SACRS Fall Conference 2026
A key SACRS member benefit is education. SACRS has an outstanding reputation for creating must-attend events that include educational general sessions, breakouts, and networking opportunities.
Start Date - End Date
November 10, 2026 - November 13, 2026
Regular Registration Deadline
Thursday, October 15, 2026
A key SACRS member benefit is education. SACRS has an outstanding reputation for creating must-attend events that include educational general sessions, breakouts, and networking opportunities.
The SACRS Annual Fall Conference 2026 will be held November 10-13, 2026, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage, CA.
To receive a Conference Registration Cancellation refund for attendees and/or a Spouse/Significant Other, you must cancel the registration by close of business on October 1, 2026, via email to sacrs@sacrs.org.
Early-Bird registration price applies to Affiliate Members only. The Early-Bird registration fee must be paid on or prior to September 15, 2026, to receive the discounted price. Early-Bird registration fees will increase to the Regular price if payment is not received on or prior to September 15, 2026.
SACRS Bylaws do not include single day passes/options or badge swap/sharing. Additionally, SACRS is unable to "roll-over"/credit future events due to unrefundable cancellation fees. Attendees may send a replacement representative if a registered attendee cancels after the deadline.
Spouse/Significant Other registrations are $100 per person, and are non-refundable after the cancellation deadline of October 1. We suggest that you register your Spouse/Significant other when you are certain they are attending. After October 1, SACRS will not refund for Spouse/Significant Other cancellations. Spouse/Significant Other registration category is not "a guest". SACRS does not offer a "guest" registration option.
SACRS preferred form of payment is electronic via ACH/WIRE or by check. Credit card payments will incur a 3.5% surcharge per transaction to cover merchant fees. The fee will be included on the registration confirmation/payment receipt for your records. To avoid credit card fees, please consider sending a check or ACH/WIRE for payment. If you do not have the ACH/WIRE information, please contact SACRS at sacrs@sacrs.org. Mail check payments to SACRS Headquarters at 840 Richards Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95811.
By registering to attend the SACRS Fall Conference 2026, in-person attendees agree to comply with the provisions of the Event Health Safety Code of Conduct. The participant’s acknowledgement, located at the end of the Code of Conduct, must be agreed to during the registration process.
Registration Fees
| Price Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Affiliate Early Pricing | $1,360 |
| Affiliate Regular Pricing | $1,560 |
| Affiliate Late Pricing | $1,760 |
| Affiliate Emeritus | $0 |
| Non-Profit Member Pricing | $290 |
| System Member Pricing | $290 |
| Non-Member Standard Registration | $3,400 |
| Non-Member Speaker Registration | $0 |
| Speaker Registration | $0 |
| Affiliate Member Sponsor - Must select $ level | $0 |
| Non-Member Sponsor - Must select $ level | $0 |
Available Functions
| Tuesday - November 10 | ||
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| 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | ||
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DISABILITY TRAINING The path to disability retirement—and retirement in general—can feel like an overwhelming maze of paperwork, medical evaluations, board decisions, and complex calculations. For some members, it is a detailed, complex, and overwhelming experience. This session invites you to step into the shoes of those navigating this journey, offering a fresh perspective on the human experience behind the system. |
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ETHICS TRAINING FOR TRUSTEES AND STAFF | MORE THAN A CONCEPT This ethics training provides the information required for bi-annual training of public officials in California by AB 1234, and it also addresses key considerations for those public officials whose responsibilities arise from their role as trustees or executives of public retirement systems. *This class is pending approval for MCLE credit. Sign-In/Sign-Out is mandatory to receive credit for all attendees seeking credit for CEs or MCLE. |
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| 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | ||
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SACRS Welcome Reception |
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| Wednesday - November 11 | ||
| 10:30 am - 11:30 am | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | POWERING THE AI ECONOMY: CAN INFRASTRUCTURE KEEP UP? Artificial intelligence is driving rapid growth in demand for data centers, power generation, and transmission. This session examines how the growth is being financed, potential resource constraints, and what public pension plans should weigh when assessing current and future investments. |
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| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | SHARK TANK 3.0 Back by popular demand, this is an opportunity for SACRS Affiliate Members to showcase their marketing and presentation skills in our “Shark Tank 3.0” competition. Contestants will jump into the tank with a 3-minute verbal presentation demonstrating how they would pitch an investment strategy of their choice to consultants and plan sponsors. Each presentation will be followed by 2 minutes of Q&A from our panel of Sharks. |
