Changing World, New Opportunity: Recent Episodes
Contribution Invest Forum (DCIF)
Our world is changing radically as we emerge from a global pandemic and grapple with climate change. As industries and companies reshape, new opportunities are emerging for investors. In this show, Louise Farrand and Jon Holguin will chat with experienced members of the investment world, broadcasting the insights and the ideas of research group the Defined Contribution Investment Forum (DCIF) to pension fund decision-makers in the UK and across the globe.
This show is hosted by Louise Farrand, a journalist who has written about finance for over a decade and has run the DCIF for six years. Co-hosting is Jon Holguin, Chair of the DCIF and a client director at abrdn, who has been working with DC pension schemes for nearly 15 years.
To subscribe to this show and read the regular research the DCIF publishes, head to www.dcif.co.uk (will change to custom URL) and follow the DCIF on Twitter (@DCIF) and LinkedIn.
In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with Ben Lewis, head of Mercer's investment DC workplace proposition, for a wide-ranging conversation about how Mercer's master trust is building out its investment strategy for the long term.
Ben covers the move into private markets, how Mercer is thinking about the full member journey from accumulation through to retirement, and why getting the structure of the LTAF right matters so much. They also get into progress on sustainability, the impact of consolidation following the Cardano acquisition, and how Value for Money rules are shaping decision making across the market.
The conversation rounds off with Ben's thoughts on venture capital as a future allocation for DC members and the role of AI in helping members engage with their pensions.
We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed speaking to Ben!
In this week’s episode of the podcast, we speak to Tegs Harding, trustee chair of the Legal and General master trust’s investments committee.
Investment has been high on the master trust’s agenda. Tegs and her colleagues realise that members are better off when they take more risk for longer – and that has been a big theme of the changes they have been making over the last few years. They have introduced equities from earlier in the lifecycle, considering the length of members’ de-risking glidepaths and introducing private markets.
Tegs touches on the live discussion L&G are having around private markets in retirement – and why knowing only part of a member’s overall financial picture is a challenge.
More broadly, we talk quite a lot about investment advice and guidance, and Tegs shares some fascinating themes and observations from L&G’s retirement research with members, some of which may surprise you. We also touch on the impact AI could have on how members interact with their pensions.
Tegs talks about the L&G master trust’s net zero journey and why it’s vital for master trusts to look beyond paper-based decarbonization to build resilience and have real world impact.
It’s a great episode – enjoy!
This week on the podcast, we chat to Jo Sharples, chief investment officer for Aon’s DC solutions. Jo shares her wisdom about investment, revealing her ‘sleep at night strategy’ – we love this idea.
We discuss the importance of cutting out the noise and sticking to your guns in times of short term volatility.
Jo explains why she has just made an allocation to long-dated government bonds in the growth phase – despite being very pro equity in general – and explains why government bonds are very much on her radar.
She has a challenge to the industry on net zero: have we done the easy things and saved the harder choices for later? Are we making enough real progress? If not, what needs to change?
We also discuss private markets, and Jo shares the types of assets the Aon master trust is looking at – and why it’s important to have different risk/return focuses for people at different stages of their lives. Listen to the podcast to find out exactly what they’re looking at.
We loved catching up with Jo. Enjoy the episode!
Lorna Blyth, head of investment proposition for Aegon UK, joins Dave and Louise for this week’s podcast. We learn about Lorna’s career path, from dreams of art college to working her way up through the ranks of a pension provider and into investment – with a lot of hard work and exams completed along the way.
Lorna is responsible for investment proposition for Aegon's DC workplace business from the master trust to the contract based book and also looks after the fund of funds business. That’s a lot of members and assets. Investing on behalf of one million plus customers with over 100 billion pounds’ worth of assets is a big job – and Lorna and her colleagues continually working to improve outcomes and aim for strong long‑term returns.
The team has spent the last two years looking at private markets – and has recently introduced LTAFs. Lorna tells us about how she is using them to pull different levers for members at different stages in their glidepaths.
‘I love my job’, Lorna told us – we find out what aspects of investment excite her, as well as what changes in the DC world are inspiring her at the moment.
A note on continuity: we spoke to Lorna in the autumn of 2025 – so when we talk about ‘next year’, this actually means 2026. Hope that isn’t too confusing for listeners!
