For Board Members only

For Board Members only

For Committee Co-Chairs and Board members only. Committee members are not expected to attend.

For Board members and Committee Co-Chairs only. Committee members are not expected to attend.

Trading volumes have outpaced human capacity, and traditional outsourcing and software have failed to keep up. The result? High false positives, rework, and rising operational risk. Agentic AI offers a new economic model — one where learning agents not only detect issues but also explain and resolve them at scale

In this session, Bob Suh, Founder & CEO of OnCorps AI, and Michael Sands, Partner & Managing Director at Beacon Advisory Partners will discuss how AI agents are transforming middle- and back-office functions. 

- How agentic AI closes the gap between trading volume growth and operational capacity
- Why false positives in reconciliation and compliance undermine productivity — and how agents change the equation
- Practical frameworks to evaluate when agents should augment or replace human work

Attendees will gain a forward-looking view of how agentic work reshapes cost structures, oversight, and decision-making, offering asset managers a sustainable path to scalability.

Clint Harris, Nicsa Chairman, Invesco

Kick off the day with a high-level, research-driven lens on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of asset and wealth management.

Leading industry analyst shares a big picture view of where the industry stands today, where it’s headed, and what it means for your strategic roadmap.

Featured Speaker: 
Tiffany Wade, Equity Analyst and Portfolio Manager, Columbia Threadneedle Investments 

Discover how forward-thinking firms are moving beyond theory to deploy AI that delivers. Learn how to use AI to sharpen decision-making, elevate client engagement, and boost operational efficiency. Featuring voices from across the ecosystem, including fintech disruptors, asset managers, and rising talent putting innovation into motion.

Speakers:
Moderator: Maria Nazareth, Partner, Data Analytics, AI and Gen AI Leader for Financial Services, PwC 
Ranjani Iyer, Global Head of Client Activation, Data Delivery and Channels for Fund Services, BNY
Tod McKenna, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Citi

Take advantage of the Networking Break to mingle with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and build valuable connections in the industry

Explore how AI is enabling more personalized, timely, and effective interactions across the wealth and asset management spectrum. From meeting prep and follow-ups to predictive outreach and intelligent self-service tools, this session showcases how firms are using AI to make every touchpoint smarter and more human. Hear from leaders leveraging AI to redefine service models, deepen client relationships, and shape a new era of engagement.

Speakers:
Moderator: Anthony Whitford, Managing Director, Olmstead
David Breakstone, Global Head of Wealth & Asset Management GTM, ServiceNow
Christopher Millan, Executive Director, Securities Services, J.P. Morgan

Step into the future of AI with a live demo showcasing how intelligent agents are transforming both front and back-office operations. This lightning talk brings Agentic AI to life—from proactive client engagement and real-time decision support to automated workflows that talk to each other. See how today’s tools go beyond chatbots to drive real results across service, compliance, and investment functions. Fast-paced, hands-on, and packed with insights for leaders across the value chain.

Featured Speaker:
Michael Sands, Principal, Managing Director, Beacon Advisory Partners

With a new administration in place and a potential shift toward a more open regulatory environment, the digital assets space is entering a pivotal phase. This session will explore how evolving attitudes toward crypto (and other digital assets) could influence product development, distribution, investment strategies, and client demand across the asset and wealth management industry. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the opportunities and challenges digital assets present for firms looking to innovate, grow, and meet the expectations of the next generation of investors. 

Featured Speaker:
Dave Hendricks, CEO and Founder, Vertalo

Take advantage of the Networking Break to mingle with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and build valuable connections in the industry

Each year, Nicsa recognizes industry leaders for innovation and leadership across a number of categories within the asset & wealth management industry. The Nicsa NOVA Awards aim to showcase best-in-class initiatives, technologies, and leadership in today's landscape. The 2025 Nicsa NOVA Award winners will be presented during the luncheon.

New this year, Nicsa launched The Chairman’s Challenge which is designed to celebrate exceptional committee-driven initiatives and highlight the outstanding content produced by Nicsa volunteers. Through this awards program, Nicsa will recognize content that exemplifies thought leadership, industry collaboration, and educational impact. Selected committees will be honored from the main stage during the awards luncheon. 

This dynamic panel explores disruptor technologies from AI agents to OCR-powered alt asset processing. Learn how they are redefining workflows, enhancing advisor-client interactions, and simplifying complexity across the value chain. Get a glimpse into their roadmaps, their future impact today, and what tomorrow holds for the industry’s digital transformation.

