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by Colleen Kowalski on March 9, 2023
The 2023 Exit Planning Summit heads back to Scottsdale, Arizona this May. This year we are thrilled to have over 40 speakers, over 30 industry partners, 16 breakout sessions, five Power Sessions, and three supplemental workshops in our Summit lineup.
March is Women’s History Month. As we celebrate the women in the EPI Community, this month we are highlighting some of the incredible women who will share their knowledge and insights with our network at the 2023 Exit Planning Summit.
Today we introduce one of our Power Session Speakers, Meghaan Lurtz.
Meet Meghaan Lurtz, Ph.D., FBS™
Meghaan Lurtz, Ph.D., FBS™ is a Professor of Practice at Kansas State University where she teaches courses for the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate Program, a lecturer at Columbia University where she teaches Financial Psychology, and an on-staff writer and researcher of financial psychology at Kitces.com. Her research interests vary as she studies both practitioners of financial planning as well as financial planning and financial therapy practices and interventions. Her research and expertise have been featured in Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Consumer Affairs, Financial Planning Review, Wall Street Journal, BBC, Million Dollar Roundtable, and New York Magazine. She has also contributed chapters to the CFP Board’s textbook, Client Psychology. Meghaan is a past President and current board member of the Financial Therapy Association and Financial Psychology Institute Europe.
We spoke with Meghaan to learn more about her Power Session, why she wanted to be a part of the Exit Planning Summit, and what strides the financial planning industry can make toward gender parity.
What made you eager to speak at the 2023 Exit Planning Summit?
Meghaan: Exit planning is an exciting topic. Advisors help lots of clients do it and having a conference dedicated to this important transition is immensely beneficial.
What can Summit attendees expect from your session this May?
Meghaan: I will be sharing my presentation entitled, “Upping Your Question Game: 25 Questions for Better Client Connections Throughout The Financial Planning Engagement”. In this session, we will talk about why certain questions make more or less sense as the relationship progresses. We will also discuss the psychology of questions, which gives financial advisors more knowledge to impact engagement.
Other than your session, what are you most looking forward to about the Summit?
Meghaan: I love studying risk. I am looking forward to all of the presentations regarding risk in business and how to mitigate those risks.
Who are your role models in business?
Meghaan: Oh, you know…that one guy, Michael Kitces. I also value Meg Bartelt, Kristen Luke, and people like Dr. Martin Seligman or Dr. Daniel Kahneman who turn their research into businesses.
How have you served as a role model for others in your industry and in your personal life?
Meghaan: Through my writing on the Kitces platform and my work at Columbia and Kansas State University, I have mentored many advisors and owners.
As a woman in the exit planning industry, do you believe there is parity in the industry? If not, what do you think would improve gender parity in the industry?
Meghaan: Financial planning is a difficult industry. It is hard for women and it is hard for men. I have been very fortunate in my life to work with wonderful women and men who have pushed me and supported me. I have written about this topic on Kitces.com and have done research with Dr. Derek Tharp and Michael Kitces on the gender pay gap among financial professionals which can be found here.
What advice do you have for women looking to start their own business or grow their business?
Meghaan: My best advice would be to surround yourself with other professionals who care about you and want to talk about your business.
Register for the Exit Planning Summit
This year, Exit Planning Institute is hosting the first-ever Women in Exit Planning Symposium after the Exit Planning Summit. The Women in Exit Planning Symposium will bring together women advisors, business owners, and men who work on women business owners’ advisory teams. This event will foster collaboration between all different advisor specialties together in the exit planning community. It will feature a panel of female exit planners who will share best practices, discuss challenges women face in the exit planning profession, and how to build value in your business. Additionally, the symposium offers a chance for exit planning professionals to network with other women across the advisory community.
Bundle your Exit Planning Summit registration with the Women in Exit Planning Symposium for four days filled with incredible exit planning and business development content.
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