​​WFA-CFAR Finance and Accounting Conferences

WFA-CFAR brings the most exciting research being conducted in finance and accounting to WashU Olin Business School and into the domain of practitioners.

WFA-CFAR brings together students, alumni, faculty and professionals from the Olin Business School community and beyond to share cutting-edge research, discuss current topics in finance and accounting, and network through a number of events, including the following conferences.

Researchers who have investigated the topic and practitioners who have undertaken the journey provided insights and perspectives in a series of expert panels on different aspects of higher purpose. Designed for senior leaders who want to learn more about higher purpose and how it can benefit their organizations, attendees participated in the discussion, exchanged ideas and contributed to the insights that emerged from the day. The conference was cohosted with Bauer Leadership Center and Barry Wehmiller Companies Inc.

Corporate Finance Conference

Each autumn, Olin Business School and WFA-CFAR serve as co-hosts for an annual Corporate Finance Conference that examines topics such as corporate investment decisions, capital structure, payout policy, mergers and acquisitions, corporate control and organization, corporate governance, private equity, banking and financial intermediation, and international issues in corporate finance. The conference includes a practitioner session where executives from the top companies participate in discussions analyzing today’s most important financial topics. The event also includes a PhD poster session with students from across the country.

Nick Dopuch Accounting Conference

Since 1988, the accounting faculty at Olin Business School have hosted a two-day annual accounting conference. Renamed in 2006 by Washington University and Olin to honor Professor Nick Dopuch, the purpose of this conference is to create an environment in which accounting research is the focal point. Participants include faculty from renowned institutions as varied as MIT, University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania.

Wealth and Asset Management Conference

The Wealth and Asset Management Conference was held on May 1-2, 2024. It convened researchers and practitioners who shared the common goal of better understanding the capital markets. The conference featured emerging research from leading universities, discussed by industry experts, with the goals of providing researchers timely, real-world insights and facilitating market participant access to actionable research that can drive superior client outcomes. See the agenda (PDF).

This conference was targeted to:

• Asset managers across all asset classes;
• Wealth managers, traders and investment bankers;
• Capital markets and asset pricing researchers at universities and in industry;
• Advisory professionals responsible for investment strategy/asset allocation;
• Regulators, policymakers and data providers; and
• Executives responsible for pension and endowment management.

Watch recordings from the 7th Annual Wealth and Asset Management Research Conference.