The purpose of the conference is to bring together promising young specialists and eminent researchers working in the area of mathematical finance, to encourage new collaborations and allow for active exchange of ideas through informal discussions.

WCMF'09 in Santa Barbara follows the footsteps of similar conferences in Austin, TX in 2008 (The 2nd WCMF) and Palo Alto, CA in 2007 (The 1st WCMF), designed to promote research in financial matheamtics in the Western United States.