As 2023 winds down and temperatures on Wall Street plummet, allow Financial Planning to transport you back to warmer days and one of the hottest wealth management events of the year.
This holiday season Financial Planning is taking a special look back at
Our walk down memory lane is a series of exclusive interviews with insiders and newsmakers conducted by Financial Planning Wealthtech Reporter Justin L. Mack,
In this clip, Mack speaks with Reese Harper, the CEO of Utah-based financial monitoring platform Elements and founder of Dentist Advisors.
Harper founded Dentist Advisors in 2007 with a vision to deliver fiduciary advice and help clients embrace the habits of holistic financial health. And while running his firm, he developed and launched Elements amid the pandemic to give advisors and clients a way to
Future Proof 2023 was Harper's first time attending the event. And while soaking up some sun was certainly on the agenda, his primary focus was connecting with and learning from other leaders who made the trip to the beach.
"I love meeting people. And I saw Michael [Kitces] like a half hour before … and we can always just talk for hours and nonstop. He's the only person that talks over me. And I actually want to listen to every time he interrupts me and starts going," Harper said with a laugh. "You know, there's a lot of people that know more than me … and that's really fun. There's a lot of people I like to listen to, so I'm here mostly for the people and the stories."
That enthusiasm for personal connection is something Harper has valued throughout his career. For him, the people are the highlight, and every new connection provides a new opportunity to grow.
"I mean, it's a very human business that we're in. These relationships are what life is all about. Our client relationships are what we can remember, and the memories are what give us meaning," he said. "I really enjoyed meeting people here because they have really big hearts. And a lot of them are trying to build relationships with other people and make their lives better."
Check out the full interview below.
Future Proof, an event billed as the first wealth festival, is making its return next summer and dates for Future Proof 2024 have already been announced. The event is slated to return to Huntington Beach Sept. 15-18, 2024.
Future Proof is also expanding in the new year with the addition of Future Proof Retreat, an additional event for wealth management leaders that will take place March 24-27 in Colorado Springs.
