DAC Acuity 2023 Sets the Gold Standard with Sessions on Private Markets & Insurance

On Monday, November 13 thought leaders from our gold partner organizations will be taking the stage at DAC Acuity 2023. Don’t miss exploring the world of private markets with Natalie Camara, Director, Alternatives, Specialized Sales – Western Canada, BMO Global Asset Management or finding out the answer to whether or not venture debt is a positive hedge from Espresso Capital’s Dennis Hettinger. Ready to embrace new transformative change with insurance solutions? Hear from Massimo Nini and Dan Fortuna from AGA Benefit Solutions, and Barry Ferguson of Wealth One Bank with Richard Pyper from Monarch Wealth systems These industry change-makers will inspire you with their compelling sessions. Register by the September 30 early-bird deadline!

Join us next week for part two of our featured gold partner organizations. Check out the DAC Acuity interactive agenda and register here: https://learn.knowledgebureau.com/courses/dac-2023-imagine

Explore Private Markets

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED: Exploring the World of Private Markets with Natalie Camara, CIM, Director, Alternatives, Specialized Sales – Western Canada, BMO Global Asset Management

In today's volatile and uncertain economic environment, private market evergreen investments are proving particularly valuable. These long-term, perpetual funds allow for sustained access to private market opportunities, like private equity, private debt, real assets, which are independent of market cycles. Furthermore, evergreen structures offer the flexibility to continually reinvest returns into new opportunities, facilitating ongoing portfolio diversification. This perpetual investment approach can provide accredited investors with consistent exposure to high-growth private companies and potential for increased returns over time, making it a fundamental strategy in the current climate.

Natalie Camara is a seasoned professional in the financial services industry, specializing in asset management, product development, business development, sales, and relationship management. Her current role at BMO Global Asset Management involves developing the company's Alternatives presence in Western Canada. With over two decades of experience, Natalie brings a wealth of expertise in these areas and possesses a deep understanding of industry dynamics.

Natalie joined BMO Global Asset Management in 2015 after holding progressively senior roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and is a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM). Her goal is to align capabilities with investor needs and help clients achieve their unique investment objectives.

VENTURE DEBT - IS IT A POSITIVE HEDGE?   With Dennis Hettinger, CIM, Business Development, Espresso Capital

Navigating private markets can be a daunting challenge. In this presentation, Espresso Capital, a private debt manager with a 13-year track record of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns, will help demystify one area of that space by explaining venture debt. A truly unique asset class, venture debt provides stability and income, with minimal correlation to real estate and other income-producing asset classes and can therefore be a positive hedge in your investment portfolio.  Hear from an industry expert about what venture debt is, why you should consider allocating a portion of your portfolio to it, and how Espresso is leveraging technology and proprietary processes to deliver industry-leading transparency and exceptionally low loan loss rates.

Dennis Hettinger has spent his 15-year career in the investment management sector. While he has worked for large multinational banks and investment managers, he has since been focused on private markets and technology. Dennis has extensive experience working as an investment advisor, with larger investment firms as well as experience in the lending community. More recently Dennis has focused in more niche asset classes, where he was on the senior leadership team of a technology startup and is now working exclusively in the private equity and debt space. For Espresso Capital, participating in Knowledge Bureau events is our way of helping contribute to financial literacy in the advisory and client communities.

Insurance

NEW TABLE STAKES IN GROUP INSURANCE: TPA, DEI & More with Massimo Nini, FSA, FCIA VP, Consulting & Underwriting, AGA Benefit Solutions and Dan Fortuna Director, Western Canada, AGA Benefit Solutions

The New “Non-Traditional” Insurance solution has arrived and it’s simple, agile and data secure.  More importantly, this transformative change in insurance solutions highlights new delivery models that provide innovative ancillary benefits, virtual health care, wellness accounts and third-party administration services that will help advisors delivery on risk managements solutions suited to a more risk adverse audience.  Learn how to break free from the past in this informative session.

Massimo Nini is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) and holds a Bachelor Degree in Actuarial Science from Concordia University. Prior to joining AGA, he held leadership positions with firms operating in the employee benefits consulting and the accident & health reinsurance space. Over the years, he has provided actuarial, retirement and benefits consulting services to organizations of various sizes, including large pan-Canadian and international organizations. He a is member of the CIA’s Health Committee and is a licensed insurance agent in Ontario, Quebec and other provinces across Canada.

Dan Fortuna is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) and a member of the International Federation of Employee Benefit Programs. Before Joining AGA, he was a Senior Consultant with a Global Benefits Consulting Firm providing comprehensive consulting services to a diverse range of domestic and international clients. His expertise spans areas such as plan auditing, program design, underwriting, and service delivery, enabling him to deliver complex and effective solutions tailored to each client's unique needs. Based in Vancouver, BC, he provides leadership and management to the consulting and service teams in Western Canada and is licensed to support clients across Canada and the Territories.

Maximizing Life Insurance Cash Surrender Values with Barry Ferguson, FCSI, FICB, PDO COO, Wealth One Bank and Richard Pyper, CEO, Monarch Wealth Systems, Inc.

The CSV of a permanent life insurance policy is an often overlooked/under-utilized ‘asset’ that can be borrowed against and the ‘tax-free’ funds now available can be ‘invested’. Investors use leverage to multiply their buying power in the market and companies use leverage to finance to invest in their future to increase shareholder/company value.

Richard Pyper has over 30 years’ experience and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of EXOS Wealth Systems Inc. and the Monarch Wealth group of companies. Richard uses his extensive experience to help empower Advisors and Brokers to grow their business by engaging technology and providing solutions, products, and services that consumers need.

His expertise has been formed through a unique combination of personal, professional and leadership experience. He has focused his career on building profitable distribution networks for independent brokers.

Barry Ferguson is a Banking and Wealth Management senior executive: A pioneer and key contributor to the start-up and high-growth phase of the retail mutual funds industry; retail financial advisory models; specialized lending products/distribution; and the evolution of retail banking.

Barry has helped build, scale, and sell successful businesses. He pioneered CIBC’s mutual fund business (start up to $9B AUM in 3 yrs becoming 2^nd largest MF Co in Canada at the time).

Barry is involved in the Advisory Board engagements with Canadian Securities Institute: National Education Committee; Financial Planning Review Committee; Fellowships Certification Committee.

Bronze partnership opportunities for DAC Acuity 2023 are still available!