Citywire RIA CEO Summit 2026
Join Citywire RIA for its first-ever CEO Summit on September 29-30 at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas!
This event is invite-only, and will bring together 50 CEOs from the largest and fastest growing RIAs across America.
It will feature in-state insights from industry leaders and capital partners on M&A, the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future, the use of AI, the role of the CEO, and more.
But it’s not all stage content – attendees will get a chance to tee off in Texas, going head-to-head on the green with your RIA peers and asset managers across the country.
Travel and accommodation at the Omni Barton Creek is covered by Citywire for RIA CEOs.
Key benefits of attending
Headline stage sessions
Gain exclusive perspectives from top CEOs on the ideas and innovations driving the future.
Peer-to-peer networking
Connect with fellow CEOs and RIA leaders to exchange strategies and challenges.
Game-changing insights
Explore practical solutions for compliance, fees, tech adoption and portfolio design.
Speakers
DAY 1 - September 29
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
DAY 2 - September 30
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
Speakers
DAY 1 - September 29
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
DAY 2 - September 30
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
Matt Cooper
CEO
Beacon Pointe Advisors
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
Rajini Kodialam
Co-Founder Emerita
Focus Financial Partners
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Rajini is Co-Founder Emerita of Focus Financial Partners (NASDAQ: FOCS), a leading global partnership of independent fiduciary wealth management firms, where she also served as COO and Board Member.
She currently serves on the boards of StubHub (NYSE: STUB), TIFIN AG, and Longmark Group, and on the advisory board of the Langston Wealth Management Center at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at American Express and McKinsey & Company.
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
John Euart
Partner
McKinsey & Company
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How do RIAs grow organically?
Jay Therrien
Managing Director of Executive Consulting
Invesco Global Consulting
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
A keynote speaker, executive coach and author, Jay has worked in the financial services industry since 1999. His writing has been featured in multiple industry publications, and he is the coauthor of The Three Commitments of Leadership: How Clarity, Stability and Rhythm Create Great Leaders.
Jay joined Invesco in 2019 when the firm combined with OppenheimerFunds. Previously, he was a Director of Business Consulting and head of CEO Advisor Institute Marketing at OppenheimerFunds. Prior to these positions, Jay held various leadership roles in the financial industry, including head of learning and development, national sales manager and head of professional development at ING, MassMutual and The Hartford, respectively. Jay earned a degree in economics and finance from the University of Massachusetts and a BS in business management from Western Governors University. He holds the Series 7 and 63 industry registrations, as well as the Behavioral Financial Advisor professional designation.
Jay lives in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, with his wife and three daughters. In his free time, he enjoys writing music with his kids and coaching their sports teams from the sidelines. He also leads a nonprofit music school in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How do RIAs grow organically?
Dave Spano
President and CEO
Annex Wealth Management
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How do RIAs grow organically?
Kevin Dombrowski
Founding Partner
Grey Fox Wealth Advisors
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
Chris Todd
CEO
Envestnet
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Chris Todd is the Chief Executive Officer of Envestnet and is responsible for setting the company's strategic, operational, and cultural agenda. Chris is a seasoned strategic leader with a proven track record of driving growth and developing high-performing teams. Known for his people-first approach, Chris excels at scaling technology-driven organizations and delivering impactful client outcomes.
Previously, Chris served as CEO of UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), a leading global software company formed from the merger of Kronos Inc. & Ultimate Software, two industry giants with approximately 12,000 employees and $2.5B in combined revenue. Under Chris' leadership, he successfully integrated these entities and achieved significant growth, ultimately reaching nearly $5B in revenue. Before becoming CEO, Chris led all major client-facing areas, including services, product development, sales, and marketing, ensuring world-class customer experiences.
Prior to UKG, Chris held senior executive positions at Blackbaud, a software company for nonprofit fundraising, accounting, and education. Chris received a B.A. in History and Government from Harvard University and holds a J.D. from Yale Law School. He is a Board Member for Applied Systems.
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
Dimple Shah
Managing Director, Wealth
Humanity Labs
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Dimple leads the Wealth practice at Humanity Labs, partnering with firms from RIAs to enterprises to build the Firm of the Future. She brings 25+ years of leadership experience, with senior roles at Osaic, LPL Financial, and Oliver Wyman.