We’re back! On this week’s DCIF podcast, Dave and Louise catch up with Naomi Clark. Naomi, who is USS’ head of investment product management, came on the podcast several years ago in season two – so this was a perfect chance to catch up with her and find out how USS’ investment strategy has evolved.
Naomi gives us a fascinating insight into how USS achieves diversification in the uncertain world we live in. Spoiler alert: it’s all about great governance. We also find out about Naomi’s own passion for private markets and the possibilities she thinks these investments could offer to savers in later life. We learn why USS has signed the Mansion House Accord. Naomi also gives us an update on USS’ net zero journey.
It's a fascinating episode – we hope you enjoy it.
In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with Jonathan Parker, head of DC at Redington and chair of the investment committee for the Aviva Master Trust, for a deep dive into how one of the UK’s largest master trusts is reshaping investment strategy for the decade ahead.
Jonathan talks through why Aviva has made a major move into private markets and what this means for members, from opening up access to infrastructure and private equity to managing liquidity in a more complex investment environment. They dive into the new value for money rules, the rising pressure of performance comparisons, and how trustees and providers are balancing long-term conviction with short-term scrutiny.
Louise and Dave also get Jonathan’s take on how governance is evolving as master trusts scale, how member behaviour is shifting, and what Aviva is doing to help people as they move into, and then through, retirement.
It’s a forward-looking and insightful conversation about the trends shaping DC right now. We hope you enjoy the episode!
In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair chat to Steve Charlton, DC and solutions managing director for SEI across EMEA and Asia.
Steve takes us through SEI’s goals-based investment philosophy, explaining how the master trust starts with members’ retirement income needs and designs portfolios backwards from that objective. He outlines why SEI maintains a high-equity, factor-driven default through the early and mid-career stages, using tilts such as value, quality and momentum to manage risk while targeting long-term return drivers.
They discuss the impact of industry consolidation, including SEI’s acquisition of Atlas, and how increased scale strengthens investment capability, fund range and long-term sustainability. Steve shares SEI’s thinking on private markets and LTAFs, emphasising disciplined allocation decisions based on hurdle rates, timing, and a clear focus on improving outcomes rather than meeting political or market pressure.
Steve reflects on market concentration risks, the importance of robust governance, and the need for investment strategies that remain resilient across cycles.
It’s an in-depth and comprehensive conversation about SEI’s approach to evolving challenges in the master trust landscape, we hope you enjoy the episode!
In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair chat to Veronica Humble, CIO at NatWest Cushon.
Veronica takes us through how Cushon is shaping its investment strategy for a changing world, from expanding its private markets allocation to exploring opportunities in venture capital. She explains the team’s approach to diversification, governance, and long-term risk management, particularly given market volatility.
They discuss Cushon’s climate framework, including its focus on real-world decarbonisation, natural capital and portfolio resilience. Veronica shares how digital storytelling is helping members connect with their investments, and why UK-based projects are becoming an increasingly important part of that narrative.
Finally, Veronica reflects on building internal investment capabilities, working closely with trustees, and how AI and innovation might transform DC investing in the years ahead.
It’s a wide-ranging conversation - we hope you enjoy the episode!
In this episode of the DCIF’s podcast, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with James Monk, investment director at Fidelity’s FutureWise.
James explains why the FutureWise team is embracing private markets – but hasn’t signed the Mansion House Accord. We dive into how FutureWise is using LTAFs and peer beneath the bonnet at its private markets allocations, plus hear more about James and the team’s future plans for using these assets in members’ later lives. James also talks about other asset classes, sharing why he’s keen on gold.
We hear more about several other big industry discussions and how James and his team are adapting, from FutureWise’s approach to sustainability, stewardship and net zero to how industry consolidation may accelerate private market adoption.
It’s a wide-ranging discussion – we hope you enjoy it.
In this episode of Changing World, New Opportunities, hosts Louise and Dave sit down with Liz Fernando, chief investment officer at Nest. Liz explains how Nest is reshaping DC investing, moving beyond pot size to focus on retirement income and member outcomes. She shares her reflections on why investors could be in the midst of a regime change and what this may mean for asset allocation. Liz also discusses how the scheme blends multiple portfolios across different risk and return profiles, and how private markets, including timberland and private credit, play a growing role in driving diversification and long-term returns.
