The TD Ameritrade conference -- one of the biggest venues for mutual fund firms to showcase their wares in front of RIAs -- kicks off today at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. Pre-conference sessions will be followed by the opening of the exhibit hall at 5 p.m. The conference will run through Saturday morning.

Yesterday, conference organizers announced that former Secretary of State Colin Powell will be keynoting the conference instead of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Blair was originally scheduled to appear at the event on Thursday morning.

"Due to recent events in the Middle East, our scheduled featured keynote speaker, Tony Blair, has been asked to report immediately to the area," read part of the e-mail from the conference organizers yesterday.

The two mutual fund firms that will have the most exposure at this year's conference are Putnam Investments and T. Rowe Price, who have signed on as platinum sponsors.  

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