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Chain-of-Secrets Conference

Affiliated Advisors
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Welcome to Chain-of-Secrets!

We're glad you are able to join us! Below, you'll find information about our agenda, speakers, and sponsors.

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Wi-Fi Information

Select the Hilton Honors network
When prompted, select 'I have a promotional code' - the password is DIAMOND

Sponsored by:

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Agenda & Details

*Schedule of events subject to change as we finalize all details*


Wednesday, September 30th

USAF Exchange Signature Series Day
Breakfast at Embassy Suites

8:30 AM - Welcome | Exchange Updates |
Signature Promo
9:15 AM - 3EDGE Asset Management - Fritz Folts
10:00 AM - Break
10:20 AM - J.P. Morgan - Steve Bernhardt
11
:20 AM - Atlas Capital - Josh Kneller
12:00 PM - Lunch

12:45 PM - Amplify Financial - Kim Hill
1:30 PM - Ned Davis Research - Brian Sanborn
2:15 PM - Break
2:30 PM - Annexus - Tom Haines
3:15 PM - USA Financial Exchange
4:00 PM - Signature Day Wrap-Up                                
5:30 PM - Welcome Reception at Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM)**

Thursday, October 1st

Chain-of-Secrets Conference
Breakfast at Embassy Suites

8:30 AM - Welcome & Kickoff | Mike Walters
9:30 AM - Keynote: Kyle Scheele
10:30 AM - Break
10:45 AM - A Day in the Life of a Digital Advisor
11
:30 AM - Breakout Session #1
12:30 PM - Lunch

1:30 PM - Keynote: Andy Buckley
2:30 PM - Break
2:45 PM - Breakout Session #2
3:30 PM - Crump | KSC Breakout
4:30 PM - Abacus
6:00 PM - Dinner & Entertainment at Rapid River Stillhouse (RRSH)**

Friday, October 2nd

Chain-of-Secrets Conference
Breakfast at Embassy Suites

8:30 AM - Welcome
8:45 AM - Keynote: Colin Ryan
9:45 AM - Break

10:00 AM - Advisor Panel | KSC Breakout
11:00 AM - USA Financial Updates
12:00 PM - Take and Go/Stay Lunch

** Evening Reception Important Info:

 What to Wear:
Evening attire is casual, though the museum event is a bit dressier than Thursday night's laid-back gathering. Please keep Michigan's changing weather in mind when choosing your attire. 

Shuttle Service: 
Wednesday: Hotel to GRAM 5:15 & 5:45p | GRAM to Hotel 7:45 & 8:30p
Thursday: Hotel to RRSH 5:45p | RRSH to Hotel 9:00p


Featured Speakers & Presentations

scheele-kyleKyle Scheele

Presentation Title:
Patron Saint of Crazy Ideas

Kyle Scheele has been called "the patron saint of crazy ideas". Whether he's having a Viking funeral for the regrets of 21,000 people, hosting the world's first fake marathon, or gaining a million TikTok followers in just 25 hours, Kyle is always on the lookout for crazy ideas that produce wildly outsized outcomes. Over the last decade, his projects have been featured in outlets like Fast Company, WIRED, The Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, UpWorthy, Goalcast, and more. His videos have been viewed over 250 million times, and he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of audience members across the United States. More than anything, Kyle hopes that his story can inspire others to chase their own crazy ideas and become the people they were meant to be.

buckley-andy-2Andy Buckley

Presentation Title:
CFO of Dunder Mifflin on NBC's "The Office" and Senior Financial Advisor (In Real Life)

After his initial shot at acting didn’t pan out, Andy was 5 years into his career as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, part of a team managing over $500 million in personal assets, when he got the luckiest phone call of his life - the offer to appear on the NBC comedy, ‘The Office.’ The FA position was the perfect background for his fictional role as David Wallace, CFO of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Buckley stayed at Merrill Lynch for 6 more years, while continuing his role on ’The Office,’ which has led to many other acting opportunities.

