Volatility is back - whether it be markets, politics, technological disruption, or economic policies, but what factors will really shape investment outcomes in the years ahead? Two leaders in the global investment profession will set the scene by outlining the big issues occupying their minds when thinking about portfolios and calling out what parts of the news cycle are mere distraction. Economic growth, interest rates, politics, corporate profits, trade wars, currencies, valuations, and much more. Watch the views, listen to the discussion, and join the debate with your questions.

Join Matthew Ver Beek and Elle Kuhta at the Morningstar Tech Hub, and experience an interactive demonstration showcasing Morningstar’s latest technology solutions, including Morningstar Adviser Research Centre and Morningstar Direct. Matthew and Elle will be available for two scheduled demonstrations, to take place at the Morning Tea break and again during the Afternoon Tea break. They will also be available in the Tech Hub area throughout the day and can show you how Morningstar’s technology solutions can create significant efficiencies for your business from investment research, reporting and model construction through to compliance – as well as help you bring your advice strategies to life with your clients.

In a world of increasingly less attractive asset price valuations, where do investors go for real return outcomes? In the absence of significant volatility and repricing of assets, how likely is it that CPI + 5% outcomes are achievable? Instead of investors looking to increase risk within equities should the most prudent action be to lower the return expectations of their real return managers? We explore the absolute expectations but also look at where there may be some pockets of relative value in a market which has been tough for value-based investing.

Despite a pullback in the Australian equities market since the start of the year, value remains tough to find. But opportunities exist, and our equities research team works to uncover these stocks trading at sizable discounts to their intrinsic value. Join our panel as we discuss the names we think offer suitable margins of safety, and which don’t, in the technology, financial, and resources sectors.

In a recent Investment Trends study, advisers using Managed Accounts estimated time savings of 12.4 hours per week on portfolio management tasks. With the promise of ‘game-changing’ efficiencies like this, it’s no wonder the industry has seen an avalanche of interest in Managed Accounts. However, if left unchecked, Managed Accounts can also pose significant risks for advisers and clients alike. In this insightful session, you’ll learn the key operational and client-best-interest considerations to ensure you avoid common pitfalls and realise the full benefits of Managed Accounts in your practice.

In the short run, the sharemarket is mostly driven by investor sentiment causing over- and under-reactions to underlying fundamentals. But in the long run, corporate cash flows are the drivers of returns. Philip will discuss Morningstar Investment Management’s valuation-driven asset allocation approach, and focus on which opportunities are currently presenting as being attractive.

Bond investors face tricky circumstances to navigate. Amid consensus expectations of tightening US monetary policy, sovereign bond yields globally still remain historically low and credit spreads very tight. Under these circumstances, how can bond managers strike a balance of investing opportunistically while maintaining their portfolio’s diversifying properties – and does a potential rise in risk free yields make this all moot?

Virtually nothing in financial services is seeing growth or innovation like ETFs. The sector is raking in assets, and new products are launching at an overwhelming pace: style ETFs, multi-factor, fixed income, active ETPs, ESG funds and more. Not only are new products launching, there are also new benchmarks and index-providers to make sense of. This session brings insights from iShares, the world’s largest ETF provider, and BetaShares, one of Australia’s fastest growing ETF players. The panellists will share their thoughts on what is going on in Australia’s ETF market right now, what really matters, and what to expect in future.

Kunal Kapoor will delve into advice – the future of advice, the role of the adviser and how it needs to change in an age of transparency. Kunal will touch on his global views on the key challenges facing the industry and how Morningstar is helping you illuminate the real and quantifiable value of your advice with a new generation of investors. Kunal will also be joined on stage by William Stromberg, global CEO of T.Rowe Price for a candid Q&A on the ever changing advice landscape in the US; and what this means for advisers here and across the globe.

Trust, transparency and values are more important than ever. Providing your socially-aware investors with more choices about the way they invest could be a game changer. Hear how Morningstar is working with asset managers to create an even stronger platform for analysing funds. Understand how Morningstar is tackling Sustainability by bringing to life ESG and carbon factors in the portfolios that your clients invest in – helping you forge stronger and more meaningful relationships with your clients.

Global equities are very much back in favour with Australian investors and it’s not difficult to see why. Investors can access a tremendously diverse range of companies from the leading technology disrupters to the latest in healthcare medicine, or perhaps exposure to the fast-growing emerging markets. But what about equity market valuations? Or perhaps the ever growing geopolitical risks that investors have to face? Is it time to start thinking more defensively, or should investors expect to see the bull market continue? In this session we have two proven global equity investors with outstanding track-records. Hear their views on the current market environment and how they are positioning their portfolios.

Join Matthew Ver Beek and Elle Kuhta at the Morningstar Tech Hub, and experience an interactive demonstration showcasing Morningstar’s latest technology solutions, including Morningstar Adviser Research Centre and Morningstar Direct. Matthew and Elle will be available for two scheduled demonstrations, to take place at the Morning Tea break and again during the Afternoon Tea break. They will also be available in the Tech Hub area throughout the day and can show you how Morningstar’s technology solutions can create significant efficiencies for your business from investment research, reporting and model construction through to compliance – as well as help you bring your advice strategies to life with your clients.

The sudden return of volatility in early 2018 was a wake-up call for investors. After a nine year bull market, equity valuations appear to be delicately balanced. A synchronised global economic recovery and modest inflationary pressures are constructive for corporate earnings, but the gravitational pull of higher bond yields has the potential to bring valuations back to earth. In this environment, active managers have the opportunity to prove their worth. Discerning portfolio management and skilled stock picking will be required to successfully navigate the path ahead. In this session we will discuss the risks and opportunities currently facing investors with two highly regarded portfolio managers from two of Australia’s largest investment firms.

As the adviser’s role becomes increasingly more challenging, Morningstar continues to invest heavily in our products and services for advisers. This update will highlight the new initiatives we have added to our local adviser solutions, provide an update on our independent research perspectives we have published, and offer insights to how you can deliver better outcomes for your business and your clients.

Morningstar’s investment experts will interpret and apply learnings from throughout the conference and answer the top questions on your mind. Gain insights into portfolio construction, investment selection, and more.