2024 GVA VAST Summit, Napa

Great Valley Advisor Group has created a subset of advisors that we refer to as our VAST Advisors. To qualify as a VAST Advisor, one must be in the top 15% of the GVA advisor family.  VAST Advisors have access to quarterly interactive calls, as well as a biennial conference – and more.

The 2024 Summit was hosted at Silverado Resort & Spa, in Napa, CA. Set on 1,200 rolling acres of oak groves and vineyards the resort combines luxurious accommodations with outstanding dining, two PGA championship golf courses, a full-service spa, tennis, bocce, biking, and more.

Invitations were extended to our 30 VAST advisors, as well as a handful of Trailblazers. Trailblazers are stand-out, up-and-coming advisors who embody a passion for innovation and growth.

The VAST Summit is an incredible opportunity for the best of the best within the GVA family to discuss strategy, share best practices, and celebrate successes. Summit topics included the high-net-worth marketplace, practice management, the premium practice, positioning strategies, tools for efficiency, M&A experiences, and behavioral finance.

Our main stage discussions and presentations included,

• Fireside Chat focused on Thriving During Challenging Seasons of Growth – this chat was led by moderator Cynthia Spigel and included participants Alex Weiss, CFP® of Napier Financial, Mike Laatsch of Innovative Planning Group, and John Jonas and Paul Tourville, CASL® of Next Level Planning & Wealth Management.
• Market Outlook featuring Michael Arone, CFA® Chief Investment Strategist at SPDR and our Chief Market Strategist Eric Parnell, CFA®
• Igniting Innovation with Intentionality with Sam Ushio, Founder of Ikigai Labs (sponsored by Victory Capital). Sam led us in a fascinating exercise, providing tips not only for financial purpose, but also for improving our personal lives as well.
• A Guide to Retirement from JP Morgan Asset Management’s Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist Michael Conrath, CFP®, CRPC®.
• M&A Think Tank led by Jeremy Holly, EVP at LPL Capital Partners, and our CEO James Spinelli, ChFC®
• Arnim Hotzer, Global Macro Strategist and Manager & Founder of the AB Correlation Deference Index – CDI at Easterly discussed drawdown management and diversification – specifically addressing how to make portfolios resilient.

We also saved some time to relax and enjoy the breathtaking Napa landscape as well as cheers to past and future successes. Between golf, wine tastings, and shared meals we reconnected and recharged. The trip ended with a very special evening just down the road in Rutherford, at the legendary Inglenook Estate and Vineyard — fully restored by Francis Ford Coppola and his family it was the perfect setting for us to close out a magical 2024 VAST Summit! It was truly inspiring to see old friendships reunite, and new friendships forged.

We want to again thank our esteemed VAST advisors and their spouses, as well as our generous sponsors and invigorating presenters for joining us. We are honored that each of you took time from their practice and family to come together as a GVA family.

Our 2024 main event sponsors were Victory Capital, State Street Global Advisors, FS Investments, Easterly, and JP Morgan Asset Management, and we also had the support of Coastal Insurance and Razor Technology – and we are truly grateful for their presence and support.

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Mike Burke Manager, Advisor Websites & Marketing

After graduating from Penn State University with a B.A. in English, Mike began his career in B2B technology sales, learning how to close deals and, most importantly, developing thick skin. He then took on an operations and management role at a marketing firm, where he recognized a gap in the company’s capabilities and taught himself to design, code, and build websites while handling the day-to-day company operations and managing client relationships. Discovering his passion for design and technology and building up a web design and UX work portfolio, Mike spent the next six years at Comcast, fulfilling various roles on the digital and e-commerce teams, from UX designer to front-end developer to his final role as a Senior Art Director. After transitioning into management consulting, he was on the road for three years, working with enterprise-level companies such as Microsoft, Aon, and Vanguard and expanding his skill set from digital and web to organizational strategy and management.

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