The pitch was before the dinner. although they did put out a flatbread and cracker basket with butter before the presentation. I have to confess that I was hungry at the 6 pm. start, so the basket had a serious dent in it before the hour talk was over.
I think it went about as well as possible from my own perspective with low expectations. The presenter, an older woman, was very down-to-earth and low key. She described herself as an independent financial services agent who wanted to help people address financial problems with a wide range of financial products, using the seminar to present the options available in broad terms. She addressed certain problems in the industry, specifically complicated products with high fees.
We were asked to to fill out an informational sheet with name, address, birthdate, email, cell, employed or not, and types of investments owned. She asked us all to "be adults" and put in the correct information, which I did except substituting age for DOB.
After the pitch, as dinner was being served, she came around and answered specific questions. My wife had a couple about funeral trusts and fixed index annuities.
Later, her assistant came around and offered to sign us up for an individual appointment at which we were to bring more specific documentation of cash flow and net worth. When I said that we weren't interested, she thanked us and told us we could change our mind and even sign up for another dinner if offered.
Dinner was fine. Bread basket, salad, choice of steak or salmon. No alcohol was served, and we were asked not to order alcohol. Dessert was a Belgium chocolate that our presenter handed to us at the table while thanking us for coming. My steak was excellent: a thick flat iron, prepared to the redder side of medium rare, which was perfect for me.
We topped off the evening with a brandy old fashioneded at Ishnala overlooking the lake with the bar to ourselves on a Tuesday night. Pretty nice evening for $15.
The information presented was not new to me, but it wasn't a waste of time either, reminding me of insurance vehicles to serve certain purposes. The psychological aspects to keep the audience engaged were interesting. Everyone can agree that we would rather have lower taxes, guaranteed no down side with more limited upside, and income streams to replace the pension leg of the three-legged stool.
The evening didn't change my own financial plan which is a simple one, using Wellington/Wellesley and enough Treasuries, etc. to ride out storms.
? And....who would attend! Well the room was full. Probably 8 tables of 6 or 8. I think the room was salted with clients. There was one client couple at our table. 
