Unplugged 2025 Recap: Where Innovation Meets Intention

In May 1961, five days after Bay of Pigs and five weeks after the Soviets put Yuri Gagarin into orbit, President Kennedy stood before Congress and made a promise: America would land a man on the Moon before the decade was out. NASA was less than three years old. The technology necessary to reach the Moon didn’t even exist yet.

In his latest article, CEO and Founder Billy Hopkins draws a direct line from that speech to the decade now facing independent financial advisors.

Roughly 40% of advisors, many licensed in the 1990s like Billy himself, will retire in the years ahead. At the same time, trillions of dollars are about to change hands. Gen X stands to inherit $14 trillion. Millennials will inherit $8 trillion. By 2035, women will control more than 40% of US wealth, up from a third today.

Billy connects these numbers to a bigger shift already underway. Estate planning is turning into a conversation about life, not death. More than 63 million Americans now care for aging parents or adult children, and 16 million of them care for both at once. Clients want more than portfolio management. McKinsey found the share of investors seeking holistic advice grew from 29% in 2018 to 52% in 2023.

Advisors who set a bold, deadline-driven goal now, the way Kennedy did, will own the next decade. Clients expecting family-office-level support as the standard, not the exception, will leave behind the advisors who wait.

Read the full article for Billy’s take on what it takes to serve three generations of planning needs at once, and why an impossible goal might be exactly what this industry needs: www.linkedin.com/pulse/todays-clarion-call-independent-advisors-billy-hopkins-brk8c/

Silver Oak’s Unplugged 2025 brought together the heart of our community—advisors, partners, and team members—for an unforgettable experience grounded in connection, collaboration, and clarity. Held in a setting as energizing as it was serene, this year’s event delivered more than education—it reignited our shared purpose.

As usual, Unplugged 2025 showcased the best of what it means to be part of the Silver Oak family: advisor-first focus, values-driven leadership, and a culture of support that doesn’t just talk the talk—we walk it together. Unplugged is one of the biggest highlights of our year here at Silver Oak Securities.

Keynotes and Conversations That Mattered

From the opening keynote to our closing reflections, the sessions at Unplugged 2025 dug deep into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s independent advisor. Highlights included:

Thought-provoking keynotes that challenged us to rethink how we lead, serve, and scale in today’s financial landscape.

Breakout sessions that balanced practical takeaways with forward-looking strategy—from compliance clarity to next-gen client engagement tools.

Advisor-led panels where peers shared real stories of success, transition, and growth—proof that with the right partner, anything is possible.

These weren’t snoozy presentations—they were conversations that moved us forward together.

A Community Built for Legacy and Leadership

At Silver Oak, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We believe in independence—empowered, not isolated.

That belief was evident in every hallway conversation, every shared meal, and every moment of mentorship throughout the event. As always, our mission is to support advisors not just with systems and services, but with a culture that truly sees them.

Our advisors enjoy:

Freedom to choose what’s best for their clients

Seamless compliance and back-office support

Modern tech and marketing tools

Equity ownership opportunities

Average of 20% more profitability

We’re a family of professionals building legacies on their own terms. And Unplugged helped our community get closer to where they want to be, with lots of one-on-one time where we could learn from each other and grow together.

Sponsors That Rocked

Unplugged wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Their commitment to innovation and advisor success helps us create an experience that delivers real value.

From our Fintech Alley companies sharing in a session, to breakout sessions hosted by industry experts to the fun of happy hour in the expo hall, we had lots of opportunities to mix, mingle and learn from this great group of partners.

Unplugged 2025 may be in the rearview mirror, but the momentum is just beginning. Our community is growing, our impact is deepening, and we’re more excited than ever about the future we’re building—together. Stay tuned for news about Unplugged 2026!