There was magic in the night — or rather the day — when 100 investment management leaders gathered in Princeton last month for the 2nd Annual New Jersey Investment Management Intersect Conference. This was an innovative group of investors, all looking for new investment ideas and insights into current market trends.
The full-day of panel discussions offered a wide range of ideas for guests to consider. Tariffs, international stocks, interest rates, and commodity prices dominated much of the macro discussions, with lots of insights but little consensus. The diverse audience, which mixed institutional with private wealth investors, added to the diversity of opinions on the table.
“The insights I found most interesting were the bullishness for commodities from the macro panel and the final discussion on the tech stack for advisors,” said one wealth manager. “Also the discussion around new liquid alternatives like interval funds.”
The Capital Intersect series brings together a different audience than the typical investment conference, mixing private wealth managers, institutional investors, asset specialists, and experts from all different parts of the markets ecosystem.
“The different scope of all the panelists involved throughout the day was the most interesting to me,” one RIA’s chief strategy officer said. “Hearing the differences and similarities in the way that institutional asset managers, pension fund trustees, private equity, and RIAs think about these themes and ideas was a great mix.”
Alts was a big topic of the day, especially with new moves towards democratization and the preponderance of products for advisors and high net worth individuals.
“It’s no longer a secret boys’ club,” said one panelist. The info is out there, with leading managers educating groups to target wealth management channels.
A deep dive into the AI investment ecosystem emphasized the interconnectedness of this new technology. Data centers, air conditioning, water, and energy needs all play a role. The pressure to develop new power sources supports innovation in nuclear energy production and shines a light on international relations and competition, with one private bank investment officer reflecting on “the differences in power generation over time from the US vs China and India.”
The topics wove together to demonstrate the impact that investors have on the world. Diverse panels included an overview of sports media and entertainment investment opportunities, thoughts on the next commodity super cycle, and an examination of the demographic trends that support real estate investment.
For investors looking for new takes on “the big picture,” networking breaks offered an opportunity to chase the threads that had been proposed throughout the day.
“Multiple audience members asked me if I publish any market commentary or research,” shared one chief investment officer, highlighting the hunger for content and thought leadership among peers.
As always, we remembered that behind all the numbers and charts — even beyond the built world, demographic trends, and innovations — is the humanity that drives all of these efforts.
“The most interesting topics during networking breaks involved connecting with people on a more ‘personal’ level — regarding people we know in common, where you live, kids, etc,” said one private equity firm president. “Of course, panel topics came up as well, but the opportunity to network on a more personal level was great and undoubtedly important for any future professional relationship.”
Intersect conferences bring together investors who are looking for new investment opportunities, but they’re about so much more than that. The ideas and energy in the air are for people who talk about a dream and try to make it real, understand that from small things, big things come, and recognize that at the end of every hard-earned day, people find a reason to believe.
If you want to be a part of an upcoming Investment Management Intersect Conference or Strategy Salon Dinner, drop us a note in the form below. We look forward to speaking with you soon!