An Inside Look at the Exchange Community

Exchange has always been built on the power of community. Events are more than what happens on showroom floors or stages. A conference is about making connections, inspiring new ideas, and paving the way for mutual growth.

As we close the books on 2025, the data shows that the 2026 iteration is on track to be our most impactful yet. Here is a look at the advisor community gearing up for Las Vegas.

Expertise Meets Decades of Experience

The advisor profile for 2026 is defined by stability and scale. As of the end of December, the conference had over 500 advisors across ~340 unique firms registered. The room is trending toward seasoned leadership:

• The FA core: 39.6% of registered advisors are pure retail RIAs, while an increasing population of Independent Broker Dealers are packing their bags for Vegas (38.9%)
• Experience that matters: 65% of registered advisors have over 15 years of industry experience
• Heavy hitters: 57% of attending RIAs manage over $100M in AUM, with a significant 20% managing over $1B in AUM

This means that asset managers and financial advisors alike will have ample opportunity to meet colleagues who are seasoned and established leaders. Additionally, advisors will gain direct access to RIA leadership, such as Independent Advisor Alliance, who will be attending and bringing their expertise both to the stage and to happy hours.

Data based on financial advisor and institutional gatekeeper registrants with CRDs, as of 12/31/25.

Data based on financial advisor and institutional gatekeeper registrants with CRDs, as of 12/31/25. Segment types are not mutually exclusive.

Data based on financial advisor and institutional gatekeeper registrants with CRDs, as of 12/31/25. Segment types are not mutually exclusive.

All roads lead to Exchange

Exchange is truly a national destination. We currently have advisors representing 40 U.S. states. While the “home field advantage” of Las Vegas has put Nevada and California at the top of the list, the density of the community spans the entire country, with the top five states represented being:

• California
• Nevada
• Florida
• New York
• Texas

Beyond the U.S. borders, we are also seeing a growing international presence, with a small cohort already confirmed.

What the data says: A masterclass in peer learning

In the October update, the data was painting a clear picture: rookie advisors would benefit from the experience of their peers and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning would abound. Our year-end figures confirm it.

Come March 15 – 18, founders, CIOs, and veteran financial advisors will be gathering at Exchange to learn about new technology, practice management innovations, and strategies designed to meet the unique challenges of the market.

Join the firms that have already registered today and be part of the event of 2026. You can register here.

Firms registered at Exchange as of 12/31/25

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