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Independent RIA Conferences and Conventions for 2026

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Attending an RIA conference or convention is an opportunity to grow your professional network and expand your knowledge base. Working as an independent RIA can present some unique challenges and coming together with other advisors can prove valuable if you’re hoping to scale an existing firm or launch a new one. Keeping track of the various RIA conferences happening year-round can help you decide which ones you may want to attend.

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RIA Conference Calendar 2026

RIA conferences take place throughout the year, with some events held one time only and others recurring annually. Here are some of the upcoming conferences you might be interested in attending in 2025.

January

  • AICPA & CIMA Personal Financial Planning Symposium: The AICPA & CIMA Personal Financial Planning Symposium brings together industry experts, firm leaders and decision-makers, tax professionals and advisors who focus on retirement services with interactive sessions and keynote speeches on the latest planning trends. AICPA and CIMA members enjoy a discounted rate on registration fees. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Advyzon: Advyzon is an immersive conference experience for advisors who are interested in expert-led learning. Attendees can take part in hands-on workshops and breakout sessions, visit the tech hub and listen to industry leaders share their knowledge at keynote events. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

February

  • OneVoice Annual Kickoff: OneVoice is an annual event that targets independent advisors who are looking to build strong businesses through consistent scaling and sustainable growth. Technology, regulation, leadership and growth are always core topics and the event features learning sessions, guest speakers and plenty of networking opportunities. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • FSP Institute: FSP Institute is an advanced learning experience in which subject area experts present sophisticated strategies and cutting-edge insights in a uniquely collaborative format that prioritizes practical implementation. Attendees can earn up to 16 hours of continuing education (CE) credit; note that some credits require attendance at specific conference events. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Orion Ascent: The Ascent conference is Orion’s flagshipadvisor event bringing together financial advisors, innovative fintech providers, broker-dealers, and tech-forward enterprise firms for three days of valuable content and industry insights. You may consider attending if you use Orion products, like Redtail CRM, or simply want to connect with other tech-savvy advisors. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Innovate Summit: Innovate Summit is a practice transformation conference that’s designed to help advisors advance their goals. This year’s conference is set to focus on emerging retirement risks, including new legislation, a shifting tax and economic environment and the evolving lifestyle needs of retirement savers. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

March

  • IAA Compliance Conference: IAA Compliance Conference two-day program that provides investment advisers with the most current information available on the changing regulatory landscape. If you’re interested in the latest compliance trends and risk factors, you’ll find them covered here in large and small group sessions. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Barron’s Independent Summit: The Barron’s Advisor Independent Summit is an exclusive annual gathering of the nation’s top RIA and independent advisors. This invitation-only event offers a unique opportunity for advisors to exchange ideas with peers who understand the challenges and opportunities unique to an independent practice. You can request an invitation on the Barron’s website. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

April

  • Barron’s Advisor Teams Summit: Effective team building can be central to growth and that’s the focus of the Barron’s Advisors Teams Summit. This invitation-only event is designed for advisors who are interested in improving team dynamics to create more favorable client outcomes. You can request an invite on the Barron’s website. Check conference dates and apply.
  • AdvisorHub Womens Summit: For female advisors, the AdvisorHub Womens Summit presents an opportunity to come together and learn about investment strategies, practice management, professional growth and more. The conference features quick, impactful sessions and opportunities to network with talented women from across the country. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • IWI Experience: IWI holds a twice-yearly conference event, with an opportunity to learn from industry leaders about investment management, wealth management, retirement management and how to effectively manage your practice. Cutting-edge topics like embracing AI as well as success planning and other important topics are on the docket. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Uncommon Knowledge National Conference: The Uncommon Knowledge National Conference is a premier event for registered investment advisors who provide active money management services to clients. This year’s conference is set to focus on investment strategies, risk management, trading techniques, technology and advisor marketing. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

May

  • Envestnet Elevate: The Elevate conference brings together RIAs, advisors, enterprises and fintech companies for discussions on the role technology plays in the wealth management space. Some of this year’s agenda highlights include sessions on developing high-net-worth strategies and adopting proven practice management strategies. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • DeVoe Elevate: DeVoe Elevate is a growth-focused RIA conference that provides plenty of networking opportunities, including a special brunch for women advisors in the wealth management space. Some of this year’s talking points include strategies for creating a referral pipeline, culture-building and advisor succession planning. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

