InvestmentNews will bring its Women Advisor Summit back to New York City on Nov. 5, with a program designed to help advisory firms build for longevity rather than short-term gains. The one-day conference, held at 583 Park Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, will center on the theme of “the long game,” addressing how firms can thrive across market cycles and leadership transitions.
Organizers expect more than 200 wealth-management professionals to attend, with over 20 speakers scheduled across more than 10 sessions. Prudential Advisors is the event partner. The lineup includes Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners; Stacy Francis, CEO of Francis Financial; Cathy Curtis, founder and wealth partner at Curtis Financial Planning; Cecilia Williams, chief operating officer at Halbert Hargrove; and Lisa Roberts, head of wealth management at Wilmington Trust.
The opening keynote, delivered by Oden, will examine the future of advice, focusing on the forces reshaping wealth management, evolving client expectations, and the differentiators that will separate successful firms over the next decade. The talk is expected to set the stage for a day of discussions on operational resilience and strategic vision.
Several sessions will zero in on serving women clients, a demographic whose financial decision-making power continues to grow. One panel, “winning the new majority,” will explore how advisors can strengthen relationships with women clients, a segment that a recent Beacon Pointe survey found triples in financial confidence when they lead decisions. Other sessions will cover the practical applications of artificial intelligence in advisory practices, strategies for improving client experience, and methods to accelerate growth without sacrificing service quality.
Talent development and retention will also be a key theme, with discussions on how firms can cultivate the next generation of leaders. The summit will include a fireside chat with Cathy Curtis of Curtis Financial Planning, who will share leadership lessons drawn from navigating challenges and change, as well as tactics for sustaining success over the long term.
The event arrives as the wealth-management industry grapples with consolidation and shifting client demographics. Recent deals, such as Corient's absorption of Summit Trail Advisors in a $21 billion UHNW deal, underscore the pressure on firms to scale while maintaining personalized service. Similarly, Summit Financial and Savvy Advisors added $1.07 billion in new RIA partnerships, highlighting the competitive landscape for organic growth.
For advisors, the summit offers a chance to step back from day-to-day operations and consider the structural decisions that determine whether a firm outlasts its founders. With the average age of advisors rising, succession planning and leadership development have become critical. The program's emphasis on the long game reflects a broader industry shift toward sustainability, not just in portfolios but in business models.
Registration remains open for the Nov. 5 event, which will run from morning to evening at the Park Avenue venue. The full agenda, including speaker bios and session descriptions, is available on the InvestmentNews website.
