The concept of diversification may seem to be second nature. However, some of its fundamentals are often misused and sometimes misrepresented.

In Fodder this week - El_Erian on the next economic paradigm; Velasco on “rational irrational exuberance”; Bird on impact of passive investing on markets; Brodie on trust & what matters to investors; and Farrelly – we can all do better communicating with investors.

In nine pages, this paper says all that needs to be said on the ability of any of us to estimate the true value of financial assets. The next two papers produce conflicting findings on the impact of index investing on markets.

The Conexus Real Estate and Private Markets Conference (27-28 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Was the recent market volatility predictable? Was the volatility exogenous or endogenous in nature? What lies ahead as regards inflation and interest rates?

The CIMA Society Seminar 1 2018 (21/22 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

The Conexus Financial Investment Operations Conference (20 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Let's be absolutely clear - the recent plunge in equity markets has almost nothing to do with inflation or a changing of the guard at the Fed.

Finology Summit 2018 (14 Feb 2018) has been assessed and accredited for CE hours. Delegates can confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Managed accounts have become increasingly popular with approximately A$40bn in assets. Prepare to ride the managed accounts tsunami or be left in its wake.

Markets Summit 2018 (13 Feb 2018) has been assessed and accredited for CE hours. Delegates can confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Structural change and the resulting earnings growth will always outrun interest rates in the long run, so as change continues to accelerate, investors need growth equities in their portfolio.

Will global synchronised growth drive earnings growth to a higher gear that warrants current elevated valuations? And should the early effects of technological changes influence investment choices now?

Markets Summit is THE investment markets scene setter of the year. The program features 20+ leading investment thinkers from around the world - geopolitical specialists, economists, market/asset class experts, and investment strategists - debating their best ideas on the key drivers of and medium-term outlook for the markets in the context of the theme - Changing gears? - and the implications for portfolios.

While economics studies how humans allocate scarce resources, and psychology studies the human mind and behavior, there is a gap at the intersection between the two – an emerging new body of knowledge dubbed, "Finology".

Finology Summit 2018 will help you better understand the preferences, needs and objectives of individual investors, to further improve the way you relate with them and help them achieve their goals. The program features an exceptional and eclectic international faculty of behavioural finance, behavioural economics, and psychology experts covering various aspects of finology with particular focus on the implementation challenges, tools and opportunities faced by practitioners.

The general uptrend in the broader equity market seems set to continue given economic data globally remains robust and central banks very accommodating. Given divergent risks, investors should focus more than ever on uncovering sources of idiosyncratic alpha, rather than relying on momentum or passive beta.

Every generation or so, things (in the economics world) break. We're probably at or close to one of those once-in-a-generation moments. Watching monetary indicators is key.

There are five areas where the early effects of technological change on the world economy are believed to be investible today.

The Conexus Financial Chair Forum (29 January 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.