FEG Insight Bridge

Mohamed El-Erian’s career is impressive by any standards: he’s served as deputy director of the IMF, as part of President Obama’s Global Development Council, and as CEO for PIMCO, and is currently president of Queens College, chair of Gramercy Funds, and chief economic advisor to Allianz. On this episode, he sits down with Greg to discuss the Fed’s recent actions and statements, how institutional investors should be interpreting the current market signals, and what the Biden administration should be doing to maintain and grow the reputation of the U.S. as global leader. You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

This episode of the FEG Insight Bridge features Sebastian Mallaby, the Paul Volcker senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations and renowned journalist and author whose works include More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite and The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan, among others. The focus of this discussion is Sebastian’s most recent book, The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future. Sebastian also shares his thoughts on the unique nature of Silicon Valley, the enormous influence of key venture capitalists on the industry, and the art and responsibility of storytelling. Listen in on this fascinating conversation to better understand the mysteries of venture capitalism, the mindset of successful VCs, and why governance is crucial, even—or especially—for decacorns.You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

The decorated and well-loved CIO, Jonathan Hook, joins Greg for this riveting episode of the FEG Insight Bridge where the two discuss Jonathan’s broad career from banking to university endowments to private foundations.  Jonathan shares his insights on topics ranging from his approach to asset allocation and building out investment offices, his philosophy as a CIO, and plans for his impending retirement. He also discusses the Weinberg Foundation’s highly lauded diverse manager program. You won’t want to miss this engaging episode!You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

Sir Chris Hohn, founder of TCI and CIFF, shares insights on finding companies with moats, being an activist, and importance of climate change. He emphasizes long-term investments in strong businesses, investment activism challenges, and philanthropy work. Hohn discusses the significance of climate action in investment decisions and shares book recommendations outside of investing and charity.

This episode of the FEG Insight Bridge features Dominique Mielle, well-known distressed debt investor, former partner and senior portfolio manager at Canyon Capital, and author of the book Damsel in Distressed: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Funds. After 20+ years in distressed debt investments, she published the first-ever hedge fund memoir by a woman. Dominique and Greg discuss what it was like to be the only woman in the room (and an immigrant, no less), what inspired her to write a book about her experiences, and why she decided to retire before 50. Dominique also explains why diversity is a key asset for hedge funds, how the recent changes in Fed activity are affecting the distressed landscape, and which American habit she simply cannot stand.You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

Join Greg as he sits down with the CFA Institute Research Foundation’s Director of Research Laurence “Larry” B. Siegel to discuss why investors have many reasons to be optimistic about the forward progression of society (and the economy). In this engaging episode, Larry talks about his new book, Richer, Greener, Fewer, offers a historical perspective on globalization and inflation, talks frankly about his endowment model debate versus Richard Ennis, and why investors should feel optimistic about the market. He also debunks several investment myths and shares his take on the ultimate investment strategy: buy, hold, and forget. This episode is one for the books that will leave listeners more knowledgeable and optimistic about the world we live in! You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

Join Greg as he sits down with Wellington Management’s Multi-Asset Strategist Cara Lafond to discuss the ins and outs of the current investment landscape for endowments and foundations (E&Fs). Cara is responsible for researching investment policy and portfolio construction and advising clients on portfolio risks and opportunities, with a focus on Endowments and Foundations. In this episode, Cara shares the top five E&F investment trends for 2022, including how institutions are rethinking their strategic asset allocations, how institutions are gearing up to face the coming environment of rising rates and inflation, her insights on navigating public-private crossover, strategies for investing in China, and different approaches to ESG implementation. She also breaks down some of the misconceptions around endowment models, discusses how to lean into innovation, and how to determine if a manager is right for you. You won’t want to miss this episode! You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

From earning his PhD under the great economist Gene Fama to launching AQR, one of the country’s first quantitative funds, Cliff Asness offers a unique perspective on financial markets. Winner of several awards, including five Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy Awards from The Journal of Portfolio Management, two-time winner of the Graham and Dodd Excellence Award for the year’s best paper, and second prize in the Fama/DFA Prize for Capital Markets and Asset Pricing, among others, Cliff has been well-recognized for his outstanding contributions to his field. This week on the FEG Insight Bridge, Greg picks Cliff’s brain on a range of topics, including where investors can expect to see returns in the next 10 years, what happens when stock-bond diversification fails, his thoughts on private equity modeling, what Cliff really thinks of market efficiency, and the potential role of AI in investing going forward. Listen in as Cliff’s witty retorts and insightful answers have Greg nodding in agreement.You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

It’s no secret that today’s political landscape is one of the most volatile in the U.S. since the Civil War. In this episode, we invited Dan Clifton, partner and head of policy research at Strategas Securities, to sit down with Greg Dowling on the FEG Insight Bridge to connect politics, policy, and markets today.  Listen in as Dan breaks down some of the most important moving targets for the market, from China’s geopolitical risk to the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Program and the historically large infrastructure bills being debated in Congress. Dan also offers some valuable insight into how the proposed tax bill may impact future S&P 500 earnings as well as the near-term future of the debt ceiling.  Dan shares words of wisdom for investors as he details how the “September to remember” has now become the October, November, and even December to remember as markets attempt to absorb the blows of the ongoing political dramas in D.C. This episode was recorded on October 21, 2021.You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.

Did you know that one of the biggest sectors in the REIT market today is cell phone towers? Or that REITs tend to generate positive returns in rising interest rate environments? This week on the Insight Bridge, Jon Cheigh, CIO and Head of Global Real Estate for Cohen & Steers sits down with FEG’s Greg Dowling to discuss all things REITs. From malls to cell towers and self-storage, REIT allocations have been shifting over time and have grown to positions of prominence in many portfolios, with over $1.6 trillion invested in U.S. REITs alone. In this compelling episode, Jon shares his insights on the role of the indices as a forecaster for the future, his strategies for REIT valuation, and his thoughts on near- and longer-term trends in the space. You can find every episode of FEG Insight Bridge podcasts in one place and sign up to receive our other publications here.