Keep Calm and “Carry” On – Seizing Global Opportunities in a Shifting ETF Market
Release Date: 08/22/2024
Don’t Stop Believin’: Why Global Markets Still Have Room to Run
Global Thinking
In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan sits down with Lead Portfolio Manager, David Kletz, to explore the powerful shift in global market leadership that has defined the year. Since “Liberation Day,” momentum has moved decisively toward International and Emerging Markets, with Europe and Asia driving much of the advance. While U.S. equities have staged a recovery, they face mounting challenges — weakening dollar, government shutdowns, and a softening labor market. In contrast, International markets are showing renewed strength, supported by attractive...
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Wired for Growth or Blown Fuse?
Global Thinking
Emerging Market equities are the year’s top performer, with Canadian and International equities close behind — leaving U.S. stocks lagging. Will America stage a comeback, or are we entering a new era where global equities take center stage? In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast host, Rob Duncan, sits down with Forstrong's CEO/CIO, Tyler Mordy, to explore whether the bull market is wired for further growth or primed to blow a fuse. Tariffs, delayed AI profits, and stubborn interest rates loom as short-circuit risks. On the flip side, government spending, easing monetary...
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From Generational Wealth Myths to Modern Advising: Wealth 3.0
Global Thinking
In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Jamie McBride of Stewart & Kett to unpack the evolution of wealth management and the rise of Wealth 3.0. Wealth 3.0 represents a shift beyond spreadsheets and tax strategies toward an approach that prioritizes family values, collaboration, and open conversations about legacy. Rob and Jamie explore why the “three generations myth” is often misunderstood, how advisors can move from dictating solutions to facilitating dialogue, and what it really takes to help families flourish across generations. ...
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Flooding The Zone
Global Thinking
Steve Bannon once described Donald Trump’s media strategy as “flooding the zone” — overwhelming the airwaves with noise to confuse and distract. Recent months have offered a masterclass, leaving investors to sift through tariffs, trade wars, and endless headlines. In this mid-year edition of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO & CIO Tyler Mordy to cut through the noise. They unpack why tariffs haven’t bitten markets harder, how a weakening US dollar is shifting capital flows, and what looming Fed rate cuts could mean for investors. With...
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Guns, Gold, and Getting Paid: Global Investing in a Fractured World
Global Thinking
In this episode of Global Thinking, Forstrong Portfolio Manager Rob Duncan sits down with friend of the firm, Chris McHaney, Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Management and Strategy at Global X Investments Canada Inc., for a wide-ranging conversation on where global capital is moving, and why. Many of the themes Chris is tracking - rising defense spending, a potential commodities supercycle, renewed interest in international markets like EAFE and India - align closely with Forstrong’s own global investment roadmap. Both firms share a belief that in an increasingly...
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Desensitized and Diversified: Investing Through Policy Whiplash
Global Thinking
In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong Portfolio Manager, Terry Shaunessy, to unpack how investors are navigating a world where political theatrics, including Trump’s tariff flip-flops, no longer move markets like they used to. They explore why the U.S. may need to consider a GST-style tax, why service-based economies could be the next big growth engine, and how market strategies need to adapt to volatility fatigue. The conversation also dives into the Canadian economic puzzle: a stable banking sector weighed down by real estate drag and...
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Power Shifts, Trade Rifts, and Investment Lifts
Global Thinking
Global Thinking: Power Shifts, Trade Rifts, and Investment Lifts In this no-holds-barred episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with AGF Investments CEO and CIO, Kevin McCreadie, to unpack the chaos, clarity, and contradictions shaping markets in 2025. From political plot twists in Canada to the unpredictable theatre of Trump 2.0, they dive into how power moves and policy pivots are reshaping capital flows. Is U.S. exceptionalism running out of runway? Will Canada finally find its economic groove? And what does Europe’s fiscal awakening and China's...
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Elbows Up – Time to Pivot and Rebalance
Global Thinking
In this episode of the Global Thinking podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack a rowdy stretch in markets and politics. From Canada’s recent election to Trump’s tariff tantrums, the conversation dives into how economic confidence has taken a hit on both sides of the border. But while Canada seems to be finding it’s way with new leadership and domestic competition; American markets wrestle with political uncertainty and slowing economic data. Capital is quietly on the move finding greener pastures in Europe and Asia. With European...
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Panic, Policy, and the New Playbook
Global Thinking
In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan is joined by Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack what may become one of the most studied financial panics of our time. With markets rattled by a sudden loss of confidence, they explore how erratic policy moves and recent tariff announcements have triggered a global risk-off sentiment and shaken investor faith in American capital markets. Tyler explains why this isn’t your typical market correction, but rather a policy-inflicted confidence shock that’s exposing deep structural cracks. The conversation dives into the...
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Chasing Alpha: The Wisdom of Crowds and Market Efficiency
Global Thinking
The majority of active managers underperform their benchmarks - but why? In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob sits down with Dr. Joseph Nelesen, Head of Specialists, Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, to unpack the 2024 SPIVA Report—the definitive study comparing active fund managers to their benchmarks. The discussion explores how most active managers have underperformed their benchmark, the critical role of survivorship bias, and the impact of fees and market conditions on long-term performance. Joe shares eye-opening statistics including...
info_outlineInvestors have been pouring into Canadian ETFs at an unprecedented rate in 2024. While cash and US equity ETFs have dominated flows this year, recent trends suggest a shift is underway. Weaker economic data and volatility in Japan have investors worried, while international markets present compelling opportunities.
In the latest Global Thinking episode, Rob sits down with Daniel Straus, Director of ETF Research at National Bank, to discuss recent ETF trends and investment flows. Together, they explore why investors should focus on global opportunities and how to navigate the period ahead.
Show Notes:
00:00 - Exploring ETF Flows and Market Trends
05:08 - The Growth of the ETF Market
08:25 - Fixed Income Flows and the Demand for Cash
12:41 - The Appeal of International and Emerging Market ETFs
15:47 - The Unwinding of the Carry Trade in Japan
19:59 - Interest Rate Policy and Rate Movements
22:55 - Canadian Equity ETF Inflows and Home Bias
23:25 - Investing in Canada's Energy Markets
25:16 - Canadian Banks: A Demand Spot
28:06 - The Growth of Active ETFs in Canada
30:25 - Covered Call ETFs: Present Income vs. Future Upside
37:46 - Exploring Consciousness and Free Will