Enterprising Investor

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.

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 actions. Tune in for an enlightening conversation filled with expert analysis and valuable investment insights.

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 evolving role of AI in investments and the complexities of today's market dynamics.

Feifei Li, Chief Investment Officer at Kavout Algo Financial and former CIO at Research Affiliates, delves into the revolutionary role of AI in investment research. She discusses her transition from academia to asset management and the shift towards retail investors during the pandemic. Feifei highlights the capabilities of InvestGPT, an AI-driven research assistant, and its impact on automating tedious tasks. She also explores the fusion of AI with ESG metrics for tailored investment strategies, underscoring the balance between automation and human insight in the decision-making process.

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.

Alfonso Ricciardelli, Co-edited 'An Introduction to Alternative Credit' for the CFA Institute Research Foundation, discusses the rise of alternative credit, expanding access for retail investors, risks, education, and regulation in investment products, and navigating financial influencers and misinformation online in this entertaining podcast.

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.

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 perspectives on the Oracle of Omaha and his enduring investment principles.