Peter Ricchiuti, assistant dean of Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business and a nationally known expert on financial markets, will speak Jan. 11, during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2010 annual meeting.

Ricchiuti will speak during a conference hosted by the American Agricultural Insurance Company.

Ricchiuti’s presentation will be one of the highlight conferences slated to run during AFBF’s 91st annual meeting, Jan. 10-13 in Seattle. More than 5,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation will gather to learn about the issues shaping agriculture today and participate in a grassroots policy setting process that will guide AFBF through 2010. AAIC, headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., is a direct provider of reinsurance to Farm Bureau insurance companies.

Peter Ricchiuti is described as “the business school professor you wish you had back in college.” He’s been called “half Alan Greenspan and half Robin Williams” for his unique ability to explain complex economic issues in an entertaining and enlightening manner. Ricchiuti is considered as entertaining as a stand-up comic, yet as informative as the best professor everyone had in school.

Ricchiuti founded Tulane’s highly acclaimed Burkenroad Reports stock research program. He has been featured on CNN, CNBC, the New York Times, Barron’s, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Prior to his work with Tulane, Ricchiuti enjoyed a successful investment career with Kidder Peabody. He also served as assistant state treasurer and chief investment officer for the state of Louisiana.

At the AAIC conference, Ricchiuti will discuss the signals the financial markets are sending and will stress how following the herd in stocks and investments rarely produces superior long-term results.

“If the majority of people were right, the majority of the people would be rich…and they’re not,” Ricchiuti says.

Farm Bureau members can register for the 91st annual meeting through their state Farm Bureaus.