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



                  2020 Info
                  Agenda
                  Logistics

                  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

                  *Location: 213 Foxcroft Road, Broomall, PA 19008

                  TimeEventLead Faculty
                  9:00amBreakfast N/A
                  10:00amSession 1 TBD
                  10:50amBreak N/A
                  11:00amPractical ApplicationTBD
                  11:50amBreak N/A
                  1:00pmSession 2TBD
                  1:50pmBreak N/A
                  2:00pmPractical ApplicationTBD
                  2:50pmBreak N/A
                  3:00pmSession 3TBD
                  3:50pmBreak N/A
                  4:00pmPractical ApplicationTBD
                  4:30pmBreak N/A
                  6:00pmEntertainmentTBD

                   

                   
                  Day 1 (March 19th) Agenda

                                     *Attire: Business casual
                  *Location: Bartley Hall, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

                   

                   
                  TimeEventLead Faculty
                  8:00amRegistration and Coffee Session N/A
                  8:45amDean’s Welcome and Opening RemarksVillanova Dean and Mike Pagano
                  9:00amThe Future of Financial Services Dave Nadig / Eric Balchunas
                  9:45amBreak N/A
                  10:00amAcademic Updates: Payout policy and Share Repurchases Alice Bonaime
                  10:45pmBreak N/A
                  11:00pmAcademic Updates: Investment Factors Jack Vogel
                  11:45amBreak N/A
                  12:00pmDelivering Investment AdviceNiki Boyson / Tommi Johnsen
                  1:15pmBetter Data for Better OutcomesCharles Wang / Liqian Ren
                  2:00pmBreak N/A
                  2:15pmMachine Learning Tools for Professional InvestorsPeter White and Steve Young
                  3:00pmBreakN/A
                  3:15pmFund Due Diligence Tools for Professional InvestorsJonathan Regenstein and Wes Gray
                  4:00pmBreakN/A
                  4:15pmSurprise Entertainment SessionA Secret
                  4:30pmClosing remarksWes Gray
                  6:00pmBBQ/ReceptionAA 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. 
                   

                   
                  TimeEventLead Faculty
                  8:15Registration and Coffee Session N/A
                  8:40Opening RemarksPagano
                  8:45Dean’s WelcomeN/A
                  9:00Financial Markets SessionMultiple
                  10:15Distinguished SpeakerTBD
                  10:45Coffee BreakN/A
                  11:00Investments SessionMultiple
                  12:15Lunch and KeynoteItay Goldstein
                  1:30Corporate Finance SessionMultiple
                  2:45Distinguished SpeakerTBD
                  3:15Coffee Break N/A
                  3:30Financial Institutions SessionMultiple
                  4:45ReceptionN/A

                   

                   
                  LOGISTICS
                  Dates
                  • Client-Only Event: March 18, 2020
                    • 9:00am – 5:00pm
                  • Practitioner Event: March 19, 2020
                    • 9:00am-5:00pm
                  • Academic Event: March 20, 2019
                    • 8:15am-4:45pm
                    • Optional
                  MARC Information
                  Costs
                  Conference is managed “at-cost:”
                  • $250/attendee
                  • 2-Day Conference Access
                  • Excess “profits” donated to Villanova
                  Read about Villanova
                  Lodging

                   
                   
                                      
                                     The Radnor Hotel 
                   
                                      
                    • 591 E. Lancaster Avenue

                                          
                      • Wayne, PA 19087

                       
                                             Fairfield by Marriot (Broomall) 
                       
                                              
                        • 100 Lawrence Road

                                                  
                          • Broomall, PA 19008

                           
                           
                          Hotel Information
                          Location
                          Villanova School of Business
                          • Bartley Hall (Map Here and here)
                          • 800 E. Lancaster Avenue
                          • Villanova, PA 19085
                          Parking details
                          Directions
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                          Notes:
                          1. 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. ↩