From Melbourne to Miami: Sharing My Story on the Global Stage at the MDRT Annual Meeting

In June 2025, I travelled halfway around the world from Melbourne to Miami Beach, Florida, to attend and speak at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Annual Meeting — one of the most respected events in the financial advice profession.

This global conference brings together 6000+ of leading advisers from over 60 countries, all passionate about learning, growing, and delivering world-class advice. Being part of that is a privilege. But this year was something truly special…

I wasn’t just attending.
I had the honour of speaking twice.

🎤 ConneXion Zone Talk: The 5 P’s of Profit

My first presentation took place in the vibrant ConneXion Zone, where I delivered a 20-minute session to a live audience of over 400 fellow advisers.

I shared a framework I’ve developed over my 20-year journey in financial services — a simple but powerful model for building a thriving advice business called the 5 P’s of Profit:

Process – Automate your systems. Reduce manual touchpoints. Use tech like Calendly, Zapier, and Monday.com to streamline client journeys.
Pricing – Introduce a practice-wide pricing policy that creates price tension — because value starts with confidence in what you charge.
Perception – Ask for feedback. Request Google Reviews. Build a strong online reputation so prospects trust you before they even walk through the door.
People – Outsource low-impact admin tasks so your team can focus on what matters: building deep, high-value client relationships.
Perspective – Work with a coach. Get an external lens on your business to spot blind spots and break through growth ceilings.

🎥 Photos and video clips from my session are included below. The feedback was amazing — I had so many advisers thank me afterwards, saying how practical and implementable the ideas were.

💬 Focus Session: The Psychology of Self-Worth in Business

My second talk was part of a one-hour Focus Session panel, sitting alongside three people I admire deeply — fellow Australian advisers Ross Hultgren, Esther Althaus, and our business coach Baz Gardner.

Our session was titled:
“Mastering the Psychology of Self-Worth to Drive Radical Business Growth.”

This wasn’t a technical discussion — it was deeply personal.

I shared my story of taking over EK Financial Group from my dad, Edward Kane, who founded the firm in 1987.

This wasn’t a handover — I wanted to earn it. But I was caught in a psychological bind:

“What if I break what my dad built?”
“Will I ruin my parents’ retirement?”
“Will I disappoint my family — or our clients?”
“Am I even good enough to lead?”

The business was my parents’ retirement plan. And while I knew the firm needed to evolve, I was paralysed by fear — fear of change, fear of failure, fear of not being a “good son.”

It took vulnerability — with myself, with my clients, with my team — to break through that. And since then, being open and real with clients has not only strengthened relationships, but it’s helped us grow the business and charge confidently for the true value we deliver.

📸 You’ll see photos below of this session too — me alongside Ross, Esther and Baz on stage.

It was one of the most meaningful presentations I’ve ever been part of.

🏃‍♂️ Running in the Heat: My 12km Sunrise Challenge

Outside the conference, I also got to enjoy another passion of mine: fitness and running in beautiful places around the world.

One morning in Miami Beach, I set out just after sunrise for a 12km run across the stunning Venetian Causeway — a chain of small islands linking Miami Beach to downtown.

🏝️ The views? Spectacular — multimillion-dollar waterfront homes, palm trees swaying, and crystal blue water on either side.
🔥 The conditions? Brutal — 29°C and over 90% humidity at 6:00 AM.

It was one of the hardest runs I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. There’s something incredibly grounding about exploring a new city on foot while the world wakes up.

📸 Photo of me mid-run on the Causeway included below — sweaty, sore, and loving it.

👥 Sharing the Experience: Zac Joins the Journey

I was also proud to attend the MDRT Annual Meeting alongside Zac Drysdale, our talented adviser at EK Financial Group, who joined me for his second MDRT experience.

Zac soaked up every session, connected with advisers from around the world, and took away new ideas that will help us continue delivering great advice and outcomes for our clients.

📸 There’s a photo of Zac and me together just before I stepped on stage for my ConneXion Zone talk — a moment I won’t forget.

It’s a privilege to share experiences like this with the team and keep building something meaningful, together.

🙏 Thank You to Our Clients

None of this would be possible without the incredible clients who trust EK Financial Group with their financial futures. Speaking on the global stage is a huge honour, but it’s also a reflection of the great work we do together every day.

Your support allows me to grow, lead, and bring back new ideas that make our firm better — for you, your family, and your future.