Alternative Investing Summit 2018

Ritz Carlton, Dana Point, CA
December 5, 2018 - December 7, 2018

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The Alternative Investing Summit will bring together trustees and representatives of institutions as well as money managers and consultants to explore the roles of alternative opportunities and strategies. As a strategy, alternatives offer investors a method to obtain the returns they require and break the paradigm of the 60/40 rule, however not all alternatives are the same nor do they come without certain risks. Participants and delegates of this alternative investment conference will investigate a range of critical investment issues, including discussion of the risks and benefits of various asset classes and investment vehicles such as hedge funds and private equity, examining means of cutting costs associated with implementation of absolute returns strategies, reviewing the future of commodities and surveying the landscape of emerging international markets. With the current struggle of obtaining these returns, the question of fees has become of particular relevance, especially within the field of alternatives as investors measure their risks v. rewards. We will also look into impact investing as a way of obtaining returns that are socially responsible as well as many issues involved with fund management and the importance of education for trustees and other investment officers.

The label "alternative" describes a nebulous investment class to many investors, especially those in the institutional world who have strict ethical and fiduciary obligations to their organizations. However, pursuing alternative investments is essential to maximizing returns while maintaining proper asset allocation in plan portfolios of endowments, foundations, family offices, and public and corporate funds.

UNIQUE CONFERENCE FORMAT
This conference will exclusively feature dialogue driven panel discussions led by consultants and family offices. In order to maintain the educational value of our events, we prohibit any use of PowerPoint presentations during panel discussions. *Only Standalone Speakers will be allowed to use PowerPoints during their presentation. All other PowerPoint Presentations can be added to our Mobile App by submitting a PDF/PPT document to an Opal Associate. Speakers must keep in mind the educational objective of this event. Speakers will NOT be allowed to market specific products or services during presentations.

To request our current agenda, participant list and sponsors


Speaker List Current as of

8:00AM

Golf Outing at Monarch Beach

9:00AM

Exhibit Set-Up

10:00AM

Registration/Information Desk Opens

All confirmed pre-registered delegates must approach the Registration Desk to check in and pick up conference badges. Business Cards are required to retrieve badges.

12:30PM

Opening Remarks

12:45PM

Global Macro Outlook: Betting on The Big Picture

  • Sustainability, Vice And Beyond: Investing In The Trump Era
  • Tail Risk, Black Swans And Hedging For Uncertainty
  • Perspective on Global Trade and Macroeconomic Outlook during the Trump Administration
Moderator

Skeeter Bird, CEO, Northwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation

Panelists

Mustafa Saiyid, Senior Financial Sector Expert, IMF

David Ranson, President, Dir. of Research, HCWE & Co.

Raveendra Nath Batra, Professor of International & Macro Economics, Southern Methodist University

1:45PM

LP Perspectives & Allocation Plans

Investment Officers discuss where they think the smart money is being invested and where are LPs seeing most pushback from their investment committees. Given current market conditions and a risk of overexposure, what are LPs’ allocation and investment plans for 2019?

Moderator

Cian Desmond, AVP | Wilshire Alternatives Research, Wilshire Associates Incorporated

Panelists

Michael Ashley Schulman, CFA, Consultant, Hollencrest Capital Management (MFO)

Jonathan Shear, Chief Investment Officer, University of Utah Investment Management

Daniel Miller, MPA, Deputy Executive Director, Board of Education Retirement System of the City of New York

2:45PM

Building Systems that Attract Investors

  • Critical Steps to Create an Effective Investing Strategy
  • When do the big trends and solutions become additive and generate “alpha”?
  • Investors want to see that their investments are making a real difference. How do you achieve that?
  • What Will It Take to Get to Scale?
  • Dos and Don’ts for Social Entrepreneurs Seeking Funding
  • Theme-Specific Investments?
  • Hidden Risks and the Importance of Fund Level Due Diligence
  • Designing unique investment programs for institutional and high-net-worth clientele
  • Tax consequences of investment actions
Moderator

Will Buividas, Vice Chairman, Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS)

