The agenda is out for Morningstar’s 37th annual Morningstar Investment Conference, set for June 25-26, 2025, at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier, with highlights including Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor sitting down to talk alternative investments with Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan in a fireside chat focusing on the convergence of public and private markets.
“Key trends like the convergence of public and private markets are again at the heart of our agenda, helping advisors navigate the shifting needs of their clients.”
Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor
“Key trends like the convergence of public and private markets are again at the heart of our agenda, helping advisors navigate the shifting needs of their clients,” said Kunal Kapoor, chief executive officer at Morningstar. “We’re thrilled to welcome a stellar lineup of speakers and deliver an event that sparks meaningful conversations about the investing landscape and the shifting tides that are on investors’ minds.”
The popular conference addresses today’s pressing topics in investing, framed by Morningstar’s uniquely independent perspective. Bringing together the industry’s leading voices, sessions are designed to equip attendees with actionable strategies and timely insights to better serve their clients.
More agenda highlights include Dana Emery, CEO of Dodge & Cox, joining a keynote panel to dissect the ongoing debate between active and passive strategies. The discussion will evaluate how these approaches influence long-term value creation in today’s complex asset management environment.
Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar, will host a timely discussion on retirement challenges with Jean Chatzky, founder and CEO of HerMoney, and Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners. The panel will tackle issues such as spending vs. saving money in retirement and the intergenerational wealth transfer, with a focus on strategies tailored to women clients.
Retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal will share his perspective on how today’s evolving and volatile geopolitical landscape impacts global markets and how advisors can build resilient teams and lead through complex situations.
The Morningstar Investment Conference is dedicated to empowering investors, bringing together top industry leaders and investing experts to share insights and strategies. The agenda will explore central themes such as the merging of public and private markets, new approaches to value creation in asset management, transformative developments in retirement planning, and the ongoing influence of geopolitical dynamics on investment decisions. Through engaging keynote addresses, panels, and discussions, the conference provides a roadmap to help prepare for the evolving investment landscape and the many choices it is creating for investors.
Additional speakers at this year’s conference include:
- Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson of Ritholtz Wealth Management will take to the redesigned podcast stage to record a live episode of their podcast, Animal Spirits.
- A panel featuring Andrew Beer (DBi), David Ben-Ur (Blackstone), and Pete Hecht (AQR), will delve into the complexities and future of liquid alternative investments.
- Kristen Griffin (UBS), Sage Lincoln (Wells Fargo Investment Institute), and Anna Snider (Bank of America) will explore private asset portfolios and answer an important question: how are major gatekeepers approaching these products?
- Erin Garrett (T. Rowe Price), Robert Mitchnick (BlackRock), and Juan Leon (Bitwise) will dive into how to assess risk, balance exposure, and leverage digital currencies for long-term growth.
Day one concludes with all conference attendees invited to a reception at Offshore Rooftop for music, food and drinks, and conversation with peers, all with stunning views of Lake Michigan.
There are three pass types available for the Morningstar Investment Conference, which is exclusively in-person. The Hosted Advisor pass is free for registered investment advisors holding a valid CRD. This pass type has limited availability and includes an opportunity for advisors to stay on top of industry trends and engage in appointments with service providers of their choice.
New this year, Hosted Advisors can input their preferences and generate a suggested list and schedule of service provider appointments using artificial intelligence matching. The Advisor pass costs $399 through Wednesday, May 14 and $499 thereafter. The General Attendee pass costs $999 through Wednesday, May 14, and $1,199 thereafter. Passes are 100% refundable if cancelled by June 18.
More information about the Morningstar Investment Conference, including the full agenda, hotel accommodations, continuing-education credits, and an FAQ is available here.
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Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.
