The IAM and Family Offices Leaders Conversation brings together the key leadership of the increasingly significant and important IAM community alongside select Family Offices to debate and examine the key client opportunities and growth inhibitors in this growing segment of the wealth management industry in Asia.

8:30am – 9:00am	Registration and Coffee
9:00am – 9:05am	Opening comments
9:05am – 9:45am	Leaders Conversation Panel 1 A matter of ‘if’ or ‘when’? Paving the way forward for Asia’s IAM industry Asia’s independent asset management industry expects to double the amount of client assets it manages by 2020, a feat that would require a CAGR of around 16%, which is well above the rate of growth for the region’s private banking industry. Give this ambition, what issues need be addressed today to ensure a profitable tomorrow? With a recent uptick in consolidation activity, are IAMs struggling to realise sustainability? Is there an emerging consensus as to what a sustainable IAM business model looks like in Asia? How best can IAMs best increase client awareness of their proposition and instill the value of fee-based advice? What outsourcing opportunities exist and at what stage should firms look to bring most (if not all) services in-house? How can the industry foster a steady pipeline of talent that understands the IAM proposition, while at the same time provide sufficient incentives? Where are custodian banks falling short in their servicing of IAMs and what do these banks need to do to support the IAM industry’s development? How can IAMs work together to manage regulatory burden? Moderator: Sebastian Enberg, Editor, Asian Private Banker Conversation catalysts: Eric Goh, Head of Investment Strategy, ThirdRock Group Noor Quek, Founder & CEO, NQ International Urs Brutsch, Managing Partner & Founder, HP Wealth Management Yai Sukonthabhund, Partner and CEO, Crossbridge Capital
9:45am – 10:25am	Workshop 1 Active vs. Passive within emerging market equities – looking beyond the cost of investing It is widely understood that passives are an effective way to access well researched, efficient markets. With the AUM of EM ETFs growing rapidly, does the same hold true within the Emerging market equity space? Should we focus purely on cost, or does this investment universe provide greater scope for managers to add alpha? M&G explore the nuances relating to price, liquidity and the importance of what you own v what you don’t own, as well as explaining the investment philosophy of their EM franchise. Workshop host: Robert Secker, Investment Director, M&G Investments
10:25am – 10:50am	Networking Coffee
10:50am – 11:30am	Workshop 2 The Emergence and Increasing Importance of Thematic investing · Long term structural investment themes · Defence against high overall market valuations and risk · The need to differentiate from the benchmark driven ETF · The need to still keep fundamental analysis at the heart of investment vs shorter term holding periods and fund flows · An eventual increasing desire for individuals to take longer term ownership view on equites · Providing solutions catering to the themes via products; Bitcoin, Swiss Research Basket, Industry 4.0, Cyber Security Workshop hosts: Anup Gupta, Head of Sales APAC, Vontobel Leland Timblick, Head of Equity Advisory APAC, Vontobel
11:30am – 12:10pm	Leaders Conversation Panel 2 How are IAMs grappling with dented investor confidence in Asia? Not unlike their private banking peers, independent asset managers (IAM) face similar struggles with advising clients to reduce cash allocations, diversify out of fixed income allocations and add risk, particularly in equities. Although the macro environment is still benign, investor appetite remains mixed and focus on downside protection is still pronounced. How are IAMs providing differentiated offerings to grapple with such challenges? What are their views on popular regional investment trends at private banks, such as the ongoing demand for fixed maturity bond (FMB) funds or fund-linked notes? How are clients responding? In what areas have IAMs been able to specifically demonstrate a competitive advantage or added value, relative to clients being directly serviced by private banks? Moderator: Richard Otsuki, Deputy Editor & Head of IPS Coverage, Asian Private Banker Conversation catalysts: Andrew White, Chief Investment Officer, Sandaire Charlie O’Flaherty, Head of Digital Strategy & Distribution, Crossbridge Capital Robert Aspin, Chief Investment Officer, MW Capital Management Pte Ltd Yash Mishra, Managing Director, Head, Private Clients, Taurus Family Office
12:10pm – 1:10pm	Networking Luncheon