Yesterday Neil Bathon and his crew gathered more than 160 fundsters for a networking and thought leadership event in Beantown. Bathon's FUSE Research Network held its second annual FUSE Forum at the Harvard Club of Boston. Top-level fundsters spoke and listened, and while speakers' comments were off-the-record, MFWire got the go-ahead to give you a look at what went down.

Bathon himself humbly suggested to attendees that the event "might be the most excellent conference ever, actually."

The stage is set.

The crowd is waiting.

Bathon himself, founder and managing partner of FUSE, welcomes fundsters and offers his market forecast.

Bob Kennedy, director of relationship management at FUSE, moderates a panel.

Kennedy's panel, "Marketing Dynamics in an Evolving Marketplace,", features, from the right: Maureen Bromwell, CMO at Northern Trust Asset Management; Christy White, managing director of Cogent Reports at Market Strategies International; and Jennifer Connelly, CEO of JCPR.

Jim Tracy, vice chairman and managing director of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, gives a keynote speech that hearkens back to Yogi Berra: "The Future Ain't What It Used To Be ... Who Wins?"

Craig Kilgallen, director of relationship development at FUSE, moderates a panel.

Kilgallen's panel Kilgallen's panel, on "the Executive Perspective from Wealth Management Platforms," includes, from the right: Traci Simpson, executive director and head of mutual funds at UBS; Doug Hanson, VP of asset management client solutions at Charles Schwab; and Carolyn Clancy, EVP of FundsNetwork at Fidelity.

Patrick Newcomb, director of benchmark research at FUSE, moderates.

Newcomb's panel, a "Quick Fire Session" on strategic beta, includes: (on the right) Mike Savage, portfolio strategist at Charles Schwab Investment Management; and Ethan Powell, chief product strategist for Highland Capital Management

Matthew Schiffman, managing director and head of global marketing at Legg Mason, delivers the luncheon keynote speech: "Delivering Brand via the Client Experience."

Bathon (right) interviews Schiffman.

Rick Ledbury, director of critical initiatives at FUSE, moderates.

Ledbury's panel, a "Quick Fire Session" on alternatives, features: (on the right) Jeff Majit, co-head of NB Alternative Investment Management at Neuberger Berman; and Christine Johnson, head of alternative product management at AB

Mike Evans, partner and president of FUSE, moderates.

Evans' panel, on "the Executive Perspective on Distribution Optimizations," features (from right): Drew Elder, head of US intermediary distribution at Janus; Bill Connolly, co-head of global distribution at Putnam; and Matthew Appelstein, head of US distribution at RBC Global Asset Management

 

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