IPA SPRING CONFERENCE 2010; Breaks attendance record, Celebrates 25 year anniversary!

The Investment Program Association (IPA) celebrated 25 years of service to the Direct Investment Industry recently at its two-day spring conference in Chicago.  Chairman Jack Hollander announced that the attendance (350) had broken records and Executive Director Kevin Hogan rattled off a lengthy list of the goals the association has set and the initiatives it has begun.  Opening the conference, at the Swissotel, Hollander noted “a lot of good energy in the crowd,” describing a mood tangibly more upbeat than it was when industry executives met a year ago with the economy still in the throes of the financial crisis.  Subsequent reports on the state of the industry indicated good reason for the growing consensus that both the economy and the outlook for direct participation programs are improving.

Investors emerging from this downturn will be looking to repair their tattered balance sheets and “rebalance their portfolios,” Hollander noted, predicting that investment priorities increasingly will shift to preservation of capital, reduction of risk, and income generation.  All fit well within the direct investment framework, Hollander suggested.  As investors seek new products and new services, he added, “innovation will be critical, and the direct investment industry is ready for this next phase.”

Unchanging Commitment

The IPA is ready to move with the industry as it continues to evolve, Hollander continued. Although the association has grown and changed dramatically since it was established 25 years ago, its core commitment, he said, remains the same – “to set high standards for the industry and promote its growth through advocacy, collaboration and education.”

Urging industry executives to play an active role in the organization by joining its volunteer committees, Hollander noted that the association derives it strength from its members.  It is the members, he said, who set the association’s priorities and help to achieve its goals for the industry.  “The best ideas,” he emphasized, “come from people with diverse ideas working collaboratively in a noncompetitive environment.”

Focus on Education

Hogan also highlighted the contribution of the IPA’s committees, crediting the “dedication and hard work” of member volunteers for much of what the association has been able to achieve.  Among those achievements, Hogan noted a joint venture with The American College to design an “interactive, on-line learning program” broker-dealers can use to educate their advisors about DPPs.  Four of the eight modules in the course have been completed, Hogan reported, with the others scheduled for completion over the next few months and several additional courses planned after this one.  The goal, he said, is “to create enough solid course material to support an industry designation” denoting expertise in direct investments.

In another recent move on the education front, the IPA has revised and re-branded is popular “Guide to Direct Investments,” a direct investment primer for investors produced in collaboration with Lightbulb Press and Hogan said he expects a FINRA no action letter soon.  At that point, he said, advisers can begin using the revised brochure in communications with their clients.

Increasing the IPA’s visibility and strengthening communications with members and non-members has been another priority for the association, Hogan said.  With that goal in mind, the IPA has redesigned its website, adopting formats and features that will provide “dynamic” content, improved navigation, and optimize search engine results.  The changes will make it easier for members to use the Web site as a market resource, and make the site a more effective resource for the association, Hogan explained.  Importantly, the organization has also secured the website domain www.ipa.com, “which should help tremendously with marketing outreach,” Hogan said.

A stronger industry presence and improved communication, in turn, will advance the IPA’s efforts to promote the industry’s growth, Hogan noted.  Referencing the theme selected for the spring conference, “Leadership for the New Decade,” he told conference attendees:  “You can’t predict what challenges the future will bring, but you can prepare to become the best leaders you can be, so you can meet those challenges for your companies, for your association, and for our industry.”

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