The College of Charleston School of Business Investment Program will host its eighth annual Strategic Investment Symposium at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday, March 11, 2022.

The one-day event, dedicated to the investment industry’s latest developments, will feature more than 30 global financial professionals regularly seen on media such as MSNBC, CNBC and Fox Business.

“Charleston has a rapidly growing financial industry,” says Mark Pyles, finance professor and director of the School of Business Investment Program. “There exists a need for thought-leading conversations on issues pertaining to economic and financial activities that are relevant to professionals and their clients.”

A roster of prominent industry experts will cover relevant and timely topics in asset management, including digital finance and cryptos, private equity, real estate and the power of business culture. The event will offer plenary and breakout sessions, a networking lunch and closing reception.

The impressive speaker lineup includes Kristina Hooper, chief global market strategist at Invesco; David Kelly, chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management; Jack Ablin, founding partner and chief investment officer at Cresset; John Stoltzfus, managing director and chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer Asset Management; and Larry Adam, chief investment officer at Raymond James.

“It is hard to find another conference in the Southeast that brings speakers like this onto one stage,” says Pyles.

Institutional wealth managers, individual investors, and managers of endowments, foundations, family offices are all encouraged to attend. Representatives from more than 200 of the industry’s leading investment, advisory, and financial firms such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley have attended over the past seven years.

In addition to providing attendees with insights into strategic investment strategies, the event will also highlight the new talent coming out of the College of Charleston. The School of Business Investment Program prepares students for finance careers through theoretical classroom instruction and practical application. Each year, the symposium brings students together with professionals to prepare them for jobs in one of the most competitive industries in the world.

This year’s conference is a full-circle moment for program alumnus Ben Carew ’16, who now serves as vice chairman of the advisory board for the Investment Program.

“As a student, the Investment Program had an immeasurable impact on my preparedness for and confidence in my career choice,” says Carew, portfolio manager at Tandem Investment Advisors. “It prepared me for the financial world in a way that the traditional class never could. To be part of a firm now sponsoring the symposium is not only fulfilling, but hopefully helps put the current class of students in a position to network and listen to high-quality speakers.”

Symposium sponsors include Invesco, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Robotti & Company Advisors, Tandem Investment Advisors, Raymond James, Capasso Planning Partners, Hartford Funds, Pawley’s Capital Management, Aidentified, Greystar, The PRS Group, Greenwood Capital, South Carolina CFA Society and Bitwise.

Registration is available until March 1 on the the Investment Symposium event website.