Thursday, 24 October
11:00 am – 11:30 am AEDT
Warren Hogan, Managing Director, EQ Economics; AFR’s Top Economic Forecaster for 2023
Economic and Political Forces Impacting Investors
In this session, Warren will explore the key domestic and global forces shaping the Australian economic outlook and their implications for interest rates and financial markets. Learn about the risk factors that could affect your investments, including inflation, geopolitics, and shifting economic policies, especially in the lead-up to the Federal election.
Key Takeaway: Gain a deeper understanding of the economic and political dynamics at play and how to position your portfolio for future market changes.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm AEDT
Jordan Eliseo, General Manager, ABC Bullion
Why Gold Pays Dividends for Australian Investors
With gold prices reaching record highs in 2024, the potential for further upside remains strong as interest rate cuts, economic slowdowns, and rising geopolitical risks continue to boost demand for precious metals. In this session, Jordan Eliseo, General Manager at ABC Bullion, will explore how gold and silver can serve as essential components in a SMSF portfolio.
Key Takeaway: Discover how adding gold and silver can enhance portfolio stability and provide long-term returns, particularly in times of economic uncertainty.
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm AEDT
Lunch Break
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm AEDT
Ian Irvine, Chief Executive Officer, Listed Investment Companies and Trust Association
With deposit interest rates expected to fall further in early 2025 and changes on the horizon for bank hybrids, income investors need to explore new strategies. This session will provide insights into why Listed Investment Companies (LICs) and Listed Investment Trusts (LITs) could be a compelling solution for those seeking sustainable, long-term income. You’ll learn how these vehicles can offer more stability than direct equities or index funds, helping you diversify and secure consistent returns in a low-interest-rate environment.
Key Takeaway: Discover how LICs and LITs can strengthen your income portfolio for the future.
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm AEDT
Owen Rask, Founder, Rask Group, and Chief Investment Officer, Rask Invest
Building a Resilient Retirement Income Portfolio with ETFs
With over 2 million Australians investing in ETFs, these versatile tools have become essential for generating diversified, stable income streams. In this session, Owen Rask will share his complete retirement portfolio, revealing the ETFs and shares he uses to create fully franked dividends. From Vanguard and BlackRock to BetaShares and Global X, learn how to build a resilient income portfolio live.
Key Takeaway: Learn how to construct a tax-efficient, all-weather portfolio designed to generate $100,000 per year in retirement income.
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm AEDT
Afternoon Tea Break
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEDT
Elisa Di Marco, Investment Director and Portfolio Manager, Magellan
The Art and Science of Investing: Why Quality Matters
In this session, Investment Director and Portfolio Manager Elisa Di Marco will delve into the key attributes of quality companies that consistently deliver sustainable returns. Elisa will explain the importance of quality fundamentals in investing, blending the art of assessing intangible strengths with the science of financial analysis. Through real company case studies, you’ll see why some companies have a lasting competitive advantage in their sector.
Key Takeaway: Learn how investing in quality companies can enhance your portfolio’s long-term performance by focusing on businesses with proven resilience and sustainable growth.
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm AEDT
Tim Richardson, Investment Specialist, Pengana Capital Group
The Hidden Risks in Dividend Investing, and How to Overcome Them
With slowing global economic growth and elevated domestic interest rates, the attractive dividends paid by Australian companies are facing increasing pressure. Additionally, over 80% of these dividends come from just four sectors, which forces income investors into concentrated portfolios. This leaves them vulnerable to price volatility, especially if dividend payouts falter.
Income-focused investors now face a tough choice: invest in potentially overvalued companies to maintain income levels or sacrifice diversification. But there are smarter ways to navigate this challenge.
In this session, Tim Richardson will explore how Australian investors can invest for dividends without compromising portfolio fundamentals. Learn strategies to achieve both sustainable income and balanced diversification.
Key takeaway: Discover strategies to generate reliable dividend income while minimising the risks of portfolio concentration and overvaluation.