Panelists

Josh Roach, Managing Partner and Family Principal, Lloyd Capital Partners (SFO)

Kurt Vroman, Board Trustee/Secretary, Deltona Firefighters Pension Plan

DJ Van Keuren, VP of Family Office Capital, Hayman Family Office (SFO)

3:30PM

Networking Refreshment Break in Exhibit Hall

4:00PM

Investing through Qualified Opportunity Zones

Moderator

Sandra Osborne, Director of Investments, ImpactAssets

Panelists

Vijar Kohli, Co-founder & Portfolio Manager, Golden Door Asset Management

Craig Bernstein, Managing Partner, OPZ Capital

Brent R. Parker, CPA, Principal, Novogradac & Company LLP

Timothy S. Pollock, Partner, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

5:00PM

Investing in Disruptive Technology

Moderator

Nathan McDonald, Managing Partner and CEO, Keiretsu Capital

Panelists

Helen Thomas, CEO, TouchJet

Oded Malky, CEO & Chief Technology Officer, SHM Controls

Mike Connolly, CEO & Chairman, Healionics

Caitlin Cameron, CEO, OtoNexus

Randy Williams, Founder & CEO, Keiretsu Forum

5:45PM

Networking Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall

Join us and unwind with fellow industry professionals for refreshments during our last networking break of the day.

7:00AM

Networking Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall

7:00AM

Registration/Information Desk Opens

All confirmed pre-registered delegates must approach the Registration Desk to check in and pick up conference badges. Business Cards are required to retrieve badges.

7:45AM

Opening Remarks

8:00AM
Moderator

John Agenbroad, Chairman, Inter-Local Pension Fund

Panelists

Matthew Mark, Director US Asset Owners/Distribution, World Gold Council

Kimberly Ann Flynn, Managing Director Alternative Investments, XA Investments LLC

Matt Ritzel, VP Sales, Red Cloud Klondike Strike Inc.

Mark Waite, Director of Endowment Investments, University of Utah Investment Management

  • Exploring the Role of Alternatives in Impact Investing
  • Measuring Social Impact with Big Data Analytics
  • How can Big Data innovate Impact Investing?
  • Top 5 Challenges in Impact Investing Projects
  • ROI strategies for impact investments
  • The Role of ESG and SRI Strategies
Moderator

Tami Kesselman, Founder & Chief Strategist, Aligned Investing Global

Panelists

Jonathan Smiga, Managing Partner, Keen Growth Capital

Don Shannon, Director, StepStone Group

9:00AM
Moderator

Tim Rafalovich, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo, Alternative Equity Investor

Panelists

Kevin Tunick, Vice President and Managing Director of Private Investments., UNC Management Company

Stephanie Simon, Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Winslow Capital Management, LLC

Vincent Jelani, Chief Executive Officer, Crux Holdings

Moderator

Sherri Haskell, Founder, CEO, CannaAngels LLC

Rehan Huda, Chief Executive Officer, Green Sky Labs

Christopher Henderson, CIO, Myrtlewood Capital (SFO)

10:00AM

Networking Refreshment Break

10:15AM
Moderator

Mark Perry, Managing Director, Wilshire Private Markets

Panelists

David Hunter, Executive Director, CIO, North Dakota State Investment Board / North Dakota Legacy Fund

Dan Devorsetz, Chief Investment Officer, Horizon Technology Finance

John Brignola, Managing Partner, LBC Credit Partners, Inc.

Sam Austin, Partner, NEPC, LLC

Moderator

Gabriel Nelson, Associate Director, Liquid Alternatives Research, Pavilion Advisory Group Inc.

Panelists

Ron Barone, Senior Analyst, VE Capital Management, LLC

Brad Updike, Director, Mick Law P.C.

