CFA UK

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman joins Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, to shed light on the unparalleled volatility and policy upheavals reshaping today's economic landscape. With the United States leading the charge towards increased protectionism, Paul highlights the staggering rise in US tariffs, which have surged from an average of 3% to around 15%. Paul, Ben, and Tom also discuss their perspectives on cryptocurrency and stablecoins, evaluating its legitimacy and utility in the current financial system, and examining what might come after the dollar in today's unprecedented world. An extended version of this conversation is available for our members. To watch Paul, Ben, and Tom discuss the immediate impact of tariffs and protectionist policies (including deportation orders) on the US economy and dollar, China's economic challenges and how they compare to Japan in the 1990s, and whether Paul sees any positives to the tariffs, members can watch the extended conversation here: https://www.cfauk.org/careers-and-cpd/resources/nobel-laureate-economist-paul-krugman-on-navigating-uncertainty-in-the-global-economy

In this episode, James Dolman, CFA, Director of Alium Dolman Limited, interviews Saffron Hill, CFA, Management Consulting Associate at AlixPartners. Saffron discusses her career journey in the investment industry, from taking the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) as part of her employee training, to using the skills, knowledge, and disciplines she gained to move into the next stage of her career. Not one to stop there, Saffron has since gained her CFA, and closes off the episode with some foundational advice to anyone on a similar path.

In this episode, John Teahan interviews Dorothée D'Herde, Director of Responsible Business at Kingfisher plc. Dorothée and John discuss the circular economy, and how Kingfisher as a DIY retailer utilises it in reducing their carbon emissions. Dorothée also shares insights on Scope 3 emissions, and the importance of engaging suppliers in decarbonisation efforts. John and Dorothée also touch on customer demand for sustainable products, innovations in the home improvement sector, and the regulatory challenges faced by companies in reporting their sustainability efforts.

How do you solve a trillion-dollar investment gap in your sector? In this episode, David Manuel speaks to Chris Kuchanny, Founder and CEO of Impactable Investment Group, to discuss the changing landscape of impact investing in emerging markets. Looking at his own journey from traditional finance to founding Impactable, Chris and David examine how financial returns can be balanced with social and environmental impact – especially where sustainable development goals (SDGs) are concerned.

In this episode, Aranzazu Sardina and Emma Kangis, an executive/leadership and career coach, discuss the importance of career coaching and developing soft skills for investment professionals. Emphasising the need to balance technical capability with soft skills and self-awareness in the workplace, Emma and Aranzazu look at practical ways that young professionals can build leadership qualities, highlighting the strength that comes from adaptability and trust in leadership.

In this episode, Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, chat with James Harris, Chief Commercial Officer of Zodia Custody. James shares his journey through various traditional finance institutions, including Citi Group and Standard Chartered Bank and his eventual pivot into crypto. Compared to other areas of investment, crypto is still a maturing sector, but its rise to fame has been pretty dramatic. James explores how the world of crypto and digital assets has adapted and matured over the last few years. Using his wealth of experience James breaks down what digital asset custody is, and why it's pivotal to the future of digital assets.

In this episode, Ulrich Amoussou, CFA, Investment Associate at Reventus Power, has a wide-ranging chat with Patric Okumi, Liquidnet/TP ICAP Group Group. Patric shares his journey from Ghana to becoming a senior executive in finance, along with the challenges and triumphs he experienced along the way. Patric highlights perseverance, authenticity, and continuous learning as the keys to doing well, with a particular focus on networking, and his takeaways from the Investment Management Certificate. Patric also discusses the value of entrepreneurship in understanding the finance industry, with a focus on his own venture ADINKRA, which aims to celebrate African culture through fashion. For more information on the IMC, please visit cfauk.org/imc

In this episode, Aranzazu Sardina catches up with Victoria McLean, CEO of City CV and Hanover Talent Solutions, to discuss the significance of setting boundaries in the workplace, and how it impacts professional development and mental health. Victoria emphasises the importance of recognising personal limits, the types of boundaries that exist, and practical tips for establishing and maintaining these boundaries. She and Aranzazu also explore how overcoming the fear of saying no can help people to be content in their professional journeys.