Friday, 25 October
11:00 am – 11:30 am AEDT
Dawid Naude, CEO & Co-Founder, Pathfindr
Artificial Intelligence, Real Insights
Dawid Naude, CEO & Co-Founder of Pathfindr, will lead an engaging session on how artificial intelligence is revolutionising research and investment strategies. He will demonstrate how to use off-the-shelf AI tools for investment analysis, research, and report creation, making the process easier and more efficient. Whether you’re a seasoned user of ChatGPT or new to AI, Dawid will provide hands-on demos of the most common applications, showcasing how these tools can help streamline operations and focus on high-value insights.
Key Takeaway: Discover how AI can enhance your investment decisions, optimise consulting processes, and eliminate the drudgery of traditional investment analysis.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm AEDT
Sebastian Evans, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, NAOS
Emerging Equities: Is a Golden Era Ahead?
Small and micro-cap companies have faced challenging conditions in recent years, but history shows that these businesses can thrive when market sentiment turns. In this session, Sebastian will explore how improving economic conditions may unlock significant shareholder returns in this sector. Investors will learn the key indicators to watch for and gain insights into strategies that can help capitalise on potential growth opportunities in emerging equities. If you’re seeking to diversify your portfolio with high-growth potential, this session is not to be missed.
Key takeaway: Learn the critical factors that could signal a resurgence in small and micro-cap equities, positioning yourself for potential high returns.
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm AEDT
Lunch Break
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm AEDT
Nicole Kidd, Managing Director, Schroders RF
The Sunny Side of the Street – High Yield Real Estate Investing through Private Credit
Real estate has always been a popular choice for investors, but it often comes with significant barriers such as high transaction costs and time-consuming management. In this session, Schroders RF Managing Director, Nicole Kidd, will introduce the concept of real estate private credit as an alternative way to invest in the property market. You’ll learn how this strategy can generate consistent, fixed-income style returns, provide monthly income, and offer the security of Australian real estate—without the challenges of direct ownership or the volatility of listed markets.
Key takeaway: Discover how real estate private credit can deliver high-yield returns and portfolio diversification, while avoiding the traditional hurdles of property investing.
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm AEDT
Dean Weinbren, Executive Director, Pengana Capital Group
Over the past two decades, global private credit has surged as one of the fastest-growing and top-performing asset classes worldwide, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. However, access to this high-yielding asset class has historically been limited to large institutions, leaving individual investors in Australia unaware of its potential—until now.
In this session, you’ll learn about the evolution of global private credit, its key characteristics, and how recent innovations are finally making this asset class accessible to everyday investors. Discover how to unlock superior, risk-adjusted returns and add a powerful, high-performing asset to your portfolio.
Key takeaway: Understand the potential of global private credit and how it can deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns for individual investors looking to diversify and enhance their portfolios.
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm AEDT
Afternoon Tea Break
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEDT
Martyn McCathie, Investment Specialist and Investment Committee Member, Future Generation
Unlocking Value: Exploring Opportunities in Listed Investment Companies and Trusts
Join Martyn McCathie as he provides an in-depth look at value investing through listed investment companies (LICs) and listed investment trusts (LITs). This session will explore how identifying share price discounts to underlying asset values can create opportunities for investors, offering valuable insights into the benefits and strategies behind investing in closed-end funds.
Key Takeaway: Gain a deeper understanding of value investing and learn how share price discounts in LICs and LITs can present unique opportunities for portfolio growth.
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm AEDT
Peter Bobbin, Senior Legal Expert in Estate Planning & Taxation, and Marnie Reid, CEO Issuer Services, Australia and New Zealand, Computershare
Securing Your Legacy: Estate Planning and Shareholding Insights
Creating wealth is one thing, but ensuring it benefits your loved ones after you’re gone requires careful planning. Without a well-structured estate plan, you risk leaving behind unnecessary complications and stress. In this session, Rachel Waterhouse will lead a panel discussion with Peter Bobbin and Marnie Reid, providing expert advice on estate planning and managing shareholdings for the future.
Key Takeaway: Learn the essential dos and don’ts of estate planning and how to protect your wealth, ensuring a smooth transition for your family and loved ones.