Enterprising Investor

In Episode #364, we walk about the difference between risk and uncertainty, and what implication does this difference have for decision making? This distinction is important in finance where pricing and investment decisions often use complex models that use assumed distribution to encapsulate risk. In reality, however, it can be argued that the future is inherently one of uncertainty and cannot be captured via a probability distribution and that a heuristic approach to decision making might be optimal. This leads to the proposition that less is more and that a heuristic approach, using less information, can produce better outcomes than a complex model dependent on numerous assumptions.

In Episode #363, Mithu Storoni, an eye surgeon who holds a PhD in Neuro-ophthalmology and author of the book "Stress-Proof," explains that chronic stress is changing the structure of the brain, thinning the part that carries the seat of sophisticated decision making and this is a problem for investors today because we have to compete with artificial intelligence (AI).

In Episode #362, Marko Papic, chief political strategist and senior vice president at BCA Research, discusses a variety of geopolitical risks, including the rise and implications of populism, the biggest threat to the single market in Europe, what's happening in China, and whether US President Donald Trump will be re-elected in 2020. He also provides investors an update on geopolitical risks to watch in 2019.

In Episode #361, we talk with Ken Sena and Bryan Healey, co-founders of Aiera, an adaptive, deep-learning platform designed to enhance active fundamental investment strategies. Aiera is also short for "artificially intelligent equity research analyst."

In Episode #359, Caitlin Long, a Wall Street veteran who has been a blockchain evangelist since 2014 and bitcoin since 2012, discusses bitcoin, blockchain myths versus reality, cryptocurrencies, why the world needs more systemic thinkers, how Satoshi Nakamoto solved the "Byzantine Generals Problem", and more.

In Episode #358, BlackRock's chief equity strategist, Kate Moore, tells viewers what she is counseling clients, offers advice on building a portfolio that is adequately defensive, and shares her outlook on China, among other things. She also discusses traits that make for the best investors and "the number one thing" that has contributed to her career success.

In Episode #357, Shamaila Khan, director, emerging market debt at AllianceBernstein, discusses a number of issues related to this market, including concerns about broader contagion, which countries look most fragile, bright spots, global macro trends, and active versus passive investing.

In Episode #356, Priscilla Hancock, a managing director, senior fixed-income specialist, and head of the fixed-income insights team at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, explains why investors should stay in fixed income, what attributes fixed-income portfolios should have to be well positioned for the future, and where there are risks and opportunities in the municipal bond markets.

In Episode #355, Philippe Desfosses, CIO of ERAFP, France's public service pension scheme, discusses the unique situation ERAFP is in-including regular inflows and a funding ratio of 105%--and the resulting challenges they face in applying the traditional framework. To further complicated things, some sovereign bonds have been producing negative returns. He suggests a number of changes that need to be made by the industry so pension fund managers can properly deal with the challenges presented by these unique situations.

In Episode #354, Shazia Syed, chief executive and chairperson of Unilever Pakistan Limited, describes her journey from management trainee to CEO, including the skills she needed to cultivate and lessons learned along the way. As an active advocate for greater gender diversity, Syed also discusses the importance of mentors in building one's career.