Pennsylvania + Wall

By Chris Killian and David Strongin

At SIFMA's 2016 Annual Meeting, The Capital Markets Conference, sustainable finance was high on the agenda. SIFMA brought together representatives from across the spectrum of sustainable finance, including government, large capital market firms, not-for-profits and investors. Congressmen John Delaney (D-MD) and Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) participated in the panel in their capacity as co-chairs of the Congressional Social Investment Task Force.

Panelists touched on the ability of sustainable finance to catalyze the reimagining of philanthropy, government services, and public-private partnerships.

"Sustainable investments need to be thought of at the macro level," said Congressman Delaney. "To solve social problems, you need to invest money. It's hard to make transformative change in the world unless someone makes an investment.".... Read more...

By Cheryl Crispen

The business case for diversity and inclusion was top of mind at  SIFMA's 2016 Annual Meeting, The Capital Markets Conference. Panelists touched on the rapidly changing demographic landscape and the need for companies to adapt in kind.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell addressed the audience, saying, "The success of our nation's financial sector hinges on its most important asset - its people."

Diversity isn't just good for individuals, it's good business. "If you keep hiring the same people, you're going to get the same views. You won't see innovation, you won't see change," said Chris Lewis, General Counsel at Edward Jones.

The panelists agreed that the business case for diversity isn't a difficult one to make. Firms are aware of the tangible benefits of inclusion, said Suni Harford, managing director at Citigroup: "Enhanced business begets more business, and that's good for the economy. Firms recognize that our consumers and clients and vendors are diverse and when we help those people, it comes back to us tenfold. You can make the business case very easily.".... Read more...

By Tom Price 

Kicking off  SIFMA's 2016 Annual Meeting, The Capital Markets Conference, Twitter and Square Co-Founder and CEO Jack Dorsey discussed technology as a tool for economic growth and empowerment, both on an individual level and on a broader scale.

In discussion with Marty Chavez, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Goldman Sachs, Dorsey traced the integral roles of entrepreneurship and community. "It took me a long time to think not just about going broad, but to think about going deep." He emphasized the role of entrepreneurship in fostering "a sense of care, a stronger sense of purpose.".... Read more...

By Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.

Looking at the future of financial markets, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Secretary of State and and current Member of Parliament George Osborne see the return of politics and political risk to the global economy. In a discussion at SIFMA's 2016 Annual Meeting, The Capital Markets Conference, in Washington DC, the two touched on regulation of financial markets, green finance, and monetary policy, but the overarching theme of the conversation was the effect of politics on the economy.

"You see political risk returning across the world," Osborne added, saying that politicians "vying with each other to see what barriers they can erect to trade is not very encouraging." Osborne noted that while this "return of politics" may be alarming, it is necessary to identify and address "people's concerns that they aren't getting the fruits of the system." That doesn't mean changing monetary policy, he argued, but finding "an ameliorating alternative." It is important to garner "support for real markets" and free enterprise..... Read more...