Investments Unplugged: Recent Episodes
Macan Nia, Kevin Headland
An insightful and lively podcast that gives you access to ideas and insight from a range of market experts from Manulife Investment Management.(Intended for Advisor Use Only)
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, with the halfway point of the year fast
approaching, host Kevin Headland is joined by two guests—Global Chief Economist Alex
Grassino and Senior Macro Strategist Dominique Lapointe—who share their midyear 2026
global macroeconomic outlook.
Alex and Dominique recap the action-packed first half of the year, highlighted by the
unforeseen Middle East conflict that erupted in late February, and then lay out a “macro-to-
markets” roadmap of sorts for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Among the timely, top-of-
mind topics they address are:
• Global growth resilience, despite Middle East conflict-driven energy shocks;
• Evolving global inflation risks, including mounting AI-related demand pressures;
• Policy implications for the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and other major central banks;
• Portfolio positioning considerations across global equity and fixed-income markets.
Key topics & insights
- First-half surprises: geopolitical turmoil, corporate earnings, and AI leadership
• The Middle East conflict has lasted longer than most observers expected, creating a
sliding scale of potential outcomes that investors have had to price in.
• Corporate earnings expectations and results rebounded quickly after some softness
seen in late 2025, helping to support U.S. and global markets.
• U.S. equities linked to AI have continued to outperform, with market leadership
reconcentrating around AI-/hardware-related themes.
- Macro backdrop: resilient U.S. and global economies, uneven regional impacts
• Despite the Middle East conflict and resulting oil-price shock, the U.S. economy
appeared to navigate the first half with “relative ease” and notable resilience.
• Other regions’ economies are being impacted in different ways by the conflict,
depending on such factors as whether they are energy exporters or importers.
- Canada: a low-growth environment, “recession-like” conditions open to debate
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• The guests argue that an economic recession tends to be broad-based with
widespread corporate layoffs—conditions they’re not seeing in Canada right now.
• However, the economy is indeed weak, characterized by slow growth, amid
structural issues (e.g., productivity), tariff after-effects, and cautious consumers.
• But a fragile economy doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of investable opportunities,
since the Canadian stock market isn’t perfectly linked to domestic growth.
- Inflation: “rolling shocks” and new AI-driven inflation concerns
• Inflation can manifest as a series of rolling transitory shocks, potentially driven by
several forces (e.g., higher energy prices, trade tariffs, AI demand pressures).
• AI’s inflationary channel can take the form of various equipment-driven supply
shortages that can push the prices of goods up over multiple quarters.
• A specific risk scenario discussed: If the Strait of Hormuz remained closed until the
end of July, could the price of oil breach $110/barrel in the third quarter?
- Central banks: a higher degree of uncertainty and narrower policy paths
• Fed policy in the coming months may face symmetric risks from either rate hikes or
cuts, with market expectations already having been whipsawed in recent years.
• The Bank of Canada has a different dilemma on its hands: balancing rising inflation
concerns against a softening domestic economy and labor market.
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Equity positioning: try to stay invested while avoiding headline-driven reactions
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Fixed-income positioning: keep it in the portfolio toolkit, manage duration carefully
Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
• Don’t let macro and geopolitical headlines drive portfolio strategy decisions.
• Remain well diversified across asset classes, investment styles, and global markets.
• In the equity space, aim to distinguish between potential AI “winners” and “losers.”
• Use fixed-income allocations intentionally for portfolio ballast and diversification.
• Be cautious with long-duration bonds, consider favoring shorter durations.
• Canadian investors: Be alert to possible opportunities, even in a sluggish economy.
Links & Resources
• Listen to the episode: Investments Unplugged Podcast
• Learn more about Manulife Investments: Manulife IM Canada
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insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy.
For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice.
Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, host Kevin Headland is joined by Alex Richard, Senior Portfolio Manager, Multi-Asset Solutions, to discuss Manulife’s newly launched “all-in-one” ETF strategies—against a backdrop where portfolio diversification has reclaimed attention, following a period in which many investors were tempted to chase equity returns.
Kevin and Alex describe what makes these portfolios different from traditional “set-it-and-forget-it” asset-allocation ETFs, including:
- An active, flexible allocation process grounded in regularly updated capital market assumptions;
- Broader, deeper underlying portfolio diversification (including alternative investments) than many ETFs offer;
- A robust strategy implementation toolkit that can include select third-party ETFs and futures contracts.
They also share their views on portfolio positioning across equities and fixed income in today’s market environment, as well as what role diversifying exposures (like global infrastructure and global credit) can play in a long-term investment strategy.
Key topics & insights
1. Why defense and diversification are back in focus
- After an extended run of strong equity performance, it’s tempting for many investors to de-emphasize portfolio defense and to overemphasize return-chasing.
- The episode reinforces the notion of strategic diversification being essential to long-term portfolio outcomes, especially amid bouts of macro and market volatility.
2. What are Manulife’s new “all-in-one” ETF portfolios?
- There are three different ETF strategies, each designed to fit a distinct investor risk profile—Manulife Conservative ETF Portfolio, Manulife Balanced ETF Portfolio, and Manulife Growth ETF Portfolio.
- The target equity/fixed-income portfolio allocations are roughly 60% bonds/40% stocks (conservative), 60% stocks/40% bonds (balanced), and 80% stocks/20% bonds (growth).
- However, these strategies are designed to go beyond simple equity/fixed-income splits by diversifying across global regions, market caps, investment styles, and degrees of active management.
3. Active at the core, built to adapt, TCR-ready
- Rather than managing the portfolios to static portfolio targets, the team can deviate from baseline equity/fixed-income allocations and adjust underlying exposures as market conditions warrant.
- Portfolio decisions are informed by a capital markets assumptions process, conducted quarterly, that covers expected levels of investment risk/return/correlation across 100+ asset classes.
- “Total-cost reporting (TCR) ready” is positioned as a relevant feature for Canadian advisors and investors focused on total-cost reporting.
4. Broader, deeper portfolio diversification
- Depending on the particular portfolio, the team can access close to (or upwards of) ~15 asset classes, including alternatives—for stepped-up portfolio diversification versus what many competing ETFs can offer.
- This broader mandate and flexibility allows for both “offensive” (return-seeking) and “defensive” (risk-managing) portfolio allocations, designed to pursue more consistent investor outcomes over time.
5. Implementation: Manulife ETFs + third-party ETFs + futures
- The portfolios are not limited to investing only in Manulife ETFs; third-party ETFs may also be used to gain portfolio exposures not available on Manulife’s platform.
- Examples of such “off-platform” portfolio exposures include global listed infrastructure, dedicated high-yield bonds, and emerging-market debt.
- In addition, where appropriate, the strategies may leverage futures contracts as a means of efficiently adjusting portfolio exposures.
6. Market views and portfolio positioning themes
- Looking ahead, the discussion highlighted a potentially compressed range of expected market outcomes across core fixed-income and core equity portfolio buckets.
- In fixed income, investors might favor shorter-duration exposures (less interest-rate risk) and global bonds (outside North America) for potentially more attractive yield opportunities.
- Judiciously taking some credit risk may make sense in cases where investors are likely to be adequately compensated, such as select high-yield and emerging-market debt.
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Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
- Reassess how diversified your portfolio really is: A portfolio might appear to be more diversified than it really is (with a mix of stocks and bonds); consider additional layers of global and asset-class diversification.
- Don’t assume “conservative” means all bonds: Understand the portfolio’s actual target allocations and how much flexibility the manager may have to adjust or move around those allocations as needed when markets shift.
- In uncertain markets, prioritize portfolio resilience: Long-term investors may be well served by a resilient, diversified portfolio strategy focused on generating attractive risk-adjusted returns while managing volatility and downside risks.
- Consider the role of diversifiers beyond traditional stocks/bonds: If suitable for your risk profile, non-traditional asset exposures like global infrastructure and select credit sleeves may help provide enhanced portfolio diversification.
- Pay attention to duration risk in fixed income: If interest-rate volatility remains a concern, shorter-duration fixed-income positioning may better align with capital preservation goals than longer-duration bonds.
Links & Resources
- Listen to the episode:Investments Unplugged Podcast
- Learn more about Manulife Investments:Manulife IM Canada
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Episode overview
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, hosts Kevin Headland and Macan Nia continue their timely dialogue around the geopolitical turmoil impacting today’s markets. Now entering its 40th day (at the time of this recording), the ongoing conflict in the Middle East still commands center stage, so Kevin and Macan discuss how it’s feeding through to energy prices, market volatility, and investor behavior.
They examine why markets opened 2026 “priced for perfection” (leaving little margin for error), how the current oil price shock compares with 2022’s macro environment (with important differences in inflation and interest-rate starting points), and why recent equity valuation compression—particularly in the technology sector—may be creating select opportunities for investors.
Key topics & insights
1. Oil: the conflict’s key transmission channel
- “Higher-for-longer” oil price risk: Even if the Middle East conflict resolves, Kevin and Macan suggest that oil prices may remain structurally higher than pre-conflict levels due to supply impairment and perhaps an ongoing geopolitical risk premium.
