• About
  • Contact
  • Sponsorship
  • Join Now
  • Members Login
  • Search
  • Events
  • Webinars
  • Magazine
  • Education
  • Resources
  • Advocacy
  • Members
  • Log in
  • Search
  • Menu

  1. Home
  2. Magazine
  3. 2018 National Investors Conference

2018 National Investors Conference

By AIA President and Graeme Bottrill
Posted on 15 September 2018 — 20:54pm in Shares

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Our annual conference was held from 31st July to 1st August and this year continued the pattern of the last twenty years of great AIA investment conferences. 

The theme of the conference – ‘Synchronicity’ – referred to the fact that the 45 countries tracked by the OECD are all experiencing growth this year. We arranged various sessions to explore the effects of this synchronized growth on our own investment strategies.

Stephen Koukoulas opened the Monday morning and told us that the China economy may be softer than official figures show. There were tentative hints that 2019 growth will be less. He also said that the Australian economy was underperforming marginally, with growth now 2.75% against a forecast of 3.25% which was looking unlikely. He went on to speak about housing construction, capital investment, infrastructure spending, unemployment and interest rates. We were given a very clear picture of the factors currently affecting our investment landscape.

I wanted to avoid singling-out individual speakers, but I have to comment on Saul Eslake. Saul spoke after lunch on the final day, and very effectively provided a summary and a reminder of the current scene. He mentioned that our potential growth rate is less and that growth in the workforce is about to turn negative.

We also heard from Peter Switzer who suggested that the bull market can go on and interest rates are not currently a threat.

Other speakers of course covered the range of portfolio construction, asset allocation, estate planning, fixed income, etc. Roger Montgomery spoke in the final session and told us that mortgage delinquencies are increasing and we have record household debt to GDP and record household debt to incomes. Roger said, 

‘"be cautious and discerning",

and to expect more volatility.

In a new innovation this year, we had a live Skype interview with fund manager Paul Black, who is Co-CEO and portfolio manager at WCM Investment Management based in Laguna Beach USA. This opened our minds to the ideas and strategies of a successful fund manager from the other side of the world, and shook us out of our tunnel-vision and gave us some insight into how the majors do things. I think that the committee may well use this technology again in the future. We often think of inviting top overseas experts to speak at our conference, but the tyranny of distance (and time) makes this impossible. With this technology, we can enjoy these speakers without them being physically present.

For the second year, we held “the Great Debate”, this time the topic was “That men make better investors than women”. Henry Jennings and Rudi Filapek-Vandyke were the affirmative team, and Felicity Cooper and Holly Gorski were the negative team, all ably chaired by Marcus Padley with Alan Hull as timekeeper. The women won (again) and it was a very amusing and entertaining performance by all. Lots of light-hearted fun to finish the day.

On the social front, the conference dinner was a complete change of pace, as all 380 of us just enjoyed the time to chat without any structured entertainment. Although, Marcus Padley (Mr Jellybean) amused us at length by announcing the winner of his Marcus Today, guess the number of jellybeans in the jar competition, in a way that only Marcus could. It was most entertaining!

We were once again supported by our sponsors and their feedback was very positive. Thanks to all – the committee, staff, volunteers, speakers, sponsors and all the members who attended. You all made it a huge success.

Graeme Bottrill, AIA President

Post your comment

We welcome comments as long as they're respectful, on topic and not defamatory. It may take a day or so to approve them.

Comments

No one has commented on this page yet.

Popular Articles

  • SMSF estate planning and death benefit nominations
    by Shane Ellis*
  • Seven steps for managing inheritance
    by Vanessa Stoykov*
  • Five retirement planning pitfalls to avoid
  • Common behavioural biases that impact investment returns
    by Professor Arvid Hoffmann*
  • The inevitable rate rise, mortgage stress and the housing market
    by Savvy

Subscribe to Investors Voice Magazine

AIA Investorvoice TIPT Aug 300x250 1 v2
Advertisement
Advertisement

Lucy PercyFive variations to a testamentary trust for you to consider

Testamentary trusts are important to consider in estate planning. They can only be created by being included in a Will prior to death (it’s either in there or not, there are no second chances to add it in later).

