FIDUCIARY360 NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO “UNCOVER TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN UNCERTAIN TIMES”
Turbulent Economic Environment, Lack of Investor Confidence Reinforces Need for Training in Prudent Practices and Fiduciary Standards of Care
PITTSBURGH – February 20, 2009 – The fifth annual fi360 National Conference will be held May 6 – 8, 2009 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The event is the financial industry’s only conference focused exclusively on fiduciary responsibility. It promises to be a critically important and timely education forum for investment fiduciaries and other professionals to discuss the value and applicability of following prudent investment processes and principles, especially in light of on-going economic volatility.
The Conference, which provides continuing education (CE) credits for the hundreds of professionals who attend, brings together some of the nation’s foremost experts to address topics such as restoring investor confidence, asset allocation and portfolio design, how advisors can not only survive but thrive in these challenging times, ERISA and related regulations and trends and best practices for investment professionals. It is open to all investment advisors, financial planners, plan sponsors, broker dealers and others seeking to improve their knowledge of the fiduciary prudent practices and to learn how to put this powerful information into action. Among those scheduled to present at the Conference are:
- Roger Gibson: Chief Investment Officer and Founder, Gibson Capital Management, best-selling author and pioneer in the area of asset allocation and portfolio design, will discuss how to successfully implement these activities given the marketplace volatility.
- Charles Lowenhaupt: Chairman/President/CEO, Lowenhaupt Global Advisors, a recognized industry leader in managing wealth for ultra-high net worth families around the world, will present "Protecting Private Wealth: A Call To Action for Global Families, Trusted Advisors.”
- Carlos Panksep: General Manager, CEFEX, an independent global assessment and certification organization that helps determine the trustworthiness of investment fiduciaries. He will discuss the process of certification and how companies can use certification to set themselves apart and boost investor confidence.
- Fred Reish: Partner, Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen and one of the nation’s foremost experts in the areas of ERISA and employee benefits law, will review fiduciary trends and new laws and regulations being considered by the Obama administration.
- Bob Veres: Well-known commentator, author, consultant and journalist in the financial industry, he has been named one of the most influential people in the financial planning industry by several industry publications, and will speak about “Planning in Mayhem.”
- Marcia Wagner: A specialist in pension and employee benefits law she will discuss ERISA litigation and evolving best practices in the areas of defined contribution and defined benefits plans and other related employee issues.
Other discussions and presentations will focus on advice for participants under the Pension Protection Act, the success of target date funds, behavioral alpha, deciphering fees and expenses and other timely topics.
Additionally, there will also be two pre-conference events:
- Capstone Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Training Program – Fi360’s most popular training program for investment advisors, stewards and managers, AIF training is the most effective way for investment fiduciaries to learn the Prudent Investment Practices, their legal underpinnings and how to apply them within existing fiduciary policies and procedures. The program combines pre-conference Web-based study and on-site instruction and testing, leading to the AIF designation. (May 5-6)
- Interactive fi360 Toolkit Workshop – The fi360 Tools team will demonstrate how to successfully employ its powerful Toolkit software programs – designed with the Prudent Investment Practices at their core. Fi360 Toolkits include an Investment Policy Statement Generator, Watch List Management tools and techniques, advanced searching methods using the Investment Analyzer and more. A laptop computer is required to participate; Internet access will be provided. (May 6)
The Conference continues to grow in size and impact each year and brings together those at the forefront of creating a culture of fiduciary responsibility in the investment markets, in governance, in the non-profit realm and everywhere individuals are managing money for others, according to Blaine Aikin, AIFA® CFA®, CFP®, president and CEO of fi360. “Fiduciary best practices not only help professionals limit their liability, but more importantly, they promote transparency on fees and conflicts of interest; engender client trust and ensure that professionals always put the best interests of the investor first. Given the events of the last few years, we support an even stronger push by regulators and the investing public for professionals to fully embrace these principles.”
About the Conference
For information and registration, visit www.fi360.com/main/conference.jsp. Updated information will be posted as it becomes available. For hotel reservations, attendees should contact the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. online or by calling 800-354-5892 and mention fi360 to secure the Conference rate. Conference fees until February 28, 2009 are $795 and $895 after March 1 for AIF or AIFA® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst™) designees or fi360’s Toolkit subscribers. Cost for non-members now until the Conference is $995. Attendance fees for the pre-Conference AIF Training and Toolkit sessions are extra, but attendees who register for all three events will save $195. Registration for these sessions is also available online.
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