- Tracking evolving dynamics: These could include higher shipping insurance rates and even increased transit/toll-like costs tied to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz—factors that can embed into oil prices beyond an immediate shock.
- Macroeconomic watchpoints: One of the critical questions still facing economists and investors alike is how higher energy prices might affect global growth rates, the likelihood of a slowdown or recession, and broader inflation levels.
2. Market volatility regime shift (not capitulation)
- More choppiness in less time: Since the Middle East conflict began, Kevin and Macan have observed a sharp rise in large daily moves by the S&P 500 Index (+/- 1% days), underscoring the reality of a more “headline-driven” market environment.
- Putting the “fear gauge” in context: While they note the VIX moving up (near ~30 at points), they emphasize that a VIX >30 is historically infrequent and that >40 has typically signaled peak fear levels, seen only in major crisis-type episodes.
- Markets reacting to ceasefire signals: They describe a “buy-the-dip” tendency where markets rally quickly on any perceived positive news, potentially reflecting underlying market resilience (but also risk if the conflict escalates from here).
3. 2022 comparisons: what’s similar vs. what’s different
- The main similarity: Today’s geopolitical tensions have pushed oil prices higher, combined with below-trend economic growth and still-sticky overall inflation.
- A key difference: The starting point for interest rates and bond yields is different now than in early 2022, which affects both bond math and the policy backdrop.
- Inflation framing (“three Cs”): Today’s inflation setup isn’t a direct replay of recent history, which was marked by multiple years of persistently elevated inflation.
4. Valuations: technology reset, select opportunities
- Technology premium compressed: Kevin and Macan highlight that the NASDAQ Composite Index’s forward price/earnings (P/E) premium vs. the S&P 500 Index has narrowed considerably, reflecting a meaningful valuation reset in recent months.
- “Better earnings for a cheaper price”: The market’s price (“P”) has come down, while earnings expectations (“E”) have been more resilient, implying that there may now be improved value and select opportunities in some areas of the market.
- Not all tech is created equal: It’s important to break the broad technology sector down into its subsectors (semis, hardware, software/services) in an effort to identify potential winners, rather than just buying tech stocks indiscriminately.
Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
- Treat volatility as part of the process, not a trigger to abandon it: With markets potentially “priced for perfection,” geopolitical and other surprises can spur outsized moves, so portfolios should be diversified and built to withstand volatility.
- Focus on the path of oil prices (level + duration): The big risk with regard to oil prices is not necessarily a short-term (e.g., one-week) spike, but rather a more sustained rise that filters into broader inflation expectations and economic growth.
- If sitting on cash, consider staged reentry into the market: Market uncertainty and volatility can potentially be harnessed to an investor’s advantage, as they may spawn attractive opportunities to redeploy some idle cash back into the market.
- Reassess fixed income with today’s yield cushion in mind: A bond’s total return consists of both price appreciation and yield.Starting yields are higher today than in 2022, and price volatility may be offset over time by the income (yield) component.
- Selectively look for valuation-driven opportunities (especially in tech): Broad market sell-offs can sometimes leave no stocks unpunished, potentially offering opportunities to selectively buy high-quality companies at cheaper valuations.
Links & Resources
- Listen to the episode:Investments Unplugged Podcast
- Learn more about Manulife Investments:Manulife IM Canada
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If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe for future insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy.
For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions
Episode overview
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, hosts Macan Nia and Kevin Headland discuss the investment implications of the Middle East conflict that began in the first quarter of 2026. Rather than forecasting geopolitical outcomes, Macan and Kevin focus on how shocks in energy-producing regions can transmit quickly into oil and natural gas prices, consumer costs, inflation expectations, and market volatility.
The discussion is framed around:
- The context of today’s macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop
- Historical lessons from past geopolitical events (“disruptive” vs. “destructive”)
- Key factors to watch amid the current conflict , particularly the Strait of Hormuz
- Practical portfolio considerations, including:
- Volatility management
- Deploying cash assets
- Fixed-income duration
- Emphasizing quality and diversification
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Key topics & insights
1. Why energy is the fast transmission mechanism
- Oil & gas move quickly into day-to-day costs: Higher energy prices pressure consumer budgets and can reduce spending elsewhere (they note consumption is ~two-thirds of the U.S. and Canadian economies).
- Real-time examples of price impacts: They cite U.S. average gasoline prices around $3.60/gal, up ~27% since early March (also noting seasonal “summer blend” effects).
- Europe’s sensitivity to natural gas: They highlight that gas matters particularly for Europe and can drive equity volatility there.
2. The conflict’s nuance: scale of regional supply + chokepoint risk
- Middle East production concentration: They estimate roughly ~20% of global oil production comes from the Middle East.
- Strait of Hormuz as a chokepoint: They emphasize the Strait’s importance, noting ~20% of oil flows through it daily and also referencing natural gas flows.
- Operational disruption risk vs. outright closure: Even if ships have legal right of passage, they discuss how slower traffic, inspections, and higher insurance costs can still disrupt supply and risk sentiment.
3. Disruptive vs. destructive: what history suggests
- Most geopolitical shocks are “disruptive”: They describe internal research showing many events historically have short-lived market drawdowns, with returns often positive 3 months and 1 year later.
- When it can turn “destructive”: They reference the 1973–74 oil shock/Yom Kippur War framework—where sustained high oil contributed to recession—arguing the duration of elevated prices is key.
- Catalyst vs. cause: They note recessions typically aren’t caused by one event alone; timing and existing fragilities matter.
4. Inflation, central banks, and why bonds may not hedge the usual way
- Energy can re-ignite inflation fears: If high energy is not transitory, they suggest inflation could remain sticky or reaccelerate.
- Policy uncertainty: They discuss the challenge for central banks balancing inflation control vs. growth risks, and note market expectations for 2026 rate cuts shifting (from multiple cuts expected to potentially far fewer).
- Fixed income positioning: They express preference for higher-quality credit and caution against taking too much duration risk in a volatile inflation backdrop; fixed income is framed as a patience game.
5) Portfolio discipline in fast-moving headline markets
- Don’t invest emotionally: They stress not letting emotions drive decisions and reiterate diversification’s role.
- Cash deployment needs a plan: Because markets can move sharply on ceasefire/headline risk, they advocate “staging in” with predefined triggers rather than trying to time a single entry point.
- Volatility as an opportunity indicator: They cite research that investing when the VIX is above 30 historically led to stronger forward returns (e.g., higher 6-month and 1-year returns vs. average conditions), while noting VIX was around the mid-20s at the time discussed.
6. Second-order impacts beyond oil and gas (food inputs)
- Fertilizer/food linkage: They highlight the Strait’s relevance to seaborne sulfur trade (a fertilizer input), raising the possibility of food-price implications—especially relevant for emerging markets and policy paths.
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Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
- Separate geopolitics from portfolio process: Don’t make large, reactive shifts based on fast-changing headlines; keep decisions anchored to your plan and time horizon.
- Watch energy as the key macro variable: Monitor whether oil and gas remain elevated for longer—that’s the difference between a short shock and a broader inflation/growth problem.
- Be intentional with cash: If you have cash to deploy, use a staged plan with trigger points (rather than waiting for “all-clear” news that may already be priced in).
- Revisit fixed-income risk (duration and quality): In an energy-driven inflation-risk scenario, consider whether your bond exposure is taking more duration risk than you intended; emphasize quality and recognize bonds may not cushion equities as reliably if inflation expectations rise.
- Stay diversified and avoid concentration: Use this as a reminder that diversification across geographies and asset classes matters—especially when a single risk factor (energy) can dominate outcomes.
- Use volatility constructively: If volatility spikes to extreme levels, history (as discussed in the episode) suggests those periods can be better long-term entry points—provided you can stay disciplined.
Links & Resources
- Listen to the episode:Investments Unplugged Podcast
- Learn more about Manulife Investments:Manulife IM Canada
Share & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe for future insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy.
For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.
Episode overview
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, hosts Kevin Headland and Macan Nia mark International Women’s Day by exploring longevity through the lens of women and financial preparedness. They’re joined by Director, Multi-Asset Solutions Erica Camilleri, who shares thoughts and research on why longevity risk is higher for women, how today’s macroeconomic backdrop (including higher cross-asset correlations and persistent inflation) can amplify retirement risks, and what investors can do—through better planning, appropriate risk-taking, and sound advice—to reduce the odds of outliving their savings.
Key topics & insights
1. Longevity risk and why it’s higher for women
- Financial shortfall risk gap — Manulife research found that women in Canada face a higher risk of experiencing financial shortfalls in retirement than men do (34% vs. 29%).
- It’s not just living longer — Longevity risk stems from a mix of longer (and rising) life expectancies, plus structural and social factors that can reduce lifetime savings and increase retirement vulnerability.
2. Health, wealth, and “longevity preparedness”
- Health and wealth are intertwined — The conversation emphasizes that longevity preparedness isn’t only about financial issues; for example, poor health can worsen retirement outcomes and vice versa.
