Morningstar Unveils Agenda for 2026 Morningstar Investment Conference
The 38th annual conference aims to deliver clarity, perspective, and actionable insights so advisors and investors have nothing standing in the way of their long-term goals
Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:MORN), a leading provider of independent investment insights, today announced the agenda for its 38th annual Morningstar Investment Conference, taking place June 17-18, 2026, at Chicago's iconic Navy Pier. Grounded in Morningstar's independent perspective and brought to life by leading voices in the industry, the conference seeks to tackle today's most pressing investment challenges with clear, actionable strategies and timely insights.
"This year's agenda is built around the obstacles advisors are facing today, from applying AI thoughtfully to navigating the growing role of private markets," said Kunal Kapoor, chief executive officer at Morningstar. "By convening leading voices from across the industry, we're helping advisors cut through the distraction and distortion that too often cloud investment decisions, equipping them with independent, research-backed insights they can use to stay focused on what truly matters to their clients."
The Morningstar Investment Conference focuses on empowering advisors and investors to respond to the forces reshaping the industry with more confidence. This year's agenda covers geopolitical and macroeconomic factors shaping portfolios, the future of active management, the evolution of retirement planning, and the behavioral factors influencing how investors are navigating complex markets.
Agenda Highlights
Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor will join Blackstone president and COO Jon Gray for a fireside chat exploring the rapidly evolving landscape of private markets. As public and private markets increasingly converge across products, portfolios, and investor access, the conversation will examine how this shift is reshaping modern portfolio construction and what it means for advisors navigating a changing investment landscape.
In a session focused on the future of active management, Fidelity portfolio manager Will Danoff will share the investment philosophy behind his distinctive style. Drawing on his long-standing tenure and professional journey, Danoff will unpack how seasoned managers adapt across market cycles to identify long-term value.
Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar, will lead a retirement-focused conversation with Dana Anspach, Sensible Money CEO, and Michael Finke, professor at The American College of Financial Services. The panelists will explore how advisors can navigate key risks, including longevity risk and rising healthcare costs, while applying innovative income strategies to today's evolving retirement landscape.
In a session centered on long-term investing in an uncertain world, Dimensional Fund Advisors founder and chairman David Booth will share how diversification, discipline, and flexibility form the foundation of resilient investment strategies. Drawing on five decades of investment management experience, Booth will explore why embracing uncertainty and helping investors avoid emotional pitfalls can unlock enduring opportunities across market cycles.
Walter Russell Mead, the Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship at the Hudson Institute, will deliver a timely keynote focused on today's geopolitical and macroeconomic outlook, helping advisors cut through uncertainty and translate global political and economic shifts into clearer context for portfolio decisions.
Additional speakers at this year's Morningstar Investment Conference include:
- A panel featuring Ramona Persaud (Fidelity), Peter Fisher (Wellington Management), and Michael Barclay (Columbia Threadneedle Investments) will revisit the case for dividend‑focused investing, examining whether recent underperformance reflects a fundamental shift in the role dividends play in modern portfolios.
- Samy Muaddi (T. Rowe Price), Anujeet Sareen (Brandywine), and Shamaila Khan (UBS) will discuss opportunities in global bonds and emerging markets debt, exploring how a changing geopolitical landscape and weakening US dollar are reshaping the case for global fixed income opportunities.
- In a discussion focused on today's unusually calm credit markets, Pramod Atluri (Capital Group) and Ryan Brist (Western) will examine whether historically tight spreads signal genuine stability or mask deeper risks tied to hidden leverage and default complacency ahead.
- Miles Lewis (Royce Investment Partners), Mike Valentine (Wasatch Global Investors), and Scott Brayman (Champlain Investment Partners) will dive into the evolving small‑ and mid‑cap landscape, offering perspectives on navigating concentrated benchmarks, assessing quality in niche themes, and whether smaller stocks are poised for a resurgence.
After day one of the conference, Morningstar invites all attendees to a reception at Offshore Rooftop for music, food, drinks, and peer connection with sweeping views of Lake Michigan.
More information about the Morningstar Investment Conference, including the full agenda, hotel accommodations, continuing-education credits, and an FAQ is available here. Please note the agenda is subject to change. Join the conversation on LinkedIn or X with #MICUS or by following www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar and @MorningstarInc.
Media Registration
Full-time, credentialed members of the news media may receive complimentary registration to the Morningstar Investment Conference, in addition to speaker access, press-only programming, and a media reception the evening of June 17. For media registration, please visit this link.
Attendee Registration
There are three pass types available for the Morningstar Investment Conference, which is exclusively in-person. The Hosted Advisor pass is free for registered investment advisors holding a valid CRD. This pass type has limited availability and includes an opportunity for advisors to stay on top of industry trends and engage in appointments with service providers of their choice. The Advisor pass costs $399 through Wednesday, May 6 and $499 thereafter. The General Attendee pass costs $999 through Wednesday, May 6, and $1,199 thereafter.
Morningstar is pleased to offer several accessibility measures at the Morningstar Investment Conference. Sensory kits will be available at the registration desk and will include resources to help manage potential situations regarding sensory overload. Additionally, closed captioning will be provided during all keynote sessions, and headphones will be available throughout the exhibit hall to amplify audio from breakout session speakers. For questions regarding accessibility measures for attendees, please contact [email protected].
About Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment insights in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The Company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers and owners, retirement plan providers and sponsors, institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets, and alliances and redistributors. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $378 billion in AUMA as of Dec. 31, 2025. The Company operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in 32 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com/company. Follow Morningstar on LinkedIn @Morningstar.
©2026 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Michael Claussen, +1 312 696-6037, [email protected]