The financial advisory profession is highly competitive. To succeed, advisors need to constantly seek ways to improve, meet new people, and keep abreast of industry developments.
Conferences are among the best ways to do that. Here is a list of the most anticipated conferences for financial advisors in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Early bird specials or discounts are often available if payment is made in advance.
- Hybrid passes that allow access to video and streamed versions of sessions you missed may be available.
- Don’t neglect informal and unscheduled networking events; you may make your best networking connections that way.
Barron’s Independent Summit
- Dates: March 12–14, 2025
- Location: JW Marriott, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida
- Cost: $2,600 (admission is by invitation only, but you can apply to be invited).
This is an invitation-only annual gathering of the nation’s top registered investment advisors (RIAs) and independent advisors. Attending means rubbing shoulders with and learning from the best in the profession.
Exchange 2025
- Dates: March 23-26, 2025
- Location: Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas, NV
- Cost: $249 for advisors (for a limited time);Â industry tickets start at $5,499.
This year’s event will focus on portfolio strategies, practice management, and more, with guest speakers set to include Ian Bremmer, Anne Lester, David Kelly, and Christa Kuberry.
NAPFA Spring National Conference
- Dates: May 7-10, 2025
- Location: Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, Phoenix, Arizona
- Cost: To be determined.
The spring conference of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) will cover a range of topics related to advising and running an advisory business, regulatory trends, industry developments, and more.
AICPA Engage 2025
- Dates: June 9-12, 2025
- Location: ARIA Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV and online
- Cost: From $995 to $2,095 (price depends if you book early, are a member, and level of access).
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’s annual conference offers updates on many areas, including accounting and auditing, estate planning, personal finance planning, tax strategies, technology, and third-party risk.
Wealth Management Edge
- Dates: June 10-12, 2025
- Location: The Boca Raton Resort, Boca Raton, Florida
- Cost: $399 for advisors ($99 if you book early) for a basic ticket and $499 ($199 if you book early) for extra access.
This conference updates participants on investment strategies, technology, and practice management. Attendees gain access to high-profile guest speakers, one-to-one meetings, and roundtables. Extras include beachside yoga, wine tastings, poolside parties, and mentor-mentee speed dating.
Morningstar Investment Conference 2025
- Dates: June 25-26, 2025
- Location: Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
- Cost: $499 ($399 if you book early) for advisors. Other attendees pay $999 or $1,199.
Morningstar’s conferences are known for extensive investment research, updates, and analysis. This year’s keynote speakers include Christine Benz, Jean Chatzky, and Carolyn McClanahan.
XYPN Live 2025
- Dates: September 25-27, 2025
- Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Austin, Texas or online
- Cost: $299 to $899, depending on whether you are a member, how early you book, and whether you attend in person.
XYPN LIVE features expert keynotes, a tech showcase, and opportunities for roundtable discussions. The topics covered are varied, with the event mainly focused on helping advisory firms better position themselves and more efficiently scale advice.
FPA Annual Conference 2025
- Dates: November 3-5, 2025
- Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Cost: From $924 to $1,424, depending on whether you are a member and how early you book
Known as the largest gathering of certified financial planners (CFP), this year’s FPA Annual Conference offers attendees three days of keynotes, education on how to power their careers, and networking.
 IMPACT 2025 Schwab
- Dates: November 4-6
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Cost: TBA
Not much is yet known about IMPACT 2025 other than the dates and the fact that it will be held in Denver, Colorado. Last year, industry experts, service and product providers, and thousands of advisors gathered to discuss, among other things, the psychology of succession planning, best practices for firms to grow, and effective communication methods.
Why Advisors Attend Conferences
Conferences offer numerous benefits. They give advisors the chance to change scenery and take a break from the office, reflect, listen to fresh perspectives, keep abreast of what is going on in the profession, and make new contacts. And, as a bonus, many of them also provide continuing education credits.
The Bottom Line
Conferences are ideal locations for financial advisors to meet people, grow their network, deepen industry knowledge, and learn more about global trends. Attending one or several of them could lead to a chance encounter or acquiring a piece of valuable information that significantly improves your professional and maybe even personal development while helping your business stay relevant or reach the next level.