Smartleaf
& SAM

September 21-23 | Boston, MA
Discover. Connect. Learn.
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This year's summit brings together the firms and people who have chosen a different way of running a wealth management practice. Over the course of the event, we'll dive deep into the platform, best practices, and the ideas and decisions that separate firms that scale. You'll hear what's coming on the product roadmap, learn from the firms pushing Smartleaf furthest, and have an unfiltered conversation about what's working and what isn't. This is not a sales event. It is a working session for firms who want to get the most out of Smartleaf and SAM, and learn from fellow clients.
Summit Highlights

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Meet Our Speakers
Bob Leaper
Bob Leaper is a highly accomplished and sought-after speaker, renowned for their expertise and captivating stage presence. With a diverse background in [relevant field or industry], they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every speaking engagement. Their dynamic and engaging style seamlessly combines powerful storytelling with actionable insights, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with practical strategies for success. Alvin has delivered impactful keynote addresses at prestigious conferences and corporate events worldwide, consistently receiving rave reviews for their ability to connect with and energize audiences. Whether addressing topics such as [specific areas of expertise], leadership, or innovation, Alvin is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
Gerard Michael
Gerard Michael is a highly accomplished and sought-after speaker, renowned for their expertise and captivating stage presence. With a diverse background in [relevant field or industry], they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every speaking engagement. Their dynamic and engaging style seamlessly combines powerful storytelling with actionable insights, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with practical strategies for success. Lisa has delivered impactful keynote addresses at prestigious conferences and corporate events worldwide, consistently receiving rave reviews for their ability to connect with and energize audiences. Whether addressing topics such as [specific areas of expertise], leadership, or innovation, Lisa is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
James McGiven
James McGiven is a highly accomplished and sought-after speaker, renowned for their expertise and captivating stage presence. With a diverse background in [relevant field or industry], they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every speaking engagement. Their dynamic and engaging style seamlessly combines powerful storytelling with actionable insights, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with practical strategies for success. James has delivered impactful keynote addresses at prestigious conferences and corporate events worldwide, consistently receiving rave reviews for their ability to connect with and energize audiences. Whether addressing topics such as [specific areas of expertise], leadership, or innovation, James is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
Summit Schedule
6:00 PM
Boston Harbor Hotel | 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110Join us the evening before the Summit to meet and connect with fellow attendees. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
7:30 - 9:00 AM
Food Hall8:30- 9:15 AM
Main Stage9:20 - 10:25 AM
Main StageThe Smartleaf product team demonstrates new features and how they fit into our overall philosophy and roadmap.
10:45 - 11:15 AM
Main StageCan the value of Smartleaf/SAM services be measured? We talk to clients about the ROI of Smartleaf. How have they presented this to stakeholders? To clients?
11:20 AM - 12:05 PM
Main StageAI has the power to positively transform wealth management. It also has the power to create severe security, privacy and compliance violations. Adapting requires new policies, procedures and oversight. What can and has gone wrong? What governance changes should Boards and wealth advisory executives be making?
Hear from Mark Nitzberg, Co-Founder of Smartleaf, Executive Director of the International Association for Safe & Ethical AI, Executive Director of the University of California Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI, and Director of Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co (GMO).
Then hear from Stefan Mitropolitsky, Smartleaf EVP of Technology, on Smartleaf’s approach to AI adoption and oversight.
12:05 - 12:50 PM
Food Hall12:55 PM - 1:40 PM
Main StageSmartleaf Asset Management (SAM) leverages Smartleaf tech to manage $8.5B. And SAM very deliberately seeks to push that tech to its limits, making SAM among our most outspoken and demanding customers. Hear lessons learned. Then, take part in a hands-on backtesting exercise where you’ll set trading parameters, rebalancing triggers and compete for best results.
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Main StageWhat are the challenges when you’re absorbing an acquired book of business—whether a whole firm or a single advisor—into your firm? How do you respond to objections from advisors and clients? How do you pitch your advantages? Hear from those who've done it.
2:50 - 4:20 PM
Breakout Room #1Join the Smartleaf Client Services team for a session on best practices for getting the most out of Smartleaf.
We leave the room. Speak candidly with your peers about Smartleaf—what works well and how we can do better. We will then reassemble so you can share your feedback with the Smartleaf team.
2:50 - 4:20 PM
Breakout Room #2Join the Smartleaf Client Services team for a session on best practices for getting the most out of SAM.
We leave the room. Speak candidly with your peers about SAM—what works well and how we can do better. We will then reassemble so you can share your feedback with the SAM team.
4:30 - 4:40 PM
Main Stage6:00 - 9:00 PM
New England Aquarium | 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Join us for a private dinner among the fishes because if anyone understands the value of diversification, it's a school of tuna. We'll be dining tankside with Boston's finest aquatic life, proving once again that Smartleaf isn't the only one that knows how to optimize a portfolio (theirs just involves more kelp). Expect great food, better company, and zero sharks in the room—well, except the ones behind the glass.