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| 7:00 am - 8:00 am | ||
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Yoga Class - Attendee |
$15.00 | |
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Yoga Class - Spouse/Significant Other |
$15.00 | |
| 7:30 am - 8:30 am | ||
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SACRS Breakfast - All Attendees SACRS Breakfast is intended for all registered attendees. |
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SACRS First Time Attendee & New Member Orientation Breakfast Connect and engage from day one at our First-Time Conference Attendee and New Members Orientation Breakfast! Share a meal with fellow new attendees, get connected, and learn how to best leverage your time at SACRS Annual Fall Conference 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity to build your professional network and immerse yourself within the SACRS community. This breakfast is intended for first-time conference attendees and new members only. |
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| 9:00 am - 10:00 am | ||
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KEYNOTE GENERAL SESSION | DARING MIGHTY THINGS: THE FUTURE OF U.S. SECURITY AND GLOBAL STABILITY Highly accomplished, O’Hanlon is a senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. He directs the Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy and Technology, and is the inaugural holder of the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia and Georgetown universities and was on the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board from 2021-2025 as well as the External Advisory Board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-12. In this riveting SACRS opening keynote, O’Hanlon will share his observations on current geopolitics and discuss his latest book, To Dare Mighty Things: U.S. Defense Strategy Since the Revolution, published earlier this year. |
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| 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm | ||
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SACRS Lunch |
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| 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm | ||
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OPERATIONS/BENEFITS BREAKOUT | TRANSFORMING THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE: LACERA’S MODERNIZATION JOURNEY |
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AFFILIATE BREAKOUT |
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ATTORNEYS’ BREAKOUT | LAWS RELATED TO CLOSED STATES DEATH REPORTING FOR PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS |
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INTERNAL AUDITORS’ BREAKOUT | AGREED-UPON AUDIT PROCEDURES |
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ADMINISTRATORS BREAKOUT | CLOSED SESSION |
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INVESTMENT BREAKOUT | CLOSED SESSION This session is intended for SACRS System staff and investment officers. |
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TRUSTEE BREAKOUT | GUN JUMPING, GAG ORDERS, CRYPTOCURRENCY, SAFE HARBORS, FORCED ARBITRATION, AND MEGAIPOS: This session will brief SACRS members on big federal regulatory changes impacting their investment portfolios and provide guidance on what fiduciaries can do about it. |
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SAFETY BREAKOUT |
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| 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm | ||
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Wednesday Night Event | Boots & Bling Western Themed Evening A magical evening of cowboy chic elegance is in store at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, enjoy an evening outside under the stars and the backdrop of panoramic mountain views. Dust off your finest boots and cowboy hats for an unforgettable night of high-end networking, sophisticated ranch-to-table dinner, and high-energy line dancing. All registered attendees are welcome to participate in this spectacular, boots-and-bling evening. |
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| Thursday - November 12 | ||
| 7:00 am - 8:00 am | ||
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Fun Run - Attendee |
$20.00 | |
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Fun Run - Spouse/Significant Other |
$20.00 | |
| 7:30 am - 8:30 am | ||
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SACRS Breakfast - All Attendees |
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| 9:00 am - 10:00 am | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | CYBERCRIME, IDENTITY THEFT, AND SCAMS Frank Abagnale is one of the world’s most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement, secure documents, cybercrime, and scams. For over 48 years he has worked with, advised, and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies around the world. Mr. Abagnale has been associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over four decades. He lectures at the FBI Academy and for the FBI field offices. On January 18, 2023, Mr. Abagnale was the recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award given by InfraGard which, along with the FBI, honored Mr. Abagnale for his longtime work with InfraGard, the FBI, and the FBI CyberCamp. |
