Investment Forum Invites Questions

The Los Angeles Times is inviting readers to submit questions to be asked of the four keynote speakers at the newspaper’s Investment Strategies Conference, to be held the weekend of Feb. 7-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown.

By compiling questions for these four speakers in advance rather than soliciting them from the Convention Center floor during the conference, the organizers hope to have a diverse list of questions ready for each keynote speaker.

The advance solicitation applies only to the keynote speakers. In all other panel sessions, attendees will be able to ask questions from the floor.

The keynote speakers:

* John Bogle, chairman of the Vanguard Group of mutual funds, the nation’s second-largest fund company, will speak from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7.

* Charles Schwab, chairman of brokerage industry leader Charles Schwab Corp., will speak from 1 to 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 7.

* Arthur Levitt, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, will speak from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 8.

* Mary Schapiro, president of NASD Regulation, the regulatory arm of the National Assn. of Securities Dealers, will speak from 1 to 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 8.

Questions for any of these panelists may be sent to The Times by fax at (213) 237-6457; by e-mail at wsc@latimes.com; or by regular mail to Conference Questions, Business Section, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.

Please include your name and telephone number.

The final list of questions for each keynote speaker will be selected by Times editors and will be asked of the speakers by Times reporters.

Besides the four keynote speakers, the conference will feature 36 panel discussions on topics that include technology stock investing, how to pick an investment advisor, retirement and estate planning, advanced stock selection, strategies for income-oriented investors, California municipal bonds, contrarian investing and investing on the Internet.

Panelists scheduled to appear include many of the nation’s top mutual fund managers and financial planners, as well as Times financial reporters and analysts from mutual fund rating firm Morningstar Inc.

The cost is $55 for both days or $45 for one day. Investors can register in advance for the specific panels they wish to attend, although registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited.

For more information or to register, call (800) 350-3211 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., or visit The Times’ Web site at https://www.latimes.com/isc