- New tools and frameworks — The “longevity preparedness index” is designed to measure readiness to thrive while aging in retirement and is expected to expand into Canada in coming years.
3. The role of incentives and behaviour change (and why it matters for outcomes)
- Incentives can drive better habits — The episode highlights research over decades indicating that specific goals outperform vague “do your best” goals and discusses how incentive-based programs can encourage healthier behaviour (and, by extension, better long-term outcomes).
4. Structural inflation is still a long-term retirement risk
- Inflation has moderated cyclically but remains structurally higher — Even if inflation trends toward central bank targets, the episode argues households are still living with a higher price level and that long-run inflation may settle in the mid-to-high 2% range rather than the pre-pandemic norm.
- Retirement math is sensitive to small inflation shifts — A modest upward shift in expected inflation (example discussed: +40 bps) can materially raise required savings/asset levels for retirement (example cited: a 30-year-old might need ~19% more assets).
5. Portfolio construction challenges: higher correlations and concentration risk
- Diversification is harder when correlations rise — The hosts discuss higher correlations within equities and between equities and fixed income, plus increased market concentration—factors that can make portfolios more vulnerable to shocks.
- Longevity risk is amplified by portfolio risk — In a “fluid” market backdrop, managing drawdowns and sequence-of-returns risk becomes more important for sustaining long retirements.
6. Mitigating longevity risk: saving earlier, compounding, and appropriate risk
- Start early; small changes matter — The conversation stresses the power of compounding and the outsized impact of starting earlier (even with small incremental improvements).
- Avoid being overly conservative — The episode argues many investors (especially in defined contribution plans) are too conservative, and that growth asset exposure is critical to reducing shortfall risk over multi-decade retirements.
- Rethinking retirement glidepaths — Erica explains their approach avoids a static asset allocation through retirement, allowing for more growth exposure early in retirement given retirements can last decades.
7. Advice, planning, and using the right tools (including RRSPs)
- Financial advice early helps — A repeated theme is that advice earlier in life helps investors understand opportunities, risks, and the need for money to last throughout retirement (and potentially leave a legacy).
- Tax-advantaged tools matter — The hosts reference prior discussions on RRSP benefits and how tax savings can compound and support retirement resilience.
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Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
- Plan for a longer retirement than you think: Build your plan around the possibility of a multi-decade retirement (the episode references retirements that could stretch to ~40 years).
- Don’t ignore inflation in long-range assumptions: Stress-test your retirement plan for slightly higher long-term inflation; even small changes can require meaningfully higher savings.
- Prioritize time in the market (compounding): If you’re early in your career, focus on starting now—small contribution increases made earlier can have an outsized impact later.
- Be deliberate about risk—not automatically conservative: Review whether your portfolio is too cautious for your horizon (including early retirement), since insufficient growth can increase shortfall risk.
- Diversify with today’s correlation regime in mind: Recognize that diversification may be less reliable when equity/fixed income correlations rise; ensure your portfolio isn’t overly concentrated in a few exposures.
- Use advice and tax tools to improve outcomes: Consider getting financial advice earlier and make full use of retirement vehicles (e.g., RRSPs) where appropriate to improve after-tax compounding.
Links & Resources
- Listen to the episode:Investments Unplugged Podcast
- Learn more about Manulife Investments:Manulife IM Canada
Share & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe for future insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy.
For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.
Hosts Kevin Headland and Macan Nia recently sat down with John Natale, Head of Tax, Retirement & Estate Planning Services at Manulife, to unpack: •The real world trade offs between registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and tax-free savings account (TFSAs);•Why successor holder designations can spare families tax and paperwork;•A time sensitive spousal RRSP contribution opportunity after a death; •Cross border (U.S.) TFSA considerations; •Using segregated funds as a liquidity “cash wedge” after death; and •Why the value of financial advice extends far beyond portfolio returns. Take a listen for practical, plain language insights you can bring to client conversations today.
Some industry predictions may seem outlandish—or even impossible. But does that meanthey’re not worth considering? Kick off 2026 with Kevin and Macan, as they explore consensus-defying predictions that may sound absurd, but warrant closer examination. Listen in as theyexamine the logic behind some of industry's boldest predictions, challenging listeners to rethinkwhat’s truly possible.From a potential 50% surge in gold prices to an S&P 500 Index that could endure a bear marketand still finish the year up 20%, our hosts break down the rationale, data, and market dynamicsbehind each scenario—examining the roles of central bank rate cuts, liquidity, momentum andinvestor behavior, all while underscoring the importance of diversification in an unpredictablemarket environment.Tune in for a lively start to 2026—and decide for yourself: are these forecasts improbable, orimpossible?
Episode 113: 2025 in the rearview—are markets in for another strong year?
Hosts:
Kevin Headland (Co-chief Investment Strategist)
Macan Nia (Co-Chief Investment Strategist)
Special guests:
Emily Roland (Co-Chief Investment Strategist)
Matt Miskin (Co-Chief Investment Strategist)
Episode highlights
• 2025 in review:
• The team discusses the strong performance of markets in 2025, including the
TSX’s impressive 24% return despite a challenging economic backdrop in Canada.
• Key market drivers:
• The role of momentum trading, trend-following strategies, and AI exuberance.
• The ongoing influence of the crypto trade.
• Discrepancies between Canada’s economic data and TSX performance.
• Looking ahead to 2026:
• Will the trends of 2025 continue, or is a shift on the horizon?
• The importance of sentiment as we enter the new year—are markets priced for
perfection?
• Why investing in companies is not the same as investing in the broader economy.
• Risks and opportunities:
• Potential risks for the Canadian economy, especially regarding banks and
financials.
• The importance of being prudent and keeping an eye on domestic economic
indicators.
• The impact of investor confidence and employment on market flows.
• Actionable insight:
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• The team provides practical considerations for investors as they position
portfolios for 2026.
• Encouragement to review the team’s full 2026 outlook, available on the Manulife
Investments website.
Additional information
• Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform to stay up to date.
• Listeners are encouraged to rate, share, and reach out with questions or feedback.
The Blue Jays were swinging for the fences, but investors are facing numerous curveballs of their own. In our latest episode of Investments Unplugged, Kevin and Macan step up to the plate to tackle some of the most frequently asked questions from the road: the real impact of the U.S. government shutdown, the rally in gold prices, and what’s really driving bond yields. To add a festive twist, our dynamic hosts also go off- script to share their thoughts on trick-or-treating budgets, Halloween candies, and costume trends. Tune in for recent market developments—and enjoy a few treats along the way.
Episode overview
In this special episode, hosts and Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland and Macan Nia welcome Nathan William Thooft, Chief Investment Officer for Multi Assets and Equities at Manulife Investments. Nate shares his global perspective on markets, asset allocation, and the evolving investment landscape, with insights tailored for Canadian investors.
Key topics & insights
- U.S. economic outlook: resilience amid uncertainty
· No imminent recession expected—Nate explains that while recent U.S. labor market data has softened, it’s not likely a signal for an imminent recession. The U.S. economy’s balance between manufacturing and services helps offset sector-specific weaknesses.
· Policy uncertainty—Earlier legislative and tariff changes have caused “paralysis” in company decision-making, but clarity is expected to improve economic data in coming months.
· New paradigm—The severity of future U.S. recessions may be more muted due to the economy’s diversification.
- Inflation & tariffs: what’s really happening?
· Tariff impact delayed—Studies show tariffs typically take up to a year to affect inflation. Many imports are exempt, and companies are absorbing costs, leading to lower-than-expected inflationary effects.
· Substitution effect—Companies are shifting imports to countries with lower tariffs, further dampening inflation pressures.
- Regional equity markets: Europe & Asia
· Europe’s outperformance—European equities have surprised with strong returns in 2025. Nate attributes this to a sentiment shift away from the U.S. amid geopolitical uncertainty, but sees it as opportunistic rather than a long-term trend.
· Active vs. passive management—Active management is especially valuable in regions like Europe and Asia, where opportunities are less covered.
· China’s mixed signals—Despite strong equity performance and policy support, China’s fundamentals (consumer spending, industrial production) remain weak. Nate is cautiously optimistic, citing potential in technology and AI, and improving sentiment.
- Asset allocation: equities vs. fixed income
· Modest equity overweight—Manulife portfolios remain overweight equities, reflecting solid fundamentals despite stretched valuations.
· Fixed income caution—Less conviction in long-duration fixed income due to changing yield curve dynamics and rising term premiums.
· Diversification beyond 60/40—Nate advocates for broader diversification, including alternative assets, to manage risk.
- Private Assets & Alternatives
· Democratization of privates—The trend toward making private assets (infrastructure, private credit, real estate) accessible to retail investors is accelerating, as seen in recent industry partnerships.
· Role in portfolios—Private assets offer diversification and potential downside protection, especially when traditional fixed income may be less effective.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in asset management
· Efficiency & speed—AI is transforming research, data analysis, and commentary writing, but won’t replace portfolio managers who bring creativity and intellectual capital.
