Tactical and Practical – Preparing Clients for Market Downturns – VanEck – 5.23.18

Summary:

Now On Demand.

More prevalent volatility and the difficulty in predicting market downturns highlight the importance of preparing clients for stressful environments. This means positioning portfolios to be able to help protect assets in bear markets but participate when markets again turn favorable.

Learn more about a tactical approach aimed at building and preserving wealth through changing markets. This investment philosophy is at the core of VanEck’s Guided Allocation suite, which includes strategies developed in partnership with Ned Davis Research (NDR).

Session topics include:

• NDR’s current market overview
• Transforming market data into objective, tactical investment processes
• VanEck’s Guided Allocation strategies, designed to preserve and help protect wealth

Speakers:

Alejandra Grindal is the Senior International Economist for Ned Davis Research Group. She is the primary person in charge of the firm’s global economic outlook, and is responsible for identifying global economic trends and themes, particularly as they relate to developments in equity, fixed income, commodity, and currency markets.

Prior to joining Ned Davis Research Group, Alejandra taught Microeconomics and Macroeconomics at Florida State University during her graduate studies, and then worked as a full-time professor at Santa Fe College and Edison College. Alejandra also worked in British Parliament as a research assistant, where she participated in policy and constituent research and campaign marketing.

Alejandra received her Masters degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and International Affairs, with summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa distinction, from Florida State University.

Stephen Blumenthal founded CMG Capital Management Group in 1992. Mr. Blumenthal began his career at Merrill Lynch in 1984 and he has over 30 years of investment management and industry experience. Mr. Blumenthal is a frequent speaker and writer on investment strategies. He writes investment commentary for Forbes and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Investor’s Business Daily, Pensions & Investments Magazine, Investment News and ETF.com. Mr. Blumenthal has appeared in various media outlets, including Bloomberg, CNBC and Fox Business News. Mr. Blumenthal is the author of the popular weekly e-letter, On My Radar, that helps investors, advisers and institutions gain a deeper understanding of the forces driving the economy and investment markets. Mr. Blumenthal graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University. He is married and has six children and is active in his community coaching youth soccer.

David Schassler is Portfolio Manager for the VanEck NDR Managed Allocation Fund. He previously served as Director of Manager Research and Investment Committee Member for VanEck’s multi-manager alternatives strategies and was responsible for manager search and selection of alternative investment strategies. Prior to joining VanEck, Mr. Schassler served as Director and Portfolio Manager within the UBS Portfolio Strategy Group; responsible for a multi-manager portfolio of assets for domestic-based clients.

His earlier career experience includes sales and client relationship roles at Oppenheimer & Co. and Georgeson, Inc. Mr. Schassler earned an MBA in Finance from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University and a BS in Business Economics from Cortland College.