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premier wealth & finance speakers
e3 collaborate speakers
September 28-30, 2025
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
1107 Jamboree Rd | Newport Beach, CA | 92660
Tom Hegna is an economist, author, and retirement expert. He has been an incredibly popular industry speaker for many years and is considered by many to be THE Retirement Income Expert!.
As a former First Vice President at New York Life, retired Lieutenant Colonel, and economist, Tom has delivered over 5,000 seminars on his signature “Paychecks and Playchecks” retirement approach, helping Baby Boomers and seniors retire the “optimal” way. He has condensed a large chunk of his considerable knowledge into 5 books
David McKnight graduated from Brigham Young University with Honors in 1997. He has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, The New York Times, Fox Business, Bloomberg Radio, MarketWatch, CBS Radio, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq.com, Reuters, Investor’s Business Daily, Kiplinger’s and numerous other national publications. David’s bestselling book The Power of Zero has sold over 400,000 copies and the updated and revised version was published by Penguin Random House in 2018. This book was recently made into a full-length documentary film entitled The Power of Zero: The Tax Train Is Coming. When his follow-up book Tax-Free Income for Life launched in November of 2020, it finished the week as the #3 most-sold business book in the world. When his most recent book The Guru Gap launched in December of 2024, it finished the week at #8 on the USA Today Bestseller list and was the top-selling business book in the world. He and his wife Felice have seven children.
Wade Pfau is a researcher focused on creating data-driven, and research-based information about retirement income planning and author of over sixty peer-reviewed research articles and four books, including the Retirement Planning Guidebook. He has been a curriculum and program director for two of the leading retirement professional designations available to financial advisors: the RICP® and the RMA. And today, he is the director of retirement research for McLean Assessment Management, founder of Retirement Researcher, and co-founder of the Retirement Income Style Awareness® (RISA®) tool.
Jamie Hopkins has worked with NextGen students for years. A nationally-recognized writer, researcher, and educator, he is a regular contributor to Forbes, InvestmentNews and MarketWatch. Jamie has been published in dozens of financial, educational and legal journals. Jamie is CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management and CWO at WSFS.
Dr. Sanjay Tolani is a globally recognized financial mentor and speaker, known for empowering over hundreds of thousands of advisors through his Sanjay Mentoring Family community. A 20-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Dr. Sanjay made history as its youngest member at age 19, with 16 Top of the Table honors and 9 years as a Platinum Dragon.
Renowned for his energetic, engaging presentations, Dr. Sanjay simplifies complex financial concepts into clear, actionable strategies that drive real results. His sessions are consistently sold out and trusted to deliver meaningful impact in the financial services industry.
Joseph Strazzeri, Esq. is an experienced attorney and counselor for families and business owners, with over 20 years of legal expertise and a background as a former general contractor, land developer, and business owner. He educates wealth advisors and provides strategic counsel through multiple entities, including the Southern California Institute, which fosters collaboration and education, and the Laureate Center for Wealth Advisors, offering advanced training for professionals in the wealth management field. Joe also leads Strazzeri Mancini LLP, where he helps affluent families with tax, estate planning, and business succession, and the Founders Group, which guides business owners through transitions to maximize value. Passionate about helping clients protect their wealth and achieve success, Joe is dedicated to resolving complex issues and empowering others in the wealth management space.
Lindsey Lewis champions diverse women in the financial services industry in her role as Director and Chair of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services. She also co-chairs the American College Next Gen Advisory Task Force, an organization dedicated to attracting new talent to the financial services industry. In addition to her full-time role, she hosts The College’s Women Working in Wealth Podcast, was named to InvestmentNews’ 40 Under 40 list, was the recipient of the Excell Represents Rising Star Woman in Wealth Management award, volunteers with Savvy Ladies (a pro-bono financial planning non-profit) and holds two degrees from Utah Valley University: Personal Financial Planning and an MBA. Before joining The College, Lewis started her career as a financial advisor at one of the largest RIAs in Utah and later changed roles and served as a senior financial advisor at a large broker-dealer.
