Description: The investment industry speaks about the “60/40” portfolio so much that it is largely assumed to be the “correct” portfolio for a large number of investors. However, it describes modern asset allocation about as well as Happy Days did the 1950s or Friends the 1990s. (Great shows both – but a bit detached from the real world.) To be fair, the 60/40 portfolio can be a useful starting point to illustrate the pros and cons of additional asset classes and/or alternate portfolio construction approaches.

Description: New research from CAIA Association suggests that investors place higher emphasis on qualitative factors when performing due diligence on private capital managers, a stark contrast to the quantitative factors typically emphasized with hedge funds and traditional investment managers. This panel answers the following questions: What are the most important questions to ask during the manager research process? What are the most important qualitative factors to consider?

Description: The future of sustainable investing is in the balance. It involves balancing financial and extra-financial considerations, balancing short-term and long-term goals, and balancing interests among stakeholders and over time, while seeking fair outcomes for all. How do investment professionals take the next step to apply these practices in their daily activities? How can investment organizations better align their culture and incentives around solving sustainability issues?

Description: There's never been a more crucial time to stand out. The transformative effect of data science on the finance industry requires today's finance professionals to understand the application of big data, data mining, workflow automation and machine learning in investment decisions. The Financial Data Professional Institute (FDPI), has designed a self-study program to provide financial professionals with an efficient path to learn the essential aspects of financial data science.