Event Location
Ameriprise
530 W Bonita Ave. San Dimas, CA 91773
Our dual mission is to connect business people in the Inland Empire and provide educational resources to our members. We are very excited to announce this year's line up for our Power Brunch Professional Seminars.
Our ABAIE member Ameriprise is sponsoring this event. We are extremely grateful for their generosity. Brunch will be served. Come hungry to learn. This seminar is free to ABAIE members as well as the members of the local business community. We will take attendees on a first come, first served basis. We only have 40 seats available. Each person can register up to two more guests with them.
Bring lots of business cards. There will be opportunity for networking. Get ready to learn from our powerful speakers on how you can improve in different areas of your business!
9:00 to 9:30 am Check in, Brunch, and Networking
First Speaker Ryan P. Tolan
What Every Business Should Know: Retirement Plans, Preparing for the Unexpected, and More
Ryan focuses primarily on comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and wealth preservation strategies that align with his clients’ objectives. As part of this process, he offers guidance on intergenerational planning, retirement planning strategies, Social Security retirement benefits, estate planning strategies, charitable giving, education savings and more—the range of issues that make up a lifetime of financial needs.
Ryan has over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM designation, as well as the Certified Long-Term Care® certification. He earned a degree in psychology from Duquesne University, where he was a First-Team All-American football player in 2004. Ryan went on to coach the defensive line at Duquesne University before returning to California. Playing and coaching football set the foundational principles for Ryan’s career as a Financial Advisor—he acquired the discipline, preparation and collaboration that Ryan uses to help his clients work toward their goals and aspirations today.
Second Speaker
Gahram Kang Chao, ESQ. Founding Partner, Avodah Law Group
Legal Tips for Small Business Owners & Professionals
Gahram Kang Chao is the Founding Partner of Avodah Law Group, a Professional Law Corporation. The name is based on the Hebrew word “Avodah” meaning “work, worship and service”.
After graduating from USC Law School in 2001, Gahram took a position at a mid-sized litigation firm as a stepping stone toward her ultimate career goal of serving small to mid-sized businesses with their on-going legal needs. She focuses on serving as outside general counsel to small to mid-sized businesses and their owners, as well as serving middle-class families in their basic estate planning needs (wills, family trusts, etc.). Her business law practice encompasses both business formations (forming LLCs & corporations for entrepreneurs) as well as providing business transactions, negotiations, contract review and drafting, assistance with buying & selling businesses (M&As), and business legal services on basic employment, real estate and IP issues to existing businesses.
Gahram is also the young adult ministry coordinator with her husband Jack, a cell group leader for women, and intercessory prayer group member at the Church of Southland (in Chino, CA). She currently serves as a founding board member and Past President for the Orange County Korean American Bar Association (OC KABA) Foundation, which provides pro bono legal services to the Korean-speaking community locally. Gahram is also a member of a couple of business advisory groups comprised of small business owners and nonprofit executive directors. In her spare time, she enjoys Blogilates (pilates), experiencing new cities with her husband, spending time with her nieces and nephews, as well as relaxing with friends over delicious sushi.
Third Speaker Ed Oyama
Harnessing AI for Your Business
Ed Oyama makes marketing simple for busy small business owners and their teams. He is the founder of Super Simple Marketing, a skilled digital and social media marketing consultant, and has spent hundreds of hours working with small businesses to grow their revenue and sales with AI using tools like ChatGPT (and many others)!
He gives frequent workshops on marketing and social media at the Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce, serves on the board of the Gardena Chamber of Commerce, and is the president of his local BNI chapter, the BNI Noon Networkers.
Fourth Speaker
Howard Li, Founder of Howard Li CPA, City of Industry
Tax Strategies for Small Business
Howard is the founding President of the Chinese American Certified Public Accountants Association (CACPAA), the largest and most inclusive Chinese American CPA organization in the Southland. Currently its membership consists of nearly 500 professionals, including accountants, attorneys, as well as financiers. He has worked for four leading CPA firms in the United States. He serves as the official CPA for I-Feng/Phoenix TV U.S. satellite TV station and is an IRS certified professional in tax ID applications.
Howard immigrated to the United States from Taiwan at the age of 12. He has been professionally active in Southern California for more than two decades.
