Texas Public Funds Investment Conference

November 4 - 5, 2021

(In-Person Only)

Westin Hotel Houston, Memorial City
945 Gessner Rd
Houston, TX 77024

The Texas Public Funds Investment Conference helps you piece together the puzzle of your county’s investment options. Experts from the financial industry discuss influences on the current economy and timely trends in investing. This training is open to all county officials and staff members who want to learn more about county investment operations.

For more information, contact Deanna Auert or Nino Miranda at (800) 456-5974.

Educational Co-Sponsor: McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University.
 

The Texas Public Funds Investment Conference helps you piece together the puzzle of your county’s investment options. Experts from the financial industry discuss influences on the current economy and timely trends in investing. This training is open to all county officials and staff members who want to learn more about county investment operations.

Continuing Education/Prerequisites

The McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University is the conference’s education co-sponsor. There are no prerequisites required to attend this program.

The conference offers 10 hours of investment education required by the Public Funds Investment Act, Section 2256.008. Ten hours of continuing education credit are available for Public Funds Investment Act compliance and for members of the County Investment Academy. Credit approval is pending for commissioners, county and district clerks, tax assessor-collectors, treasurers, auditors and CPAs.

County Investment Academy

The County Investment Academy is a partnership between the Texas Association of Counties and the McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University to work together in the planning of educational programs for county officials and employees.

  • Membership in the academy is acquired through completion of the Basics of County Investments course.
  • Fifteen academy hours per calendar year are required to maintain membership, with five outside hours and five carryover hours allowed per year.

Registration

The Texas Public Funds Investment Conference is open to anyone who wants to learn about investing public funds. Please register by Oct. 13 to enjoy the early bird discount. Visit TAC’s website at www.county.org/tpfic to register online. For more information, call Deanna Auert or Nino Miranda in the TAC Education and Events Services department at (800) 456-5974.

 
Registration Fees Early Bird After Oct. 13
County officials and employees $160 $185
City, school or special district   $215 $240
Nongovernment $500 $500

*TAC now accepts credit cards for the registration fee online at www.county.org/tpfic.

  

Special Services

♿ To ensure that our conference is ADA-accessible to all, please contact Nino Miranda at (800) 456-5974 if you need assistance.

Hotel

Westin Hotel Houston, Memorial City
945 Gessner Rd.
Houston, TX 77024
(800) 937-8461

The host hotel is the Westin Houston, Memorial City, 945 Gessner Rd., near Memorial City Mall. To receive the $122 single/double conference room rate, please click here. Or call (800) 937-8461 and ask for the “2021 Texas Public Funds Investment Conference” room block. Self-parking is available at the hotel at $10 per night.

Please reserve your hotel room before the group rate cutoff of Oct. 13, after which availability and rates are no longer guaranteed.

Thursday, Nov. 4
5-6:30 p.m.

Reception
024 Lounge (Lobby Level)
Here’s a great opportunity to network with fell attendees over beverages and hors d’oeuvres.

Co-Sponsored by: Texas CLASS

Thursday, Nov. 4
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Registration and Information Desk (Foyer)
7:30-8:30 a.m. Morning Coffee and Continental Breakfast (Foyer)
Wisteria Ballroom
8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:45-9:35 a.m.

Bond Market Update: The Yield Curve is Finally Shaping Up
As the Fed points toward tapering its balance sheet growth amidst concerning inflationary trends, the bond market yield curve has finally begun to rise above the zero bound. For public entities with short-term investment needs, this creates an opportunity to earn more income. Yet understanding the risks is essential before moving out of liquid investment pools and into higher earning assets. We will review some of the historical trends and current market opportunities in cash alternatives.

Mr. Justin Hoogendoorn, CFA, Head of Strategy and Analytics | Fixed Income, Hilltop Securities

9:35-9:55 a.m. Break (Foyer)
9:55-10:45 a.m.

The Fundamentals of Bond Issuance
The United States municipal debt is nearly $4 trillion with Texas accounting for approximately 10% of the market. Texas Counties rank 3rd in General Obligation County Debt based on Bloomberg data as of October 2021. As Treasurers, Financial Directors and other Financial leaders of Texas Counties work to issue a variety of debt instruments to acquire and construct capital facilities and equipment for governmental activities, it is critical to stay abreast of the opportunities in debt issuance. Join Debi Jones as she explores the nuances of municipal debt issuance.

