WIN Program FAQ New Opportunities in 2018 As the premier business-building and peer networking program for CPA wealth managers in the United States, the Wealth Instruction and Networking (WIN) Program is continuously adapting to meet your needs. In 2018, WIN will mature into a modern-day program that provides value to its participants based on feedback from you, our advisors. This enhanced, contemporary version of the WIN Program is built upon the following premises: Your time is a valuable, scarce resource and value must be maximized for time spent on education. You seek to be part of and benefit from a community of like-minded peers. Your education must be relevant and practical to improving your businesses. You want direct access to value provided by your partner 1st Global people and resources, including the 1st Global home office team and executives. As an achiever, you want to be around other achievers who want to share what has made them successful. Your achievement is not limited by geography, affiliation type or tenure. The augmented program offers flexibility and choice by providing a combination of the following: Production-based peer networking and education with a strategic focus. Geographically unlimited peer networking with workshop-focused education. Practical Web-delivered education with CFP CE and CPA CPE credits coordinated with these meetings. Each quarter will focus on a particular strategy or theme, centering the information and education at each offering of that quarter around that theme in different ways for in-depth understanding. What are the benefits of the enhanced WIN Program? While the fully realized benefits of the modified program are specific to each participating firm, there are numerous universal benefits. Choice The updated WIN Program has a set annual calendar from which you and your firm can choose to create your own educational plan. There is no longer a geographical limitation on regional meetings. You are welcome to visit any of the five regional meetings (Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, New Orleans and Washington D.C.) held four times per year. Choose your locations across the country. Choose the attendees from your firm and which meetings are
best suited to his or her educational needs. Choose to share with your peers and take action on the information that can have the greatest impact to growing and strengthening your business. Reinvestment 1st Global is committed to reinvesting in our affiliated partners by creating an annual education calendar designed to help you grow your practice. Whether it is the investment in the education program, or the reinvestment based on the peer production segments (listed below), 1st Global will provide resources to our firms to help them serve more clients and serve them more completely. Clarity and Fairness With set segments, each firm can have complete clarity about 1st Global provided WIN Program subsidies and the levels of achievement required to attain them. Targeted Education The segmentation of attendees at the home office meetings, along with the ability to attend regional immersion meetings and virtual training allows firms to match their educational experience with their educational needs. Larger Regions Increasing the pool of attendees also increases the quantity and varied nature of best practices and increases the value of the SOCs and Victories shared. Each regional meeting will deliver the same immersion-style content as the other regional meetings, building skill and practicing the craft of wealth management. What educational opportunities are offered in the 2018 WIN Program? The 2018 WIN Program provides three unique learning opportunities Global, Regional and Virtual every quarter. Each of these have been created with specific learning environments in mind. Global Once per quarter, we will gather to kick off the business-building focus for the upcoming few months. Held in Dallas, Texas, these 1.5-day meetings will allow attending firms to be surrounded by 1st Global professionals, industry experts and production-level peers. Attendees for these meetings will be divided into production-level segments in order to provide the optimal education experience. The third-quarter meeting coincides with the annual Communities event, while National Conference serves as the fourth-quarter meeting. January 2018 1st Global Headquarters, Dallas, Texas April 2018 1st Global Headquarters, Dallas, Texas July 2018 Communities, Dallas, Texas November 2018 National Conference
Regional One-day quarterly workshops are held in five different major cities across the United States. Expand your network while developing skills for implementing each quarter s sales strategy or business-building theme. 2018 cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, New Orleans and Washington D.C. Virtual Deep-dive webinar-style education is delivered each quarter by 1st Global product sponsors. Earn continuing education credits for NASBA CPA or the CFP Board. What will the business-building themes and focuses be for the 2018 WIN Program? For the first six months of 2018, we will focus on the theme of Creating a Legacy. This will encompass many areas of Method 10 solutions. The agendas are in draft development form now and will be released ahead of each event so advisors can make choices on how to deploy firm resources across the educational platform. The theme for the second six months of 2018 will be determined in the first half of 2018 in order to include advisor feedback via our WIN Steering Committee. It will be announced and kicked off at 2018 Communities. Method 10 is property of 1st Global Capital Corp. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. What are the peer production segments for Global meetings? What does this mean to me? Since each 1st Global affiliate firm is unique is many ways, attendees for the Global meetings held at the 1st Global home office will be divided into production-level segments in order to provide the optimal education experience. We have reviewed and researched the qualities, characteristics and needs of all 1st Global-affiliated firms and have identified four, high-level segments based on total firm annual production (GDC). Segment 1 $1.5 million and greater Segment 2 $600,000 to $1.49 million Segment 3 $100,000 to $599,999 Segment 4 up to $99,999 The production numbers are based on the previous Diamond Eagle year (Sept. 1 Aug. 31). Firm production for the 2016 2017 Diamond Eagle year will serve as the segment data for the 2018 program. For Segment 1, 1st Global will provide travel subsidies for two firm members. Additional attendees will be required to pay a registration fee of $750, in addition to their airfare to Dallas and other travel expenses.
