Roughly 2,000 financial advisors packed the conference rooms and breakout sessions of TDAI's National LINC Conference in San Diego, Calif., last week. Advisors could schedule consultations to improve their practices, got a sneak peek at the latest advisor-focused technologies, and heard from executives, like TDA CEO Tim Hockey. Of course there were plenty of opportunities to relax and socialize, too, with oversized games like Lite Brite and Pac-Man waiting for attendees, as well as a Friday night concert by rock group Weezer.
Perhaps the biggest announcement was the clarity Tim Hockey provided to advisors in attendance, unequivocally declaring that TD Ameritrade "will not compete with you." Hockey also appeared on a panel with entrepreneurs and executives from companies like Whole Foods, Soul Cycle and Tesla, where the CEO shared and compared his approach to improving client experiences. Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec entertained and informed advisors in a wide-ranging keynote interview that touched on topics like immigration, diversity and why technology is such a dynamic sector for entrepreneurism. Advisors will also be on the look out for the development of financial literacy app Plan-It, after founder Derrick Welsey won TDAI's first Innovation Quest fintech competition.
Here are some of the highlights from last week's conference.
