2026 Economic Outlook Luncheon Takeaways and Photos

At the 2026 Trailblazer Awards, our panelists tackled the critical questions investors are grappling with right now—from market vulnerabilities to the seismic shifts reshaping portfolio construction. Many thanks to our speakers Anne Gleason, Olga Isenberg, Christina Kellar, Samantha Milner and moderator Russ Ivinjack. 

Key takeaways that stood out:

• Market realities – Identifying where the "cracks and cockroaches" are hiding in today's markets and what that means for risk management

• Legislative landscape – What's ahead for industry regulation, litigation reform, and inflation policy

• AI's influence – How artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the investment landscape

• Concentration risk – The importance of educating clients about their portfolio exposure in time of increasing (and sometimes hidden) concentration

• Active vs. passive – Where current trends are creating compelling opportunities for active management

We heard consensus that CLOs represent a compelling asset class and strong emphasis on the timeless fundamentals of balance and diversification.

Perhaps most interesting? Even without formal policy changes, major corporations are already adjusting their strategies in response to signals from the current administration—a reminder that other drivers may be even stronger than legislation.

Check out photos of the event.