Megatrends that Matter: What's Driving Growth? Featuring Vanguard's Head of Global Economic Research

In the latest episode of Amplified Wealth: According to Plan, the team sits down with Kevin Kang, Vanguard’s Senior International Economist, to explore the key forces shaping the economy and financial markets over the next decade.

Backed by over 100 years of historical data, Kevin and his team analyzed the "megatrends" likely to drive future GDP growth — and the risks that could drag it down.

Episode Highlights:

📈 The 5 Megatrends Shaping the Economy:
From technological innovation to rising government debt, discover the five long-term forces likely to impact your portfolio.

🧠 Why Productivity is King:
Learn why AI-powered productivity may be the single most important trend — and how it stacks up against structural deficits.

🧓 Debunking Demographics:
An aging population may not be the inflationary threat we once thought. Kevin explains why the Fed’s role is far more important.

🌍 Globalization & Inflation:
Did trade and labor supply really tame inflation? The data might surprise you.

💼 Investment Implications:
Find out why tilting toward value stocks and holding high-quality bonds could make sense — regardless of which future unfolds.

This wide-ranging conversation is packed with insight into what really drives markets over time — and how investors can prepare.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold open & fashion megatrends

2:22 – Introducing Kevin Khang and his role at Vanguard

9:51 – Vanguard's Megatrends white paper and upcoming book

16:25 – The 5 Megatrends that drive the economy

23:04 – Globalization, demographics, and inflation

27:36 – Not all deficits are counterproductive

32:14 – US debt projection as America ages

39:35 – Historical general purpose technologies and productivity growth

53:21 – Vanguard's stance on AI stocks, megatrends, fixed-income, and long-term investing

1:04:51 – What if AI fails?

1:11:34 – DOGE’s impact on structural deficit headwind and closing

Read Vanguard's Megatrends White Paper: https://bit.ly/42yI3z7

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