Yesterday's sell-out II Lat Am Forum 2024 has been described as a "landmark event for region", following a full day of diverse and engaging presentations to sell-out audience, at the impressive Celebra building and auditorium in Zonamerica, Montevideo, Uruguay.
The bi-lingual event - which was largely held in Spanish, with English and Spanish interpretors relaying content and translating at lightening quick pace to the audience via headset was a huge successs. The event was made possible thanks to support from nine sponsors with lead sponsor Investors Trust, Bowmoor in association with Fairlight Capital, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, Capital Vision, Hansard, ICG, Marlborough and Ole Life, all taking part. Last but not least venue sponsors: Zonamerica provided an impressive backdrop to the proceedings.
In his opening remarks, II publisher Gary Robinson, pictured below, said: "Latin America as a region has been a key driver in the success of both Investment International and our sister title International Adviser and as I will reveal, will become an even bigger factor next year.
It has been a landmark year for both Investment International and for International Adviser as both titles came under new ownership in 2024.
Landmark
"It has also been a landmark year for both myself and my colleague and II and IA Editor in Chief Mark Battersby who is now my business partner. The new co-owners of II and IA are myself and Mark as part of G&M Media Ltd which is trading as Money Map Media. I am delighted to be able to announce that in 2025 we will be launching new Spanish language verse of both II and IA. Please watch this space in 2025!
"II’s journey through Latin America would not have been possible without the relationship between II and our lead sponsors Investors Trust, with the ongoing support and encouragement of Ariel Amigo and his team in Miami and the team here in Uryguay, led by Gustavo Otero - Head of Distribution Latam & the Caribbean.
"Gustavo's enthusiasm, energy, personality and pride in his company and his country is infectious and has made this event the success that it is and what an achievement it is that we are able to be stood in front of a packed auditorium here in Montevideo almost 7,000 miles away from our base in London, England."
Investment International Publisher Gary Robinson opened the event. followed by Main Sponsor Session - Investors Trust.
In an engaging session Investors Trust outlined its growth in Latin America and across the globe in once of the industry's biggest success stories in recent years.
The speaker/s were:
- Gustavo Otero - Head of Distribution Latam & the Caribbean
- Carlos Pombo – Senior Business Development
- María José Tito – Business Development Manager
- Sebastián Zelaya – Business Development Manager
In a session introduced by II Editor-in-Chief Mark Battersby introduced Mark Winstanley, Sales Development Manager – Latin America form Hansard in a revealing season that held the interest of the audience. In the session, Winstanley revealed the results of Hansard’s Latin America Adviser Survey, a multi-country overview of adviser habits, trends & expectations.
In the third session of the day , Rod Guest, International Sales Manager, Marlborough outlined the company's key funds and overall proposition and reveal how it is the perfect fit for partnerships with advisory firms, brokers and wealth managers.
Long-term investing
In a session by Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Daragh O'Sullivan, Business Development Director Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management and Justin Oliver, Chief Investment Officer (pic above) - Funds, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management outlined how long-term investing across a range of stocks can lead to outperformance, particularly during turbulent times. Elbio Fernández, Director of Investment Solutions for the Southern Cone, Capital Vision, outlined their proposition around structured products that is fitting in many portfolios in the region. Fernández's presentation was impressive and held an engaged audience.
The first Industry Panel Session at the event brought together together some of the industry's key players from the advice and brokerage world together on stage.
Panelists:
- Alex Higham – Director en Niveton International
- Ricardo Loaiza - Presidente Ejecutivo en Capital Financial Partners
- Agustin Queirolo - Managing Partner en AIVA
- Jorge Patalagoity – Director em ICG Company
Service hub
Moderated by Gustavo Otero - Head of Distribution Latam & the Caribbean, Investors Trust, the panelists outlined factors for choosing Uruguay as a “service hub” to develop business in the region. IT covered the need for a multidisciplinary team to support the Financial Advisor in Latin America and how to navigate a changing continent with new and different regulatory frameworks.
After a networking lunch Davinci TP in association with Investec presented a fantastic session, led by Federico Vilaseca which showcased Invest's work in the region. A great football team analogy with a Latin American 11 shown on the screens had the audience enraptured ahead of a very clever analogy to how the right s funds and the right managers can make a portfolio perform at its best.
The sessions were completed by Bowmoor in association with Fairlight Capital.
Speakers Alexander Pay – Fairlight Capital / Bowmoor and Michael Dalton – Pearl Global Finance / Bowmoor Bowmoor Global Alpha – spoke on an introduction to Trend Following, Global Alpha and how it provides diversification improving traditional portfolio performance.
The Synopsis highlighted how trend following is a pure mathematical approach to fund management. It works on the premise that the economy and price fluctuations are cyclical, and that human behaviour never really changes. Global Alpha has an 11-year track record using 4 traditional algorithms on a compact portfolio of the largest macro markets and commodities in the world to detect trends and draw profits. Listen in to how our strategy has achieved over 18% per year since 2013.
The final Industry Panel Sessions: were split into two segments with a Regional Overview and Industry debate with: Gustavo Otero, Investors Trust, Maria Clavier, ICG, and Ramiro Molteni, Ole Lifewho outlined why Lat Am such an important region how it is developing its audience in this region. Also how thee life and savings industry changing in this region and how products and services are affected with the rise of tech and AI revolution?
The final Global Markets discussion with Federico Vilaseca, Davinci TP in association with Investec, Justin Oliver from Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management and Rod Guest from Marlborough was the perfect way to end the day head of the networking drinks that followed the event.
The panelists spoke about market movements atm, how is the geopolitical situation in Gaza and Ukraine and matters in China and US are affecting portfolio decisions before answering questions from the audience.
"II has had two fantastic events in Miami for. our Latin American audience but our first event in the southern cone of the region exceeded exceptions. More than 140 delegates was fantastic and the level of engagement and real enthusiasm for great products and improve advice was a joy to be part of," said, II Publisher Gary Robinson concluded.
A full slideshow of photographs from the event will be published here on II tomorrow, ahead of a video highlights package next week.
