ACADEMIC RESEARCH. EXPLAINED.
The Democratize Quant mission is to turn academic insights into investment performance. The event is a joint effort between Alpha Architect and Villanova University and serves as a complement to the long-standing MARC academic conference, which is hosted by the Villanova Finance Department. (Recent coverage of the event is available here and here.) Benefits of the conference:
- Low-cost admission (At-cost; excess “profits” go to Villanova)
- Intimate environment (100 attendees; screened applications)
- The pursuit of intellectual truth (No product-hawking; no story-telling; no jerks)
- 7 hours of CFP® CE Credit. 1
Who should attend? Investors looking to improve their knowledge:
- Independent advisors
- Family offices
- Do-it-yourself HNW
- Academic and practitioner researchers
TOMORROWS IDEAS. TODAY.
MEET YOUR FACULTY
Jack Vogel, PhD
Alpha Architect
Itay Goldstein, PhD
Wharton
Charles Wang, PhD
Harvard
Eric Balchunas
Bloomberg
Tommi Johnsen, PhD
Independent
Liqian Ren, PhD
WisdomTree
Dave Nadig
ETF.COM
Peter White
Enjine
Steve Young
Enjine
Niki Boyson, PhD
Northeastern University
Alice Bonaime, PhD
Arizona
Wesley R. Gray, PhD
Alpha Architect
Jonathan Regenstein
RStudio
AGENDA
Pre-Event (March 18th): Client-Only Executive Education
*Invite-Only session for strategic Alpha Architect partners*Attire: Business casual
| Time | Event | Lead Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am | Breakfast | N/A |
| 10:00am | Session 1 | TBD |
| 10:50am | Break | N/A |
| 11:00am | Practical Application | TBD |
| 11:50am | Break | N/A |
| 1:00pm | Session 2 | TBD |
| 1:50pm | Break | N/A |
| 2:00pm | Practical Application | TBD |
| 2:50pm | Break | N/A |
| 3:00pm | Session 3 | TBD |
| 3:50pm | Break | N/A |
| 4:00pm | Practical Application | TBD |
| 4:30pm | Break | N/A |
| 6:00pm | Entertainment | TBD |
Day 1 (March 19th) Agenda
*Attire: Business casual
| Time | Event | Lead Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00am | Registration and Coffee Session | N/A |
| 8:45am | Dean’s Welcome and Opening Remarks | Villanova Dean and Mike Pagano |
| 9:00am | The Future of Financial Services | Dave Nadig / Eric Balchunas |
| 9:45am | Break | N/A |
| 10:00am | Academic Updates: Payout policy and Share Repurchases | Alice Bonaime |
| 10:45pm | Break | N/A |
| 11:00pm | Academic Updates: Investment Factors | Jack Vogel |
| 11:45am | Break | N/A |
| 12:00pm | Delivering Investment Advice | Niki Boyson / Tommi Johnsen |
| 1:15pm | Better Data for Better Outcomes | Charles Wang / Liqian Ren |
| 2:00pm | Break | N/A |
| 2:15pm | Machine Learning Tools for Professional Investors | Peter White and Steve Young |
| 3:00pm | Break | N/A |
| 3:15pm | Fund Due Diligence Tools for Professional Investors | Jonathan Regenstein and Wes Gray |
| 4:00pm | Break | N/A |
| 4:15pm | Surprise Entertainment Session | A Secret |
| 4:30pm | Closing remarks | Wes Gray |
| 6:00pm | BBQ/Reception | AA World Headquarters |
Day 2 (March 20th) Agenda
*Attire: Business casual*Location: Bartley Hall, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085*Here is the official schedule on the Villanova Site.
| Time | Event | Lead Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 8:15 | Registration and Coffee Session | N/A |
| 8:40 | Opening Remarks | Pagano |
| 8:45 | Dean’s Welcome | N/A |
| 9:00 | Financial Markets Session | Multiple |
| 10:15 | Distinguished Speaker | TBD |
| 10:45 | Coffee Break | N/A |
| 11:00 | Investments Session | Multiple |
| 12:15 | Lunch and Keynote | Itay Goldstein |
| 1:30 | Corporate Finance Session | Multiple |
| 2:45 | Distinguished Speaker | TBD |
| 3:15 | Coffee Break | N/A |
| 3:30 | Financial Institutions Session | Multiple |
| 4:45 | Reception | N/A |
LOGISTICS
Notes:
- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM certification mark, the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo and the CFP® certification mark (with flame design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. ↩