The financial advice profession is facing a dual crisis: a historic transfer of wealth and a wave of retirements among its advisors. With an estimated $124 trillion set to pass from one generation to the next over the next two decades, and more than a third of today's financial advisors expected to retire within the next decade, the industry is bracing for a significant shortage. Industry experts predict the U.S. could see a shortfall of approximately 100,000 financial advisors by 2034, raising urgent questions about who will guide families through retirement and wealth planning, and who will lead the profession into the future.
To tackle these challenges, the Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad-A) is hosting the 2026 VISION Conference: The Wealth Shift: Ownership, Legacy & the Next Era. Scheduled for September 10-12 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., the conference will bring together more than 600 financial advisors, wealth management executives, asset managers, RIAs, corporate partners, policymakers, and students. The event aims to address who will own, lead, and shape the future of financial advice.
The conference features nationally recognized voices, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump and sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, who will share their perspectives on leadership, ownership, advocacy, and legacy as families build and preserve generational wealth. Their insights are expected to enrich the conversation on how the industry can adapt to the changing landscape.
“The wealth shift happening in American families is also happening inside advisory firms,” said Sheena Gray, CEO of Quad-A. “Ownership, leadership, and client relationships are all changing hands at once. Our responsibility isn't simply to prepare the next generation of financial advisors—it's to prepare the next generation of firm owners, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who will define what this profession looks like for decades to come. That's the work Quad-A is here to do, and VISION is where those conversations spark action.”
As Quad-A marks its 25th anniversary, the conference underscores both the organization's legacy and its bold vision for the future. For a quarter century, Quad-A has worked to expand opportunity, cultivate leadership, and increase access to trusted financial guidance. Today, the organization continues to lead national conversations around the future of wealth management.
VISION 2026 is designed to address today's most pressing issues, including succession planning and increasing enterprise value, independent firm ownership and entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and the future of financial advice, wealth transfer and legacy planning, public policy and advocacy shaping the profession, and recruiting, mentoring, and building the financial advisors of tomorrow. These topics are critical for ensuring that the next generation of advisors is equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The conference also serves as a platform for media to engage with speakers and industry leaders, offering insights into the future of financial advice. Members of the media are invited to attend sessions and interview key figures.
The significance of this event cannot be overstated. The convergence of the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in American history with a mass exodus of experienced advisors poses a threat to the financial security of countless families. By focusing on ownership, leadership, and innovation, Quad-A is positioning itself at the forefront of solving this crisis. The decisions made and connections forged at VISION 2026 could shape the industry for decades, ensuring that the next generation of advisors is ready to guide clients through the complex financial landscape.