For Segment 2, 1st Global will provide travel subsidies for one firm member. Additional attendees will be required to pay a registration fee of $750, in addition to their airfare to Dallas and other travel expenses. For Segment 3 and Segment 4, there is no registration fee. 1st Global will cover all Global home office meeting costs but will not offer a travel subsidy to the firms in these segments. Attendees are responsible for airfare, hotel, ground transportation and other travel expenses. The chart below demonstrates this in calendar form:
Can I attend the Global meeting for a different production segment? Firms may not attend higher segments than they qualify for. Firms may attend the Global meeting for any segment levels below their segments, which allows for different experience levels within firms to get access to appropriate levels of education. Which Regional meeting should I attend? Do I need to attend the same location for Regional meetings all year? The choice is yours. You may choose to attend a different regional location every quarter or the same location for some or all quarters. This is designed to create flexibility around different dates while also allowing for national networking without geographical limits on best practice exchange. What if I have not been part of a WIN Team in the past? In the past, over half of 1st Global firms did not feel they had access to WIN due to geographical limitations. Now, participation and attendance of the WIN Program is unlimited: success and achievement are not limited by geography; so as of 2018, the WIN Program is no longer limited by geography, either. The 2018 WIN Program delivers education and sharing opportunities without geographical limitations or attendance requirements. The program is flexible firms are able to choose their paths from multiple participation options. What is the advantage of attending all WIN meetings? The WIN Program will focus on quarterly and/or semiannual themes and strategies. While attendance at any single meeting will be beneficial, attendance at all meetings will result in the deepest understanding and readiness to execute the business-building ideas provided by the WIN Program. Global meetings will introduce the themes or strategies and provide education around the why of each particular theme: Why is it important? To whom is it important? What clients does it serve? What firm considerations are important? Global meetings will also include on the business strategies for taking your practice to the next level. Regional meetings will be workshop-style meetings and will provide deeper dives on the themes or strategies, with greater focus on how-to tactics and practical applications while also providing strong networking opportunities.
Virtual meetings will dovetail with product-specific information tied to the themes. Virtual meetings will include the opportunity to earn CPA CPE and CFP CE credit. Thus, the education will be delivered with a layered approach. Is there a participation commitment agreement for the new WIN Program? No. Your level of participation is up to you, depending on the level of education you feel is relevant to you and your firm. Who may participate? All 1st Global-affiliated licensed financial advisors and licensed or unlicensed fingerprinted wealth management assistants are encouraged to attend WIN meetings. Unlicensed CPAs, accountants, estate planning attorneys or other such staff members of our affiliated firms cannot attend WIN meetings. Does the same person from my firm need to attend all options? While the WIN Program is designed as a layered approach throughout each quarter and attendance at all meetings will result in the deepest understanding of each topic, there is no requirement to send the same member of your firm each time. Firms may send one or as many qualified team members as they desire to Global, Regional or Virtual meetings. Send the same individual to many events or send different individuals throughout the year. Make the choice that best fits your firm s needs. Will CPA CPE or CFP CE be offered? We know that fulfilling your annual CPE and/or CE requirements is key to our ongoing educational programs. We anticipate several sessions at each in-person meeting (Global and Regional) will qualify for both CPA CPE and CFP CE, and we anticipate offering CPA CPE and CFP CE at Virtual meetings as well.
