special day will give you a glimpse into how well you communicate about financial decisions. Here are some ways to plan your wedding as a team—and reduce the expenses. Create a wedding budget together. Without one, costs can quickly spiral out of control. Where shouldn’t you skimp? To answer that question, consider what will last long after your wedding day. You’ll be wearing your wedding rings for the rest of your married life, so get something you like. You’ll be sharing photos and videos of your wedding for years to come, so hire a professional photographer and videographer. Get a wedding gown and tuxedo you and your partner like, but consider renting them. Or check outlet stores and search websites for the bridal gown of your dreams at a bargain price. You might be able to save considerably by having an “off-season” wedding (November through April) and/or by being married on a day other than a Saturday. Check out simpler wedding invitations to save on printing costs. Or print them yourself using the high-quality paper available online and in stores. Limit the size of the wedding party (the number of attendants). The reception is typically the largest wedding expense, by far. Here are some tips on how to save considerably while still having a memorable reception: Reduce the number of guests. Consider paring the list down to just the people you really want to be with you on this important day in your lives. Instead of a sit-down dinner, have a buffet or hors d’oeuvres. Use flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. Use more greens and fewer blooms in the arrangements. Concentrate floral arrangements at the reception, not the church. Consider having an alcohol-free reception, or close the bar while food is being served. Reduce the cake cost. Get a small version of your “dream” cake, plus a much less expensive sheet cake in the same flavor. The sheet cake can be cut out of the sight of your guests, and they’ll never know the difference. Deciding Whether You Need a Prenuptial Agreement If you’re both young, have not accumulated substantial assets, and are not in line to receive a substantial inheritance, you probably don’t need a prenuptial agreement. The laws of the state where you reside establish how property is to be divided in the event of divorce, and that might be sufficient for your situation. On the other hand, if any of the following conditions exist, you might want to consider entering into a prenuptial agreement before you are married: One or both of you has substantial assets accumulated prior to the marriage. One or both of you is the beneficiary of a trust fund. One or both of you is expected to receive a substantial inheritance. One or both of you has children from a previous marriage. One or both of you owns a business. Prenuptial agreements can be used to prearrange the division of assets and the custody of children in the event of a future divorce, as well as to protect an inheritance. Take the following steps if you are considering a prenuptial agreement: Jointly decide on exactly what the agreement will cover. Consult with an attorney who is knowledgeable about family law. You and your partner might want to hire separate attorneys. Include a time frame for future reviews and modifications of the agreement. Sign a prenuptial agreement only if you believe it is fair and equitable. Tips for Preventing Financial Disagreements One secret of a successful marriage is to try to eliminate any trouble spots before they occur. Here are some suggestions for squelching the money troubles that many newlyweds experience: Develop a post-wedding money plan together— Your budget should be a realistic plan of how to pay your living expenses and make progress toward your savings goals. Don’t make your budget so rigid that it doesn’t allow for some discretionary spending. As part of developing your budget, decide how living expenses will be paid (joint or separate checking accounts?) and who will be responsible for tracking your monthly expenses and progress toward meeting your savings goals. Establish an emergency fund— The general recommendation is to establish an emergency fund equal to a minimum of three to six months of living expenses that will provide a financial cushion against an unexpected job loss, illness, accident, vehicle repair, home repair or some other financial emergency. Keep your emergency fund in a safe, liquid account, such as a savings account or money-market fund. 3. Pay off debts as quickly as possible—And resist the temptation to overuse credit (in fact, commit to paying credit-card balances in full and on time each month). Spending beyond your means can leave you in debt, adding unnecessary pressure to your marriage. Create a financial safety net— Review insurance coverage, including medical and dental, property & casualty, disability, and life insurance. See if you can save some money by combining your auto insurance policies as well as your banking accounts. If you’re both employed, review your respective employee benefit plans to see where you can save money. The medical and dental benefits from one of your employers might provide better coverage for both of you at a lower overall cost. Set your financial goals together— Decide what your short-, intermediate- and long-term financial goals are. Determine how you are going to save toward those goals and how you will save or invest the money. Consider setting up automatic savings, with a set amount transferred each month from your checking account into savings or investments. Take full advantage of opportunities to save at work, such as through a 401(k) plan. After the wedding, you might need to change beneficiary designations on employerprovided benefits. Commit to ongoing money conversations— Periodically schedule uninterrupted time together to review your finances. Discuss what is working for you, what is not working, and what changes you will make in your financial life together. Handling the Legal Aspects of Your Finances Unfortunately, bad things do happen…you owe it to each other to develop a plan that protects both of you from life’s misfortunes. Many aspects of financial planning are impacted by state law. You might need the assistance of an attorney, accountant and/or financial services representative to