Tune in to hear:

In this episode, we discuss how to take great investment theory and make it actionable for the everyday investor, some of the biggest behavioral mistakes Donald has seen in both individual and professional investors and how to synthesize the cultures of two merging finance firms.

• Learn more about Mercer’s culture and investment philosophy from their CIO
• How does Mercer balance the insights of academic research with the practical realities of working with clients and real world markets?
• How does Donald take great investment theory and make it work for the everyday investor?
• How does Donald incorporate new structural changes into his investment thinking when they don’t have long historical data sets?
• How do you determine when a secular shift truly changes the investment landscape vs. when it is simply just another market cycle?
• As a Chief Investment Officer, how does Donald balance the data-driven discipline with the human side of investing like client emotions, behaviors and their expectations?
• What are some of the biggest behavioral mistakes Donald has seen both individual and professional investors make and how does he help them stay disciplined?
• When Mercer acquires advisory firms that have long been independent, how do they strike the right balance between keeping their individuality and creating a standardized investment approach across all Mercer advisors?
• What does a typical day, or week, look like for Donald and how does he maintain his energy with his demanding schedule?
• Does Donald have any non-negotiables or family routines that really help him stay balanced?
• How does Donald’s experience with farmland inform how he thinks about the markets or patience more generally?
• What advice would Donald give to other executives, or investors, who are trying to maintain high performance and wellness over the long run?

Quote

“We live in an age where there is so much of what I call ‘financial pornography’ out there, on the internet and everywhere else, that really does a poor job managing investor expectations. So, I think, a big part of our job as advisors is to manage investor expectations [and] to use technology to personalize their portfolios where we can and where is appropriate. I think that’s really the hallmark of what it means to be a wealth manager, is marrying the personal with the portfolio.” - Donald Calcagni

Links

• Donald Calcagni on LinkedIn
• “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
• Mercer Advisors

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn