The Hunt, ’25 Client Conference

Noon
Cheetah Client Training at the Hunt—Lunch in Agave
For registered training participants. 

Operations Committee— Lunch in Joshua Tree

1 p.m.
Cheetah Client Training at the Hunt—Group Fees Training in Agave
For registered training participants.

Operations Committee in Joshua Tree

2:30 p.m. 
Cheetah Client Training at the Hunt—Q&A and Break in Agave
For registered training participants.

3 p.m.
Cheetah Client Training at the Hunt—Reports and Exports Training in Agave
For registered training participants.

4:30 p.m. 
Cheetah Client Training at the Hunt—Q&A
For registered training participants.

5 p.m.
Prospect Reception in Santa Rita

6 p.m.
Welcome Reception in Sundance Café
Food, games, and event sponsored by AssetMark.
Beverages sponsored by Broadridge.

8 a.m.
Breakfast in Presidio I-IV
Sponsored by R&T Deposit Solutions

9 a.m.
Welcome in Turquoise I-II

9:15 a.m.
Sponsor Introductions in Turquoise I-II
Janet Moore, Strategic Alliances and RFP Manager, Cheetah

9:30 a.m.
General Session—Cheetah State of the Union
Adam Unger, CEO, Accutech Systems

Get the inside scoop on what to expect from Cheetah in 2026 and beyond.

10:30 a.m.
Break 

11 a.m.
General Session—Entrusted: Building a Legacy that Lasts
David York, Esquire & CPA, York Howell

Learn what is wrong with current estate planning and how it can be fixed. Get insights on the importance of capturing and transferring human capital, how to maximize the benefits of financial wealth transfer, and what can be done with excess financial resources.

(1.25 CTFA)

12 p.m.
Lunch 

1 p.m.
General Session—8 Rules You Were Born to Break
Rick Lewis, Rick Lewis Company

2 p.m.
Break 

2:30 p.m.
Executive Track Session—Five Marketing Mistakes Trust Organizations Can’t Afford to Make
Brandon Coppernoll, Intersection marketing agency

Trust organizations are investing heavily in modernizing operations and technology—but marketing strategies haven’t kept pace. Your clients and prospects live in a hyper-connected world, so reaching your audience—whether they are partners, grantees, or the new generation of beneficiaries—requires more than history and reputation. If your story sounds like everyone else’s, your audience will scroll right past it.

In this tactical and actionable session, we’ll explore five common marketing mistakes trust offices make—and the strategic shifts needed to stay relevant, resonate with new generations, and build lasting trust.

Whether you’re trying to deepen relationships with grantees, stand out to new partners, or clarify your value to internal stakeholders, this session will help you translate your mission into a message that sticks.

You’ll walk away with:
– A breakdown of five common marketing mistakes holding trust organizations back
– Tools and examples to help modernize your marketing like you’ve modernized your tech
– Quick wins you can apply immediately to better reach today’s values-driven audiences

(1.25 CFMP)

Investment Track Session—Adapt, Change or Disappear: New Tools and a New Mindset for a Changing Marketplace
David York, Esquire & CPA, York Howell

The financial and wealth transfer planning marketplace has fundamentally changed over the course of the last 20 years. Clients today not only view wealth and wealth transfer in fundamentally different ways than prior generations, they also have very different desires when it comes to obtaining professional advice.

The marketplace has also drastically changed for financial advisors. New technology and ubiquitous access to financial information and resources have created an environment of ever increasing commoditization. With change, however, comes opportunity. This presentation will review these seismic shifts in wealth transfer planning and professional services, how these changes are affecting the financial services industry, and practical recommendations on how to connect with a new type of client and their heirs and thrive in the marketplace today.

(1.25 CTFA)

Operations Track Session—Managing the Will File, Maximizing Future Fee Business
Michael Dixon, Pohl Consulting and Training

Every Trust organization has a Will File. It is typically a file drawer (or several) full of documents with varying degrees of staleness. But wait! The Will File is full of potential clients that thought well enough of your organization to name you and had enough wealth to hire an attorney to draft up their documents. Maybe if you managed the Will File more effectively it could contribute more to your new business results and avoid embarrassment when you are not sure if you are still named or not! Join our session where we will…..
– Help you understand the risks of mismanaging the Will File
– Provide you with best practices to organize your database
– Supply several ideas of how to generate more new business from your Will File

(1.25 CTFA and 1.25 ATOP)

3:30 p.m.
Executive Track Session—The Digital Advantage: Scaling Self-Service Planning to Deepen Client Engagement and Capture Generational Wealth
Pat Spencer, Managing Director, Moneytree

In a competitive landscape, scalable digital strategies are key to strengthening relationships and securing future growth. This session explores how a dynamic, self-service financial planning tool can deepen engagement by empowering clients to model life scenarios and visualize long-term outcomes. According to the Nitrogen Firm Survey 2025, institutions offering seamless digital planning report a 25% increase in wallet share and more client-initiated inquiries. This low-barrier, self-serve approach also helps retain generational wealth that might otherwise move to digital competitors. Attendees will learn strategies to drive retention, engage future beneficiaries, and future-proof client acquisition through scalable, technology-driven financial education.

Investment Track Session—Next Level Investing: Unlocking Enhanced Functionality in Cheetah
Shane Pond and Dallas Bergman, Solutions Consultants, and Matt Garrett, Product Manager, Cheetah

Stay up to date with the latest enhancements and functionality updates that have been added to Cheetah. This session will provide a guided review of key changes—such as Dollar Cost Averaging and Tax Lot Harvesting. Learn how to take full advantage of new features and optimizations designed to enhance performance, user experience, and client outcomes. Whether you’re an experienced user or newly onboarded, this session will ensure you’re equipped to make the most of the latest tools and capabilities.

(1.25 CTFA)

Operations Track Session—Name & Address Records: Not Just for Tax IDs and Addresses
Kelly Waugh, Wealth Management Consultant, Cheetah, and Jerry Gillespie, Team Lead, Wealth Management Consultant, Cheetah

Leverage the full power of the Name & Address Record to stay ahead of client needs, streamline RMD management, and uncover new financial planning opportunities. You’ll learn how to:

 – Track prospects and strengthen engagement through Connections, Tasks, and Activities
 – Use Connections to anticipate and manage client RMDs with ease
 – Build targeted mailing lists using custom fields for more personalized outreach
 – Capture and organize critical client details with Comments and Activities
 – Measure the time you invest with each client to maximize efficiency and impact

(1.25 CTFA and 1.25 ATOP)

4:30 p.m.
Break

6 to 8 p.m.
Dinner 

6:45 to 9:45 p.m. 
Live music performed by North

7 a.m.
Breakfast

8:30 a.m.
General Session—Market Update
Christian Chan, Chief Investment Officer, AssetMark

Hear an inside look at the big-picture issues that impacted the investment landscape in 2025 and what top things to look for in 2026. Christian will share his outlook on growth, stimulus, and inflation. Learn how changes at the Fed could impact investments and what that could mean for the financial industry.

(1.25 CTFA and 1.25 ATOP)

9:30 a.m.
Break

10 a.m.
General Session—Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Responsibly in Trust Organizations
John O’Connell, CEO & Founder, The Oasis Group

Artificial intelligence is transforming the trust industry by enhancing efficiency, improving client service, and raising new challenges in governance and compliance. This session explores real-world AI applications in trust organizations, from automated notetaking to risk analysis; clarifies the evolving regulatory environment in the US and globally; and offers a practical roadmap for AI acceptable use policies. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to leverage AI safely and position their organizations for the future.

(1.25 CTFA + 1.25 CERP; and 1.25 ATOP)

11 a.m.
Executive Track Session—You Need to be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Stories of Deep Organizational Change Resulting in Extraordinary Growth
Jerry Michael, Co-Founder and President, Smartleaf

Technology alone won’t grow your firm. True growth — multiple-X growth — requires fundamental changes in your organization. The most successful firms become “comfortable being uncomfortable.” They are willing to radically automate core processes and change their value propositions. They are willing to part with advisors, turn away prospects, even say goodbye to clients that aren’t aligned with the focus of the firm. The results? 10X growth, with no stress on systems or processes; the ability for one person to review, rebalance and trade 100% of accounts in a day; proof of competence via the ability to document that for most clients you save/defer more in taxes than you charge in fees. Hear about what it takes to make your firm grow through radical transformation.

(1.25 CTFA)

Investment Track Session—Alternative Investments: An Overview and Portfolio Integration
Alex Urbani, President and Head of Revenue, Mainstreet Advisors

In today’s increasingly complex market environment, alternative investments offer an effective way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds, helping investors achieve their financial goals. Key portfolio benefits include the potential for uncorrelated returns, enhanced income, and long-term capital appreciation.

This presentation will explore the dynamic world of alternative investments, focusing on hedge funds, private equity, private credit, and private real estate investing. Attendees will gain insight into the unique roles alternatives can play in building a diversified portfolio, managing risk, and capturing new opportunities.

The session will also cover the eligibility requirements for investing in illiquid assets and review innovative investment vehicles — such as tender offer funds and interval funds — that make the space more accessible to a broader range of investors.

(1.25 CTFA)

Operations Track Session—IRA Survival Guide: Manage your IRAs So They Don’t Manage You
Kelly Waugh, Wealth Management Consultant, Cheetah, and Jerry Gillespie, Team Lead, Wealth Management Consultant, Cheetah 

Discover how smart investment management, staying ahead of regulatory compliance, and proactive tax management through effective RMD strategies can protect and grow your wealth. In this session, you’ll learn how to:

– Position Inherited IRA beneficiaries for long-term success
 – Turn RMD analysis reporting into a planning advantage
 – Simplify appraisals for Hard-to-Value assets
 – Streamline secure two-way document transfers with the Cheetah Portal

(1.25 CTFA + 1.25 CISP; and 1.25 ATOP)

12 p.m.
Lunch 

1 p.m.
Executive Track Session—Identifying, Attracting, and Retaining Profitable Clients: Finding Them and How to Keep Them
Michael Dixon, Pohl Consulting & Training

Have you confused prospecting with selling? They are not the same, but they must work hand in hand if you are to develop a robust business. Are you employing the most effective approaches to prospecting? We’ll help you identify your best sources of new business and how to go after those sources using a disciplined and systematic approach. We address why follow up is key and best practice methods for follow up in prospecting and client management. We will provide guidelines and ideas on standards of service designed to ensure client satisfaction.

(1.25 CTFA)

Investment Track Session—Beyond the Sweep: Rethinking Liquidity and Client Value in a Dynamic Rate Environment
Jack Giannini, VP Product Manager, R&T Deposit Solutions

In this forward-thinking session, we will explore how trust companies and wealth managers can leverage their liquidity strategy to become a true source of differentiation. From multi-bank sweep programs to fixed-term deposits and enhanced insurance management, you’ll gain an insiders view of the tools leading institutions are using to drive better outcomes for both their firms and their clients.

Key Takeaways
– Actionable insights on aligning cash management with fiduciary duty and customer expectations.
– Understanding of how private market deposit solutions help manage risk, diversify exposure and offer comparable yields to money markets.

(1.25 CTFA)

Operations Track Session—Explore New Possibilities with Enhanced Features
Cole Horton, Product Manager and Team Lead, Trust Solutions Cheetah

Join Cole, Cheetah’s Product manager, as we explore recent enhancements that create new opportunities and operational flexibility to strengthen your operations, enhance relationship management, and better serve clients needs.

(1.25 CTFA and 0.75 ATOP)

2 p.m.

Executive Track Session—The Hidden Power of Segmentation: Boost Efficiency, Drive Profitability
John Henry, Business Development Officer, Financial Institutions, AssetMark

What if one simple strategy could unlock greater profitability and efficiency across your bank or trust department? In this session, we reveal how segmentation—done right—can supercharge advisor productivity, streamline operations, and drive smarter growth. Walk away with practical tactics and real-world examples to help you do more with less—and scale with confidence.

(1.25 CTFA)

Investment Track Session—Tapping the 40 Trillion in IRAs and 401ks
Mat Sorensen, CEO, Directed IRA and Directed Trust Company

Explore how trillions in retirement accounts can be a powerful source of capital for private investments. This session covers the legal framework, deal structures, and practical strategies for accessing and using self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s to raise or deploy funds.

(1.25 CTFA + CISP)

Operations Track Session—Workflow Wins: Streamline, Standardize, Succeed
Presenter TBD, Cheetah

Workflows are powerful tools that drive consistency, boost efficiency, and elevate the client experience across teams and processes. In this interactive session, we’ll walk through the essential steps to design and implement effective workflow processes tailored to your organization’s unique needs. Participants will explore best practices, common pitfalls, and real-world examples to spark ideas and innovation. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize existing workflows, this session will provide practical insights and strategies you can apply immediately.

(1.25 CTFA and 1.25 ATOP)

3 p.m.
Break

3:30 p.m.
Executive Track Session—Cybersecurity Panel: The Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape
John O’Connell, CEO & Founder, The Oasis Group, and Panelists

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace with new technologies supercharging old threats. This session will provide trust company leaders with a concise, actionable overview of today’s most pressing cyber threats.

We will examine how threat actors leverage deep fakes and large language models (LLMs) to power sophisticated impersonation, phishing, and fraud campaigns, and we’ll spotlight a critical, trust company-specific threat: the weaponization of sensitive client data through AI-driven social engineering. Attendees will gain practical strategies to defend their organizations against these rapidly evolving attack vectors.

(1.75 CERP and 1.75 ATOP)

Investment Track Session—Stepping Up Your Estate Settlement Process
Patrick Alyward, CEO, TrustWorthy Consultants, LLC

Estate administration is complicated, has increased fiduciary risk, and often requires an experienced team to handle the estate settlement process. “Step up your process” by joining this session to:
– Develop an enhanced understanding of the estate settlement process
– Learn some industry best practices to minimize your fiduciary risk
– Gain knowledge (and a few tips) that will provide efficiencies & assist you during the process

(1.75 CTFA)

Operations Track Session—Cheetah Chats
Various clients and Cheetah staff

A session designed to allow our attendees to help one another with best practices they have discovered in using Cheetah. The session will be by a panel of client’s and Cheetah staff. Bring your “How-do-I-do-this” questions.

(1.75 ATOP)

6 p.m. 
Dinner

7 p.m.
Dueling Pianos

7:30 a.m.
Breakfast 

8:30 a.m.
General Session—2025 Tax Update

Doug Hart and Doak Pfaff, Deloitte

(1.25 CTFA + 1.25 CISP; 1.25 ATOP)

9:30 a.m.
Break 

9:45 a.m.
General Session—Current Regulatory Priorities for Trust Industry
Patrick Alyward, CEO, TRUSTworthy Consultants

This session will review some recent developments and priorities pertaining to fiduciary compliance and regulatory issues that Trustees are facing.  A few examples are BSA/AML, Directed Trusts, and others that trustees need to be up to speed on.  Best practices and common mistakes will be shared during the meeting and plenty of time for questions.

(1.25 CTFA + 1.25 CRCM; and 1.25 ATOP)

10:45 a.m.
Closing remarks