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Food Hall8:30 - 8:45 AM
Main Stage8:50 - 9:20 AM
Main StageWe make the case for implementing a maximally automated, programmatic rebalancing workflow, one with minimum one-off adjustments. The result is higher efficiency, consistency, and superior portfolio outcomes in the form of lower tracking error and lower taxes.
9:20 - 10:05 AM
Main StageWe make the case for implementing a maximally automated, programmatic rebalancing workflow, one with minimum one-off adjustments. The result is higher efficiency, consistency, and superior portfolio outcomes in the form of lower tracking error and lower taxes.
10:25 - 10:55 AM
Main StageEver wonder how we do what we do? Smartleaf's Application Team pulls back the curtain on Smartleaf software development: coming up with new ideas, creating features specs, building prototypes, building production-ready code. And soliciting client feedback every step of the way.
Hear about how we are evolving our development practice and how we are incorporating AI.
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Main StageOptimized portfolio management requires more than smart decisions at the account level. It requires coordinating those decisions across all accounts in a household. We’ll walk through how the Smartleaf approaches automating household-level portfolio management.
11:35 AM - 12:35 PM
Breakout Room #1 and #2Work in small groups with 'leafers on potential new features. Depending on the feature, you could be critiquing designs or prototypes, defining problems and scope, validating value, or all three!
12:35 - 1:00 PM
Main StageSummit 2026 Speakers
Nick Bertozzi
Nick Bertozzi is a Managing Director at Choreo, where he oversees investment management operations and firmwide platform execution. With 18+ years in investment operations, wealth management, and executive leadership, he specializes in building scalable infrastructure and supporting advisor-led growth.
Before Choreo, Nick was COO of Cherry Bekaert Wealth Management, leading operations and technology strategy through the firm's growth and eventual acquisition by Choreo in January 2023. Earlier, he held senior operational roles, including Investment Operations Manager, within CPA-affiliated investment firms.
Bill Martin
Bill Martin, CFA is Chief Wealth Officer at Earned Wealth, a founding member of its leadership team, and a fintech-enabled financial services firm serving healthcare professionals and their practices exclusively. Bill oversees Earned's advisory approach spanning financial planning, investing, tax, insurance, trust and estate, and retirement solutions for doctors and their practices. He brings over 10 years of experience as Chief Investment Officer at INTRUST Bank.
Mark Nitzberg
Dr. Mark Nitzberg is a computer scientist and entrepreneur focused on the effects of AI and related technologies on our society, economy and democracy. In addition to serving as Director of Technology Research at BRIE, he also serves as Executive Director of UC Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI and Head of Strategic Outreach for Berkeley AI Research. Mark works on understanding and anticipating the societal and economic impacts of technology, and its corresponding benefits, risks and governance. He is co-author of Solomon’s Code — an examination of AI and how it reshapes human values, trust, and power around the world — and has published a number of pieces on AI impacts and governance.
In industry, Mark’s experience is diverse, having built technology ventures applying AI in health care, finance, education and data analytics for developing regions. Among these, he was founding CTO of Smartleaf, which automates the management of investment portfolios at scale. He brings a first-hand perspective to the future of technology, platforms, fintech, and more. An underlying theme of much of his work has been the practical application of technology to address market needs in human-centered and sustainable ways, or the use of technology for beneficial social impact and quality-of-life improvements.
Steve Harper
Steve Harper is a recognized leader in tax-managed investing, specializing in direct indexing, tax overlay strategies, and personalized portfolio implementation. With more than a decade of experience spanning portfolio management, investment technology, and advisor solutions, he has played a key role in developing and scaling tax-efficient investment programs serving thousands of client portfolios. Steve's expertise lies at the intersection of optimization technology, operational execution, and investment strategy, helping advisors deliver customized after-tax outcomes while maintaining alignment with client objectives. His work has focused on translating complex tax and portfolio management challenges into scalable solutions, making him a trusted voice on the future of personalized investing.
Gil Cotto
At Earned, we deliver a coordinated, long-term approach to financial planning built specifically for healthcare professionals. By integrating wealth management, tax planning, retirement, insurance, legal, and practice services into one platform, Earned helps doctors simplify their financial lives and make better decisions through every stage of their careers. We serve more than 20,000 clients nationwide with a tech-forward, human-led model designed around the unique demands of medicine.
Freddy Garza
Freddy Garza delivers valuable and actionable wealth-planning advice that helps successful families and family offices grow and preserve wealth over multiple generations. His professional expertise includes holistic financial planning, goal-based investment management across all asset classes, income tax efficiency, cash flow modeling, executive compensation and retirement strategies, philanthropy objectives, risk management analysis, and lifetime gift and estate planning.
