The Wharton Future of Finance Initiative builds on decades of leadership in financial research, policy, and regulation.

Its roots trace to the Wharton Financial Institutions Center, which supported research, publications, and the U.S. Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee. From 1986 to 2018, the committee convened experts from academia and industry to analyze financial policy issues and publish recommendations for improving regulatory policy.

In 2021, Wharton launched the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation (WIFPR) to advance research, events, and student engagement at the intersection of finance, law, and policy. WIFPR sponsored signature conferences – such as the Future of Finance Forum, Conference on Liquidity and Financial Fragility, and IMF-Wharton Conference – that are continued today by the Wharton Future of Finance Initiative.

Wharton’s financial research centers also supported Cypher Accelerator – a student-powered financial technology accelerator dedicated to startups building their companies in a technology-based future.

Today, the Wharton Future of Finance Initiative expands on the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation’s foundation, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore the forces shaping the future of global finance.