In this episode of the Future Proofing Finance podcast, Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, catch up with Richard Cookson, formerly of Citi Private Bank, HSBC, and Rubicon Fund Management. Richard shares his extensive experience in finance, and together they embark on a world tour of global currencies, inflation trends, and economic challenges. Richard emphasises the endurance of the dollar, the complexities of inflation, and the potential pitfalls of the euro and renminbi. He also draws parallels between Japan's economic history and China's current situation, while offering valuable advice for young finance professionals navigating today's market.

In this podcast episode, John Teahan, CFA, discusses the critical issue of methane emissions and their impact on climate change with Dr Sam Cornish, transition research specialist at The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change ( IIGCC). They explore the sources of methane and its role in global warming, the challenges of measuring and reporting emissions, and the regulatory landscape that surrounds methane. Sam concludes with some useful strategies for mitigating methane emissions. For more information on IIGCC's work on research, please visit https://www.iigcc.org/resources/momentum-addressing-methane-emissions-fossil-fuel-ops

The financial advice gap is often overlooked as an issue – but its importance for people across the income spectrum cannot be overstated. In this episode, Patrick DeBattista, CFA, speaks with Fleur Iannazzo, CFA to define the gap, the consequences of a lack of financial advice, and its importance to people's financial wellbeing. Fleur shares her personal journey, the challenges faced by individuals seeking financial advice, and the importance of cultural shifts in financial conversations. They also discuss the need for accessible financial education and the role of businesses in promoting financial wellbeing.

In this conversation, David Manuel, Founder and CIO of Beagle Partners LLP, interviews Christine Brentani, Senior Principle Consultant at ACA Group. Discussing the impact of sustainability regulations on asset managers and the changing landscape of the industry, Christine shares her journey from fund management to regulatory risk and compliance. David and Christine also explore the evolution of sustainability regulations and the future trends that fund managers should pay attention to. Christine reflects on her experience attending COP27 and COP28 and the progress being made on key milestones. The CFA UK Sustainability Community is buzzing with daily discussions, virtual meet-ups, and in-person gatherings, offering numerous opportunities for you to get involved. Our Community is a virtual and in-person hub for investment professionals to grow together as sustainable investing experts. This is the go-to place for sustainable investing knowledge, resources and contacts. You can post questions on our forum, connect with other members online and join an informal catch up in the pub. For more information on the Sustainability Community and how to join, click here: shorturl.at/drsHV

In this episode, Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA are joined by Neville Hill, an expert in long-term policy and climate change. They discuss the costs and benefits of decarbonisation against the technical challenges of achieving net zero. They discuss the need for business to innovate and adapt as the economy adjusts to the requirements of net zero transition. Neville highlights the importance of actionable analysis in understanding large-scale, long term economic and environmental changes, and offers insights into fostering innovation and addressing the US deficit.

In this conversation, Francesca Wheble, Responsible Investment Lead, Guinness Global Investors, interviews Oliver King, CAIA, Sustainable Investing Product Specialist, Fusion by JP Morgan, to talk about some of the challenges faced by asset owners and managers in integrating ESG data into their investment processes. Exploring the developing landscape of sustainable investments, they discuss the importance of data coverage and quality, and the need for disaggregating ESG factors, while maintaining the importance of transparency in the future of sustainable investing. The CFA UK Sustainability Community is buzzing with daily discussions, virtual meet-ups, and in-person gatherings, offering numerous opportunities for you to get involved. Our Community is a virtual and in-person hub for investment professionals to grow together as sustainable investing experts. This is the go-to place for sustainable investing knowledge, resources and contacts. You can post questions on our forum, connect with other members online and join an informal catch up in the pub. For more information on the Sustainability Community and how to join, click here: https://shorturl.at/drsHV

In this episode, Fleur Iannazzo CFA, Founder of WTF Money, interviews Patrick DeBattista CFA, Founder of Finance For You, to share his career transition story, and his mission to democratise financial education. Discussing the lack of financial literacy and the need for holistic financial planning, Patrick also talks about the challenges of starting a business, and the importance of building relationships and diversifying income streams. Looking back at his earlier career, Francesca and Patrick explore balancing sustainability and profitability in business, and the happiness that comes with making a difference in people's lives.

