ALFI Personal Investing Day

Every investor has a first step, and a few missteps along the way. In this opening conversation, Serge Weyland and Ala Presenti share their personal investing stories: the wins, the errors, and the lessons they’ll never forget. From the cost of not investing to the importance of starting early, they discuss how attitudes toward risk, diversification, and purpose have evolved. In their exchange, experience meets curiosity to reveal how each generation learns — and relearns — the value of time in investing. A candid start to the day and a reminder that waiting can be the costliest decision of all.

Participants work in small groups to develop an investment plan based on a given life scenario, guided by an industry expert. Each group is encouraged to reflect, debate, and learn collaboratively, drawing insights both from peers and mentors.

In this keynote, Candi shares how 25 years of value investing shaped his investment philosophy. Drawing connections between managing companies and evaluating them as investments, he discusses the importance of discipline, patience, and staying within one’s circle of competence. The session also delves into the behavioural side of investing — from common biases to the psychological pitfalls that often stand between investors and consistent results — and reflects on why the human factor still matters in an age of big data and algorithms. Concluding with a personal perspective on AI’s growing role in finance, Candi examines how technology can amplify insight without replacing human judgment.