SIFMA Annual Meeting Debrief

Perspectives & Key Themes from Market Participants

SIFMA’s 2025 Annual Meeting convened senior executives, policymakers, and regulators in Washington, DC for candid conversations at the intersection of public policy and finance. Across sessions, one theme was clear: despite complexity and uncertainty, confidence in U.S. markets remains strong — grounded in innovation, resilience, and adaptability.

• Setting the Scene – Resilient but Rebalanced: The U.S. economy continues to defy expectations — consumers are spending, unemployment remains low, and corporate balance sheets are solid. Yet, leaders cautioned that the unemployment picture is complicated, some valuations may be stretched, and leverage has migrated outside the banking system.
• Capital Markets Outlook – Liquidity, Leverage, and Confidence: Capital formation remains central to growth, yet fewer companies are going public and private credit now plays a critical role.
• Asset & Wealth Management Outlook – Trust and Transformation: The Voice of Investor Satisfaction, Trust, and Advocacy (VISTA) Survey revealed high overall trust but a generational shift in preferences.
• Economic Landscape – Growth with Constraints: SIFMA’s Economists Roundtable described a moderately growing economy amid persistent inflation and fiscal strain.
• Regulatory Landscape – Modernization with Purpose: Regulators and industry leaders alike called for a “spring cleaning” of decades of accumulated rules to align oversight with today’s markets.
• Technology and AI – Innovation with Integrity: From trading desks to call centers, firms are harnessing AI to enhance analysis, efficiency, and client experience.

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