Liz also discusses Nest’s ESG and Net Zero strategy and the importance of real-world impact, and how technology and data could enable more personalised investment journeys tailored to members’ unique circumstances. This episode offers an insightful look at the innovations transforming the DC world and the future of retirement planning.
In this latest episode of Changing World, New Opportunities, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with James Lawrence, director of investment proposition at Smart Pension. Smart Pension has made headlines for its forward-thinking approach, combining bold investment ideas with a strong focus on member outcomes. As a tech-led disruptor in the DC market, it is innovating on multiple fronts, from synthetic equities to private markets integration, and user-centric retirement solutions.
James explains why Smart Pension has leaned into private markets, what is behind their use of synthetic equities to free up capital for higher-return assets, and how their ‘four-pot’ retirement model could change the way members experience flexibility in later life. He also shares Smart Pension’s progress on ESG integration, their Net Zero 2040 goal, and thoughts on how technology and tokenisation could shape the next generation of pension investing.
This episode offers a deep dive into how modern pensions are adapting to a complex, uncertain, and opportunity-rich landscape.
In this season of the DCIF’s podcast, Dave and Louise are chatting to master trust chief investment officers. And who better to start us off with a bang than Dan Mikulsis?! As well as being CIO of People’s Partnership, Dan is a podcast veteran; in a former role, he hosted LCP’s own podcast, a top listen.
In this week’s episode, we cover a huge amount of ground. But just a few highlights: Dan tells us why People’s Partnership signed the Mansion House Accord (when they hadn’t signed the compact), what private markets he’s most excited about, why he thinks fears about master trust herding are overstated, and what he hopes for from the Pensions Bill.
We hope you enjoy listening.
May we be so bold as to suggest that if you listen to one of our international episodes, it should be this one. Mark and Louise reflect on the key lessons they’ve learnt from their series of conversations with international pensions policymakers. What should UK policymakers take from the season? The episode is interspersed with nuggets of wisdoms from all our fantastic guests from all over the world. This is the final episode in this season and Mark and Louise give a preview of what to expect from season four – look out for that in a few weeks.
How do you solve a problem like giving pension savers a lifelong income? It’s a topic at the top of the pensions industry’s mind – and Nest has been thinking hard about how to solve the conundrum.
In this week’s bonus episode of the DCIF’s podcast, Nest’s Gareth Turner talks to Mark and Louise about how it is approaching retirement. Nest has developed the Retirement Blueprint, which Gareth outlines in the episode, kindly fielding questions about the finer details. The blueprint is a work in progress, and we discuss how Nest is keen to hear the industry’s feedback.
So, we’d love to hear what you think about the ideas we discuss in this special bonus episode – and we hope that, as ever, you enjoy the show.
Download Nest's retirement income blueprint - https://dcif.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/DCIF-Nest-retirement-income-blueprint-overview.pptx
Iceland’s pension system has been following us around. Rated an impressive number two in the latest Melbourne Mercer Pension Index and name-dropped by several previous guests on the show this season, nevertheless Iceland has flown beneath the radar in terms of global recognition. We put that right in this week’s episode of the podcast! Mark and Louise chat to Bjorn Asgrimsson, analyst at Iceland’s Financial Supervisory Authority. Bjorn explains how Iceland became a strong pension system and what others can learn. Bjorn and his colleagues are not resting on their laurels; what’s next on their agenda?
This week on the podcast, we were lucky enough to be joined by pensions royalty! Keith Ambachtsheer tells Mark and Louise all about Canada's system.
This episode contains all the wisdom and deep expertise you'd expect from someone like Keith, who over the years rubbed shoulders with economists like Harry Markowitz and William Sharpe.
Keith tells us about his dramatic entry into the pensions world - and what he's learned from the Nobel prizewinners over the years since then.
He tells us about his 40-year mission to define the characteristics of a well thought out pension system. Right up the street from this podcast! We talk about how close we are to achieving pensions nirvana.
This week’s podcast is out now! In it, we take a fascinating dive into Sweden’s DC system with Mats Langensjö. First off, we find out how Sweden’s AP funds work. Mats describes one highly unusual feature of the Swedish DC system: a government-run fund selection agency which has the job of hiring and firing fund managers. How did this come about? And what criteria does it use? Mats explains all.
