Past Webinars
MFDF's webinars feature an hour long presentation on a discrete topic of interest to fund directors. The webinars cover a broad range of technical topics, regulatory issues, and governance-related items. Some webinars are aimed squarely at board oversight issues, and some take a broader view of industry trends. Every webinar features speakers who have particular knowledge about the subject-matter at issue.
MFDF webinar archives are available for free only to MFDF members. The archives contain links to the written materials and the audio recording of each webinar. Please log in to view links to archives.
-
September 6, 2019
Webinar Archive: It's the Vote that Matters
Mutual Fund proxy campaigns involve numerous moving parts. From varying quorum and passage requirements to diverse and fractured constituents, the process requires the cooperation of multiple entities aligned to achieve a common goal within a tight timeframe. This session covered the process of getting the vote and ensuring the integrity of that vote.
This webinar originally aired on September 5, 2019.
-
June 26, 2019
Webinar Archive: Does Your Fund Qualify as a Regulated Investment Company?
Leonard J. DiPietro, CPA, Tax Director and Richard A. Wagner, Partner with Tait Weller discussed distribution, diversification, qualifying income requirements and other RIC qualification issues as it relates to the fund industry.
This webinar originally aired on June 25, 2019.
-
May 24, 2019
Webinar Archive: Fund Director Compensation: The MPI Annual Survey (2019)
Management Practice has conducted an annual survey of mutual fund director compensation for over 20 years. Each spring MPI releases its "Survey of Mutual Fund Director/Trustee Compensation and Organizational Practices", which provides aggregate compensation data received through confidential questionnaires, as well as SEC filings submitted by all fund industry complexes. This webinar highlighted the results from the most recent survey.
This webinar originally aired on May 23, 2019.
-
May 16, 2019
Webinar Archive: ETF Conversions: Legal Issues and Board Considerations
This webinar focuses on the fascinating world of converting existing investment products into exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). We will walk through the various products that can be converted into ETFs, the legal requirements, including how the landscape is expected to change if the “ETF Rule” is adopted, and factors fund Boards may wish to consider in connection with these conversions.
This webinar originally aired on May 15, 2019.
-
May 8, 2019
Webinar Archive: Excessive Fee Litigation and Enforcement: Recent Decisions and Trends
Dechert LLP partners Cathy Botticelli, Anthony Kelly, and David Kotler discussed the recent Section 36(b) court rulings and the SEC’s approach to reviewing 15(c) materials as part of an investigation or enforcement action.
This webinar originally aired on May 7, 2019.
-
April 19, 2019
Webinar Archive: Board Oversight of Closed-End Funds: Leverage, Discounts, Insurgents and Other Topics
Nathan Briggs, a partner at Ropes & Gray, discusses several of the most important issues for directors to consider that are unique to overseeing closed-end funds, including, among others, (a) a closed-end fund’s use of leverage, (b) monitoring a closed-end fund’s discount, and (c) dealing with activist shareholders and insurgent directors.
This webinar originally aired on April 18, 2019.
-
April 17, 2019
Webinar Archive: Peer Group Construction: Modern Methods for an Evolving Industry
Paul Ellenbogen and Jeff Tjornehoj from Broadridge presented an engaging conversation about a fundamental element of the 15(c) contract renewal process, fund peer groups.
This webinar originally aired on April 16, 2019.
-
April 12, 2019
Webinar Archive: Unbundling Commissions Under MiFID II: Implications for Independent Mutual Fund Directors in 2019 and Beyond
Howell Jackson, Harvard Law professor and independent director at TIAA-CREF, and Steven Stone, Morgan Lewis partner, discussed the issues related to MiFID II for fund directors.
This webinar originally aired on April 11, 2019.
-
March 15, 2019
Webinar Archive: Securities Lending: Driving Portfolio Alpha
Securities Lending is an investment tool which is drawing increased interest as a means to generate alpha in your mutual fund portfolio, at relatively low levels of risk. We will discuss how lending functions, how alpha is generated, recent trends in lending supply and demand, and understanding the risks factors. We will talk about what is required of mutual funds and their boards for the oversight of a lending program.
This webinar originally aired on March 14, 2019.
-
February 27, 2019
Webinar Archive: Proposed Fund of Funds Rule (Rule 12d1-4): Overview and Key Considerations
Nathan Briggs, a partner at Ropes & Gray, provided an overview of proposed Rule 12d1-4 and discuss some of the key considerations.
This webinar originally aired on February 26, 2019.
-
February 13, 2019
Webinar Archive: Key Elements of Insider Trading Law and Codes of Ethics for Independent Directors
This webinar discussed key concepts in insider trading law and codes of ethics to assist independent directors in navigating the do’s and don’t of personal trading and having access to non-public information about public companies.
This webinar originally aired on February 12, 2019.
-
February 1, 2019
Webinar Archive: Equity Trading Venues: How PM Investment Ideas Materialize into Your Portfolio
Nanette Buziak of Voya gave an overview of how your PMs and Trading desks go about implementing investment ideas and turn them into realized returns in your portfolio. This webinar will also highlight what questions mutual fund board directors should be asking in regards to equity trading venues.
This webinar originally aired on January 30, 2019.
-
January 11, 2019
Webinar Archive: Proxy Voting Issues
It seems that everything related to proxy voting is getting a lot of attention these days, including the effect of common ownership, voting on social and environmental issues, and the use of proxy advisers. Moderated by Theresa Hamacher, Bob Pozen provided an overview of the many hot topics during this webinar. Bob and Theresa are co-authors of The Fund Industry: How Your Money is Managed.
This webinar originally aired on January 10, 2019.