· Research revolution—AI enables analysis of vast data sets, improving productivity and decision-making.
- Cryptocurrency: a legitimate asset class?
· Growing acceptance—Nate views crypto as a legitimate asset class, though volatility and regulatory uncertainty mean exposures should remain modest and client-specific.
· Regulatory trends—As demand grows, policy is likely to become more accommodating.
- Career advice for aspiring portfolio managers
· Decisiveness—Don’t wait for perfect information—make decisions with 60–80% of the data to avoid missing opportunities.
· Passion & objectivity—Be passionate about investing, but unemotional in decision-making. The ability to cut losses and remain objective is crucial for success.
Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors
· Stay diversified—Consider global opportunities and alternatives beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
· Monitor policy impacts—Watch for delayed effects from tariffs and monetary policy.
· Embrace active management—Especially in regions with less coverage and more inefficiencies.
· Explore private assets—As access expands, these can enhance portfolio resilience.
· Leverage technology—AI will increasingly support research and efficiency, but human insight remains essential.
Links & Resources · Listen to the episode: Investments Unplugged Podcast · Learn more about Manulife Investments: Manulife IM Canada
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If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe for future insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy.
For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.
Show notes prepared by Investments Unplugged Podcast Team, September 2025.
We’re just weeks away from yet another school year—but not before Macan heads out on a last-minute vacation. Will Kevin be forced to deal with a market fallout in his absence? Join our dynamic co-chief investment strategists as they joke about the market’s tendency to correct when Macan is out of office. Listen in as they weigh the balance of risks affecting the global economy and discuss what corporations are saying about today’s market environment. Get the scoop on markets and the economy as summer nears its end. Tune in to this episode of Investments Unplugged for insight before the back-to-school period ramps up.
Summer has officially kicked into high gear, and many of us are looking to wind down and bask in the heat. Yet, headlines continue to pour in—making it important to stay on top of market developments. Join our dynamic Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland, CIM, and Macan Nia, CFA, as they weigh in on some of the latest news stories, including U.S. dollar weakness, rate cut prospects amid mounting political pressures, and the broader implications of the U.S. administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Looking to stay connected this summer? Tune in to Investments Unplugged for talking points that are surely top of mind for investors. Don’t miss this one.
Warmer days are on the horizon, and while many of us are planning our next vacation spots, others are looking back at the half year and recalibrating their portfolios for what lies ahead. What happened to markets in the first half of the year? What can we expect as we move into the year’s final stretch?Tune in to our new podcast episode as our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland and Macan Nia discuss the opportunities and risks affecting the global economy, including U.S. tariff policy, decelerations in global manufacturing, and the role of corporate earnings as a potential driver of market performance. Will the chaos and unpredictability witnessed during the first six months of 2025 prevail in the months ahead? Listen in to our episode for all this and more.Intended for Investment Professionals, investors should connect with their financial advisor for more information
Is the greenback currently at an inflection point? Listen in as our Capital Markets Strategy Teamweighs in on the U.S. administration’s proposed economic and trade initiatives, including theMar-a-Lago Accord—a modern echo of the 1985 Plaza Accord.Explore the implications of devaluing the U.S. dollar in today’s global economy and learn moreabout trade deficits and some of the bold ideas from White House chief economist StephenMiran. Can the U.S. dollar maintain its reserve currency status? Is multilateral cooperation evenpossible in today’s geopolitical climate? Tune in to our podcast episode for all this and more
The magnitude of the U.S. administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs surely caught investors off guard. How did markets react to the news? Will U.S. trade policy reshape global trade dynamics?Join our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland and Macan Nia as they discuss the market’s strong reaction to President Trump’s announcement on April 2. Is this a policy play or part of a deeper structural shift? How will upcoming congressional outreach factor into the evolving economic picture?Stay on top of this rapidly evolving situation—don’t miss out on our new podcast episode.
European equities have recently outpaced their U.S. counterparts, setting the stage for a potential resurgence in overseas markets. Is this the start of a significant rotation into European equities? Join our Co-Chief Investment Strategists, Kevin Headland and Macan Nia, as they underscore the current momentum driving European equities and discuss improvements in European manufacturing. Find out how a significant rise in defense spending across various European countries could help stimulate the economy through infrastructure, logistics, and other support service enhancements. Don't miss this insightful discussion—tune in to our latest podcast episode for all this and more!
Rising tensions, evolving trade policies, and potential tariffs have sparked widespread discussions—even going as far as rallying hockey fans on both sides of the Canada-US border. Are these policies merely a negotiation tactic, or do they signal a shift in North American trade dynamics?Join our Co-Chief Investment Strategists, Kevin Headland and Macan Nia, as they explore the latest trade developments and their potential implications for Canadian investors. In an in-depth conversation with Dominique Lapointe, Global Macro Strategist, Multi-Asset Solutions Team, we zero in on tariffs and trade disputes and examine their potential impact on Canada’s economy.Tune in to our latest episode for insight on this evolving landscape.
2025 is in full swing! What can we expect from equity and fixed income markets as the year gradually unfolds?Our first podcast episode of 2025 is an absolute must-listen. Hear from our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland and Macan Nia, as they delve into the opportunities and challenges shaping the market landscape this year. Can we expect some volatility up ahead? No matter what’s in store for investors in the coming months, it’s important not to get overly cautious or fearful. Stay the course, and as always, remember to stay invested—especially when there are bumps along the way. Tune in as our experts underscore some of the key developments in 2025. This is one episode of Investments Unplugged you won’t want to miss!
The festive holiday season is upon us and what better time than now to reflect and prepare for the road ahead. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to hear from Kevin and Macan as they look to 2025 and share their thoughts on equity and fixed income developments. Will equity fundamentals continue to be a defining theme in the new year? What role will security selection and duration management play in the fixed income space? Tune in to the year’s last episode of Investments Unplugged, as our experts delve into their base case, bull case and bear case scenarios for 2025. This is one episode you just can’t miss. Be sure to tune in!Intended for Investment Professionals, investors should connect with their financial advisor for more information.
Data surprises, recession concerns, shifting U.S. Federal Reserve policy? What if building a resilient portfolio mattered more than predicting future outcomes.This month, our Co-Chief Investment Strategist Kevin Headland had the pleasure of sitting down with Mawer Investment Management’s President and Portfolio Manager Jim Hall to discuss how patience and discipline play a crucial role in navigating volatile markets. Listen in as Jim delves into some of our flagship funds and reminds us to approach investing with a steady hand.As markets fluctuate, a well thought-out, long-term strategy remains the cornerstone of success. Here’s to embracing the journey and mastering The Art of Boring in investing! Be sure to tune in to our podcast episode.
Here we are—100 episodes and 7 years later! This truly is a remarkable milestone for our Investments Unplugged podcast, which has seen roughly 86,000 downloads since the pilot episode aired all those years ago. In this month’s celebratory episode, we get up close and personal with our dynamic hosts and Co-Chief Investment Strategists: Kevin Headland and Macan Nia. Take a trip down memory lane as they reflect on their careers and offer valuable insight to aspiring young investment professionals. Considering a career in markets or investing? Think you could benefit from the lessons they’ve learned over the years? Tune in as Kevin and Macan look through the rearview mirror and commemorate their 100th episode. This is one episode you just can’t miss. Be sure to tune in!
Children are heading back to the classroom for yet another school year. What better time than now toreinforce our portfolios with lessons learned from our early childhood?This month, our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Kevin Headland and Macan Nia address economicconcerns, equities and fixed income developments, and the art of managing volatility—all through thelens of some our favourite children’s classics. Get ready to revisit some of your favourite childhood gemsand gear up for the final stretch of 2024 with this truly unique perspective on markets.Don’t miss out on this podcast episode.
The dog days of summer are over, and volatility is back with a vengeance. In just a short period of time, we’ve dealt with a messy unwinding of carry trades, shifts in Fed policy, and material developments on the U.S. presidential front. How has this clouded the bigger picture?Don’t miss out on an opportunity to go behind-the-scenes with Sandy Sanders, our Senior Managing Director, and Portfolio Manager of the Manulife U.S. All Cap Equity Fund. In an interactive discussion moderated by our Co-Chief Investment Strategist Macan Nia, Sandy chimes in on everything from the U.S. economy to the ongoing A.I. frenzy, U.S. elections and rotations across market capitalizations. Tune in to our new episode to learn more.
Unruly markets, unpredictable interest rates and a possible resurgence in inflation—are all your income options on the table?In this podcast episode, we sit down with our newly appointed Head of Specialists and former Director of ETFs and Alternatives , Rob Wernic. In this interactive discussion, Rob underscores the need for alternative income investments, outlining the key differences between traditional income solutions and our new Manulife Smart Enhanced Yield ETFs.Tune in to our new episode to learn more.
Are you inundated with stories? One of the most important rules when making investment decisions is to avoid getting caught up in headlines. In this podcast episode, we chat with our very own Senior Portfolio Manager, Fundamental Equity Patrick Blais about the importance of blocking out the noise and making fact-based investment decisions. With an investment process that highlights cash flow as the real driver of economic value, Patrick and his team look to uncover the best ideas at attractive valuations. Tune into our new episode to learn more.
