Sean R. Walters, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, Investments & Wealth Institute

Sean R. Walters, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, Investments & Wealth Institute
Sean Walters is Chief Executive Officer of the Investments & Wealth Institute®. Sean has been active in association management since 1990, with financial services associations since 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.A. in History, and he holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis. Sean is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) certificant and has earned the Institute of Organization Management (IOM) designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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Recent Posts

Five Conference-Planning Innovations You’ll Find at ACE Academy 2023

Like the namesake of my hometown in Arizona, the conference-planning industry is still rising from the ashes of the pandemic. Anyone who has delivered in-person events has been monitoring the evolving trends as to how conferences are delivered during our “new normal.” In the advice industry alone, we’ve seen various innovations, including outdoor expositions, hybrid live and livestream programs, and fully on-demand programs. In-person events range from intimate, invite-only gatherings to large-scale conventions.

Some programs draw lots of attendees – like Schwab’s Impact conference, which re-surfaced last Fall after three years and a merger with TD Ameritrade. Others are still waiting for the rebound. According to a recent survey by the American Society of Association Executives, professional member conferences in 2022 experienced a 30-40% drop in attendance over 2019 numbers.

So, what does this mean for the future? Four trends seem evident:

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Topics: ACE Academy 2023

Who Certifies the Certifier? Making a case for accreditation

2020 served as a new Renaissance for learning & development. But like all periods of great expansion, there are opportunists whose efforts degrade the field, rather than improve it.

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Point & Click Credentials

2020 served as a new Renaissance for learning & development. But like all periods of great expansion, there are opportunists whose efforts degrade the field, rather than improve it. This article is part 1 of three series that addresses best practices if you are developing and delivering credentialed solutions for professionals, and what to watch for if you are seeking professional development.

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The Role of Continuing Education in Competency Assurance

Continuing education is important not only to our industry but to consumers. Our industry is constantly changing, we have seen the industry evolve over the last 70 years greatly; from new technologies, and products to portfolio management theories. Continuing education is necessary for our industry and for financial advice professional to stay current with the latest developments, skills, and new technologies. Not only that, studies have shown that continuing education can boost confidence and...

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A Tale of Times....

Ours is not a unique story. But I wanted to share a few words on how proud I am of the accomplishments of the volunteers and staff of the Investments & Wealth Institute. Maybe you are a financial advisor running a team or practice, or a fellow association executive or talent development professional running a business model that seems under assault, or you are just your everyday, average entrepreneurial LinkedIn drifter looking for real-life case studies of organizations and how they are...

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Licensure vs. Certification

Recently, The Wall Street Journal criticized the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) regarding the integrity of their search directory for CFP® professionals that resulted in a lot of commentary and confusion. As a certifying body like the CFP® Board, the Investments & Wealth Institute would like to clarify some misconceptions brought to light by the article.

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Topics: financial advisors

Welcome to The Institute Blog:  Investment Sense - Advanced analysis for today’s savvy advisors

Investment Sense provides expert thinking on the relevant topics that impact your business along with  updates from the Institute that will keep you up to speed on important happenings at your professional association. Industry experts—practitioners, academics and economists—will provide the latest thinking on today’s important topics, and you’ll hear from Institute volunteers and staff on association news that impacts your membership and certification.   

 

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Recent Posts

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