Asset Managers Join To Help Investment Professionals Learn The Latest On Alternative Mutual Funds

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, a consortium of leading asset management firms is coming together in a multi-city series of forums designed to help investment professionals stay abreast of trends in alternative mutual funds. The half-day events will kick off on March 4 in San Francisco and continue in New York on March 10 and Chicago on March 11.

The lead sponsors for the 2014 events are Eaton Vance, Forward and J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association® (CAIA), Fortigent and Litman Gregory are also participants. Additionally, representatives of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Envestnet and Morningstar will be among the moderators.  

The half-day events feature expert panels that will discuss liquid alternatives from the standpoint of both high net worth and institutional investors. Topics to be covered include specific liquid alternative strategies, how they relate to portfolio objectives, risk management techniques and trends in portfolio allocations to alternatives. The keynote speaker will be Keith Black, Managing Director of Curriculum and Exams at CAIA, the source of the industry's leading educational curriculum and professional designation focused on alternative investments. 

Alternative mutual funds, also known as "liquid alternatives," continue to be one of the fastest growing areas of investment management. According to Strategic Insight, assets in liquid alternative investments in the U.S. grew by 37.5% during 2013, exceeding the average annual gain of 30.5% over the past decade, with more than 80% of new flows going to mutual funds rather than ETFs. Assets under management in liquid alternatives are now approaching $200 billion.

"While awareness of alternative investment strategies has risen greatly, they keep evolving and growing in sophistication," said Clay Smudsky, Managing Director, Head of Distribution at Forward. "The discussion is also expanding from how these strategies work to how they can be effectively used to meet a variety of portfolio objectives, from diversification and income generation to risk management. This is why we believe it's so important that investment managers keep the dialogue going."   

Advance registration for the sessions is required, and attendance is limited to investment professionals, including advisers, investment consultants and institutional investors. For more information, please call (415) 230-6150 or email [email protected]. 

There are risks involved with investing, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results, share prices will fluctuate and you may have a gain or loss when you redeem shares.

Alternative strategies typically are subject to increased risk and loss of principal. Consequently, investments such as mutual funds which focus on alternative strategies are not suitable for all investors.

Media contact: Michael Jones
Kanter & Company
(703) 534-2150

SOURCE Forward