Mats gives us a rundown of the best features of the Swedish system – and confides what worries him most about the future. He explains some of the system’s downfalls – complexity, fragmentation and adequacy fears loom large – and tells us what he would change if he could.
One key point we take away from this episode is how pension systems are often born out of adversity. Mats tells us how the Swedish pension system faced great pressure to move – fast – from DB to DC in the early 1990s, when the Swedish economy was in very bad shape. Thankfully, thanks to Sweden’s collective culture, there wasn’t a backlash. But the move did create some adverse effects.
Mats worries about the adequacy of the system when DC savers reach retirement age, and when there’s a rush to move quickly, there isn’t always time to think everything through – which Mats thinks could have created some of the fragmentation and complexity which is apparent in the system today.
It's a great episode – enjoy!
In this episode, the Godfather of auto-enrolment, Mark Iwry, tells us the story of how it was introduced in the USA. We peek inside the doors of the US government and find out how Mark and his colleagues helped employers to shape both their investment strategies and the wider DC system.
The US’ auto-enrolment journey wasn’t without its tricky moments. Mark tells us of a memorable encounter with the police, and why Bill Clinton still owes him $75.
We also find out how the US’ experience of auto-enrolment influenced the UK’s direction of travel – and the lessons Mark passed on to the DWP. Why does Mark think the UK improved on the US’ version of auto-enrolment? With the benefit of hindsight, Mark tells us what he’d go back in a time machine to change. We also find out what advice he would give to other regulators about building a great DC system.
Finally, we explore how the US is faring on its journey to introduce more alternative and non-traditional investments into its DC system.
In this week’s episode, former pensions minister Steve Webb talks to us about defined ambition, the lessons he’s learned from international pensions systems, and why pendulums tend to swing back.
Steve reflects on some subjects which are dear to our heart, including lessons he learnt from overseas, reflects on what he’s proud of and what he would go back in time to change, if he could. He tells us one important lesson he took from the Netherlands’ experience, which echoes a point last week’s guest Hans van Meerten made (spoiler alert: it’s about communication).
We also talk about what’s going on in UK pensions today. Steve explains why he thinks post-retirement CDC could happen sooner than we think. He tells us where flex now, fix later came from and how it could work. Finally, we hear Steve’s verdict on the Pensions Investment Review.
Many thanks!
This week, Mark and Louise speak to Professor Hans van Meerten about the Netherlands’ pension system. Hans is a lawyer and academic, specializing in EU and Dutch pensions law.
We find out why the Netherlands is going through some big pension reforms, despite being top of the international league tables. From his legal perspective, Hans explains why he’s a critic of the current Dutch CDC model, the biggest problems in the system, and why he expects a lot of court cases down the line.
We also dive into China’s pension system briefly and Hans shares some fascinating insights into how that is developing.
EU Pensions Law, edited by Professor Hans van Meerten and Professor Philip Bennett, is available here: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/eu-pensions-law-9781802200218.html#:~:text='EU%20Pensions%20Law%20is%20an,pension%20novices%20and%20pension%20experts.
It’s a great episode – hope you enjoy listening!
Jerry Moriarty is the outgoing CEO of the Irish Association of Pension Funds. In this episode, we chat about how Ireland’s pensions system is evolving, the similarities and differences between the Irish and UK pension systems, and the feature of the Irish pensions system that Mark and Louise most envy.
We hear an update on how auto-enrolment is going in Ireland and the consolidation which is happening as a result. What did Ireland learn from the UK’s recent experience? How are members’ pension contributions being invested? What aspect of Ireland’s pension system is Jerry proudest of? And if he had a time machine, what would he go back and change?
This week on the podcast, we chat to Paul Watson about the Australian superannuation system.
Paul has spent years as a senior executive in the superannuation fund world, most recently at Hostplus, one of Australia’s largest supers.
We learn how the value for money debate has been ‘run and won’ in Australia, how Aussie superfunds got to grips with investing in private markets and why the Aussies are moving in the opposite direction to the Brits when it comes to retirement decision-making. Paul also offers his advice to UK policymakers as the Pensions Investment Review moves forward.
Paul stresses to us that Australia’s pension system isn’t perfect, either. He tells us the one thing he would change if he were pensions minister for a day, why the Brits are arguably doing engagement better than the Aussies and offers us some great advice.