Is there a registration fee for WIN meetings? Yes and no. Registration will be required for all events for event planning purposes; a registration fee will not always apply. This state of the art education platform has different cost depending on your firm segment and your firm s participation choices. Please see the grid above that outlines the possible costs for each meeting. I am in a BMS firm. Can I participate in the WIN Program? Yes. The WIN Program is available to all 1st Global-affiliated firms, without limitation by affiliation type. This update to the WIN Program is based on the premise that the best method for creating value in peer groups is to base the group first upon achievement rather than on other firm characteristics (affiliation type, similar market niche, solo or large ensemble firm, etc.). BMS firms qualify for subsidies on the same peer production segmentation as non-bms firms. Is there education for wealth management assistants offered in the WIN Program? WIN meetings will focus on topics most relevant to advisors and their clients. As listed above, licensed or unlicensed fingerprinted wealth management assistants of 1st Global-affiliated firms are encouraged to register and attend, as they support their firms in implementing these business-building ideas. Agendas will be available ahead of time so that firms may decide whether topics at a given meeting will be beneficial to their wealth management assistants. There will not be assistant breakout sessions at WIN events; however, there will continue to be dedicated 1st Start Assistant events for assistants training twice a year in the home office. Wealth management assistant education is very important to 1st Global, and we have many opportunities for development throughout the year. The wealth management assistant educational calendar will continue to include training for new and experienced assistants in Dallas 1st Start sessions, monthly webinars on relevant operational and administrative topics, and 1st Global Wealth Management Assistant Advocate Betsy Abney as your go-to resource. What travel costs are associated with each meeting? In addition to limiting time out of the office, we have structured the program to be as affordable as possible by selecting easy-to-reach cities and volume discounting with our hotel partners. Global Segment 1 1st Global will pay for roundtrip airfare, ground transportation and two nights at a hotel for two attendees for firms qualifying for the top segment. (Please note that qualified
firms are welcome to register more than two attendees, but the registration fee and all additional travel costs are the responsibility of the firm.) Segment 2 1st Global will pay for roundtrip airfare, ground transportation and two nights at a hotel for one attendee for firms qualifying for the top segment. (Please note that qualified firms are welcome to register more than one attendee, but the registration fee and all additional travel costs are the responsibility of the firm.) Segments 3 and 4 All firms in Segments 3 and 4 are responsible for the costs of travel to and from the meeting, ground transportation and hotel expenses. There is no registration fee for these firms, although they will be asked to register for the event in our registration system. Regional There are no registration fees for Regional meetings. Each attendee is responsible for any airfare, ground transportation and hotel expenses to one of our five major-market metropolitan cities. Virtual There is no fee for this training. Registration and some additional documentation is required for CE/CPE purposes. If I am unable to attend WIN meetings, how do I access 1st Global resources and people? The Consulting Group of 1st Global, led by Nate Biddick, is your conduit to these resources and people. There are three main ways to engage 1st Global resources for working on your business outside of the WIN Program: 1st Global will continue to offer regular webcasts on matters important to advisors and their clients, with topics ranging from 1st Global updates to new ideas to help you serve clients. These webcasts are open to all advisors, regardless of WIN Program participation. The 1st Global Practice Consulting department will facilitate a one-to-many phone- and Web-based service model, providing group coaching and consulting for advisors at various stages of practice development. For those firms interested in personalized coaching and consulting, 1st Global Practice Consulting will provide both Firm by Design and Team by Design engagements. Contact PracticeC@1stGlobal.com to find out the best practice-building fit for you and your firm.
Annual WIN Program Calendar First quarter 2018 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 WIN: Global WIN: Regional WIN: Virtual Second quarter 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 WIN: Global WIN: Virtual WIN: Regional Third quarter 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 Communities WIN: Regional WIN: Virtual Fourth quarter 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 WIN: Regional National Conference WIN: Virtual