In this episode, John Teahan, CFA is joined by Shu Ling Liauw and Marina Lou of Accela Research. They discuss their backgrounds and how they founded Accela to provide objective analysis and insights on climate transition plans to drive change and help investors make more informed decisions. The conversation explores the road to achieving decarbonisation targets in the oil and gas industry and the need for realistic and deliverable targets. There's also a focus on choosing which issues to target, such as transforming the energy system and changing customer demand for sustainable products. To check out Accela Research, visit: www.accelaresearch.com For Accela's latest insights, head to their LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accela-research/

In this episode, Katriona Baker, Sustainability and Environment Manager at GEO Specialty Chemicals, speaks to Dr Melanie Windridge, founder and CEO of Fusion Energy Insights, to discuss fusion energy and its importance as an investment opportunity. Covering the fusion's development history, where it is, and where funding could take it, Katriona and Melanie also discuss the role of AI and computational power in fusion research, along with the breakout technologies that have come from it. The CFA UK Sustainability Community is buzzing with daily discussions, virtual meet-ups, and in-person gatherings, offering numerous opportunities for you to get involved. Our Community is a virtual and in-person hub for investment professionals to grow together as sustainable investing experts. This is the go-to place for sustainable investing knowledge, resources and contacts. You can post questions on our forum, connect with other members online and join an informal catch up in the pub. For more information on the Sustainability Community and how to join, click here: shorturl.at/drsHV

In this episode, Aranzazu Sardina, Senior Relationship Manager at Genesis Investment Management, speaks to Sheena Pentin, Founder and Director of Careers for Change, to discuss career management and soft skills. Sheena shares her career transition journey and the inspiration behind setting up an impact finance recruitment consultancy. She also highlights the key soft skills needed for a career in the impact finance sector and offers advice for candidates looking to make a career change.

In this conversation, Francesca Wheble, Responsible Investment Lead at Guinness Global Investors, interviews Douglas Hepworth, COO and Chief Risk Officer of Gresham Investment Management. Discussing Douglas' and Gresham's background, they explore the environmental impact of futures trading, how the Ukraine conflict provoked upended the sustainability movement, and the challenges of evaluating investments made with private capital.

In this episode, John Teahan, CFA interviews Mike Coffin of The Carbon Tracker Initiative. Exploring Mike's background as a geologist and his transition to working at Carbon Tracker, alongside its focus on climate alignment and transition risk. They also delve into the topics of demand, scenarios, energy transition and the future of the oil and gas industry, and the need for diversified economies in petro-states.

In this podcast episode, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, interview Rupert Mathieu, Sainty Hird & Partners, a headhunter in the financial services industry. Examining the changing nature of headhunting, Rupert explains the evaluation process and the importance of context in finding the right candidates. He also shares insights on building networks and the role of LinkedIn. Touching on the cyclical nature of the industry and the need for realism, Rupert emphasises the importance of due diligence in choosing an employer, and the role of education and diversity in financial services.

In this episode, Maha Khan Phillips, Co-Editor at Impact Investor, and Alexandra Morris, CIO at SKAGEN Funds, discuss gender and DEI in the investment industry. The percentage of female fund managers globally stands at just 12.1%, with minimal progress over the years. Exploring the challenges of attracting and retaining women in the industry, Maha and Alexandra discuss the Women in Finance Charter as an initiative to increase gender balance in the industry, and look at ways to encourage more women to showcase themselves and inspire the younger generation.

