CONFERENCE
Previous Speakers
BSS 2023
Bill Smead
Chief Investment Officer; Smead Capital Management
TOPIC: Value Investing from Graham to Munger
Takeaways
1) As of April 2020 we have pivoted toward Graham and away from Munger 2) The challenge in the marketplace is to find meritorious businesses that are Graham oriented 3) It's important to remember Munger's concept that you need ignorance avoidance
BSS/VIC 2023
Robert Miles
Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Opening/Closing Remarks
Takeaways
1) Welcome participants from 6 continents and 33 countries to the 20th Annual Value Investor Conference 2)Thanks to our guest speakers and to our global audience for attending the Berkshire System Summit and Value Investor Conference. 3) Hope to see you next year for the Genius of Warren Buffett Course on April 29 - May 1; the Berkshire System Summit, May 2; and the 21st Annual Value Investor Conference and Dinners, May 2 & 3, 2024
VIC 2023
Joseph Shaposhnik
Portfolio Manager; TCW's New America Premier Equities fund
TOPIC: Against the Odds: Building a Compounding Machine
Takeaways
1) Importance of predictable businesses and management incentives as a part of building a compounding machine
VIC 2023
Chris Cerrone
Partner, Akre Capital Management
TOPIC: Good Judgement Comes from Experience, and Experience comes from Bad Judgement. A conversation with Chuck Akre and Chris Cerrone about lessons
Takeaways
Chuck and Chris will focus on some of the hardest aspects of the investing journey, including 1) the difficulty of correctly evaluating people, 2) recognizing the good ones early enough, and 3) getting distracted from what really matters by all the noise.
VIC 2023
Oliver Talbot
Partner, Talbot Sayer [Australia] with Charles Jennings, CEO, Stonehouse Corp [Australia]
Topic:
"Systemic Buttresses for a Disciplined Investment Operation"
Takeaways
Takeaways:
1) The need for discipline in an investment operation 2) Developing a system to buttress one’s discipline 3) Lessons from the Stonehouse system
VIC 2023
Francois Rochon
President, Portfolio Manager; Giverny Capital [Canada]
TOPIC: Lessons from my first 30 years of Value investing
Takeaways
1) The importance of not trying to predict the stock market 2) Aim for the "middle of the road" in investing 3) Develop the right behaviours: Rationality, Humility and Patience
VIC 2023
Todd Finkle
PhD, Professor, Author
TOPIC: Buffett: Investor and Entrepreneur
Takeaways
1) Omaha connection: Is there something in the water? 2) Surprises from writing the book 3) Entrepreneurship and Buffett: Lessons learned
BSS 2023
Rakesh Gupta
COO, THREE, biBERK
Topic: "Berkshire System and culture, how various insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries interact, developing the direct to consumer model for small business insurance, competitors, future opportunities and more."
Takeaways
Takeaways: 1) Comparing Berkshire's culture to other conglomerates. 2) Developing an insurance subsidiary from scratch. 3) What is insurtech? 4) One of the most innovative products in Small Commercial Insurance in many years.
VIC 2023
Bob Robotti
Founder & CIO Robotti & Co
TOPIC: Revenge of the Old Economy and Restoration of Active Management!
Takeaways
1) Investors need to radically reallocate capital based on a different economic environment. 2) Globalization 2.0 - not JUST China 3) Creating a decade plus of economic capital investment activity with new, continuing, and persistent inflationary pressures. 4) Old economy business have become better business, with barriers to entry, trading at cigar butt prices 5) VALUATION matters 6) Reinforcing the need to reallocate capital for this new environment
VIC 2023
Mario Gabelli
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investor, Inc.
TOPIC: Why Warren and Charlie Still Have It
Takeaways
1) Research Analysis - will it survive in a world of quants, algos, moms, and AI 2) What is private market value - does it work?
VIC 2023
Rob Darby
CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Workers Comp Division
TOPIC: Understanding the Berkshire System
Takeaways
1) How do you define the Berkshire System? 2) Why is insurance the most important subsidiary of Berkshire? 3) What are the unique opportunities and challenges of workers compensation insurance?