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| 10:30 am - 11:30 am | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | THE BILLION-DOLLAR BIOLOGY: INVESTING IN GEROSCIENCE AND THE LONGEVITY ECONOMY By 2030, one in six people globally will be aged 60 or older. This demographic shift is fueling “Geroscience”— a cutting-edge medical field focused on treating aging itself as a disease, rather than treating individual chronic illnesses. This 1-hour advanced educational session bridges the gap between clinical breakthroughs at institutions like UC Davis and institutional capital. Designed specifically for investment professionals, this presentation explores the disruptive economic potential of biotechnology, multi-omic health platforms, and cognitive resilience tools. Attendees will discover how to evaluate early-stage longevity biotech, identify market indicators within healthcare portfolios, and leverage the multi-trillion-dollar silver economy to drive alpha. |
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| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | CIO’S PANEL: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX This CIO Panel features three outstanding leaders known for strategic thinking, leadership, innovation, and action. Designed as a “Fireside Chat,” attendees will hear candid discussions on lessons learned, reflections on their long-standing careers, insights and strategy regarding asset allocation and approaches to today’s evolving investment landscape. Questions from the audience at the end of the session will be encouraged. This panel is sure to spark ideas and evoke discussion; valuable information that attendees can share with their organizations. |
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| 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm | ||
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SACRS Lunch |
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| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | ||
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CONCURRENT SESSION A | LIQUIDITY HAS A PRICE: WHEN IS THE PRIVATE-MARKET PREMIUM WORTH IT? Public and private fixed-income markets can offer different combinations of liquidity, return potential, diversification and portfolio flexibility. But giving up liquidity should come with a compelling investment rationale. This panel will explore how institutional investors can evaluate the liquidity trade-off across public and private credit, determine when private-market opportunities justify committing capital for longer periods, and assess where public markets may offer more attractive relative value. |
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CONCURRENT SESSION B | INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTING: DEBT, EQUITY & THE EVOLVING OPPORTUNITY SET Infrastructure has evolved from a traditionally government-financed sector into a broad institutional asset class encompassing transportation, utilities, energy, digital infrastructure, data centers, communications and social infrastructure. This educational session will examine the history and evolution of infrastructure investing, compare the distinct roles of infrastructure debt and equity, and explore the current investment environment. Panelists will discuss how interest rates, financing costs, energy demand, grid modernization, artificial intelligence and the need for new infrastructure are shaping opportunities and risks across the asset class. The discussion will also address portfolio construction considerations for public pension plans, including income and total-return objectives, liquidity, implementation approaches and risk management. |
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CONCURRENT SESSION C | FROM AUTOMATION TO INTELLIGENCE: HOW AI IS TRANSFORMING MEMBER SERVICES The panel would focus on practical and emerging uses of AI across member processing, employer services, and disability review, with an emphasis on how AI can assist staff rather than replace human judgment. We can also talk about what we’ve learned since last year and give the audience a preview of where we think AI-enabled pension operations are headed next. |
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| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | ||
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CONCURRENT SESSION A | SACRS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 2026 What passed, what failed, and what is heading your way? Join SACRS lobbyist, Laurie Johnson and Cara Martinson, for a high-impact overview of the major statutory changes from the 2026 session and a predictive forecast for 2027. This session is designed specifically for SACRS members who need to quickly understand new compliance mandates, shifting regulatory priorities, and the strategic operational adjustments required to stay ahead in the coming year. The session will be moderated by SACRS Legislative Committee Chair, Eric Stern, Chief Executive Officer, Sacramento CERS. |
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CONCURRENT SESSION B | PRIVATE CREDIT, UNBUNDLED: A PRACTITIONER’S VIEW OF A FRAGMENTING MARKET Private credit has grown from a single, largely undifferentiated asset class into a set of distinct sub-strategies, much as private equity split into buyout, growth, and venture over the past two decades. With bank lending capacity constrained and capital continuing to flow into space, trustees are now facing a market where “private credit” covers meaningfully different risk, return, and liquidity profiles depending on the segment. This session moves past the introductory framing covered in prior years and brings in practitioners from distinct segments to give trustees a working framework for evaluating managers and building allocations with intent rather than treating the asset class as one decision. |
