As financial operations, technology, and market structure continue to evolve, SIFMA's 2026 Operations Conference & Exhibition brought together leaders from across the industry to examine the trends shaping the future of capital markets. Broker-dealers, banks, asset managers, market utilities, vendors and regulators gathered for timely conversations on innovation, resilience, operations and emerging technologies.

Sessions are now available to watch on demand, including one-on-one conversations with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, Charles Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders, featured keynote Stifel CEO and SIFMA Chair Ron Kruszewski, and more.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce joined SIFMA President and CEO Ken Bentsen for a conversation on the evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets and emerging financial technologies. Their discussion explored how regulators are approaching crypto markets, innovation in financial services, and the balance between fostering innovation and protecting investors.

Related Resource from the SEC:

• SEC Crypto Newsroom

Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, joined SIFMA President and CEO Ken Bentsen for a wide-ranging discussion on the economic trends, geopolitical developments and market signals shaping the investment landscape. The conversation examined what is driving US market performance today and the factors likely to influence investors in the months ahead.

Related Resource from Charles Schwab:

• Gambler's Blues: Betting Isn't Investing

Ronald J. Kruszewski, chair and CEO of Stifel and chair of SIFMA's Board of Directors, delivered a keynote on the critical role operations play in supporting clients, strengthening firms and maintaining resilient capital markets. He also shared perspectives on the current market environment and the industry's path forward.

Related Resource from Stifel:

• Op-ed: For Too Many Young People, Investing Is Like Gambling. It's a Warning Sign.

Steve Liesman, Scott Anderson and Lindsey Piegza discussed the economic forces shaping global markets and the outlook for growth, inflation, interest rates and investor sentiment. Drawing on their expertise in economics and financial markets, the panel explored the key indicators influencing market performance; where investors might be misreading economic signals; and how inflation, monetary policy and geopolitical developments could impact volatility and market behavior in the months ahead.

Bob Santella, CEO of BetaNXT, shared his perspective on why the financial services industry must rethink traditional operating models to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving marketplace. Framing AI as part of a broader next-generation operating system, Santella discussed how firms can modernize infrastructure, improve efficiency and create greater value for clients.

Andrés Choussy, President of FIS Capital Markets, explored the technologies reshaping financial services, including agentic AI, tokenization and data management. He also discussed how leadership models must evolve alongside these innovations as firms adapt to accelerating technological change.

Tim Gokey, CEO of Broadridge, shared insights from Broadridge's 2026 Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study, highlighting how firms are leveraging AI and tokenization to drive operational efficiency and enterprise-wide impact. The discussion emphasized the urgency for firms to modernize and adapt in an increasingly competitive environment.

Frank La Salla, president and CEO of DTCC, discussed the evolving role of financial market infrastructures in supporting innovation, resilience and market growth. His remarks highlighted the increasing importance of digital assets, emerging technologies and trusted infrastructure in shaping the future of global financial markets.

Financial firms are increasingly integrating operational resilience into their core models, driven by the shift to T+1 settlement and the rise of AI, speakers said at the SIFMA Operations Conference. Jefferies Managing Director Mike Fiscella and DTCC Managing Director Dan Thieke highlighted the need for cross-functional resilience planning to address scenarios including cyberthreats and market disruptions. Todd Klessman of SIFMA emphasized the importance of simplifying processes and expanding automation to quickly restore critical functions.

Stay Connected with SIFMA Ops/Tech
To stay connected throughout the year and learn more about SIFMA's efforts to support effective and resilient capital markets, follow SIFMA Ops/Tech on LinkedIn and subscribe to SIFMA SmartBrief: Ops/Tech Edition.

Digital Assets: Research Brief
Ahead of SIFMA's 2026 Operations Conference & Exhibition, our Insights team examined how digital assets are reshaping core market functions, from trading through settlement, and what their growing adoption means for the future of capital markets. In this brief, we explore three major digital asset classes: cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, focusing on equities and bond funds.

Mark your calendar for SIFMA Ops 2027. We'll be at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Arizona from May 10-13, and we hope you will be, too. Sign up to receive updates.

In the meantime, explore what's next, including:

• Global Corporate Actions Forum | Oct. 8 | New York Law School
• Customer Account Transfer Forum | Nov. 4-6 | Charleston, S.C.