On March 10, 2026, the Distinguished Speaker Advisory Group welcomed Fritz Kaegi, CFA, Cook County Assessor to a fireside discussion moderated by Jim Mohan, CFA at the University Club in Chicago. Following a brief introduction, Jim explored some...
ESG
Know Your Index
The CFA Society Chicago event “Know Your Index” brought together experts from S&P, Morningstar, Northern Trust, and LaSalle Street to explore how indexing has transformed the investment industry. Over the past five to six years, indexing has become a central...
Distinguished Speaker Series Featuring Jean Hynes
October 21, 2025 Jean Hynes, CFA, CEO and Managing Partner of Wellington Management Moderated by Jim Mohan, CFA of Mercer Personal Background and Career Start Jean Hynes is one of three managing partners and the CEO of Wellington Management, one of the...
Lunch and Learn Welcomes Grandview Analytics
March 13, 2026 Lunch and Learn Events are hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Professional Development Advisory Group. The intent of these events is to provide career and networking information for CFA Society Chicago Members. These...
Distinguished Speakers Series Featuring Jason Cummins of Brevan Howard
January 29, 2026 The event was hosted by the CFA Society Chicago – Distinguished Speakers Advisory Group. The format of the event was a fireside chat at the Union League Club of Chicago. Background of the Speakers About the Speaker: Jason Cummins joined Brevan Howard...
The Business of Data: Strategies to Monetize Financial Information
February 23, 2026 Moderator and Panelists James McGeehan of Snowflake was the moderator of this event. McGeehan is based in New York and serves as the Head of Banking, Capital Markets, & Payments for Snowflake. He has held executive roles leading sales and trading...
Lunch & Learn Featuring Invesco
January 9, 2026 Lunch and Learn Events are hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Professional Development Advisory Group. The intent of these events is to provide career and networking information for CFA Society Chicago Members. These events provide an overview of the...
Celebrating a Century: Highlights from CFA Society Chicago’s Annual Business Meeting
CFA Society Chicago recently held its Annual Business Meeting, marking a milestone year—the beginning of its 100th anniversary celebration. Outgoing Chair Jeremy Heer reflected on a standout year filled with dynamic programming, robust member engagement, and milestone...
CFA Women’s Power Breakfast Series Welcomes: Julie Winkler
On November 13, 2025, CFA Society Chicago’s Women's Power Breakfast Series hosted an event led by Emily Hahn, Senior Investment Consultant at Aon. Julie Winkler has served as the Chief Commercial Officer of CME Group since 2016. Julie mentioned that the mountains of...
PDAG Presents: Optimizing Your Job Search with AI
On November 6, 2025, CFA Society Chicago’s PDAG hosted an event led by Rosie Zilinskas, Founder of No Woman Left Behind. Rosie Zilinskas is a keynote speaker, Certified High-Performance Coach, Kolbe™ Certified Consultant, and former Fortune 500 Executive Vice...
PDAG Presents: Mastering Modern Resumes
PDAG Presents: Mastering Modern Resumes November 4, 2025 On November 4, 2025, CFA Society Chicago’s PDAG hosted an event led by Rosie Zilinskas, Founder of No Woman Left Behind. Rosie Zilinskas is a keynote speaker, Certified High-Performance Coach, Kolbe™ Certified...
38th Annual Dinner
CFA Society Chicago convened on October 30 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. October 30, 2025, is a special day for this group, falling 100 years to the day from the founding of the Chicago Society. Chris Vincent, CFA, CEO of the Chicago Society,...
Growth of Evergreen Alternative Products in Private Wealth
On October 2nd, 2025, at the Chicago Club, the Women’s Network Advisory Group of the CFA Society Chicago hosted an event on “Growth of Evergreen Alternative Products in Private Wealth”. The event was moderated by Deborah (Debby) Eades, CFA, Co-Chair of the Women’s...
CFA Society Chicago Lunch and Learn Featuring Cresset
Lunch and Learn Events are hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Professional Development Advisory Group. The intent of these events is to provide career and networking information for CFA Society Chicago Members. These events provide an overview of the participating...
The Vault Series Presents: Listed Infrastructure Investing
On July 21st, 2025, the CFA Society Chicago hosted a Vault Series event on Listed Infrastructure Investing. The event was moderated by Sarah Hillegas, CFA, Manager of Investments at DePaul University, with speakers Thomas Miller, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio...
EAG Presents: Standards, Ethics, and Regulations
On March 28, 2025 CFA Society Chicago Education Advisory Group hosted “Standards Ethics and Regulations Road Map” which included two panel discussions, each an hour in length and moderated by Michelle McCarthy Beck, senior advisor at Iron Road Partners, where she...
The Vault Series: Private Wealth Management
From Institutions to Individuals: Why CFA Charterholders Are Embracing Private Wealth Management The private wealth industry has seen steady growth in recent years — and with it, increased interest from CFA charterholders. Once seen as an unconventional route, wealth...
Vault Series Presents: Introducing the Family Office
On May 8, 2025, the CFA Society Chicago welcomed Stacy Devine, CFA, Gil Calderon, CFA, and Lauren Bugay, CFA as a part of The Vault Series to discuss Family Office investing. Stacy, Gil, and Lauren shared insights into their career paths and the unique nature of...
DSS Welcomes Orlando Bravo, Founder of Thoma Bravo
On April 9, 2025, CFA Society Chicago welcomed Orlando Bravo as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS). Orlando Bravo is a Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo. He led Thoma Bravo’s early entry into software buyouts and built the firm into one of the...
AI in Commercial Real Estate
On April 23, 2025, Charles Fisher and Blake Shaffer, CFA both from JLL, visited the Vault to discuss AI in Real Estate. Fisher leads Risk Analytics for America’s Risk Advisory business. In this role, he engages with global lenders and institutional owners to assess...
DSS Welcomes: Heather Brilliant, CFA – CEO of Diamond Hill
On March 20, 2025, the CFA Society Chicago hosted a Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) event presented by the DSS Advisory Group. The event featured a conversation with Heather Brilliant, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Hill, a valuation-disciplined boutique...
Smart Investing: The Power of ETFs Recap
On February 20, 2025, the CFA Society of Chicago’s Education Advisory Group (EAG) partnered with Women in ETFs (WE)to host, Smart Investing: The Power of ETFs. The sell-out crowd gathered at Morningstar’s headquarters to hear from a panel of experienced professionals...
DSS Welcomes Shundrawn Thomas and Kweku Obed, CFA, CAIA
Introduction and Opening Remarks: On February 12, 2025, CFA Society Chicago welcomed Shundrawn Thomas as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS). Chris Vincent, CFA, President and CEO of CFA Society Chicago, provided opening remarks. He noted that February is...
DSS Welcomes: David Herro, CFA
On January 14, 2025, the CFA Society Chicago hosted a Distinguished Speaker Series event presented by the Distinguished Speaker Advisory Group featuring a conversation with David Herro, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of International Equities and Deputy Chair of Harris...
The Vault Series Presents: Investor Relations with Mike Steele, CFA, IRC and Jennifer Childe, CFA, CPA
Introduction: On December 18, 2024, CFA Society Chicago welcomed Mike Steele, CFA, IRC and Jennifer Childe, CFA, CPA as part of the Distinguished Speaker Vault Series. Steele is Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations at Zebra Technologies. Childe is a Senior...
CFA Society Chicago’s 37th Annual Dinner
On November 7, 2024, the CFA Society Chicago hosted their 37th Annual Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Chicago. The keynote speaker was Ted Seides, CFA. Seides is the creator of the Capital Allocators Podcast, which Forbes named among the top investing podcasts....
Vault Series: Dr. Mark Shore
Protecting Your Tail from Correlation Risk On November 13, 2024, CFA Society Chicago welcomed Dr. Mark Shore as part of the Distinguished Speaker Vault Series. Dr. Shore is currently Director and Economist at the CME Group. Shore’s presentation was titled “Protecting...
Corporate Talent Strategy in the Era of AI
On October 3, 2024, the Education Advisory Group (EAG) hosted a virtual event exploring Corporate Talent Strategy in the Era of AI. In this discussion, panelists address how AI will influence the evolving workplace. This includes enhancing...
Progress in Decarbonization of the U.S. Economy
Introduction On September 4, 2024, the CFA Society Chicago Education Advisory Group and the Harvard Club of Chicago combined efforts to present a discussion regarding climate change and the path to decarbonization. Matt Roling moderated the...
Distinguished Speaker Series Welcomes: Rick Rieder
On June 11, 2024, CFA Society Chicago hosted a luncheon conversation featuring Rick Rieder at the prestigious University Club of Chicago. Attendees enjoyed a delicious three course menu while engaging in a thought-provoking discussion. The main course of fish fillet...
The Vault Series Presents: ESG Experts
The evening of May 9, 2024, saw several engaged members of CFA Society Chicago gather in The Vault for a discussion on the intricate world of ESG. Christopher Vincent, CEO, CFA Society Chicago introduced two distinguished speakers – one from academia and the other...
Standards Ethics and Regulations Road Map
CFA Society Chicago Education Advisory Group presented Standards Ethics and Regulations Road Map, a two-session presentation updating members on emerging issues on regulatory matters. The first one-hour session was a discussion of emerging regulatory issues by with...
The Vault Series – International Investment Experts
CFA Society Chicago members convened at the University Club of Chicago on June 4,2024 to listen to a panel discussion on international investing. Chris Vincent, CEO of the Society, welcomed the members and introduced the moderator and the two panelists, both of...
