A full month past our annual client conference is a good time to reflect on the influence this event has had across our firm, clients, consultants, partners and other industry influencers and, equally important, how we plan to sustain the momentum going forward.
More than 1,000 people converged in Las Vegas, formulating a diverse ecosystem of ideas, discussions and connections. The conference kicked off with a keynote address from Chairman and CEO Bill Stone, where he discussed the company’s commitment to value-added strategic acquisitions – the latest examples being DST Systems, Eze Software and IntraLinks. These acquisitions bring SS&C’s workforce to more than 20,000 and our global client base to over 13,000.
Next up, Robert Roley, SS&C Advent’s General Manager, spoke about the range of firms represented in Las Vegas, and the learning opportunities available throughout the conference. Attendees came from many industry segments including banking, insurance, alternatives, and asset and wealth management to real estate and healthcare. With over 100 sessions, there were sessions a plenty for each industry vertical from broad to solution specific, as well as many future-forward sessions where experts discussed where we are today, and provided a window into their thinking for tomorrow.
This year’s conference featured new sessions including Artificial Intelligence in Asset and Wealth Management; more than 25% of the 1,000 attendees registered for this session, making it by far the biggest draw. Other new additions to the conference lineup included insights on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, alternative data, risk mitigation in the #MeToo era and the impact of new tax reform regulations. Speakers from the Investment Advisers’ Association brought us up-to-date on the latest regulatory changes, while our Chief Compliance Officer panel discussion – which included two former SEC examiners – talked about the taxing realities of exam preparation.
The ever-popular peer-to-peer roundtables also included new content this year. In addition to the opportunity to exchange ideas on technology today and operational best practices, participants also had a chance to sit one-on-one with outside industry experts for more informal and interactive discussions on broader industry topics.
We heard a compelling keynote from Jeffrey Kleintop, Charles Schwab’s chief global investment strategist and his analysis of potential “shark attacks” looming on the investment horizon, which has us wondering about the recent market turbulence.
All in all, it’s fair to say SS&C Deliver delivered. So, where do we go from here? We are already hard at work on next year’s conference taking place in Orlando, FL. However, between now and then, SS&C Advent is hitting the road with several major city roadshows in 2019. Watch your email for more information or contact us to be included on the mailing list for upcoming events!