Speakers:
Moderator: Lisa Shea, Product Executive - Vice President, Transfer Agency, FIS
Paul Fahey, Head of Client Consulting and Strategic Partnerships, Northern Trust
Blake Lynch, Head of Sales, IMTC

As AI accelerates, so do the threats. This rapid-fire session dives into the evolving landscape where AI plays both hero and villain. From ethical hackers to real-time defense tools and bug bounty strategies, see how leading firms are staying ahead of the curve to protect client data and digital infrastructure.

Featured Speaker:
Judith Pinto, Managing Director, US Banking and Capital Markets Security Lead, Accenture

Take advantage of the Networking Break to mingle with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and build valuable connections in the industry

A quick, top-of-house perspective on the policies, oversight structures, and ethical considerations shaping AI’s future in asset and wealth management. Explore the macro implications for firms, regulators, and the industry at large, with insights from governance leaders and policy experts.

Featured Speaker: 
Jeffrey Alberts, Partner, Pryor Cashman

Implementing AI and emerging tech isn’t just about the tools—it’s about people, process, and mindset. This session explores how firms are navigating the real-world challenges of adoption: from retraining teams and shifting behavior to overcoming security concerns and misaligned expectations. Hear from business leaders who’ve led through the transition—across front and back offices—and gain insights into what works, what doesn’t, and how to turn curiosity into action across your organization.

Speakers:
Moderator: Vanessa Touma, Chief Operating Officer for the Americas Distribution Team, Invesco 
Josh Olson, Senior Product Manager, Investment Advisory, Edward Jones
Humera Qazi, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley 

Unwind and forge new connections at our Networking Reception, where industry professionals gather for an evening of engaging conversations and relationship-building over cocktails and hors d oeuvres.

Featuring Jeff Chapman, Field CTO at Vectara

This talk explores the critical imperative for enterprises to adopt a knowledge-driven approach in deploying AI agents to mitigate significant business risks. The unchecked deployment of Large Language Models (LLMs) exposes organizations to catastrophic failure modes: rampant hallucinations that erode trust and drive misinformation, the use of unapproved or sensitive data leading to data leakage and compliance breaches, and the sheer cost and complexity of maintaining a reliable, production-ready system. These pitfalls embody the chilling prospect of AI "turning against" the enterprise, undermining decision-making and brand reputation. But there is hope, guardian agents and modern AI governance approaches keep AI productive while mitigating risks.

Featuring Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor and Former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI

Zack Kass is an advisor, researcher, keynote speaker, and the former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI. At OpenAI, Zack led the teams responsible for sales, partnerships, and customer success, turning the company’s cutting-edge research into real-world business solutions. He has personally advised executives across dozens of industries on deploying AI at scale.

As an executive business advisor, Zack now works with Fortune 1,000 boardrooms and leadership teams—including Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Amgen—to help leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Zack’s mission is to ensure individuals, businesses, and governments are active participants in the AI-powered future by making the technology both understandable and actionable. He is recognized as one of the foremost thinkers in applied AI, with his insights featured in Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, and Business Insider.

Beyond his advisory work, Zack also supports AI education and research at the University of Virginia. He holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and currently resides in Santa Barbara, California.

Join Kevin Mahn of Hennion & Walsh for a candid conversation with industry leaders on how the C-suite is integrating next-gen technology with human capital strategy. Discover how executives are setting priorities, balancing innovation with risk, and preparing their organizations—and their people—for a tech-driven future.

Speakers:
Moderator: Kevin Mahn, President and Chief Investment Officer, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management
Dan Ives, Global Head of Tech Research, Managing Director, Senior Equity Analyst, Wedbush Securities
Tiffani Potesta, Head of Distribution, Voya Investment Management

Tokenization is moving from concept to reality—reshaping investment products and redefining the operating model behind the scenes. This session explores how asset managers are launching tokenized money market and private market funds, and what that means for everything from product design and distribution to transfer agency and operational infrastructure.

Speakers:
Moderator: Dave Hendricks, CEO and Founder, Vertalo 
Ramine Bigdeliazari, VP of Product, Fidelity Digital Assets 
Greg Cignarella, Head of Americas, Tokeny (an Apex Group company)

As the ETF ecosystem matures, the potential for dual-share-class structures has sparked interest across asset managers, intermediaries, and regulators alike. This panel will examine the promise and pitfalls of dual-share-class ETFs—from operational challenges and regulatory scrutiny to distribution strategy and product design. Industry experts will provide insights into current hurdles, evolving market sentiment, and what’s needed to bring this innovation to scale.

Speakers: 
Moderator: Chris Swansey, Associate Director, Institutional, Cerulli Associates 
David Kim, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Devin McCune, Vice President Fiduciary Servicies, Broadridge
Ben Slavin, MD, Global Head of ETFs, BNY Asset Servicing