GVA Annual Advisor Conference – Charleston, SC

Check Out The Highlights From the GVA Annual Advisor Conference in Charleston!

CEO James Spinelli kicked things off with an inspiring welcome and vision for growth. Kaela Frenchman, Nicholas Murphy, and Evan Coffey joined James on stage to facilitate our Tech Partner Panel. GVA shared how each tech partner – YCharts, RISR, Holistiplan, Venrollment, Jump – Advisor AI – works best with the GVA Tech Stack to support our advisors’ practices.

We heard powerful insights from Brian Gallary (First Trust) on engaging COIs, prospects, and clients. David Braun (PIMCO) with a sharp look at today’s macro and fixed income landscape. Day 1 wrapped with an inspiring keynote from Stephanie Bogan (Limitless Advisor Coaching) on breaking through the five barriers to organic growth. We then enjoyed a spectacular dinner at Frannie & The Fox in Charleston.

After finishing Night 1 with a historic ghost tour of Charleston and an EAGLES WIN, our team woke up with spirits high and ready for another great day together. We began Day 2 by taking a moment to honor and thank our veterans in attendance — Jonathan Childs, Jared Krog, and Ricardo Ferreira. Your service and dedication to our country inspire us all, and we’re deeply grateful to you, and to all of our brave service members.

Building on yesterday today touched on other meaningful topics, and again provided opportunity for connection between advisors, our partners, and GVA team members alike.

Highlights included:

• Amy Foland (Moroz) and John Speer (J.P. Morgan Asset Management) discussing the custom partnership JPMorgan and the GVA Asset Management team have developed together.
• Eric Hough (Great Valley Advisor Group) joined Brian Boulerice and Marshall Birkins (Future Standard) to discuss how to best leverage and implement private market strategies – specifically in an effort to attract HNW and business owners.
• Michael Arone (State Street) had joined us at the 2023 AAC in Nashville, and we were thrilled to have him return this year to again engage in a “Fireside Chat” with Eric Parnell, CFA (GVA) – always a fan favorite!
• We were thrilled to have Federated Hermes join us for the first time, we learned more about the support and programs available. Thanks to Justin Slomkowski and Chris Davis for sharing more about the support available and programs offered – we look forward to building on our budding partnership
• A big thank you to Victory Capital and Kati Livingston (Founding Coach of KLivingston Collaborative), had us changing gears a bit, providing a peek into how the brain works. In explaining how brains differ and have varying strengths, she also explained how these various strengths can work together, specifically in business and client-relationship scenarios.

We ended the conference with a heartfelt Farewell Reception — parting ways for now, but carrying forward the energy, ideas, and connections that will bring us together again soon. Thank you to our 2025 Annual Sponsors for their continued partnership and generous support: Federated Hermes, First Trust, Future Standard, JP Morgan Asset Management, PIMCO, State Street Investment Management, and Victory Capital. We’d also like to thank our tech partners who joined us in Charleston: YCharts, RISR, Holistiplan, Venrollment, and Jump – Advisor AI.

This was, without a doubt, the best event we’ve hosted to date, and that’s saying something! We can’t wait to see everyone again next year!

Day 2

Day 1

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a Registered Investment Advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

Compliance Approval # – 836450

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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