Last week, I had the chance to fly out to Santa Barbara, California, for the AssetMark Platinum Summit. Just a couple hundred independent advisors from across the country were invited, and it was pretty special to be in that room.
Now, every time I get invited to one of these conferences, the same pattern plays out. At first, I’m excited—I definitely want to go. Then, as the date gets closer, reality sets in: I have to get flights lined up, block off my calendar, and figure out when I’m leaving and when I’m getting back. And, without fail, the day before (sometimes even the morning of), I ask myself, “Should I really be spending my time doing this?” But then I arrive, and almost 100% of the time I think, “I’m so glad I made the effort.” This trip was no exception.
The setting and resort were incredible, and the conference itself was run really well. The sessions covered a wide range of topics—politics, portfolio design, new investment products that just a few years ago weren’t even accessible to the average investor, and of course a lot on artificial intelligence and how it’s shaping the future of our work. One of the most impactful parts for me, though, was the time we spent on behavioral finance and the psychology of long-term investing—why people make the choices they do, how emotions and biases can get in the way, and the role we play as advisors in keeping clients disciplined when it matters most. That’s something I see firsthand in my own practice, which made it especially meaningful.
The speakers were excellent, but honestly, what I valued most was the time spent with other advisors. Some were people I’d seen before, so it was fun to catch up. Others I met for the first time, and we compared notes on how each of us runs our practice—the investments we rely on, the services we provide, and the ways we try to help clients. What stood out to me was how client-focused everyone was. There wasn’t a lot of ego in that room—just a group of successful people genuinely working to grow, make an impact, and leave a legacy.
After almost 25 years of attending these kinds of conferences, I’ve learned not to come home with a thick stack of notes that eventually get forgotten. Instead, I jot down just a handful of things that really matter—ideas I can bring back, share with the team, and actually implement. Sometimes they’re small tweaks, sometimes bigger projects. This time, my focus is on enhancing efficiency and really leaning into AI as part of our service model.
That’s what makes these trips worthwhile. The inspiration is important, but what really matters is what you do with it once you’re home.
Mark J Modzeleski, CFS, CLTC, AIF
President, Legacy Wealth Advisors of NY