Economic Outlook Breakfast

With the news cycles dominated by conflicting information and perspectives, it helps to have a seasoned eye offer a balanced look at the current economy.  We are excited to welcome back Erik Davidson, Wells Fargo Private Bank Chief Investment Officer, to share his views as Keynote Speaker of this year’s Economic Outlook Breakfast.  This informative annual event, held in partnership with the Deerfield Bannockburn Riverwoods (DBR) and Glenview Chambers, will be held at the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook on Wednesday, May 1.
           
Davidson returns as our presenter for the second time, allowing him to build on the themes he raised at the 2018 event.  He will examine the current economic climate as it weathers tariff policies, political shifts in Illinois and Washington D.C., and other areas of uncertainty. 
On one hand, the U.S. economy is rolling at an all-time high.  Despite some short-term dips, the bull market in stocks has continued for the longest stretch in history, as has the consistent stretch of economic expansion.  Consumer confidence is also at its highest level in almost 20 years. However, concerns about what may be around the corner weigh on the minds of investors.  Instability in overseas economies (fueled by floundering Brexit talks and slowdowns in China) combine with the extreme polarization of U.S. politics and tightening monetary policy to raise doubts about how long growth can be sustained.

Davidson’s presentation will take a data-driven look at the full economic picture, offering information on risk and opportunities facing investors.  Wells Fargo recommendations include lowering allocations to rate-sensitive assets, positioning for growth in equity markets, maintaining positions in high-quality fixed income, diversification into international assets, and deploying cash as necessary to respond to increasing volatility.

With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, Davidson has been with Wells Fargo for 14 years in a number of investment leadership positions at both the regional and national level.  He currently leads a team of national investment professionals, overseeing more than $180 billion in assets for high net worth private clients.  His areas of responsibility include global equity and fixed-income portfolio management and research, guided portfolios, and investment products, tools, and analytics. Davidson serves as the primary spokesperson on Wells Fargo Private Bank’s investment strategy, speaking frequently at investment conferences.  He has been a frequent guest in financial media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, Fox Business News, Reuters and Bloomberg.
           
Davidson co-authored the book Investing in Separate Accounts and has authored numerous investment-related articles. Currently a Doctoral Candidate at DePaul University's Graduate School of Business, he is doing his dissertation in the area of Behavioral Finance.  He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.