​The Southwestern Finance Association (SWFA) invites you to its 65th Annual Meeting to be held March 25-27, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Finance scholars, professionals, Ph.D. students, and others with an interest in finance are all invited to attend and participate in the meeting. This conference provides a premier platform for networking, discussion, and the exchange of cutting-edge finance research.​​
​
-
Conference registration fees are $150 (doctoral students) and $250 (regular) if registered by January 31, 2026.
-
After January 31, 2026, registration fees are $175 (doctoral students) and $275 (regular).
​​
SWFA 2026 OpenConference portal is now open for volunteering as session chairs and discussants. The portal will remain open until February 23, 2026, and we encourage you to sign up early.
​
Topics:
The annual meeting will host presentations of high-quality, unpublished research papers spanning all areas of finance, including but not limited to:
​
-
AI, Machine Learning, and Finance
-
Asset Pricing
-
Banking and Financial Institutions
-
Corporate Finance
-
Financial Markets and Investments
-
Behavioral Finance
-
ESG and Sustainable Finance
-
FinTech and Cryptocurrencies
-
International Finance
-
Risk Management and Derivatives
-
Finance in the Classroom
-
Financial Engineering​​
​​
Special Sessions and Opportunities:
The SWFA Annual Meeting will feature:
-
Keynote Speakers from a Leading Research University and from the Financial Sector
-
Best Paper Awards in various finance categories
-
Doctoral Consortium
-
Panel Discussions including CFA Industry Panel Session
-
Networking Events
-
Finance Research Letters – Special Issue
-
Job Placement Center
For More Info:
Contact:
Dr. Jennifer Brodmann, Vice-President & 2026 Program Chair
Kelly Shue
Distinguished Guest Speaker
AI Personality Extraction from Faces: Labor and Credit Market Implications
We demonstrate that artificial intelligence can extract valuable soft information from professional facial images to predict outcomes in both labor and credit markets. Using a dataset of 96,000 MBA graduates, we construct a "Photo Big 5" measure of personality that predicts school rank, compensation, and career advancement with incremental power comparable to standard cognitive measures like school rank and GPA. These facial embeddings also predict credit score and loan repayment behavior. In a sample of over one million borrowers, we find that these image-based signals significantly improve default risk prediction beyond standard credit scores, particularly for younger and thin-file individuals. While these findings suggest that facial features contain economically relevant signals, the scalability of this technology raises critical concerns regarding statistical discrimination and individual autonomy.
Kelly's Bio:
Kelly Shue, Ph.D., is the Amman Mineral Professor of Finance at the School of Management, Yale University. Dr. Shue’s research bridges behavioral economics and empirical corporate finance, with work spanning topics such as sustainable investing, executive compensation and promotion dynamics, gender in negotiation, the gambler’s fallacy, contrast effects, and non-proportional thinking in asset pricing.
She is a Director of both the European Finance Association and the Financial Research Association, and Co-Principal Investigator of the NBER Project on Executive Compensation. Dr. Shue currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Corporate Finance Studies, and has previously held editorial roles at the Review of Finance and Management Science.
​
Before joining her current institution, she was a faculty member at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She earned her PhD in Economics and BA in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.
​
Alessio Saretto
Distinguished Guest Speaker
Alesso Saretto, Ph.D., is the Assistant Vice President & Head of Banking and Finance group Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. His research focuses on asset pricing, financial institutions, and the transmission of monetary and financial shocks, with a particular interest in the interaction between financial markets and the broader economy. At the Dallas Fed, he leads a team of economists conducting policy-relevant research on banking, financial stability, and capital markets.
​
Prior to joining the Dallas Fed in 2021, Dr. Saretto held academic appointments at several major research institutions, including Purdue University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Washington University in St. Louis. Throughout his academic career, he taught undergraduate, MBA, and PhD courses in finance and maintained an active research agenda in both theoretical and empirical finance.
Dr. Saretto holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Brescia and a PhD in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles. His interdisciplinary background reflects a strong foundation in both quantitative methods and economic theory, which he brings to his current work at the intersection of policy, research, and financial regulation.
​
Spotlight
CFA Industry Panel
The New Frontiers of Financial and Investment Management
The Southwestern Finance Association (SWFA) is pleased to host a CFA Industry Panel featuring accomplished investment professionals and academic leadership. This panel will explore emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of financial and investment management across asset classes and markets.
