Innovating the Future of the Annuity Industry

February 3-4 | St. Petersburg, Florida

 

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Engage. Empower. Educate.

We're thrilled to announce the 2025 Insurance Exchange Forum in beautiful St. Petersburg, FL. This is your chance to join industry leaders in discussing and innovating the future of the annuity industry.

In Partnership

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS

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    BILL CRAGER

    Strategic Advisor, Co-Founder, Former Chief Executive Officer

    As a Strategic Advisor for Envestnet, Bill Crager is dedicated to fostering

    client relationships, driving strategic initiatives, and advocating

    for the wealth management industry. His leadership has positioned

    Envestnet as a leader in managed solutions, helping advisors

    navigate the evolving advice landscape. Bill's impact has earned him

    the Industry Pioneer award (2015) and recognition as one of the IA25 (2020).

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    PAUL HONDROS

    Co-Founder and Managing Partner

    With decades of experience in the FinTech and InsurTech sectors, Paul

    has held executive roles at industry leaders such as Fidelity and SEI.

    He currently serves as Director for all five businesses under

    Magis Capital and is the Co-Founder and Chairman of FIDx, the innovative

    technology driving the Insurance Exchange.

DAY ONE | FEB. 3

BREAKOUT SESSION | 3:00 p.m.

Insurance Exchange Carrier Discussion

Explore recent updates to Insurance Exchange, including product onboarding, L&A, and fee-from-annuity updates. We'll discuss strategies to help boost wholesaler and advisor engagement, streamline onboarding, and tackle communication, technology integration, and compliance. This workshop offers a chance to assess the impact on operations and customer experience while collaborating on best practices for success.  

BREAKOUT SESSION | 3:00 p.m. 

Tech Evolution in Distribution

Gain a better understanding of recent Insurance Exchange platform changes and navigate these changes more efficiently. We'll explore platform enhancements and share best practices for carrier onboarding. Through discussion and hands-on experiences, you'll obtain valuable insights and actionable strategies to maximize advisor adoption. This workshop also provides an opportunity to engage with peers, learn from success stories, and leave with a clearer plan to drive growth. 

NETWORKING EVENT | 5:30 p.m. 

TOPGOLF

Kick off the 2025 Forum in style by joining industry friends for an exciting evening at Topgolf! To make your experience even more seamless, a shuttle will be provided to transport attendees directly from the forum to Topgolf. Don't miss this perfect opportunity to unwind and network.

 

 

DAY TWO | FEB. 4

SPOTLIGHT PANEL | 9:00 a.m.

How Two Leaders Have Shaped the Future of Annuities

Shaping the future of annuities with Insurance Exchange was the culmination of decades of innovation. Hear the origin story of IX from two of the fintech pioneers (Paul Hondros and Bill Crager) whose careers helped make it possible and discover how these visionaries continue to help push the industry forward. 

PANELIST(s)
Bill Crager, Envestnet
Paul Hondros, FIDx
spotlight-speakers
TECH PANEL | 10:00 a.m.

Adapting to Advisors' Growth with Insurance Exchange

Explore how Insurance Exchange’s comprehensive lifecycle and product training can enhance an advisory practice, equipping users with the skills and knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape. Hear about the latest tools and resources available to streamline advisor workflows.  

PANELIST(s)
Matt Hansan, FIDx  
Nick Palmer, iCapital
tech-panelists
ADVISOR PANEL | 11:00 a.m.

Insights From the Front Lines  of Sales 

Discover how an advisor is using IX and other technologies to enhance their practices and increase client satisfaction. And learn how adopting new tools ease operational fatigue not just for them, but for their admins, home office, and end-clients as well.

PANELIST(s)
Wayne Anderman, CFP® MBA

advisor-panelist
REGULATORY PANEL | 1:00 p.m.

Annuity Suitability: The Only Constant Is Change

Whether the DOL Fiduciary Rule will become a reality, annuities are one of the Regulator’s favorite topics.  The panel will provide an update on the status of the most recent Fiduciary Rule as well as how annuity recommendations have been impacted by RegBI and the NAIC guidelines.  We’ll also pull out our crystal ball and see how annuity suitability may change given that most annuity sales now involve principal protection. 

PANELIST(s)
Blaine Doerrfeld, Athene USA   
Matthew Watts, Raymond James  
Jason Berkowitz, Insured Retirement Institute   

regulatory-panelists
DISTRIBUTION PANEL | 2:00 p.m.

Getting the Most Out of IX 

Industry leaders uncover the transformative benefits of leveraging Insurance Exchange. Discover proven adoption strategies, gain insights into upcoming mandates, and explore the future of digital transformation in insurance distribution. Learn what distribution firms need from carriers to drive innovation. 

PANELIST(s)
Aaron Runyon, Avantax Wealth Management   
Beth Maziad, Raymond James
Michelle Overbeek, RBC Wealth Management
distribution-panelists