Guiding Assets

What’s driving the curious performance of US equities in 2025—and what risks are flying under the radar? Christopher Shipley, Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Fort Washington Investment Advisors, joins host Mike Wallberg, CFA, to unpack the geopolitical and economic currents shaping investor sentiment. From the muted market reaction to Middle East tensions and the structural tilt of US markets toward growth,...

Guest host Chris Wiese, CFA, Managing Director of Education at CFA Institute, sits down with Nerina Visser, CFA, President’s Council Representative for the Middle East and Africa, during the CFA Institute LIVE 2025 conference. Their conversation spans the dynamic investment environment across the region and the evolving role of CFA Institute in supporting professionals navigating local and global challenges.
Nerina discusses the st...

Barbara Stewart, CFA, returns to The Enterprising Investor to share findings from her latest Rich Thinking study, based on candid conversations with 54 people across the globe. This year’s central question—“What’s the smartest thing you ever did?”—unlocks an inspiring range of stories about personal and professional transformation.
From a Singaporean ballet dancer who defied expectations, to an Argentine executive who discovered th...

At CFA Institute LIVE 2025, returning guest Mark Higgins, CFA, sat down with guest host Lotta Moberg to explore the rise—and risks—of private credit. With a historical perspective and a sharp eye for market cycles, Mark challenges the prevailing optimism, drawing parallels to past investment booms and offering a compelling case for greater caution. He also examines the expanding role of consultants and questions common assumptions ...

Andrew Ang—former BlackRock executive, Columbia professor, and advisor to Sarawak’s sovereign wealth fund— explores the intersection of personal journey and professional insight in modern investing. From the severe value investing drawdown between 2018 and 2020 to the strategic comeback post-COVID vaccine announcements, Andrew unpacks lessons from one of the most turbulent financial periods in history. He also discusses how investo...

Eric Hanno, CFA, is co-head of Apollo Global Management's Apollo Aligned Alternatives (AAA) strategy. He and host Mike Wallberg, CFA, discuss the current market dynamics for semi-liquid investments amid high levels of uncertainty and volatility in public markets. Eric shares insights on consumer and business confidence trends, the impact of tariffs, and the overall energy in Apollo's offices. With a focus on how investors can effec...

Dan Boston, Lead Manager of Polar Capital’s International Small Company Fund (PCSCX), shares his perspective on why international equities may be poised for a resurgence. The conversation unfolds amid sharp market volatility following President Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs. With global markets down significantly, Dan and Mike explore the broader implications for asset classes including U.S. treasuries, oil, and inte...

Renowned economist and former Federal Reserve advisor Danielle DiMartino Booth joins host Mike Wallberg, CFA, for a hard-hitting conversation about the real state of the U.S. economy. From the under-the-radar signs of a recession to the shifting credit landscape, Danielle unpacks why traditional metrics may be missing the mark—and what investors should really be watching. The conversation digs into retail bankruptcies, private cred...

Geopolitical strategist and bestselling author Peter Zeihan returns for a deep dive into the shifting global order. He and host Mike Wallberg, CFA, explore the evolving role of the US in international trade, the economic impact of demographic shifts, and how America's political landscape is reshaping its strategy on the world stage. Peter unpacks the forces driving today’s geopolitical and economic upheaval, offering insights on wh...

Join us for a special crossover episode of Enterprising Investor, where host Mike Wallberg, CFA, sits down with The Long Term Investor podcast’s Peter Lazaroff, CFA, for a lively and thought-provoking conversation. Together, they dive into the key influences that have shaped their investing philosophies and personal worldviews, sharing insights gleaned from their experiences with a wide range of guests. This episode is packed with ...

Senior Affiliate Researcher at CFA Institute, Cheryll-Ann Wilson, CFA, discusses the recently published CFA Institute Research & Policy Center report, “Creating Value from Big Data in the Investment Management Process: A Workflow Analysis.” Cheryll-Ann shares insights from her research, which involved a comprehensive survey and interviews with investment professionals worldwide. The conversation explores the use of AI and big data ...

In this episode, Mike welcomes Olivier Fines, CFA, Head of Advocacy and Capital Markets Policy Research for EMEA at CFA Institute, and Mark Higgins, CFA, author of "Investing in U.S. Financial History." The discussion centers around the findings of a recent CFA Institute Research and Policy Center report titled "The Dollar's Exorbitant Privilege," which Olivier co-authored. Olivier shared insights from the survey report, and Mark p...

Mike Wallberg, CFA, welcomes Amanda Voegeli, CFA, President and Managing Partner of Southlea Group, to discuss the unique landscape of Canadian public sector pension plans. The conversation dives into the competitive challenges these plans face in attracting and retaining talent compared to private finance giants such as Blackstone and Goldman Sachs. Amanda also highlights findings from a recent study by Southlea Group that sheds l...

In this episode of the Enterprising Investor podcast, guest host Ryan Munson discusses the 2024 edition of the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index with Mercer's Executive Director of Investments and Global Chief Investment Strategist, Rich Nuzum, CFA. Rich, who has extensive experience in providing investment advice and leading long-term savings reform projects, shares insights into the key features of...

Founder and CEO of Essentia Analytics, Clare Flynn Levy, joins Mike Wallberg, CFA, to discuss the concept of the behavioral alpha score, a metric designed to assess an investor's decision-making skill. Drawing from her experience as an active equity fund manager, Clare explains the origins of the behavioral alpha score and its significance in the pursuit of sustainable investment alpha in an increasingly competitive landscape. She ...

Stephen Foerster, CFA, discusses his new book, "Trailblazers Heroes and Crooks: Stories to Make You a Smarter Investor."  In the book, Professor Foerster shares intriguing stories that illustrate valuable lessons for investors, drawing from diverse topics such as professional sports, fraud cases, and even wildlife encounters. The conversation kicks off with a fascinating tale involving Warren Buffett's early investment in the 1960s...

Mike Wallberg welcomes senior Bloomberg writer Stephanie Baker to discuss her new book, "Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia." The book offers an in-depth analysis of the West's response to Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Stephanie shares insights from her extensive reporting and how her experiences in Moscow during the 1990s shape her perspective on the drastic economic shifts result...

Drew Estes, CFA, a portfolio manager at Banyan Capital Management, and host Mike Wallberg, CFA, discuss Drew’s thought-provoking article, "Commercial Evolution," which explores the intersection of evolutionary biology and investment strategies. He shares his disillusionment with traditional economic theories, particularly equilibrium theory, and advocates for a broader understanding of economics by incorporating biological concepts...

Join as Jordan Doyle and Genevieve Hayman discuss their recent report, "Smart Beta, Direct Indexing, and Index-Based Investment Strategies." The conversation explores the historical context and substantial growth of index investing, highlighting the expansion of index ETFs, mutual funds, and smart beta ETFs. Genevieve and Jordan provide insights into how these strategies should be understood and integrated within client portfolios....