2026 Forbes | SHOOK Top Teams Summit Agenda

TIME

EVENT

LOCATION

3:30 – 5:00pm

REGISTRATION

OCEAN LAWN

4:00 – 6:00pm

WELCOME RECEPTION

OCEAN LAWN

6:30pm

DINE-AROUNDS WITH PARTNERS

TIME

EVENT

LOCATION

7:00 – 8:00am

BREAKFAST

LUSTER GALLERIE

7:00am – 4:00pm

REGISTRATION

LUSTER GALLERIE

8:00 – 8:05am

Welcome, America’s Best Teams

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research

SPARKLE BALLROOM

8:05 – 8:15am

The Science Behind Team Growth…and Failure

• R.J. Shook, Co-Founder & CEO, SHOOK Research, Senior Forbes Contributor

8:15 – 8:30am

SHOOK Ones: Intention and Purpose

• Jeff Bryan, Merrill Wealth Management
• Moderator: Steve Samuels, Managing Director, Communications Executive, Merrill Wealth Management and Private Bank
• Intro: Jacob Shook, Associate VP | Rankings, SHOOK Research

8:30 – 8:50am

Technology Outlook 2026: Run It Back, With Clear Eyes

• Denny Fish, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, Janus Henderson Investors
• Moderator: Adam Whitesell, Ameriprise Financial Services
• Intro: Jon Cowles, Executive Director, Advisor Solutions Group, Janus Henderson Investors

8:50 – 9:05am

Diversifying Equity Risk with Private Equity Secondaries

• Nate Walton, Partner, Head of Ares Private Equity Secondaries
• Moderator: Casey Galligan, Partner, Co-Head of U.S. Wealth Management Solutions, Ares

9:05 – 9:10am

SHOOK Ones: Proactive Growth Strategies

• Kent Pearce, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Lindsey Nacht, Vice President | Director of Operations, SHOOK Research

9:10 – 9:25am

This Isn’t Your Typical Real Estate Cycle

• Tim Sloan, Vice Chairman & Global Head of Real Estate, Fortress Investment Group
• Moderator: Kimberley Hatchett, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Rich Lesser, Managing Director, Fortress Investment Group

9:25 – 9:40am

Navigating Credit Markets

• Purnima Puri, Governing Partner and Head of Liquid Credit, HPS Investment Partners
• Moderator: Raj Sharma, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Intro: John Christmas, Co-Head of Business Development & Investor Relations, HPS Investment Partners

9:40 – 9:55am

SNACK BREAK

LUSTER GALLERIE

9:55 – 10:00am

SHOOK Ones: How to Articulate Our Value Proposition

• Patrick Schaffer, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Jordan Merrill, Associate VP | Senior Research Manager, SHOOK Research

10:00 – 10:20am

Private Equity: Deploying Capital Today

• Viral Patel, CEO, BXPE
• Moderator: Joe Lohrer, Head of North America Sales, Blackstone Private Wealth
• Intro: Ryan McCracken, Managing Director, Blackstone Private Wealth

10:20 – 10:40am

Market Outlook: Uncomfortably Bullish

• Michael Arone, Chief Investment Strategist, State Street Investment Management
• Moderator: Eric Applewhite, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Intro: Pat Renehan, Vice President, Regional Consultant, State Street Investment Management

10:40 – 11:00am

5 Keys to High-Performing Teams

• Conner McGee, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Palmer Murray, UBS Wealth Management
• Moderator: Julie Genjac, VP, Managing Director, Applied Insights, Hartford Funds
• Intro: Kevin Eberly, Regional Vice President, Advisor Consultant, Hartford Funds

11:00 – 11:15am

Powering AI: The Backbone of the Digital Future

• Sikander Rashid, Global Head of AI Infrastructure, Brookfield
• Moderator: Jimmy Klein, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Ryan Kulik, Head of Head of Strategic Relationships, Brookfield Private Wealth

11:15 – 11:20am

SHOOK Ones: Team Culture & Motivation

• Tom Wilson, William Blair
• Intro: Callie Askins, Sr. Associate VP | Senior Project Leader, SHOOK Research

