On January 15, 2026, the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation (WIFPR) hosted the third annual Wharton Future of Finance Forum at Penn Washington alongside the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program. Against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol, the event convened academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the forces reshaping global finance.
This year’s Forum included panel sessions on:
- Stablecoins after the GENIUS Act
- The Path Ahead for the Federal Reserve
- U.S. Federal Debt and the Long-Term Fiscal Outlook
- Artificial Intelligence in Finance: Opportunities and Risks
- Geopolitics and the Economic Impact of Conflict
- The Rise of Private Markets
The Forum culminated in a fireside chat between Wharton Dean Erika James and Jackie Reses, W’92, CEO of Lead Bank.
This event underscored Wharton’s commitment to connecting academic research and thought leadership with real-world impact, as industry leaders and policymakers navigate profound transformations in the financial landscape. Navigate to the full recap page on Finance at Wharton’s blog.