Cryptocurrency, tax reform and retirement planning among topics at annual LIFT2 Symposium at Wright State

Michael Fink, dean and chief academic officer at The American College of Financial Services.

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency, tax reform and retirement planning are just a few of the topics nationally known experts will present at the fourth annual LIFT² Symposium hosted by Wright State University.

The Leading Innovation and Finance Today and Tomorrow (LIFT²) Symposium will take place on Friday, March 23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Student Union.

Registration is $25 for students and $125 advance general registration and $150 for those who register the day of the symposium. The symposium schedule and registration information is available at wright.edu/event/lift-symposium.

The keynote speakers for the event are Michael Finke, dean and chief academic officer at The American College of Financial Services and an expert in retirement income planning, and Gary Wagner, vice president and senior regional officer of the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Wagner is responsible for managing the Reserve Bank’s regional stakeholder relationships in central and southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky.

Gary Wagner, vice president and senior regional officer of the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

As the morning keynote speaker, Wagner will begin the symposium by discussing the vast economic data considered by the Federal Reserve and focus on meaningful trends and forecasts for domestic and global economic growth. The strength of the dollar, global trade issues and more will set the stage for the rest of the day.

In the morning, Finke will hold a breakout session about retirement income planning, followed by a keynote speech during lunch. His keynote will include a discussion of trends in longevity, new research on the stages in retirement, spending, time and use patterns and life satisfaction. A comprehensive retirement plan incorporates both financial and lifestyle goals, and Finke will provide insight into how an adviser can help clients get the most of this life cycle stage.

Marlena Akhbari, associate professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Financial Services in the Raj Soin College of Business, said the symposium is an exciting way to educate participants about timely, cutting-edge topics and bring together students from regional universities to network with practicing professionals.

Alan Moore, a certified financial planner and founder of XY Planning Network, which serves clients in generations X and Y, commended the symposium for its organization and attention to detail.

Alan Moore, a certified financial planner and founder of XY Planning Network.

“This is probably the biggest and most well put-together symposium that I’ve done at a university level. This is very much a full-fledged conference at a university, which is not typically what you see,” said Moore, a returning LIFT² speaker.

Additional sessions during the LIFT² Symposium include “Recruit, Train, Retain: Leveraging NextGen Talent to Secure Your Firm’s Future” by Moore; “Everything you need to know about Social Security” by Theresa Busher, a public affairs specialist for the Social Security offices of Greater Dayton and Springfield; “Tax Reform and its Impact” by Robert Keebler, a partner with Keebler and Associates tax planning; and “Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency” by Greg Merideth, who runs Brixey and Meyer’s Business Advisory Services team.