Bar accepts clean audit, hears 9.77% investment return and ratifies conference reimbursement policy

Auditor Robert Dahill of McGee, Hearne & Paiz told the Board Jan. 23 that his firm issued a clean, unmodified opinion on the Bar's financial statements and did not identify significant concerns with internal controls. He noted required disclosures for the Wyoming Retirement System pension liability and said a large accounts-payable change reflected a late invoice from Little America for 2024 Annual Meeting expenses. Dahill said new government accounting standards regarding compensated absences and capital-asset disclosures will alter next year's presentation but not materially affect the current opinion.

The Board then heard the annual investment report from Cason Swinn of RBC Wealth Management, who said the Bar's total return after costs for 2025 was 9.77%. Swinn described market drivers and said he had proposed some asset-class adjustments to Executive Director Sharon Wilkinson for first-quarter implementation.

Separately, the Board ratified Executive Committee changes to its Officers and Commissioners Expense Reimbursement Policy to allow reimbursement for up to six members (in the specified order) to attend multi-year conferences (including the Western States Bar Conference and the Jackrabbit Bar Conference) regardless of location. Treasurer Kelly M. Neville and others supported the ratification; the motion passed unanimously.

The Board also approved an internal travel policy with an addition allowing Bar Counsel to attend appropriate professional conferences; that motion also passed unanimously.