Disruptive and Thematic Investing Symposium

Now On Demand | 4 CE Credits | Virtual Event

Agenda



12pm-1pm EDT
Blockchain Technology: How will it evolve? How will it disrupt? - 1 CE Credit

Join Reality Shares CEO, Eric Ervin, to hear details regarding how his firm has developed and maintained a methodology to rank stocks according to their "Blockchain Score", taking into account several different quantitative factors regarding each companies' respective participation level within the blockchain ecosystem. Innovation in business is paramount, of course, and it's still early innings for finding out just how disruptive blockchain technology may prove to be across myriad, dynamic, product markets. This symposium session will share data, use cases, and observations from the heart of the emerging NexGen (i.e. blockchain technology) Economy and Eric will share his own personal vision for a future-period in which blockchain technology is foundational to nearly anything and everything we do in commerce.

  • Why Innovation Matters
  • Blockchain Technology Demystified
  • Exploring the Blockchain Ecosystem
  • Global Blockchain Use Cases
  • Blockchain Scores and an Index-Methodology in Partnership with Nasdaq
1pm-2pm EDT
A Disruptive Approach to Income Investing - 1 CE Credit

As volatility in the markets continues, how do you find alternative ways of capturing alpha while protecting your portfolio? Nasdaq’s suite of disruptive income investing strategies offers several ways for investors to capture yield during and even in spite of the ups and downs. Join us for this in-depth session that will cover:

  • Multi Factor Solutions for Income Allocations
  • Multi Asset Benefits, Risks and Portfolio Construction Considerations
  • Generating Consistent, Diversified Income Streams
2pm-3pm EDT
Portfolio Construction Utilizing Thematic Components - 1 CE Credit

More and more investors are turning to thematic investment strategies - approaches that seek to capture, across asset classes and around the world, the opportunities created by long-term trends and the cyclicality often associated with these trends. Despite the wave of thematic strategies available, many advisors are unsure of where, how and when to incorporate these into their portfolios. In this session, participants will learn about:

  • Point & Figure Methodology and Momentum Investing
  • Nasdaq Dorsey Wright’s Dynamic Asset Level Investing Tool and how to use it to determine which sectors are in favor (and which are not)
  • Ways to structure your portfolio to take advantage of thematics, sector rotation and international investing themes
3pm-4pm EDT
Disruptive Technology and Where it Fits into your Investment Strategy - 1 CE Credit

Technology is a pervasive aspect of nearly everyone’s social, home and working life across the globe. For many industries -- new media, new transport, new finance and new energy for example – it is the conduit for growth. Creating products or services that continue to be in demand is essential to surviving in today’s competitive world. We call these Companies the “Modern Day Industrials.” How can investors take advantage of these innovative, disruptive and essential large-cap growth companies? In this session, participants will learn:

  • New, innovative technologies that could propel growth ahead
  • How disruptive technologies can add value to a portfolio
  • How using the Nasdaq-100 can provide exposure to FANG and other Modern Day Industrials
  • Different ways to capitalize on the performance of the Nasdaq-100 using leveraged and inverse ETFs

Speakers


Eric Ervin

Founder and CEO

Eric Ervin is the Founder and CEO of Reality Shares, a firm known for ETF industry innovation. Eric launched Reality Shares in 2012 with the goal of better providing investors a range of rules-based ETFs, alternative indices, and quantitative tools helping investors and advisors of all sizes analyze and access institutional-quality investment strategies. By bringing an innovative approach to dividend analysis and investing, he led the launch of investment analytics tools including Blockchain Score™, a blockchain company evaluation system, DIVCON®, a dividend health analysis system, and the Guard Indicator, a directional market indicator. These tools were designed to help investors access the power of innovative investment strategies as well as provide alternative dividend investment solutions to manage risk.
Eric has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 14 years as a Certified Financial Planner practitioner and a Chartered Financial Consultant. Prior to founding Reality Shares, Eric worked at Morgan Stanley, where he built the Ervin Miller Group, a highly-recognized wealth management franchise, Citigroup, Smith Barney, and Morgan Stanley across a number of wealth management roles and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Barron’s, CNBC, Bloomberg and other media outlets. He is a Registered Representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
Eric enjoys traveling with his family, and more recently with his son on the downhill mountain bike racing circuit. On special occasions you will find him hitting the slopes and mudding up (and down) mountains and valleys.

