Episode 117 – In Trust We Must: From Wall Street to the Open Road
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
Release Date: 06/25/2025
Episode 117 – In Trust We Must: From Wall Street to the Open Road
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, talks about the importance of trust – between governments, institutions, clients and their advisers and of course the rider and her bike. (1:18) So, Tracey, how do you define trust? (1:59) Can you think of a single system—financial, political, or social—that functions without trust? (2:35) Let’s go back to 2008. Where were you when Lehman collapsed? Did it hit you right away that this was a trust crisis? (3:46) And the stats reflect that. Only 27% of Americans said at the...
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Episode 116 – Are we past peak US exceptionalism?
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, considers the question are we past peak US exceptionalism? If so, where are the alternative safe havens for investors. (0:50) So, Tracey, you presented at a conference last week. Let’s start with topic of your session: Have we seen peak U.S. exceptionalism? (4:12) Just on the topic of ballooning government debt, the current fiscal proposal, the so called “Big beautiful budget bill” combines tax cuts with higher defence spending and no meaningful plan to reduce debt. It just ties in with investor...
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Perspectives: Episode 115 – Dispatches from the US
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, presents from New York where she discusses her observations from being on the ground. Following meetings with portfolio managers, economists, political strategists and financial advisers across four US states she discusses how President Trump’s trade war is being perceived. (0:52) Tracey, let’s start with some observations of what you have seen and heard on the ground. What stood out the most? (1:51) How about the cities? You spent time in Chicago and New York, right? (2:48) What are people saying about...
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Perspectives: Episode 114 – And just like that
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, discusses how this market correction differs to anything in the past; what the Escala fund managers are saying about it; and why the investment environment will be different when the fog finally lifts. (1:05) Tracey lets start with how you are viewing current events in markets? (3:19) You mentioned the similarities with covid in terms of uncertainty of what comes next. How do you compare the market reaction this time to previous sell offs? (5:47) You have just come off heat week where you talk to all of our...
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Perspectives: Episode 113 – "Liberation Day"
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, discusses the seismic shift in German defence spending, why Greek banks are looking attractive and why the team are no longer happy to be overweight US equities. (1:10) Tracey for decades, Germany has been the poster child of fiscal conservatism in Europe. The country’s approach was shaped by its post-WWII economic memory, where inflation and debt were deeply stigmatized. The past few weeks has seen a seismic shift in that view. (1:55) It was a historic shift in Germany's fiscal policy. (2:49) Still, it...
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Perspectives: Episode 113 – "Liberation Day"
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, discusses the seismic shift in German defence spending, why Greek banks are looking attractive and why the team are no longer happy to be overweight US equities. (1:10) Tracey for decades, Germany has been the poster child of fiscal conservatism in Europe. The country’s approach was shaped by its post-WWII economic memory, where inflation and debt were deeply stigmatized. The past few weeks has seen a seismic shift in that view. (1:55) It was a historic shift in Germany's fiscal policy. (2:49) Still, it...
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Perspectives: In Conversation with Alternatives and Private Markets specialist Sam Edwards from Longreach Alternatives
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode, Escala Partners Investment Analyst Stephen Dickinson talks to Sam Edwards, Partner from Longreach Alternatives. Sam discusses the royalties landscape, why a diversified approach to royalty investing is important and the benefits of PG3s multi-sector approach to royalties.
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Perspectives: Episode 112 – The Times They Are A-Changin'
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, discusses what a multi-polar world might look like, NATO’s fragile state and how the world trade map is being re-drawn. (1:30) It has been easy to get stuck in the weeds over the past 57 days, since President Trumps inauguration, so lets take a helicopter view and talk about US exceptionalism. For decades, the US has been the dominant force in global politics, economics, and military power. But today, we’re seeing cracks in that dominance. How do you see this playing out? (3:08) Interesting. And...
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Perspectives: Fund Manager Interview with Justin O'Brien from Cooper Investors
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode, Escala Partners Investment Analyst David Bruty talks to Justin O’Brien, Portfolio Manager of the Cooper Investors Brunswick Fund, an all-cap Australian equities fund. Justin discusses the investment philosophy that underpins Cooper Investors’ approach to managing capital, the differentiated and unconstrained structure of the Brunswick Fund, along with a number of stock examples and the role they play within the portfolio.
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Perspectives: Episode 111 – A founder’s story: Interview with Mark Middleton from Icon Group
'Perspectives' by Escala Partners
In this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, interviews Mark Middleton, CEO of Icon Group. Mark discusses his journey as a founder of one of Australia’s largest health organisations, his partnership with private equity and the importance of authenticity as a leadership quality. Mark is the author of 'Good Morning', with all proceeds going to the Icon Cancer Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to providing hope, access and opportunity to people with cancer through supporting research and clinical trials. Find out more:
info_outlineIn this episode of Perspectives, Escala Chief Investment Officer, Tracey McNaughton, talks about the importance of trust – between governments, institutions, clients and their advisers and of course the rider and her bike.
(1:18) So, Tracey, how do you define trust?
(1:59) Can you think of a single system—financial, political, or social—that functions without trust?
(2:35) Let’s go back to 2008. Where were you when Lehman collapsed? Did it hit you right away that this was a trust crisis?
(3:46) And the stats reflect that. Only 27% of Americans said at the time they trusted the financial system. Ben Bernanke was the Chair of the Federal Reserve. His first move wasn’t to inject capital - it was to calm people down.
(4:22) That’s the thing with trust - it’s invisible when it works, but when it fails?
(5:07) Let’s zoom out for a minute. We’ve talked about trust in institutions, but what about trust between countries? You saw that on display at the G7 recently in Canada. President Trump walked out mid-session. Again. Cameras rolled as he boarded Air Force One early, leaving key negotiations unfinished. The summit, momentarily, became the G6.
(6:00) What does that look like in practice?
(6:58) And trade?
(7:18) So is this a retreat from U.S. leadership?
(9:35) And while allies hedge, rivals act.
(10:25) And underneath all of that—is the erosion of trust.
(10:44) So Tracey, I’ll put the big question to you: What if trust—not military power, not GDP—was the real engine of American leadership... and that engine’s stalling?
(11:41) Let’s come down from the G7 and walk into an adviser’s office. We have spoken about trust between institutions and their clients, between the US and its allies. What about trust in our world – between the adviser and their client?
(12:38) It’s not just about investments, it goes further than that, its nice to get to know clients on a personal level and vice versa.
(15:03) Let me shift gears—literally and talk about trust as it relates to something close to your heart. Like every other relationship we have talked about here, trust on two wheels isn’t abstract. It’s visceral.