Our Story

The seed for this conference was planted in 2011 at the VALUEx Zurich/Klosters event. That gathering of passionate, like-minded investors left a deep impression on me. Inspired to bring the same intimate experience closer to my Denver home, I chose Vail – a picturesque mountain town just two hours away. (I like to think it’s an improved version of Klosters, though I may be biased!)

While we recently renamed the event to The Intellectual Investor Conference, the spirit and structure that made VALUEx special remain unchanged.

The Essence

This is a conference for sharing investment research and ideas, plain and simple. We keep it pure: no sales pitches, no fundraising, just substantive discussions. We deliberately cap attendance at around 40 people to ensure meaningful exchanges and deeply engaging discussions. Our goal is to assemble a group that genuinely wants to learn from – and contribute to – one another.

How It Works

Every attendee plays an active role in the conference, whether through a formal 15-minute presentation (with 10 minutes of Q&A), sharing insights during our “dessert talks,” or joining conversations at the bar. We have time for about 20 presentations, which a committee selects based on their timeliness and impact. But here’s the key – everyone should come ready to present.

What can you talk about? Really, anything that fascinates serious investors: share your best stock ideas (long or short), walk us through your take on macroeconomic trends, dive deep into an industry you know well, or open up about your investment process. Once we finalize our attendee list, we’ll work together to coordinate presentation topics that will spark the most interesting discussions.

Three Days in Vail

We start with a Jeffersonian-style breakfast, where the group dives deep into a single, focused topic. Then we switch gears and head out for some fun together. Over the years, we’ve visited local ranches, gone zip-lining, played volleyball, tried our hand at horseshoes or bocce ball, and even gone fishing with our kids.

Our afternoons begin with six thought-provoking presentations, followed by dinner at one of Vail’s local restaurants. We often feature one or two dessert speakers who share their insights in a more relaxed setting. For the night owls among us, the conversations continue at the bar.

The Community

While most attendees are professional value investors, we actively welcome passionate nonprofessionals. In fact, some of our most thought-provoking insights have come from outside the finance industry – individuals who bring fresh perspectives and genuine enthusiasm to our discussions.

Beyond Business

The conference offers an excellent opportunity to combine intellectual stimulation with family vacation. Vail in summer is a playground of activities—from biking and hiking to gondola rides up to mountain peaks, all set against Colorado’s breathtaking scenery. While conference sessions and dinners are reserved for registered attendees, we welcome family members of all ages to join our daytime activities.

The true value of the conference extends far beyond its three-day duration. While exceptional investing ideas draw people initially, they return for the lasting friendships and connections. Our attendees regularly maintain contact throughout the year, forming a vibrant community of intellectual investors who continue to share insights and support one another’s growth.

I hope you’ll join us in Vail!

Vitaliy Katsenelson, CFA

CEO, Investment Management Associates, Inc. 

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