With nearly 20 years of planning and client service experience, Freddy has an intimate understanding of the wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution life cycle and how to position his clients for long-term financial success. Before joining Endeavor, Freddy was a Senior Wealth Advisor at Northern Trust Wealth Management for over 15 years, where he advised successful families on all significant matters of their financial lives. He started his career in public accounting at Deloitte.
Quinn Miller
Gerard Michael
Stefan Mitropolitsky
Alvin Rogers is a highly accomplished and sought-after speaker, renowned for their expertise and captivating stage presence. With a diverse background in [relevant field or industry], they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every speaking engagement. Their dynamic and engaging style seamlessly combines powerful storytelling with actionable insights, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with practical strategies for success. Alvin has delivered impactful keynote addresses at prestigious conferences and corporate events worldwide, consistently receiving rave reviews for their ability to connect with and energize audiences. Whether addressing topics such as [specific areas of expertise], leadership, or innovation, Alvin is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
Bob Leaper
Bob joined Smartleaf in 2020 to lead the go-to-market efforts. Bob has more than 30 years of experience delivering sales and marketing results for FinTech SaaS and services businesses, ranging from working at/consulting for 20+ start-ups, to leadership roles at large firms such as BNY Mellon’s Eagle Investment Systems.
Stanford GSB Executive Program. B.A., Drew University. Series-65.
Mohammad Heidari
Mohammad joined Smartleaf in 2017 and leads the Financial Engineering team, driving the design, implementation, efficiency and scalability of Smartleaf's core technology. His team is responsible for the Analytics Engine, Household Optimizer, and Backtesting Capabilities, as well as the development of Risk Models and Direct Index models used across the platform. Mohammad also oversees the data pipeline and corporate actions infrastructure that underpins Smartleaf's portfolio management capabilities.
Mohammad has designed and deployed highly scalable systems that apply machine learning and neural networks to large-scale data sets, enabling faster insights and more robust product development at Smartleaf. Prior to Smartleaf, he was co-founder and CTO of Lighthouse Signal Systems, a technology company focused on indoor geo-location and location-based analytics, and previously worked as a senior systems engineer at Skyhook and as a staff member at the Center for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mohammad holds multiple patents and publications related to his earlier work in location-based technologies.
M.Sc. & Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Wireless Communication, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Tyler Hui Mingalone
Tyler joined Smartleaf in 2019 and has worked for over 6 years as a software developer, focusing primarily on the development of the Advisor Portal. During that time he worked as an individual contributor, a team lead, and, most recently, a manager. Prior to working at Smartleaf, Tyler earned a Master's in Theological Studies from Boston University and taught middle school for three years.
Amelia Matton
Melissa Kain
John Vigliotti
John joined Smartleaf in 2022 as an Implementation Project Manager. He has led a diverse set of client implementations with an emphasis on complex client profiles and technical engagements & new interfaces.
Outside of the office, he spends the winter months skiing with friends in Oregon & Utah, attending concerts with his wife and exploring the outdoors with his dog Ruby.
Lead Software Engineer and Portfolio Manager
Ben joined Smartleaf Asset Management, LLC in 2014 and has over 13 years of market experience as a member of the Financial Engineering team at its parent company, Smartleaf, Inc. He is a CFA charterholder and belongs to CFA Society Boston. Prior to Smartleaf Asset Management, Ben spent two years teaching with Teach For China in Yunnan province.
Melissa Fitzgerald
Melissa Fitzgerald is a Senior Program Manager in Customer Success at Smartleaf, where she has worked for more than nine years. She began her tenure in product management before transitioning to client services, initially supporting Smartleaf’s software clients and later expanding her focus to subadvisory relationships.
Today, Melissa works primarily with large RIAs using Smartleaf’s shared-target householding capabilities. She specializes in complex integrations, client and internal documentation, and detailed account analysis, helping firms translate operational and investment requirements into scalable, effective solutions.
Wei Zhang
Wei joined Smartleaf's Financial Engineering team in 2013 and has also served as a Senior Financial Analyst with Smartleaf Asset Management since 2015. Prior to joining Smartleaf, Wei worked at Bloomberg L.P. in New York on the Credit Risk and Fundamental Evaluation team.
Wei holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and an M.S. in Economics from Brown University and is a CFA charterholder.
Anthony Trubiano
Anthony joined Smartleaf, Inc in 2024 as a member of the Financial Engineering team. His
primary focus is on building, maintaining, and expanding the householding features offered by Smartleaf.
Prior to joining Smartleaf, Anthony worked as a postdoctoral research scientist at the Brandeis University Department of Physics.
Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, New York University.
Venue & Accomodations
Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf
The Smartleaf and SAM Summit 2026 will be held at the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf — Boston's only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond waterfront hotel. Located at the edge of Boston Harbor and steps from the Financial District, this landmark property combines classic New England elegance with world-class hospitality, exceptional dining, and stunning harbor views. It's the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and connections.
70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
We have a room block for the event. Book using the button below.
