Sunday, January 11, 2009

2:30pm – Registration Opens

Choose one of the following workshops:
3:30-5:30 p.m.
ETFs 101 Workshop; Sponsored by

Don't know an ETF from an EFT? Come to this session to learn the basics about how ETFs work, when and why they are better than mutual funds, and how to choose the right ETF for a portfolio.

• The basics of how ETFs work and why their unique structure often makes them the most cost-effective, tax-efficient way of accessing an asset class
• What to look at in analyzing ETFs: tracking error, trading and liquidity, expenses, tax efficiency and more
• How to compare and contrast ETFs in the same asset class

3:30-5:30 p.m.
Advanced ETFs Workshop; Sponsored By

You already know what XLF, SPY and IVV are. You trade ETFs in volume. Now you have very specific questions. This is your chance to ask the experts.

• A highly interactive session meant to answer specific questions from heavy ETF users
• Trading strategies and how to make sure you're getting the best execution
• Detailed review of the issues involved in shorting, transitioning portfolios, managing tax liability, and more

Monday - January 12, 2009

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30-8:45 a.m.
Chairperson's Welcome

Gregory Friedman
Managing Director, Head of Product Management and Strategy
Barclays Global Investors

8:45-9:30 a.m.
State Of The Industry
Six percent of all mutual fund assets are now invested in ETFs. As ETFs go mainstream, what issues does the industry need to tackle head-on?

• How and why are advisors using ETFs in portfolios? And how are ETFs changing the job of advisors?
• What does the future hold for ETFs in terms of new products, structures and asset classes?
• What challenges does the industry face as ETFs go from 6% of all mutual fund assets to 10%, 20% and more?

9:30-10:15 a.m.
Choosing Between ETFs: What To Look For Besides Performance?
With more than 700 ETFs on the market today (and new ones launching each week), how do you find the right ETF for your clients?

• The best tools for evaluating and comparing ETFs
• Understanding the drivers of liquidity and tight bid/offer spreads
• Tracking error, optimization, quantitative techniques and accurate asset class representation

10:15-10:45 a.m.
Morning Networking Break

10:45-11:30 a.m.
Case Study In The Practical Applications Of ETFs: Three Unique ETF Portfolio Models
Three leading experts discuss how they use ETFs in their portfolios, and what strategies make the most sense for you.

• Creating the best asset allocation strategy for your clients
• Options, leveraged ETFs and other tools to manage volatility
• Incorporating alternative assets into your portfolio

11:30-12:15 p.m.
All About ETNs
Exchange-traded notes share many things in common with ETFs, but there are critical differences. When do ETNs make sense ... and when do they not?

• What are some of the key advantages and disadvantages of ETNs?
• When does it make sense to use ETNs?
• Discussing the tax, tracking and credit issues... and their relative importance

Dr. Ed Yardeni
President
Yardeni Research, Inc.

1:45-2:30 p.m.

ETFs And Taxes: The Issues And Opportunities (Including Tax-Loss Harvesting)
ETFs are one of the most powerful tax management tools ever developed on Wall Street, but using them properly has its tricks. This panel examines the issues.

• ETF/ETN tax issues you probably don't know about
• Tax-loss harvesting with ETFs
• Understanding qualified dividend and capital gains issues with ETFs

2:30-3:15 p.m.
All About Shorting (And Hedging)
Recent market volatility has more investors looking to hedge their portfolios. What's the best way to gain short exposure to the market?

• Stocks, options and inverse ETFs: Comparing different shorting tools
• Problems with borrowing shares to short? A real issue ... or not an issue at all?
• Understanding the unique risks and challenges of operating in the short market

3:15-3:30 p.m.
Afternoon Networking Break

3:30-4:15 p.m.
Options On ETFs: Advanced Strategies For Risk Management
Investors can use options on ETFs to hedge exposure, generate income or fine-tune their allocations. This panel examines the latest in ETF options strategies.

• Options on ETFs vs. index options: Which is better and when?
• Detailed options strategies that you can use today
• Comparing the costs of different hedging and options strategies

4:15-5:00 p.m.
Creating Price Targets For ETFs: ETFs And Tactical Rotation
Studies show that advisors use ETFs in both the passive and active parts of their portfolios. How do you evaluate ETFs on a tactical basis?