Dave Gedeon

Head of Research & Development

Dave Gedeon is Head of Research and Development, Nasdaq Global Indexes. Gedeon is responsible for the index product management, development and research of Nasdaq Global Indexes, a leading global index provider that calculates more than 40,000 indexes spanning all major asset classes and geographies.
Under Gedeon’s direction, Nasdaq has launched thousands of indexes resulting in both innovative benchmarks and index-tracking products. Notable launches include the Nasdaq US All Market Family, the Nasdaq Multi-Asset Family, the Nasdaq Commodity Index Family. Gedeon was also instrumental in leading the expansion of the Nasdaq Dividend AchieversTM brand.
Gedeon holds a B.A. in economics from Denison University.

Leks Gerlak, CFA

Investment Strategist

Leks Gerlak joined ProShares in 2015 as an Investment Strategist. His responsibilities include portfolio analysis, education, product research and development, and the presentation of investment strategies using the company’s alternative ETFs. Prior to joining ProShares, Mr. Gerlak served as an Analyst at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, managing money for wealthy families, endowments and foundations. Before that, he served as a Fixed Income Trader with Vanguard where he was responsible for trading corporate bonds and managing Vanguard’s fixed income ETFs. Mr. Gerlak earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Haverford College, holds Series 7 and 63 FINRA registrations, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

John Lewis, CMT

Senior Portfolio Manager

John Lewis is a Senior Portfolio manager with Nasdaq Dorsey Wright. In this role, John is responsible for the investment strategies used in various different indexes and models.
Since joining Dorsey Wright in 2002, John continues to develop strategies for the firm’s Systematic Relative Strength series of separate accounts, the Technical Leaders Index methodology, global asset allocation strategies, and multiple series of UITs. His work is technically-driven and focuses on relative strength and momentum as the main factors in the investment process.
John continuously authors research on relative strength investing and has become one of the foremost experts on the subject. He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) and a member of the Market Technician’s Association and the American Association of Professional Technical Analysts.

Cameron Lilja

Director of Product Development

Cameron Lilja is the Director of Product Development for Nasdaq Global Information Services. He is responsible for the development of innovative, market-leading indexes, including the research and content generation necessary to support a successful index launch. He has been a featured speaker and panelist at industry events, discussing topics from smart beta to stock buybacks. Cameron previously served as a Senior Analyst for Nasdaq’s Economic and Statistical Research team where he had the opportunity to advise all Nasdaq business lines while working on initiatives in the U.S. and Europe to improve market structure, encourage capital formation, and enhance trading efficiency.
Prior to joining Nasdaq, Cameron worked as a research analyst at Economists Incorporated and RBB Economics. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Economics from Dickinson College.

Efram Slen

Director of Product Development

Efram Slen is a Director for Nasdaq Global Information Services, which includes Global Indexes. He manages the New York team responsible for product development, research and content creation. During his tenure, Nasdaq has launched thousands of indexes, building out its offering in both the benchmark and smart beta realm. Some of the more recent smart beta index launches that he has played a role in include the Nasdaq Select Leaders Index Family, Nasdaq Victory Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility Index Family and the Nasdaq Chaikin Power Index Family.
Prior to joining Nasdaq, Efram worked at ProShares, the world’s leading provider of geared ETFs, in the Strategy Group. He also worked at an economic consulting firm, Economists Incorporated. Efram holds a B.A. in Mathematics and minors in Economics and Statistics from the University of Rochester.

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This is an online event, and registration is free for financial advisors.
Now On Demand | 4 CE Credits
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