11th Annual · October 16, 2026
Sessions
The Gaillard Center · Charleston, South Carolina
2026 Program
A Full Day of Expert-Led Discussion
The Strategic Investment Symposium features a curated lineup of panel discussions and keynote sessions spanning the most critical topics in investment management, wealth planning, and financial markets today.
Opening
Keynote Sessions
Global Markets Outlook
Economics is the parent discipline of Finance. In order to understand finance in general, and certainly financial market activities more specifically, one first must have an understanding of the underlying economic backdrop. In this session, we start the day very broadly by setting the stage and examining the state of both US and international economies, focusing on those elements that are most important to determining the outcome of financial market activities. This will include key pillars of economic understanding such as growth rates, inflation levels, and the labor market, but we'll also likely drill down into specific topics that may be on the mind of investors influencing an ever-changing market dynamic. The intent of this session is to paint the background of an evolving financial landscape so that the remaining sessions to come have the baseline on which to build.
Investment Strategy
This second keynote session picks up where the first leaves off, by building upon the economic backdrop created and moving into conversations surrounding how to put money to play within that environment. This session is often generically referred to as the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) panel, as it is typically that role which decides overall direction for investment allocation and selection within the framework of the economic and financial market environment we are currently facing. This session will include thinking about broad allocation amongst equity, fixed income, and alternatives before then drilling down into specific asset classes within each of those two broad allocation buckets. In combination, Symposium participants should expect the first two sessions to give a broad, but detailed, overview of the current economic and financial market landscape in which they can invest – and provide thoughtful discussion regarding how industry leaders are thinking of managing money with that perspective.
Midday
Lunch Panel
Agentic AI in Wealth Management
Generative and "agentic" AI promise to transform how advisors work and how clients experience wealth management - but most firms are still figuring out what to build, how to govern it, and where the real ROI will come from. This panel will share live use cases, lessons from early deployments, and practical guidance on data, risk, and change management so leaders can move from experimentation to durable advantage.
Afternoon
Session 1
The Fed, the Debt and the Political Effect
With government debt at historically elevated levels, the Federal Reserve operates in an increasingly complex environment - balancing inflation, growth, and financial stability while remaining formally independent from political influence. This panel will examine how rising debt levels intersect with monetary policy decisions, whether fiscal conditions constrain the Fed's actions, and how the new Head of the Fed might navigate political dynamics and market expectations. Panelists will discuss the implications for interest rates, inflation and asset allocation in the years ahead.
Beyond the Wrapper: Alts for All
Alternative investments - once largely limited to institutions and ultra-high net worth investors - are increasingly being packaged into more accessible structures for a broader, more retail audience. From interval funds and tender offer funds to semi-liquid private market vehicles, these "wrappers" promise diversification, income and access to private markets. At the same time, they introduce new considerations around liquidity, valuation, fees and investor understanding. This panel will explore how these structures work, where they add value, and where risk may be underappreciated as alternatives move into mainstream portfolios.
Preserving Family and Financial Capital for a Flourishing Future
Significant attention has been paid to the coming wave of wealth transfer. Far less is said about family education and preparation before, during and after the transfer. Despite sophisticated planning, many families struggle to align on a shared vision, preserve wealth across generations and adequately prepare future generations. The challenges are rarely just investment related - they stem from governance, communication, misaligned incentives and the differing priorities of wealth creators and their heirs. This panel will explore where generational plans break down in practice, how successful families approach next generation education and engagement, what it takes to sustain wealth and cohesion over time, when do trusts create more problems than they solve and other issues that threaten family continuity.
Breaking In: Building a Career in Investment Management in the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence reshapes the investment industry - from research and portfolio construction to operations and client engagement - the definition of "entry-level talent" is rapidly changing. This panel will explore how firms are rethinking hiring, which skills and roles are becoming more valuable, and where new career opportunities are emerging. Industry leaders will discuss how students and young professionals can position themselves for success in an increasingly AI-driven investment landscape.
Afternoon
Session 2
Tax Aware Investing: New Tools For Better Returns
In an environment defined by elevated asset valuations, persistent fiscal deficits, and evolving tax policy, after-tax outcomes have become an increasingly important driver of long-term returns. From direct indexing and tax loss harvesting to exchange funds, charitable strategies and more complex structures, investors have more tools than ever to manage tax exposure. At the same time, these approaches introduce trade-offs around liquidity, complexity and risk. This panel will explore how advisors and investors are implementing tax-aware strategies in practice, where they add the most value, and how to balance tax efficiency with overall portfolio objectives.
Blurring the Lines: Are Real Estate and Infrastructure Becoming One Asset Class?
For decades, investors have treated real estate and infrastructure as distinct asset classes - one driven by property values, the other by long-term contracted cash flows. That distinction is increasingly under pressure. Assets such as data centers, logistics networks, cell towers and energy infrastructure combine elements of both, challenging traditional allocation frameworks and valuation methods. This panel will examine whether the lines between real estate and infrastructure are truly blurring, how investors are underwriting these hybrid assets, and whether the labels themselves still matter for portfolio construction and risk management.
The Great Reveal – Best Practices for Engaging, Evaluating and Educating the Next Generation of Inheritors
As wealth transfers across generations, the central challenge is no longer just preservation - it is preparation. Panelists will discuss best practices in evaluating, engaging, and educating heirs of various ages as families prepare for revealing the size and plan for their estate. Many families invest heavily in tax planning and trust structures yet fall short in equipping the next generation to make thoughtful, disciplined decisions. Financial literacy alone is not enough - effective engagement requires governance, experience, and a gradual transition of responsibility, values, and knowledge. This panel will explore how leading families and advisors are preparing their heirs to take on real roles, how decision making and authority is transferred over time, and what structures foster long-term stewardship and growth rather than short-term consumption.
How a mid-sized RIA can differentiate their value and remain relevant
The RIA landscape is evolving rapidly. At one end, large aggregators and national platforms are scaling through acquisitions and centralized infrastructure. At the other, smaller boutiques differentiate through specialization and personal relationships. Caught in the middle are the $1- 2B RIA firms large enough to face rising operational complexity yet often without the scale advantages of larger platforms. This panel will explore how these mid-sized firm can remain competitive and independent, how succession and capital needs are shaping outcomes, and what the next decade may hold for this segment of the industry.
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Join us for a full day of expert discussion on the topics defining the future of investment management.