The familiar phrase “Past performance is not indicative of future performance” is so common we almost ignore it, but it goes to the heart of how to view and manage risk and return to future-proof portfolios.

Future proofing portfolios is difficult, due to today’s demanding valuations and because the future is intrinsically unknowable. There are no set-and-forget strategies in a world of ever-changing prices.

Investment portfolio construction is, by definition, an exercise in long-term thinking. Given the uncertainties and competing priorities, are future-proof portfolios achievable? Practitioners share their views.

There will always be movements in markets that we need to be attentive to, and you should construct a portfolio that takes advantage of fear. But don't let that fear drive the dominating principles in your portfolio construction.

To future proof portfolios, you need human skill and judgment to distinguish between the purely random and real investment insights. This is the power of combining machines and humans.

An aging population, maturing superannuation system and government policy are dramatically increasing the need for effective solutions for the retiree population.

Due to biases in investing, Sharpe ratios of investor portfolios are often not as high as investors expect. How low can a random walk of a Sharpe ratio wander through the natural realisation of risk?

We are all forced to invest to get a return, but as an industry we have overcomplicated this and at times not delivered. Work from first principles - let simple, a priori return potential be your guide.

Research shows that owner-manager businesses reward their long-term (non-family) investors because they instill a stability, a culture, and a focus that is geared towards the long term.

AI-based investment solutions will change the landscape much faster than expected - and the importance of making good human decisions will be amplified.

Given the key defensive attributes of Australian private debt, at this late cycle phase of the market, it should be included in all portfolios that are able to invest in illliquid assets.

It is vital to think about both the risk and opportunities that sustainable investing provides and define a framework that matches your investment beliefs.

The future is, by definition, uncertain, as are financial markets. To prosper in such an environment, we need to be emotionally agile in order to align our values and actions and, in turn, help investors achieve their financial goals.

Portfolio Construction Forum Strategies Conference is THE investment strategies conference of the year. The jam-packed two-day program is designed and curated by our specialist, experienced and independent team, and features more than 40 leading investment thinkers from around the world, contributing their best ideas on on contemporary and emerging portfolio construction strategies, in the context of the theme "Future-proof portfolios?

This week in Forum Fodder: Stephen Roach - QE turns 10; Tim Farrelly - How dumb are bond markets?; Jacob Mitchell – Interest rate assumptions dangerous; Peter Kim - Passive not the way in Asia; Gopi Karunakaran - Does fixed income diversify

This week in Forum Fodder: Jim O'Neill - Global economy's uncertain future; David Knox - Why older Australian's save; Kej Somaia - Licence to tilt; Dean Stewart - Bonds more important than ever; Nik Dvornak - Europe, a long way to the top.

This week in Forum Fodder: Roubini - Trump may kill global recovery; Farrelly - Geopolitics to the fore; Bradley - 5 investment committee tools; Gillespie - On the cusp of an EM crash; Schowitz - Tech's impact in your investment choices...

This week in Forum Fodder: Stephen Roach - politics trumps economics; Zenith - undiscovered fund; Amin Rajan - passive investing; Alex Wolf - China's Belt & Road less than meets the eye; Rob Mead - gear down risk allocation

This week in Forum Fodder: Susan Lund – a corporate debt bubble?; Aaron Minney - most investors need to eat capital; Michael Furey - Investment faux pas; Tom Switzer - Don’t write off America; Douglas Isles - Beware the trifecta of desire

Since the GFC, the value of non-financial companies' outstanding bonds has nearly tripled. While a correction seems likely, the broad shift toward bond financing is actually a welcome development.