CFA Society of Naples

Michael Winkle, CFA, founder and president of Market Trend Investors, believes that the best stocks come from the best groups with the economic wind at their back. He will share his current thinking on the economy with the society on Tuesday, September 13 at Noon.

Within the U.S. investment management industry, GIPS compliance and verification have long been considered de facto requirements to be included in request for proposals (RFPs) for institutional assets. More recently, many wrap/SMA sponsors have also made GIPS compliance and verification a prerequisite for inclusion on their platforms. Charlie Stout of ACA Beacon will discuss the process and benefits of obtaining GIPS verification for your firm's investment performance.

Our first social event of the season will be a free cocktail reception for members held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26th at the Pub at Mercato. Non-member colleagues and other investment professionals are welcome!

TECO Energy is an S&P 500 energy company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. TECO Energy's four business units include Tampa Electric, a regulated electric utility serving nearly 672,000 customers in West Central Florida; Peoples Gas System, Florida's largest natural gas distribution utility; TECO Coal, producer of coal in Kentucky and Virginia; and TECO Guatemala, owner of two power plants. TECO Energy is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TE.

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation is dedicated to protecting the citizens of Florida by carrying out the banking, securities, and financial laws of the state. The office regulates businesses and promotes the sound growth and development of Florida's economy.

For much of 2011, investors have been flummoxed by a "risk-on, risk-off" mentality that has driven global markets to both significant rallies and declines. We often hear that markets climb a wall of worry on their way to new highs- a lack of clarity headed into 2012 is giving investment professionals plenty to worry about. Is the Euro common currency dead? Can recent economic growth rates sustain record corporate profits? Are interest rates stuck near zero for the long-haul?

Our forecast panel, moderated by Jeff Diermeier, former CEO of the CFA Institute, will consider these questions and more. We look forward to hosting you at our premier event for an evening of lively discussion and debate.

Dong Lee, CFA will provide an overview of trends in the ETF industry and discuss the features of ETFs that distinguish them from traditional mutual funds. His presentation has been well-received by other CFA societies, the consultant community, and the investment committees of pensions, foundations, and endowments.

Prior to joining his current firm, WallachBeth Capital, Dong spent close to 4 years with the Vanguard Group where he was responsible for the firm's institutional ETF client relationships and 8 years with Legg Mason, Inc. in a similar capacity.