Tony Blair, former prime minister of the UK, had two things on his mind that he wanted to share with registered investment advisors at Schwab’s IMPACT conference: The economy and security.

Why? Because global events are shaping our political, social and economic destiny.

“The world is interconnected today,” Blair said to a crowd of over 2, 000 advisors and more than 4,000 total attendees in San Francisco.

“Change is coming with immense speed and the question is not where it begins, but where it ends.” Blair noted that on every front - financial, technology, social - the world is defined by change. 

On the topic of the economy, Blair said it’s a bad idea to raise questions such as: Who is to blame? How do we prevent the financial crisis from reoccurring? “It’s not sensible to carry on asking these questions,” he said. 

“The one right question is: How do we get our economy moving and create jobs?”

According to Blair, an economic recovery will likely involve deficit reduction plans, sensible regulation and a vibrant economic sector with business as a partner.

On the security front, Blair said the global community is dealing with warfare of an unconventional kind. 

“We need to encourage true democracy, stand up for and advocate not simply democracy, but understand that it’s also about an attitude of mind.  It’s about freedom of media, religion, expression and open markets. All the attributes of a genuinely free society.”

Blair believes that the battle against terrorism has to be defeated by the force of ideas. He concluded by reminding advisors that there are profound reasons to be confident.

Blair spoke to the morning general session of IMPACT, following opening remarks by Bernie Clark, Executive Vice President and head of Schwab Advisor Services, and a keynote introduction by Jim McCool, Executive Vice President of Schwab Institutional.

Tony Blair, former prime minister of the UK, delivers a keynote speech at IMPACT 2011.

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