When

Tuesday, October 1, 2019 from 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM CDT
Add to Calendar 

Where

Delta Hotel Winnipeg 
350 St Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3J2  

 
Driving Directions 

Contact

Eva Swan, Administrator, 
CFA Society Winnipeg 
204-471-3640 
info@cfawinnipeg.ca 

Event Schedule
11:30 — Arrive & Mingle
11:45 — Welcome call to be seated
12:00 — Buffet Lunch
12:20 – 1:10 – Panel Discussion
1:15 — 1:25 - Q&A
1:25 — 1:30 CFA Society Winnipeg Closing remarks
1:30 — Departure

 

 


 

Liquid Alternatives: An Introduction and Outlook 

Please join us for a panel discussion about Liquid Alternatives (“Liquid Alts”) as our panelists discuss one of the newest investment products available to Canadian retail investors. Our panelists will provide an introduction to the world of Liquid Alts, discuss the change in regulation that has made this investment class recently available in Canada, outline various strategies available, as well as note the potential benefits and drawbacks to this investment class.

Description: What are liquid alternatives (liquid alts) and do they belong in a portfolio? What is their role in retail and/or institutional portfolios? What strategies can we deploy by utilizing liquid alts? Are there regulatory restrictions for many investors or can anybody access these strategies? 
For more than a decade, hedge/alternative strategies have been relegated to the Accredited Investor space and certain closed-end products which effectively shut these lower volatility (vs long-only funds) and less-correlated strategies from Canadian retail investors.  With the original proposal for comment from the Canadian Securities Administrator (umbrella organization for Canada’s provincial regulators) in March 2013, these strategies were envisioned to be available for this group of investors – arguably the ones who need shielding from market volatility the most. 
 
With the promulgation of these New Rules in January, 2019, a larger sub-set of Canadian investors (those within the IIROC channel) gained access to these complementary strategies.  Since then, many dealers have embraced them and added certain offerings to their shelves, as they configure their compliance systems to the risk ratings appropriate to them and educate their Investment Advisor network.  Asset Managers have also added many (as many as 60 from 25 asset management companies of all types and sizes) liquid alts offerings to their product mix – gathering an estimated $3.5 billion by July 1, 2019 (or about 10% of the overall hedge fund market in Canada). Please join us on Oct 1st as we discuss these questions and many more! 

Speakers Biographies

Moderator: 

 James Burron – President, Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets (CAASA)

James co-founded The Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies and Assets (“CAASA”) in response to industry support for a Canadian alternatives association to serve all aspects including: hedge / alternative strategies; private lending; private real estate; private equity; plus emerging areas where Canada is a leader such as digital assets / blockchain and robo-advisors.

 Prior to CAASA, James was the Chief Operating Officer of AIMA Canada where his team of three worked with 12 committees to produce 50-60 events per annum across Canada, organize 100+ committee meetings, and increase member numbers over his 7-year tenure from 66 to 164 corporate entities.

James also has experience in research and writing for the CAIA Association as well as serving on CAIA’s Exam Council and as a grader for the Level II portion of the exam.  He also had roles in institutional sales and FoHF structuring in Seoul, South Korea, as a Product Manager at ICICI Wealth Management, and an Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities.  He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BBA (Finance).

 

Panelists

Max Corvin – Vice President, Product Manager at Franklin Templeton Investments

 

Max Corvin is a vice president within Global Product Strategy supporting Franklin Templeton's alternatives offerings, which includes K2 Advisors. Mr. Corvin works closely with portfolio management and global distribution, developing strategies and articulating the investment process to clients and other internal or external parties. Mr. Corvin has over 18 years of experience in the investment industry.
Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Mr. Corvin was a director of the Platform Distribution team of K2 Advisors. Mr. Corvin joined K2 Advisors in 2008 and focused his efforts on building relationships with clients by providing education on alternative investments and developing customized hedge fund solutions. Prior to K2, Mr. Corvin worked at Bear Stearns Asset Management as a vice president, where he focused on building a third-party hedge fund platform. Prior to that Max spent time working at DLJ Direct, Merrill Lynch and GlobeOp Financial Services.
Mr. Corvin holds his B.A. in economics from University of Delaware. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.

 

Kathleen Biggs – Vice President, Business Development Lawrence Park Asset Management; Ontario Representative, The Emerging Managers’ Board

 

Kathleen has been involved in Canadian Bond markets for over 35 years, with the majority of her career spent at Merrill Lynch Canada in both a trading and sales capacity, culminating in a position as Director of Fixed Income Sales. Before joining Lawrence Park Asset Management, Kathleen was a Managing Director at CanDeal, the leading electronic marketplace for Canadian dollar fixed income securities and derivatives.
Lawrence Park Asset Management is a CI Financial affiliate portfolio manager specializing in alternative fixed income solutions, including their successful Credit Strategies Fund for high net worth and institutional investors.  In 2018, Lawrence Park introduced the CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Fund, Canada’s first credit-focused liquid alternative mutual fund.

 

Jason Chertin – Partner, McMillan LLP; Co-Chair, Investment Funds and Asset Management.

Jason Chertin is the Co-Chair, Investment Funds and Asset Management at McMillan LLP.  A significant part of Jason's practice encompasses working with investment fund managers, portfolio advisors and dealers in establishing, marketing and maintaining investment products, including privately offered domestic and offshore funds, publicly offered mutual funds and other exchange-traded funds. Jason also provides ongoing advice to Canadian and non-resident managers with respect to registration and compliance obligations, and assists clients with regulatory reviews and audits.

 

Brendan Rogers – Vice President, RBC Dominion Securities

Brendan is committed to providing focused and integrated financial services to high-net worth clients in his role as Vice-President & Investment Advisor. A near two-decade veteran of RBC, Brendan is dedicated to protecting, preserving and growing the wealth of investors coast-to-coast who desire long-term, financial independence. Brendan offers a comprehensive range of wealth management services for families, owner/managers, First Nations investors, foundations and other organizations – from investment advice and portfolio management to financial, retirement and estate planning. And as an advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, Canada’s leading full-service wealth management provider, clients benefit from the extra peace of mind that comes from working with a reputable, financially stable organization. Brendan graduated from Eastern Washington University, and began a nine-year career in the CFL when drafted by the Blue Bombers in 1999. After four Grey Cup appearances and two wins with the Toronto Argonauts, he joined our firm in 2000. Brendan takes every opportunity he can to give back to his community. He has frequently participated in Summits of Hope, a non-profit group that has raised millions for children’s wellness, by climbing some of the highest peaks around the world. He also supports the Easter Seals Drop Zone and local groups such as The Rady Jewish Community Centre, The Rainbow Resource Centre, Variety Children’s Charity of Manitoba, Siloam Mission, Deer Lodge and Riverview Health Centre. Brendan has sat on several boards for not-for-profit organizations.