Last year the AIA worked with lawyer, Lucy Percy of Head & Heart Estate Planning who delivered a series of articles and a webinar on estate planning and testamentary trusts which was exclusive to members.

Subscribe to our newsletter now and find out the five variations to a testamentary trust Percy suggested that you might like to consider.

Don't show this form again

By entering your details here you are agreeing to receive our monthly newsletter, Investors Voice and other partner promotions.

Subscribe to Investors Voice Magazine

Stay up to date with our latest news, education and events

  • About
  • Contact
  • Sponsorship
  • Join Now
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Events
  • Upcoming webinars
Webinars
  • Past Webinars
Magazine
  • Investing
  • Shares
  • Property
  • Bonds
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Diversification
  • Superannuation
  • Financial Planning
  • SMSF
  • Economics
  • Stock Picking
Education
  • Investment Basics
  • Fixed Income
  • Shares
  • Property
  • Other Investments
  • Portfolio Management
  • Borrowing
  • Superannuation
  • Estate Planning
Resources
  • Investors Voice
  • Past Webinars
  • Papers Presented
  • Video Presentations

25 Years
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
Copyright © 2022 Australian Investors Association
ABN: 75 052 411 999
  • Home
  • About AIA
    • Association Information
      • National Council
      • State Organisers
      • AGM Details
      • Constitution and ByLaws
    • Member Benefits
  • Events
    • Upcoming webinars
  • Webinars
    • Past Webinars
  • Resources
    • Investors Voice
    • Past Webinars
      • Finding ASX Winners
      • Finding ASX Winners
    • Papers Presented
      • Conferences
        • National Conference 2019
        • National Conference 2018
    • Video Presentations
      • 2019 AIA Annual Conference
      • 2018 Sydney Investment Summit
      • 2018 AIA Annual Conference
      • 2017 AIA Annual Conference
  • Education
    • Investment Basics
      • Budget Basics
      • Net Worth
      • Psychology of Investing
      • Investing Goals
      • Risks
      • Power of Compounding
      • Investment Structures
      • Asset Classes
      • Glossary of Terms
    • Fixed Income
      • Savings Accounts
      • Term Deposits
      • Cash Management Trusts
      • Interest Rate Securities
        • Government Bonds
        • Corporate Investments
    • Shares
      • Understanding Shares
        • Common Terms
        • Risks & Benefits
        • Shareholder Rights
        • Types of Shares
        • ASX Sectors
      • Getting Started
      • Mechanics of Investing
        • Choosing a Broker
        • Making an Investment
        • Initial Public Offering ( IPO )
        • Corporate Actions
      • Fundamental Analysis
        • Fundamental Analysis Basics
        • Fundamental Investing Strategies
      • Technical Analysis
        • Technical Analysis Explained
        • Technical Analysis Tools
      • Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
      • Derivatives
        • Warrants
        • Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
    • Property
      • Residential Property
      • Commercial Property
      • Real Estate Investment Trusts
      • Property Syndicates
    • Other Investments
      • Managed Funds
      • Hedge Funds
    • Portfolio Management
    • Borrowing
    • Superannuation
      • What is Superannuation?
      • Types of Funds
      • SMSF
    • Estate Planning
      • Wills
      • Powers of Attorney
      • Testamentary Trusts
  • Magazine
  • Advocacy
    • The Retirement Income Review
  • Members
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Sponsorship
  • Contact
  • Join Now
  • Blog
  • Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Home, Promo - Events
  • Summit 2021
    • Tickets & Pricing
    • Program
    • XTalks
      • How to Add XTalks to Your Schedule
    • Event App & Livestream Platform
    • Speakers & Experts
    • Venue & Transport
    • Sponsors
    • FAQs
    • Covid Safe Event