Session Type: Workshop

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the landscape of financial planning, financial counseling, and coaching — yet many professionals are overwhelmed by the options or hesitant because of compliance concerns. This session focuses on practical, real-world applications of AI that improve accuracy, efficiency, and client experience without compromising ethical or regulatory standards. Attendees will learn how to use AI tools for repetitive tasks like meeting documentation, document preparation, and follow-up task automation, as well as for deeper research and planning analysis. We’ll discuss what AI should and should NOT do, how to protect client information, and how to document AI usage for compliance, transparency, and audit readiness. Participants will walk away with an AI implementation framework, sample prompts, and repeatable workflows they can begin using immediately — even if they are not tech-forward or AI fluent.

Thinking about starting a financial coaching business but unsure where to begin? This workshop is designed for those who are ready to turn their passion for helping others into a thriving private practice. We’ll cover misconceptions about starting a private practice for financial coaching, common challenges, and the benefits of collaborating with other professionals. Attendees will learn how to create a realistic timeline for launching their business and explore the advantages and challenges of working for yourself versus working for others. Through interactive exercises, you’ll leave with a personalized roadmap and actionable strategies to start strong, along with resources to help you build your private practice. Whether you’re new to the financial coaching community, seeking a flexible career or trying to grow your current business, this session will give you clarity, confidence, and connections to succeed. You’ll have the opportunity to ask all the questions that you’re afraid to ask!

Strong communication is more than speaking clearly. It is listening with intention, understanding the other person’s perspective, and creating a shared picture that builds trust. In this interactive workshop, David Gillis blends 10 years of human factors instruction, five years of TEDx style speaker coaching, and extensive financial education experience to teach practical tools for better client conversations.

Attendees will learn how to recognize when stress, assumptions, or filters are shaping communication, how to adjust their listening to meet clients where they are, and how to speak with clarity once they understand the client’s needs. Through short drills and interactive exercises, participants will practice techniques that make financial discussions smoother, clearer, and more connected. This workshop helps professionals listen better, think clearer, and communicate in a way that strengthens relationships and improves client outcomes.

Military separation and retirement create financial risks that even experienced planners can underestimate. In this interactive session, financial planners will examine the most common, predictable financial mistakes military clients make during transition—and why those mistakes occur despite good planning intentions.

Through real‑world scenarios involving income gaps, healthcare assumptions, tax friction, and irreversible benefit elections, participants will explore how timing, sequencing, and expectation management play a critical role in client outcomes. The session emphasizes a planner‑focused lens, helping attendees recognize transition‑specific risks early, adjust intake conversations, and slow high‑stakes decisions without duplicating TAP or benefits counseling. We will also address how to “course correct” once mistakes have been made.

Attendees will leave with practical insights they can immediately apply to improve planning conversations with separating and retiring service members and their families.

Starting and staying solo sounded great, but we get into this work to help people. It turns out that lots of people need help. This session will trace the various ways my firm has found, hired, trained, and even fired team members. We’ll cover what went right, wrong, and how to streamline your team growth journey.

Create an interactive workshop in small groups of three. These interactive workshops will be ready to deliver to their first audience.