In part two of our happily, ever after series of Investments Unplugged, we continue to compare timeless tales to the current markets. In this conversation, we provide our updated outlook on bonds and discuss the outcome of global central banks starting their easing cycles. Tune into our new episode to learn more.
What comes to mind when we think of fairytales? Fairytales are a means to teach children aboutopportunities, risks, and how to navigate a complex world. While they usually end happily ever after, thepath to get there is usually riddled with challenges.In part one of this two-part series of Investments Unplugged, we look at the economy and equitymarkets through a fairytale lens. We pay particular attention to how children’s classics are relatable tomanaging risks and uncovering opportunities in the current investment landscape.Tune into our new episode to learn more.
Strengthen your defence and sharpen your offence with Manulife liquid alternatives.Join us as we unveil our two new alternative fixed-income solutions. Hear from the lead portfoliomanagers of these strategies Chris Chapman and Roshan Thiru as they outline their investmentapproaches and delve into the key differentiators that set their teams apart.Tune into our new episode to learn more.
Sticky inflation, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical risks. Now isn’t exactly the time to let your guard down.Tune in to our new podcast episode with special guests Senior Portfolio Manager Eric Menzer, and Senior Managing Director Alex Catterick as they chat about private markets, alternative investments, and the importance of including real assets in your portfolios.Don’t miss out on this special edition of Investments Unplugged.
Recession is a word that gets thrown around often. But what exactly is a recession and how does itimpact investors?Join us for an in-depth Q&A session as we weigh in on a topic that’s become front and center forinvestors. Find out what you can expect in a recession and why you shouldn’t wait for one to prepareyour portfolio.For all this and more, tune into our new podcast episode.
Dividend investing is evolving, and so should your approach. Tune in to our new podcast episode to learn about the unique set of challenges faced by dividend investors in today’s environment. Hear from our very own Senior Portfolio Manager Chris Hensen as he weighs in on the shifting landscape and explores the dividend opportunity set through a different lens. Don’t miss out on this special edition of Investments Unplugged.
Make no mistake about it, the economy is dealing with its fair share of challenges. But are there bright spotsahead? In this podcast episode, we sit down with our Global Chief Economist and Strategist Frances Donald, as sheweighs in on the macro forces at play in 2024. Will global growth decline? Will central banks respond with ratecuts? For all this and more, tune in to Investments Unplugged.
Episode 89: A look ahead to 2024—addressing your unanswered questions (part 2)After patiently waiting for many months, signs that our fixed income outlook may be coming to fruitionemerged at the end of last year. But what can we expect in 2024?In part 2 of our podcast episode, we focus on answering your frequently asked questions on fixedincome. Are inflation risks behind us? Where are yields going? Are central banks done with their ratehikes?For all this and more, tune in to our new podcast episode.
With 2024 in full swing, what’s our take on equities and bonds?Rather than sharing our views in our usual way, we’ve adopted a Q&A format to respond to some of themore pressing questions we’ve been getting on the road. Where’s the economy headed? What aresome of the main challenges for markets in the new year?To get your questions answered, tune in to our new podcast episode.
Consumer exhaustion is kicking in, yields have come down, and the economy is beginning to show signsof slowing.Since outlining our three-themed bonds outlook, we’re finally getting an indication that it’s coming tofruition. As we get ready to transition to phase 2 (“duration is your friend”), investors could embracelonger duration on expectations that yields will fall further and the economy will continue slowing. Willthe headwinds that impacted bonds as yields rose become tailwinds when yields fall?For all this and more, tune in to our new podcast episode.
Episode 87: Under the microscope: looking closely at a potential recessionRecession—it’s a word that continues to dominate the minds of investors and economic scientists alike. We hear about it so often, it sometimes seems like our expectations and concerns magnify. Yet, there could be important information that some people don’t see. Let’s focus the lens a little and scrutinize some of the financial details.•What’s a soft or hard landing, and can we expect one or the other?•Why has a potential recession been delayed?•Does the economic data tell us whether a recession is inevitable?•How will the anticipation of a potential recession continue to affect the markets?Zoom in for a better view.
School has started once again. And while students return to their classrooms and books, investors’ minds turn to their portfolios, the economy, and the markets. But there’s so much to learn when it comes to managing your investments. So, what subjects have currently reached the forefront for the Capital Markets Strategy Team? Three key investment themes are at the top of the class right now:•Prepare for near-term equity volatility amidst uncertainty.•Buying bonds is one thing; buying the right bonds is another.•Position your portfolios for tomorrow, not just today.There’s the bell! Let’s listen in.
Many topics waltz across the minds of investors. They twirl through our thoughts and sometimes step on our toes. Two things have been leading us lately: the rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and its role in the markets, and the recent surprise Bank of Canada interest rate hike. We won’t dance around the subjects—there are relevant inquiries that we need to address: • Has A.I. played a role in what the S&P 500 Index been experiencing this year? • Are we seeing a replay of the 1990s dot-com bubble? • Why did the recent interest rate increase happen, and will it happen again? • How much of the current economic situation can monetary policy control? • What are the investment implications? Let’s glide gracefully over the investment floor to answer these questions.
Every so often, we find ourselves swimming in a sea of similar-sounding questions about what’s affecting or going to affect the markets. These inquiries come around on a regular basis, but do they hold any water when it comes to our investments? We brave the waves, look at some of these recurring questions, and ask, “As investors, do we care about this?”•U.S. debt ceiling discussions•Sell in May and go away investment strategy•periodic market rallies•seasonal market volumesLet’s dive in and see what’s beneath the surface.
Lightning struck some U.S. and European banks recently, and investors may be feeling like the jolt is still coursing through them. Frances Donald, Global Chief Economist and Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to delve into current bank problems’ effects on the investment world and spark discussion on related topics:•What’s been the historical response to banking volatility?•How do we define financial stability?•Are interest rates likely to go up or down in the near or distant future?•Where does macroeconomics come into play in the investment cycle?•Has our outlook for the coming months changed?The markets may be somewhat charged right now, but stay positive.
Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator, Blade Runner, The Matrix—artificial intelligence (A.I.) has been a recurring science fiction theme for decades. But in fact, A.I. has come to the forefront of many discussions around scientific advances. Robotics, deep-learning models, smart cars, ChatGPT, and so on—where is this technology headed? We look at some of the applications of A.I.:•caring for the elderly by using sympathetic robots•using facial recognition software as the main way to identify you•improving customer experience with personalized algorithms•benefitting from AI—areas that may be worth watching… and more.What we can do with A.I may be nearly unfathomable. Maybe we’ll even create artificially intelligent chocolate chips someday—they’d make one smart cookie.
To bond or not to bond? That is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to invest in bonds or guaranteed interest certificates (GICs) preoccupies many investors. Where would William Shakespeare put his money and why? Who knows? But we have reasons for believing bonds may be the better option for today’s investors:•Looking back over past performance of Canadian bonds, they usually outperform GICs.•Historically, the outperformance of Canadian bonds is sizably higher than GICs per year.•Reinvestment risk could give lower returns from GICs.There are more things in bonds and GICs than are dreamt of in your philosophy—let’s discuss them.
A new year has arrived. Many investors are breathing a collective sigh of relief that 2022 is done and are looking for indicators of better investment opportunities and returns in 2023. Financial needles point toward shifting economic conditions, but what types of changes will we see?•What are we looking at to help determine what the coming year may bring?•Will a recession happen? How bad could it be?•Where is inflation going? And what will central banks do in response?•Does it look like market volatility is settling down?•Are equities or fixed income looking more attractive?Gauging the markets isn’t an exact science. But the more we learn, the more likely we’ll recognize the signs.
Cold and flu season struck and early and hard in 2022. It has also been a somewhat sick time in the markets this past year. Could 2023 give investors a chance to start easing the sniffles, coughs, aches, and pains of the volatility we’ve experienced? Let’s use our stethoscopes and thermometers to examine three phases of potential opportunity in bonds moving forward:•the sweet spot—bond yields•duration is your friend—longer-duration and higher-quality fixed-income instruments•take on risk—when markets have fully priced in a recessionHot tea with lemon, a warm blanket, and a good investment strategy—just a few things that can make you feel better about your road to recovery.
This special episode features a discussion with our soon-retiring colleague and friend, Dan Janis, Co-Head of Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income at Manulife Investment Management. We get insights into Danny’s life, career, and team, and what he’s discovered about being a good advisor and sound money manager.•What has Dan learned about managing investments during his professional career?•Is there something Dan wishes he could tell his 10-year-old self, given the opportunity?•Which key skills should an advisor develop?•What’s the best thing advisors can do for their clients?Retirement isn’t the end of the road, it’s the beginning of the open highway.
