Regional Chartered Body Alliance Investment Conference

Following the success of our previous investment conferences, held in conjunction with the CISI, our next event will be held on Tuesday 28th January 2020 at the DoubleTree Hilton in Chester.

Places will be limited so please book early to avoid disappointment

1st Speaker:
- Alastair Mundy from Investec
- The impact of a meaningful rise in inflation

Alastair is Head of the Value team at Investec Asset Management having joined in 2000 from Morley Fund Management. Alastair manages a number of funds including the Investec Cautious Managed Fund and the Investec UK Special Situations Fund. He also manages the Temple Bar Investment Trust. Alastair graduated from City University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science in 1988.

Many are calling the death of inflation with rates and bond yields at rock bottom levels. However, Investec’s Head of Value, Alastair Mundy will give his contrarian view and the impact that a meaningful rise in inflation could have on both bonds and equities. Alastair will also touch on his approach on Value investing, providing his insight into what could drive the long-term performance of portfolios.

The presentation learning objectives are:
• The reasons why value investing has lagged in recent years
• The role of inflation and why we feel it could increase:
• The impact of a reversal of inflation on bond yields and why this could be beneficial for value investing

2nd Speaker:
- Vicki Goddard from Scottish Widows
- Providing Access to Insurance

Vicki has belonged to the world of Financial Services & managed intermediary relationships for over 19 years. Whilst she is qualified across all planning areas, she has specialised for many years in Business & Personal Protection Planning, supporting financial planners & insurers as they develop the most relevant & progressive solutions for their customers in a challenging economic world.

The presentation learning objectives are:
• Reflect on the Insurance Distribution Directive and how it may influence new ways of offering protection advice
• Learn how having appropriate protection in place can drive a better financial outcome for clients and understand that customers do not need to suffer a claimable event in order to benefit from a policy
• What does 'acting in the customer's best interests' actually mean and why are the FCA looking into this at a firm level
• Bring into clear focus the true benefit of health underwriting policies and what they mean to your clients' premiums and cover

3rd Speaker:
- John Payne from Aberdeen Standard Life
- Beyond the Financial Return - ESG (impact) investing

John joined Aberdeen Standard Capital in September 2010 and is responsible for managing the complete range of portfolios for private clients, pensions and trusts. Prior to this, John was a Senior Private Banking Manager with Lloyds Private Banking and was responsible for managing the discretionary portfolios of high net worth private clients, trusts and charities. John has over 30 years of experience in financial services and the wealth management industry and a strong track record in establishing long lasting client relationships. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, whilst also holding a Diploma in Investment Advice and a Certificate in Financial Planning.

Every day, we face headlines highlighting the consequences of pollution, climate change, poor labour practices, corporate failures and more. Have your clients considered how investments could help promote positive change in society? Today, it is easier than ever to choose investments that can make a difference. This includes those with the potential to provide a financial return, while also offering a wider environment or social benefit. As investment managers, we believe we have a role to play in helping address these issues, whilst also using criteria to identify potential risks and opportunities that could affect the performance of a company.

The presentation learning objectives are:
• Understanding evolving investment trends and preferences
• ESG integration into investment decisions
• Impact of the evolution of sustainable investing

4th Speaker:
- Craig Muir from Royal London
- Pensions & Divorce, A Practical Guide

Craig joined the Life & Pensions industry straight from university in 1988, putting his degree in Biological Sciences to great use by joining Scottish Widows before moving to Scottish Life, now Royal London. He has held several roles here, including proposition training and development officer. Before finally putting his analyst degree to use when he moved to Marketing in 1997, where he specialised in market research and analysis. Craig became Chairman of LAMRA, an informal association of Life Assurance providers, in 2004 as he worked to improve marketing and market research standards within the Financial Services Industry. Since 2012, Craig has been a Business Development Manager and spends most of his time travelling the UK delivering technical pension presentations predominately to financial advisers.

The presentation learning objectives are:
• Understand the divorce process and the options available for pensions in a divorce settlement
• Explain the relative advantages and disadvantages of the divorce settlement options to clients
• Understand the impact of pension freedoms on divorce settlements and describe the practical issues in relation to a pension sharing order

(Note: CISI members should book via the CISI website to avoid being charged an attendance fee)