Manager Challenge

The Manager Challenge is a web-based, investment strategy simulation. It provides a competitive and fun environment in which participants can sharpen their skills in manager selection and monitoring—while learning valuable real world lessons.

Designed for players at all levels of investment sophistication—from experts down to those just starting in the business, the Manager Challenge lets you evaluate investment products, build a portfolio and test your skill in achieving long-term goals.

How does the Manager Challenge work?

Conducted completely online, individuals and teams can participate either at in-person events hosted by Brandes or remotely from anywhere in the world. The Manager Challenge is played over a simulated 15-year timeframe, divided into five periods of three years. Each period brings new developments—performance fluctuations, product closures, personnel turnover among select managers, and mergers or acquisitions.

Teams can fire existing managers, hire new ones and adjust asset allocations.

The goal is to have the highest portfolio value at the close of the final period.

To learn more about remote events or hosting a Brandes Institute Manager Challenge presentation, please contact Bob Schmidt, Manager of the Brandes Institute at Bob.Schmidt@brandes.com.

How do I Play?

Individuals or teams allocate assets among products offered by fictitious (but incredibly realistic) investment managers in an attempt to increase portfolio value, manage career risk and exceed liability and policy targets.

All you need to know to play and win the Manager Challenge is provided in these tutorial videos:

Introduction – Presents game concepts and explains basic terms
Rules, Guidelines, and Navigation – Introduce competitors to look and feel of the game
Key Terms – Familiarizes participants with the key concepts and terminology
Playing the Game (part I) – Introduces investment selection strategies and criteria
Playing the Game (part II) – Details key investment selection factors and how to build a portfolio
How to Log on – Shows how to log on to the Manager Challenge site and register a team

How do I sign-up?

If you are interested in participating in our next Manager Challenge event please email us at: challengeinfo@brandes.com. Eligible participants will be provided a password and website address for the competition.

For plan sponsors interested in hosting a live, in-person version of the Manager Challenge, please contact Bob Schmidt at Bob.Schmidt@brandes.com.

Questions and Technical Problems

For general information about the Manager Challenge, contact us at challengeinfo@brandes.com or call our helpline at 858.523.3322. During Manager Challenge events, the helpline will be open; it is regularly checked for messages at other times.

Past Event Winners

YEAR

EVENT

WINNER

2013

Service Employees International Union

Fabulous5

2013

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Jenn18

2012

Brandes Institute Manager Challege (Investment Professional Division)

Dylan Hallman

2012

Brandes Institute Manager Challege (Investment Professional Division)

Terry Shields

2012

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

18% Gold

2011

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Bus522

2010

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Table19

2009

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Market Beaters

2009

InvestorHelp Dream Retirement Challenge

Vestin

2008

Brandes Client Conference Manager Challenge 2008 Tournament

Parametrics, Philip Read, Metal Box Pension Trustees Limited

2008

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Two Man Team

2007

Brandes Institute Manager Challenge 2007 Tournament

Leah Jones, Mosaic Financial Group, LLC.

2007

National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

Team 9

2006

Brandes Institute Manager Challenge – Institutional Client Tournament 2006

Mad Cows, Team from Lockwood Advisors

The Manager Challenge® was created by the Brandes Institute, a division of Brandes Investment Partners®.

The Manager Challenge® is a registered trademark of Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. in the United Sates.

This material was prepared by the Brandes Institute. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any products or services, or for the purchase or sale of any products or services. All information concerning managers, products and investments is fictitious. Any resemblance between managers, persons or products in the Manager Challenge and any real manager, persons, or products is unintentional. No investment strategy can assure a profit or protect against loss.

The Brandes Institute, together with academic researchers, may use data and results from the Manager Challenge in order to study investor behavior in this simulated investment environment. Throughout the Manager Challenge, the administrator may record information about team actions, including, but not limited to, hirings, firings, and when such actions were effected. The Brandes Institute reserves the right to publish results of any such research (possibly in conjunction with its academic collaborators) at the Brandes Institute website and/or in an academic journal. Any such study or research will not use the names of individuals who participate in the Manager Challenge nor the names adopted for their teams.

Brandes Investment Partners® is a registered trademark of Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. in the United States and Canada. Users agree not to copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, or in any way exploit this material. For more information about Brandes Institute research projects, visit our website at www.brandes.com/institute.