The Vault Series Welcomes Frontaura Capital
On the evening of April 17, 2024, members of CFA Society, Chicago gathered in “The Vault” to unlock the hidden treasure of opportunities in the frontier markets. Nick Padgett, CFA, Managing Director and Founder of Frontaura Capital LLC, revealed the trail of his...
DSS Welcomes Bob Michele, CIO of J.P. Morgan
On a day when inflation surprised to the upside, it was timely for the CFA Society of Chicago to host Bob Michele, Chief Investment Officer, and Head of Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities group (GFICC) of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. James Mohan,...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Cathie Wood
Wednesday, March 13 Union League Club of Chicago On Wednesday, March 13, 2024, the CFA Society of Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) Advisory Group welcomed Cathie Wood. The group convened at the Union League Club of Chicago. The event began with a...
The Vault Series Welcomes Castlelake
On January 16, 2024, the CFA Society Chicago welcomed Joe McConnell, Partner, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Castlelake to present as part of The Vault Series. Castlelake specializes in complex, asset-rich and cash-flowing opportunities in what they believe...
AI and Machine Learning in Investment
The Education Advisory Group hosted a virtual panel discussion on October 5, 2023, discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning in Investment. The panel featured three distinguished leaders in this emerging field: Peeyush Shukla, CFA, Chief...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Lawrence Golub, CEO
On September 20, 2023, the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) Advisory Group of the CFA Society of Chicago welcomed Lawrence Golub for a lunchtime discussion at the Union League Club. Jim Mohan, an Investment Consultant at Mercer, interviewed Golub. Lawrence Golub is...
CFA Women POWER Breakfast Series: Carol Brown
On September 12, 2023, the CFA Women POWER Breakfast Series welcomed Carole Brown for a discussion at the Chicago Club. Deborah Bielicke Eades, a shareholder in the Investment Services Group of Vedder Price, interviewed Brown. Carole Brown is the head of the...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Cliff Asness, CFA
On June 27, 2023, the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) Advisory Group of the CFA Society of Chicago welcomed Cliff Asness for a lunchtime discussion at the University Club. Nick Vassilos, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Risk and Performance Analytics for...
Distinguished Speaker Series: George Walker, CFA
On May 9, 2023, the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) Advisory Group hosted George Walker, Chairman and CEO of Neuberger Berman, at the University Club of Chicago. Our meeting venue played an important role in Mr. Walker’s personal story. His father lived...
Direct Indexing: Neither Direct Nor Indexing
On February 24th, the CFA Society of Chicago Education Advisory Group welcomed two experts in the field of direct indexing. Joining in the panel discussion was Natalie Miller, CFA, Director of Investment Strategy at Parametric Portfolio Association. Secondly, Chris...
Introduction to Personal Branding
Dozens of CFA Society Chicago members gathered at The Vault on February 22nd, 2023, to learn about personal branding from Megan Walls, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP. Walls is a nationally renowned job coach and author. She is the founder Walls Career Coaching and co-founder of...
Poker Power – Learn How to Bet on Yourself
The CFA Women Advisory Group hosted a sold-out Poker Power workshop to over 60 women (and men) at The Vault on March 15, 2023. The workshop taught the basics and strategy of poker, followed by open play and networking. The Poker Power program was born after co-founder...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Howard Marks, CFA
On January 26th, 2023, the Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group hosted a conversation with Howard Marks, CFA, a legendary American value investor, writer, and co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management. He is well known for writing periodic...
Distinguished Speaker Series: John Rogers, CFA
The Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group welcomed John Rodgers, CFA, at the University Club of Chicago on February 21, 2023, in a special event to celebrate Black History Month and John’s lifelong contributions to the investment profession. John is the...
35th Annual Dinner: Zanny Minton Beddoes
Over 500 charterholders, including 64 newly minted ones, and friends of the CFA Society Chicago gathered in the Aon Grand Ballroom on Navy Pier for the Society’s Annual Dinner on October 26. Society CEO Chris Vincent welcomed the attendees and reminded the group of...
Investing In Space
On July 20, 2022, the Education Advisory Group hosted a webcast titled “Investing in the Space Industry Upswing.” Moderating the event was Chris Quilty, Founder of Quilty Analytics. The expert panel consisted of: Ellen M. Chang, Vice President Ventures, BMNT; Dave...
POWER Breakfast: Matt Hulsizer
The CFA Women’s Network arranged a breakfast presentation on July 12, 2022, featuring Jenny Just, CFA, co-founder of financial services and technology firm PEAK6 Investments. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Just was not available the day of the event. Stepping in for...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Thomas Lee, CFA
The Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group hosted Thomas Lee, CFA, at the Chicago Club on May 10, 2022. Lee, co-founder, managing partner and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors and FSInsight.com, has received the top rank in the Institutional Investor...
The Latest and Greatest of Blockchain
On April 12, 2022, Will Cong, Founding Director of Fintech Initiative at Cornell University, moderated a panel to discuss “The Latest and Greatest of Blockchain.” The panelists included: Bobby Henebry, CFA, Founder and CEO, Henebry Blockchain & Cyrptocurrency...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Orlando Bravo
On March 10, 2022, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group welcomed Orlando Bravo at the University Club, and via livestream, for a discussion of the role of private equity in the software industry. Bravo is Founder and Managing Partner of...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Phil Snow, CFA
On February 16, 2022, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group hosted Phil Snow, CFA, CEO of FactSet, to discuss the delivery of data to clients, ESG, private markets, and alternative data. Chris Vincent, CFA, President and CEO of CFA Society...
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Integration Frameworks
On February 1, 2022, the CFA Women’s Network hosted ESG event, moderated by Swasti Gupta-Mukherjee, Associate Professor of Finance at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business. The esteemed panel included: Emily Lawrence, North American Director of...
34th Annual Dinner: The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown
On November 3, 2021, CFA Society Chicago held their 34th Annual Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The Keynote Speaker was The Right Honourable Gordon Brown, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. As...
Distinguished Speaker Series: T. Bondurant (Bon) French, CFA
On October 5, 2021, The Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) Advisory Group hosted T. Bondurant (Bon) French, CFA, for lunch and a webcast on Private Equity. French, Chairman of Adams Street Partners, covered not only the state of the industry, but provided a whirlwind...
Memory Techniques
Approximately 140 CFA Society Chicago members met by Zoom on September 14, 2021, to learn how to use mental training techniques to improve memory and retention. The instructor was Paul Nowak, founder of IRIS Reading, LLC, who has presented to CFA Society Chicago in...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Josef Lakonishok
Approximately 60 members of CFA Society Chicago and their guests gathered at the University Club on August 18, 2021, for the latest event in the Distinguished Speaker Series. An additional 190 people participated virtually, by live streaming. This was the first event...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Dan Draper, CFA
The S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) have a long and proud history with the DJIA celebrating its 125th anniversary late this spring. At the time, this was a ground break innovation and today, investors all over the world still rely on this...
ESG and the Evolution of Corporate Engagement
On June 16, 2021, David Sekera, chief US market strategist at Morningstar Research Services LLC, moderated the webcast “Evolution of Corporate Engagement,” which addressed two topics. First, how has the shift from in-person meetings to virtual interactions affected...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jan Hatzius
On May 26, 2021, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series held a webinar entitled “Economic Outlook – Passing the Peak.” Drew Speight, CFA, moderated the conversation with Jan Hatzius, chief economist and head of the Global Investment Research Division at...
Capital Markets Series: Cryptocurrency – Institutionalization or just another fad?
Cryptocurrency represents the most volatile asset that comprises the capital markets in 2021. Price swings of greater than 10% in one week are common. At times it seems as though price action is driven primarily by the tweets of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla who has added...
Investment Impacts of the Pandemic
On April 27, 2021, CFA Society Chicago’s Women’s Network hosted a virtual event entitled Investment Impacts of the Pandemic. Katharine Wyatt, CFA, chief investment officer at Loyola University Chicago served as moderator for the discussion. She as joined by panelists...
Distinguished Speaker Series: David Coolidge
On May 4, 2021, CFA Society Chicago members gathered by video conference for a wide-ranging survey of the history of the banking and brokerage business in Chicago from the perspective of David Coolidge of William Blair & Company. Coolidge, currently vice chairman...
Capital Markets Series: Market Microstructure
On April 21, 2021, a full house gathered on Zoom to listen in on a panel discussion about ETFs and their effect on market microstructure, hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Education Advisory Group. The discussion was moderated by Ben Johnson, CFA, director of global ETF...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Marc Lasry
One of the few charms of the COVID era has been virtual events with a wide variety of the industry’s leaders. Distressed debt investor Marc Lasry, co-founder and CEO of Avenue Capital Group and co- owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, fits that description. On April...
Speaking in a Virtual World
Virtual meetings have been synonymous with the pandemic and given that they are convenient, cost effective and allow unique opportunities to connect, it is likely they will have a role in our post-pandemic world. As professionals, we need to continue to master new...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jean Hynes, CFA
On March 23, Jeremy Heer, CFA, remotely interviewed Jean Hynes, CFA, Wellington Management Company’s incoming CEO, who will retain her role as the firm’s leading Healthcare investor. The conversation covered Hynes’ unique career path, her view of the issues facing the...
Distinguished Speaker Series: President Charles Evans
A sold-out crowd gathered on Zoom on March 3, 2021, to hear the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Charles Evans, speak about the state of, and outlook for, the U.S. economy. The event was moderated by CFA Society Chicago’s own Nick Vassilios,...