We so enjoyed exchanging notes with Paul – and we hope you learn as much as we did from the conversation.
Welcome to a brand new season of Changing World, New Opportunities! This season, we’re chatting to international policymakers and pensions experts about their DC systems. What are the challenges? What would they change about it? And – crucially – what can we learn in the UK?
Diane Maxwell kicks off the season with a bang. The former retirement commissioner for New Zealand gives us the lowdown on the country’s pensions system, the flipside of consumer engagement, how retirement works and the crucial differences between the UK and New Zealand’s tax systems – as well as the key lessons she’d pass on to UK policymakers.
This week’s guest is Tim Orton, CIO at Aegon. We enjoyed chatting about how making the world better for his grandchildren feeds into Tim’s passion for combatting climate change. 2022 caused him to think differently about diversification, risk and members’ journeys. Plus, Tim tells us why Aegon signed the Mansion House Compact. Enjoy the episode!
This week, Lorna and Louise really enjoyed talking to Naomi Clark, head of investment product management at USS. We find out about Naomi's long and winding road into pensions - from an English degree, via a start in shipping, to where she is today.
Naomi tells us about a bumpy start to USS' private markets journey and shares the reason why USS hasn't signed the Mansion House Compact.
Please note these are Naomi’s personal framings of USS’ formal positions.
This week, we had a great chat with Liz Fernando, CIO of Nest.
We learn about why her time as a smaller companies analyst was a great training ground, why shorthand can be dangerous in investment, and what keeps Liz awake at night - where she gives us possibly the most poignant answer of the series so far.
Happy listening!
This week, Lorna and Louise chat to James Lawrence, head of investment proposition at Smart Pension. James shares a snapshot of what's on his agenda, as well as what he thinks the secret to engagement might be.
We overcame numerous technology failures to record this episode - and we hope you agree that it's a great one!
On the podcast this week, we chat to Emma Matthews, head of investment at NOW: Pensions. We find out about Emma's career path and how it's given her a different perspective on the member experience of investment. Plus, what's on NOW: Pensions' agenda right now? And what's keeping Emma awake at night?
This week, Lorna and Louise speak to Mercer's Jane Walker. We talk about why blips are inevitable in the investment world, and why she thinks members should stay in the driving seat instead of looking under the bonnet. We also find out Jane's one ask of asset managers and discover our mutual hatred of hills. It's a great episode - enjoy!
We kick off season two of Changing World, New Opportunities with a fantastic guest: Julius Pursaill, strategic adviser to master trust Cushon. Julius spoke up for the Mansion House reforms and inspired us to rethink our definition of fiduciary duty. He also shared some great ways to get members engaged with investment. At the start of the episode, we also introduce new co-host Lorna Kennedy, this year’s chair of the DCIF. We hope you enjoy listening to the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
In this outro episode, Jon and Louise close out season one of the podcast and reflect on the highlights of the series - as well as what's in store for season two.
Are we going through a sustainability revolution, akin to the industrial revolution? Robbie Epsom thinks so. This week, Jon and Louise chat to CBRE Investment Management's EMEA head of sustainability, about how and why real estate should play a vital role in the revolution.
This week, Nico Aspinall joins us to talk about the report he has just written for the DCIF on TCFD. In the report, he takes the temperature of the UK DC pensions industry: how are they getting on with TCFD reporting so far? Listen in for Nico’s highlights of the report.
This week, Jon and Louise chat to Jeri Savage about MFS' Global Retirement Survey. The survey covers subjects like sustainability, retirement confidence, default funds/target date in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. It has been running for a number of years, with fascinating trends emerging. We talk about the lessons DC schemes can learn from other countries, and the most interesting takeaways from the research.
Our guest today, Simon Bond, is one of the pioneers of social impact bonds. In this episode, he explains what social bonds are and how they can sit within DC portfolios, reflects on how they have evolved over the last decade, and gives us his outlook for the future. Simon is director of responsible investment portfolio management at Columbia Theadneedle Investments.
This week, Louise and Jon speak to Lee Hollingworth. Formerly a longstanding member of the consulting world, Lee is now head of UK retirement at Franklin Templeton - and is thinking hard about what does and doesn't work for savers in the current pensions system. We find out why Lee moved from consultancy into asset management, probe him on his views on annuities and retirement pathways, and much more.