11:20 – 11:35am

Private Credit at a Crossroads

• Greg Hall, Managing Director, Head of U.S. Global Wealth Management, PIMCO
• Moderator: Charles Balducci, Merrill Wealth Management
• Intro: Dan Hally, Private Wealth Director, NYC Metro, PIMCO

11:35 – 11:50am

REFRESHMENT BREAK

LUSTER GALLERIE

11:50 – 12:30pm

BREAKOUTS

Breakout #1: Navigating the Crossroads: Private Credit Investing from the Ground Up

• Bryan Tsu, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, PIMCO
• Greg Conlon, CEO, High Ridge Aviation
• Moderator: Marc Karetsky, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management

OCEAN PROMENADE E

Breakout #2: How to Source and Develop Top Talent for Your Team

• Andrew Schultz, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Dryden Pence, Pence Wealth Management, LPL Financial
• Moderator: Caroline Gundeck, Managing Director, Head of Client and Field Engagement, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

SPLASH 9-10

Breakout #3: Ideas to Acquire and Retain High Net Worth Clients

• Perry Buckman, Pathlight Advisors, Wells Fargo Financial Network
• Steve Rabin, Ameriprise Financial Services
• Moderator: Jim Cotchett, Head of Strategic Client Engagement, U.S. Wealth Solutions, First Eagle Investments

SPLASH 11-12

12:30 – 12:55pm

TRANSITION TO GENERAL SESSION / NETWORKING BREAK

12:55 – 1:50pm

LUNCH

SPARKLE BALLROOM

12:55 – 1:00pm

Forbes | SHOOK Leveraging Your Forbes Recognition

1:00 – 1:20pm

Ownership, Leadership & Performance

• Pete Stavros, Partner and Co-Head of Global Private Equity, KKR
• Intro: Brian Shockley, Director, Mountain West Relationship Manager, KKR

1:20 – 1:35pm

Insight from the Fastest Growing Team

• Edmund Agresta, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: Peter Prinstein, Head of Private Client Group Sales, PIMCO

1:35 – 1:50pm

NETWORKING BREAK

2:05 – 2:45pm

Breakout #1: Nuances of Bringing on Family Members to a Team

• Nestor Vicknair, Merrill Wealth Management
• Kyle Kelley, Merrill Wealth Management
• Morgan Vicknair, Merrill Wealth Management
• Cole Vicknair, Merrill Wealth Management

OCEAN PROMENADE E

Breakout #2: Incorporating a COO Onto Your Team

• Paul Santavicca, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Kathleen Wilson, Pathlight Advisors, Wells Fargo Financial Network
• Moderator: Jonathan Ross, VP, Market Leader & Senior Advisor Consultant, Invesco

SPLASH 9-10

Breakout #3: Compensating and Motivating Team Members

• Michael Valdes, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Benjamin Leshem, HLM Capital | Wells Fargo Financial Network
• Moderator: Alberto Gonzalez, Divisional President, Wells Fargo Advisors

SPLASH 11-12

2:45 – 3:00pm

REFRESHMENT BREAK / TRANSITION TO GENERAL SESSION

3:00 – 3:15pm

Ideas for Growing Together

• Tony Carpentieri, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Liza Carey, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Moderator: John Edenbach, Managing Director, Business Development, GoldenTree Asset Management

3:15 – 3:30pm

Beyond the Blueprint: Crafting Tailored Private Equity Opportunities for a New Era

• Steve Willmann, Co-Portfolio Manager of TPOP and Treasurer of TPG
• Moderator: Richard Zinman, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Colin Morris, Principal, Head of SE PWM Distribution, TPG

3:30 – 3:50pm

Success in Succession Planning

• Dave Niehaus, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Scott Tiras, Ameriprise Financial Services
• Moderator: Robert Bruno, Vice Chairman of U.S. Wealth Solutions, First Eagle Investments
• Intro: Jim Cotchett, Head of Strategic Client Engagement, U.S. Wealth Solutions, First Eagle Investments

3:50 – 4:05pm

The Digital Future: How Stablecoins are Blurring the Lines Between Traditional and Digital Assets

• John Tobin, Chief Investment Officer, BNY Investments | Dreyfus
• Moderator: Cynthia Chamberlayne, Senior Investment Strategist - Advisor Enablement, BNY Investments
• Intro: Chad Nordhagen, Senior Investment Consultant, BNY Investments

4:05 – 4:20pm

SNACK BREAK

LUSTER GALLERIE

4:20 – 4:25pm

SHOOK Ones: Team Compensation

• Peter Rohr, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Intro: Amman Chuhan, Analyst, SHOOK Research

4:25 – 4:40pm

What’s the “Spare Tire” in Your Portfolio?

