Trusted Insight for Independent Oversight

MFDF is an independent association for independent directors of mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and other registered investment companies.

MFDF helps independent directors navigate an evolving regulatory environment and steward shareholders’ investments. MFDF provides tailored educational resources and facilitates peer-to-peer networking, with offerings that include webinars, white papers, and interactive conferences. As an independent association, MFDF’s membership includes a wide range of fund boards and represents a diverse community of directors.

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Educational Offerings

MFDF provides comprehensive and high-quality educational resources tailored to independent directors. Explore upcoming programs, including webinars, single-day in-person seminars, multi-day conferences, and informal networking discussions.

Insights for the Field

The nature of the work of independent directors is ever-evolving. Read the latest news, practical guidance, comment letters to regulators, and other viewpoints.

Become a Member

Your goal is to steward your investors’ resources. We promise to steward yours. We take our role as your trusted partner seriously. And we pride ourselves on accessible membership dues and meaningful opportunities to learn and connect.

August 12, 2026 Capitol Hill Check-In: The Simplifying Modern Access to Retirement Tools for Savings Act of 2026

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the “Simplifying Modern Access to Retirement Tools for Savings (SMART Savings) Act” (S. 5204) which would remove the Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority over prohibited transactions rules that apply to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Supporters of the bill argue that the DOL authority over IRAs is duplicative and restricts investor access to financial advice.

August 11, 2026 Event of Interest: ACA to Host Virtual Program on AI and Cybersecurity Risks in Wealth Management

The program will explore the intersection of AI and cybersecurity in wealth management. More specifically, the panel will provide insights into emerging risks, regulatory expectations, and strategies firms can implement to strengthen their cybersecurity posture while leveraging AI responsibly.

July 30, 2026 Atkins Podcast Emphasizes the Importance of Investor Education

Director Moses noted that investing is more accessible than ever and that the Office of Investor Education and Assistance stands ready to answer questions. The Division cannot offer investment advice, but it can “help them [investors] navigate definitions and navigate problems that they might be having with their accounts or their financial services professionals.”

July 29, 2026 Commissioner Peirce Delivers Remarks on Crypto Updates

In her remarks, Commissioner Peirce noted that while cryptocurrencies are not securities, that does not mean “that the securities laws do not apply to any crypto assets or activities.” She noted that this principle holds for vaults, which allow holders of crypto assets to generate a yield on those assets by using smart contracts to allocate user assets to various yield-generating activities, including staking and lending. Commissioner Peirce noted that industry participants involved in facilitating these types of activities may want to consider whether their activities fall under the umbrella of the securities laws.

July 28, 2026 Ropes & Gray Releases Investment Management Update

In July, Ropes & Gray released a comprehensive investment management update which covers a variety of industry updates, regulatory announcements, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule proposals.

Upcoming Events

Full calendar

August 25, 2026
MFDF Member Town Hall | Year in Review & Looking Ahead (Session 2)
On August 25, Carolyn McPhillips, MFDF's President, will host an exclusive town hall for MFDF members to comment on MFDF's programs in 2026 and a look ahead to what's coming up in the next year.
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September 2, 2026
AI in the Fund Boardroom
As part of MFDF's AI for Fund Boards webinar series, K&L partners will provide practical guidance on how board members might use AI appropriately, while navigating the risks around quality concerns, confidentiality, legal privilege, and record keeping. The webinar will broadcast live from 2 pm - 3 pm (ET).
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September 9, 2026
Section 351 & ETF Formation: What Fund Directors Need to Know
As part of MFDF's ETF webinar series, this webinar will provide an overview of Section 351 exchanges, which allow investors to contribute diversified assets into a newly formed ETF. The webinar will broadcast live from 2 pm - 3 pm (ET).
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Newest Resources

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August 11, 2026

Webinar Archive: Leveraging MFDF Membership to Locate Future Directors

Leslie Beckbridge, Operations and Member Services Manager at MFDF, presented this session highlighting the Forum's Director Candidate Database, a service that provides curated candidate lists in response to board criteria. The webinar provided an overview of the Database, discussed how members can use it as part of succession planning efforts, and offered insights to get the best results from your inquiry.
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August 11, 2026

Webinar Archive: Taking a Position: How MFDF Works with Members to Respond to Regulatory Changes and Director Needs

Carolyn McPhillips, MFDF President, provided an overview on how the MFDF staff partner with the Forum's Steering Committee to formulate positions in response to SEC rulemakings and to develop practical guidance papers for fund independent directors on critical oversight areas.
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July 30, 2026

MFDF Spotlight Archive - New Members-Only MFDF Website Features

Leslie Beckbridge, Manager of Operations and Member Services, provides a demonstration highlighting new features available to members on mfdf.org. The webinar aired live on July 23, 2026.
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MFDF Member Series - Leveraging MFDF Membership to Locate Future Directors

Leslie Beckbridge, MFDF's Operations and Member Services Manager, highlighted MFDF's Director Candidate Database, a service that provides curated candidate lists in response to member boards' requirements. The webinar provided an overview of the Database, discussed how members can use it as part of succession planning efforts, and shared insights to get the best results from your inquiry.

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Board Diversity Resources

Explore news and resources relating to fund board diversity.

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