Enterprising Investor

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 of investment strategies and personal growth. Tune in now for this unique podcast crossover, blending expertise, experience, and fresh perspectives in one compelling discussion. And if you enjoy this episode, you won't want to miss Mike and Peter at CFA Institute LIVE 2025 in Chicago this May! This episode is sponsored by Fintool. Check them out at https://fintool.com/

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 challenges and opportunities that practitioners, regulators, and executives face in adopting these innovations. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how technology is reshaping the investment management profession and what it means for your own technological journey. Visit https://cfainst.is/4gvKRke to read the report.

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 that have triggered shifts away from dominant currencies in the past. This engaging conversation provides valuable insights into the complexities of US debt, the role of the dollar, and the historical context that shapes our current financial system.

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 massive public entities. Tune in for valuable perspectives on the intersection of pension management and human capital in Canada.

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.

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 superior information, are no longer effective, highlighting the importance of understanding and improving one's own decision-making processes. Tune in to explore how behavioral analytics can enhance investment strategies and decision making.

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 tipster known as The Voice. Dr. Foerster emphasizes the importance of learning from history beyond just financial metrics, encouraging investors to consider the broader context of their decisions. Tune in for a rich discussion about the lessons that can be gleaned from both triumphs and missteps in the investment world.

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 implications of this geopolitical crisis and the end of Russia's 30 years of economic integration with the West. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the efforts to confront Russia in the wake of the invasion.

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 phenomenon—evolution—and highlights the importance of replication, heritable traits, and variability in commerce. Listen now to discover how evolutionary theory can lead to smarter investment decisions.

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 index-based investment strategies.