​
Event Details
-
Date: March 27, 2026
-
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
-
Location: Hyatt Regency Dallas BRYAN BEEMAN A
Panelists
Chris Huntley
Chris Huntley is the Vice President and Senior Portfolio Advisor at Northern Trust. Chris' main responsibilities include providing sophisticated investment strategies and product solutions within a Goals Based Framework to ultra-high-net-worth clientele, including corporate executives, successful entrepreneurs, private foundations, and 501(c)(3) entities. Chris is also responsible for driving business results, as he is tasked with developing new and expanding current relationships. Prior to joining Northern Trust, Chris worked at Simmons Bank as a Senior Portfolio Manager. There he developed asset allocation strategies for individual families, endowments and other charitable organizations. He previously held positions with The Mather Group in Chicago, IL and Houston, TX after beginning his career at Central Trust Company. Prior to his career in finance, Chris served our nation honorably in the United States Air Force. Chris earned dual bachelor’s degrees in finance and risk management & insurance, as well as an MBA from Missouri State University. Chris is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has obtained the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification. Chris is a currently a board member of the CFA Society Dallas/ Fort Worth. He sits on the Finance Committee at Lovers Lane UMC and is Vice Chair of the board at Walnut Hill UMC. He has been involved in the VFW, Rotary International, and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and the American Red Cross.
Roxanna Islam
Roxanna Islam is the Head of Sector & Industry Research at TMX VettaFi, where she is primarily responsible for equity, alternative, and digital asset research. Prior to joining TMX VettaFi, she spent several years in sell-side equity research at Stifel where she covered freight transportation, logistics, and electric vehicle stocks. She also spent the beginning of her career at Wells Fargo in closed-end fund and ETF research. Roxanna is a recognized voice in the investment community, frequently speaking at major industry conferences and appearing on webcasts, podcasts, and live financial television. Her insights are often featured in media outlets including Bloomberg, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNBC, US News, and Financial Times. Outside of the office, Roxanna is actively involved in the community. She serves on the Board of Directors of CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, the Finance Committee of Junior League of Dallas, and is an alumna of the Business Council for the Arts Leadership Institute. Roxanna is a CFA Charterholder, a CAIA Charterholder and has earned the CFA Institute Sustainable Investing Certificate. She holds both a BBA in Finance and a BA in Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin.
Grant Jackson
Grant Jackson is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for Invesco's Global Real Estate Securities team. He has 21 years of experience with Invesco with primary focus on US publicly traded Real Estate. His investment responsibilities include fundamental research, market forecasting, portfolio construction, and risk management across a variety of actively and passively managed publicly REIT products. He conducts primary research across numerous real estate property types and regularly collaborates with board members and senior leadership of publicly traded REITs. Prior to joining Invesco, Mr. Jackson worked in the management consulting practice for PricewaterhouseCoopers for three years. During his consulting career he provided business development, strategic advice, and technical expertise for fortune 500 companies as well as startups. He helped provide customized solutions for five primary clients involving ERP software, custom applications, and various data management solutions. Mr. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master's degree from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business. He is a CFA® charterholder.
Moderator
Ran Lu-Andrews
Ran Lu-Andrews is an Associate Professor of Finance and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies of School of Management at California Lutheran University. Ran studied Financial Engineering at Renmin University of China in Beijing. She earned her PhD in Finance from University of Cincinnati in 2011. Her research interests include corporate finance and real estate. She has published her research in premier academic journals such as Real Estate Economics, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Sustainability, and Journal of Housing Economics. Before joining Cal Lutheran, Ran taught a variety of finance and real estate courses at University of the Pacific, Menlo College, and University of Connecticut. At University of Connecticut, Ran was also involved in their Real Estate Center. She hopes to bring her diverse background and experience in teaching and research to Cal Lutheran and contribute to the local community. She is also Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Our Sponsors:
South Dakota State University University of North Texas
Dallas
Highlights
The Hotel:
Located in the Reunion District of downtown, the Hyatt Regency Dallas is connected directly to the iconic Reunion Tower and Union Station. This 28‑story hotel features a dramatic glass atrium lobby, 1,120 guest rooms, three restaurants, an outdoor pool and fitness center, plus ample meeting and event space. It’s the perfect urban retreat blending city access with modern comfort.
​
Downtown & Beyond:
Set at the heart of Dallas’ energetic downtown, the hotel places you within steps of historic Dealey Plaza, the Sixth Floor Museum, and the West End's dining and entertainment scene. A quick ride brings you to the expansive Arts District, Klyde Warren Park, and major attractions like the Perot Museum and Dallas World Aquarium—making Dallas an ideal destination for art, culture, history, and food lovers.