APAFS to host its fifth seminar on Saipan

The Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies is coming to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the fifth in a series of regional Institutional Funds Management Country Conferences, on Friday, Aug. 22, from 8am to 6pm, at the Azucena I & II of the Fiesta Resort & Spa.

Fiduciaries take the critical role of handling the vast majority of the world’s investable wealth. The success or failure of investment fiduciaries will have a material impact on the financial health of any institutional fund and its beneficiaries. Cognizant of the fiduciaries’ responsibilities, the APAFS aims to help define the details of a fiduciary’s prudent investment process through the series of conferences in the region.

The Saipan conference with its focus on the theme, “Defining a Global Fiduciary Standard of Excellence,” instructs anyone involved in the investments process such as trustees, committee members, advisors, attorneys and others on how they can improve fiduciary services, including:

-The roles and responsibilities of an investment fiduciary.

-The substantiated Prudent Practices that define the Global Fiduciary Standards of Excellence.

-The benefits of having defined fiduciary Practices.

-The process for assessing conformance to a Standard of Excellence.

The conference boasts presentations from recognized experts on the latest trends and best practices affecting institutional funds today.

AIF instructor Phillip Mendiola-Long, who holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation, will lead the seminar in a four-part presentation titled, “The Prudent Process.” The AIF designation is awarded through the successful completion of a course of study at the Center for Fiduciary Studies at the University of Pittsburg, Katz School of Business.

Don Clark, vice president, ASC Trust Corp. will present the “Update on Defined Contribution Retirement Plans in the CNMI.”

Jason Miyashita, AIF, will moderate the panel discussion on “Domestic Capital Outlook.” Panelists will include Jim Staub, senior VP, Atalanta Sosnoff Capital Management and Mark J. Heath, CFA senior VP, Metropolitan West Capital Management.

Plans for the 8th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference to be held on Oct. 9 &and 10 in Manila, the Philippines, will be presented as well.

The conference is the fifth in a series of country conferences to be held throughout the year by APAFS. The first event was held in Palau on April 22, Yap on June 4, Majuro on July 29 and Aug. 19 in Pohnpei, each boasting over 50 participants who received a certificate of completion at the end of each program.

The objective of the organization is to provide educational programs for members in the jurisdictions of Palau, Guam, CNMI, FSM and Marshall Islands, expanding to other areas as opportunities arise. These country conferences are one of the primary goals of the association, to hold topic-specific conferences as requested by members in their jurisdiction.

APAFS is currently in the planning stages for Guam’s country conference to be held Aug. 25, culminating in the 8th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference to be held in Manila in October at the Renaissance Hotel, Makati.

Light breakfast will be served to start, as well as lunch. All participants will receive certificates of completion.

The association expects over 50 representatives from both the government and private sectors. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact with the industry’s experts and be in-the-know regarding the latest issues surrounding institutional fund management.

For more information about APAFS, the country conferences and the 8th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference, you may directly access their website at www.apafs.org. [B][I](APAFS)
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