Welcome to the latest edition of At the Forefront: Fintech Conversations!
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In this episode, Forefront VP and Head of Content Sam Belden is joined by Jim Toes, President & CEO of the Security Traders Association (STA), for a preview of STA’s 92nd Annual Market Structure Conference, taking place October 15–17 in Washington, D.C. The conversation explored the conference’s theme, “Redefining the Market”, and what it means for market participants navigating today’s evolving regulatory and technological landscape.
Jim explains that the event theme reflects a pivotal moment for U.S. market structure, shaped by leadership changes in Washington and at the SEC. The conference will bring together buy-side and sell-side firms, exchanges, vendors, policymakers and media to discuss how new rules, priorities and innovations will influence the future of the industry.
The discussion highlights the strong SEC presence expected in this year’s program, including Chair Paul Atkins and Director of Trading & Markets Jamie Selway. STA Chair Julie Andress will also represent the association at an upcoming SEC roundtable on Rule 611, better known as the Order Protection Rule, emphasizing STA’s role in advocating for regional banks and mid-sized firms alongside larger institutions.
A key focus of this year’s conference is tokenization and digital assets. With crypto markets maturing and new legislation emerging, STA will host a dedicated panel moderated by former SEC Trading & Markets Director Brett Redfearn. The panel will explore what tokenization means for different corners of the market and how policy is beginning to take shape in this space.
The episode also marks the 10th anniversary of STA Women in Finance, a program that has grown from a mentorship-focused initiative into a broader platform for inclusion and professional development. This year’s symposium will honor Shelly Elleby of Mosaic as Mentor of the Year while spotlighting the continued impact of Women in Finance across the industry.
In addition to policy and inclusion, the conference will celebrate industry leaders and philanthropy. STA will present its Dictum Meum Pactum Award to Mehmet Kinak of T. Rowe Price in recognition of his service and integrity. The Autism Science Foundation will serve as this year’s charity partner, continuing STA’s tradition of aligning its flagship event with causes that strengthen the broader community.
For Jim, the conference is both a policy forum and a community gathering. “It’s not just about the issues that define everyone’s day-to-day job,” he notes, “but also the people who make this a great place to work.”
Learn more about STA’s 92nd Annual Market Structure Conference and register to attend here.
For more conversations with fintech and capital markets leaders, explore the At the Forefront podcast archive or on our YouTube channel.
See below for a breakdown of what was discussed. Happy listening!
Timestamps:
1:19 – This year’s conference theme and regulatory backdrop
4:12 – Agenda highlights and SEC engagement
5:35 – Tokenization and digital assets
7:24 – 10th anniversary of STA Women in Finance
9:15 – Honoring industry leaders and giving back