Stephanie Patti, Founder and CEO of Global Trend Events, joined Julie Cooling, Founder and CEO of RIA Channel, at the GTE Wealth Forum to discuss designing a conference that efficiently matches the needs of advisors and asset managers.
Patti started Global Trend Events in 2013 to overcome the problem of industry conferences where thousands of people attend, but sponsors don’t have a guarantee of making contacts and booking meetings. At the 2025 GTE Wealth Forum, there were nearly 1,500 meetings between sponsors and attendees. Each conference intentionally has an equal number of advisors and asset managers. RIA attendees are mostly investment decision-makers representing firms with over $250 million in AUM. Each attendee has at least 16 meetings over the course of a two to three-day conference.
Patti produces only two events a year, taking time to curate highly qualified advisors and asset managers. Asset managers range from boutiques to the largest global firms. These conferences benefit advisors by streamlining the process of meeting new asset managers and starting the due diligence process.
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