In this episode of Critical Thinking, Jo Holden, Global Head of Investment Research at Mercer, is joined by Nick White, Global Strategic Research Director, and Matthew Scott, Strategic Research Principal, to explore Mercer's "Themes and Opportunities 2025" paper, specifically focusing on this year's theme, "Swing State." This concept reflects an economy in transition, driven by shifts in monetary policy, supply chain dynamics, and technological innovation. These forces require investors to adjust their strategies, embracing diversification and preparing for a broader range of scenarios. Key takeaways include: 

• Private Markets De-Siloing: The report highlights changes in private market dynamics, with slower distributions and longer holding periods. There is a growing case for emerging markets (EM) over US investments, signaling the need for broader diversification.
• The security of everything: The interconnection between security and sustainability, rising dissatisfaction in institutions, with increasing political instability requiring careful risk management.
• Circular Economy: The importance of the circular economy, noting its potential to create new investment opportunities as businesses increasingly adopt sustainable practices to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

Citations: Investment consultant of the year & Thought leadership paper on sustainable investing, Global: Mercer :: Environmental Finance

Completing the Picture - How the circular economy tackles climate change.pdf


Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions. This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract. Read our full important notices - click here

For the past 16 years, Mercer has been benchmarking retirement systems across the globe. The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2024 uses more than 50 indicators to assess adequacy, sustainability and integrity across the world's pensions systems, highlighting their relative advantages and suggested areas for reform.

In our latest episode, David Know, Senior Partner at Mercer, is joined by Holly Verdeyen, US Defined Contribution Leader, Mercer, and Paul Andrews, Global Benefits Consulting Director at Benefex, to discuss how pension providers, policymakers and employers can improve DC retirement outcomes for members.

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract. Read our full important notices - click here

Are you a French speaker looking to deep dive on co-investments and secondary market opportunities? In this first episode in French of the podcast "Critical Thinking," host Matthieu Mougeot is joined by investment specialists Maud-Kelly Crapeau and Pierre Luc Gariépy to discuss the growing interest in private market co-investments and secondary investments. They highlight their shorter investment horizons and potential for quicker capital deployment compared to traditional primary funds. Zooming in on the unique roles these strategies play in enhancing portfolio diversification and aligning interests between investors and fund managers, they also address the specific risks associated with co-investments and secondaries, including the need for in-depth knowledge and robust due diligence processes.

The discussion touches on the increasing sophistication of investors in private markets and the regulatory impacts influencing investment decisions in some jurisdictions, particularly in France. The episode provides with insights on how investors can effectively allocate resources to these asset classes, stressing the importance of working with experienced asset managers to navigate the complexities of private market investments.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.

https://www.mercer.com/solutions/investments/important-notices/

As birth rates decline and our population ages, the ripple effects of this demographic transition are felt across all areas of our lives, from financial well-being, long-term health, caregiving, career trajectory and retirement planning.

In our latest episode, Haleh Nazeri, Longevity Lead at the World Economic Forum, joins Mercer’s Global DB Segment Leader, Graham Pearce, to unpack the Longevity Economy. Discover how employers could reshape their employee benefits and pension plans to support their workforce and have the potential to enhance financial resilience in response to this transformative trend.

 
Additional links mentioned in the podcast: 

Global Talent Trends 2024: https://www.mercer.com/insights/people-strategy/future-of-work/global-talent-trends/ 

Longevity Economy Principles report: https://www.mercer.com/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/unlocking-the-potential-of-the-longevity-economy/ 


Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


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Join us to explore some of the key challenges Asian allocators are facing in today's dynamic market. 

In this episode of Critical Thinking, live from the Mercer Global Investment Forum in Hong Kong, Mercer's Michael Lernihan, Adeline Tan, and Garvan McCarthy discuss how to build agile portfolios that can weather economic storms and capitalize on emerging trends.

 
Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here

With diverse and often divergent economic backdrops among the region’s economies, as well as complex and evolving risks, navigating the Asian alternative investments landscape can require expertise and local knowledge.

In our latest Critical Thinking podcast, recorded live from the Mercer Global Investment Forum in Hong Kong, Robert Ronneberger, Raelan Lambert and David Scopelliti explore what are local factors redefining the case for different alternative asset classes across Asia.

 
Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here

Values-aligned investing is becoming increasingly prevalent among asset owners, but the way in which investors incorporate these considerations into portfolios has evolved over time. In the latest episode of Critical Thinking, Marina Batliwalla, Senior Investment Consultant, is joined by Rich Dell, Mercer’s Global Head of Equities, and Tamara Larsen, Mercer’s US Values-Aligned & Sustainable Investments Practice Leader, to discuss how approaches have changed.

They explore how investors are addressing the challenges and capturing opportunities presented by values-aligned approaches, as well as how the thinking around sustainability has evolved from ESG ratings to encompass a much broader focus on stewardship, engagement, and impact.


Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here

In our latest episode, recorded at the Mercer Global Investment Forum in Melbourne, Australia, Rebecca Jacques and David Scopelliti are joined by Pengana Capital Group’s CEO, Russel Pillemer to discuss both the challenges and opportunities in the fast-growing private debt space.

They break down the historic drivers of growth in the asset class, and assess its development in Australia, a market in which opportunities to invest in private debt solutions have, historically, been more limited.  

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here

Remarkable growth in the captive insurance space has been driven by a range of factors over the recent past  – from an extended hard market to the expansion of risks requiring underwriting.

In our latest episode of Critical Thinking, we dive into the world of captive insurers as William Gibbons is joined by Ellen Charnley, President of Marsh Captive Solutions, and Chris Tschida, Head of US Insurance at Mercer.

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here

Marsh is a business of Marsh McLennan.

This document and any recommendations, analysis, or advice provided by Marsh (collectively, the “Marsh Analysis”) are not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Marsh shall have no obligation to update the Marsh Analysis and shall have no liability to you or any other party arising out of this publication or any matter contained herein. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. Any modeling, analytics, or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty, and the Marsh Analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information, or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change. Marsh makes no representation or warranty concerning the application of policy wording or the financial condition or solvency of insurers or reinsurers. Marsh makes no assurances regarding the availability, cost, or terms of insurance coverage. Although Marsh may provide advice and recommendations, all decisions regarding the amount, type or terms of coverage are the ultimate responsibility of the insurance purchaser, who must decide on the specific coverage that is appropriate to its particular circumstances and financial position.

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Join Amit Popat, Eryn Bacewich and Joshua Zwick as they unpack the findings from our Mercer and Oliver Wyman 2024 Global Insurance Investment Survey in the latest episode of Critical Thinking. 

They dive into the key investment themes, outlook and risks highlighted by the survey and assess the road ahead for insurance portfolios through the second half of the year.


Read the full survey report here: https://www.mercer.com/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/Global-Insurance-Investment-Survey/


Opinions expressed are those of the speakers based on market conditions as of the date of recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.


This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.


Read our full important notices - click here