Join Nicola Wealth CEO and Chairman, John Nicola and Oaktree Co-Chairman, Howard Marks, as they detail Howard’s investment philosophies, provide insights into the economic factors he watches, lessons he learned through experience, and how he views the current investment environment.
A respected investor and writer, Howard shares his insights on both growth and value investing and reflects on the market events he has experienced throughout his 40+ year career. He shares what he feels is the cardinal sin of investing and the importance of avoiding risky strategies during a crisis. Howard discusses his approach to bargain investing and how he has made his career focusing on high-yield bonds and distressed debt. He also touches on how ESG contributes to his strategy and why he feels a balanced approach to green investing. Finally, he shares his advice for investors today.
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Speaker Bios
Howard Marks | Co-Chairman, Oaktree Capital
Since the formation of Oaktree in 1995, Mr. Marks has been responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to its core investment philosophy; communicating closely with clients concerning products and strategies; and contributing his experience to big-picture decisions relating to investments and corporate direction.
From 1985 until 1995, Mr. Marks led the groups at The TCW Group, Inc. that were responsible for investments in distressed debt, high yield bonds, and convertible securities. He was also Chief Investment Officer for Domestic Fixed Income at TCW. Previously, Mr. Marks was with Citicorp Investment Management for 16 years, where from 1978 to 1985 he was Vice President and senior portfolio manager in charge of convertible and high yield securities. Between 1969 and 1978, he was an equity research analyst and, subsequently, Citicorp's Director of Research.
Mr. Marks holds a B.S.Ec. degree cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a major in finance and an M.B.A. in accounting and marketing from the Booth School of Business of the University of Chicago, where he received the George Hay Brown Prize. He is a CFA® charterholder. Mr. Marks is an Emeritus Trustee and member of the Investment Committee at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a member of the Investment Committee of the Royal Drawing School and is Professor of Practice at King’s Business School (both in London). He serves on the Shanghai International Financial Advisory Council and the Advisory Board of Duke Kunshan University. He is an Emeritus Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, where from 2000 to 2010 he chaired the Investment Board.
John Nicola | Chairman & CEO, Nicola Wealth
A veteran of the financial services industry since 1974, John provides strategic leadership to Nicola Wealth, exercising his passion for providing innovative solutions to clients’ complex problems.
His areas of expertise include investment management, estate and financial planning, as well as business planning with a focus on best practices for wealth building, exit strategies, and shareholder agreements.
In 2015 John was named the Winner of Business In Vancouver’s BC CEO of the Year Award – Small-Medium Private Company, in 2016 John was recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired CEOs, and most recently, John was announced as one of ten national winners of the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Award.
John currently serves as Chair of the Nicola Wealth Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a Founding Member of CALU (Conference for Life Underwriters) and has continued to contribute to the organization for example, by serving as Chair for the 2003 annual meeting.
John has used his business acumen to help develop and grow several not-for-profit organizations over a number of years. These include Covenant House, an organization providing safe housing and holistic care to at-risk youth ages 12-24, The Pivot Law Society, a volunteer legal society defending the underrepresented issues facing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and Bulembu International, a foundation dedicated to helping an abandoned African mining village become self-sufficient.