Capital Markets Series: Real Estate
A full house gathered via Zoom on February 18, 2021, to listen in on a panel discussion hosted by Danny Kaufman, CFA, Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of the JLL Chicago office. Featured in the discussion was Emi Adachi, Senior Vice President and Deputy Director...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Sir Angus Deaton
On February 23, 2021, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group held a webinar entitled American Exceptionalism—The Erosion of US Working Class Life. Cosmin Lucaci, CFA, served as moderator and the keynote speaker was Sir Angus Deaton, Nobel...
POWER Series: Tricia Rothschild, CFA
A group of 150 gathered virtually on February 10, 2021, to engage on the topic of Trading vs. Investing and the Influence of Fintech. Hosted by the CFA Women’s Network, this POWER Series event featuring speaker Tricia Rothschild, CFA, president of Apex Clearing,...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Ben Inker, CFA, GMO
On January 26, 2021, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series held a webinar entitled “Value: If Not Now, When?” Jeremy Heer, CFA, served as moderator and the keynote speaker was Ben Inker, CFA, head of asset allocation at GMO. The conversation initiated...
LIBOR Cessation: Updates, potential market impacts and preparing for the end of LIBOR
A distinguished panel of experts met via video conference on February 2, 2021, to provide the CFA Society Chicago with an update on the transition away from the use of LIBOR as a reference rate in global capital markets. The event was hosted by the Society’s...
SPAC Investing – A Deeper Look at Blank Check Companies
On December 15, 2020, CFA Society Chicago’s Education Advisory Group hosted a Zoom event exploring SPAC investing. What is SPAC investing? Investopedia provides a nice summation; A SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) is a company with no commercial operations...
The State of the Illinois Budget
There was little joy in this Holiday Season discussion of the fiscal outlook for the state of Illinois. The state’s expenses have exceeded revenues since 2001 and ratings on Illinois debt have been falling for thirty years, driven by a growing pension debt (Note:...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Ted Merz, CFA, Bloomberg
On December 1, 2020, CFA Society Chicago hosted another virtual meeting of its Distinguished Speaker Series featuring Ted Merz, CFA, Bloomberg’s Global Head of News Products. Merz oversees search and display for news and social media content on the Bloomberg...
The Future of Oil & Gas
On November 24, 2020, CFA Society Chicago hosted a virtual event addressing the road ahead for the energy commodities, the firms involved, and how that translates into future opportunities. Tim Flannery, CFA, CPA, managing partner at Copia Capital, moderated the panel...
Capital Markets Series: Private Debt
The development of the market for private debt (or private credit) was the subject of the third installment in the four-part series on capital markets hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Education Advisory Group on November 18, 2020. The private credit market has grown...
Fall Forecast: An evening with Austan Goolsbee
Everything is different this year but this special Fall Forecast event on November. 12, 2020 attracted over 450 virtual attendees from the Chicago area and further afield, showcasing the strength of CFA Society Chicago. Christopher Vincent, CFA, president and CEO of...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Ed Wehmer, Wintrust
On the day after Election Day, Nick Vassilos, CFA, from Charles Schwab remotely interviewed Ed Wehmer, founder and CEO of Wintrust Financial. Thirty years ago, Wehmer recognized a market opportunity in a mostly commoditized banking industry. He designed a culture and...
Capital Markets Series: Private Market
Another large crowd assembled over Zoom for the second installment of CFA Society Chicago’s Capital Market Series on October 20, 2020, covering Private Allocations. The panel discussion featured Harisha Koneru Haigh, CFA, managing director of Private Investments and...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Anthony Scaramucci, Skybridge Capital
Over 300 CFA Society Chicago members and investment professionals gathered virtually on October 15, 2020, for the latest event in the Distinguished Speaker Series. The featured “Distinguished Speaker” was hedge fund manager Anthony Scaramucci. Perhaps best known to a...
Capital Markets Series: Public Allocations
On October 7, 2020, a resilient crowd gathered via Zoom to listen in on the first installment of CFA Society Chicago’s four-part Capital Market Series, focusing on public markets. The event was a panel discussion featuring Bob Browne, CFA, executive vice president and...
LinkedIn Strategies
On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, CFA Society Chicago hosted a webinar entitled LinkedIn Strategies. Jeff Feeney, CFA, moderated the discussion with guest speaker Kathleen O’Holleran, vice president and consultant at Lee Hecht Harrison, Inc. O’Holleran started the webinar...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab
A crowd of over 200 signed in for a “virtual fireside conversation” with Liz Ann Sonders on September 22, 2020. Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, covered a range of topics within the context of the environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic...
CFA Societies Chicago & Boston Trivia Night
Fifteen members of the CFA Societies in Boston and Chicago gathered in virtual form on September 17, 2020, for the first ever joint trivia night. Hosted by the Social Events Advisory Group of CFA Society Chicago, the event was planned jointly by the staffs of the two...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Suni Harford, UBS Asset Management
On August 19, 2020, members of CFA Society Chicago, among others, gathered on Zoom to listen on a discussion about the Future of the Asset Management Business between Suni Harford, President of UBS Asset Management, and CFA Society Chicago’s own Thomas Digenan, CFA,...
Chicago Investment Professionals Job Outlook
CFA Society Chicago members gathered in virtual form on September 10th to hear insights on the job market for charterholders across the country as well as specifically in Chicago. The event took the form of a panel discussion featuring retained recruiters from two...
Annual Business Meeting 2020
CFA Society Chicago held its Annual Business Meeting via Zoom on August 12, 2020. The meeting was open to all CFA Society Chicago members and was well attended. Chris Vincent, CFA, the Society’s CEO, provided welcoming remarks followed by Dan Kastholm, CFA, chair of...
Speed Reading for Business Professionals
On Tuesday, August 4, Paul Nowak, founder of Iris Reading LLC, presented a webinar: "Speed Reading for Business Professionals" to CFA Society Chicago members. The 90-minute session covered practical techniques to read faster, remember more and boost productivity. The...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Roy Swan, Ford Foundation
On July 16, 2020, members of CFA Society Chicago, among others, gathered on Zoom to hear Roy Swan, director of Mission Investments at the Ford Foundation, speak about the Ford Foundation’s Mission Investments strategy as well as Mission Investments broadly. Swan...
Investment Trends Through A Diverse Lens
How to create a more equitable, inclusive environment for employees and clients was the topic of a recent virtual panel discussion hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s CFA Women’s Network on July 14, 2020. Originally planned to help celebrate Women’s History Month in...
Job Search Strategies: Your 2020 Career – Becoming a VictOR rather than a VictIM
Up-to-date advice and tips on conducting a job search were the subject of the CFA Society Chicago’s recent virtual presentation for members. Hosted by the Society’s Professional Development Advisory Group, this was the latest event specifically targeted at members in...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Cathie Wood, ARK Invest
On June 8th CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group welcomed Cathie Wood, CIO/CEO of ARK Investment Management, to provide her thoughts and insights on the impact of rapidly changing market dynamics, breakthrough innovations, and the...
Fixed Income Management—Navigating Risks to Bond Markets from COVID-19
On June 10, 2020, CFA Institute hosted a webinar entitled “Fixed Income Management—Navigating Risks to Bond Markets from COVID-19.” Christopher Vincent, CFA, president and chief executive officer of CFA Society Chicago, was the moderator and welcomed the attendees to...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Kristina Hooper, Invesco
Kristina Hooper, CFP®, CAIA®, CIMA, CHFC®, chief global market strategist at Invesco, joined CFA Society Chicago on June 2, 2020, for a webinar on the economic outlook for the coming months, including various scenarios given fiscal, monetary and public health policy...
The Impact of the Fed on the Corporate Bond ETF Market
In early March the financial markets were struggling with the impact of the pandemic on the economy. On March 23, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) took the unprecedented action of announcing that it would directly purchase corporate debt and corporate bond...
Time Management: Locking Down Goals
How to use our time most efficiently was the subject of a presentation to the CFA Society Chicago on May 14, 2020, by Tom Lemanski of Chicago Executive Coaching. The subject matter was especially “timely”, coming while many people are confined to home by the Covid-19...
Equity Market Outlook: Gina Martin Adams, CMT, CFA
As the pandemic rages on, the equity market continues to be turbulent and possibly disconnected from economic reality. On May 20, 2020, the CFA Society Chicago Women’s Network hosted an event featuring Gina Martin Adams, CFA, CMT, chief equity strategist with...
POWER Series: President Loretta J. Mester
On May 12, 2020, CFA Society Chicago’s CFA Women’t Network hosted Loretta J. Mester, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, for its POWER Series webinar. President Mester began with opening remarks and then participated in a Q&A session...
Managing Wealth Through A Pandemic
Insights from the Front Line CFA Society Chicago’s Women’s Network hosted a virtual discussion on Managing Wealth Through a Pandemic on May 7, 2020. Panelist included Jenifer Aronson, CFA, managing partner of Mosaic Fi, Sunitha Thomas, CFA, senior vice president and...
The Path to Recovery in a Covid-19 World
The Covid-19 pandemic has inflicted a serious wound on the US economy. It will necessitate that a choice be made between a continued shelter-in-place lockdown and the re-opening of economic activity. There is little doubt that shelter-in-place has slowed the spread of...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Rocky Wirtz, Chicago Blackhawks and Wirtz Corporation
On March 11, 2020, a full house gathered at the Palmer House Hilton to hear a discussion between Rocky Wirtz, CEO of Wirtz Corporation—a holding company engaged in the real estate, beverage, banking, media and sports entertainment sectors—and CFA Society Chicago’s...