assist you with the following important tasks for both of you: Modifying your will as appropriate— Assuming you already have a will, you’ll need to update it to reflect your marriage. If you don’t have a will, get one! Without a will, the state where you reside will decide for you how your property is distributed at your death. Establishing a living will— This document states your preferences regarding the type of medical care you want to receive (or don’t want to receive) if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate. You will specify the treatment you want to receive or not receive in various scenarios. Establishing a medical power of attorney— Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy, this document names another person, such as your spouse, to make medical decisions for you if you are no longer able to make medical decisions for yourself or if you are unable to communicate your preferences. (Note: A medical power of attorney is not the same as a power of attorney, which gives another person the authority to act on your behalf on matters you specify, such as handling your financial affairs.) Getting Sufficient Coverage in Place Adequate insurance coverage protects dependents, income and assets from financial loss. Appropriate insurance coverage depends on your personal and family situation, as well as your financial needs and objectives. Here is a general overview of various types of insurance: Property and casualty insurance indemnifies losses to homes and cars, and it provides liability protection. Life insurance protects dependents from loss of income in the event of an income earner’s death. If you already have life insurance, review your beneficiary designations and make the appropriate changes. Disability income insurance replaces income that’s lost in the event of accident or illness. It might be available through your employer. Health insurance helps cover the costs of medical care. If you’re both employed, coordinate health insurance benefits between your two employers. Long-term care insurance helps pay the costs of extended nursing home or assisted-living care. Periodically review your insurance program, making adjustments as needed. Should the Bride Take Her Husband’s Last Name? Traditionally, it was common for a woman to take her husband’s last name at marriage. But today, an increasing number of women are keeping their maiden name or incorporating both their maiden and married names into a hyphenated last name. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind on this topic: If the wife takes the husband’s last name or uses a hyphenated last name, she should sign her new married name on the marriage certificate and on all future legal documents and joint tax returns. It will also be necessary to complete a name change on a wide variety of documents and accounts. If the wife keeps her maiden name, she should sign her maiden name on the marriage certificate and on all future legal documents and joint tax returns. If the two of you file a joint tax return, the IRS might require that you submit proof of your marriage. It’s also a good idea to find out if your state has any special requirements when a wife keeps her maiden name. Note: It’s generally not a good idea for a wife to use her maiden name and her husband’s last name interchangeably on legal documents. This can lead to confusion and complications. It’s no small task to change your name and/or address…in fact, you might want to start gathering the needed information and forms before the wedding. Although you can begin processing address changes prior to your wedding, you’ll need to process your name change as soon as possible after your wedding. A general recommendation is to change your name with the Social Security Administration first because many employers and financial institutions require that the name on their records is consistent with Social Security records. The following is a list of records for which you will need to update your name and address: Government: Social Security Administration documents (www.ssa.gov ) Post office address (change online at www.usps.com ) Driver’s license Vehicle registration Voter registration Passport IRS documents (use IRS Form 8822) Department of Veterans Affairs documents (forms available online at www.va.gov ) Child-support payments Employment: Current employer Previous employers (as needed for future benefits, such as pensions, deferred compensation, etc) Business associates Financial Institutions: Banks (checking/savings accounts, CDs, safety-deposit box) Lenders (auto, mortgage, student loan) Credit-card companies Insurance companies (life, health, auto, home, disability) Investment/brokerage accounts Utilities/Services: Water and sewer service Electricity Gas Telephone/cell phone Garbage collection Cable or satellite service Internet service Service Providers: Attorney Accountant Insurance agent Financial advisor Doctor Dentist Veterinarian Pet-care service Daycare/babysitters Cleaning service Yard-care service Subscriptions and Memberships: Magazines Newspapers Book/music/movie clubs Churches Civic/community organizations Professional licensing/ certification boards Health, social, and country clubs Legal: Wills Trusts Property titles Education: Your schools Your children’s schools Many newly married couples start off on the right foot by creating a financial plan, paying off debt, and talking about financial goals, but some will let continued discussions fall to the wayside. It’s easy to do, especially if one person is paying the bills and tracking expenses. Yet, it’s the continued communication about finances which protects your marriage from the common pitfall of fighting about money. Agree to a special date night once per month when you review your monthly budget and progress towards your goals. It keeps both of you engaged in your future and gives you an opportunity to talk about what’s working and what things you might want to change. The more you plan ahead—for your wedding and for the rest of your life as a couple—the more likely you are to be able to live in harmony, avoid disagreements about money and live happily ever after, throughout your most rewarding milestones and into retirement. Live “Happily Ever After” with a Strong Financial Foundation

