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, to the evolving implications of tariffs and AI’s layered impact ...
Jul 15, 2025•25 min•Ep. 546
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 structural realities shaping participation in the profession—includ...
Jul 01, 2025•14 min•Ep. 545
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 the Japanese concept of ikigai, to an Australian entrepreneur who r...
Jun 15, 2025•20 min•Ep. 544
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 in portfolio construction. A must-listen for anyone navigating th...
Jun 01, 2025•17 min•Ep. 543
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 investors can build resilience into their portfolios, the nuanced role o...
May 15, 2025•21 min•Ep. 542
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 effectively allocate semi-liquid assets into their portfolios, this ep...
May 01, 2025•26 min•Ep. 541
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 international stocks. Tune in for a timely discussion on where global...
Apr 15, 2025•33 min•Ep. 540
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 credit vulnerabilities, and how the gig economy is quietly reshaping ...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min•Ep. 539
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 what the future holds for investors, businesses, and nations alike....
Mar 15, 2025•24 min•Ep. 538
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 actionable takeaways as they explore the powerful intersection o...
Mar 03, 2025•47 min•Ep. 537
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 technologies in the finance sector, highlighting the challeng...
Feb 04, 2025•24 min•Ep. 536
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 provided a historical perspective on reserve currencies and events...
Dec 17, 2024•33 min•Ep. 535
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 light on compensation strategies and talent retention within these...
Dec 01, 2024•27 min•Ep. 535
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 robust pension systems and the challenges faced by underperforming ones.
Nov 15, 2024•29 min•Ep. 534
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 emphasizes that traditional methods of generating alpha, such as ...
Nov 01, 2024•26 min•Ep. 533
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, featuring the notorious figure Tino DeAngelis and an anonymous t...
Oct 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 532
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 resulting from the invasion. The conversation delves into the profound ...
Oct 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 531
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. Drew explains how both economists and biologists study the same...
Sep 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 530
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. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic world of i...
Sep 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 529
Campbell Harvey, a professor of finance at Duke University, director of research at Research Affiliates, and author of "DeFi and the Future of Finance," is best known for identifying the link between an inverted yield curve and impending recessions—a theory that has guided financial practitioners for nearly four decades. This episode delves into his famous recession indicator and its historical performance, as well as perspective on the current volatile market and the Federal Reserve's potential...
Aug 15, 2024•39 min•Ep. 528
Join Mike Wallberg, CFA, and Ken Laudan, portfolio manager of Buffalo Fund's Blue Chip Growth Fund, for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI in investing. Ken shares his contrary view on AI's transformational potential, drawing on his extensive experience as a sell-side analyst and buy-side portfolio manager. The conversation also touches on the current market landscape and the emergence of a shifting narrative toward other stocks. Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on the evolvin...
Aug 01, 2024•25 min•Ep. 527
Fei-Fei Li, former Chief Investment Officer at Research Affiliates and current CIO at Kavout Algo Financial, shares insights from her extensive background in finance. She discusses her tenure at Research Affiliates, where she led research and strategy design for the firm's systematic active strategies and smart beta indices. The conversation then pivots to her current role at Kavout Algo Financial, where she is spearheading the development of an AI tool aimed at revolutionizing the investment re...
Jul 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 526
Tune in as David Blanchett, CFA, shares insights on his latest research on investment horizons, serial correlation, and better retirement portfolios. David discusses the impact of time and inflation on optimal portfolio construction and makes a case for including commodities in portfolios. Listen now to learn more about his findings and insights into retirement planning strategies. Read the full paper here: https://cfainst.is/4eW9BTp.
Jul 01, 2024•26 min•Ep. 525
In this episode of the Enterprising Investor podcast, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, interviews Alfonso Ricciardelli, CFA, about alternative credit. Alfonso co-edited “An Introduction to Alternative Credit” for the CFA Institute Research Foundation. Mike and Alfonso discuss the motivation behind the paper and the importance of expanding access to retail investors for alternative credit products. Tune in to learn more about this niche area of finance!
Jun 15, 2024•25 min•Ep. 524
On this episode of Enterprising Investor, Mike Wallberg, CFA, interviews Chris Geczy from UPenn's Wharton School about the application of AI in the investment industry. Professor Geczy discusses the evolution of AI in finance and its historical context dating back to the 1960s. Join the conversation to explore the intersection of AI and investment strategies.
Jun 01, 2024•29 min•Ep. 523
In this episode of Enterprising Investor, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, interviews Robert Hagstrom, CFA, author of "The Warren Buffett Way," discussing insights from the recent Berkshire shareholders meeting and the evolution of Warren Buffett's investment strategies over the past 30 years. They delve into the atmosphere of the Berkshire meeting, often dubbed the "Woodstock of capitalism," which kicks off days before the main event with various conferences and events. Tune in to gain valuable perspec...
May 15, 2024•29 min•Ep. 52
In this episode of Enterprising Investor, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, engages with Andy Lee, founder of Parallaxes Capital, to uncover the hidden gems within tax receivable agreements. Andy shares his insights on how these agreements, akin to pharmaceutical and musical royalties of past decades, offer investors long-term cash flow opportunities often overlooked by many. Join the conversation as Andy sheds light on his unique approach to finding value in the financial market.
May 01, 2024•27 min•Ep. 521
This episode of Enterprising Investor features Dr. Meir Statman discussing the role of money in happiness and how mindset can impact investing success. Dr. Statman, a professor at Santa Clara University, recently published a book titled "A Wealth of Wellbeing, A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance." The book explores making better decisions about financial and life well-being. Dr. Statman shares personal insights that highlight the importance of understanding risks beyond the stock market. T...
Apr 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 520
On this episode of the Enterprising Investor podcast, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, interviews Mark Higgins, CFA, author of " Investing in US Financial History. " Mark delves into the comprehensive process of breaking down US financial history from 1790 to the present day, highlighting key inflection points and the evolution of the financial system. Join Mike and Mark as they uncover the compelling insights from centuries of financial markets in this engaging discussion.
Mar 20, 2024•27 min•Ep. 519
In this episode of the Enterprising Investor Podcast, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, introduces Barbara Stewart, CFA, an experienced FX trader, high-net-worth manager, researcher, author, and keynote speaker. Barbara discusses her annual Rich Thinking study, which focuses on women and finance. This year's study asked 50 successful people about their investment portfolios. Barbara shares her insights and goals for the study, aiming to advance the world of women and finance. Her full report will be rele...
Mar 06, 2024•26 min•Ep. 518