June

  • BNY Mellon Pershing INSITE: The INSITE conference spans a multitude of topics, ranging from investments and technology to practice management. The agenda for this year’s event has yet to be announced, though the schedule is scheduled for the first week of June in Aurora, Colorado. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

August

  • FPA GATHER:. FPA Gather, formerly the NexGen Gathering, brings together newly established advisors with experienced financial planning professionals. The event is designed to encourage conversations and networking; you may also find a financial advisor mentor here. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

September

  • Limitless Lifestyle: Limitless Lifestyle is not an RIA conference in the traditional sense, but it may be worth considering if you’re ready to build a $1 million practice. When you enroll in the program, you’ll be able to participate in four one-day virtual learning summits and have the option to enroll in a two-day retreat. The event typically takes place in the fall and you can join the waitlist to learn more. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • XYPN Live:. The XYPN Live conference is all about scaling your RIA firm and leveraging technology to do it. Advisors who attend can learn strategies for streamlining operations to make them more efficient and get a peek at the latest tech innovations. If you can’t make the event in person, you can purchase access to on-demand recordings of conference events after it wraps. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

October

  • ADISA Conference: The ADISA Conference is an annual event that attracts registered investment advisors and other financial professionals who primarily specialize in non-traded alternative investments. Marketing is a central focus of the conference, which may be helpful to RIAs who are looking for insight into the latest trends or strategies. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • Schwab IMPACT:. Schwab IMPACT is another noteworthy RIA conference to add to your schedule. This event brings together the decision-makers of the RIA industry and offers advisors opportunities to highlight their products and services. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
  • RIA EDGE West: RIA EDGE West is designed exclusively for RIA executives and allows opportunities to network with more than 250 C-level advisors from some of the fastest-growing firms. The conference features renowned speakers leading sessions on recruitment strategies, organizational design and the biggest trends driving disruption in the RIA space. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

November

  • FPA Summit: The FPA Summit takes place in the fall and this year’s event is scheduled to be held in Maryland. Conference details are still being updated, so check back regularly to learn more about guest speakers, events and the conference agenda. Check conference dates and registration requirements. 
  • IWI Summit: IWI returns with a fall summit in case you’re unable to attend the spring event. This event will cover different ground, so you may want to plan a visit to both if you can fit them into your busy schedule. Check conference dates and registration requirements.

December

  • Barron’s Advisor Women Summit: The Barron’s Advisor Women Summit is tailored to women advisors who are working in wealth management. This year’s agenda features discussions about business development, improving client service, investment strategies and leadership. Check conference dates and registration requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions

RIAs discussing different conferences to attend throughout the year.
Can attending financial advisor conferences earn CE credit?

Yes, though it often depends on which conference you’re attending. Many conferences for financial advisors announce in the event details whether you’ll be able to earn continuing education credits. If a conference offers CE credit, the number of credits you can earn may play a part in deciding whether to attend.

What happens at an RIA conference?

RIA conferences don’t always cover the same material, but the structure is roughly the same. Conferences typically last two to four days, with the first and last days bookending the event. Attendees may have the option to attend workshops or discussion sessions, network with other advisors and cap the conference off by listening to a keynote speech. Meals are usually included in the registration fees, though hotel accommodation may need to be booked separately.

Is it worth attending an RIA conference?

Attending RIA conferences can be worth it if you’re hoping to connect with other advisory professionals or learn something new about building a successful firm. Reviewing the agenda and considering the costs can help you narrow down the list of conferences that might be worth attending.

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Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an RIA conference to attend (or exhibit at) there are a lot of options out there. The conferences we’ve listed here are largely centered around growth tactics and strategies. You may find them useful whether you’re just starting an RIA firm, or you’ve been in business for several years and are ready to scale up on a significant level.

Tips for Growing Your Advisory Business

RIAs making a list of upcoming conferences.
  • Developing a marketing plan can be integral to your firm’s growth but it can take time to find your groove. If you’re looking for faster results or simply want to streamline some of your systems, you may consider the advantages of an advisory marketing platform. SmartAsset AMP (Advisor Marketing Platform) is our holistic marketing service that financial advisors can use for client lead generation and automated marketing. Sign up for a free demo to explore how SmartAsset AMP can help you expand your practice’s marketing operation. Get started today.
  • Attending RIA conferences is an excellent way to network and make new contacts. Building out your network is something that you ideally begin doing on day one, as it can help to increase your business’s visibility. If you don’t have time to attend multiple conferences during the year, you may consider other creative ways to network as an advisor.

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