CFA UK

Is de-dollarisation really underway, and what could the next phase of global capital flows mean for markets?

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall are joined by Andrew Hunt, Chief Economist, Hunt Economics, to explore the forces shaping the global economy. From the US credit cycle and the future of the dollar to China's balance sheet recession and the changing role of central banks, Andrew draws on decades of experience in analysing global markets and capital flows to explore whether the world is truly moving towards de-dollarisation, what could replace the current reserve system, and why increasing currency volatility may be the next major shift in finance.

The episode also explores:

Why Andrew believes the US credit cycle is unusually large and potentially vulnerable to a liquidity crunch

The role of private credit, hidden leverage and foreign capital flows in the US economy

Whether de-dollarisation is actually happening and what a post-dollar world could look like

The Triffin dilemma, the Plaza Accord and the lessons of past currency regimes

Why China may be facing a prolonged balance sheet recession and what this means for global markets

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation on credit, capital flows and currencies to help you see the current state of the global market, and to navigate what comes next.

In the latest episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance, hosts Ben Ashby, ASIP and Tom Threlfall, CFA celebrate their milestone 21st episode with a very special guest - our very own Gerhard Sogl, Head of Content Strategy and Analytics, CFA UK.

Gerhard brings his decades of experience in emerging markets, trading, and financial education to discuss his new paper on emotional liquidity, The Cost of Holding On, and why the best decisions investors can make under emotional stress aren’t necessarily the ones that will deliver the best returns. 



Also in this episode:


- How Gerhard transitioned from FX and bond trading to content and financial education at CFA UK

- Why inflationary and uncertain markets change investors emotional behaviour

- Two trading blowups that shaped Gerhard’s approach to emotional liquidity

- Why opportunity cost can often be much larger than the visible loss

- A practical mental model for managing your emotional liquidity in difficult situations

Tune into this special episode to hear what happens when liquidity disappears, why emotional discipline matters as much as technical skill, and how traders and investors should manage their emotions as well as their portfolios.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby, ASIP and Tom Threlfall, CFA are joined by Jonathan Man, CFA, Head of Alpha Strategies, Bitwise, to explore how decentralised finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and crypto infrastructure are reshaping the future of asset management and financial markets.

Jonathan explains his transition into crypto, unpacks the innovations that have emerged from DeFi, and discusses why technologies such as vaults, stablecoins, and programmable finance could transform investment management.

In this episode:

How stablecoins are driving the next wave of digital finance

Why vaults could become the "ETF 2.0" for asset management

The changing landscape for crypto venture capital

Tokenisation and the convergence of traditional and digital assets

Practical advice for finance professionals looking to understand crypto

Listen to find out what the future of decentralised finance looks like, and how digital assets could redefine the next generation of financial services.

In the latest episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby, ASIP and Tom Threlfall, CFA sit down with Dr. Valeria Raffuzzi, Research Associate, University of Cambridge, to explore the evolving role of nuclear energy in the global transition to net zero.

Dr. Raffuzzi explains her transition from renewables to nuclear engineering, explaining along the way why Western infrastructure projects face high costs and delays due to regulatory hurdles, political issues, and supply chain complexities.

The episode also explores:

Drivers of the "nuclear renaissance" and global power demand

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for cost-effective scalability

Technical and economic hurdles for fusion energy

Nuclear cost and sustainability misconceptions

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of nuclear energy, the realities of decarbonisation, and the opportunities and risks ahead for investment professionals.

In the latest episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Anita Brown speaks with David Carlin, founder of D.A. Carlin and Company, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable finance and the opportunities and risks it presents for the financial sector.

David outlines the environmental costs of advanced AI, from data centre energy use to model training, and focuses on the importance of establishing ethical AI governance focused on transparency and accountability. They also discuss tracking emissions and evaluating net-zero strategies using AI, all while avoiding automated groupthink and prioritising human judgement when making complex decisions.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on innovation, responsibility, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA speak with John Reade, Senior Market Strategist at the World Gold Council. John shares his 40-year career journey from mining engineer to market strategist, and explains the evolving landscape of gold markets for investors.

Explore:

Gold’s value as a portfolio diversifier

The impact of gold-backed ETFs on investor access

Central bank reserve strategies and demand for gold

Physical storage considerations and market dynamics

Comparisons between gold and Bitcoin

Tune in for an insightful conversation on gold markets, investment strategy, and the evolving role of gold in your investment portfolio.

In this episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Olly King sits down with Jegor Tokarevich, CEO of Substance Over Form (SOF), to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable finance regulatory reporting in private markets.

Jegor shares insights into the growing complexity of ESG compliance across frameworks such as SFDR, the EU Taxonomy, and CSRD, and discusses how these regulations are reshaping expectations for both General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs).

The episode also explores:

Jegor’s perspective on the key ESG reporting challenges facing private equity and private debt managers

The impact of fragmented data and lack of standardisation in private markets

How SOF supports GPs, LPs, and portfolio companies with ESG data collection and validation

The importance of early alignment between LPs and GPs on ESG

Advice on staying agile amid rapidly evolving regulatory requirements

Tune in for an insightful conversation on ESG regulation, data challenges, and how collaboration and technology are shaping the future of sustainable investing in private markets.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA sit down with Karen Rudich, Canadian fintech entrepreneur and founder of sherloc.

Karen explores her journey from investment banking to building an AI-driven startup focused on helping small businesses manage financial volatility. You'll hear how she navigates fundraising and builds resilient, purpose-driven teams in a fast-moving fintech landscape.

The episode also explores:

Karen’s transition from banking into entrepreneurship

The role of AI and predictive analytics in supporting SMEs

The importance of value-aligned partnerships in scaling a business

Lessons learned from fundraising and leadership challenges

Practical advice for aspiring fintech founders

Tune in for an insightful conversation on innovation, resilience, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

In this episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Dr Nic Pillow sits down with Omid Pakseresht, CEO of Goodfolio, to explore how venture studios are changing the way startups are built.

Omid discusses Goodfolio's practical AI integration for efficiency and scalable solutions in fintech and healthtech, including ethical considerations. Not only that, he argues why venture studios are a strong partner to traditional VC, reducing risk and accelerating market entry with a robust support system for entrepreneurs and investors.

The episode also explores:

How the venture studio model works in practice

Identifying ideas, building founding teams, and supporting growth

Embedding ethical and ESG principles into early-stage investment

Supporting diverse and underrepresented founders

Using artificial intelligence to drive innovation responsibly

Tune in to discover how venture studios are changing the game for startup creation, focusing on ethical and impact-driven entrepreneurship.

In the latest episode of CFA UK’s Future Proofing Finance Podcast, Cambridge University’s Duncan Needham joins Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA to see what financial history can tell us about our financial future. Discover the fascinating journey of financial markets, from the evolution of reserve currencies to the dynamics of global trade, as Duncan analyses the lessons shaping today’s economic landscape. If you’re a history buff, a financial expert, both or even neither – this captivating discussion will bridge the gap between past and present.