Modern Monetary Theory
Historic Monetary and Fiscal Stimulus: Savior or Destroyer? The very current topic of Modern Monetary Theory--and especially it’s application to the present economic environment related to the COVID-19 pandemic--was the topic of discussion on April 22, 2020, at CFA...
Bad Axe Throwing: Round 2
On February 13th, twenty plus adventurous CFA Society Chicago members gathered at Bad Axe Throwing in the West Loop to enjoy an evening of axe throwing, fun and competition. Despite the unlucky date, everyone walked away intact! We received instruction from our...
Progressive Networking Luncheon at Petterino’s
On May 22nd, thirty-six members of CFA Society Chicago gathered at Petterino’s to enjoy a progressive networking luncheon. Participants mingled casually prior to taking their seats for the salad course and first round of networking. The sound level rose as...
CFA Society Chicago Local Level Research Challenge 2019-2020
Conclusion to a fierce competition hosted by CFA Society Chicago was held Feb 28, 2020, as one of over 100 local competitions comprising the 2020 CFA Institute Research Challenge (the “Challenge”). This Local Level Challenge was waged at Morningstar with nine teams...
Tips for the New World of Remote Work
With all the recent actions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, companies around the world have implemented remote work procedures in an effort to enhance the safety of workers while maintaining productivity essential to business success. Over the past two...
Cannabis: Insights and Opportunities
Cannabis could one day become a $4 billion a year market in the state of Illinois. In the state’s first month of legal cannabis, tax receipts have already reached $10 million. The medical and recreational cannabis markets are one of the fastest growing industries in...
2020 Annual Celebration
CFA Society Chicago welcomed volunteers and new members to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Boleo in downtown Chicago on February 12, 2020. This event was an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of members who helped build the society to get to know each other....
Distinguished Speaker Series: Alec Litowitz, Magnetar Capital
Dude, Where’s My Alpha? CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series hosted Alec Litowitz at the W City Center for a discussion of the history of asset management and its evolution with respect to the hedge fund industry. Litowitz has been managing assets for...
POWER Breakfast: Stephanie Braming, CFA, William Blair
On February 4, 2020, CFA Society Chicago welcomed a packed audience at the Palmer House to hear from two of Crain’s top women in finance in a fireside chat featuring Stephanie Braming, CFA, partner and global head of investment management at William Blair. The...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Nancy Lazar, Cornerstone Macro
A full house was in attendance at the University Club on Tuesday, January 27, 2020, to hear Nancy Lazar, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Macro, share what could go right in 2020. Lazar started by stating that low global growth expectations, low inflation, and strong...
Vault Series: MLPs and Energy Infrastructure
The Past, Present, and Future of MLPs and Energy Infrastructure On January 9, 2020, CFA Society Chicago hosted its Vault Series featuring Brett Jergens, CFA, CFP to give his views on the MLP market. Jergens currently serves as vice president of the Tortoise Energy...
SOFR: Life after LIBOR
What will life after LIBOR look like? On January 15, 2020, CFA Society Chicago held its event SOFR: Life After LIBOR, where a distinguished panel gathered to explain why the interest rate was going away and how potential alternatives are being developed. LIBOR has...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Bob Browne, CFA, Northern Trust
“Let my hindsight, be your foresight” Bob Browne, CFA Over 110 members of CFA Society Chicago gathered at the JW Marriott on December 10, 2019, to hear Robert (Bob) Browne, CFA, EVP and CIO of Northern Trust, prognosticate on his firm’s capital market assumptions...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Curt Bailey, Related Midwest
Curt Bailey, president for Related Midwest, was the presenter at CFA Society Chicago’s last Distinguished Speaker Series luncheon on November 20th. Related is one of the nation’s largest property development firms and Bailey’s talk introduced the firm and gave an...
Interactive Empowerment Series Wrap-Up
The CFA Society Chicago Women’s Network Advisory Group gave us tools and tips for taking our careers to the next level during an interactive event that brought together all elements of the Empowerment Series on December 3rd at the Northern Trust Global Conference...
CFA Society Chicago 33rd Annual Dinner
A sell-out crowd of 1,100 attended the 33rd Annual CFA Society Chicago Dinner on November 7th at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel. In his after-dinner remarks, Daniel Kastholm, CFA, chair of CFA Society Chicago, welcomed and thanked all for coming to the event...
Transition Techniques
How to make a transition from a back-office, support role to a decision-making role in investment management was the topic of discussion on November 18th for a panel with real experiences in making just such a career move. Moderated by Eric Schweitzer, vice president...
Vault Series: Counting Cards in Biotech
No EBITDA, no revenue, no product. What’s not to like? Despite being fraught with risk, investing in biotech stocks can be highly lucrative. Michael Caldwell, a portfolio manager at Driehaus Capital Management led a highly interactive discussion with a roomful of...
POWER Breakfast: Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevest
On September 17, 2019, a sold out crowd gathered at the University Club to hear Sallie Krawcheck speak about her experiences in the investment industry, how the industry landscape is changing, and her journey with Ellevest—a digital investing platform that she...
Opportunities in Hedge Funds in 2019
A distinguished panel gathered on October 10, 2019 at the Standard Club to discuss the current environment for hedge fund investments. Kenneth Heinz, president of Hedge Fund Research, Inc. served as the moderator. The panelists included: Kevin Doonan, Executive...
Distinguished Speaker Series: David Herro, CFA, Harris Associates
Trust and effective communication provide investment teams with the ability to stick with a sound investment philosophy and process during periods when the approach is out of favor with the market. Oakmark’s focus on developing an intrinsic value for companies...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Rob Brown, CEO, Lincoln International
Current drivers of the global M&A market and perspectives on how it may evolve going forward On September 10th the Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group hosted Rob Brown to provide his insight on the M&A market over lunch at the Metropolitan Club. Brown...
Investing in the New Space Race
The Educational Advisory group hosted an event on September 12 at the Palmer House Hilton to educate financial professionals, investors, and space enthusiasts on the technologies of space exploration, the geopolitical landscape, and potential winners and losers in the...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Vivien Azer, Cowen & Co.
On July 9, Vivien Azer, the analyst responsible for covering cannabis at Cowen & Co., presented her views…
Distinguished Speaker Series: David Booth, Dimensional Fund Advisors
In September of 1969, an MBA student took a course that would result in positively affecting the lives of countless people, a couple of universities, and how much of the investment industry would learn to view the world. It started with two individuals, the University...
Mental Skills: Get Your Head in the Game
How to control and increase one’s mental skills was the topic that drew a capacity crowd for the latest installment of CFA Society Chicago’s Vault Series on August 20. The featured speaker was Jim Gary, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 52 years’...
EQ vs IQ
Ask yourself – Am I intelligent? Yes. No. When I get enough sleep. All of these? Ask yourself again, am I emotionally intelligent? In general people respond in the positive to both of these questions – ‘of course I am intelligent’ (think about overconfidence). While...
Vault Series: CFRA
On July 17th CFA Society Chicago gathered in the Vault Room at 33 North LaSalle to hear Sam Stovall of CFRA give his assessment of the current equity market and what can be expected for the second half of 2019. Stovall is chief investment strategist of US Equity...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Michael O’Grady, Northern Trust
On June 13th local investment professionals gathered at the Chicago Club to hear a “fireside chat” with Michael O’Grady, chairman and CEO of Northern Trust. Marie Winters CFA, past chair of the CFA Society Chicago served as host and interviewer. To begin, O’Grady...
Impact Investing: A New Investing Paradigm
A large group of CFA charterholders and other interested investment professionals gathered at the Palmer House Hotel to hear the latest thoughts and techniques in Impact Investing from a distinguished panel on June 5. The moderator, Priya Parrish, is a leading...
Big Data, Machine Learning & AI
Cathy O’Neil: Founder of ORCAA and Author of Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy Big Data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are becoming some of the hottest topics in finance. A packed room of CFA...
Annual Business Meeting 2019
CFA Society Chicago held its Annual Business Meeting on June 20th at Convene. The meeting was open to all CFA Society Chicago members. After a welcoming from the Society's CEO, Shannon Curley, CFA, the Society's Chair, Tom Digenan, CFA, gave an overview of the...
Wine Tasting: Emerging Market Wines
The marvelous thing about tasting wine is that two people can split a bottle and experience something completely different, yet both opinions, shaped by each individual’s personal experiences, can still be valid. On April 30th, CFA Society Chicago took in an...
Storytelling: A Critical Brand Building Skill for Leaders
CFA Society Chicago hosted a storytelling event on May 14th at the Global Conference Center. The purpose of this program was to help society members claim their value using stories as a tool to highlight leadership and communication skills. Storytelling is a big...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Charles K. Bobrinskoy, Ariel Investments
Some investors have great analytical skills in assessing current and potential future investments, but the best investors also possess an uncanny ability to both recognize and combat their own behavioral tendencies when making investment decisions. This was the topic...
Karyl Innis: Building a Distinguished Career through Personal Branding
The CFA Society Chicago Women’s Network hosted the third event of its four-part Alan Meder Empowerment Series on March 15th at The University Club. The series is intended to support career development and the advancement of women in the investment management...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Sheila Penrose, Jones Lang LaSalle
On April 9th, CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series Advisory Group welcomed Sheila Penrose at The Metropolitan. Penrose is Non-Executive Lead Independent Chairman of the Board at Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate services company, and also serves...