Infrastructure can be perceived as difficult to make sustainable – this week’s guest Rebecca Myatt well and truly busts that myth. Jon and Louise chat to Rebecca, who is First Sentier Investors' lead portfolio manager for Responsible Listed Infrastructure. This week’s episode is for anyone who wants to know more about how investing in infrastructure works, and how it can tie in with DC schemes’ sustainability goals.
In this series of Changing World, New Opportunities, we were keen to hear from a trustee. There’s so much going on in the investment world all the time, and that’s just one element of being a trustee; what does it feel like right now to try to serve members while keeping abreast of regulation, admin, communications and governance?
In this episode, Jon and Louise talk to Mark Austin, who as well as being a DCIF member and head of the UK for Northern Trust’s asset owner business, is chair of the Northern Trust UK Pension Scheme. We find out how Mark became a trustee, how the world has changed and become more challenging for trustees in recent years, and how to build an investment strategy that works for everyone, from workers in the post room to the chief investment officer.
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
This week, Jon and Louise focus on a thorny subject in DC: investing in alternatives. DC schemes have long struggled to access alternatives, but this week’s guest has found a solution. James de Bunsen is a portfolio manager on the Janus Henderson multi-asset team, with a particular focus on alternative investments. James and Janus Henderson launched a fund in 2013 to provide liquid access to less liquid asset classes, using investment trusts. We explore why DC schemes should consider using investment trusts to access alternatives and why they might not be at the moment. What kinds of alternatives can you access through investment trusts? And is cost a barrier?
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
New podcast klaxon! This week on Changing World, New Opportunities, Louise and Jon are podcasting across the pond, with Kurt Walten, senior vice president, investment affairs & investor education for Nareit, the worldwide representative voice for REITs. In the third episode of our three-part real estate mini-series, Kurt explains what a REIT is, why a DC scheme might want to invest in REITs, and why DC scheme members might end up at a disadvantage compared to their DB counterparts if they are not invested in REITs.
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
This week on Changing World, New Opportunities, Jon and Louise continue their three-part real estate mini-series by chatting to Simon Redman, managing director of Invesco Real Estate. Simon argues that DC pension schemes should be investing in global real estate to access the best possible opportunity set and to achieve a diversified portfolio. We talk about whether DC schemes are doing this at the moment, and the mechanics of how they can access property. Plus, Simon explains why he’s putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to investing in global real estate.
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
Fresh off a plane, Sara Shean is Louise and Jon’s guest today on Changing World, New Opportunities. We ask Sara, who is PGIM Real Estate’s global head of defined contribution, why DC schemes should invest in real estate. How could investing in real estate help a pension scheme’s ESG objectives? And how do changing consumer needs impact what sorts of real estate opportunities look interesting right now? This is the first in our three-part real estate mini-series, giving you a broad introduction to investing in real estate.
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
This week on Changing World, New Opportunities, Louise and Jon speak to Bruno Bamburger, senior solutions strategist at AXA Investment Managers, about assessing climate risk and incorporating ESG into fixed income investments. How does integrating ESG within fixed income compare to the world of equities? Can fixed income investors play a role in stewardship? Ultimately, is the world getting there on the ambitious green targets we’ve set? We quiz Bruno on these topics and many more.
Listen now by searching for the DCIF on Spotify, Apple or any other major podcast platform, or find it on the DCIF’s website.
Thematic funds are growing rapidly – but how can they be used in a DC context? With our guest Katie Magee, an investment specialist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, we explore thematic investment: from what thematic investment entails and where demand is coming from, through to unusual client requests and why sustainability and thematic investment go hand in hand.
Jon, Louise and guest Siobhan Cleary, an investment specialist at Baillie Gifford, discuss the purpose of engagement, how you measure it and communicate better with end investors. How are regulatory reporting requirements changing, and how are asset managers working to provide meaningful data to their DC scheme clients?
In our first episode, Jon Holguin and Louise Farrand dive straight into the first of an ESG mini-series: impact investing with abrdn’s Sarah Norris. What is impact investing and how can DC schemes embrace it? How is impact investing evolving? In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover all things impact and why it should matter to DC investors.