Innovation is critical to long-term growth and success. When brainstorming ideas, organizations typically confine themselves to their own industry and in doing so, limit their own potential.

Salka advocates thinking outside the box and will unveil how insights from other disciplines like journalism, politics, and even neuroscience – a multi-disciplinary field comprising subjects as diverse as biology, psychology, medicine, physics and linguistics – can help improve business strategies in the financial services industry.

Is an improving U.S. economy offsetting the woes in many emerging markets? How is slower growth in China, Europe and Japan influencing the global economy? Will oil continue to dominate financial markets? How will Canada weather the volatility and how low will the loonie go?

Amid all the questions and uncertainties, connecting the dots and understanding the economic cycles that shape the world are more important than ever in forecasting the opportunities that lie ahead. Porter will deliver his good, bad and ugly prognosis for the Canadian and international markets.

There is great momentum being built by the public and private sectors to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of Canadians to make responsible financial decisions.

Since her 2014 appointment by the federal government as Canada's first Financial Literacy Leader, Rooney has gained tremendous insight into the needs of particular groups including current and future seniors, low income earners, aboriginal peoples, newcomers, and youth and adults.

She will share her key findings and the building blocks she has established for a national strategy to help Canadians become more financially literate

In less than a decade, there are now over three billion people on the Internet and nearly two billion people using smartphones and engaging on social networks. The implications and opportunities for the financial services and insurance industries are immense, while the cost of not being where your customers are is also enormous. But where do you start and how do you make the case for change within your organization?

Lock will present compelling arguments to support why (and how) firms and their agents must embrace digital technology to engage with today's consumers in order to grow business profitably.

Over the last ten years, the independent distribution channel has experienced a fair degree of change driven by internal factors such as continuing consolidation at the carrier and distributor level, as well as by external factors including evolving technology and economic shifts. This combination of technological advances, new business models and increased competition will expedite the rate of change in the years to come.

Adamson will explore what the world may look like for carriers, MGAs, advisors and clients in 2024, and what your company needs to do now to be ready for the transformation.

Millions of sports fans think they know how to run a team better than the executive in charge. For about 15 years until his retirement in 2012, Peddie was the President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – one of the most successful sports franchises in the world – and oversaw all business and team operations for the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, Marlies, the organization's three television channels, Air Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Square. Such pressure taught him a thing or two about leadership, humility and success.

Through anecdotes, insights and lessons learned, Peddie will reveal how he connected the dots to achieve his dream job, deliver industry-leading operating income and increase enterprise value six times over.

Overtime Bonus

Be among the first 15 people to ask Peddie a question during the Q&A and score a gift!