  • Kim Skermer

    Business Development Coach, Recognized Industry Advocate Kim Skermer Business Development Coach, Recognized Industry Advocate Kim's approach to coaching incorporates a unique Athletic and Sr. Leadership perspective, drawing on over two decades of experience which has taken her to World stages. Her methods have been tried and tested, proving effective for the individuals she champions. With a background in mentoring, training small business teams, facilitating seminars, and accumulating over 26,000 professional coaching hours, Kim has become an expert in guiding ambitious individuals to reach their peak performance. Kim encourages her clients to "Find the I" and "Find the Calm." Just like an athlete searching for their inner strength and focus, individuals are urged to look inward, discover their true selves, and determine their genuine desires. Kim believes that by diving into the "I" of the storm, individuals can find the calm that will propel them beyond the plateaus experienced by every high-achiever. Kim's coaching philosophy challenges the conventional notion of success, urging clients to stop conforming to a single path and instead carve out their own journey. Tuning out external noise and opinions, individuals are encouraged to find direction from within, unlocking their true potential. The core principles of Kim's coaching philosophy are encapsulated in the mantra: "Create in wonderment, Align with structure, Lead with wisdom, and Master your authority." These principles form the foundation of all pillars within RST Private Planning Group, reflecting Kim's holistic and athletic approach to coaching for sustained success. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Julie Keyes

    Principal and founder of KeyeStrategies, LLC Julie Keyes CEPA Principal and founder of KeyeStrategies, LLC KeyeStrategies is a professional services firm based in Minneapolis specializing in Exit and Transition Planning education and advisory for business owners. Julie Keyes is the principal and founder of KeyeStrategies, LLC. She has founded and operated several companies over the course of her adult career and understands what keeps owners up at night, having lived so many of their experiences herself over the years. Julie is a Certified Exit Planning Adviser (CEPA) and is a national speaker and instructor on Exit Planning for audiences of professional advisers and business owners in both live and online platforms. She is also the President of the Exit Planning Institute Twin Cities Metro Area Chapter, faculty member for EPI’s CEPA Program and their 2017 “Leader of Year”. Along with a variety of speaking and teaching engagements, Julie’s consulting practices focuses on strategic growth and exit planning for business owners from various industries whose companies range in size from $5-50MM in revenue. On a personal note, Julie and her husband, Shaun have 8 children and 7 grandchildren, so when she’s not traveling for work, she’s traveling to spend time with family. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Brian Moran