In this episode, James Doyle, Director, Green Finance, Investment Management, and Community Champion in the CFA UK Sustainability Community, speaks to Paris Jordan CFA, Head of Responsible Investing at Charles Stanley and Co-Founder of Virtuvest. Exploring the role of discretionary wealth managers and the importance of fiduciary duty in sustainability, they also delve into the challenges of balancing profit and impact, alongside integrating sustainability into the traditional investment model. The CFA UK Sustainability Community is buzzing with daily discussions, virtual meet-ups, and in-person gatherings, offering numerous opportunities for you to get involved. Our Community is a virtual and in-person hub for investment professionals to grow together as sustainable investing experts. This is the go-to place for sustainable investing knowledge, resources and contacts. You can post questions on our forum, connect with other members online and join an informal catch up in the pub. For more information on the Sustainability Community and how to join, click here: https://shorturl.at/drsHV

In this episode, Gerhard Sogl, CFA, interviews Christophe Roehri, Deputy CEO of TOBAM, an asset manager which focuses on human rights based in France. Christophe shares insights on the importance of human rights in enabling economic development and the impact of autocratic regimes on portfolio performance. He also provides advice for junior professionals in the industry, emphasising the value of being different and seeking new perspectives.

John Teahan, CFA is joined by Lucille Bonnet, Managing Partner at Klima Energy Transition and Managing Director at Alantra Energy Transition, and member of Supervisory Board at Sunroof. John and Lucille discuss her own career path, and the need for independent investors in European venture capitalism. Looking at the impact from US inflation and the future goal to decentralise green energy, they look deeper at Klima's composition as an SFDR article 9 fund.

In a deep dive looking at a long and storied career, Ulrich Amoussou, CFA, speaks to Bill Maldonado, CEO of Eastspring Investments. Examining Bill's career trajectory and its greatest takeaways, the two discuss how things have changed for young investors since he embarked on his career. Moving onto his approach to nurturing young talent and the need for resilience in tough periods, they also discuss how Eastspring positions itself as one of the biggest asset managers in Asia.

What are the best ways younger professionals can push forward in finance, and how can senior professionals help that happen? In this episode, Maha Khan Phillips talks to Fleur Iannazzo, CFA, founder and executive coach at WTF Money. With almost two decades of industry experience in managing the dos and don'ts of professional development, Fleur and Maha explore common challenges for younger professionals. Their discussion includes negotiating pay rises and mapping out their next career steps, alongside advice for industry veterans in training and retaining young talent.

In our first Future Proofing Finance podcast of the year, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, spoke to Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands, about the evolving nature of ownership in the tech space. Covering new frontiers in Web3, they talk about the true value of blockchain technology beyond the hype. Digging deeper, they discuss closer integration of hardware and software rights in things like cars and smartphones, and the opportunities and pitfalls to look out for in the world of crypto.

In this episode, Maha Khan Phillips had a broad conversation with Furio Pietribiasi, CEO of Mediolanum International Funds, which is the European Asset Management platform of Banca Mediolanum Group. He is responsible for Mediolanum Business Operations in Ireland, and is a member of the Board of Mediolanum International Life. Maha and Furio explore the market landscape for boutique firms and their common characteristics, alongside the key driving themes and forces throughout Furio's storied career in the Irish financial services industry. Lastly, they discuss nurturing younger talent to become their best selves in the workplace, and the personal lessons Furio would pass on.

John Teahan, CFA, portfolio manager at Redwheel speaks to James Alexander, CEO of UKSIF, charting his career from student politics, to megacity projects and finally to his position as CEO. Within the UK financial industry, James and John map the sustainability landscape across the most influential government departments, to the regulators and task forces that are shaping standards and disclosures.

James Alexander, CEO of UKSIF describes the mission led mandate of UKSIF, how it works with its members and how the organisation has an influence on policy and regulation in the UK. He then talks about the political scene as political positioning starts to impact government decisions as a UK general election appears on the horizon, and the potential for over-reliance on the finance industry to solve sustainability.