• Tactical allocation and technical analysis in the ETF market
• Sector strategies and the importance of choosing the right sector ETF
• Country rotation, pairs trades and other strategic applications

5:00-5:45 p.m.
Achieving Hedge Fund-Like Exposure With ETFs
ETFs have opened up hedge fund strategies to one and all (and at lower costs). How can you use ETFs to achieve risk-adjusted returns?

• Using ETFs (including inverse and leveraged ETFs) to build hedge fund like portfolios
• Why many of the largest hedge funds use ETFs themselves
• Hedge fund replication strategies compared

Tuesday - January 13, 2009


7:30-8:15 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:15-8:30 a.m.
Chairperson's Recap Of Day 1 & Intro To Day 2

Gregory Friedman
Managing Director, Head of Product Management and Strategy
Barclays Global Investors

8:30-9:15 a.m.
What's In The Pipeline: New ETFs Of 2009, 2010 & Beyond
A look at the most interesting funds actually in registration at the SEC ... and some that haven't even made it that far.

• Possible new asset classes and strategies
• Active ETFs: Which approach is best (and do any of them make sense)?
• ETNs, hybrids and other product structures

9:15-10:00 a.m.
Sector Investing: Is it Tactical Or Asset Allocation Driven?
Sectors have always been a key tool for looking at the market - the question is, how important they should be in your asset allocation?

• What role do sectors really play in a portfolio and how can you use sector ETFs to achieve stronger returns in a portfolio?
• Should we look at sectors as tactical bets or pieces of an asset allocation?
• Historic weightings, correlations and biases in the sector market

10:00-10:30 a.m.
Morning Networking Break

10:30-11:15 a.m.
Understanding Real Estate
Real estate is on the mind of almost every investor, whether they own REITs or not. This panel will consider how to handle real estate in client portfolios.

• Is real estate on the rebound or is the downside just beginning?
• Is real estate a legitimate asset class and how can personal and portfolio exposure be managed?
• How do different real estate indexes and investment products vary?

11:15-12:00 p.m.
Fixed Income and Options Income In A Credit Crunch: Liquidity, Diversification, Safe Harbors and Opportunities
Diversification is not just for equities. Understanding new options and fixed income products in a turbulent credit environment.

• Sorting through and understanding all of the new options and fixed-income products
• The implications of the credit crisis on fixed-income ETFs: trading spreads, tracking issues and more
• Should you diversify your fixed-income exposure overseas?

Don Shula
Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach

1:30-2:15 p.m.
Weighting Of International Exposure
In a globalized age, how you weight your international exposure has a tremendous impact on returns. Is market-cap weighting the best approach?

• With emerging markets and Europe grown large, what do you need to look at in international weighting?
• Should China really have a smaller weight in global portfolios than The Netherlands?
• How are international markets and correlations evolving?

2:15-3:00 p.m.
Frontier ETFs: A New Asset Class?
Frontier markets are one of the hottest topics in the ETF industry. Does it really make sense to allocate to Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Colombia?

• What IS frontier, anyway? And what separates frontier from emerging markets?
• Looking at correlations against other asset classes
• Understanding the opportunity set - challenges and risks

3:15-4:00 p.m.
Currencies: Are They A Legitimate Asset Class?
Currencies have a huge impact on portfolio returns, even if you don't own individual currencies. How can currency ETFs improve your portfolios' returns?

• Why currencies are critical to understanding equity returns
• Has the dollar turned the corner?
• Currency ETFs, currency ETNs and currency strategies explored
• Understanding the different structures and best ways to access currency exposure through ETFs

4:00-4:45 p.m.
Creating The Ideal Commodities Portfolio
As commodities returns have soared and investors have looked for low-correlating assets, commodities have become more accepted as a legitimate asset class.

• The role of commodities in a well-diversified portfolio
• Sorting through the array of products in the commodities market
• Contango, backwardation and positioning your commodities portfolio on the yield curve