• Richard Bernstein, CEO & CIO, Richard Bernstein Advisors
• Intro: Dan Shannon, Executive Director, Advisor Solutions Group, Janus Henderson Investors

4:40 – 4:55pm

Rethinking Real Estate’s Role in Income Portfolios

• Kate Bassett, Portfolio Manager, Invesco
• Moderator: Jaynie Siegel, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Intro: Derek Witte, VP, Market Leader, Invesco

4:55 – 5:25pm

SHOOK^® Teams Best Idea Competition

• Judge: Amy Schoenherr, Director of Financial Advisor Recognition, Wells Fargo Advisors
• Judge: Pat Murchison, SVP, Divisional Director, LPL Financial
• Judge: Ken Correa, Managing Director, Head of Business & Client Development, Merrill Wealth Management
• Moderator: Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research
• Moderator: Jacob Shook, Associate VP | Rankings, SHOOK Research
• Moderator: Frank Berland, Managing Partner, SHOOK Research

5:25 – 5:30pm

Cocktails Countdown!

• Frank Berland, Managing Partner, SHOOK Research

5:30 – 6:30pm

Cocktail Reception

LUSTER GALLERIE

TIME

EVENT

LOCATION

8:00 – 9:00am

BREAKFAST

LUSTER GALLERIE

9:00 – 9:05am

Coffee with Lizzy

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research

SPARKLE BALLROOM

9:05 – 9:10am

SHOOK Ones: Scaling Your Service Model for Growth: Building the Family Office Flywheel

• Trevor Byrne, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Intro: Luke Bartow, Associate VP | Senior Event Programmer, SHOOK Research

9:10 – 9:30am

The Opportunity for Inorganic Growth with Retiring Advisors

• Lars Olson, Alluvial Private Wealth
• Katie Hancock, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Moderator: Vince Fertitta, President, Sanctuary Wealth
• Intro: Blake Pastore, Senior Associate VP | Advisor Services Manager, SHOOK Research

9:30 – 9:50am

Five Considerations

• Gibson Smith, Founder, Smith Capital Investors

9:50 – 10:10am

A Proven Path to Growth: Four Pillars Behind Advisor Success

• Ken Van Leeuwen, Van Leeuwen & Company, LPL Financial
• Drew Freides, UBS Private Wealth Management
• Moderator: Pat Murchison, SVP, Divisional Director, LPL Financial
• Intro: Erick Lopez, Associate VP | Research Manager, SHOOK Research

10:10 – 10:25am

SNACK BREAK

LUSTER GALLERIE

10:25 – 10:30am

SHOOK Ones: Ideas for Leadership and Development of Your Team

• Tyler Johns, Edward Jones
• Intro: Kaili Moran, Event Coordinator, SHOOK Research

10:30 – 10:50am

The Great Wealth Transfer: Supporting Families and Engaging with the Next Gen

• Jessica Douieb, Head of Wealth Partners and Family Wealth Services, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
• Moderator: Christian Cram, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

10:50 – 11:10am

Deepening Client Engagement

• Malia Morales, Merrill Private Wealth Management
• Adam Carlin, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
• Moderator: Cynthia Chamberlayne, Senior Investment Strategist - Advisor Enablement, BNY Investments

11:10 – 11:25am

Advisor to Leader: Aligning Culture and Growth

• Mark Thorndyke, Merrill Wealth Management
• George Papadoyannis, Ameriprise Financial Services
• Moderator: Prachi Makkar, Vice President, TPG

11:25 – 11:30am

The Last Word

• Liz Shook, Co-Founder & COO, SHOOK Research