Leaders is a forum that brings together innovators and senior voices to share their leadership experiences and perspectives on today’s most pressing topics.

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Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT

Leadership & the Workplace
HSBC's Racquel Oden on managing wealth in tumultuous times

Racquel Oden, HSBC's head of wealth and personal banking in the U.S., talks about how to guide clients through a year of political and economic upheaval.

April Rudin, a marketing consultant and the founder of The Rudin Group, joins us to discuss steps advisors should take when building their brands and pitfalls they should avoid.

How wirehouses still makes waves amid moves to independence

Phil Waxelbaum, a longtime industry recruiter, talks about what large firms can do and are doing to remain attractive to long-standing advisory teams with sizable sums under management.

How to advise each generation for retirement

Nicole Cope, director of Ally Invest Advisors, explains the challenges and benefits of working with each generation on their retirement savings, from baby boomers to Gen Z.

What the next generation of wealth management clients want, with Bank of America's Katy Knox

What do younger clients want from wealth managers? Katy Knox, president of Bank of America's Private Bank, sits down with American Banker Editor-in-Chief Chana Schoenberger to discuss the future of high-net-worth investing and what clients are looking for now.

December 11
Leading through challenges and opportunities for today's family offices

Join us for a lunchtime talk with Maria Elena "Mel" Lagomasino, CEO and Managing Partner of WE Family Offices, about leadership in the growing family office world and what it means for financial advisors.

RIA Leaders: Referrals from Schwab and Fidelity REV

Take part in a discussion of the source of business that's open to only a select number of firms selected by the giant custodians.

Investing in women CEOs with Patricia Lizarraga of Hypatia Capita

The founder of an ETF that tracks all American public companies with female CEOs sits down with American Banker Editor-in-Chief Chana Schoenberger to discuss why it matters if a company has a woman as CEO.

Winning top advisor talent in wealth management

Join us for a talk with Jennifer Povlitz, Division Director of U.S. Wealth Management at UBS, for a conversation on the state of talent recruiting in the industry and what firms are doing to win advisors.

Anne Lester on the future of retirement

Anne Lester, who led JPMorgan's Retirement Solutions department for 20 years, talks about how to overcome the psychological barriers to saving.

July 6
Why investing in women matters

Ellevest CEO and co-founder Sallie Krawcheck joins Chana Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of American Banker, to discuss how the investing world is changing and how women in banking and finance can succeed.

Partner Insights
Navigating your digital asset journey: A banker's handbook
Expert insight to ensure your digital asset strategy is built to withstand a rapidly evolving landscape.
Emerging Technology
On-Demand Video Lead Gen: Adapting to client needs in the digital age

How advisor can utilize technology to deliver personalization at scale.

How technology is changing the claims experience

Digital Insurance recently surveyed insurers, brokers and adjusters about the technology they're using in the claims space, and we'll share those insights.

Automating the insurance process: Understanding usage-based insurance and beyond

As insurers automate more aspects of the insurance experience, it expands how services are provided and priced for policyholders.

Is your tech agenda set for safety or standout growth?

Financial services firms are focusing on essential risk-related priorities, but must not lose sight of the importance of innovative technologies that drive business forward.

March 10
The crypto conundrum

Cathy Beardsley, the CEO of Segpay, and Christiaan Brand, a security expert from Google, discuss how to overcome the hurdles that are still in the way of cryptocurrencies being widely used for payments.

May 31
Security & privacy highlight: What are the implications for banks, payment companies and fintechs building trust post-COVID?

Experts discuss the latest ways firms are defining their value propositions and evolving their customer communications, experience and support.

December 16
Marketing to millennials: Time to rethink personalized banking for the next generation

An industry expert shares key takeaways on how institutions can implement sophisticated technologies to attract a younger generation of customers.

December 15
Fireside chat with Betterment's new CEO, Sarah Levy

Join the newly appointed executive for a look at the changes happening at the online financial services company and broader fintech industry.

July 23
The rise of alternative payments

How technology is enabling new types of payment transmission and what this means for banking.

Databits: AI & automation

The industry has long talked about embracing digital technology — but the time for talk may be over.

October 6
How to make your AI dreams a reality
One banks journey of taking an AI idea from inception to experience. How organizations can ensure the shift from pilot projects to full-scale AI fluency goes right
Highlighting Wealth Management
The case for adding bitcoin to client portfolios

Advisors were right not to recommend the decentralized cryptocurrency in the past. They can be right again by recommending it today.

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Charting the path toward a universal standard for financial prosperity.

The case for wealth management-accounting partnerships in a tough economy

How partnerships — particularly those between financial advisors and CPAs — can benefit firms and clients in a time of hypercompetition in the wealth management industry.

How to make your succession plan a success

For business owners, a maze of financial and emotional challenges can stand between their practice and the future. Bluespring chairman Stuart Silverman and president David Canter shows us how to get there.

FP Rising Stars: Early career planning professionals advancing the industry

In an event led by two respected RIA thought leaders, FP recognizes a half dozen people whose talent and accomplishments have them poised to advance the planning profession. What are the key factors shaping the industry's future?

A conversation about behavioral finance with Shaping Wealth's Brian Portnoy

Behavioral finance is increasingly influencing how wealth managers serve their clients. How is the field evolving, and what are the freshest insights?

How brokers and brokerages are changing, not going away

The presidents of two RIAs that use outside broker-dealers discuss how independent wealth managers are morphing in an effort to keep up with a fast-changing industry. Where do brokers fit in the future of wealth management?