The Equity Risk Premium: Applications for Investment Decision-Making
Professor Aswath Damodaran's opening remarks at CFA Society Chicago's Equity Risk Premium event on April 2, 2019 at the W Chicago City Center. Aswath Damodaran, Kerschner Family Chair in Finance Education and a Professor of Finance at New York University Stern School...
Present Like a Pro
In the third installment of a continuing series on communication, Scott Wentworth addressed members of CFA Society Chicago on how to make good business presentations on April 4th. The capacity crowd of 90 in the Vault at 33 North LaSalle Street spoke to the...
Curling at Kaiser Tiger
On a frosty evening where temperatures hovered just above ten degrees, CFA Society Chicago hosted an evening of curling and drinks at Kaiser Tiger, a bar with a large beer garden on Randolph Street. Curling, with origins dating back to 16th century Scotland, involves...
Portfolio Construction and Allocation in this ever changing market
On Feb 20th at the UBS Tower, CFA Society Chicago’s Education Advisory Group offered a panel discussion highlighting the issues and opportunities of allocating assets for various types of portfolios. A full room of about 100 financial professionals were privileged to...
Progressive Networking Lunch at Lloyd’s
On March 6th, thirty-two members of CFA Society Chicago gathered at Lloyd’s to enjoy a progressive networking luncheon. Participants were seated at six tables which they moved between for each course. This progressive style allows attendees to meet 15-18...
Vault Series: Aegon Asset Management
On Demographics, Growth, and Investing: When the structural collides with the cyclical Francis Rybinski CFA, treated CFA Society Chicago to his analysis of the current global demographic situation and its implications at the latest Vault Series lecture on March...
POWER Breakfast: Mellody Hobson, Ariel Investments
On February 6, 2019, Mellody Hobson was the featured guest at CFA Society Chicago’s Power Breakfast series held at The Standard Club hosted by the CFA Women’s Network. Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, is responsible for managing Ariel’s...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Howard Marks, CFA, Oaktree Capital
Howard Marks, CFA, is co-chairman of Oaktree Capital, where he contributes his experience to big-picture decisions relating to investments and corporate direction. He shared his insights on investing and managing the business cycle for the CFA Society Chicago...
Economic Outlook and Policies
On January 16, 2019, a profound reflection on economic policy, politics’ influence on it, and the US economic outlook took place at the Standard Club in Chicago. The discussion was moderated by CFA Society Chicago’s very own Lotta Moberg, CFA,—with William Blair’s...
2019 Annual Celebration
CFA Society Chicago held its annual celebration for new members and volunteers on Thursday, January 17, 2019. The venue was a new one the Society, hosting the event at River Roast on LaSalle Street just north of the river. Attendees enjoyed a spacious, private setting...
The New Networking
How should one define networking? It could be described as simply an exchange of information and services. But, according to Sameer Somal, a better definition that could lead to a very successful career could be “finding ways to give to others”. “You have one of...
Vault Series: Cambridge Associates
Gender equality in the investment profession has been a hot topic in the industry lately, and it was addressed in detail during a January 10, 2019 Vault Series talk from Dierdre Nectow. Her firm Cambridge Associates, a large institutional investment consultant, is an...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Joel Greenblatt, Gotham Asset Management
Joel Greenblatt, the legendary author, Columbia B-school professor and hedge fund manager, presented his thoughts and methodology on investing to CFA Society Chicago and local investment community on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. The title of his presentation compared...
Tips and Tricks for Negotiating for Yourself
“So much of life is a negotiation - so even if you're not in business, you have opportunities to practice all around you.” - Kevin O’Leary When we think of negotiations, we tend to restrict our thinking to business situations like deals, compensation, office location...
Launch Your Search
The CFA Society Chicago Professional Development Advisory Group hosted the Launch Your Search program over the course of 4 weekly sessions in September and October. Over thirty participants gathered to develop or enhance the skills necessary to successfully navigate a...
Moving Beyond LinkedIn 101
Many within the business field have heard of LinkedIn as the professional business social media platform that business users use to connect with one another. After all, Microsoft’s $26.2 billion acquisition in June of 2016 made for quite the headline and further...
Private Equity: Should You Invest and How?
The challenges of investing in private equity were addressed at a recent event held at 300 N. Wacker and hosted by CFA Society Chicago’s Education Advisory Group. There are numerous issues that arise when making the decision to invest in the asset class. One of the...
Distinguished Speaker Series: James Grant, Grant’s Interest Rate Observer
James Grant has a resume. Navy man. Journalist. Founder and editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer. Author of books that range from the Great Depression, financial histories, a presidential biography, a forthcoming biography about Walter Bagehot, and appearances on...
CFA Society Chicago 32nd Annual Dinner
The CFA Society Chicago Annual Dinner was an event devoted to honoring the 148 new CFA charterholders and the recipient of the Hortense Friedman, CFA, Award for Excellence. The evening also featured Heather Brilliant, CFA, past chairman of CFA Society Chicago and...
Vault Series: John Wightkin, CFA, TradeInformatics
On November 8, 2018, John Wightkin, CFA, a senior trade consultant at TradeInformatics, spoke at the Vault Series of the CFA Society Chicago about how the process of examining trading costs can help preserve portfolio alpha. According to John, “trading costs can...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Rick Waddell, Chairman of Northern Trust
Who better to teach management during a crisis than a former bank CEO who began his job in the midst of the 2008 recession? Rick Waddell has one of the most extensive resumes you’ll find in banking and dedicated his career to growing Northern Trust from a sleepy...
Distinguished Speaker Series: James Bullard, President and CEO of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank
On September 12th, CFA Society Chicago welcomed James Bullard, president and CEO of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank. Members and guests heard Bullard’s remarks over breakfast at The University Club. The focus of the discussion explored a possible strategy to extend...
Vault Series: James D. Shilling, DePaul Department of Real Estate
The Evolution of Modern Real Estate and its Role in a Multi-Asset Portfolio CFA Society Chicago gathered in the Vault at 33 North LaSalle to hear Professor James Shilling from the DePaul Department of Real Estate discuss the evolution of commercial real estate and its...
QE Postmortem
A review of the Quantitative Easing (QE) programs conducted by central banks around the world since the financial crisis of 2008-09 was the topic of a panel discussion before a full house at the Hotel Allegro on September 13th. Dr. Dejanir Silva, professor of Business...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Morton Schapiro, Northwestern University
How is your earnings trajectory impacted if you attend a top private versus a top public institution? How many students pay the full ticket price of tuition and what is the average tuition payment post-financial aid? Should we be concerned about the levels of student...
Transition Techniques
Eric Schweitzer, vice president, global outplacement and executive coaching consultancy at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. lead a panel discussion about employment transition on Tuesday, August 7 for members of the CFA Society Chicago. In addition to leading...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Ari Paul, CFA, BlockTower Capital
It was an inauspicious day for a cryptocurrency discussion. With many cryptocurrencies down by over 10% on August 8th, Ari Paul, CFA, CIO of BlockTower Capital, gave CFA charterholders a crash course in blockchain technology and the various cryptocurrencies available...
POWER Breakfast: Patricia Halper, CFA, Chicago Equity Partners
The CFA Women’s Network hosted a lively and vibrant event featuring Patricia Halper, CFA, partner and co-chief investment officer at Chicago Equity Partners. Halper spoke to a room full of engaged members on the topic of factor-based investing which coincides with the...
Vault Series: Ted Reilly, Chicago Media Angels
CFA Society Chicago hosted its first Vault Series event of the year on July 16th featuring Chicago Media Angels (CMA) Founder and Executive Director Ted Reilly. Chicago Media Angels is an investment group seeking attractive returns through financing content in the...
Annual Business Meeting and Networking Reception 2018
Shannon Curley, CFA, chief executive office of CFA Society Chicago, said it best during cocktails following the Annual Business Meeting, “This was by far the most engaged audience we’ve had in years with several great questions from our audience.” Held on June 21st,...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Dean Harrison, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC)
On June 14th at The Chicago Club, Dean Harrison, president and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC) shared his story of leading a local organization from good to great. Since taking the helm in 2006, he has led a powerful transformation. Already boasting the...
Progressive Networking Luncheon Spring 2018
On May 22nd, thirty-six members of the CFA Society Chicago gathered at Petterino’s to enjoy a progressive networking luncheon. Participants mingled casually prior to taking their seats for the salad course and first round of networking. The sound level rose as...
China Opens Its Doors to Foreign Investors
On May 17th, 2018, CFA Society Chicago hosted a program to address challenges and opportunities for the US and China. Patrick Chovanec, managing director and chief strategist, of Silvercrest Asset Management, presented his thoughts about the relationship between China...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Kunal Kapoor, CFA, Morningstar
Kunal Kapoor, CFA, chief executive officer of Morningstar, addressed a full house at the University Club on May 16. His address reviewing the current business lines at Morningstar can be summed up in his title--Serving Investors of the Future: Ratings, ESG, and...
Fintech Part 2: Rise of Robo-Advisors
CFA Society Chicago hosted Rise of Robo-Advisors, the second fintech event of a three-part series. The event was held at The Standard Club on April 19, 2018, commanding a crowd of over 120 people. The event started with a keynote address and was followed by a panel...
Taking Control of Your Career
The CFA Women’s Network at CFA Society Chicago kicked off their series Taking it to the Next Level: Empowering Tools for Women in Finance aimed at events that optimize career development and advancement for women in the financial services area. The first event in the...
