OUTLOOK FOR 2013

Steve Johnson, Chief Investment Officer, Intelligent Investor Funds Pty Ltd will review the year ahead, explain why you’re too exposed to the big four banks and suggest some better places for your money.

Steve Johnson’s association with investing and finance goes back 16 years. After landing a junior role with Swiss bank UBS at 18 years of age, Johnson devoted himself to studying economics at the University of UNSW and the value investing works of Ben Graham and Phil Fisher in his spare time. In 2000 he graduated from university and accepted a role in Macquarie Group’s project finance division. There he worked on bids for Bondi Rail and the successful Sydney Airport tender before being relocated to Vienna and then London to work on cross border leasing transactions.

By 2003 he was successfully managing his own share portfolio and more interested in investing than investment banking. When fellow value investor and friend Greg Hoffman presented the idea of buying Intelligent Investor from its founders, Johnson returned to Sydney to take up the opportunity.

In 2009 he established the Funds Management business, raising approximately $10m for the initial fund from existing Intelligent Investor clients. That fund has since grown to $20 FUM and Johnson pitched for and won the management rights for the Mosaic Special Situations Fund (approximately $32m FUM), taking the total funds under management in excess of $50m. Both funds have significantly outperformed the index while managed by Intelligent Investor Funds and the Mosaic Fund is ranked number one in its category by Morningstar over the past three years.

Today Johnson remains Chief Investment Officer of the funds management business and remains a director of and closely involved with the overall Intelligent Investor Group.

PLEASE NOTE: This year, meeting day has been transferred back to the second Tuesday of each month. Following the presentation the group discuss branch issues and meet informally over a coffee for which there is a $2pp charge. The forum offers the opportunity to discuss your portfolio and current investment ideas with other members. This meeting is led by convenor John Upton. Visitors are welcome and pay $5pp at the door.