What does one learn after a quarter century in the investment business? According to an accomplished trio speaking at this week's Morningstar Conference in Chicago, you understand that things aren't always as bad as they seem – but you need to maintain high standards to keep afloat in a turbulent business.

Don Phillips, president of fund research with Morningstar, welcomed three seasoned but successful figures – Susan M. Byrne, founder of Westwood Management Corp., Will Danoff, portfolio manager for Fidelity Asset Management, and Brian Rogers, chairman and CIO of the T. Rowe Price Group – all of whom had some interesting perspectives on maintaining a forward-looking strategy over the years.

Byrne, who entered the business as a single mother looking for a profitable career, said she continues to work with an outlook focused on the success and survival of her clients, first and foremost. To that end, she has to work to establish and keep her clients' trust.