CHICAGO, Nov. 13, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ibbotson Associates, a leading provider of investment tools and knowledge, today announced its first asset allocation conference to be held January 16-17 in Orlando, Fla. The company has gathered together the top minds from the academic and business communities to present their new research on asset allocation. In addition to outside speakers, Roger Ibbotson and members of the Ibbotson Associates research and investment management services groups will present new theories and techniques in asset allocation. The conference will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center, and attendees can register at www.ibbotson.com.
Outside speakers include:
-- Clifford Asness, Ph.D., co-founder of AQR Capital Management
-- Jeffrey Fisher, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Real Estate Studies and Professor of Finance and Real Estate at the Indiana University School of Business
-- Michael Grupe, Ph.D., SVP and Research Director for NAREIT
-- James O'Shaughnessy, Sr. Director of Quantitative Investments for Bear Stearns Asset Mgmt.
-- Richard Thaler, Ph.D., Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics and Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business
-- Heydon Traub, CFA, Principal of State Street Global Advisors heading the Global Asset Allocation Team Worldwide
"In these uncertain times, asset allocation is more important than ever," said Mark Kowalczyk, managing director of sales and marketing at Ibbotson Associates. "Today is a challenging time for the financial services industry. Financial professionals are wading through the worst market downturn since the Great Depression, at the same time that new products, alternative investments and technology are exploding. We felt that now was the right time to bring our experience and knowledge to the front lines of the industry."
Among the many topics, attendees will learn:
-- How to combine various alternative assets with traditional assets to achieve unique diversification benefits.
-- New techniques for overcoming estimation error in the optimization process by refining approaches to capital markets forecasting and implementing resampling techniques.
-- How to explain complex financial concepts and the benefits of asset allocation to clients.
-- The optimal number of funds to include in a portfolio, and how to build optimal after-tax portfolios.
About Ibbotson Associates
Ibbotson Associates, founded by Professor Roger Ibbotson in 1977, is a leading authority on asset allocation, providing products and services to help investment professionals obtain, manage and retain assets.
The company's business lines include investment consulting and research; planning and analysis software; wealth forecasting; educational services and a widely used line of NASD-reviewed presentation materials. With offices in Chicago, New York and Tokyo, Ibbotson Associates provides integrated investment knowledge, leading-edge technology, multi-conceptual education and a variety of sales presentation solutions. Ibbotson markets its integrated product line of investment analytical tools and services to institutional money managers, plan sponsors and consultants for quantitative analysis, high level decision making and presentations. The company's clients also include financial planners, brokers, mutual fund firms, private bankers and small money managers.