9th Floor Investor Track Agenda
9:00-9:05AM
Welcome Remarks
9:05-9:55AM
Keynote
10:00-10:50AM
Active Management in ETFs: Beyond the Wrapper
Active strategies are no longer the exception; they’re leading ETF flows and innovation. This panel features asset managers who are embracing the ETF wrapper to deliver high-conviction strategies across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset portfolios. Panelists will discuss how transparency, daily liquidity, and direct-to-investor models are influencing active portfolio management, and where active ETFs are heading next as competition intensifies and performance expectations rise.
10:50-11:10AM
Morning Break
11:10-12:00PM
Options-Powered ETFs: The Derivative Renaissance
Options-based ETFs are unlocking new frontiers in income generation, downside protection, and customized exposures. This panel dives into how managers are using covered calls, spreads, collars, and more complex overlays to deliver outcomes aligned with investor needs. From yield enhancement to volatility control, learn how these strategies are evolving and how execution, technology, and education are critical to long-term growth in this rapidly expanding category.
12:05-12:55PM
Fixed Income ETFs: Navigating Risk and Yield in a New Rate Regime
In an environment marked by fluctuating interest rates and shifting credit conditions, fixed income ETFs remain a key component of portfolio construction. This panel will explore the strategies, innovations, and market dynamics driving growth in this space. From target maturity funds and short-duration strategies to synthetic exposures and corporate credit solutions, our experts will dive into the tools investors are using to generate yield, manage risk, and adapt to the evolving bond market.
12:55-1:50PM
Lunch
1:50-2:40PM
Crypto ETFs: Navigating the Next Phase of Digital Asset Access
With the SEC’s July 2025 decision to permit in-kind creations and redemptions for spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, the digital asset ecosystem has taken a major step toward structural maturity. This long-anticipated shift, aligning crypto ETFs with traditional commodity ETPs, enhances tax efficiency, reduces trading frictions, and supports broader institutional participation. As crypto-native and traditional asset managers adjust to this new framework, this panel will explore the implications for product design, custody, pricing, liquidity, and long-term investor adoption. Panelists will discuss how these developments impact advisors and portfolio construction, what’s next in crypto ETF innovation, and how this regulatory clarity is reshaping the digital asset investment landscape going into 2026.
2:45-3:35PM
Defined Outcome ETFs: Structuring Certainty in Uncertain Markets
Defined Outcome ETFs continue to rise as investors seek both participation and protection. Leveraging options overlays to deliver caps, buffers, and floors, these products offer engineered risk/return profiles tailored to a range of outcomes. In this session, industry experts will discuss design mechanics, evolving investor use cases, and how macroeconomic conditions are influencing product development. Expect insight into innovation at the intersection of options and ETF structure.
3:35-3:55PM
Afternoon Break
4:00-4:50PM
Top Opportunity: Where Smart Capital is Moving in 2025 to 2026
As we approach the end of 2025, investors are recalibrating portfolios in anticipation of what lies ahead. From breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and energy transition to shifting global power dynamics and evolving monetary policy, the next 12–18 months present both volatility and opportunity. In this forward-looking discussion, seasoned portfolio managers and strategists will highlight where they see the most compelling opportunities for growth, income, and innovation in 2026 and beyond. Whether thematic, regional, or sector-based, this panel aims to provide a clear roadmap for investors positioning capital in the face of uncertainty and change.
10th Floor (morning) & 11th Floor (afternoon) – Industry Track
9:00-9:05AM
Welcome Remarks
9:05-9:55AM
Keynote
10:00-10:50AM
AM Distribution in the ETF Era: Getting on the Radar
With over 4,400 U.S. ETFs, distribution can be the deciding factor between success and failure. As consolidation, RIA growth, evolving platforms, new regulations, and rapid tech change reshape the advisor landscape, your distribution strategy must evolve to keep pace. This panel will explore how sales teams can adapt and excel by building awareness, driving flows, and forging lasting advisor relationships.
10:50-11:10AM
Morning Break
11:10-12:00PM
PM Reimagining Indexing: The Rise of Custom, Thematic & AI-Driven Strategies
Indexing is being redefined in real-time. While traditional market-cap weighting still dominates, today’s investors are demanding more precise and personalized exposures. This panel will explore how providers are responding with custom index creation, rules-based innovation, ESG alignment, and AI-powered models. As direct indexing and actively managed ETFs grow, will indexing evolve to meet personalization demands, or will we see further convergence between passive and active strategies.
12:05-12:55PM
UCITS & Global ETFs: Bridging Borders, Expanding Access
As ETF adoption accelerates globally, the UCITS framework remains the dominant vehicle for cross-border ETF issuance outside the United States. With increasing investor demand for globally diversified products and U.S. issuers eyeing European expansion, understanding the nuances of the UCITS landscape is more relevant than ever. This panel will explore the structural, regulatory, and distributional differences between U.S. and UCITS ETFs, the challenges of accessing European platforms, and the growing interest in cross-listed products. Whether you’re a U.S. issuer looking abroad or a global investor seeking efficient access to international markets, this session will help demystify the evolving global ETF ecosystem.
12:55-1:50PM
Lunch
1:50-2:40PM
A View from the Exchanges: ETF Innovation at the Infrastructure Level
Exchanges play a foundational role in the ETF ecosystem, serving as both the launching pad and marketplace for modern investment innovation. This panel will bring together leaders from major listing venues to discuss how they’re shaping the future of ETF access, supporting new product types, and adapting to the demands of both institutional and retail flows. Expect an open discussion on market structure, regulatory changes, and how exchanges are helping issuers and investors navigate an increasingly dynamic trading environment.
2:45-3:35PM
Custodians in the Spotlight: Enabling Scale and Stability
Behind every ETF is a complex web of custody, settlement, and operational infrastructure. As ETFs grow in number and complexity, custodians are stepping into a more strategic role. This panel will highlight how leading custodians are supporting everything from novel product types and cross-border structures to operational scalability and investor protection. Learn what today’s issuers should consider when choosing a custodian and how technology is transforming back-office processes.
3:35-3:55PM
Afternoon Break
4:00-4:50PM
ETF Legal & Share Class Structures: A Regulatory Crossroads
ETF issuers are navigating a rapidly evolving legal and structural landscape. This panel examines the increasing interest in multi-share class models, the implications of the SEC’s updated guidance, and how recent approvals are shaping fund formation. Experts will also tackle broader compliance issues, including the Name Rule, distribution oversight, and global regulatory pressures.
4:55-5:45PM
Trading ETFs: Liquidity, Execution, and Market Efficiency
As ETFs continue to proliferate across asset classes, efficient trading has never been more critical. This panel explores how market makers, liquidity providers, and trading desks ensure smooth execution in a variety of market conditions. Panelists will unpack the latest developments in block trading, the role of authorized participants, innovations in execution technology, and how evolving regulation is shaping ETF liquidity. Whether you’re an issuer or investor, understanding the trading ecosystem is essential to maximizing ETF performance.