2026 Directors' Institute

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, FL

Register Now
Member Price

$1,500 (Board Pricing Available)

Non-Member Price

$2,250

The Directors' Institute is a directors-only program that organizes participants into board groups that meet together over the three-day program to oversee a case study of a fictional fund complex navigating timely, real-life concerns. In 2026, we anticipate that participants will engage with oversight issues relating to private assets, ETFs, and Fixed Income products, among other governance matters.

While the Institute is organized to follow the format of a 15(c) meeting, it is not designed to teach participants how 15(c) meetings are run. Rather, the value is in encountering and exchanging ideas and approaches between peer independent directors as the groups work through identifying and prioritizing issues and strategizing how to work with management toward resolution.

Joining the 2026 Directors' Institute to play the roles of the fund management and other advisors to the board will be:

  • Matt Hinkle (Franklin Templeton) as Funds President
  • Anwiti Bahuguna (Northern Trust) as CIO
  • Brian Harris (SSGA) as CCO
  • Sara Crovitz and Mark Greer (Stradley Ronon) as counsel to the independent directors
  • PwC as fund auditors
  • Jeff Keil (Keil Fiduciary Strategies) as board consultant

Attendance at this program is limited to 75 independent directors and often sells out.

Conference Accommodations: MFDF has a limited number of rooms blocked off at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Hotel with a conference rate of $499/night plus taxes and discounted resort fees. Please make your hotel reservations right away to ensure you are able to take advantage of the conference rate. Reservation details will be included in your registration confirmation email. 

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be emailed to events@mfdf.org by 5 pm (ET) on December 18, 2025 to receive registration fee refund (minus $250 cancellation fee). Cancellations after December 18, 2025 will result in forfeiture of the registration fee. Cancellation over the phone will not be honored. 

Who Should Attend
This program is ONLY open to current independent directors of registered U.S. funds.