What Lies Ahead: Economic Update and Alternative Portfolio Strategies for 2025

What Lies Ahead: Economic Update and Alternative Portfolio Strategies for 2025

February 6, 2025 2:30 PM to 5:00 PMThe Vancouver Club, Vancouver, British Columbia
Area of Interest: Investments, Networking Format: In Person

An in-person presentation hosted by CFA Society Vancouver & CPBI Pacific Region


There are a number of emerging trends going into 2025; the global economy is navigating an array of uncertainties—rising inflation, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and evolving market trends. To help you make sense of this, Join us for a discussion with experts as they explore What Lies Ahead: Economic Update and Alternative Portfolio Strategies for 2025.  This will be an insightful event designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate the year ahead.

This session will feature expert speakers offering an in-depth analysis of the latest economic forecasts, key indicators, and emerging global trends. Recommended for institutional investors, pension plans and benefit plan administrators. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of potential economic shifts which will shape the investment climate.

In addition, the event will explore innovative alternative portfolio strategies aimed at mitigating risk, enhancing diversification, and seizing new opportunities in an unpredictable market environment. From real estate and commodities to private equity and sustainable investments, experts will share actionable insights on how to position portfolios for success in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you are an investor looking to refine your strategy or a financial advisor seeking valuable tools for your clients, this event will provide the foresight and strategies necessary to stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic economic landscape.

Cancellation Policy

OPENING SPEAKER

   

Jim Allworth
Investment Strategist
RBC Dominion Securities 

Jim Allworth has been in the investment business for 51 years, both as a research analyst and portfolio strategist. He has been with RBC Dominion Securities for more than four decades, where he has developed investment policy for the firm and translated that into solutions for individual clients. 

As an investment strategist, Jim utilizes RBC’s extensive global economic, political, and sector analysis to develop a strategic view on the expected direction of major financial markets.

Jim co-chairs the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee (GPAC) which provides strategic analysis of financial markets and establishes the asset allocation mix for clients worldwide. He regularly contributes to GPAC’s Global Insight monthly publication.

Jim is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, with a concentration in economics.

PANEL 

  

PANEL MODERATOR

Andrea Schmelcher, CFA
Senior Consultant, DC Consulting
TELUS Health

Andrea is a CFA Charterholder, and has a Bachelor of Science Combined Major in Mathematics and Economics from the University of British Columbia.

Andrea has been serving institutional investors since 2009, with an emphasis on investments for much of her career. Andrea has worked with a variety of clients 

ranging in size and plan type, with a current focus on capital accumulation plans. Due to her background, she takes a keen interest in the fund lineup that sponsors offer to their members. Andrea assists sponsors in the articulation and documentation of their investment beliefs, and helps align the structure of the fund lineup to match those ideals. In reviewing performance of the plan, Andrea helps clients interpret their plan statistics to make informed decisions, to improve member engagement and retirement outcomes. Andrea also works closely with TELUS Health’s Investment Consulting team, in developing ongoing independent investment oversight of funds. She leads the Target Date Fund research efforts, and sits on a committee assessing research conducted on all asset classes by TELUS Health’s investment analysts.

  
PANELIST

Daren Atkinson, CFA
Principal, Portfolio Manager - Institutional Clients
Leith Wheeler

Daren joined Leith Wheeler in December 2001 from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. Daren manages portfolios for Indigenous, pension, corporate and health & welfare clients. He is also a member of Leith Wheeler’s Private Asset Committee,

which makes recommendations on new investment strategies. Daren is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder and is a past president of CFA Society Vancouver (2014). 
  
PANELIST 

Julianna Spiropoulos, MBA, CFA
Partner
TELUS Health 

Julianna is a Partner in the Investment Consulting Practice of TELUS Health. She has 30 years of experience in the financial industry, with 13 years of investment and asset-allocation consulting experience and 17 years of investment and corporate treasury experience at companies in the energy sector.  

Julianna works with private and public pension plans, multi-employer pension plans, insurance funds, endowments and other funds on a wide variety of projects including 

monitoring existing managers, leading asset-allocation and sustainability studies, board education, and completing investment manager searches. She has focused on helping clients diagnose and manage their investment risk, sustainability analysis, risk monitoring, de-risking and derivatives overlay strategies, liability driven investment solutions, and delegated investment services. 

Julianna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Calgary, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. She is a member of the Board of Directors and Investment Committee for the Calgary Foundation.

   
PANELIST 

Bob Dhaliwal
Secretary Treasurer
ILWU CANADA

Bob Dhaliwal is currently serving his sixth 2-year term as Secretary Treasurer of ILWU Canada. He was elected to the position in 2014. Bob began his Longshore career with ILWU Local 502, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada in 1988. Shortly thereafter he left the industry for a time to continue his studies and completed his commercial pilot’s license and his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Simon Fraser University.  He is currently serving as the lead trustee of the Longshore pension and benefit plans with over $2.7 billion in assets.

He lives in Burnaby, B.C. with his wife and two children. His hobbies include playing guitar, reading and basketball. 


  


 

When

Thursday February 6, 2025
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm PT Registration  
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm PT Opening Speaker
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm PT Panel Discussion
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm PT Social


Where

The Vancouver Club
915 Hastings Street W
Vancouver BC V6C 1C6

  

Registration Fee

EARLY BIRD RATE:
Members: $79
Non-Members: $119
Members Table of 8: $549
Non-Members Table of 8: $829
Sponsorship Credits: 3


REGULAR RATE:
Members: $99
Non-Members: $149
Members Table of 8: $689
Non-Members Table of 8: $1039

*Early bird ends January 10, 2025

Are you a CFA Society Vancouver member? Click here to register.

 
     
 

CE Credit

Certificates of Attendance confirming education hours will be offered, with which attendees may seek corresponding accreditation via their preferred regulatory body. 

 

Who Should Attend:

Fiduciaries, Plan Sponsors, Plan Trustees, Investment Consultants, Pension, benefit, and investment industry professionals looking to gain a better understanding of alternative investments, and the general macroeconomic themes affecting the industry today.

 
     
 


 

Questions

Krista Frayn
Phone: (403) 888-3185
[email protected]

 
     

  


Kim Duxbury

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