Starting Your Own RIA Firm (Part 3): Infrastructure and Regulatory Requirements
The final event of this three-part series was to explore the infrastructure and regulatory requirements new RIA’s need to satisfy. The two previous events focused on the initial personal challenges of starting your own firm and the marketing and business development...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jane Buchan, PAAMCO
The hedge fund industry has been assailed by the media as a costly, underperforming asset class, yet according to PAAMCO CEO Jane Buchan, that rhetoric simply isn’t true. On April 18th, the founder of the Irvine, CA-based hedge fund-of-funds presented to CFA Society...
Charterholder Jobs of the Future
Where can CFA charterholders look for career opportunities outside of traditional roles like research analyst or portfolio manager? That was the focus of the Jobs of the Future event sponsored by CFA Society Chicago’s Professional Development Advisory Group on April...
A Taste of Latin America
CFA Society Chicago held its latest social event on Marth 13th at the Mexican restaurant Pueblo. Pueblo specializes in traditional Mexican fare with a “contemporary twist”, and is located inside of Latinicity on the third floor of Block 37 (northwest corner of State...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Rupal Bhansali, Ariel Investments
Rupal Bhansali was the featured guest speaker at CFA Society Chicago’s March Distinguished Speaker Series luncheon held at the Chicago Club. Bhansali is chief investment officer and portfolio manager of Ariel Capital Management’s international and global equity...
Industry Roundtables
On February 28th, CFA Society Chicago hosted its Industry Roundtables event at the Standard Club. This event was an opportunity for members to join in-depth discussions with leading investment professionals and colleagues in a small group setting. Tables hosts covered...
Fintech Part 1: Blockchains – Disruptor, Panacea, and Reality
CFA Society Chicago hosted Blockchains - Disruptor, Panacea, and Reality, the first fintech event of a three-part series, focusing on blockchain technology and its applications. The event was held at The Chicago Club on January 17, 2018, attracting a sold-out crowd of...
Don Wilson, DRW Founder, on Why Cryptocurrencies Will Change
Over 200 professionals joined CFA Society Chicago for the February Distinguished Speaker Series luncheon at the W in Downtown Chicago to hear Don Wilson opine on one of the most popular topics in the financial industry today—the $450 billion cryptocurrency...
How to Improve your Quarterly Investor Newsletters
Do you ever feel stressed out when it’s time to work on your investor newsletter or other client communications? Do you wonder if investors understand the key points and theses you want to drive home? If you answered “yes” to one or both of these questions, you are...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jeremy Grantham, GMO
Few encapsulate the time-honored principles of value investing as Jeremy Grantham, co-founder and chief investment strategist of Grantham, Mayo, & van Otterloo (GMO). On January 23, close to 400 attendees gathered at the Standard Club for CFA Society Chicago’s...
Vault Series: Philip Bartow, RiverNorth Capital Management
The new asset class of marketplace lending (MPL) was the topic of discussion at CFA Society Chicago’s Vault Series presentation on January 11, 2018. Presenting was Philip Bartow, lead portfolio manager for MPL at RiverNorth Capital Management. What was once a...
Vault Series: Bob Greer, CoreCommodity Management LLC
The why and how of commodity investing--especially when considered as a core position in a well-balanced portfolio--was the topic of the latest CFA Society Chicago Vault Series event held on November 28th, 2017. The presenter was Bob Greer, Senior Advisor at...
Corporate Governance in an era of Clawbacks, ESG, Mega-Managers, and Zombie Investors
Two expert panels came together at the Conference Center at UBS Tower on November 29th to provide insights to various aspects of board related corporate governance. The first panel, moderated by Eileen Kamerick, focused on Management and Directors. Kamerick is a...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Myron Scholes, Ph. D., Janus Henderson Investors
Nobel Laureate and co-originator of the Black-Scholes options pricing model Myron Scholes, Ph. D., gave a crash course to a sold-out crowd on utilizing risk management over stock selection at the Palmer House Hilton on November 17th. Over 250 CFA Society Chicago...
CFA Society Chicago 31st Annual Dinner
The Chicago Cubs didn't win the World Series like they did during last year’s Annual Dinner but the 31st CFA Society Chicago Annual Dinner was yet another terrific evening honoring 163 new CFA charterholders and two recipients for the Hortense Friedman, CFA, Award for...
Industry Roundtables
On September 12th, CFA Society Chicago hosted its Industry Roundtables event at The Chicago Club. There were ten tables that focused on different sectors of the investment industry and participants chose three topics they wanted to learn more about. Each round lasted...
Starting Your Own RIA Firm (Part 2): Tips for Marketing and Business Development
Many talented professionals some day dream of having their own business. In the financial industry this usually means being the trusted advisor and investor on behalf of individuals and institutions. On October 4, CFA Society Chicago and its Professional Development...
Water’s Impact on Investing
On September 26th, CFA Society Chicago hosted a panel discussion in the Vault Room at 33 North LaSalle on the implications of the worldwide scarcity of potable water. The panel was focused on how this water scarcity may affect future investing. The lack of usable...
Networking with Leadership
CFA Society Chicago gathered on September 27 for the annual Networking with Leadership reception at the Hard Rock Hotel on Michigan Avenue. With no formal presentation or agenda, the members-only event provided a full two hours for networking, making new...
How CFA Charterholders Can Become Investment-Grade Writers
https://youtu.be/Ou3N0Ob_LNk CFA charterholders are by de facto investment writers; Writing is the primary way of communicating investment ideas and we are judged by the quality of our ideas in written format. Bad writing can be a major career risk and it is a skill...
Vault Series: Gautam Dhingra, CFA, High Pointe Capital Management, LLC
On September 7th, the CFA Society Chicago welcomed Gautam Dhingra, CFA, the CEO and a portfolio manager at High Pointe Capital Management, LLC to discuss incorporating intangible assets and ESG factors into stock selection. According to Mr. Dhingra, there are...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Mario Gabelli, CFA, GAMCO Investors Inc.
Well known value investor Mario Gabelli, CFA, chairman and chief executive officer of GAMCO Investors Inc. and LICT Corp., addressed a capacity audience of CFA Society Chicago members and their guests at the Standard Club on September 14th. In a wide-ranging...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jean-Marie Eveillard, First Eagle Funds
Value investing makes sense; it works over time, so how come there are so few of us? On August 9th, CFA Society Chicago welcomed Jean-Marie Eveillard, senior investment adviser to First Eagle Funds, at the Chicago Club. The famed investor behind $110 billion First...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Brian Singer, CFA, William Blair
CFA Society Chicago hosted Brain Singer, CFA, on July 19, 2017 at The Standard Club to present on the topic – Riding the Waves: Dynamic Asset Allocation (DAA) and Evolution of Top-Down Investing. Singer is the head of the Dynamic Allocation Strategies team and a...
The Active vs. Passive Debate
On Tuesday, June 13, approximately 400 people gathered at the Standard Club to attend CFA Society Chicago’s forum on trends, insights and case studies about active vs. passive...
Annual Business Meeting and Networking Reception
Members gathered for the annual business meeting of the CFA Society Chicago on June 15th at the Wyndham Grand Riverfront Chicago. Held in the hotel’s 39th floor penthouse lounge, the event offered grand views of the intersection of the Chicago River and Michigan...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Gary P. Brinson, CFA, The Brinson Foundation
On May 24th, a packed hall gathered for lunch at The Standard Club in Downtown Chicago to listen to renowned value investor Gary P. Brinson, CFA, while he shared his latest thoughts on the markets. Brinson founded Brinson Partners, a Chicago-based asset management...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Joseph Scoby, Magnetar
CFA Society of Chicago hosted Joseph Scoby on Thursday, June 8th at the University Club to discuss how markets may be in the early days of a third disruption. Scoby is the Head of Magnetar’s Quantitative Investments Group which includes Alternative Risk Premia and...
Oak Brook Progressive Networking Dinner
On May 23rd, CFA Society Chicago held a progressive networking dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook. A progressive networking dinner allows participants to meet people in a casual environment over good food and drinks. Dinner is split into three rounds;...
May 2017 Investment Exchange Forum: Investing in Asia
The Investment Exchange Forum was held on May 10th at the CFA Society Chicago office at 33 N LaSalle St. The group had lively discussions on the topic at hand surrounding Investments in Asia and broader stock pitches we were considering making investments in or...
Vault Series: Doug Ramsey, CFA, CMT, The Leuthold Group, LLC
Playing the Market Melt-Up The CFA Society Chicago gathered in the Vault Room at 33 North LaSalle to hear Doug Ramsey, CFA of Leuthold Weeden Capital Management discuss the likely future direction of the equity market. Ramsey is the CIO of The Leuthold Group and...
Building Investor Trust Through GIPS
On May 9th, CFA Society Chicago members gathered to hear a panel of experts address the merits of adopting the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) in the Vault Room at 33 N. LaSalle. The eminent panel comprised a service provider, a regulator, and an asset...
CFA Society Chicago Book Club: Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World by Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott
Blockchains are simultaneously feared as a disruptive threat and lauded as a technological panacea, often with little understanding of how they actually work and often with little practical consideration of how they might be implemented. Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott...
Distinguished Speaker Series: T. Bondurant “Bon” French, CFA, Adams Street Partners
T. Bondurant “Bon” French, CFA, executive chairman of Adams Street Partners addressed a large gathering of CFA Society Chicago members on the topic of private market investments on April 5th at the University Club. Adams Street Partners is a Chicago-based manager of...
CFA Society Chicago Candidate Mix & Mingle
With every passing day the CFA exam gets near and candidate stress levels rise. What could help? A free event with an open bar, appetizers and pizza! CFA Society Chicago organized an event on March 29th at Hotel Allegro where candidates poured in to relax and network...
