Inside Active by Bloomberg Intelligence

Investing often comes down to making forecasts about an uncertain future, but some businesses are inherently more predictable than others. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Joseph Shaposhnik, portfolio manager of the Rainwater Equity ETF (RW), about his philosophy of investing exclusively in businesses with durable, recurring-revenue models. They discuss why predictability can be a competitive advantage, how free cash flow and disciplined capital allocation drive long-term value creation, and what separates exceptional management teams from the rest. They also explore how Shaposhnik identifies recurring-revenue businesses across industries, why avoiding negative surprises is as important as finding winners, and where he sees opportunities as investors continue to concentrate capital in AI-related companies. Recorded July 16.

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Active ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the investment industry, but their evolution in Asia Pacific is unfolding very differently than in the US. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Rebecca Sin, a senior ETF analyst at BI, and Philippe El-Asmar, APAC head of ETFs at JPMorgan Asset Management, about what’s driving adoption across the region. They discuss why Taiwan has emerged as one of the industry’s biggest growth stories, how investor demand differs across markets and why regulations, distribution models and local preferences are shaping the active-ETF landscape. They also explore how institutions and retail investors are using active ETFs, the misconceptions that continue to slow adoption and what could define the next phase of growth across Asia-Pacific. Recorded July 13.

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As companies remain private longer, investors increasingly need new ways to access growth that once occurred in the public markets. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Kevin Moss, managing director at Liberty Street Funds and portfolio manager of the Private Shares Fund (PRIVX), about how active managers research, value and manage portfolios of late-stage private companies. They discuss the role of governance and management quality in investment decisions, how disciplined valuation frameworks help separate compelling investments from compelling stories, and why diversification, position sizing and liquidity planning are critical in private markets. They also explore the evolution of secondary markets, the growing push to expand retail access to private investments and the trends shaping the next generation of private-company investing. Recorded July 8.

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As option-based income ETFs move deeper into adviser portfolios, product design and implementation are becoming just as important as the income they seek to deliver. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Wes Mathews, senior managing director and head of investment strategy at NEOS Investments, about how the category has evolved from early covered-call strategies into more dynamic, tax-aware approaches. They discuss why investors have turned to options-based ETFs as an alternative source of income, how NEOS seeks to balance monthly distributions with equity participation, and why flexibility around option coverage, strike selection and volatility can matter across different market environments. They also explore the role of tax-loss harvesting and index options in after-tax outcomes, how advisers are using these funds across equities, fixed income and alternatives, and where options-based ETF strategies may expand next. Recorded June 23.

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Option-income ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the ETF market, but headline yields often obscure meaningful differences in portfolio construction, risk profile and objectives. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with John Burrello, senior portfolio manager for Invesco’s Global Strategies team, including the Invesco QQQ Income Advantage (QQA), about how investors should evaluate these funds beyond their headline yields. They discuss the trade-offs between income generation, equity participation and downside protection, why total return may matter more than distribution rate alone and how volatility can affect option-overlay strategies. They also explore the differences between systematic and passive approaches, the risks of chasing unusually high yields and why advisers may view these products more as equity replacements or complements than fixed-income substitutes. Recorded June 11.

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The rapid growth of active ETFs is pushing traditional and boutique managers to adapt mutual-fund strategies into ETF wrappers without compromising their investment identity. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Matt Caumso, Head of ETF Solutions at Baron Capital about how boutique active managers can translate established mutual-fund strategies into the ETF wrapper. They discuss why Baron entered the ETF market, how mutual fund conversions can give active managers scale and continuity, and what liquidity, capacity and transparency mean for long-term, high-conviction strategies. They also explore the operational demands of launching ETFs, the importance of dedicated capital markets expertise, and how active ETFs can complement passive-heavy portfolios. 

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Growth investing has faced no shortage of challenges over the past decade, from shifting interest-rate regimes and benchmark concentration, to the rise of AI and unprecedented flows into passive strategies. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Doug Rogers, managing director at Morgan Stanley and portfolio manager on funds including the Eaton Vance Growth Fund (ELCIX) and Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunities Fund (EIFGX) about what it takes to generate alpha as an active growth investor in today’s market. They discuss why Rogers focuses on companies capable of delivering consistent, sustainable growth, how his team identifies innovation-driven inflection points, and the role rigorous debate plays in building conviction and challenging investment assumptions. They also explore valuation discipline, risk management, the impact of passive investing on markets, and why separating signal from noise has become increasingly important for long-term investors. 

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Over the past decade, passive investing has reshaped much of the investment landscape, but fixed income presents a different set of challenges and opportunities. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Noah Wise, senior portfolio manager and head of global macro strategy for the Plus Fixed Income team at Allspring Global Investments about why active management may have a stronger case in bonds than in equities. They discuss how bond indexes are constructed, why passive investors can become increasingly exposed to the largest borrower and interest-rate risks and how the complexity of fixed-income markets creates opportunities for active managers. They also explore the role of central banks and other noneconomic buyers in shaping bond prices, and the importance of flexibility across duration, sectors and geographies. Recorded May 26.

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Europe and Japan’s earnings outlooks have improved, with double-digit growth expectations, though upgrades are concentrated in technology and energy, while inflation pressures could weigh on valuations. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist at BI, speak with Tom Coutts and Lawrence Burns, portfolio managers at Baillie Gifford, and subadvisers on the Vanguard International Growth Fund (VWIGX). They discuss why investors should still look beyond the US for long-term growth opportunities and how Baillie Gifford identifies durable growth companies. The conversation also explores international beneficiaries of the AI boom, why Japan is becoming more attractive, and how to balance valuation discipline with backing exceptional businesses over the long run. Recorded May 21.

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As investors gain access to an expanding universe of active strategies and investment structures, distinguishing durable investment skill from short-term performance has become increasingly important. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Paul Cavazos, chief investment officer at American Beacon Advisors, about what separates durable investment managers from those benefiting from favorable market environments. They discuss why philosophy, process and people matter more than recent returns, how quantitative and qualitative analysis complement each other in manager research, and why discipline and consistency often matter most during difficult market periods. The conversation also explores concentration risk, style drift, private markets and how manager oversight can help identify when an investment process begins to break down. Recorded May 21.

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