    CEO, NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker Brian Moran CEO, NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker Brian Moran has over thirty years of expertise as a CEO, corporate executive, entrepreneur, consultant and coach. His background as a corporate executive combined with his experience as an entrepreneur positions him with a unique skill set to help individuals and organizations grow and prosper. Brian’s corporate experience includes management and executive positions with UPS, PepsiCo, and Northern Automotive. As an entrepreneur he has personally launched and led successful businesses and been instrumental in the success of many others. In addition, he has consulted for dozens of world-class companies including Coldwell Banker, Mass Mutual, Medtronic, New York Life, and Tiffany & Co. Brian is a recognized expert in the field of leadership and execution. His realization that most people don’t lack ideas but struggle with effective implementation led him to the development of The 12 Week Year. In addition to his books, Brian has been published in many of the leading business journals and magazines. He is a sought-after speaker, educating and inspiring thousands each year. He is a visionary with a passion for helping others go beyond what they think they are capable of and achieve more than they ever thought possible. His greatest strength might be his ability to take success principles and strategies and help others apply them in a way that is powerful and effective, and gets results. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Steve Fretzin

    Founder of Fretzin, Inc and Origination Station Steve Fretzin Founder of Fretzin, Inc and Origination Station Driven, focused and undeniably passionate in his pursuit to help attorneys reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is the Chicago area’s premier lawyer coach and business development trainer. He has redefined the business development experience, transforming hundreds of attorneys into top performers. His clients are thrilled because of the growth that happens after completing his program. A typical client should expect to double or triple their book of business within 12-16 months of working with him. Fretzin credits two life-changing events as influencing his career. In 1996, he was one of six passengers aboard a single-engine Cherokee Piper airplane that crash-landed into a house in suburban Crystal Lake, IL. The experience left him crippled for months, but more importantly taught him to value the sacredness of each day. A few years later, another shift occurred when he sought the advice of top-level business coaches who helped him unleash his full potential and double his personal income in less than a year. This led Fretzin to pursue his real passion: providing structure and efficiency to the business development process, which helps attorneys all over the country to develop more business in less time. Fretzin’s mantra? In order to have real change, you need to make real changes. Today, he teaches “Sales-Free Selling,” which is also the name of his recently published book. Fretzin’s expertise in business development, time management and marketing has landed him features in the Attorney at Law Magazine, ABA, ISBA, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Crains, as well as guest appearances on NBC News and WGN Radio. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • John Nichols

    President of Disability Resource Group, Inc. John Nichols MSM, CLU President of Disability Resource Group, Inc. John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU is a nationally recognized disability benefits consultant, the creator of disability products and administration systems and an expert witness in disability proceedings. Nichols serves as president of Disability Resource Group, Inc., a national insurance agency that he founded in 1999. John Nichols joined the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors in 1985 and was elected NAIFA Secretary in 2011. He was the 124th National President for the year 2013-2014. In 2007, NAIFA Chicago Region recognized John with their Leadership in Life Award. He is in the top 20 of lifetime contributors for NAIFA’s IFAPAC. He is a frequent speaker at an array of national meetings, including MDRT Main Platform 2012, a session speaker in 2004, 2010 and 2015, NAIFA National, and over 500 state and local NAIFA programs. He obtained his CLU designation in 2003 and graduated with his Masters in Science Management with an emphasis in Leadership in 2011 from The American College. John is a member of the President’s Circle contributor level at the American College. As a life and qualifying MDRT member, John has two Court of the Table and ten Top of the Table qualifications. Additionally, he is an Excalibur knight level contributor and Legion of Honor member to the MDRT Foundation. In 1993, John had a near-death experience from a water skiing accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down to his toes. Through six years of rehabilitation, he reached a level of recovery that less than 1 percent of all spinal cord injury patients attain. John, who in 2010 and 2012 was LIFE’s industry spokesperson for Disability Insurance Awareness Month, has chronicled his story in his first book for the financial advisor world, Income Protection, The Conversation. His second book released in 2014 entitled, Passion, Purpose, Protection, The Ability of Disability Insurance is to help the consumer understand the value of protecting their ability to earn an income. In 2012, John received the Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley “Golden Shoe” Award for being the #1 Bank of America Chicago Marathon fundraisers for non-for-profits. John spends time in Chicago, IL and Lyons, CO and loves to travel, hike and train for marathons. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Penny Phillips

