Kwame Christian: Finding Confidence in Conflict Through Better Negotiation

As agentic AI pushes investment management toward greater autonomy, research points to credible risks that lie ahead. So, what happens when AI moves from assisting portfolio managers to actually making and governing investment decisions? Kevin Max, editor of Enterprising Investor, sits down with Irina Bevza, PhD, CFA, Head of Quantitative Solutions at Fineco Asset Management, Dublin, to explore the promise and faults of the self-driving portfolio. This episode explores what self-driving portfolios could mean for institutional asset management—and asks the bigger question for investment professionals: If AI can increasingly perform the work of the portfolio manager, where does human judgment remain essential?

Over the next 25 years, trillions of dollars will transfer to younger generations, primarily Gen Z and Millennials. We dive into new CFA Institute research on how younger generations are transforming financial advice through digital-first experiences, AI-powered personalization, values-based investing, and more collaborative adviser relationships. We learn what wealth management professionals must do today to prepare for The Great Wealth Transfer tomorrow.  Guest host, Kevin Max, editor of Enterprising Investor, speaks with authors of Next-Gen Investors: A Guide for Wealth Managers and Financial Advisers, Genevieve Hayman is Senior Manager, Macrosystems & Foresight, at CFA Institute and Ryan Munson, Senior Manager, Business Operations, Research and Policy Center at CFA Institute. 

If heat is a real-world cost for companies, why is it still not accurately and consistently priced into the market? Guest host, Kevin Max, editor of Enterprising Investor, speaks with Mustafa Dah, an associate professor of finance and chair of the Department of Finance and Accounting at the Lebanese American University, about extreme heat as a distinct financial risk. While climate-related disclosures have expanded, markets often struggle to translate recurring heat exposure into company valuations, credit assessments, and costs of capital. This episode explores why investors, analysts, and portfolio managers need to move beyond disclosure and incorporate measurable indicators such as lost operating days, adaptation spending, and weather-risk signals directly into financial analysis and investment decisions.

Why do so many professionals avoid difficult conversations—and what does it cost them? Mike Wallberg, CFA, speaks with Kwame Christian, founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and author of Finding Confidence in Conflict, about the psychology of negotiation, building confidence, and handling disagreement with empathy. They discuss compassionate curiosity, self-advocacy, salary negotiations, emotional intelligence, and practical techniques for navigating conflict while strengthening relationships. Whether you're leading a team, managing clients, or challenging investment ideas, this conversation offers actionable strategies for becoming a more effective communicator.

What do the market's biggest long-term winners have in common? Neeraj Khemlani, former president of CBS News and author of The Coffee Can Investor, and Matt Ankrum, CFA, managing partner of Ankrum Capital, join host Mike Wallberg, CFA, to explore the research behind "100-bagger" stocks and the investing principles that can help build generational wealth. From recurring revenue and competitive advantages to the power of compounding and investor patience, they share lessons from decades of market history and explain why some of the best opportunities may be hiding in plain sight. Tune in for practical insights on identifying exceptional businesses and becoming a more effective long-term investor.

In this episode of Enterprising Investor, Ben Carlson, CFA, director of institutional asset management at Ritholtz Wealth Management, co-host of the Animal Spirits podcast, and author of Risk and Reward: How to Handle Market Volatility and Build Long-Term Wealth, joins Mike Wallberg, CFA, to discuss why volatility is the unavoidable price of higher returns. Drawing on market history, behavioral finance, and real-world investing examples, Carlson explores the challenges of market timing, inflation, and portfolio construction, while highlighting the habits that help investors stay disciplined through uncertainty. For investment practitioners, the conversation offers valuable insights into managing client expectations, communicating complex concepts in accessible ways, and designing portfolios that clients can stick with over the long term. Carlson also shares lessons from Warren Buffett, the financial crisis, and his own experience working with institutional investors and wealth management clients. Listen to the episode to learn how a long-term perspective can help investors navigate market turbulence and build lasting wealth.

Joachim Klement joins Mike Wallberg, CFA, to break down the investment implications of today's geopolitical environment. From energy market disruptions to shifting trade dynamics, Klement explains how global events feed through to inflation, interest rates, and asset valuations. The conversation also explores how investors can separate noise from signal, rethink international diversification, and incorporate assets such as commodities to better manage geopolitical risk. With markets increasingly shaped by policy and global tensions, Klement offers a practical lens for portfolio construction. Listen today to learn how to position portfolios in a more complex and interconnected world, and find Joachim's Research Foundation brief, The Geoeconomic Decade, on the CFA Institute Research and Policy Center website: https://rpc.cfainstitute.org/research/foundation/2025/geoeconomic-decade.

What is really happening beneath the surface of private markets? In this episode of the Enterprising Investor, host Mike Wallberg, CFA, speaks with returning guest, Mark Higgins, CFA, author of Investing in US Financial History, and Leyla Kunimoto, founder of Accredited Investor Insights, about emerging stress in private credit and private equity. They explore investor outflows from semi-liquid funds, the mechanics and risks of NAV-based valuation, and the growing disconnect between market narratives and underlying realities. Drawing on both current market developments and historical cycles, Kunimoto and Higgins unpack what these trends could mean for liquidity, pricing, and investor outcomes. Whether you are an institutional allocator or an individual investor, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the risks and complexities shaping today's private markets. Listen now to gain timely insights and practical perspectives.

Market volatility and relentless news cycles can cause even confident investors to second-guess their risk tolerance. Raluca Filip, CFA, joins guest host Cathy Scott to explore why clients hesitate, reverse decisions, or suddenly reassess their appetite for risk — and how advisors can respond in those pivotal moments. Drawing on her work with financial professionals, Filip explains the psychology behind shifting risk perceptions, particularly among investors shaped by prolonged bull markets. She highlights the gap between imagining a downturn and actually living through one, and why traditional risk questionnaires often fall short when emotions take hold. The conversation offers practical strategies to help advisors guide clients through hesitation and emotional reversals, support better decision-making under pressure, and strengthen long-term trust in the advisory relationship.

Is it time to move beyond the 4% rule? Stefan Sharkansky joins host Mike Wallberg, CFA, to discuss his Financial Analysts Journal article, "The Only Other Spending Rule Article You Will Ever Need," and why retirement income planning may require a more flexible approach. Sharkansky outlines a framework that separates secure, predictable income from market-driven spending—aiming to provide both stability and upside potential throughout retirement. He explains how his model addresses real-world retirement spending patterns, market uncertainty, and the trade-offs between safety and growth. The conversation also explores practical implementation considerations for advisors and thoughtful DIY investors looking to design more resilient decumulation strategies. Listen to the full episode for a fresh take on retirement spending—and be sure to read Stefan Sharkansky's article in the Financial Analysts Journal to explore the research in depth.