With CE ‘free,’ what’s the real conference ROI for advisors?

If you’ve ever stared at a crowded inbox full of invites to wealth management conferences, you’ve probably asked yourself: Which ones are actually worth the time, money and travel?

IWI

In-person industry conferences have made a strong comeback, and advisors have more choices than ever. But not all conferences are created equal. Earlier this year, the Investments & Wealth Institute issued a “Future of Conferences” study, which gathered data from IWI’s 15,000 certified professionals; quantitative feedback from 335 survey respondents; and qualitative feedback from six focus groups comprised of speakers, corporate decision makers, “often-attenders” and “never-attenders.”

Based on the study, we offer insights into what RIAs, independent broker-dealers and wirehouse firms are prioritizing in the current event landscape — and more importantly, what financial professionals should be looking for to get the most out of their professional development.

With CE ‘free,’ conference value lies elsewhere

IWI processes about 265,000 hours of continuing education (CE) in any given year. In 2019, about a third of those hours came from live events. In the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, that percentage fell to the single digits, and by 2024 had risen only slightly to 11% of CE hours originating from live events.  

Tied to the reduction in event attendance has been a dramatic increase in digital CE offerings and the percentage of CE earned through “free” sources. In fact, the IWI study found that 17% of IWI-certified practitioners earn all of their CE through free sources, with another quarter of them earning up to half of their CE through free sources.

The result is CE alone is no longer enough to draw financial advisors to conferences. The true value of in-person industry events now lie in the professional connections and practical insights they offer. 

The best events aren’t just a chance to earn credit — they are an opportunity to make meaningful connections with peers, sharpen your thinking and improve your practice.

Advisors get the most out of conferences offering sessions that deliver real implementation value: hands-on workshops; peer-to-peer exchanges; and content tailored to their career stage, business model or area of specialization. If a conference itinerary is filled with noninteractive lectures featuring slide-deck marathons, it’s probably not worth your time.

READ MORE: 63 brokers suspended, 4 banned in CE cheating scheme

Entertainment is not education

Today’s events can lean heavily on flash: beachside venues, influencer panels, live music and over-the-top social events. While these can be fun, they don’t always align with what clients or firms expect in a fiduciary-focused industry. Advisors should be mindful of optics and outcomes. If clients see branded photos of you sipping cocktails at the beach in the middle of the day, they may start to question whether your professional development is actually professional. 

More importantly, advisors may find themselves leaving with a swag bag — but not much else. A worthwhile event should feel like an investment in your business, not a break from it.

Just the gist

The most impactful conferences today are short on fluff and focused on creating value for attendees. Across age groups, advisors consistently said they want shorter, more concentrated events that provide clear takeaways and practical insight.

In particular, the IWI study found that younger advisors and those recently certified are seeking:

• Collaborative strategy workshops. Small-group sessions focused on solving real advisory challenges through hands-on planning, peer input and facilitator-led exercises.
• Peer mastermind groups. Curated discussions among experienced advisors that foster idea-sharing, accountability and advanced problem-solving in a confidential setting.
• Fireside chats with real-world insights. Informal conversations with industry leaders or top-performing advisors that offer practical lessons, not just theory or headlines.
• TED-style talks and discussion-based sessions. Short, focused presentations designed to spark new thinking, followed by interactive group dialogue to deepen understanding and application.

Also keep in mind that the real value of an event may come not from the stage but from who is sitting next to you. The IWI study showed that advisors are showing up to conferences not to fulfill a requirement, but to fuel progress. They want to walk away with frameworks they can use, strategies they can test and relationships they can count on long after the event wraps.

3 questions to pose before booking tickets

Finally, before registering for an event, advisors should ask themselves these questions:

• Will this event give me something I can use on Monday morning?
• Will I be surrounded by people I can learn from?
• Will it challenge my thinking or help me serve clients better?

The best conferences not only educate, they accelerate an advisor’s growth. Choose wisely, and it could be a turning point in your career. Choose poorly, and you could be spending time and money on content you could have watched from your desk without gaining the connections, insights or momentum that make in-person learning worth it.