    Founder, Thrivos Consulting, LLC Penny Phillips Founder, Thrivos Consulting, LLC After a decade of working with financial advisors and institutions on practice management, Penny launched Thrivos Consulting with a vision of building a firm that would transcend the traditional norms of industry consulting. Founded on the belief that in order to thrive one must successfully navigate change, Thrivos offers services designed to support professionals and institutions as they learn to turn industry challenges into opportunities. With a keen ability to connect with professionals across varying demographics, Penny has had success working with clients ranging from top independent advisors seeking support around building a multi-gen team to multi-billion-dollar enterprises looking to explore scale and growth opportunities. Penny has worked with countless advisory teams and broker dealers on issues ranging from the integration of next generation talent to succession planning to communication and behavior management. She previously ran a national business-building workshop series for financial advisors. She has authored multiple practice management programs, and has been featured as a keynote speaker at conferences and events for the following firms LPL, Investors Group, Guardian Life, Morgan Stanley, MassMutual, Northwestern Mutual, Prudential, New York Life, Signature Financial Solutions, Flexible Plan Investments, RBC, and Platinum Advisor Strategies. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Engaging Advisors with the Essentials of Digital Learning

    Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List The past two years have shone a spotlight on digital learning. While some companies already had robust digital learning platforms in place at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, others struggled to engage a newly remote workforce in a fully virtual environment. In both cases, the digital learning experience — and its effectiveness — came under greater scrutiny than ever before. The debate over in-person versus online learning is not new. And now — as we begin to move out of the pandemic — some training organizations are breathing a collective sigh of relief about finally getting “back to normal.” But let’s be honest: Normal is a thing of the past, and consigning digital learning to second-class status is a mistake for several reasons. Many businesses will continue to support remote work, if not on a full-time basis, then in a hybrid work environment. And remote workers are often geographically dispersed, making digital learning options even more necessary. Gen Z, the incoming workforce, has grown up with digital learning. These self-directed digital natives look to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to learn new skills. And they expect the organizations they join to provide similar (or better) experiences. Finally, and perhaps most important, digital learning is cost-effective, efficient, and — when done well — as engaging as in-person, instructor-led training. The question every organization should be asking is not whether to continue providing digital learning options; the question is, does your digital learning platform achieve the results you expect? Creating an engaging digital learning experience requires a learner-focused design based on fundamental learning principles. As you evaluate digital learning platforms for your organization, consider these five essential elements required for an effective digital learning experience. Purposeful A fundamental principle of learning is that adults are motivated by learning that helps them achieve a goal or solve a problem. Whether they want to move into a management position, increase retention, or penetrate new markets, financial services professionals will be more motivated, will retain more, and are more likely to apply learning that serves a specific purpose. Through videos, case studies, assessments, and other media, an effective digital learning experience regularly reinforces the why behind the learning, not just the how. And since effective digital learning programs typically consist of brief, tightly focused microlearning modules, learners can select modules that have the most relevance for achieving their goals. Personalized Microlearning modules satisfy another fundamental principle — adult learners want the flexibility to control what, when, how, and where they learn. In today’s business environment, that often means mobile learning, something for which microlearning modules are especially well suited. And because microlearning is modularized, with discrete learning objectives, learners can personalize the experience based on their specific interests. A strong digital platform will also recommend custom learning paths, usually identified through online assessments, to ensure that the program addresses all skill gaps. Two new financial services managers, for example, may require different learning paths, based on their strengths and weaknesses, with the online assessment ensuring that all essential leadership areas are evaluated properly for both new leaders. Actionable A training module is only as good as the action it produces. Effective training includes actionable takeaways that learners can apply soon after completing the learning experience. A coaching module for new managers, for example, should provide a coaching model, script, or other guidelines so that managers can apply their new coaching skills immediately. It should also suggest activities for practicing the new skills after completing training, to transfer and reinforce learning. The Forgetting Curve Digital microlearning modules work well with spaced learning formats (learning that occurs over time). The cadence of this type of learning, learn-apply-review-reinforce, provides the repetition needed to overcome “the forgetting curve.” Introduced by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in the late 19th century, the forgetting curve shows that, on average, people forget 70 percent of what they learn within 24 hours of learning it and 90 percent within one week.1 The most effective way to overcome the forgetting curve is to use active recall and review activities and apply new learning early and often. Active recall activities often found in digital learning platforms include quizzes, flashcards, scenarios, and critical thinking questions. Practical Practical learning is related to, but not the same as, actionable learning. Actionable learning ensures learners have takeaways they can apply immediately. Practical learning takes into account different on-the-job situations to ensure learners have resources at a specific moment of need. A comprehensive digital learning platform includes resources to support five moments of need: new, more, apply, solve, and change. The Five Moments of Need The “five moments of need” approach, developed by Conrad Gottfredson and Bob Mosher, focuses on applying learning in the workflow.2 Learning a new skill or concept and then learning more as skills increase are the bread and- butter of traditional training programs. Effective learning platforms will also support learning that happens on the job: when learners apply new skills when they must solve problems because something did not happen as expected, and when they must relearn skills because systems, processes, or situations changed. Because of their modular design, accessibility, and the variety of delivery formats available, digital learning platforms are ideally suited for addressing these needs. Engaging Last, but by no means least, an effective digital learning platform actively engages participants in the learning experience. This element, perhaps more than any other, influences learner retention. And it is the one area where digital learning platforms often fail to perform. Quizzes are the most common engagement activities included in digital learning. Ideally, these knowledge checks also provide meaningful feedback to learners, reinforcing correct answers and reviewing material for incorrect answers. Some platforms award points or badges for activities completed. Some include leaderboards that show learners how their scores compare to others. The most sophisticated use simulation and virtual reality. Fortunately, you do not have to develop the next Minecraft game to engage most learners. Any activity that reviews and reinforces learning points and supports the on-the-job application of key concepts will encourage learner participation. In addition to quizzes, case studies, what-if scenarios, and criticalthinking questions can keep learners engaged. Varying the types of media used (balancing text, video, and infographics, for example) also helps to retain learner interest. Digital learning is here to stay, and it is a valuable tool when designed well. These five elements, when combined in a digital learning experience, can motivate team members to use your training platform, transform new skills into increased productivity, and provide you with the ROI you are looking for in a digital learning platform. Engaging Advisors with the Essentials of Digital Learning

