About 4,000 people attended Schwab's annual IMPACT conference in Washington, D.C., including 1,900 investment advisors. The exhibit hall—"The Exchange" as Schwab calls it—was buzzing, with more than 300 exhibitors, food and even a disk jockey. There was also a lot of swag.
But our editors found that the best swag this year was not something you could take home with you (although there was some of that), but rather the experience you had when stopping by a booth. Schwab, for example, had several 3-D printers set up as well as a card-stacker who was building the Washington monument over several days. John Hancock drew advisors over by offering them a chance to meet Hall of Fame football player and former Congressman Steve Largent. American Century had a magician. Here are some of the highlights...