Amber Stitt is a financial strategist, insurance expert, and CliftonStrengths® Coach dedicated to helping professionals achieve financial success through personalized, strength-based planning. With deep roots in the medical insurance space, she co-founded M.D. Disability Quotes, a leading independent brokerage specializing in Disability, Life, and Extended Care Planning.
Amber holds multiple industry designations including ChFC®, CLU®, CLTC®, and leverages her “Pathways to Peak Performance” framework to guide clients toward their goals. She’s also the President and Director of Marketing for the Phoenix Chapter of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) and a committed member of NAIFA, advocating for the future of the financial services industry.
Dr. Daralee Barbera, EdD, CFP® is a renowned leader in financial services, executive coaching and leadership development. She is Co-Principal and President of Diversified Professional Coaching (DPC) LLC, leading a team with over 700 years of collective industry experience. A former Managing Principal at Waddell & Reed, Dr. Barbera brings 34 years of field experience to her roles as an international speaker, author and professor.
At The American College of Financial Services, she serves as Program Director and Chair in Practice Management and Leadership. An award-winning advocate for women in finance, Daralee has been recognized by NAIFA, WIFS and Life Health Pro, and frequently appears in national media and industry publications.
Shari McHugh is a seasoned legislative advocate and partner at McHugh Koepke Padron Government Relations, with over 25 years of experience in government affairs and public relations. She represents a broad portfolio of high-profile clients including the American Beverage Association, NAIFA California, California Credit Union League, and Warner Music Group. Shari has served as Senior Vice President at both the Coalition of California Insurance Professionals (CCIP) and the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), where she led lobbying efforts, regulatory strategy, grassroots engagement, and public affairs.
Known for her deep connections across California’s political landscape, Shari holds a B.A. in Political Communication and Government from California State University, Sacramento, and is recognized for her longstanding contributions to the insurance and public policy sectors.
Panos Leledakis is a globally recognized AI and InsurTech expert, speaker, and advisor with over 25 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. With speaking engagements in 40+ countries, Panos is known for transforming complex technologies into simple, powerful tools that professionals can use immediately and effectively.
A top-performing advisor and manager himself, Panos empowers financial professionals to leverage AI, automation, and emerging tech to revolutionize prospecting, branding, client engagement, and daily operations—with no cost and minimal effort. His sessions are packed with real-world applications, live demos, and mind-blowing strategies, from creating custom AI chatbots to personalized video marketing and futuristic tools like NFC and AR.
David Wood is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Gateway Financial Partners, which he launched in 1994. With decades of experience in the financial services industry, David is recognized as a dynamic leader and innovator dedicated to helping independent advisors grow and thrive. He’s known for identifying strategic opportunities, championing advisors success, and fostering a culture of integrity and innovation.
David is deeply committed to community impact – he serves on the board of Females & Finance, is a signee of the Fearless Pledge, and supports both local and national initiatives. A sought-after speaker, he has presented at numerous industry conferences including the MarketCounsel Summit, Investment New RIA Summit, and the Fearless Investing Summit. His insights are frequently featured in WealthManagement.com, Investment News, and Yahoo Finance. Today, Gateway supports over 170 advisors in 26 states and continues to be a leading force in the independent advisory space.
Sue Kuraja isa seasoned tech researcher, insurtech strategist and business transformation advocate currently servicing as National President of Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS). With leadership roles spanning insurtech, nonprofit consulting, and brokerage distribution across 16 states for MassMutual, Sue brings deep industry insight and passion for innovation. She is a founding member of The Consulate Group, a TechEd agency focused on AI, loT and blockchain. She also actively contributes as a speaker, writer and member in the financial and insurance space.
She is a proud member of AWIC, Finseca, NAIFA and serves as a MassChallenge Accelerator Judge.
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