Episode 77: Eyeing the bond markets
Unusually painful performance in fixed-income investments this past year seems to be blurring investors’ vision. We see potential opportunity in current and future economic conditions. Is fixed income worth a second look? Let’s turn our sight to some financial factors related to bonds:
• how a recession can affect the fixed-income market • where we are in the current bear market cycle • U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest-rate cycle to combat inflation • historical relationship between bonds and equities • yields vs returns
… and more.
And why are some people eyeballing used cars lately?
For children, school has begun again. For investors, school is never really out. What subjects should you pay attention to? Will the bell ring to end to the unexpected market volatility of 2022? Our resident Capital Markets Strategy instructors have written some relevant topics on their chalkboard. They cover:
• rising inflation and interest rates • economic slowdown • earnings being priced into the markets • possibility of a recession • investing over the coming months
And in this episode, we introduce a new segment on what’s making recent media headlines.
Class is in session.
With in-person interactions once again becoming the norm, this summer, the Capital Markets Strategy team has been criss-crossing the country, meeting with advisors and clients, and speaking at events. We’re truly enjoying the face-to-face interaction and responding to inquiries from people we meet. Wherever we go, some common questions are popping up—questions like:
• Has weak market performance already been priced in? • How does the second half of 2022 look when compared to historical downturns? • Will we see a recession, and when? • How do bear markets play out over time?
Let’s delve into these and other questions we’ve been getting.
Bear markets aren’t new—15 have happened since 1950—and some have been worse than others. What’s happening with the current economy and market volatility, and when will it change? Previous selloffs and downturns may hold a clue to what we can expect for the rest of 2022. We take a look at:
• what we can learn from past bear markets • the chance of a recession • effects of inflation and central bank actions • bond yields and opportunities • options investors may have to rebalance their portfolios.
Bears of all sizes appear … but how long do they hang around?
Fixed-income markets have been going down a rocky road so far in 2022. Are we in for a continued rough ride? Or will the dirt path become a smoother highway for bonds in the near future? Roshan Thiru, Head of Canadian Fixed Income at Manulife Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to discuss:
• bond activity and yields • what to look for with fixed-income investments • record-high inflation and its effects • maintaining a balanced portfolio
… and more.
Buckle up.
When camping in the woods, the last thing you want to run into is a bear—but if you do, there are things you can do that can help you live through such an encounter. Similarly, when investors face a bear market or the potential for one, there are ways to help protect yourself from being ravaged by a downturn:
• Try to overcome your natural panic and fear; don’t run. • Be familiar with the environment. • Take advantage of opportunities. • Don’t be afraid of what goes bump in the night—if something is meant to harm you, it’ll stalk you silently.
We go through these rules in detail—and maybe we’ll enjoy some s’mores back at the campsite later on.
Despite the lack of evidence, people tend to believe a middle child has certain personality traits and can be difficult to deal with. Investors may think of mid caps in similar ways. Jeff Mo, Portfolio Manager, U.S. Mid Cap Equity at Mawer Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to talk about the benefits that mid caps may provide for your investment portfolio. They cover topics like:
• short-term vs long-term market trends • how market volatility can create opportunities • effect of inflation on companies’ ability to generate returns • challenges of predicting the markets • importance of downside protection.
Are you judging mid caps fairly?
Seven is often considered a lucky number. But luck doesn’t usually factor into it when talking about recession indicators. The Capital Markets Strategy team discusses whether we’re headed for a recession in the near future by looking closely at seven economic indicators they pay attention to:
• 10-2 inverted yield curve • ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index • positive inflationary trends • tighter financial conditions.
Wait, that’s only four! … Not to worry, just listen in and you’ll hear about the other three too.
Up … up … up—inflation has been rising, towering like Mount Everest over the economy. In response to this high inflation, on March 16, the U.S. Federal Reserve increased interest rates for the first time in about three years. Our Capital Markets Strategy mountaineers take a look at the path the Fed announcement may be climbing, hiking over areas like:
- market reactions to the Fed announcement
- quantitative tightening cycles
- geopolitical risk in Eastern Europe
- effects of fluctuating oil prices
- recession and the 10-year Treasury yield.
Take your pitons, ropes, and harnesses—we’re about to ascend some interesting topics.
This month seems to be ending with a bang—literally. The tension between Ukraine and Russia has escalated, which has been affecting market volatility. The Capital Markets Strategy team looks at the global state of affairs through the lenses of historical, political, and investment data, covering topics like:
• short-term and long-term effects of geopolitical and military situations • disruptive vs destructive events • the impact on commodities, especially oil prices • risk to investment returns
… and more.
Hear what the team has to say about the growing concerns in Eastern Europe.
Maybe it’s time to take that fixed-income vehicle into the shop for a tune-up? Ace investment mechanics Dan Janis and Tom Goggins, from Manulife Investment Management’s Strategic Income team, join the Capital Markets Strategy team to answer questions around what’s happening in fixed-income markets, including:
• Are fixed-income investments still worth holding? • What will the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve do to combat rising inflation? • How do emerging markets fit into the picture? • Where are investment opportunities presenting themselves?
And what does this have to do with college football great Paul “Bear” Bryant? Listen to find out.
Our 2022 road trip has barely gotten underway and equity market volatility already has some investors wondering if they’ve secured their homes before leaving. What does the Capital Markets Strategy team think this recent short-term market weakness is likely being caused by? One word: uncertainty. In this episode, they discuss:
• the recent market selloff • what the U.S. Federal Reserve may do with interest rates • the geopolitical scene — in particular, tension around Russia and Ukraine • what recession indicators and other economic signs could be pointing to
… and more.
There are always unforeseen bumps in the road. But does that mean we should turn around?
The investment journey over the next year may likely include a number of stops along the way, but the Capital Markets Strategy team sees the potential for it to be a scenic and enjoyable route. In this episode, the team looks at a number of important questions to prepare for the coming trip, including:
• Is inflation going to rise or fall? • What do historical trends say about growth? • Equities and fixed income — should portfolio positioning change? • How do the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic factor in? • Will supply chain issues continue to affect production?
The car tunes are on. Let’s get moving.
The holiday season is finally here after a year that has had more twists than candy cane stripes. The busy elves in the Capital Markets Strategy workshop take a look back at some of the investment and economic themes of 2021 — some naughty, some nice. They wrap up the year end and tie a ribbon around topics like:
• fixed-income returns and the 10-year Treasury yield • equities and credit • inflation and the cost of living • portfolio protection and asset allocation • the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grab a cup of eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider, and listen in.
Stagflation — sputtering economic growth coupled with rising inflation. Groovy … okay, not really that groovy. Just what is stagflation and how does it affect the investment world? The Capital Markets Strategy team takes a closer look at this idea and the impact it has, covering things like:
• how current stagflation differs from past stagflation • employment and wages • the price of oil as a consumption driver • interest rates and the U.S. Federal Reserve • the current inflation model.
Can you dig that?
“Extra! Extra! Economy causing unease for investors!” The media has covered many stories about how economic activity has been less than anticipated to some degree or other. When we look beyond the headings and captions, what do we see? The Capital Markets Strategy team discusses some indicators to consider when trying to read the current markets:
• oil and real estate prices • 10-year Treasury bond yields • inflation tapering and interest rates • debt and credit conditions
… and many more.
Get the full story.
What’s the score on stocks? Are currencies inbounds? Should investors play through or go grab a drink from the 19th hole? Sandy Sanders, Head of U.S. Core Value Equity team at Manulife Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to look at current investment plays and conditions on the field, as well as:
• economic health of Canada and the U.S. • earnings in cyclical vs staple businesses • valuation and returns in the technology sector • U.S. monetary policy
Get ready to listen in. Fore! Batter up! Hut!
Good day, class, and welcome to our back-to-school session. We hope you had a great summer! Join the Capital Markets Strategy team as they lead us in a discussion about what has happened in 2021, so far, and what we might expect in the months ahead. They cover a lot of subjects this year, including:
• fixed-income investments’ lackluster performance • surprising performance of equity markets • continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic • valuations and earnings growth • inflation’s effects on the 10-year Treasury yield.
Notebooks open? Ears ready? Let’s listen.
Equities are up; bonds are down. Stronger economic gains and job growth in the U.S. and Canada seem to show that a recovery is in progress. But what happens next? The Capital Markets Strategy team looks back at the first half of 2021 and peers ahead to where we may be going in second half. They cover things like:
• a possible equity market correction • increasing interest in emerging markets • valuation variations • what prices of commodities like corn, copper, and coffee may indicate • fixed-income risks and opportunities
… as well as other topics.
And what does all this have to do with inflation … or bears in the forest?
The bond markets don’t sleep, so why should you? The Capital Markets Strategy team is joined by Christopher Chapman and Peter Azzinaro, from the Strategic Income team at Manulife Investment Management, to discuss the activity within the fixed-income investment world. They cover topics like:
• the strategy around risk-adjusted returns • looking at the bigger picture of the global bond market • whether inflation is transitory or persistent • where the 10-year Treasury yield could go from here • shifting forces that could affect rates.
Listen in … and don’t get caught napping.
