2026 FPA NorCal Conference
Speakers & Sessions

At Cookman Law, we’re passionate about helping families with loved ones who will need extra support after the parents are gone. We help parents design an estate plan and build a professional team that provides scaffolding for their loved ones to thrive, ensuring financial security and protection. We then continue supporting families through our Client Care Plan, keeping their estate plan up to date as their needs evolve. When the time comes, we assist with trust administration, ensuring assets are transferred smoothly and securely to the next generation.

Ellen Cookman is the principal attorney of Cookman Law and a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate from Golden Gate University. Ellen lives in East Palo Alto with her husband and their two boys (her older son has high-functioning autism), a Siberian husky mix named Rosie, and a kitty named Skittles.

Chuck is a leading advocate for fiduciary care and advisor independence in the RIA space.

In addition to founding Sovereign Financial Group, Inc., one of the country’s fastest-growing RIA platforms, he is the host of goRIA: Fueled by InvestmentNews. Through goRIA.com, a media outlet dedicated exclusively to helping advisors transition to and succeed as RIAs, Chuck actively supports advisors exploring independence.

Chuck has been a financial advisor for more than 25 years. He began his career in the early 1990s in New York City as a “cold-calling cowboy” selling individual stocks, but from the start knew his long-term goal was independence.

That vision became reality in 1999 when Chuck opened an independent branch of Raymond James Financial. Around that time, he earned his CFP® designation and shifted his practice from individual stock selection to comprehensive financial planning.

Over time, Chuck’s firm evolved into what is now Sovereign Financial Group, Inc., an SEC-registered RIA with advisors across the country.

A founder and industry advocate, Chuck serves on the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association of Connecticut and is frequently quoted in the media on RIA trends, regulation, and the advisor breakaway movement.

Matt J. Goren, PhD CFP® designs and delivers industry-leading financial planning education at scale. He combines lessons from his teaching experience with best practices in adult education, artificial intelligence, and organizational psychology. He is an Investment News “40 under 40” and has won national awards from ThinkAdvisor, Investopedia, Yahoo! Finance, and the AFCPE.

Matt is Chief Strategy Officer for Danko Education, which offers the most popular CFP® exam prep course. He is also the co-founder of the Global Financial Planning Institute, a FinServ mentor, and serves with the Financial Planning Association and Academy of Financial Services.

Previously, Matt ran the CFP® education programs at Dalton Education and The American College. He also worked at CFP Board as Director of Knowledge for Practice, was a professor of personal finance at the University of Georgia, and created and produced the lighthearted personal finance show Nothing Funny About Money on NPR.

Matt Hougan is the Chief Investment Officer for Bitwise Asset Management, a specialist crypto asset manager that manages more than $15 billion across a suite of more than 25 ETFs, index funds, SMAs, and active strategies.

Before joining Bitwise in 2018, Hougan was CEO of ETF.com, where he created the first ETF data, ratings, and classification system, and built the world’s largest ETF conference.

Hougan’s thoughts on investing have been widely profiled in the media. He is a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business; a columnist for Forbes; and a three-time member of the Barron’s ETF Roundtable. He is co-author of two publications for the CFA Institute Research Foundation: “A Comprehensive Guide to Exchange-Traded Funds,” and “Cryptoassets: The Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Cryptocurrency for Investment Professionals.”

In addition to his role at Bitwise, Hougan is the co-founder of Future Proof, creator of the world’s largest financial services conference; a board member of QuantumStreet AI, a leading AI-driven investing company; and a strategic advisor to Blockworks, a crypto events and research company.

Terri Kallsen is an accomplished wealth management executive known for leading strategic initiatives. As Head of Partnerships at Rise Growth, she leads enterprise transformation, strategic planning, organic growth initiatives, client experience and platform. She collaborates with RIA leaders as for succession planning options and valuation. She previously was Chief Operating Officer at WEG, she led advisor teams, platform, M&A integrations, financial planning.

Prior to WEG, she was EVP at Charles Schwab, led 7,000 employees and $1.6 T AUM. Terri is a respected speaker and writer who has been featured in Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MSNBC, CNN, and other leading outlets. She was 2019 San Francisco’s Financial Woman of the Year for her dedication to mentoring and empowering women. A Certified Financial Planner® she serves as Chair of the CFP® Board of Directors.

She attended University of Chicago Booth School of Business CFO Program, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Benedict/Saint John’s. Terri lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Scott, of 30 years, and have three adult children. An enthusiastic marathon runner, she has completed 21 marathons, 50 half marathons, and even more triathlons.

With over 15 years of experience in the health insurance industry and a law degree, Margo Steinlage Kreider is a nationally recognized expert in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Leading a trusted and experienced team that serves thousands of clients, she collaborates with wealth managers, CPAs, and HR leaders nationwide to seamlessly integrate Medicare and ACA planning into comprehensive retirement strategies. Margo’s mission is to simplify the complexities of healthcare coverage while maximizing value and confidence for clients. Her expertise, integrity, and client-centered approach have established her as a leading authority and educator in the evolving healthcare landscape.

Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience as a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is the founder and principal of Kupfer., PLLC, a leading corporate and deal law firm, which has handled hundreds of advisor transitions to independence and RIA industry M&A transactions representing sellers and buyers. He is also the author of the Amazon best-selling book Authentic Negotiating: Clarity, Detachment & Equilibrium – The Three Keys To True Negotiating Success & How To Achieve Them and the creator and host of the highly rated DealQuest Podcast. www.kupferlaw.com.

Ben serves as the Chief Communications Officer at the Financial Planning Association, where he directs all communications and public relations strategies. His responsibilities encompass media relations, organizational messaging, media training, speechwriting, and overseeing all consumer-facing initiatives. Ben collaborates closely with the marketing, conferences, and publications teams to ensure the Association’s public presence is strategic, cohesive, and impactful.

With a career in financial services dating back to 1998, Ben has held diverse roles, including founding and serving as president of Perception, Inc., a premier public relations firm dedicated to serving financial advisory firms and institutions from 2002 to 2010. His experience also spans the political and non-profit sectors, giving him a well-rounded perspective.

A 1995 graduate of Bradley University, Ben is the author of the book “Perfecting the Pitch: Creating Publicity Through Media Rapport” (Larston, 2007). Outside of work, he is a passionate Boston sports fan, a devoted Tom Brady supporter, and a jelly doughnut enthusiast. He resides in Clarksburg, MD, with his wife, Wendy, and their daughters, Izzy (18) and Jillian (15).

Hannah Moore, CFP®, is the founder of Guiding Wealth, a Texas-based RIA firm, and Amplified Planning, a company dedicated to training the next generation of financial planners. She created and hosts The Externship, an 8-week virtual program that provides students, career changers, and professionals with an inside look at the diverse paths in financial planning. The program now has over 6,500 Alumni. Recognized as a leader and innovator, Amplified Planning earned the 2025 Excellence in Gender, Diversity & Inclusion award from Investment News. Hannah herself has earned the 2021 Heart of Financial Planning Award, the 2023 Industry Transformer Award, and the 2024 Innovator of the Year Award. Her mission is to transform the financial planning profession by changing how planners are educated and trained.

Ron Ricard is one of fewer than 150 people nationwide designated as a Certified Exchange Specialist®, as accredited by the Federation of Exchange Accommodators. He has taught 1031 tax exchange accredited courses to tens of thousands of investors, real estate and tax professionals, financial planners and attorneys over the past 24 years and is known as a true expert in the field. Ron is a frequent guest on local radio and television real estate shows and is a guest lecturer at the College of San Mateo, Foothill and Chabot Colleges. He served on the Board of Directors of the Commercial Realtors Association and the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, which awarded him the 2010 Affiliate of the Year. Before joining IPX1031®, Ron had 18 years of experience in the energy industry, focusing primarily on regulatory, legislative and legal issues. He has a BS in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA in Marketing and is an active real estate investor.

Joy Slabaugh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, licensed therapist, and educator specializing in the psychological and relational dynamics of wealth. With advanced degrees in taxation and mental health counseling, she bridges the gap between financial strategy and human connection, helping high-net-worth individuals, couples, and financial advisors navigate the complexities of wealth with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.

Joy’s expertise spans wealth management, behavioral finance, and advisor training, equipping financial professionals with the relational skills needed to build trust and deepen client relationships. She also works directly with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, guiding them through the emotional and identity challenges that often accompany significant wealth.

A sought-after speaker, consultant, and industry thought leader, Joy has worked with top financial firms and private clients, reshaping the way people think about money beyond numbers. Her work challenges the traditional wealth narrative, offering a more human, values-driven approach to financial decision-making. Whether through keynote talks, advisor coaching, or client consulting, Joy empowers people to align wealth with impact, ensuring their financial success creates lasting fulfillment and meaningful change.

Dr. Joaquin Wallace is a nationally recognized leader in behavioral finance and generational wealth development. He is the creator of the Seven-Stage Generational Wealth Model® and the Financial Genetic Code®, frameworks that help financial professionals better understand and influence client behavior. An accomplished speaker, educator, and consultant, he integrates emotional well-being, neuroscience, and financial planning to strengthen every phase of the Seven-Step Financial Planning Process. Dr. Wallace is the Amazon best-selling author of Generational Wealth Begins with Generational Knowledge®. His leadership has earned distinctions, including the Wells Fargo “Living History Makers” Award and recognition as one of the most influential Black contemporary leaders of the 21st century. A former appointee to the Quality Education Commission, he now serves as an adjunct instructor at Golden Gate University. He has also been featured in national periodicals for his work in marginalized communities. A former appointee to the Quality Education Commission, he currently serves as an adjunct instructor in the Financial Planning and Public Policy departments at Golden Gate University. He has also been featured in national periodicals for his work in marginalized communities and his efforts to break persistent systemic financial barriers.