VIC 2023
Chuck Akre with Chris Cerrone
Managing Member, CEO, CIO.; Akre Capital Management
TOPIC: Good Judgement Comes from Experience, and Experience comes from Bad Judgement. A conversation with Chuck Akre and Chris Cerrone about lessons learned the hard way.
Takeaways
Chuck will focus on some of the hardest aspects of the investing journey, including 1) the difficulty of correctly evaluating people, 2) recognizing the good ones early enough, and 3) getting distracted from what really matters by all the noise.
VIC 2023
Dr. Robert Cialdini
Author, Influence
TOPIC: Building Your Influence by Building Your Relationships
Takeaways
1) Acquire a clear understanding of the seven universal Principles of Persuasion that, when employed ethically, will result in more agreement with requests, recommendations, and proposals. 2) Learn which three Principles lead to stronger and deeper relationships that, in turn, lead to favorable and efficient long-term partnerships. 3) Know the smallest changes to their persuasive approaches that produce the largest increases in their persuasive success.
VIC 2023
Mark O'Hare with Charles Jennings
1. CEO, Stonehouse Corp [Australia] 2. Partner, Grant Thornton Australia
TOPIC: Replicating the Berkshire System Model in Australia
Takeaways
1) What is your understanding of the Berkshire System? 2) What are the key components of Berkshire's model that others must get right to develop a similar system? 3) What are the major advantages and disadvantages of the Berkshire System?
BSS 2023
David Sekera
CFA, Senior U.S. Market Strategist; Morningstar
TOPIC: Deep Value in a Rocky Market
Takeaways
1) Identifying where to find value in today's market 2) Where the crossroads meet: economic moats & Morningstar's deepest value stock plays 3) Value meets Growth: undervalued stocks leveraged to long term secular growth
VIC 2023
Andrew Linkhart with Rakesh Gupta
Chief Claims & Financial Officer, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
TOPIC: Berkshire System and culture, how various insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries interact, developing the direct to consumer model for small business insurance, competitors, future opportunities and more.
Takeaways
1) Comparing Berkshire's culture to other conglomerates. 2) Developing an insurance subsidiary from scratch. 3) What is insurtech? 4) One of the most innovative products in Small Commercial Insurance in many years.
VIC 2023
Adrienne Fay
VP, Borsheims Jewelry
TOPIC: Audience Q&A
Takeaways
1) What is the Berkshire System? 2) How does Berkshire's Culture compare to previous employers? 3) How does Borsheims benefit by being part of the Berkshire Family of Businesses?
VIC 2023
Ron Olson with Jonathan Stempel
1. Berkshire Director, Managing Partner, Munger, Tolles & Olson 2. Journalist, Thomson Reuters
TOPIC: Q&A
Takeaways
1) What is the Berkshire System? 2) Berkshire's latest acquisitions and updates. 3) Berkshire's latest board appointments. 4) Succession
VIC 2023
David Rolfe
CIO, Wedgewood Partners
TOPIC: Institutionalizing Buffett's 20-Punch Card
Takeaways
1) Focus investing as a Competitive Advantage and Repeatable Edge. 2) Can institutional Imperatives be avoided? 3) Trials and Tribulations of Institutional Clients
VIC 2023
Jon Brandt
Research Analyst; Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb with TBA
TOPIC: Conversation with a Long Time Business Owner
Takeaways
1) An inside look into RCG investment process. 2) Necessary ingredients to being a long term investor. 3) Our investment in Berkshire Hathaway.
VIC 2023
Charles Jennings with Oliver Talbot
CEO, Stonehouse Corp [Australia]
TOPIC: TBD
Takeaways
1) How Stonehouse Corp is similar to Berkshire 2) How Stonehouse Corp is different from Berkshire 3) Australia's cultural and economic characteristics that affect Stonehouse's investment environment and approach