Distinguishing between market signals and market noise can help you make good investment decisions. Conrad Dabiet, Senior Managing Director at Manulife Investment Management, offers his insights on managing portfolios and lessons learned over his extensive career, such as:
• the core views and principles of his Value Equity team • how the team has responded to pandemic-driven volatility • learning about companies, understanding business, and finding opportunities • the psychology of buying and selling.
Public investors play two games: an outer one and an inner one. Join Conrad and the Capital Markets Strategy team to find out the difference.
Have emerging markets changed enough to make them worth looking at as a core asset class? Philip Ehrmann, Senior Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to discuss this and other topics related to emerging markets, such as:
• areas of the world that are considered emerging markets • changes to the sector structure • how politics can affect their evaluation • building an emerging markets portfolio • the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination programs.
And which English football team does Mr. Ehrmann root for? Listen in and he’ll tell you.
You ask — we hear you. The Capital Markets Strategy team loves receiving and responding to your questions. So, each quarter, the team will devote an entire podcast episode to answering the ones you ask most often. In this episode, they discuss topics like:
• Why are long-term bonds down currently? • Where are yields and inflation headed, and what could it mean for fixed-income investors? • What can we expect from the energy sector for the rest of this year? • Are emerging markets still favourable for 2021? • What’s the potential major market risk for the next 18 to 24 months?
Tune in to hear the team’s responses. And keep your questions coming in.
The 2021 Canadian federal government budget — it’s finally here. But what’s in it? John Natale, Head of Tax, Retirement, and Estate Planning Services at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to share his thoughts about economic impacts of the 2021 federal budget:
• revenue generation through the “wealth consumption” tax • affordable chid care effects on the labour force • whether tax rates may increase • how the government may pay for the projected deficit
… and other related topics.
And what can you do to minimize your tax burden? Let’s listen in.
The economy continues to reopen, more people are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, and the day when the pandemic is no longer a significant part of our lives draws closer. In light of this, the Capital Markets Strategy team discusses their economic outlook at the end of the first quarter of 2021:
• Could massive pent-up demand and low inventories affect the economic rebound? • How does monetary and fiscal stimulus factor into the markets? • Equities or fixed income — which is currently the biggest challenge when building a portfolio? • Is inflation always a bad thing? • What stage of economic recovery are we in?
Hear the answers to these questions … and learn about revenge spending and envy spending.
Inflation rates — should we be paying attention to them now? And what do they have to do with long-term bond yields? The Capital Markets Strategy team weighs in on several subjects related to inflation and fixed-income investments:
• Will inflation increase in 2021? • What do bond yields tell us about the economy? • Where do unemployment, wage pressure, and fiscal stimulus fit into this scenario? • How could investors react to a low-yield environment that’s moving higher?
… and they banter about beer and bitcoin too!
What happens when a dividend growth strategy is applied to exchange-traded funds (ETFs)? In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Brett Hryb, Head of Beta Management at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to talk about this and related topics, including:
• portfolio building and management • dividend payout ratios • blending active and passive investment strategies • what equity investors should consider.
Market corrections happen often. But exactly when they’ll occur, no one can say with any certainty. “Trying to pinpoint why is a fool’s game,” says Philip Petursson. Listen in as Philip and the Capital Markets Strategy team discuss several topics related to market corrections:
• What are corrections and why do they happen? • What’s a bear market and how’s it different from a correction? • How can you tell a big bear from a baby bear market? • Why do sell-offs offer investment opportunities?
What about bonds? Roshan Thiru and Sivan Nair, from the Canadian Fixed Income team at Manulife Investment Management, talk with host Philp Petursson in this episode of Investments Unplugged. They discuss challenges, opportunities, and the outlook for fixed-income investments:
• the flexibility of investing in different kinds of bonds • disciplined approaches to strategic and tactical asset allocation • credit markets’ impact on bond yields • the effect of the Biden administration’s fiscal policy
… and much more.
Join the Capital Markets Strategy team for a lively discussion about what they think could happen in the economy and financial markets through 2021. The team’s energetic exchange covers many possibilities for this year, including:
• market returns • inflation and interest rates • oil prices related to the demand for oil • an extension of the 2020 gold rally.
Listen in.
Sandy Sanders, Head of the U.S. Core Value Equity Team at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson for this Investments Unplugged episode. Sandy and Philip talk about where we’ve come from in 2020, where we are now, and what we’re looking toward in 2021. They cover a variety of areas that may affect markets in the new year:
• COVID-19 vaccines • Joe Biden as the next U.S. president • interest rates at record-low levels • potential earnings growth
… and many other topics.
Gaining insight about what the future holds, and the financial benefits that could come with it, takes more than hope and guesswork. In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Gertjan Van Der Geer, Senior Investment Manager on the Thematic Equities Team at Pictet Asset Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to share his expertise and discuss: • how COVID-19 affects market trends • whether or not Bitcoin will gain traction as a future currency • emerging megatrends and investment themes to look out for • why thematic investing is the better approach to portfolio construction … and more.
This episode of Investments Unplugged continues the Q&A of episode 38. The Capital Markets Strategy team once again answer some of the burning questions they’ve been asked during COVID-19 pandemic. Their responses cover many topics: • What effect will government stimulus and mounting debt levels have on equities and fixed income investments? • Is a services-based economic recovery important to the markets? • Are investors looking more at growth or value now? • What about emerging markets? Are they attractive investments? • Is the 60/40 investment portfolio dead? … and more.
This episode of Investments Unplugged features Daniel Janis, Head of the Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income Team at Manulife Investment Management, who joins Philip to talk about what the fixed-income portfolio looks like heading into 2021. Dan shares how his team analyses and assesses risk within fixed-income investing, and how they pivoted their portfolio in 2020. Philip and Dan also discuss modern monetary theory and their outlook on the U.S. dollar.
What’s a great way to generate less-than-ideal investment outcomes? Base your decisions on political emotions. The U.S. presidential election is fast approaching, and the Capital Markets Strategy team received many related questions: How do markets react? Are Republicans or Democrats better for the markets? Does policy matter? The team answers these questions and more on a special, election-focused podcast of Investments Unplugged.
Over the past six months, we’ve seen a bear market, a recession, decades-high unemployment, unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus, and a powerful equity market rally. In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team at Manulife Investment Management share the key things they’ve learned during the COVID-19 lockdown — so far.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged Jamie Robertson, and Alex Richard, both with Manulife Investment Management’s Asset Allocation team, join host Philip Petursson to discuss the importance of asset allocation. They also explore: • How the recent market rally has been surprising – and how it hasn’t • What market returns could look like over the next five years • How the U.S. election outcome affects the team’s portfolio positioning • The team’s outlook on gold, and how it has affected their asset allocation strategy
This episode of Investments Unplugged features Sandy Sanders, Head of the U.S. Core Value Equity Team at Manulife Investment Management, who joins Philip to share his view on the market, from a bottom-up perspective, for the remainder of 2020 through 2021. From June data, indicators suggest that the steep earnings decline through the second and third quarter of 2020 may give way to the beginning of an earnings recovery in the fourth.
Will we see a global economic recovery in the next 18 months? In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team share their outlook for the remainder of 2020 through 2021. They discuss what markets could look like if there’s a second or third wave of COVID-19 infections, whether we should be optimistic or not about future earnings growth, their updated model portfolio weightings, and the direction for the Canadian dollar.
In this Q&A episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team respond to some of the common questions they’ve been receiving since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out their answers to questions like “Why has the Canadian dollar rebounded so strongly vs the U.S. dollar?” and “What’s the risk that the Big Six banks in Canada will cut dividends?” Tune in to hear more.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team discusses megatrends — the social, demographic, environmental, and technological forces of change that are reshaping our world. Their conversation covers digital currency, nearshoring, digital transformation, biotechnology, smart cities, and how we can find the opportunities that the trends indicate.
This episode of Investments Unplugged features Manulife Investment Management’s Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income Team’s Director and Senior Investment Analyst Charles Tomes, and Senior Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager Thomas Goggins, to discuss the bond markets and what’s ahead for fixed income investments.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team looks at strategies and ideas to prepare for a market recovery, including balanced versus equity portfolios and credit markets, as well as keeping emotions in check and expectations real.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Capital Markets Strategy team share words of wisdom they’ve learned, which have shaped them as investors, and that they continually return to as guiding principles. These are their quotes to invest by. Tune in to hear what they’ve learned from these quotes, why right now is the best time for advisors to build their books of business, and more.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, host Philip Petursson is joined by Apollo Lupescu, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). Apollo is responsible for communicating DFA’s academic foundations, investment beliefs, and their applications to financial advisors and individual investors. He often uses an alternative investment process to conventional management and indexing approaches.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Kevin Headland, Senior Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to discuss how the Capital Markets Strategy team focuses on the fundamentals. They share their plan on how to survive a bear attack — four rules to help investors manage market volatility.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, host Philip Petursson finds out how Manulife Investment Management’s Asset Allocation team was prepared for the recent turbulence in the markets.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Patrick Blais, Senior Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management talks with host Philip Petursson about the potential growth of Canadian markets, the relationship between investments and the Canadian economy, and how the 2020 outlook is shaping up.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Macan Nia and Kevin Headland, Senior Investment Strategists at Manulife Investment Management, join host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, to discuss why the coronavirus will be an economically disruptive – but not destructive – event for the markets.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, you’ll hear from Terry Carr, Senior Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income, Canada for Manulife Investment Management, on finding good returns on investments in the current global economic environment. & Terry joins host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, and Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist, shares his views about the challenges of the global economy, the likelihood of a market correction coming soon, and what investments will potentially give the best returns.