Ms. Ashley Jones, Director, Raymond James - Public Finance

10:45-11:35 a.m.

Do Municipal Bonds Have a Place in a County’s Investment Portfolio?
Municipal bonds are likely included in your County’s Investment Policy, but is your Treasurer/Finance Director/Portfolio Manager evaluating the opportunity and potential value in this sector of your portfolio?  During this session, our speakers will provide an overview of the municipal market, legislative updates impacting the municipal arena and current investment opportunities in municipal bonds.

Mr. Billy Mitchell, Director, Raymond James
Mr. Blake Mills, Director, Raymond James

11:35 a.m.-1:05 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
1:05-1:55 p.m.

Making Sense of Zero Interest Rates
This session explores the causes of zero/negative interest rates and the consequences for investors and the economy.

Dr. Holland Toles, CFA, Department of Finance and Economics, McCoy College of Business Administration, Texas State University

1:55-2:45 p.m.

Banking is Changing – Are You?
With all the challenges in financial segments of the economy, banking is no exception and it does affect you. What changes and how to adapt is the question we will try to answer.

Ms. Patty Fougerat, SVP, Senior Relationship Manager, Texas Capital Bank
Ms. Linda Patterson, President, Patterson & Associates

2:45-3:05 p.m. Break (Foyer)
3:05-3:55 p.m.

It Ain’t Your Grandpappy’s Payment Fraud Anymore!
This session focuses on cybercrime and payment fraud, and how to prevent losses. Topics include ransomware, BEC and VEC scams, check fraud and ACH fraud, as well as specific strategies to prevent losses.

Mr. Greg Litster, President, SAFEChecks

3:55-4 p.m. Stretch Break
4-4:50 p.m.

It Ain’t Your Grandpappy’s Payment Fraud Anymore! (continued)
This session focuses on cybercrime and payment fraud, and how to prevent losses. Topics include ransomware, BEC and VEC scams, check fraud and ACH fraud, as well as specific strategies to prevent losses.

Mr. Greg Litster, President, SAFEChecks

5-6:30 p.m.

Reception
024 Lounge (Lobby Level)
Here’s a great opportunity to network with fell attendees over beverages and hors d’oeuvres.

Co-Sponsored by: Texas CLASS

Friday, Nov. 5
7:30-11 a.m. Registration and Information Desk (Foyer)
7:30-8:30 a.m. Morning Coffee and Continental Breakfast (Foyer)
Wisteria Ballroom
8:30-9:20 a.m.

Cashflow Trends
How the pandemic has impacted payments sent and received.

Mr. Casey Creel, VP, Commercial Card Sales Officer, Texas Capital Bank
Ms. Roxane Soto, Vice President, Texas Capital Bank

9:20-10:10 a.m.

Economic Update
Hear the latest on the economy and what important events are on the horizon.

Dr. William Chittenden, CTP, Associate Professor of Finance, McCoy College of Business Administration, Texas State University

10:10-10:30 a.m. Break
10:30-11:20 a.m.

Public Funds Investing: The Final Challenge
Come prepared to use your knowledge of public funds investing with this interactive quiz game. Bring your A-game to compete in multiple choice questions that are designed to test your knowledge on what was presented the last day and a half. Questions will also cover investment risks, controls and compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act. In addition to bragging rights, the top three winners will receive cool prizes.

Mr. Sam Vaughan, Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

11:20 a.m. Closing Remarks and Adjourn

*Tentative agenda, subject to change

Sponsors and Vendors

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Deanna Auert.

The McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University is the education co-sponsor of the 2021 Texas Public Funds Investment Conference.

Continuing Education Type Hours
County Investment Academy 10 hours
PFIA 10 hours
CPA/Auditors 10 hours
Commissioners 10 hours
County and District Clerks 8:35 hours
Tax Assessor-Collectors 10 hours
Treasurers 10 hours

Conferences fees are fully transferable to other participants upon request. All registration refund requests must be received in writing before Oct. 22 to receive a full refund minus the $10 administrative fee. Refund requests received after that date will be subject to an administrative fee equal to half of the registration fee. No refund requests will be honored after Nov. 12.

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