National Educational Conference
Each May, hundreds of registered representatives, premier partners in business and a strong line-up of prominent industry speakers gather from across the nation to network and educate themselves at NEXT Financial Group's annual National Educational Conference. This four-day conference educates attendees on current regulatory trends and gives them the opportunity to engage in over 70 intimate, educational and business building sessions, a variety of which count toward their continuing education requirements. NEXT Financial Holdings’ annual shareholder meeting and Division Managers required annual training is also held at the conference.
Houston is home to the conference every odd year, giving representatives the opportunity to tour NEXT’s 33,000 square foot headquarters. Even years bring different locations. Past conference destinations have included Lake Las Vegas, Chicago and Atlanta. Past featured keynote speakers have included nationally renowned presenter and ESPN analyst, Dr. Kevin Elko; retirement and investing expert, Dr. Greg Salsbury; economic and financial commentator, Dr. Jeffrey Rosenweig; writer, actor, TV personality and financial commentator Ben Stein; Christopher Gardner, who the movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” was written about, and many more.
Forty of our top individual producers and 15 top divisions are awarded during our Awards Reception. Each year the challenge gets more competitive as reps strive to achieve their vision.
4WARD Marketing choreographs the entire event and aspires to make every conference a phenomenal experience.
Top Producers Educational Conference
January 1st starts out each year with a fierce annual competition. NEXT representatives compete for an exclusive invitation to a premier getaway. The luxurious destination is chosen by NEXT reps during the National Educational Conference the previous year. Each year gets more competitive as representatives pursue their vision.
In addition to the top 35 individual producing representatives (NFISCO insurance commissions being applied) awarded with a premier getaway, we also recognize the top five divisions, the top five WE2 advisors, and the top five reps who experience the most growth as a result of using 4WARD’s services.
Past destinations have included The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas; The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; The Princess, Scottsdale and Squaw Creek Valley Resort and Spa, Lake Tahoe.
NEXT University
Inaugurated in 2005, this annual, educational workshop is exclusively for NEXT representative’s assistants. The three day event starts with a tour of NEXT’s headquarters where assistants are able to meet the home office staff who supports their offices every day, followed by a welcome reception.
The meeting kicks off with a keynote speaker who focuses his powerful three-hour session on how to improve office efficiencies and organizational skills, and how to give others in the office the “Ritz Carlton Experience” when working with them. The following day and-a-half is filled with action packed presentations featuring:
- Information Technology – NetX360™
- Brokerage Business and Documentum
- An Overview of WE2
- Trading and Order Execution
- New Account Procedures
- Customer Service
- The Commission Process
- 4WARD’s World Class Marketing Support
- NFISCO, Navigating the World of Fixed Insurance
- Compliance and Licensing
The session is followed by an open forum where assistants can ask members of the management team and executives questions; and concludes with a graduation ceremony where assistants are awarded a Certificate of Completion of Brokerage Science from Barry Knight, President of NEXT Financial Group.
