Whether you’ve attended in the past, or this year’s event will be your first (like me!), I invite you to join me – and our team of Pipers – at this year’s Connections conference, in Orlando, Florida on May 15 – 17. We’re excited to host this premier 3-day event for the life insurance, annuities, and wealth management industries – and take it to the next level!
Our team is busy designing Connections 2024 to be an unforgettable event – designed to innovate, motivate, and set you up for success. Hear from iPipeline customers, employees, industry professionals, and third-party experts in the many sessions we've created just for you, our BGA partners.
Plus, you’ll get to experience a memorable opening reception at nearby SeaWorld – and you won’t want to miss this year’s world-class keynote -- Daymond John of ABC’s Shark Tank!
Connections 2024 will inspire fresh ideas, ignite new perspectives, spark your curiosity, and empower you to discover what is possible.
Don’t miss Connections 2024! Lock in your registration and hotel reservation today (room blocks will close April 24th).
I look forward to meeting you in Orlando in a few weeks!
Pat O'Donnell
CEO, iPipeline
Q: How did you get into your current role?
A: I have been in this business for five years. Prior to my role here at Highland, I was in the military for 14 years. After serving, I went back to school on the GI Bill and got my degree. Then I started a landscape design company, but I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As I thought through my options, my dad, who is a financial advisor, introduced me to a connection at Highland Capital, and the rest is history.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: My day looks different now than it did my first two years. The first two years I put in a lot of time learning from Senior VPs in my role by shadowing them. I would call 80 to100 people a day to set up meetings for those VPs, and then I would sit in on the meetings. Now, I focus on my own target market: military veterans who are now financial advisors. I still make a lot of calls and set up a lot of meetings, but I now have a great referral base on which I’ve built my business. This allows me to spend time outside the office, meeting with my advisors face-to- face - something I really enjoy.
Q: Annuities are hot right now due to the interest rate environment. Beyond interest rates, why would you recommend purchasing an annuity?
A: The annuities that I specifically work with, Fixed and Index, tend to lean more toward the conservative client who may have a short runway when it comes to their “working years.” I like to refer to this runway as the "retirement redzone," which is 5 years before and 5 years after retirement. When you are in this category, you can’t afford to take a dramatic loss because you don’t have the time or income generation to make up for those downturns, like we saw in 2022. This is why we use Fixed and Index Annuities to lower the risk in a client’s portfolio. Even though you may not see those double-digit returns, you have eliminated all downside risk, and you have the ability to still capture decent upside returns in the market - all while protecting that nest egg that you worked so hard to achieve.
Q: What trends in annuities did you see last year and what are you seeing this year?
A: Last year, we saw a lot of market volatility, which made it difficult to keep up with the products and rates changing so frequently. Oftentimes, by the time a case was designed and everything was ready to sign, interest rates would change. We really had to be mindful of the timing in 2022. The interest rate environment is a little less volatile in 2023. Interest rates are still high, but they aren’t increasing every few weeks. This helps us to position products without experiencing the timing issues we saw in 2022.
Q: If you had $100,000, what kind of annuity would you purchase?
A: Well, I am not a typical annuity purchaser due to my age, but if I were to purchase an annuity for myself right now, I would go with a buffered annuity. A buffered annuity gives you market exposure with a buffer on the downside.
Q: If you had $100,000 to spend frivolously, what would you spend it on?
A: I’m huge into watersports, so I would probably put a bunch of it towards a nice wake boarding boat.
Pete Buxton
VP, Senior Advisor Consultant, Signature Annuity at Highland Capital Brokerage
In this roundtable discussion, hear how BGAs are using our out-of-the-box integrations to improve turnaround times and place more cases! We'll highlight the AMS Suite's integrations that can improve both efficiency and speed of placing cases.
Tips, tricks, and shortcuts! Join us as we uncover the hidden gems in Agency Integrator. We’ll review features and updates even the most seasoned Agency Integrator users may have missed.
What business challenges keep you up at night? Join us as we discuss the challenges, issues, and concerns of a distributor in the insurance industry. We’ll also explore solutions and best practices.
Get a glimpse into the future! We'll discuss how the industry could best leverage AI to individualize the consumer and agent experience. Our industry experts will talk about the ethics, implications, and the big questions surrounding AI.
The pandemic inspired most carriers to adopt e-Delivery of policies – but what about the rest of your documents and processes? This breakout session highlights life insurance in DocFast®, showcasing best practices, system integrations, user adoption, and so much more.
Explore an enhanced view into the iPipeline Evolve roadmap, receive updates on API and self-maintenance, explore the user experience, and witness a demo of the platform! You’ll hear from iPipeline Evolve pilot customers for an inside scoop on their experiences so far.
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Hear a World-Class Keynote from Daymond John
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry.
His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands have made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm, The Shark Group, offers advice on how to effectively communicate with consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.
John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC TV’s critically acclaimed business reality show, Shark Tank, which has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world. Shark Tank has won five Emmys® in the U.S., with millions of viewers tuning in each week from around the world as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.
Register before Friday, April 26 to be entered into a raffle to win one of three spots to meet Daymond John! Click here to register and use promo code MEET at the end of the registration process.
*Raffle ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26. Registrations completed prior to April 10 are not eligible to win.
This is the first time in over a decade that Connections is being held in a new location. Previously held in Las Vegas, – we are now headed to Orlando, Florida! Join us in the Sunshine State at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate!
We’re planning more than 50 educational sessions during this 3-day event. You’ll hear from iPipeline CEO Pat O’Donnell, as well as from numerous members of our executive team on the main stage – along with more than 50 educational sessions, including those tailored just for you, one of our BGAs!
Our venue has amenities galore, including two championship golf courses, as well as a mini golf course. This incredible resort also has a 10,000 square-foot signature spa, a full-service fitness center, two pools, an 850-foot lazy river, and nine incredible dining options. We can't wait to see you there!
If you are already attending or plan on attending – be sure to book your hotel accommodation, as rooms are filling quickly, and our hotel block expires April 24!
Former Journalist Meggie Palmer will Emcee and Host Our Womens’ Luncheon
Meggie Palmer, speaker and former journalist, will be our emcee for Connections, as well as the host of our Womens’ Luncheon, where she will highlight the critical role that confidence plays in the workplace and in your career.
A proud Aussie who now calls New York City home, Meggie is the founder of PepTalkHer, an app that aims to close the gender pay gap – which takes her around the world to promote the retention of female leaders and highlight the importance of diversity.
Enjoy Exclusive Access to SeaWorld Orlando
Along with providing you with incredible content, as well as an unforgettable world-class keynote, we also know how to throw an extraordinary opening reception! This year’s opener will be at SeaWorld Orlando, where we’ll provide you with an all-exclusive access.
Enjoy the park’s all new Pipeline rollercoaster, take a front row seat to a jaw-dropping Orca show, and so much more! With both indoor and outdoor networking areas, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of SeaWorld Orlando, while connecting with industry peers and enjoying a night full of fun.
Join us and dive into the excitement of Connections 2024!
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Let your network know!
If you’re already attending Connections 2024, we can’t wait to see you!
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I'll be at Connections 2024 with @iPipeline; I hope to see you there too!
This year's event is unlike any other, with 50+ educational sessions, a world- class keynote from Daymond John (founder/CEO of FUBU and Star of ABC’s Shark Tank) and an incredible opening reception at SeaWorld! Register today and join me -- and hundreds of industry peers -- at Connections!
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