Suzanne Hsu, CFA, Director and MLRO for Project Imagine, and Professionalism Steering Committee Chair for CFA UK, caught up with Serena Espeute to talk about her research with the CFA Institute on financial promotions on social media. Focusing on unregulated ‘finfluencers' and the borderless nature of their audiences, Serena and Suzanne discuss their trends, impacts, and the dangers they may pose.

In this week's episode, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall spoke with Patrick Bloomfield, who sadly passed away in September. Patrick was a leading figure in the pensions industry for more than 25 years, joining Humans Robertson in 2004 and being made a partner of the firm in 2006. Alongside his work at Hymans Robertson, he chaired the Association of Consulting Actuaries between 2020 and 2022. In this conversation, Ben, Tom, and Patrick covered a broad range of topics, from the endemic effects of Covid-19 on life expectancy and the data used to map it, to the ongoing ramifications of the conflict in Ukraine, to what the pensions industry may look like in decades to come. As you'll hear from the conversation, Patrick was a joy to speak to, and while podcasts like these often focus on the technologies and new frontiers of our industry, it's important to remember that it's the people and connections you make that make working in investment worthwhile.

Arun Kelshiker, CFA and vice-chair of the CFA UK DEI committee, caught up with Natalie Gill, Head of DEI Strategy & Industry Engagement, PGIM, and Sarah Maynard, Global Senior Head, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CFA Institute, about Sexism in the City - a new inquiry looking at barriers faced by women in financial services. In this conversation, they discuss what the inquiry is looking into, what it includes and why it's happening now. The discussion also picks up on what the inquiry means, the idea of gender as the universal diversifier, and the complexities in the difference between equality and equity.

Meet John Cummins - Managing Director, Group Investments at Aviva Group plc. Over the last 30 years, John has been brought in to solve some of the trickiest banking situations in the UK. In this episode, John talks to Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA to discuss the future of banking and some of the key learnings on treasury management he's learned over the years. Plus, he reveals his predictions for what the global investment space will look like in 18 months, as well as 10 years, including the potential reduction in inflation rates and the emerging opportunities in India and Africa.

Natalie Gregoire-Skeete, HSBC's Head of Sustainability in Europe caught up with Pamela Hutchinson OBE, Global head of Diversity at Bloomberg. From working out of a portacabin in Folkstone as part of a legal team for Eurotunnel to heading up DEI for a global institution, Pamela is one of the pioneers embracing DEI in the UK and working for real industry change. Pamela's parents' invaluable advice of ‘You have to be it in order for others to see it' was an impetus as a black woman to succeed in industries dominated by white men. In this insightful and open discussion Pamela shares what inspires her to keep going every day. Pamela and Natalie discuss the impact of Windrush on UK society and multi-generational experiences of being black and British.

Christian Koch is on the portfolio management team at BB Biotech, the Swiss-based investment company. For CFA UK's ‘In Conversation Podcast', Koch talked to Maha Khan Phillips about innovations in the world of biotechnology, and the opportunities it presents for investors.

In the second part of John Teahan's discussion with Harlan Zimmerman, Harlan sets out how to incorporate Net Zero commitments into executive remuneration plans. The need for significant, measurable and transparent metrics to support decarbonisation and clear links to public commitments on Net Zero.

John Teahan speaks to Harlan Zimmerman, Senior Partner of Cevian Capital, about Cevian's activist investment approach, how the company incorporates sustainability issues and early moves by the industry to align remuneration with sustainability.

Arun Kelshiker, CFA the vice-chair of the CFA UK DEI committee, spoke to Baroness Helena Morrissey, founder of The Diversity Project - Investment Industry. When Helena entered the world of fund management early on in her career she soon realised the industry lacked inclusivity and diversity which led her to set up The Diversity Project in 2016. The new Safe Space initiative was then formed this year for investment professionals to openly and anonymously share their negative experiences. This includes situations of poor behaviour, bullying, discrimination, and harassment. Helena discusses the crucial role of fostering transparency and addressing critical issues within the investment community.