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
Taylor Matthews
Co-Founder and CEO
Farther
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
John Wortman
Co-Founder and CEO
Valeo Financial Advisors
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.
The pros & cons of outside capital
Ian Charles
Managing Partner and CEO at Arctos Partners
KKR
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Ian Charles is a Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Arctos Partners. Mr. Charles directs firm strategy and governance, capital solutions, and investment strategy. Prior to co-founding Arctos Partners in 2019, Mr. Charles served as a member of the private equity and infrastructure investment committees and was a Partner at Landmark Partners, a leader in secondary markets, where he helped design and execute the firm’s private equity strategy, built the firm’s quantitative research group, and completed innovative liquidity transactions. Prior to joining Landmark Partners, Mr. Charles was a co-founder of Cogent Partners, the first secondary market sell-side advisor, where he was responsible for leading the day-to-day management of the firm and sourcing and leading large secondary advisory mandates. He began his career on an investment team that is now part of the Neuberger Berman alternative investments platform. Mr. Charles is a is a CFA® charterholder and graduated with honors from Texas Christian University, where he received a BBA in Finance and Accounting. He later received his MBA from Wharton.
Meet the rest of the speakers
What's the endgame for mega-RIAs?
DAY 1 | 1:40PM - 2:20PM
Examine the potential endgame options for large RIAs, including IPOs, mega-mergers and sales to permanent capital providers like sovereign wealth funds, and unpack the questions of identity and ambition driving firms along those trajectories.
How do RIAs grow organically?
DAY 1 | 2:30PM - 3:10PM
Hear how RIAs of different sizes add clients without relying on M&A or custodial referral programs by leveraging marketing, centers of influence, and word-of-mouth.
How to future-proof your business by embedding AI
DAY 1 | 3:20PM - 4:00PM
Discover how RIAs and vendors are thinking about the implementation of AI and sifting through the noise to deliver real value to advisor tech stacks.
The pros & cons of outside capital
DAY 1 | 4:20PM - 5:00PM
Hear how top RIA CEOs evaluate outside capital, exploring both the positives and negatives, alongside the dynamics, such as succession planning, that spark these conversations.
What does a downturn look like?
DAY 1 | 5:00PM - 5:40PM
The industry is overdue for an extended market downturn. Examine how a sustained market slide will impact the industry and determine which types of firms will win—and which will lose.
Keynote
DAY 2 | 8:00AM - 8:40AM
Tony Kim, Head of BlackRock's Fundamental Equities Global Technology team shares insight into the current state of AI. He addresses the questions investors are asking, for example is this a bubble, is the capex justified, and where is the ROI?
Drawing on original research and direct access to the companies building the AI stack, Tony will map where value is accruing today and where he expects it to migrate next, from compute and infrastructure toward models, applications and physical AI.
He will address the concerns most likely to be on the minds of the room, including overextended valuations, circular financing among the AI labs, the gap between state-of-the-art capability and real end-user adoption, and the competitive threats from overseas, as well as explain why the underlying growth data doesn't yet indicate a plateau.
For CEOs allocating on behalf of clients, the session offers a framework for separating durable competitive advantage from narrative, and for judging which companies are scaling AI versus which remain in pilot mode.
How to maximize your marketing dollars
DAY 2 | 8:50AM - 9:30AM
Evaluate recent efforts to scale RIA brands, analyzing what works, what doesn't, and how to most efficiently deploy your growth capital.
The role of the CEO in a professionalized industry
DAY 2 | 9:30AM - 10:10AM
Explore what happens when firms originally defined and controlled by their founders grow into more mature businesses and how CEOs of institutional-class RIAs can lead effectively when their name isn't on the door.
Sustainable acquisition strategies
DAY 2 | 10:20AM - 11:00AM
Learn how to identify high-value M&A opportunities and maintain highly effective relationships with investment bankers.
The CEO summit of 2031
DAY 2 | 11:00AM - 11:40AM
The top questions on RIAs' minds right now revolve around AI, hiring and M&A. What will we be debating five years from now? Our panel of CEOs will put on their thinking caps and try to forecast the major industry-level trends we'll be consumed by in the future.