Clients won't come to you: The vital role marketing plays for RIAs

Meg Carpenter, founder and CEO of FiComm partners, discusses the difficulties RIAs have in marketing themselves, the ways in which these entrepreneurs can build on their strengths to reach clients, and how to harness technology to boost their own profiles.

August 30
Making sense of ESG investing

A welter of benchmarks and indexes makes it hard for retail investors and financial advisors to know exactly what they're buying

July 25
The data behind ESG rankings: How to make investment decisions backed by numbers

As more investors look to make portfolio allocations based on their values, we explore what ESG ratings can do — and what they can't.

Strategic planning: The health and wealth connection

There is little doubt that growing and protecting wealth is a critical pillar in everyone's financial plan. But what about maintaining and improving your health?

The wealth management business is undergoing considerable transformation. The pandemic has created a new breed of investors, with distinct expectations and tastes formed by new technology and having lived through the financial crisis.

Disruption & Innovation
 Building Black wealth in St. Louis — and nationwide

An innovative nonprofit's grant program enlists pro bono financial planners in an effort to keep longtime residents in place in a gentrifying area.

How to succeed in today's changing insurance environment

Skills professionals need to succeed in today's technology-focused environment.

Kristin Hull on the future of impact investing

Kristin Hull, founder of Nia Impact Capital, talks about the way forward for sustainable, solution-driven investing.

Tax planning for financial advisors before April 15

With wealth and accounting firms increasingly working together, a seasoned expert from both fields describes the key issues ahead of Tax Day.

5 Areas to watch for digital transformation in 2024

Join Hemant Sarma from Chubb as he shares where the greatest opportunities are for digital transformation.

The most important year-end tax planning questions

Two tax experts share the key strategies for financial planners and tax professionals to discuss with clients in the fourth quarter.

What is digital disruption in 2024? Neesha Hathi, shares how Charles Schwab is taking innovation to the next level in wealth management

Unleashing Automation: Attracting the next generation of investors

The time is ripe to invest in automation, data science and social media to fuel wealth business growth in the digital age.

October 2
The changing landscape of retail investing

Join Peter O'Neill, Director and Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, at Bank of America, and Blake Lynch, Head of Business Development, IMTC, as they discuss the role of separately managed accounts in the muni market with The Bond Buyer's Lynne Funk.

After tumultuous first half, muni performance still rate driven

BlackRock's Head of Municipals Peter Hayes lays out the muni landscape for the rest of the year, highlighting opportunities for the asset class after the severe volatility so far in 2022.

ESG: A view from the borrower and the investor
How a two-way conversation on ESG can help boost demand for municipals.
 How a bank exec went corporate

A career path in financial services doesn't have to be linear, says Walmart's Julia Unger.

May 31
Policy, Politics & Regulation
Lauren Saidel-Baker analyzes the Federal Reserve meeting

The Federal Open Market Committee will meet on June 17-18. While no rate cuts are expected at this point, things can change quickly. Lauren Saidel-Baker, economist at ITR Economics, provides her take on the meeting the new Summary of Economic Projections and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Luke Tilley analyzes the Federal Reserve meeting

Get expert analysis of the May FOMC meeting, inflation outlook, and Powell's comments.

Watching for clues from the Federal Reserve

Mike Goosay, Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income at Principal Asset Management, breaks down the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Chair Powell's press conference and the SEP.

Is the FOMC ready to pause?

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds target again in December but signaled fewer cuts in 2025. There was some dissent. The markets are watching to see if the Federal Reserve pauses its easing cycle in January. Brian Rehling, head of global fixed-income strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, recaps and parses the previous day's FOMC meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

What Trump 2.0 will mean for Fed, economy V3

A week ahead of inauguration day, Scott Colbert, executive vice president, director of fixed income and chief economist at Commerce Trust, takes a look at how the Federal Reserve and the economy will fare in President-elect Donald Trump's second run in the White House.

What Trump's election means for Federal Reserve

Donald Trump discussed various items related to the Fed and its independence and stated he would not nominate Jerome Powell for another term as chair. Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities, discusses what a Trump presidency may mean for the Fed.

What bankers got right and wrong about the election

Join Arizent and American Banker experts as they discuss whether bankers and other financial professionals got what they wanted from Trump's victory at the polls.

Breaking down the FOMC decision

The Federal Reserve began cutting rates in September. The December meeting is its last of 2024. Will the cutting continue, or will there be a pause? Doug Peta, Chief Strategist, U.S. Investment Strategy, at BCA Research, discusses the meeting and future policy.

Will the Fed pull the trigger on rate cut?

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to cut interest rates at its September meeting, which will also provide a new Summary of Economic Projections. Marvin Loh, senior macro strategist at State Street Global Markets, examine the meeting, the SEP and Fed Chair Powell's press conference.

On-Demand Video Lead Gen: What's the Fed's next move?

After cutting rates 50 basis points in September, the Federal Open Market Committee meets after Election Day to determine monetary policy. Gary Pzegeo, head of fixed income at CIBC Private Wealth U.S., provides his take on the latest move.

Gary Quinzel recaps FOMC meeting

Gary Quinzel, vice president of portfolio consulting at Wealth Enhancement Group, gives his views about monetary policy and offers his opinion on the FOMC statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Will the Fed cut rates this year?

Recent economic data have shown inflation stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target, putting rate cuts in jeopardy. Lauren Saidel-Baker, an economist with ITR Economics, parses the FOMC meeting, Chair Powell's press conference and takes a look at future policy.