SIFMA ♥ Rose

Back when their trade group was known as the Securities Industry Association, Wall Street’s top executives would gather each December in Boca Raton, Fla., for a three-day powwow that was equal parts business and golf.

Today’s annual meeting of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association shows how times have changed. The three-day gathering is now compressed into one; the location is the decidedly non-resortlike New York Marriott Marquis, and instead of golf, Wall Street’s leaders will spend hour upon hour being entertained by — Charlie Rose.

The host of the eponymous PBS TV show is in the spotlight all day.

He is scheduled to spend an hour interviewing Morgan Stanley chief executive James Gorman over breakfast, then moderate a panel with five industry executives discussing how financial reform will affect various kinds of securities firms. Right after that, Mr. Rose will question SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro for 30 minutes.

During lunch, the PBS host will interview Robert Kelly, chairman of The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. Napkins folded, Mr. Rose will move on to talk with Sheila Barr, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

To round out the day, he will moderate a five-member panel on market structure, interview Kevin Warsh, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, for a half hour and end the meeting at 4 p.m. by leading a 45-minute discussion with Sen. Christopher Dodd, D.-Conn., the soon-to-retire chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

Look for Mr. Rose at the cocktail reception afterwards.