In part two of a two-part Investments Unplugged episode, you’ll hear more from Manulife Investment Management’s Asset Allocation team on how markets and investments performed in 2019, and what’s ahead for 2020. Jamie Robertson, Senior Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Asset Allocation Canada & Global Head of Tactical Allocation, and Alex Richard, Senior Investment Analyst, continue their talk with Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist, and host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, about positioning investments through this coming year.
In part one of a two-part Investments Unplugged episode, you’ll hear from Manulife Investment Management’s Asset Allocation team on how markets and investments performed in 2019, and what’s ahead for 2020. Jamie Robertson, Senior Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Asset Allocation Canada & Global Head of Tactical Allocation, and Alex Richard, Senior Investment Analyst, join Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist, and host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, to talk about positioning investments through this coming year.
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing is no passing phase. In this episode, host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, talks with Margaret Childe, Director of ESG Research and Integration at Manulife Investment Management, about this hot topic.
Manulife Investment Management’s Capital Markets Strategy team lays down their “Fearless Forecast” for 2020. Kevin Headland and Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategists, join host, Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, in a lively discussion to exchange views and share their thoughts on what 2020 has in store for the markets.
When your clients ask for an explanation of negative interest rates, and how it could affect their investment returns, how do you respond? In this episode of Investments Unplugged, Manulife Investment Management’s Capital Markets Strategy team discusses the impact negative interest rates are having on global markets, and the opportunities that could be lying within.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, speaks with special guest John Natale, Head of Tax, Retirement, and Estate Planning Services at Manulife Investment Management. They discuss how taxation plays an important part of any investment strategy, and why what you keep, at the end of the day, may matter more than what you earn.
Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, is joined by Paul Moroz, Chief Investment Officer of Mawer Investment Management. Paul talks about the team’s “buy, hold, and sell” strategy, and discusses how the current geopolitical environment has affected his team’s analysis, and the opportunities they’re finding as a result.
In this special two-part series, our host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, gives listeners a behind the scenes look into the recent Manulife Mutual Fund Summit.
In this special two-part series, our host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at Manulife Investment Management, gives listeners a behind the scenes look into the recent Manulife Mutual Fund Summit.
In this episode of Investments Unplugged, the Manulife Capital Markets Strategy team discusses a defensive position in portfolio strategy. Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist, and Kevin Headland, Senior Investment Strategist go into detail on why they’ve shifted to be underweight in equities for their model portfolios, and what it means for both the rest of 2019, and looking forward into 2020.
Perspective from the top. In this episode we speak with Roy Gori, President and CEO of Manulife on his background and future vision for the industry.
Following up from the previous episode on geopolitical risk, the Manulife Investment Management Asset Allocation team continues the discussion with Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist. In this episode, the team focuses on their outlook for global asset classes, risks and opportunities in the backdrop of current global geopolitical events.
Has geopolitical risk become the new normal for investing? Manulife Investment Management’s Asset Allocation team joins Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, in a broad discussion on geopolitical risk in the first of a two part series. While these events do occur, the team argues that geopolitical risks should not drive investment decisions.
As an advisor, you have seen time and time again, investors panicking during periods of market volatility, selling at the market bottom, locking in losses, sitting out as the market recovers and finally jumping back in at the top of the recovery. Dr. David R. Lewis PhD and Pauline Kabitsis M.Sc. from BEworks, a behavioural economics consulting firm and research institute join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, to share insights and offer advisors strategies to help curb irrational investor behavior during market volatility.
When will we see the next recession? Very few get it right. But, there are key predictive indicators. Join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist and Kevin Headland, Senior Investment Strategist as they discuss their “Recession Checklist”. Listen on.
After a sharp reversal in the first quarter following the near bear-market in the fourth quarter of 2018, what does the rest of the year hold for investors? Coming back for another appearance, Charles C. Tomes, Associate Portfolio Manager, Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income Team, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC joins Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, and Kevin Headland, Senior Investment Strategist, to discuss his strategies and views in responding to the changing interest rate environment.
There are things in life that we know as fact but may not necessarily know the reason for that fact. This is also true in the financial vernacular. Join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist in a lively discussion with Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist as they explore these financial truisms.
As our world evolves, Megatrends such as growing urban populations will force us to rethink our cities, as it put strains on accessing clean water and demands on renewable energy, which require us to innovate ways to feed a growing world. How do we ensure we are investing in the winners of tomorrow? By focusing on companies whose businesses are built on the changes shaping our world. Join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, in a lively discussion with Pictet Asset Management, a global leader in thematic investing. Special guests from Pictet are: Gertjan Van Der Geer, Senior Investment Manager, Thematic Equities Team and Jean-Pierre Gemme, Senior Business Development Manager. Together, they discuss global megatrends, conversion into investable themes and ultimately the portfolio construction which includes selecting equities through a lens of “thematic purity” and strong business fundamentals.
Investment professionals use a variety of traditional measures to value companies, such as PE ratio, Price-to-book value, Price-to-sales, and Enterprise value to EBITA. But are they accurate? In this episode, Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, speaks with Patrick Blais, Senior Portfolio Manager, co-head of the Canadian Fundamental Equity team, Manulife Asset Management, who views valuing companies differently. He has often said, “company earnings can be potentially fictional whereas cashflow is real”. Is there a right measure? Listen on.
The Capital Markets and Strategy team conclude their two-part series with a focus on WYNTK for International Equities, Fixed Income and the Canadian Dollar in 2019. Philip Petursson, Macan Nia and Kevin Headland ends this episode with their individual 2019 fearless forecast. Listen on.
In 2018, equities and fixed income can be summed up as being “frustratingly disappointing”. There was no where to hide. So, is it so bad, that it’s actually good? Listen on as Philip Petursson, Macan Nia and Kevin Headland, provide their insights on last year’s retail investor capitulation, and how that sets up new opportunities for 2019. In the first of a two-part series, in this episode, the team bring their unique views on opportunities in Canada and U.S.
Join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist with special guests, Dan Janis, Senior Portfolio Manager and Charles Tomes, Associate Portfolio Manager, Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC in a deep dive into how they make investment decisions when so many bond structures are available.
Bonds or debt has been around for over 1,000 years. Through out its history, bonds have built empires but left unchecked, spiraling debt has crippled governments. In a special two-part episode, join Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist and John Addeo, Chief Investment Officer, Global Fixed Income, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC in a deep dive into the world of bonds.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a common quote that is mentioned by many pundits. In this episode, Philip and Macan offer up their favourite quotes, and come up with some original ones to live by during periods of volatility, uncertainty and ambiguity.
Equities tend to move in one of three directions. But what can we look to in order to glean any information on the direction for equities in 2019? We continue a conversation with our Asset Allocation experts to get their perspective on equity opportunities for next year. Featuring, James Robertson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Alexandre Richard, Senior Investment Analyst, Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management.
Since the U.S. 10-year yield hit its low of 1.37 percent in July of 2016, it has jumped 185 bps to a high of 3.25 percent. Although we may still see a move higher, we would suggest that from a magnitude perspective that the worst is behind us. Where do we go from here and how should we position our portfolios? Featuring, James Robertson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Alexandre Richard, Senior Investment Analyst, Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management.
In most cases given the option humans will choose an unknown risk over uncertainty except when it comes to investing. Investors rather react to uncertainty than the known risks and this behavior is the biggest mistake they take. What does Lotto 649, Funerals and Apple tell us about the differences between risk and uncertainty? Join us as we discuss these issues and many more on Investments Unplugged.
For our portfolios, the definition of risk is very clear which is the possibility of exposing our investments to a loss. However, how we measure risk depends on whom you ask. Join us as we discuss what is risk, how it can be measured, and does it really matter?
The Dutch Tulip Craze, Beanie Babies, a $450 million Leonardo da Vinci or Comic Books, should they be recognized as collections? Investments? Or Speculation?
From Obesity ETFs to Marijuana ETFs, last year ETFs saw record growth and took in over $460 billion globally, growth of nearly 60 percent relative to 2016. ETFs have hit the mainstream leading to nearly $4.5 trillion in global ETF assets. Not all ETFs are created equally.
Episode 2: Hosted by Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist, Manulife Investments. Featuring Macan Nia, Senior Investment Strategist and special guests, James Robertson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Alexandre Richard, Senior Investment Analyst, Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management. (Recorded February 5, 2018)
Episode 1: Featuring Macan Nia, Sr Investment Strategist and special guest, Terry Carr, Head, Fixed Income Canada, Manulife Asset Management. (Recorded January 5, 2018)