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CONCURRENT SESSION C | CLARIFY, CONTROL, COMMAND: EXECUTIVE PRESENCE FOR HIGH-STAKES MOMENTS Too often, senior women leaders have the credentials but still face the challenge of being fully heard in critical meetings. Drawing from her Emmy-winning television career, Kellie reveals how to align your communication style with your professional stature. Discover the actionable strategies needed to clarify your message, control the room, and command authority during high-stakes presentations and board-level discussions. |
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| 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | ||
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SACRS Reception |
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| Friday - November 13 | ||
| 7:30 am - 8:30 am | ||
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SACRS Breakfast - All Attendees |
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| 8:30 am - 9:45 am | ||
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GENERAL SESSION | ALL ABOARD FOR INVESTING IN RAILCARS Join Chris Nordsiek for an educational discussion of railcar leasing and its potential role in institutional portfolios. In an interview with a SACRS representative, Chris will explain how the leasing business works and how railcar types, end markets and lease structures contribute to stable cashflows and principal preservation. The discussion will also examine key risks, including economic cycles, utilization, lessee credit, maintenance costs and residual values. Attendees will gain a practical framework of the key concepts needed to evaluate railcar and other transportation investments. |
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| 10:15 am - 11:30 am | ||
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SACRS ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING |
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| Sponsorship | ||
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Gold Sponsorship - SOLD OUT One (1) complimentary conference registration. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. One (1) half-page advertisement in SACRS Magazine. One (1) SWAG item for attendees, with logo. Two (2) marketing emails that highlight firm and representative throughout the year, firm selects months. Gold nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. Company logo with link posted on conference website page. |
$5,000.00 | |
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Silver Sponsorship - SOLD OUT One (1) complimentary conference registration. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. One (1) quarter-page advertisement in SACRS Magazine. One (1) marketing email that highlights firm and representative during the year, firm selects month. Silver nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$3,800.00 | |
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Bronze Sponsorship - SOLD OUT Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. Bronze nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$1,200.00 | |
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Motivational/Keynote Speaker One (1) complimentary conference registration. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. One (1) full-page advertisement in SACRS Magazine. One (1) SWAG item for attendees, with logo. Two (2) marketing emails that highlight firm and representative throughout the year, firm selects months. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. Company logo with link posted on conference website page. |
$6,000.00 | |
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Reception Sponsor One (1) marketing email that highlight firm and representative. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$4,000.00 | |
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Wednesday Night Entertainment Sponsor One (1) half-page advertisement in SACRS Magazine. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. One (1) marketing email highlighting talent with company logo. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. Company logo with link posted on conference website page. |
$5,000.00 | |
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Lunch Sponsor Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$3,000.00 | |
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Network Break Sponsor Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$2,500.00 | |
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Lanyard Sponsor - SOLD OUT! SOLD OUT! Company Logo on Lanyard. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. Sponsor nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. |
$4,500.00 | |
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Platinum Sponsorship - SOLD OUT Two (2) complimentary conference registration. Highlighted in the conference materials. Acknowledgment at the SACRS Conference. One (1) full page advertisement in SACRS Magazine. Opportunity to welcome attendees during the opening ceremonies. (2 minutes) One (1) SWAG item for attendees, with logo. Three (3) marketing emails that highlight firm and representative throughout the year, firm selects months. Platinum nametag/ribbon at all events for the year. Company logo with web link posted on conference website page. |
$10,000.00 | |
Speakers
| Name | Organization | Speaking At |
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Sponsors
Location Information
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa41000 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, 92270