Archives: News

AFA 2026 Elections – Voting Open Through November 13

The AFA 2026 Elections are now open! Eligible members have until Friday, November 13, 2026, to cast their ballots.

All voting-eligible members were emailed a personalized ballot link on October 19, 2026. A reminder email was also sent on November 4 to members who have not yet voted.

If you joined or renewed your AFA membership after October 19, or did not receive a ballot email but believe you are eligible to vote, please contact info@afajof.org for assistance.

Please note: Student members and individuals listed in the Worldwide Directory of Finance Faculty who do not have a current paid AFA membership are not eligible to vote.

Your Vote Matters

The 2026 AFA election ballot provides members with the opportunity to:

  • Vote for incoming AFA officers and directors.
  • Suggest candidates for future AFA elections and committee service.

Thank you for your membership and participation in the American Finance Association.

Be sure to cast your ballot by Friday, November 13, 2026!

Introducing the inaugural issue of the Journal of Finance: Insights and Perspectives!

We are delighted to announce the launch of the Journal of Finance: Insights and Perspectives, an entirely open access journal that publishes leading research across all the major fields of financial research.

The inaugural issue features eight Insights papers, intended to provide high quality and succinct research insights.

The JF:I&P publishes four issues each year: three Insights issues and one Perspectives issue. Perspectives articles synthesize active areas of research and highlight promising directions for future work.

We invite you to explore the first issue of this new journal, and we hope you will consider submitting your own work for future issues!

Read the inaugural issue

Sad News: Michael J. Brennan Passes Away

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Michael J. Brennan, Professor Emeritus of Finance at UCLA Anderson and one of the most distinguished finance scholars of his generation. Michael served as President of the American Finance Association in 1989 and as Editor of the Journal of Finance.

Michael’s research made important contributions across finance, including asset pricing, corporate finance, derivative securities, and market microstructure. He was also a pioneering figure in corporate real options, applying the principles of financial options to investment decisions involving real assets. At UCLA Anderson, he taught courses across finance, chaired numerous doctoral committees, and served as chair of the Finance area.

Michael was the founding Editor of The Review of Financial Studies and served as President of both the Western Finance Association and the Society for Financial Studies. His scholarship and contributions to the profession earned him numerous honors, including honorary degrees from universities around the world. In 2017, he was named the International Association for Quantitative Finance/Northfield Financial Engineer of the Year.

Michael profoundly influenced the field of finance through his scholarship, leadership, teaching, and mentorship. He leaves an enduring legacy throughout the academic finance community and will be greatly missed.

Annette Clark to Depart American Finance Association After Twelve Years of Service

Annette Clark joined the AFA in 2013 and has overseen the Association’s day-to-day operations for more than a decade. In her role, she worked closely with the Program Chair and PhD Session Chair each year to coordinate the AFA Annual Meeting program, helping ensure smooth execution and high-quality programming for thousands of attendees. Over her tenure, she became a central point of contact for members, officers, and committees across the Association.

“Annette has been an extraordinary resource for the AFA and for our members,” said Wei Jiang, President. “Her institutional knowledge and dedication have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to the Association over the years.”

Journal of Finance Webinar: 2025 DFA Prize

Join us on July 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET for the 2025 Journal of Finance Dimensional Fund Advisors Prize webinar! This one-hour webinar will feature the First Prize-winning paper, “Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality,”by Sylvain Catherine, Max Miller, and Natasha Sarin.

Hosted by Antoinette Schoar, Editor of the Journal of Finance, and Jacobo Rodríguez of Dimensional Fund Advisors, the webinar will include a presentation by the authors followed by a live Q&A with the hosts and audience.

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging discussion on award-winning finance research. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vSEOitFZR4e6uIn_-3JGTw#/registration