Enterprising Investor

An emerging and critical application of data science in the asset management industry is the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to support both the art and science of fundamental investing. Arezu Moghadam, Managing Director and Global Head of Data Science at JP Morgan Asset Management, speaks with host, Mike Wallberg, CFA, about how her team applies AI and ML to help the firm’s portfolio managers make faster and smarter decisions by separating signal from noise in the massive volumes of structured and unstructured data they analyze. She discusses how AI and ML can create efficiencies, reduce bias, and uncover new investment opportunities and offers advice to early career investment professionals aspiring to master ML and AI applications in the field of investment management.

The Journey to Leading a Global Investment Firm Leading an investment firm, regardless of size, requires a combination of soft skills — empathy and understanding of what motivates people — and a breadth of management experiences built over time. In this episode, Mike talks with a respected leader of a global investment organization, Richard Brandweiner, CFA, CEO of Pendal Australia, about his unique career path and the important leadership characteristics he honed along the way, including service to others, showing humility, building trust and relationships across an organization, bringing diverse teams together for better decision making, and always trying to see the world through the lens of the client. Richard also discusses the recent proposal from Australian fund manager, Perpetual, to acquire Pendal and his priorities as CEO in managing the firm through this combination.

How Asset Owners are Using DEI Metrics in Manager Selection and Investment Decision Making Diverse investment teams outperform on many levels.  Having a dedicated DEI strategy and culture at your investment firm can not only enhance investment performance, but also can contribute to significant improvements in risk management, talent acquisition, and employee retention. Jason Lamin, Founder & CEO, Lenox Park speaks with host Mike Wallberg, CFA, about what asset owners are asking for in terms of DEI metrics and benchmarks and the up-and-coming analytical tools available for peer comparisons by asset classes, regions, and more.

Aligning Client Objectives with Portfolios Demand for impact investments has never been higher among high net worth clients, but capital allocation to impact strategies is still a small fraction of demand.  How can advisors help their clients align objectives, build portfolios and invest in solutions to societal and environmental challenges and provide attractive returns?  Adam Rein, Co-founder, President and CIO of CapShift discusses the tools, platforms and frameworks for advisors to help navigate the impact investment landscape.

Matthew Hougan and David Lawant from Bitwise, the world's leader in crypto index funds, join Mike to talk about the current state of crypto currencies in 2022. They talk about market fundamentals, valuing crypto assets in the current volatile market, what has changed, and how to approach these assets going forward. -show notes- Link to Matt's paper for the CFA Institute Research Foundation "Cryptoassets: The Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Cryptocurrency for Investment Professionals" https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/research/foundation/2021/cryptoassets   Bitwise Investments: https://bitwiseinvestments.com/

Financial advisors quickly embraced and implemented new technology and tools to bridge performance reporting and communications with clients during the pandemic. But as our guests, Ian Robertson, CFA and Sameer Somal, CFA tell us, continuing to build on relationships, fostering trust, providing superior communication, and more comprehensive advisory services are now premium differentiators for advisors. Join us to discuss the future of work in financial advisory services and learn how you can skill up to better serve your advisory clients. Bios: Sameer Somal, CFA, CFP, CAIA  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameersomal/ Sameer serves as Chief Executive Officer for Blue Ocean Global Technology and is co-founder of Girl Power Talk. He is an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Society of International Business Fellows, and is a board member for the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, and formerly a member of the CFA Institute Seminar for Global Investors Board of Regents. He is a key contributor to numerous volunteer agencies across a wide range of initiatives, and he has dedicated countless hours to developing leaders across the globe. Adding to his long list of competencies, he is a compelling author and keynote speaker. Ian Robertson, CFA, MBA, MA  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-robertson-0636901/ Ian is a Vice President, Director, Portfolio Manager and member of Odlum Brown Limited’s Executive Committee. He is a regular speaker and writer on investment issues. Ian holds the CFA designation, which focuses on global investment knowledge, professional standards and ethics, as well as the Responsible Investment Advisor Certification (RIAC), which focuses on the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in the selection and management of investments. Combining his strong interest in the impact of ESG on corporate strategy and valuation, and his commitment to providing clients with leading-edge investment insight, Ian is pursuing his DPhil (PhD) in responsible investment on a part-time basis at the University of Oxford. Prior to joining Odlum Brown in 1997, Ian spent five years with the federal government, where he held several positions with a financial or economic focus – including postings in Ottawa with the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs Related links: Explore a wide range of courses specifically designed for investment professionals such as Data Science and DeFi. Explore online, self-paced learning that fits around your day. Courses are open to the public and member discount is available. https://cfainst.is/GAPod https://girlpowertalk.com/ Girl Power Talk--We believe that achieving true gender equality requires a radical shift in the way young women are mentored in the workplace. At Girl Power Talk, we are passionately dedicated to empowering women–as well as men and nonbinary individuals–with opportunities to learn confidently, feel valued, and build a career full of purpose. Vision: Girl Power Talk is passionate about elevating young women to become global leaders who are recognized for their myriad of talents and contributions. We believe that through education, opportunity, and the support of empathetic male allies, girls and women will advance beyond gender roles, aspire to new levels of achievement and reshape our society. Through our innovative ecosystem, we are changing the world of work for the better and providing all voices equal weight in a new narrative defining the future.

Ever considered investing in art as an alternative asset class? Allen Sukholitsky, CFA, joins us to discuss his role at Masterworks — an asset management firm that specializes in art as an investment vehicle. From how the concept of fractional shares of art really works to why it can be a great inflation hedge, this episode is a fascinating look into an often mysterious asset class.

What Bonds Can Tell Us About Equity Valuations While rising interest rates have had serious consequences for investors, there are some stocks that are performing better in the current financial climate. John Tobin, CFA, returns to the show to discuss the state of dividends and “equity duration,” and what that means for dividend payers versus non-dividend payers in a rising rate environment.

Energy price volatility has taken investors on quite a roller coaster ride over the past few years. From historic lows at the onset of the global pandemic to the surging highs seen in recent weeks, it begs the question if what we’re witnessing in the energy sector will continue, and for how long? Kathryn Downey Miller, CFA, VP of Energy Strategy at FactSet, helps shed a light on power, oil, and natural gas sectors while discussing the intricate nuances that have critical impacts on energy markets and what it means for investors.

Private equity, once an esoteric corner of Wall Street, has reached Main Street. Private equity companies are woven into the fabric of our economy. In fact, the wealth controlled by the major private equity firms is more than $12 trillion, surpassing the GDP of some nations. That’s why it’s never been more important to understand this global economic engine. Sachin Khajuria, founder and chief investment officer at Achilles Management and author of the book Two and Twenty, offers a glimpse into the winning traits and principles behind private equity and explains how best players in the industry manage to stay so successful.