Dallas STA welcomed a record-breaking 440 attendees to the 2026 Texas Traders Convention in Las Colinas.
The three-day event featured panel discussions with industry leaders, fireside chats with educators and regulators, and plenty of networking opportunities.
On behalf of the DSTA Board, thank you to our sponsors, speakers, and attendees for making this year’s convention such a success. We couldn’t do it without you.
SEE FULL SUMMARY BELOW
Dear Texas Traders Attendees,
On behalf of the Dallas Securities Traders Association (DSTA), thank you for joining us at the 2026 Texas Traders Convention. We appreciate the tremendous support from our attendees, speakers, moderators, sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers who helped make this year’s event one of our most successful to date.
For those who were unable to attend every session, or for anyone looking to revisit the discussions, below is a recap of the major themes and insights shared throughout the conference.
Pre-Conference Program
Innovation in Derivative-Based ETFs
Moderator: Sara Levin, WallachBeth
Panelists: Sladja Carton, Fidelity Investments; Thomas Generazio, Charles Schwab; Erica Marquez Avitia, Old Mission; Vanessa Yang, Global X ETFs; Brittany Christensen, Tidal Financial Group.
Hosted by OCC, DSTA, and Women in ETFs, this session explored the continued evolution of derivative-based ETF strategies and their growing role in portfolio construction. Panelists discussed the rapid expansion of options-based, covered-call, and outcome-oriented ETFs, as well as the increasing demand for solutions designed to generate income, manage risk, and provide differentiated exposure. A recurring theme was the need for investor education as product innovation continues to outpace investor familiarity and understanding.
Women in Finance Brunch
Keynote Speaker: Valiere Simpson, Charles Schwab
Panelists: Erica Attonito, HRT; Flavia Vehbiu, OTC Markets Group; Angela Redell, Apex Fintech Solutions.
The Women in Finance Brunch brought together accomplished professionals from across the capital markets ecosystem to discuss leadership, mentorship, career development, and industry transformation. The conversation highlighted the importance of fostering talent, expanding opportunities, and creating environments that encourage diverse perspectives and innovation. Speakers shared personal experiences navigating change, building successful careers, and leading organizations through an increasingly technology-driven landscape.
Market Dynamics: Competition, Transparency & Execution
Moderator: Mark Davies, S3
Panelists: Jeff Mendl, MCAP; Jacob Rappaport, StoneX; Greg Ferrari, Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE); Reid Noch, TD Securities.
This discussion focused on competition across today’s trading ecosystem and its impact on market quality, liquidity formation, price discovery, and execution outcomes. Panelists examined the evolving balance between exchanges, alternative trading systems, wholesalers, and new entrants while emphasizing the industry’s continued responsibility to deliver transparency and best execution for investors. The conversation underscored how both competition and innovation remain essential drivers of market efficiency.
New Markets Colliding with Legacy Market Structure
Moderator: Pat McEvoy, Cantor Fitzgerald
Panelists: Giang Bui, Securitize; Adam Hickerson, Robinhood; David Martin, Clear Street; James Kostulias, Charles Schwab; Gabrielle Vennitti, Nasdaq.
One of the convention’s most forward-looking discussions examined tokenization, prediction markets, perpetual products, and 24/7 trading. Panelists explored how emerging technologies are poised to reshape market access, settlement, ownership, and liquidity. While enthusiasm for innovation was evident, speakers also emphasized that operational readiness, regulatory clarity, custody solutions, and market infrastructure must continue evolving before widespread institutional adoption can occur. The consensus view was that innovation is accelerating and that capital markets are likely to look significantly different over the next decade.
Capital, Energy & the New Texas Economy
Moderator: Rob Marrocco, Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE)
Panelists: Ethan Powell, Brookmont Capital Management; Daniel S. Hoverman, Texas Capital Securities; Fabian Gomez, Westwood Holdings Group.
This panel examined the economic forces positioning Texas as one of the nation’s fastest-growing centers for capital formation, asset management, banking, and financial innovation. Discussion topics included infrastructure investment, private capital, energy demand, artificial intelligence, and population growth. Panelists noted that Texas continues to attract businesses, investors, and talent, creating a powerful environment for long-term economic and capital markets growth. The discussion reinforced the state’s emerging role as a leading hub for financial services and investment activity.
U.S. Equity Market Structure at a Crossroads: Regulatory Reform and the Future of Trading
Moderator: JJ Kinahan, CBOE
Panelists: Joe Mecane, Citadel Securities; Stefanos Bazinas, NYSE; Richard Holley III, SEC; Kevin Skarbek, Charles Schwab.
This session explored the evolving regulatory and competitive landscape of U.S. equity markets. Topics included SEC Rule 611, market transparency, displayed liquidity, off-exchange trading, and extended-hours trading. While panelists expressed differing viewpoints regarding potential reforms, there was broad agreement that future changes must continue to support market integrity, investor confidence, competition, and high-quality execution outcomes. The discussion highlighted the complexity of balancing innovation with the foundational principles that have made U.S. markets the deepest and most liquid in the world.
STA & Political Summer 2026 Update
Speakers: Jim Toes, Security Traders Association (STA); Joel Oswald, Williams & Jensen.
Attendees received a comprehensive update on legislative developments, regulatory priorities, and public-policy initiatives affecting the securities industry. The discussion provided valuable context surrounding ongoing advocacy efforts, Washington developments, and the issues that broker-dealers, asset managers, exchanges, and market participants should continue monitoring in the months ahead.
Keynote Fireside Chat: Capital Formation, Emerging Products, Investor Protection & the Transformation of Financial Services
Speakers: Brian Daly, SEC Division of Investment Management; Dr. Shane Goodwin, Southern Methodist University (SMU).
The conference concluded with a thoughtful conversation examining the future of capital formation and the transformation occurring across financial services. Speakers discussed the evolution of investment products, changing investor expectations, regulatory considerations, and the increasing importance of balancing innovation with investor protection. The discussion emphasized the industry’s responsibility to foster growth and opportunity while preserving trust, transparency, and market integrity.
Conference-Wide Themes
Across all sessions, several themes consistently emerged:
- Innovation continues to reshape the capital markets through tokenization, artificial intelligence, ETFs, and expanded market access.
- Regulatory developments remain a key driver of strategic decision-making across financial services.
- Investor education is becoming increasingly important as markets and products grow more sophisticated.
- Technology and automation continue to transform trading, operations, and investment management.
- Texas is solidifying its position as a major center for financial services, capital formation, and innovation.
- Collaboration among regulators, exchanges, broker-dealers, asset managers, fintech firms, and investors remains essential to maintaining vibrant, resilient, and efficient markets.
Thank you again for being part of Texas Traders 2026. We hope you found the conference valuable, informative, and engaging. We look forward to continuing these conversations throughout the year and seeing you again at future DSTA events.