The seventh annual Great Investors Best Ideas symposium is set to kick off on October 29th this year in Dallas, Texas. The annual event began in 2007 when friends, and neighbors, John Neill and Frederick “Shad” Rowe came together to create an investment event to benefit two causes that they are passionate about: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research and the Vicerkery Meadow Youth Development Foundation.
The goal of the GIBI Investment Symposium is to enlighten, inspire, and inform those in attendance while raising money for two worthy causes. Speakers donate their time and share their best investment ideas with those who participate. GIBI has donated over $7 million since its inception six years ago.
In addition to GIBI’s contributions, ValueWalk will donate $50 in the name of our first ten readers who choose to attend the event. Simply contact us with your proof of registration. This year’s event will be held at Dallas’ beautiful Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, and tickets can be purchased on the website. Speakers will share their ideas from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM and the evening will finish with a cocktail reception.
This year’s event is highlighted by Michael Price, though each of the ten speakers have a proven track record of investing success.
Michael Price is a big name speaker
Michael Price was chairman of the board of Franklin Mutual Advisers and Franklin Mutual Series Fund. Presently, Michael is the President of The Price Family Foundation, Inc.; Managing Member of MFP Investors LLC; and Managing Partner of MFP Partners, L.P. He also serves as a Director of Liquidnet Holdings and Nexsan Technologies, an Investment Advisory Council Member to the Florida State Board of Administration and on Boards for The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.
Additional speakers will include Chuck Akre, Caroline A. Cooley, Karen Finerman, Mario J. Gabelli, Tom Gayner, Van R. Hoisington, T. Boone Pickens, and Thomas A. Russo.
Chuck Akre has been in the securities business since 1968. He is primarily responsible for Akre Capital Management’s (ACM) investment process and investment selection.
Micheal Price, Cooley and Finerman will be speaking
Ms. Cooley is the chief investment officer of Crestline’s diversified funds. Ms. Cooley’s responsibilities include leading the portfolio management team and managing fund of funds portfolios for Crestline. Ms. Cooley has over 28 years of experience in the investment industry, focusing almost exclusively in the absolute return area.
Karen Finerman is a permanent member of the CNBC show Fast Money, one of the most watched business programs in America. The CNBC platform also enables Ms. Finerman to inspire women to succeed in the world of finance. Her first book, Finerman’s Rules: Secrets I’d Only Tell My Daughters About Business and Life, published by Hachette, came out this June.
Mr. Gabelli is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gabelli Funds. A 1965 summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University’s College of Business Administration, he also holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and honorary doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
Tom Gayner, age 51, is President and Chief Investment Officer of Markel Corporation (NYSE:MKL), a publicly traded financial holding company headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia. Since 1990, he has served as President of Markel Gayner Asset Management; he served as a Director of Markel Corporation from 1998 to 2003. Previously, he had been a certified public accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and a Vice President of Davenport & Company of Virginia.
Van Hoisington is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Hoisington Investment Management Company, a firm with nearly $6 billion in fixed income assets under management for insurance companies, endowments, pension plans, and charitable organizations.
A legendary oil and gas entrepreneur who has become the nation’s most effective energy expert, T. Boone Pickens is on a mission to enhance U.S. energy policies to lessen the nation’s dependence on OPEC oil — a reliance that he views as the greatest threat to America’s national security and economic well-being.
Thomas A. Russo joined Gardner Russo & Gardner as a partner in 1989. Mr. Russo manages individual separate accounts and serves as General Partner to Semper Vic partnerships, overseeing more than $7 billion.
All in all, the symposium will provide a wealth of investment ideas for all in attendance while benefiting two great causes. We will be covering the event, so if you cannot make it, check back here afterwards!
