the new year is here...

Join us on Jan. 24 for our fourth annual virtual kick-off event and make this a year to remember! This online event features some of the financial industry’s best and brightest and will cover top industry news, marketing strategies, sales concepts, and much more. If you haven't registered yet, click here to secure your spot.

View The Agenda

platinum sponsors

Athene
SILAC Insurance Company
EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
American Life Logo

guest Speakers

Get ready for in-depth discussions with industry leaders who help shape what we do and enrich how we serve our clients. Insightful presentations from our featured speakers will show you what's in store this year for financial professionals, the economy, and our industry.

Jeff Bush

jeff bush

A dynamic and insightful speaker and author, Jeff Bush is known for his unique ability to translate difficult and confusing information coming out of Washington D.C. into winning growth strategies for business owners, executives, and high-net-worth investors. The Washington Update is widely considered the financial industry’s NONPARTISAN experts on all things Washington, D.C. Founded by Andy Friedman in 2008, Jeff is now the principal of the firm.

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Amy McIlwain

Entrepreneur, author, speaker, and worldwide connector, Amy McIlwain is internationally recognized for radical new ways of approaching social media, PR, marketing, advertising, and customer service within the financial services industry. Amy has appeared live on NBC, CBS, and FOX as a social media expert. Her content has been featured in several top financial industry publications including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, InvestmentNews, and many more.

Chris Mechem

Mark Marex, CFA

Mark Marex works as a Senior Director in Index Research & Development for NASDAQ. He splits his efforts between producing original content in support of existing index products and developing new indexes for launch and commercialization. Before joining Nasdaq Global Indexes in 2019, Mark was an emerging fund manager of a systematic long/short US large-cap equity strategy, and co-founded Roundtree Capital Management in 2016.

Chris Coyne

Chris coyne

Chris Coyne, MBA is Vice President, head of retail insurance advisor sales in the Global Markets Division of Goldman Sachs. Chris is responsible for educating advisors, agents, and carrier partners on Goldman Sachs FIA indices. He previously worked at BlackRock, where he was a Vice President on the Retirement Insurance Team. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and got his MBA at the National University of Ireland Galway.

Chuck Divencenzo

chuck divencenzo

Chuck DiVencenzo oversees the daily operations of NAFA while working to actively execute the Board of Directors’ strategic vision for the organization. He is a financial services executive with broad experience in sales and marketing, product development, key accounts, operations, legal, compliance, M&A and P&L. Chuck has worked with Fortune 100 companies as well as boutique firms and has significant responsibility to drive bottom and top line growth.

Event agenda

We have an exciting lineup of guest speakers and presentations for you this year! Click the Event Detail buttons below to get more information on each of our main sessions and to add them to your personal calendars.

live drawings and giveaways

IAMS is giving away five

$1,000 Matching Advertising Packages

By registering and attending Ascend, you will be automatically entered into our drawing. IAMS will give you a dollar-for-dollar advertising/marketing reimbursement match for any IAMS vendor you use, up to $1,000 you spend.* When you invest to grow your business, we do too!

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*Agent must be in good standing with IAMS to qualify.

iPad Pro

2 - iPAD PROS

Steak Package

2 - $200 steak packages

Amazon Gift Cards

3 - $100 Amazon gift cards

IAMS Ultimate Swag Bag

3 - ultimate iams swag bags

gold & silver sponsors

Ibexis
F&G
Allianz
Delaware Life
GILICO
North American
North American
Horsesmouth Logo Slider
Stonewood Financial
Safe Money Marketing Logo Slider
Federal Bridge Logo Slider
Retirement Boss Radio
Social Security Navigator Logo Slider
IAMS Sterling Appointment Program Logo Slider
Legacy Lock Logo Slider
RetireReady Logo
Indexalyzer Logo Slider

Get In Touch

Need help with something or have a question about the event? Click the button below to contact us anytime and someone from our team will reach out to help get you what you need. 

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