InsuranceAUM

In this episode, Steve Boothe, Head of Global Investment Grade at T. Rowe Price, joins the podcast to share his insights on the current state of the bond market. Steve makes a bold statement—there’s no such thing as passive bond investing—and he explains why that’s the case, delving into how market structure, liquidity dynamics, and the shifting ownership landscape are transforming fixed-income markets. He also explores why recent flows into credit and equities have remained robust despite higher volatility in the treasury market, and how issuers’ ability to lock in long-term financing during lower-rate periods is shaping the supply side of corporate debt.

In this episode, we dive deep into the energy transition with Stu Porter, Founder of Denham Capital, a leading energy and resource-focused private equity firm. Stu shares his remarkable journey, starting from his days on the trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade, through his tenure at the Harvard Endowment, to building Denham Capital into a global investment powerhouse. He offers unique insights into the evolving energy landscape, discussing the importance of finding investment opportunities that balance sustainability with reliability and cost-efficiency.

In this special executive spotlight episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, Stewart Foley is joined by Randy Brown, Chief Investment Officer for Sun Life and Head of Insurance Asset Management at SLC Management. Randy shares his extensive industry experience, beginning as a mortgage-backed securities trader at Solomon Brothers in the 1980s, evolving into his current leadership roles. He discusses the complex nature of insurance asset management, highlighting the multi-dimensional challenges that make it a dynamic space, such as managing long-term liabilities, regulatory guidelines, and portfolio positioning in volatile market environments.

In this episode, we explore the rapidly evolving world of private equity secondaries with Adam Freda, Managing Director at 50 South Capital. Adam shares insights on how the secondary market has grown from a niche sector to a $100 billion-plus market, offering critical liquidity options for private equity investors. He explains how the secondary market provides a unique opportunity for both buyers and sellers, allowing investors to adjust their portfolios, avoid the J-curve, and achieve attractive returns through discounted deals.

In this episode, we sit down with Pete Kent, Portfolio Manager and Co-head of Emerging Market Fixed Income at Ninety One, to explore the concept of the "EMification" of developed markets. Pete shares his insights on the misconceptions surrounding emerging markets (EM), particularly in comparison to developed markets (DM), and explains how recent volatility and performance in DM resemble characteristics more commonly associated with EM.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, Stewart Foley welcomes Ryan Patterson, Head of Investment Strategy at Transamerica, and Jim Baskin, Head of Private Structured Finance at Aegon Asset Management. The conversation dives into private structured finance and the close relationship between Aegon Asset Management and Transamerica Life. Jim reflects on the evolution of the private structured finance market since the late 80s, highlighting the increasing sophistication in insurance asset management. Ryan shares insights into how Transamerica navigates the growing universe of private credit, focusing on finding the right fit for their liabilities.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley sits down with Alex Alston, Division Director and Co-Head of Private Placements at Macquarie Asset Management, to discuss the evolving landscape of private placement fixed income. They dive into the defining characteristics of the asset class and why it has gained increasing traction, particularly among insurance companies seeking yield, diversification, and structural protections in today’s higher interest rate and inflationary environment.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by an impressive panel to discuss the role of sustainable infrastructure in private credit and its application within the insurance industry. Brad Dyslin, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer, and President of Aflac Asset Management; Eric Kirsch, former Global Chief Investment Officer at Aflac; and Justin DeAngelis, Partner and Co-Head of Sustainable Infrastructure at Denham Capital, dive into how sustainable infrastructure fits within insurance portfolios and how it aligns with the future of energy and finance. They explore the growing role of private markets in financing sustainable projects, the potential for excess yield, and the unique value insurance companies can bring to these investments.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Polina Kurdyavko, Head of Emerging Market Debt and Senior Portfolio Manager at RBC Global Asset Management's BlueBay. Polina shares her insights into the dynamic and evolving world of emerging market fixed income, discussing the appeal of the asset class, its growth trajectory, and its significance in today’s global financial landscape. With over $11 billion in EM assets under management, Polina explains how emerging markets offer unique opportunities for investors, particularly through a focus on engagement with policymakers and corporate management in these regions.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Jeff Leathers, Co-Founder and CEO of Tap, an electronic trading platform for private funds. Tap aims to revolutionize the secondary market for private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, and other private funds by providing an efficient, technology-driven platform for trading. Jeff discusses the evolution of the secondary markets, the key players involved, and how Tap is helping insurance asset managers navigate these markets with more ease and transparency.