Kitces Value Summit 2025

Michael Kitces is the Head of Planning Strategy for Buckingham Wealth Partners, a private wealth management and advisor TAMP platform based in St Louis, MO, that oversees approximately $50 billion of client assets.

In addition, he is a co-founder of XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View through his website Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning. In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.

Taylor Schulte, CFP® is the founder of Define Financial, a fee-only retirement planning firm in San Diego, CA. In addition, he is the co-founder of The AGC Community and hosts a popular marketing podcast for financial advisors called Experiments in Advisor Marketing.

Schulte has been recognized as a Top 40 Advisor Under 40 by InvestmentNews and as a Top 10 independent financial advisor by Investopedia. When he’s not nerding out on marketing, you can find him traveling with his wife and two sons, searching for the next best carne asada burrito, or trying to master Adam Scott’s golf swing.

Emily has a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Spanish from Texas Tech University. Emily went on to obtain a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University. Before graduating, Emily passed the Certified Financial Planner™ exam.

Emily has focused her professional work on financial planning since the beginning of her career. She finds passion in helping real people improve their relationship with money and their overall outcome in life. Founding TrailWise allows her to practice this passion fully while proving to herself and the entire industry that planning can be individualized and scalable at the same time. She hopes her future continues to expand the access to planning and to encourage clients to engage with their money more and more.

Thomas is the Director of Operations + Planning at Pandowealth, a fee-only RIA primarily serving Chick-fil-A Operators and Support Staff. After spending time working directly with clients, he has transitioned to a role overseeing the firm's operations, client experience, processes, and Financial Planning standards. His work is most fulfilling when he is helping both clients and advisors solve problems and have a frictionless experience. Thomas studied Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State and Advanced Financial Planning at Golden Gate University. He lives in Georgia with his wife and 3 children.

Daniel Kopp, MA, MSFP, CFP ®, MQFP ®, is a fee-only financial planner, financial therapist, and founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning where he helps young widows and widowers, Gold Star Widows, and active duty military officers organize their financial lives by aligning money with their deeply-held values. He leverages his personal experiences as a widower and an Air Force veteran to offer a deeper level of client engagement. In addition to offering comprehensive, holistic financial planning services, he specializes in working with young widows dealing with financial anxiety through the lens of financial therapy. He is an XYPN, NAPFA, and FTA member as well as being a founding board member of Military Financial Advisors Association (MFAA). His education includes his BS in Economics from Purdue University with highest distinction, an MA from American Military University, a Graduate Certificate in Financial Therapy and an MS in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University. He is an adjunct professor at Regent University and has been published in the Journal of Financial Therapy on working with widows dealing with money avoidance.

Tim Goodwin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) professional with a finance degree from Berry College. He started Goodwin Investment Advisory, an independent, fee-only RIA in 2004. He is the author of Exponential Wealth. Tim is married to his college sweetheart. They have three beautiful daughters and live on a small farm. Tim is passionate about culture, marketing, real estate, fitness, travel, generosity, non-profit work, and long walks on the beach ;)

As the founder of Solaris Strategic Wealth, Nicole leads with purpose: to empower financial literacy and help clients live the boldest version of their lives. With decades of experience in wealth management and a deep belief in aligning financial planning with personal values, she's built a firm that prioritizes people—not just portfolios.

Solaris is an independent wealth management office where integrity, kindness, transparency, and innovation guide every decision.

John is the Co-Founding Partner of CandorPath Financial, a hybrid RIA based in Orlando, Florida, managing over $250 million in assets for approximately 260 client families. CandorPath operates as a true ensemble firm, where advisors, planners, and operations professionals collaborate to deliver a holistic financial planning experience that integrates wealth management, tax strategy, and behavioral finance. Inspired by the principles in Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, John and his team have reimagined what it means to serve clients in financial planning - blending technical excellence with a culture of care, creativity, and connection.