Investing in Emerging Markets: Risks, Rewards & Realities | #20

In this episode of Algy’s Investment Podcast, we sit down with Glen Finegan of Skerryvore Asset Management, a seasoned investor with decades of experience managing global emerging market portfolios. Together, we dive deep into the realities of investing beyond the US and Europe, exploring the risks, opportunities, and governance challenges that define emerging markets today.

We discuss:

1. What defines an emerging market and why they matter for global investors.
2. The biggest opportunities in India, Taiwan, and Mexico — and how domestic consumption drives long-term growth.
3. How to assess risk, governance, and trust in management teams when investing in volatile regions.
4. Why many state-owned enterprises in China, Brazil, and Russia fail investors — and how to avoid these traps.
5. The role of currencies, inflation, and political risk in shaping investment outcomes.
6. Insights into China’s tech market, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), and India’s growing middle class.
7. The importance of absolute return investing vs. chasing benchmarks.
8. Lessons from history — from the Mexican crisis to the Asian crisis and the global financial crisis — and how emerging markets bounced back.
9. Why governance, integrity, and sustainable business models are the true differentiators in long-term success.

Glen also shares Skerryvore’s investment philosophy, built on four key pillars:

1. Strong governance and alignment with minority shareholders.
2.Businesses with durable pricing power and compounding ability.
3.Resilient balance sheets.
4. Companies behaving sustainably for long-term growth.
Whether you’re an institutional investor, a financial professional, or simply curious about the future of global investing, this episode provides a rare inside look into how top investors identify high-quality companies in some of the world’s most complex and fast-growing economies.