Executive Presence and Leadership Principles
Did you know it takes only four seconds to form an initial impression and 30 seconds to completely form a first impression? More shocking, 70% of workers are actively disengaged or not engaged per a 2012 Gallup survey. These statistics are not encouraging. On March...
Investing for the Long-term: Productivity of Capital Markets Expectations, and Portfolio Management
CFA Society Chicago presented a two-part symposium on Investing for the Long-term on March 7th at the Standard Club. Approximately 150 members and guests attended to hear Robert Gordon, Professor of Economics at Northwestern University and Deirdre Nansen McCloskey,...
Vault Series: David Ranson, HCWE & Co.
David Ranson provided an enlightening presentation during the second part of CFA Society Chicago’s new Vault Series held on March 15 in the Vault Room of 33 N. LaSalle. Ranson is President and Director of Research at HCWE & Co., an independent investment research...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Richard Driehaus, Driehaus Capital Management LLC
The Distinguished Speaker Series hosted Richard H. Driehaus at the Metropolitan Club Oak Room on March 1st, 2017. Mr. Driehaus is founder, chief investment officer and chairman of Driehaus Capital Management LLC. In 2000 he was named to Barron’s “All-Century” team...
CFA Society Chicago Progressive Networking Luncheon
CFA Society Chicago’s Progressive Networking Luncheon held on February 22nd at Petterino’s was an opportunity with a different flavor than other networking events. Featuring a three-course meal, each course provided an intimate opportunity to chat and really get to...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Charles Evans, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Charles Evans, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, addressed approximately 250 members and guests of the CFA Society Chicago on Thursday, February 9th at the Standard Club. The event was also webcast for those who could not...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Will McLean, CFA, Northwestern University
The Endowment Model in a Low Return World On January 24th the Distinguished Speaker Series held its first luncheon of the year welcoming one of our own, Will McLean, CFA. Mr. McLean is Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Northwestern University, and is...
Starting Your Own RIA Firm
Many talented professionals some day dream of having their own business. In the financial industry this usually means being the trusted advisor and investor on behalf of individuals and small businesses. The CFA Society Chicago and its Professional Development...
Annual Celebration 2016: New Member and Volunteer Recognition
CFA Society Chicago held its annual celebration for new members and volunteers on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The site was a unique one--the dress circle lounge at the Chicago Opera House, which was filled to near capacity. The event provided a wonderful opportunity...
Diversity Improves Your Bottom Line and How You Can Achieve More of It: Andie Kramer and Al Harris
Recognizing the benefits of a diverse workforce, and overcoming the challenges to it (which are often subtle and hidden below the surface) was the theme of the presentation Andie Kramer and Al Harris made to the CFA Society Chicago on January 18. Andie and Al are...
Vault Series: Melissa Brown, CFA, Axioma
Managing risk, specifically equity market risk, was the topic of CFA Society Chicago’s new Vault Series on January 11. The series brings noted investment experts to Chicago on a bi-monthly basis to share their thoughts and insights on the investment scene. The name...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Dan Clifton, Strategas Research Partners
“Angry is the New Hope” was the title and theme of the presentation on December 6 from Dan Clifton, Partner and Head of Policy Research for Strategas Research Partners. Hope was the watch word of the Obama administration, but the surprise election of Donald Trump...
CFA Society Chicago 30th Annual Dinner
What a night! It isn’t every day that we get to hear Cliff Asness speak and watch the Chicago Cubs become the World Series champions. Who could ask for more? The annual dinner is a time to celebrate new Charterholders and the vitality and diversity of our industry....
Preserving Alpha through Successful Execution
Alpha is the ability to generate superior risk-adjusted returns compared to the return of an appropriate index. The purpose of most equity trades for managed portfolios is to hopefully create alpha for that portfolio. The hidden costs of not obtaining the best...
The Art of Negotiating Compensation: Getting Paid What You Are Worth
Laurel Bellows is the Managing Partner of her namesake, boutique firm, The Bellows Law Group, P.C. whose practice areas include Executive Compensation, Business Consultation, Business Litigation, Employment Law & Human Resources, and Personal Legal Services....
Investing in Innovation
If you compare the list of Fortune 1000 companies from ten years ago to today, over 70% of its members have been replaced due to disruptive market forces and mergers and acquisitions. In the next ten years another large batch of less-innovative firms will...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jimmy Levin, Och-Ziff Capital Management
With interest rates at historic low levels and equity markets at concerning valuations, the subtitle of Distinguished Speaker Jimmy Levin’s presentation on October 4th, Finding Value in the Current Investment Environment, was alluring to say the least. Levin is...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jeffrey W. Ubben, ValueAct Capital
Come so far…now the slog CFA Society Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series hosted Jeffrey W. Ubben at the University Club. Mr. Ubben is Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at ValueAct Capital. Prior to founding ValueAct, Mr. Ubben was a...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. David Kelly, CFA, J.P. Morgan Global Investment Management
Dr. David Kelly, CFA, the Chief Global strategist for J.P. Morgan Global Investment Management, provided his thoughts and views on investing in the current low/no rate environment. Starting with a review of the U.S. economy Kelly noted that real GDP has grown just...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Charlie Dreifus, CFA, The Royce Funds
“The proliferation of non-Gaap (financial measures) has added to the proliferation of growth,” said Charlie Dreifus, CFA. Dreifus is a managing director and portfolio manager with The Royce Funds which focuses on providing small-cap, value mutual funds. Dreifus is...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc
The Distinguished Speaker Series recently welcomed Liz Ann Sonders at the Metropolitan Club in the Willis Tower. Ms. Sonders is currently Chair of the Investment Committee at Windhaven Management Inc., and is Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist of...
Best Practices in Risk Management
What is risk? Many metrics and measures fall into the overall category of investment risk, including operational risk, market risk and credit risk. Investment risk is generally defined...
CFA Society Chicago Company Presentation: AstraZeneca
The prospect of curing or even “containing” cancer has proven to be an elusive goal. One company that has recently joined the battle against this disease is AstraZeneca, a UK based Biopharmaceutical Company. On June 6th, CFA Society Chicago hosted a presentation by...
Crunch Time! CFA Society Chicago Cram Session
Dan McKenna, CFA Institute’s Manager of Supplemental Study Tools, led off with insights and advice directly from the source. New charterholders and study partners, Shai Dobrusin, CFA, and Jay Bullie, CFA, shared their thoughts and where their studies differed. ...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Tom Ricketts, CFA
After his family acquired the Cubs in 2009, Tom Ricketts, CFA, found the storied franchise in disarray. Despite not winning a World Series championship in over a hundred years, the team continued to pack fans into historic Wrigley Field. But with the 3rd highest...
Onward and Upward: Recruiter Views on Job Changes and Career Management
Looking to enter the finance industry or achieving the next step by becoming CEO? The panel of internal and external recruitment specialists had great advice for all stages of one’s career. Although working with external recruiters was a key focus, the two internal...
CFA Society Chicago Euchre Tournament
On March 3, more than 40 investment professionals joined CFA Society Chicago at Exchequer Restaurant and Pub for its first card tournament. The evening brought out a diverse group including: Over confident card players (after all, over confidence is a trademark of our...
Illinois Institute of Technology Takes Top Prize in Chicago’s Local Level Final of the CFA Institute Research Challenge
The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition for university students who assume the role of a research analyst. This multi-round competition provides hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students value a stock, write...
Distinguished Speaker Series: John V. Miller, CFA
A State of Political Brinkmanship: Illinois at the crossroads, again. How can a state with a large, diverse economic base have a credit risk premium in junk bond territory? It's easy, when political brinkmanship and years of fiscal mismanagement create an enduring...
Smart Beta: Smoke and Mirrors or the Next Generation of Investing?
Smart Beta – is it a bad fad or here to stay? On February 23, two panels set out to discuss that question at the University Club. Moderator Ben Johnson, CFA, Director of Morningstar’s global ETF research kicked off the discussion with a brief introduction into Smart...
Creating a Stronger Career by Building Your Personal Brand
Managing a brand comes down to two main points: How do others talk about you? And even more importantly: How do you talk about yourself? Executive coach and Make the Leap! Coaching founder, Curt Wang, brought powerful insight into how financial professionals can learn...
Distinguished Speakers Series: John Rogers, Jr.
On February 10th CFA Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series advisory group hosted John Rogers, Jr., Chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments, the largest minority run investment firm in the US. A question and answer format was used, with Kerry...
CFA Chicago’s Winter Whiskey Warm Up
The CFA Chicago Social Advisory Group recently hosted a whiskey tasting to break from the cold and market doldrums. On January 20th, 2016, members of CFA Chicago along with members from other CFA societies including San Francisco, Boston, and New York, joined current...
CFA Society Chicago Welcomes New Members and Recognizes Volunteers!
On Thursday January 28, 2015, the CFA Society Chicago held its annual New Member and Volunteer Recognition Party at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. The night was especially festive as attendees filled the room, networking with new faces and catching-up with...
Distinguished Speakers Series: Kyle Bass
China has been in the news lately, and for all the wrong reasons. “A hard landing [in China] is practically unavoidable,” legendary hedge fund investor George Soros told Bloomberg while attending the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. “I’m not expecting it,...
Distinguished Speakers Series: Jason DeSena Trennert
Jason DeSena Trennert provided his thoughts, observations, and market predictions for 2016 to a sold out audience at the Standard Club on January 13th. Trennert first addressed the drop in the market that coincided with the start of the year. He noted that...
Corporate Tax Evasion or Avoidance?
