ICI

More than 1,000 legal and compliance professionals gathered in Palm Desert for ICI’s 2026 Investment Management Conference to discuss the evolving regulatory and operational landscape for asset managers. Check out all the highlights, including conversations on modernizing investor communications, improving proxy system efficiency, and supporting continued ETF innovation—all with the goal of better serving investors: bit.ly/3O1TVoH

That’s a wrap on #ICIIMC! Thank you to all of our sponsors, speakers, and attendees for making this year’s conference such a success. We appreciate the engaging conversations, thoughtful insights, and connections made throughout the week!

Welcome to the final day of #ICIIMC! ICI’s Kevin Ercoline moderated a discussion with @EmpowerToday's Patrick Arey, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Ryan Brizek, @apolloglobal's James Hannigan, @StateStreetIM’s Anna Paglia, and @groomlawgroup’s Kevin Walsh on expanding private market access in defined-contribution plans and anticipated policy developments.

That’s a wrap on day two of #ICIIMC! See you tomorrow for our final day of programming!

Thanks to @jpmorgan for hosting our panel on how AI is reshaping the workplace! With artificial intelligence reshaping legal and compliance roles, our panel featuring @jpmorgan's Peter Bonanno, @Wellington_Mgmt's Sarah Curran, @Deloitte's Russell Klosk, and @TCWGroup's Jessica Kung explored how firms can align AI innovation with sound governance and compliance frameworks. #ICIIMC

We were honored to have an esteemed panel of general counsels share how they balance competing demands with limited time and resources. Thanks to @principal's George Djurasovic, @Thrivent's Jay Jackson, @PIMCO's Ryan Leshaw, @hardingloevner's Lisa Price, and ICI’s Erica Evans for detailing the best approaches to managing in-house teams, navigating our ever-changing regulatory environment, adapting to new technologies like AI, and when to engage outside counsel or manage an issue internally. #ICIIMC

According a poll from our Chief Compliance Officers’ Roundtable at the Investment Management Conference, AI and private markets issues are the leading concern for compliance professionals. Thanks to Kevin Bopp from @NYLIManagement, Deidre Downes of @MorganStanley, Victor Frye from @ProShares, @dimensional's Randy Olson, and ICI’s Kenneth Fang for diving into the “Smorgasbord of Compliance Management” this year. #ICIIMC

ICI's own Eva Mykolenko moderated a panel on regulatory divergence around the globe, with insights from the Irish Association of Investment Managers’ Michael D'Arcy, @dimensional's Stephanie Hui, @KLGates' Andrew Massey, and @cohenandsteers' Sharanya Mitchell. #ICIIMC

Are the times a-changin’ or is the @SECgov playing the same old song with exams and enforcement? Our IMC panel pitted Bob Dylan v. The Lumineers to frame the next chapter of the SEC’s exams and enforcement approach. Thanks to the SEC’s Vanessa Horton and Corey Schuster, @Kirkland_Ellis’ Daniel Kahl, @StradleyRonon’s Jan Folena, and moderator, ICI’s Mike Spratt for breaking down what the next chapter in examinators and enforcement will hold for the industry. #ICIIMC

#ETFs have shifted from trend to tidal force, transforming product development, distribution strategies, and how investors access markets. At #ICIIMC, panelists shared perspectives on how this rapid evolution is shaping opportunities and considerations across the asset management landscape. Tweedy, Browne Company's Susan Lively, @RopesGray's Jessica Reece, @BNYglobal’s Ben Slavin, and ICI’s Joshua Weinberg discussed how continued innovation is influencing firm strategy, investor adoption, and what may lie ahead for the evolving ETF ecosystem.

As the fund industry continues to grow, it is facing increased scrutiny from federal and state policymakers—particularly around funds’ ownership of public companies. At #ICIIMC, ICI’s Matthew Thornton led a panel with @lathamwatkins' Keith Klovers, @followMFS' Susan Pereira, @BlackRock's Danny Riemer, and @CapitalGroup's Casey Solomon to explore how fund complexes are navigating this evolving environment. Panelists discussed how firms are fulfilling their obligations as investors amid a changing legal and regulatory landscape, sharing perspectives on stewardship, governance, and the growing expectations facing funds today.

“I want you all to go home and remember that the job you are all doing is very important. This is an industry that can have a tangibly positive effect if people do things the right way.” - @SECgov Commissioner Hester Peirce concludes the fireside thanking the industry. #ICIIMC

.@SECgov Commissioner Peirce responds stating that “rulemaking is certainly burdensome, and there’s a reason for that. We want to make sure that we’re incorporating public feedback on what we do. Rulemaking is more durable than any of this other guidance.” #ICIIMC

ICI President & CEO @EricJPan asks Commissioner Peirce about her views on staff guidance, which for industry is often seen as a good way of addressing regulatory issues without having to go through the burden of a rulemaking process. #ICIIMC

"From the ICI perspective, I find it a little strange that there's this criticism of the operation of closed-end fund vehicles when these limitations on redemptions is actually a feature. This was actually part of their design and should not be viewed as a flaw in these products." - @EricJPan, ICI #ICIIMC

"I still think that the bulk of the retail population is not going to want to go out and do individual investments in private companies. They're going to want the security of having diversification. They're going to want the security of having professional managers. They're going to want the security of doing it within an Investment Company Act context with that regulatory protection there." - @SECgov Commissioner Hester Peirce #ICIIMC

“I think given that so much of the growth is happening in private markets, we don’t have any choice but to confront that issue and to figure out some sensible routes for retail investors access…I think enabling them to get some exposure in private markets makes sense.” - @SECgov Commissioner Hester Peirce #ICIIMC

“I think getting the e-delivery problem solved is the first step…We want you to be thinking about this from the perspective of getting information to investors in a way that they can consume it.” - @SECgov Commissioner Hester Peirce #ICIIMC

“We all realize that just making either e-delivery the default with an option for paper or just making it the straight default is something that should happen,” shares @SECgov Commissioner Hester Peirce in response to ICI President & CEO @EricJPan’s question on the incoming proposed rulemaking. #ICIIMC