The York University academic currently carrying out research into the impact of mutual fund fee structures on fund sales in Canada is to appear at an upcoming regulatory conference.

Douglas Cumming, a finance professor at the Schulich School of Business who has been hired by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) to carry out original research on the possible influence of sales and trailer commissions on fund sales activity, is slated to participate in a panel discussion at the North American Securities Administrators Association’s (NASAA) annual conference next month.

NASAA announced on Monday the lineup for its conference, which is being held Sept. 27-29 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The conference will feature three panels. Cumming is scheduled to participate in a discussion to “examine the evolution of investment products and how they are sold”.

His research for the CSA, which forms part of the regulators’ look at mutual fund fee structures and a possible best interests duty, is slated to be released later the summer.

At next month’s NASAA conference, another panel will look at the future of investing, and how various generations, such as Boomers and Millennials, differ when it comes to how they invest and plan for retirement. A third panel will examine the history of financial regulation, featuring the emergence of various regulatory models and philosophies.

Arthur Levitt, former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will be the event’s keynote speaker. Additional speakers will be announced later on a variety of subjects related to broker-dealers, investment advisers, corporate finance, enforcement, and investor education.