At HighPoint Advisors, LLC, continuous growth and improvement are always a priority. One way we pursue that is by attending select conferences that offer valuable insights and takeaways for both our team and our clients. A key event on our calendar each year is LPL FOCUS, and in 2025, the three-day conference returned to sunny San Diego at the city’s iconic convention center. Representing the HighPoint Advisors team, AJ attended this year’s event with a clear mission: to seek out tools, strategies, and partnerships that could enhance our firm’s capabilities and deliver even more value to those we serve. Read on for a recap of the highlights, key moments, and takeaways from each day of the event.
Day 1:
LPL FOCUS 2025 kicked off day 1 with plenty of energy and excitement. The opening session featured a warm welcome from a senior LPL executive, which included a simulated indoor flyover by a group of fighter jets! The keynote speaker, Melissa Stockwell, shared a story that left a lasting impression. A combat veteran who lost her leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq, she went on to become a Paralympic medalist. Her message of resilience and determination resonated with everyone in the room.
Once the keynote wrapped up, the expo floor opened and quickly filled with energy. Representatives from LPL home office teams, third-party tech providers, business vendors, and a wide range of financial companies were all in attendance. It was an impressive gathering of industry professionals and resources. AJ jumped into the mix with a clear goal. The plan for Day 1 was to explore new developments in the technology LPL uses and connect with several key partners. With a list in hand, AJ set out to gather insights and make the most of the opportunity.
Day 2:
Day 2 of the LPL Focus Conference for AJ began with a general session led by LPL’s CEO, Rich Steinmeier. This was followed by a series of educational breakouts, covering a wide range of timely topics. Among the highlights were tax updates related to the recently passed OBBBA, a Town Hall meeting with CEO Rich featuring a live Q&A via Slido, and an in-depth exploration of the massive wealth transfer currently underway between generations. AJ also delved into innovative AI technology designed to enhance client meetings.
After absorbing all these valuable insights, AJ spent some time networking at a Private Advisor Group happy hour in the Gaslamp Quarter. There, he connected with advisors from all over, including some from nearby Albany, NY (small world)!
Throughout the day, AJ also made time to explore more of LPL’s Expo, where he watched a lively cornhole competition in the FOCUS Café. He also discovered a Virtual Reality Hot Air Balloon simulator. However, when faced with the height, AJ decided it was better to stay grounded.
With such a packed day filled with learning and networking, AJ was eager to see what Day 3 had in store.
Day 3:
Day 3 of the LPL Focus Conference proved to be the busiest yet for AJ, with a packed schedule that kept him on his feet all day. While he doesn’t wear a fitness tracker, AJ’s step count would surely have been through the roof, as he attended numerous educational sessions and visited around 20 different booths, including those from LPL’s Home Office, Tech, Investment, and Marketing partners. Armed with a long list of questions from the HighPoint Advisors, LLC team, he navigated the Expo and chatted with various industry experts. Thankfully, coffee stations were strategically placed throughout the venue to keep him energized.
The general session for Day 3 was split into two parts. The first part featured LPL senior management, who shared valuable updates, including an in-depth look at LPL’s public brand campaign, “What If You Could?”, with a surprise appearance from brand spokesperson Anna Kendrick! Part two introduced the final keynote speaker, Lior Suchard, a world-renowned mentalist who wowed the audience with his mind-bending tricks.
AJ also took part in several educational breakouts, including sessions on compliance-friendly video marketing, stress testing business practices for potential challenges, an economic and market discussion with Professor Jeremy Siegel from the UPenn Wharton School, and a deep dive into the modern uses of AI in the financial industry. With so many takeaways, AJ left the day with a notebook full of ideas.
Other highlights of the day included a massive naval boat that appeared in the bay during lunch, more fun Virtual Reality gadgets in the Café, and a display for LPL’s brand campaign in the Expo, which featured thick grass from their new commercial! After the conference wrapped up, AJ joined a group of investment managers in the private assets space for a more relaxed networking session, where wholesalers and fund managers were available to chat. To cap off the evening, AJ headed over to check out the year’s concert, Maroon 5 at the Rady Shell outdoor amphitheater, a venue AJ recommends seeing if you haven’t already. That concludes the three days of the LPL Focus conference!
A note to the clients and friends of HighPoint Advisors, LLC:
AJ is returning with a wealth of new knowledge and actionable ideas that will take HighPoint Advisors to the next level. Stay tuned for exciting new developments as a result of the incredible insights gained from this event!
Until next year LPL Focus!