Podcast Summary: Deeper CPA Financial Planner Connections, Lyle Benson {PFP Section}

Host: Andrea Miller, AICPA & CIMA
Date: January 28, 2025
Guests: Lyle Benson, Michael Goodman, Brook Salvini, Cheryl Holland
Theme: The Unique Community and Value of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Summit

Overview

This episode dives into the origins, evolution, and distinctive nature of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Summit. Guided by Lyle Benson with input from fellow committee members Michael Goodman, Brook Salvini, and Cheryl Holland, the conversation explores how the Summit fosters deep professional connections, interactive learning, and ongoing community for CPA financial planners. From the Summit’s “study group on steroids” approach to its careful curation of content and culture, the episode highlights why the event has become an influential and anticipated fixture in the profession.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Origins and Purpose of the PFP Summit

• Community Focus:
  The Summit originated from the collaborative spirit of study groups and the Advanced PFP Conference. Its defining goal is to cultivate deep professional relationships through mutual learning and open dialogue, not just traditional presentations.
• Unique Format:
  Unlike larger conferences, the Summit emphasizes a single-track agenda with extended sessions that foster both speaker-led learning and active audience participation.
  • “The idea here...get a leading authority or expert to kick it off...but recognize and acknowledge that the knowledge in the room itself was probably, if you accumulated all together, probably even bigger than the speaker itself.” – Michael Goodman [01:52]
• Community-driven Agenda:
  Rather than focusing on technical minutiae, the agenda evolves from participant concerns and interests, ensuring its relevance to practitioners at all stages.

2. Interactive Approach and Value of Networking

• Session Structure:
  Sessions are designed for about 60% speaker input and 40% audience discussion, making practitioner dialogue a built-in feature.
  • “There have been sessions...where for several minutes there’ll be a dialogue amongst the members of the audience...taking the content...to another level that we normally wouldn’t get.” – Michael Goodman [03:25]
• Beyond the Classroom:
  Informal sessions (e.g., fireside chats, evening discussions over cocktails) extend learning and connection opportunities, deepening the sense of community.

3. Building and Sustaining the Summit Community

• Intimate Setting:
  Capped at about 120 participants, repeated use of a single large room and shared meal times foster comfort and familiarity among attendees.
  • “We are in one larger room...returning again and again to the same...conference room. And...we just become more comfortable with each other.” – Brook Salvini [06:07]
• Year-Round Engagement:
  The “Summit Presents” series sustains professional relationships and knowledge sharing outside the annual event, with virtual sessions that revisit core topics or introduce upcoming speakers.

4. The Broader Impact on the Profession

• Learning, Sharing, and Inclusivity:
  The Summit embodies the profession’s legacy of sharing and inclusivity, making it welcoming for newcomers and experienced professionals alike.
  • “This group is so inclusive...they’ll just sit down at the first table...and start talking...you just don’t get [this] as easily anywhere else.” – Cheryl Holland [10:06]
• Cultivating Next Generation Leaders:
  By attracting and engaging emerging professionals, the Summit ensures knowledge transfer and fosters fresh perspectives.
  • “Summit has done a good job of attracting a lot of the next generation leaders...they add so much to it.” – Lyle Benson [13:11]

5. Evolving the Physical Experience

• Transition to Charlotte, NC:
  For 2025, Summit moves to Dimensional Fund Advisors’ newest East Coast facility in Charlotte, designed to further enhance group interaction and enlarge participation slightly.
• Thoughtful Logistics:
  The committee prioritizes venues and schedules that maximize networking (e.g., longer breaks, early day endings) and local activities (tours, outdoor events), underlining the importance of informal relationship-building.
  • “It’s always important to have a beer around the virtual fireplace, virtual lobby...we will be having some fun along with our learning.” – Cheryl Holland [19:17]

6. Agenda Themes and Forward-Looking Topics

• Practice Management and Human-Centric Themes:
  Instead of technical rules, sessions focus on practice management (succession/leadership), transitions (including aging client needs and difficult conversations), and hot topics like artificial intelligence.
• The Power of Storytelling:
  Emphasizing the need to help clients articulate and understand their own stories, Summit aims to deepen impact beyond the numbers.
  • “It’s not about the numbers. It’s about life, and it’s about living the best life, and...that is really a story.” – Brook Salvini [15:51]

7. Notable Testimonials and Enduring Value

• Career-Changing Experiences:
  Many attendees report that the Summit has fundamentally changed their career trajectories by providing acceptance, community, and actionable insights.
  • “Summit really changed their career trajectory...they felt like they were welcomed into this community, even though they weren’t the people that I had seen before at conferences or within the CPA financial planning world.” – Lyle Benson [23:40]
• High Return Attendance:
  The fact that many register before the program is announced attests to the event’s reputation for value.
  • “So many people register...before the agenda is even put out is an indication...that people are so enthusiastic about being back in the room to...build on that community.” – Michael Goodman [24:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Study group on steroids...a dialog of the people in the room along with the expert knowledgeable speaker to create even more from a typical session that you would get at a conference.”
  – Michael Goodman [01:52]

• “That community has become so important...I could reach out and ask questions or bounce ideas off of [members].”
  – Brook Salvini [06:07]

• “We’re at the tip of the spear...we have to constantly learn. We have to learn from each other. We have to learn together.”
  – Cheryl Holland [10:06]

• “The rising tide raises all boats, I guess, is the idea...That community has become so important.”
  – Lyle Benson [05:36]

• “Wherever you are in your career development, developing your leadership skills are important. Thinking about these issues are important.”
  – Brook Salvini [20:58]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:38 | Introduction to guests and Summit’s origins | | 01:52 | Michael explains the “community” and “study group on steroids” model | | 03:25 | Discussion on intentional session structuring for interaction | | 06:07 | Brook describes the role of physical space and relationships in building community| | 07:52 | Summit Presents: COVID legacy and sustaining connections | | 10:06 | Cheryl’s perspective on Summit’s impact for the profession’s learning/sharing DNA| | 14:02 | Transition to new location: Charlotte, NC | | 15:51 | Agenda evolution—emergent themes, human-centric sessions, storytelling | | 19:17 | Cheryl's description of Summit’s camaraderie and out-of-class activities | | 20:58 | Impactful memories, attendee testimonials, and the relevance for all career stages| | 23:40 | Career-changing stories and high return attendance | | 24:27 | Registration details and closing summary |

Conclusion

The AICPA PFP Summit distinguishes itself as a deeply collaborative, relationship-driven event, evolving in direct response to its members’ needs and professional challenges. As a learning community, it forges an ongoing exchange of knowledge, cultivates inclusion, and empowers the next generation of financial planners. Attendees don’t just learn—they belong. The 2025 Summit in Charlotte promises to continue this legacy with new experiences, expanded participation, and ever-deepening connections.

For more information or to register:
Visit the AICPA PFP Section
2025 Summit Dates: January 26–29, Charlotte, NC