Impact, Performance, and Inflation Hedges: Rethinking Real Asset Investing with Machel Allen and Brad Gretsch

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, Georges Dyer speaks with Machel Allen, President & CIO of Metis Global Partners, and Brad Gretsch, Research Analyst at Metis. They dive into the critical role of real assets—including natural resources, real estate, infrastructure, commodities, and precious metals—in driving the energy transition and supporting sustainable investing.

The conversation explores how Metis has developed a sustainable real assets index strategy that provides institutional investors access to diversified, liquid, and cost-effective exposure to real assets—without the heavy fossil fuel tilt of traditional funds. Machel and Brad explain how this strategy balances impact, financial performance, and risk management, making it attractive for foundations, endowments, healthcare systems, and family offices alike.

Listeners gain insight into:

• Why real assets are central to decarbonization
• The financial performance of sustainable indexes compared to traditional ones
• The benefits of liquidity, diversification, and inflation protection
• How investors can align mission-driven goals with portfolio strategies

This episode highlights how innovative approaches to real assets can deliver both market returns and climate solutions, helping to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Keywords: Sustainable investing, real assets, energy transition, climate solutions, institutional investors, inflation hedge, diversification, index strategies, endowments & foundations, decarbonization