Dominic Endicott, Partner NorthStar Ventures and author, begins his lively discussion with Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA with a tussle over whether Crypto and Blockchain are just a distraction or solving a real economic problems. Dominic emphasises the importance Venture Capital (VC) has had in the UK over the last 10 years: $150 billion VC money has gone into startups generating upwards of a $billion in value which becomes £2 trillion in wealth, which meaning around a third of all wealth in the last decade has come from VC as a source. However, this is concentrated in London and the South East. Dominic believes it in the next decade we will see a more even spread across the UK leading to an opportunity for wealth creation and economic models. The discussion also touches on how VCs can have a critical role in regions, while still generating returns.

Marisa Hall is Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute. For CFA UK's ‘In Conversation Podcast', Hall talked to Maha Khan Phillips about what innovation in asset management looks like, and how it is transforming the landscape.

Simon Galbraith Founded Redgate Software, invests in tech and shares his expertise as a Non-Executive Director across the Tech sector. He started life as a Physicist, saw an opportunity and nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit. In this frank discussion with Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA, Simon explains what he looks for when he invests, the importance of confidence in both the idea and the company, and how capital influences growth.

Anthony Watson CBE, CEO of The Bank of London talks to Daniel Yates, CFA about Pride, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence.

Marie Dzanis is Head of Asset Management in EMEA for Northern Trust Global Investments. In CFA UK's ‘In Conversation Podcast', Dzanis talked to Maha Khan Phillips about difficult market conditions, how investors are looking at their active and passive portfolio construction, and how they are considering factor exposure in their approaches.

Ben Ashby and Tom Threfall spoke to Rachel Curtis, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Inicio AI. Having begun her journey in traditional finance, her deep curiosity and approach to problem-solving over the years led her to start an artificial intelligence company called Inicio AI. Inicio is transforming how people deal with debt using virtual agents. She explores how artificial intelligence is creating a major shift in many sectors including financial services and the effectiveness of using AI within niche areas.

Joshua Maxey, CFA, is Co-Founder of Third Bridge, the global provider of independent research. For CFA UK's ‘In Conversation Podcast', Maxey talked to Maha Khan Phillips about how the world of investment research is evolving, and what that means for the ways we access and digest information.

Co-hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA catch up with Simon Russell, Founder, Trinity Square. Simon, started in corporate finance, saw the opportunity in the internet, specialised in technology and his career took off. They discuss the downfall of SVB, and its impact on the UK market. Simon charts the rise in software investment over the last 20 years and the landscape which allowed this level of investment to take place. Then, the discussion moves on to AI, and whether it's worth believing the hype of these innovations. Simon believes we are just at the beginning of a great big evolution in AI and there is much more to come.

Sean Alleyne is COO of Credit Suisse and was awarded the 2022 Powerlist Executive of the Year award and the 2022 Black British Awards, Financial Services Senior Leader. He caught up with Natalie Gregoire-Skeete, CFA, UK Financial Services Sustainable Finance Markets Lead at EY and a co-founder of CFA UK's Black Professionals Network, to discuss his rise to success and the steps we need to take to forge a path for greater diversity in financial services. Natalie asks Sean to share his career tips and tricks and the advice he would give to his younger self.

In the first episode of our new podcast series ‘Future Proofing Finance' co-hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threfall welcome Max Bautin, Partner and Co-Founder, IQ Capital. As leading investors in Deep Tech, IQ Capital are passionate about the competitive edge it gives.   In their conversation Max defines Deep Tech and highlights the importance of identifying the benefit to the end user. Max also touches upon the state of the Venture Capital market, both in Europe and the US.

The UK Financial services sector continues to address the ‘old boys' club' reputation of the past. However, with 89% of senior level investment professionals coming from a higher socio-economic background something needs to be done to ensure that people from all backgrounds could reach their full potential. Host Ben Elvidge, CFA caught up with Sophie Hulm, CEO of Progress Together. Progress Together is helping firms understand the barriers when it comes to socio-economic progression to senior management or Board positions. Together Ben and Sophie explore the practical ways the investment profession can become more inclusive and welcoming to people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.