Joy Perry, Managing Director and Investment Director, Wellington Management

11:15AM
Moderator

Bradley Baker, Managing Director, Wilshire Consulting

Panelists

James Julian, Managing Director, Senior Living Equity Partners LLC

Stuart Wood, Managing Director, Cortland Capital Market Services

Moderator

Thomas Heck, Chief Investment Officer, Ball State University Endowment

Panelists

Brian Sewell, Founder, Rockwell Capital Management (SFO)

Jason Toussaint, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Emergent Technology Holdings

12:00PM

Collateralized debt in real estate – a safe harbor in volatile times

Jonathan Lewis, Managing Partner, JLJ Capital

12:30PM

Networking Luncheon

2:00PM

Niche Strategies and Emerging Managers

  • Defining today’s niche strategies
  • How niche can become mainstream
  • Investing early to build relationships for successor funds
  • Finding scalable niche and emerging opportunities
  • Seed and acceleration economics
  • Underwriting newer firms, additional diligence steps: terms, team, track record, infrastructure
  • What makes investing in emerging mangers an attractive proposition
  • Where do emerging managers fit within the overall portfolio allocation
  • Separate bucket or integrated within the different asset classes
  • Are allocations to emerging managers increasing or decreasing
  • Which investors are most receptive to new managers?
  • Who/what type of fund is succeeding in the current market
  • What challenges will a new manager face?
  • What makes a startup fund succeed?
Moderator

Eileen Neill, CFA, Managing Director, Senior Consultant, Verus Investments

Panelists

Neeraj Rama, Chief Investment Officer, Research & Development, CBCC | Rising Sun (SFO)

Bill Li, Senior Investment Officer, Portfolio Completion Strategies, Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board

William Lappas, Managing Director, Woodbridge Capital Partners LLC (SFO)

Henry Wilson, Trustee, Wayne County Employees' Retirement System

2:45PM

Seeking Alpha: Which Hedge Fund Strategies Look the Most Attractive Over the Next 24 Months

Moderator

Anthony Novara, Research Director – Global Hedge Fund Strategies & Capital Markets, Dimeo Schneider & Associates

Panelists

Chris Walvoord, Partner - Global Head of Hedge Fund Research, Aon Hewitt

Alexander Leiken, Senior Alternatives Manager Research Analyst, RVK, Inc.

Ronen Schwartzman, CIO, Cooper Family Office (SFO)

3:30PM

Investing in Alternative Risk Premia Funds

Moderator

Brandon Laughren, Chief Investment Officer, The Laughren Group (SFO)

Panelists

Jagdeesh Prakasam, Co-CIO, Rotella Capital Management, Inc.

Philip R. McDonald, CFA, CAIA, CIPM, Director of Investments, Portfolio Manager, Symmetry Partners, LLC

Joseph Cusick, Director of OIC Education and Business Development, The Options Industry Council

4:15PM

Crystallizing Value and Generating Returns

How are savvy managers navigating high prices and growing competition in today’s frothy market to generate superior returns? Faced with uncertain financial markets and increasing disruption, what is the smartest money purchasing?

Moderator

Robert Grden, Executive Director, Wayne County Employees Retirement System

Panelists

Lyle Minton, Chief Investment Officer, Keel Point (MFO)

Kevin Nichols, CAIA, CIMA, Senior Investment Management Consultant & Vice President, Morgan Stanley Consulting Group & Institutional Services

Irv Lowenberg, City Treasurer, City Of Southfield Retiree Healthcare And Benefits Plan

Doug Watler, Board Member & Trustee, Deerfield Beach Fire Pension

5:15PM

Networking Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall

Join us and unwind with fellow industry professionals for refreshments during our last networking break of the day.

Sponsored By: JLJ Capital

6:30PM

Keiretsu Capital’s Innovation Showcase Scotch Pitch

7:30AM

Continental Breakfast

8:15AM

Opening Remarks

8:30AM

GP-Co Investments vs Direct Investing?

