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.
-
April 22, 2020
Webinar Archive: Closed-End Funds: Offering Reform and COVID-19 Considerations
Nathan Briggs, a partner at Ropes & Gray, discussed several of the most important issues for directors to consider in connection with the Offering Reform as well certain issues arising that are unique to closed-end funds as a result of the COVID-19. The webinar originally aired April 21, 2020.
-
April 17, 2020
Webinar Archive: Advancing Diversity: Fund Board Composition Considerations for 2020 and Beyond
This webinar discussed diversity trends among fund boards, how those boards are thinking about diversity as a matter of governance, and methods boards are using to prioritize diversity as a factor in director recruitment efforts. The webinar originally aired on April 16, 2020.
-
April 10, 2020
Webinar Archive: Planning Effective Virtual Board Meetings
On April 9, 2020 Julie Wolf, Senior Partner, US Business Leader at RHR International LLP discussed how to effectively conduct virtual board meetings and the risks/challenges to anticipate for funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
April 8, 2020
Webinar Archive: The New Work from Home Environment
ACA Compliance's Mike Pappacena and Erik Olsen discussed the impact a total work from home environment has on investment advisers, funds, and their vendors. Mike and Erik will discuss the potential impact of this "new normal" on operation efficiency and cybersecurity.
-
March 27, 2020
Webinar Archive: Challenges for Fund Boards in Light of COVID-19
Dechert partners discussed the top issues facing fund directors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The topics included Liquidity, NAVs, SEC Filing Delays and In-Person Meeting Relief, and MMFs.
-
March 12, 2020
Webinar Archive: An Update on the SEC's Whistleblower Program
Goodwin lawyers Marco E. Adelfio and Andrew L. Zutz discussed the history and current landscape of the SEC's whistleblower program, considerations for mutual funds and their directors, and the potential direction of changes going forward.
-
February 14, 2020
Webinar Archive: The SEC’s Derivatives Rule: What Fund Directors Should Know
During this webinar, partners from Shearman & Sterling walked through the SEC proposal, with a view toward understanding how the rule will affect you.
-
February 7, 2020
Webinar Archive: Benchmark(s): A Necessity, a Standard, or an Absolute?
During this webinar, Paul Ellenbogen with Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., discussed various questions fund directors should keep in mind when it comes to benchmarks.
-
January 24, 2020
Webinar Archive: What's New in the ETF Landscape
In this session, KPMG thought leaders reviewed key factors that explain why 2020 will be the year of actively managed ETFs, important considerations for active managers who are developing Active and Nontransparent ETFs, and recent SEC rulings that are changing the ETF landscape.
-
January 9, 2020
Webinar Archive: The Value of Active Management: What Fund Directors Need to Know
Members of the Active Managers Council presented the need for a more balanced narrative on the value of active management, the role that active management plays in the markets and the importance of a long-term perspective in evaluating active management's value-added.
-
December 12, 2019
Webinar Archive: Transitioning away from LIBOR
LIBOR and other IBORS are being phased out worldwide. This webinar discussed the discontinuation of LIBOR, its possible alternatives, and the steps you need to take to manage future risk.
This webinar originally aired on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.
-
November 21, 2019
Webinar Archive: AICPA Valuation and Accounting Guide Updates' Impact on Registered Investment Companies
This session will familiarize participants with the newly released AICPA Valuation and Accounting Guide, titled, Valuation of Portfolio Company Investments of Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds and Other Investment Companies, which KPMG worked with the AICPA to produce. The session explained when the guide applies to fund investments and how it applies to certain fund investments.
This webinar originally aired on Tuesday, November, 20, 2019.
-
November 15, 2019
Webinar Archive: Mutual Fund CCO Compensation: The MPI Annual Survey (2019)
Each summer MPI releases its "Survey of Mutual Fund Chief Compliance Officer Compensation and Organizational Practices", which provides aggregate compensation data received through confidential questionnaires from fund CCOs and other industry executives. This webinar provided highlights from the most recent survey.
This webinar originally aired on November 14, 2019.
-
October 18, 2019
Webinar Archive: The ETF Rule: One for (Almost) All and All for One
Stacy Fuller and Alyssa Sherman with K&L Gates discussed the new ETF Rule, which will replace the current exemptive relief granted by the SEC to operate exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) for most, but not all, ETFs. The discussion will also focus on portions of the ETF Rule most relevant for Board members, including new policies and procedures required to engage in “custom basket” transactions.
This webinar originally aired on Thursday, October 17, 2019.
-
October 3, 2019
Webinar Archive: Recent SEC Guidance on Proxy Voting and the use of Proxy Advisory Firms
This webinar explored how the SEC’s recent interpretive releases on proxy voting matters may impact mutual funds, their investment advisers, and the independent boards that oversee them.
This webinar originally aired on October 2, 2019.
-
September 19, 2019
Webinar Archive: MPI’s Annual Survey of Investment Firm Profitability
Economic volatility, the introduction of low and zero-fee funds, and the resulting product and asset flow trends have impacted individual firms differently. Join Meyrick Payne and Sara Yerkey of Management Practice for a discussion of the possible implications of these industry developments on directors’ oversight of profitability during the 15(C) process.
This webinar originally aired on September 18, 2019.
-
September 13, 2019
Webinar Archive: What Directors Need to Know about Regulation Best Interest and the Standards of Conduct Rulemaking Package
In June, the SEC adopted the long-awaited rulemaking package relating to the standard of conduct broker-dealers and investment advisers owe when providing advice to retail investors. Stradley partners Sara Crovitz and Larry Stadulis provided an overview of the package, focusing on practical implications for fund directors.
This webinar originally aired on September 12, 2019.
-
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.