From the opening Move & Recharge session and New Attendee Coffee Meet-Up to the final committee workshops, Arlington delivered. The 2026 Spring Conference brought the ADISA community together for three days of timely education, meaningful connection, and the kind of frank industry conversation that only happens when the best minds in alternatives are in the same room. Thank you to every attendee, exhibitor, sponsor, speaker, and committee member for your participation and the energy you brought.

View & Share Our Conference Photos

Conference Presentation Now Available in ADISA's Member Portal

---

KEYNOTE HIGHLIGHT

Troy Aikman Took the Stage — and the Room
NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback & Super Bowl Champion

Wednesday morning’s keynote was a fitting close to a conference held in his backyard. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman — three-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXVII MVP, and the first pick of the 1989 draft — brought his perspective on leadership, performance under pressure, and building a championship culture. For a room full of professionals navigating a complex industry environment, the parallels were hard to miss. Thank you to VENU for sponsoring this memorable session.

FEATURED LUNCHEON
The Women’s & Next Gen Luncheon: From Return on Investment to Return on Life

Dr. Sylvia Kwan, CEO and CIO of Ellevest, opened the conference Monday with a thought-provoking fireside chat alongside Jessica Correnti of Capital Square. Dr. Kwan introduced the concept of “wealthcare,” a reimagined approach to wealth management that shifts the measure of success from portfolio performance to client well-being. Her challenge to the room: when markets have delivered three consecutive years of above-average returns and clients still feel financially anxious, what does that tell us about how we define success? It was a powerful conversation that set the tone for the days ahead.

NEXT GENERATION RECEPTION
An incredible turnout at the Next Generation Reception at Choctaw Bar, where new ADISA attendees exchanged ideas and built meaningful connections.

NEW THIS YEAR
Matchmaking and the ADISA Spring Tech Fair

Two new formats made their debut in Arlington, and the feedback was strong on both.

The Spring Matchmaking Program gave product sponsors dedicated time for one-on-one, face-to-face meetings with key decision-makers, a focused, high-signal format that complemented the broader networking throughout the event.

The ADISA Spring Tech Fair, sponsored by VENTURE.co, offered something different: interactive demos and live Q&A from the technology firms helping streamline compliance, due diligence, and client onboarding across the alternative investment ecosystem.

EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
Big Topics, Candid Conversations

This year’s agenda leaned into some of the most debated and fast-moving areas of the alts space. Standout programming included:

1. Alternative Investments Industry Updates

   Taylor Garrett of Mountain Dell Consulting and Kevin Gannon of Stanger delivered a comprehensive look at where the 1031 market and overall alternatives market finished in 2025 and what to expect ahead

2. Oil & Gas and Real Estate Update

   Danny Rice of Rice Investment Group presented energy fundamentals and investment dynamics, followed by Bayle Smith of Green Street with a data-driven real estate market read

3. The Debate Series: Evergreen vs. Lifecycle Funds

   Moderated by journalist and debate moderator John Donvan, this session put two teams of fund advocates through a genuine good-faith debate on one of the industry’s most discussed structural questions

4. From Sidelines to Bottom Lines: The Rise of Sports as an Asset Class

   A fresh examination of professional sports ownership as an institutional-quality investment category

5. Private Credit Markets Outlook

   Kunal Shah, iCapital’s Managing Director and Head of Private Asset Research, shared his read on 2026 credit themes and trends

6. 1940 Act Fund Evolution

   A deep dive into interval and tender offer funds, liquidity dynamics, and the expanding opportunity set for non-accredited investors

7. “LANDMAN:” Fact, Fiction, or Some of Both?

   One of the more creative sessions in recent ADISA memory: clips from the hit TV series used as a launchpad for real-world oil and gas due diligence discussion

8. Building a Career in Alternatives: Pathways, Skills and Real-World Lessons

   A candid fireside chat on navigating career paths, critical skill sets, and real-world lessons from across the alts ecosystem

9. Navigating Opportunity Zones
   An update on where the program stands today and what advisors need to know as the landscape continues to evolve

BEST SESSION AWARD | ADISA 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Recognizing Excellence

Each year at the Spring Conference, ADISA presents the best session award from the prior Annual Conference & Trade Show, voted on by attendees. This year, it was presented to:

Matthew Mayer, FactRight
Craig Merkt, Calton & Associates
Rizwan Ibrahim, Accretive Wealth Management
Jack Grella, Metric Financial
Kyle Kadish, Revere Securities
John Donvan, Journalist, Author, Moderator-in-Chief for "Open to Debate"

For their session "Hot Topic Debate -- In an Alts Essential Market, Is a 20% Allocation Limit to Illiquid Investment Too Large or Not Large Enough?"

PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOGNITION
Recognizing the Leaders Behind the Conference

The 2026 Spring Conference reflects months of careful planning and real partnership. Our sincere thanks to:

Jake Heidkamp, FactRight, 2026 Spring Conference Chair
Katie Shook, Eagle Point Credit Management, Conference Planning Committee Chair

ARE YOU HIRING?
Contact adisa@adisa.org.

The ADISA 2026 Spring Conference was made possible, in part, by the dedication and professionalism of an exceptional group of interns who gave their time to help bring the event to life. From logistics to attendee support, these individuals showed up with energy, initiative, and a commitment to excellence.

A big thank you to Alondra E Rodríguez Duarte, Marc Gomez, Naisha Vinayak, Tade Kotyan, Jay Melchiori, Wyatt Seals, Justin Parks, Baylor Seals, and Colin Fitzgerald.

2026 ADISA Due Diligence Featuring TNDDA
June 24-26, 2026
Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

ADISA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show
October 5-7, 2026
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

TNDDA by ADISA
November 1-3, 2026
JW Marriott New Orleans