Financial Planning

KEYNOTE SESSION: PRUDENT MOVES IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Is another financial crisis set to hit the U.S. in two-to-three years? If so, what should advisors be doing right now to protect their client’s assets? One of the world’s leading economists discusses the resiliency of the American economy and the best ways to grow wealth over the coming years.  Can you still double your purchasing powered every decade in the stock market? Hear why Siegel says transparency and reorganization of the financial system are a step in the right direction.

PANEL DISCUSSION: HEDGING YOUR PORTFOLIO - MAXIMUM IMPACT STRATEGIES FOR TOTAL RETURN

Stephen Solaka Managing Partner & Co-Founder, BELMONT CAPITAL GROUP

Every advisor wants to maintain their long-term portfolio positions while protecting against short-term declines. ETFs have proven to be more economical than temporarily selling and repurchasing individual stocks, but hedging strategies can also be short-lived and come at a cost. Hear expert advice on establishing the most effective plan of action with the largest returns.

• Using ETF option strategies
• Using ETFs in a long short strategy
• Using ETFs that "own" volatility
• Using ETFs to diversify or magnify

PANEL DISCUSSION: ALTERNATIVE ASSET CLASSES: COMMODITIES AND CURRENCIES

Although fixed income and equity investments are the core of a diversified portfolio, the use of alternative asset classes can provide additional diversification.Since Commodities are hard assets, these ETFs can provide protection against unexpected inflation and can be divided in three types:

1.       ETFs that track an individual commodity like gold, oil, or soybeans

2.       ETFs that track a basket of different commodities

3.       ETFs that invest in a group of companies that produce a commodity

Currency ETFs are designed to track the movement of a currency in the exchange market. The underlying investments in a currency ETF will be either foreign cash deposits or futures contracts. ETFs based on futures will invest the excess cash in high-quality bonds, typically U.S. Treasury bonds.

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE: THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND ETFS FOR THE CHINESE STOCK MARKET

American economist Burton Malkiel will offer his Global economic outlook and then turn focus on China, currently the 2^nd largest economy in the world. China’s rise from a poor, stagnant country to a major economic power within a time span of only 30 years is often described by analysts as one of the greatest economic success stories in modern times.  China's economy helped power the world's recovery from the devastating financial crisis that erupted two years ago but it's global impact over the next decade is even more important from an investment standpoint.  Dr. Malkiel will share his timeless investment strategies for taking advantage of this global phenomenon, and specifically discuss the best ETFs available for investors to gain exposure to China.

POWERING YOUR PORTFOLIO - WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEVERAGED ETFS

Through these two mini-sessions, advisors will gain a better understanding of the unique leveraged ETF product structure and then examine the application of leveraged ETFs to portfolios. Both sessions will cover many of the frequently asked questions and myths surrounding leveraged ETFs that both sponsors receive. An extended question and answer period will follow. Topics to be covered include:

• Exactly how do leveraged ETFs work?
• What effect does a more than one day holding period have on investment returns?
• What are the most common mistakes when using leveraged ETFs?
• How can leveraged ETFs be used to hedge a client portfolio?

PANEL DISCUSSION: WHAT’S THE BEST OVERALL BENCHMARK FOR THE AVERAGE INVESTOR TO USE & WHY?

Index methodology and asset allocation take center stage of this lively discussion between a variety of experts who will share their ideas about the most appropriate benchmarks for investors.

• What do indexes really measure?
• Fundamental indexing versus Cap weighted indexing
• Seeking the global equity benchmark

EMERGING MARKETS: AN EXPLOSION OF CHOICE

More than 130 new ETFs launched just this year, creating challenges for advisors that need to know all the options available and how to sort through the barrage of new products.

• Comparing broad emerging market ETFs to country specific emerging market ETFs
• Using emerging market capitalization and sector ETFs
• The features and benefits of local shares vs depositary receipts (ADRs and GDRs)
• Emerging market correlations and allocations