Moderator

Skip Coomber, III, President, Coomber Family Estates (SFO) / Dragon Trust Family Office (SFO)

Panelists

Christopher Nolte, President, Marcus Investments (SFO)

Randy Norton, Managing Partner - Head of Real Estate and Alternatives, Green Mesa Capital (SFO)

Ron Diamond, CEO, Diamond Wealth Strategies

Mac LaFollette, Founder, The GC Companies

9:30AM

Portfolio Harmony: Balancing Your Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction

  • Prognosis for markets, near and longer-term.
  • Targeted asset allocation strategies moving forward
  • Using technology to monitor your portfolio and manage risk
  • US equity and bond markets have enjoyed lengthy bull markets, are we at risk of these markets going against us?
Moderator

Lily Cavanagh, Treasurer, Redford Township Police & Firemen’s Retirement System

Blair Richards, CEO, Halifax Port ILA/HEA Pension Plan and Trust Funds

Ali Jaffery, Director, CM Capital Advisors, LLC (SFO)

Greg Martinez, Co-Founder and Managing Principal, The Beverly Park Group

Randy Bull, Senior Investment Manager, Fifth Third Bank

10:30AM

Performance and Benchmarking

What is the gold standard today? Is multiple benchmarking a safer option? Is a strong track record an accurate indicator of future performance?

Moderator

David McConico, Chairman, City of Aurora (CO) General Employees' Retirement Board

Panelists

Carl Ludwigson, Director of Manager Research, Bel Air Investment Advisors

Erik Carleton, Director of Pension Investments, Textron Pension Fund

Stuart Odell, Assistant Treasurer, Retirement Investments, Intel Corporation

11:30AM

Active portfolio management and risk

Faced with an increasing portfolio size and an uncertain macroeconomic environment, how are LPs repositioning their portfolios and what models are being using to quality and quantify risk? Consolidation of GP relationships, selling of non-core assets, co-investing, diversification and ESG: what do LPs believe are the best drivers for returns?

Moderator

Craig Robbins, Director of Investments, Childrens Hospital of Minnesota

Panelists

Amit Thanki, Investment Officer, San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association

Aaron Rosen, CFA, Co-Portfolio Manager, Senior Vice President, LCM Investment Management, LLC

James Perry, Head of Institutional Investor Solutions, MaplesFS

12:30PM

Conference Concludes

1star
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Ritz Carlton, Dana Point, CA, United States
949.240.2000

Rooms Rates
Garden View Single SOLD OUT
Garden View Double SOLD OUT

The Ritz Carlton is currently sold out. For booking inquiries please contact Emily at efeldstein@opalgroup.net

Registration Pricing

Earlybird Rate I
(exp 6/30/18)
Earlybird Rate II
(exp 8/31/18)
Earlybird Rate III
(exp 10/31/18)
Standard Rate
Manager/Service Provider $2,495 $2,695 $2,895 $3,195
*Investors: Endowment, Foundation, Family Offices, Non-Discretionary Consultant, Hospital/Healthcare Fund, Independent Fee-Only Investment Advisor ---- ---- ---- Complimentary*

*Subject to Opal Group’s verification and approval. Only individuals who are in an investment allocation decision making role can be verified for a complimentary pass. Solution Providers or Fund Providers to 3rd parties will not be able to receive complimentary access. As investment portfolios/strategies are constantly changing, we reserve the right to re-verify past delegates for future complimentary passes.

Sponsorship, Exhibition & Speaking Opportunities 212.532.9898 info@opalgroup.net

Cyber Security Risks and Leadership

Presented by

M.K. Palmore, CISM, CISSP, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Presented by

Todd Barnum, Chief Information Security Officer, GoPro, Inc.

  • Investors perspective on alternatives
  • Volatility
  • Risk
  • Asset Allocation
  • Hedge Fund
  • Real Asset Investing
  • Real Estate opportunities
  • Direct and Co-Investing Opportunities
  • 1031 Exchanges
  • Liquid Alternatives
  • Pension Reps – Trustee, Administrators, Commissioners, Staff
  • Taft Hartley Reps – Trustee, Administrators, Commissioners, Staff
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Family Offices
  • Consultants
  • Attorneys
  • Accountants
  • Hedge Funds
  • Fund of Funds
  • Real Estate Managers
  • Equity Managers
  • Venture Capitalists
  • Private Equity
  • Mutual Funds and ETF Funds
  • Security Lenders
  • Infrastructure Based Fund Managers
  • Investment Banks
  • Insurance Companies