Once a year, advisors from across the country gather at Cetera's Connect to Peers conference to trade ideas, compare notes, and dig into the trends shaping the financial services industry. This year, DeLong & Brower had a bigger presence than usual — several members of our team were invited to speak, joining panel discussions on topics ranging from tax and estate planning to the future of client service.
Sharing What We've Learned
Being asked to speak isn't just an honor — it's a chance to put our approach in front of a room full of peers who ask hard questions, and to see how it holds up. Our team joined conversations on how firms are helping clients navigate a shifting tax and estate planning landscape, and on what it takes to deliver personal, high-touch service as a firm grows.
The sessions drew strong turnout and sparked lively discussion — a good reminder that the questions our clients bring to us every day are the same ones advisors across the country are working through.
What We Brought Back
Conferences like this aren't just about presenting — they're about listening. Between sessions, our team sat in on discussions covering the latest thinking in retirement income planning, technology that's changing how clients interact with their advisors, and regulatory changes on the horizon. We came home with a few ideas already shaping how we work with you:
- Expanding our holistic, tax-focused planning approach to cover more generational wealth conversations — helping families plan not just for retirement, but for what comes next.
- Exploring new ways to structure retirement income so it holds up better against market swings and changing tax rules.
- Looking at tools that make it easier for you to see your full financial picture and stay connected with our team between meetings.
Why It Matters to You
The financial planning landscape doesn't stand still — tax laws change, new tools come to market, and what clients need from their advisor keeps evolving. Spending time with advisors from across the country, both sharing our perspective and learning from theirs, helps us make sure our approach keeps pace.
It's also a point of pride for our team. Being invited to lead conversations at a national conference reflects the work happening here every day — not just at events like this one.
We're proud of Joe Johnson, Spencer Bacon, Jensen Postema, Tami Wondergem, Luke DeBoer, and Darlene Walker for representing DBFS so well, and we're already looking forward to bringing back even more from next year's conference.