On December 16th, CFA Society Chicago hosted a timely panel discussion focused on US corporate tax policy and how it compared to the tax policies of other nations. The current policy motivates US companies to move profits to overseas subsidiaries where corporate...
Distinguished Speakers Series: Dan Fuss, CFA
Dan Fuss, CFA and former member of the CFA Society Chicago, spoke to a packed house at the University Club of Chicago on December 3. Fuss has over five decades of investment experience and joined Loomis, Sayles & Company in 1976. He’s Vice Chairman of the firm's...
29TH ANNUAL DINNER
Financial speakers don’t come with a higher profile than billionaire Mohamed El-Erian, whose resume lists a staggering body of achievement: Chair of President Obama's Global Development Council, Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, former Co-CIO and CEO at PIMCO and...
New Risks for Municipal Bond Investors
Hey! Mom-and-pop retail investors still own about 75% of the municipal bond market (directly or indirectly). They want a stable asset class with relatively few defaults, high credit ratings and interest income that's tax free at the federal, state and local levels, if...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Kurt Summers
On October 1, 2015, Chicago City Treasurer Kurt Summers took time out of his busy schedule to present the latest on city finances to a packed room in Hotel Allegro. Summers became Chicago’s Treasurer less than a year ago. In this role, he acts as Chicago’s investor,...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Dmitry Balyasny
Dmitry Balyasny, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, provided an outline of his firm, Balyasny Asset Management (BAM), as well as thoughts on how a well-functioning hedge fund should be structured at a luncheon presentation hosted by CFA Society Chicago on...
State of the Unions: The EU and the US in the 21st Century
On September 9th, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and CFA Society Chicago partnered together to welcome Mr. Van Overtveldt, Minister of Finance of Belgium since 2014. He is an economist, journalist and writer based in Brussels. He has authored several books...
Thrown for a Loop Scavenger Hunt
CFA Society Chicago has an established history of working to promote thoughtful analysis and prudent decision making among its members. But how adept would its members be at navigating and scrutinizing the very city they live and work in every day? On August 27th...
Becoming a Values-Based Leader
CFA Chicago’s Distinguished Speaker Series recently hosted Harry Kraemer, an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners and Clinical Professor of Strategy at Northwestern University. Former Chairman and CEO of Baxter International Inc., Mr. Kraemer is author of...
Don’t Be Surprised!
On June 25, CFA Chicago welcomed Steve Romick, CFA at The University Club. Romick’s presentation included lessons learned after four decades of value investing, focusing on absolute rates of return. He emphasized the following concepts he employs: Accept uncertainty...
Next-Level LinkedIn Strategies
Is the resume becoming extinct? JD Gershbein thinks it’s possible. Every professional knows that it’s a good idea to have a LinkedIn profile, but how best to build it and find new opportunities? Gershbein encourages professionals to continuously improve their...
Networking at Weber Grill Restaurant!
There’s no better way to start the summer than with good barbecue! In early June 2015, CFA Chicago members gathered at the Weber Grill Restaurant in Lombard, where patrons can watch Master Chefs grill steaks, burgers, chops, chicken and fish - right before their eyes...
Hey! They’re Raising the Price of the Free Lunch
On May 21st, Tad Rivelle gave a presentation over lunch at the Chicago Club. The subject “Hey! They’re Raising the Price of the Free Lunch” revolved around on how interest rate increases and deleveraging will affect the economy, capital markets, and the investor...
Leadership: Managing Talent and Comp in the New Era
Exhibiting investment leadership, establishing a winning culture, building high performing investment teams – are all intertwined. On Wed., May 27th at the Hotel Allegro, Jim Ware, CFA presented from the new white paper from Focus Group Consulting “"Investment...
CFA Chicago: Investing in Latin America
¡Que fantástico! ¡Que increíble! The CFA Society of Chicago recently celebrated its 90th anniversary by welcoming investment professionals from across Latin America to the Midwest for its 2015 Annual Conference: Emerging Opportunities in Latin America! Christopher...
Gaffney Signals End of Era; Provides Alternative Strategies for Fixed Income Investors
During a frigid Chicago lunch-hour in late February, Kathleen Gaffney, CFA, spoke to a room of CFA Chicago Society members and their guests at the Willis Tower’s Metropolitan Club about the prospects of fixed income investing and potential income generating strategies...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Kathleen Gaffney, CFA, Co-Director of Diversified Fixed Income, Eaton Vance
The Distinguished Speaker Series featured Kathleen Gaffney, CFA, and Co-Director at Eaton Vance who focuses on fixed income. Eaton Vance is one of the oldest and most distinguished investment management firms in the United States. Gaffney warned that the “end of the...
Sustainable Investing: Profit with a Purpose
Superior investment analysis is part science and part art. The science part can be quantitative and mechanical—calculating the appropriate cost of capital, discounting expected future cash flows to the present and comparing the intrinsic value of a security to its...
8th Annual Industry Roundtables for Investment Professional
By Calvin Chung, CFA, Bob Cohen, CFA, Peter Vinzani, CFA and Don Duncan, CFA On Feb 10th, the Career Management Advisory Group organized the 8th Annual Industry Roundtables for Investment Professionals event. This event is an opportunity to hear about different...
New Member and Volunteer Recognition
On Jan. 22, 2015, CFA Society Chicago held its annual New Member and Volunteer Recognition Party in the amazing rotunda of the Chicago Cultural Center. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails were served beneath the world’s largest Tiffany glass dome—measuring 38 feet in...
Distinguished Speaker Series : James Bullard
James Bullard, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, spoke to a packed room at the Standard Club on Jan. 16 about Federal Open Market Committee macroeconomic forecasts. His presentation was also transmitted via a live webcast. The first problem...
A Balancing Act: Career Management and Searching for a New Role
On Dec. 9 the University Club in downtown Chicago was the venue for this event geared toward job seekers in the investment profession hosted by CFA Chicago and the Career Management Advisory Group. The panel members and moderator consisted of: Panelists: Katie Banks -...
CFA Exam Study Group Kick-Off Party & Open House
For the 11th consecutive year, signaling the start of another exam preparation season, CFA Chicago and the Candidate Services Advisory Group, along with Kaplan Schweser hosted a Study Group & Exam Preparation Party at the Standard Club on Dec. 11. The reception...
Chinese Shadow Banking: Crisis or Correction?
CFA Society Chicago recently worked with the Chinese Finance Association and The Paulson Institute to explore the risks and rewards of the Chinese shadow banking system. On behalf of CFA Chicago’s Education Advisory Committee, Peter Cook, CFA, welcomed the audience to...
Distinguished Speakers Series: Barry Sternlicht
Barry Sternlicht was the featured guest at the Distinguished Speakers Series held on Nov. 21 at the Standard Club. Sternlicht is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Capital Group, a private investment firm he formed in 1991 focusing on global real...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Jeremy Siegel
Are stocks overvalued? Not according to Chicago native Jeremy Siegel. The Wharton professor and author often described as a “perma-bull” took a sanguine view towards the equity markets in his CFA Chicago presentation, saying that while stocks are the most volatile...
Progressive Networking Luncheon @ Petterino’s
More than 50 investment professionals gathered at Chicago's Petterino’s restaurant for a progressive networking lunch on Nov. 12, 2014. The idea is simple: Guests are given name tags listing a separate table for each of the meals' three courses. The ability to "mix...
CFA Chicago Annual Dinner: 28th Annual Dinner
CFA Society Chicago celebrated a class of 140 new charterholders during the CFA Chicago 28th Annual Dinner held at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom. The festivities commenced at 5 p.m. with networking and drinks. Prior to the start of dinner, entertainment was provided by...
Photos: CFA Chicago Annual Dinner 2014
View photos from the 28th Annual CFA Society Chicago Dinner, held on Oct. 23, 2014, at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Chicago.
Claritas Prep Program
Claritas is a Latin word which in English denotes clarity or brightness. The CFA Institute began the Claritas Investment Certificate as a global education program designed to give a clear understanding of the essentials of the investment industry. This program is...
Energy Investing: Made in America
CFA Society Chicago hosted approximately 140 people at the University Club of Chicago overlooking Millennium Park on Sept. 23, 2014, to discuss energy investment opportunities at a thought-provoking conference entitled “A Seismic Shift: The Changing Dynamics of the...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Mario Gabelli, CFA , Chairman and CEO, GAMCO Investors
Nicknamed “Super Mario” by financial media pundits, Mario Gabelli, CFA , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc., presented his ideas on shareholder activism to a sold out crowd at the University Club on Aug. 12, 2014. The idea that activists are...
Navy Pier Tall Ship Networking
An intrepid group of approximately 50 seafaring CFA Chicago members and guests boarded the Tall Ship Windy at Navy Pier for a memorable evening architectural tour of the Chicago skyline and networking voyage on July, 22, 2014. The event was hosted by the Social...
Distinguished Speaker Series: Rick Rieder, Managing Director, BlackRock
The Distinguished Speaker Series hosted Rick Rieder whose other duties include Chief Investment Officer of Fundamental Fixed Income for BlackRock and Chairman of the BlackRock Investment Council. BlackRock is the largest asset management firm, now managing over $4.3...
Distinguished Speakers Series: Rob Arnott, Chairman & CEO, Research Affiliates
A provocative presentation entitled Conventional Wisdom and Pseudo-Science: Are we Blinded by Theory? took place in front of a sold out audience of 176 on June 19 at the Metropolitan Club. Rob Arnott, Chairman & CEO, Research Affiliates was the speaker who...