He presently has regular roles on the HBO comedy ‘Avenue 5,’ opposite Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad, as well as the upcoming Netflix action comedy series, ‘FUBAR,’ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Past regular or recurring roles have included HBO’s ‘VEEP' and 'Silicon Valley,’ as well as ’Shameless,’ ’The Lying Game,’ ‘Odd Mom Out,’ ‘Casual’ and ‘Scorpion.’

In movies, he’s gotten to play opposite actors ranging from Will Ferrell, Michael Keaton and Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys) to Jeremy Renner (The House) to Alvin (yes, of Alvin and the Chipmunks) to Chris Pratt and the T-Rex (Jurassic World) and Sandra Bullock & Melissa McCarthy (The Heat). Other movies he’s appeared in include Lady Bird, Bridesmaids, Bombshell and the recent comedy ‘Most Guys Are Losers,’ opposite Mira Sorvino.

Andy Buckley emcees and speaks at various corporate and charitable events across the country. The mix of his continuing corporate background and ‘The Office’ persona lends an entertaining aspect to these speaking engagements.

Born in Boston, Buckley spent time growing up in St. Louis, Chicago, South Florida. He attended Stanford where he played on the golf team his first two years at school. He’s married with two sons and resides in Los Angeles.

ryan-colinColin Ryan

Presentation Title:
The Trust Advantage

Talking about money is one of the most emotionally loaded conversations people have. Even clients who trust their advisor completely may hold back the hidden fears and old stories that shape their decisions, and even important information that would make an advisor’s job easier. The advisors who break through that wall are the ones aren’t just technically adept – they also know how to make people feel safe enough to tell the truth.

In this engaging, story-driven session, Colin Ryan draws from 15+ years in front of thousands of audiences across the U.S. to give independent advisors the insight, language, and practical tools to build the kind of trust that increases the client loyalty, follow-through, and referrals that grow their business.

Colin Ryan is an award-winning financial speaker, author, and storyteller who has spoken to nearly one million people across 45 states. He has been named one of the best storytellers in America by Reader's Digest and NPR, and recognized as a USA Top 10 Financial Speaker. His work has appeared on PBS, NPR, and The Moth Radio Hour.


USA Financial Featured Speakers

Mike-WaltersMike Walters

Chief Executive Officer

Brent-EndersBrent Enders

President

Mark-MersmanMark Mersman

Chief Marketing Officer

Steve-PhillipsSteve Phillips

Chief Practice Mgmt. & Development Officer

Greg-LockwoodGreg Lockwood

Chief Technology Officer

Dawn-ThomasonDawn Thomason

Chief Compliance Officer

Jim-McConnellJim McConnell

Chief Operations Officer

Steve-LiveranceSteve Liverance

Chief Human Capital Officer

Tyler-KrzciokTyler Krzciok

Case Design & Service Manager

Kim-WeberKim Weber

Marketing Project Manager

Aaron-GradyAaron Grady

Advisor Consulting Director

Alan-OehrleinAllan Oehrlein

Practice Management Consultant

Lauren-MireckiLauren Hartman

Creative Services Manager & Analyst

Melissa-CarlonMelissa Carlon

Principal Account Manager

Cindy-GarstkaCindy Garstka

Client Services Director

Steven-KernSteven Kern

Investment and Operations Manager

Event Locations, Travel, & Lodging Arrangements

Chain-of-Secrets
September 30 - October 2

Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
710 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503


A hotel block room rate has been secured for USA Financial at the Embassy Suites.

Travel and lodging is the responsibility of each attendee. Standard room rate at Embassy Suites starts at $154/night + tax.

Please indicate if you would like us to reserve your room when you complete your event registration. Should you have any questions related to travel/lodging, please contact Kasidee Bigham at kbigham@usafinancial.com.

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We're looking forward to seeing you at Chain-of-Secrets!