  • Harley Gordon

    Founding Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Harley Gordon Founding Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Harley Gordon is a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a professional organization that deals with legal and ethical issues facing the elderly. He has been voted as one of the 100 most influential people in long-term care by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. His views on the consequences of not having a plan for long-term care have been featured in the national media including, The CBS Evening News, The Today Show, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Gordon has spoken at numerous national conferences including, The Financial Planning Association, The National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, and The National Association of Health Underwriters. Mr. Gordon’s experience led him to create the Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) program (www.ltc-cltc.com ). It is the country’s first designation focused on training financial service professionals. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

  • Jason Selk

    Best Selling Author, Performance Coach Jason Selk Best Selling Author, Performance Coach While serving as the Director of Mental Training for the St Louis Cardinals, Dr. Jason Selk helped the team win their first World Series in over 20 years, and in 2011 he assisted the Cardinals in the historic feat of winning their second World Championship in a six year period. Dr. Selk is a regular contributor to Forbes, INC, Success, Shape, and Self Magazine; ABC, CBS, ESPN, and NBC radio and television; and has been featured in USA Today, CNBC, and Men’s Health. Dr Selk’s second book, Executive Toughness, is a best-selling business book and his first book, 10-Minute Toughness, is on pace to be one of the best-selling sport psychology books of all time. Dr. Selk is considered to be one of the premier performance coaches in the United States. He helps numerous well- known professional and Olympic athletes as well as Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 executives and organizations develop the mental toughness necessary for high-level success. Dr. Selk utilizes his in-depth knowledge and experience of working with the world’s finest athletes, coaches and business leaders to help individuals and organizations outperform their competition. Dr. Selk works with such clients as professional athletes in the NFL, NHL, NBA, PGA, LPGA, MLB and NASCAR. In addition, he works with such business clients as UBS Financial, Edward Jones, Wells Fargo, Northwestern Mutual and Enterprise Holdings, to name a few. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

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