FTSE Russell Convenes

Hosted by FTSE Russell (an LSEG business)

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Aug 2026

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About the show

FTSE Russell Convenes gives you insider access to the ideas shaping the future of investing. Join leading voices from finance and academia as they unpack the forces transforming markets, regulation, and investor behaviour—brought to you by a global index leader at the heart of the investment ecosystem.

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41 recent

August 17, 202626 min

Positioning portfolios across size, style, and market cycles

U.S. equity continues to play an important role in diversified portfolios. To provide concise insights on this topic, FTSE Russell partnered with Vanguard to create a video series exploring how Russell U.S. Index-based ETFs can help investors gain diversified exposure and navigate changing market conditions. Watch the first episode as part of the FTSE Russell Convenes Funds & ETF Series and discover how Russell US Index-based ETFs can help investors build diversified US equity exposure and position portfolios across size, style, and changing market conditions. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:01:22) - The importance of benchmark construction in ETFs (00:02:55) - Core vs targeted ETF allocations (00:06:20) - Building portfolios with the Russell framework (00:09:34) - Diversifying beyond mega-cap tech (00:13:16) - Growth vs value (00:17:00) - The Role of Russell 2000 ETFs (00:20:22) - How to choose a Russell ETF (00:22:48) - What Drives ETF performance behind the scenes? (00:24:38) - Biggest opportunities for investors using Russell US ETFs

August 12, 202613 min

Fixed income in motion: Navigating diversification and key market drivers

As global markets evolve, investors are reassessing traditional fixed income allocations and expanding their search for diversification opportunities beyond domestic markets. In this episode, Joyce Choi, Head of Institutional Product Strategy, Fixed Income ETFs at BlackRock, explores the key trends shaping fixed income today, including the growing influence of thematic investment drivers such as artificial intelligence and commodities, rising interest in international and emerging market debt, and the increasing role of currency management in portfolio construction. Chapters (00:00:00) - International fixed income trends (00:04:13) - EM interest and the gradient of exposures (00:06:45) - Thematic trades: Economic drivers to consider (00:08:34) - Product construction: To hedge or not to hedge? (00:11:54) - The five-year fixed income outlook

June 29, 202614 min

The new geopolitical landscape: What investors should be watching next

Geopolitical risk has shifted from episodic disruption to a structural driver of markets, reshaping the investment landscape. In this season’s inaugural episode, Alex Kazan, Managing Director, Strategic Partnership at Eurasia Group outlines the scale of this transition, highlighting how major economies now act as sources of geopolitical risk and volatility, with implications for policy continuity, trust and risk premia. Against this backdrop, investors must navigate a more complex environment defined by US policy uncertainty, intensifying strategic competition and evolving geopolitical alignments. The discussion explores how these dynamics are redefining baseline assumptions across capital allocation, supply chains and energy security, with particular focus on China’s evolving positioning and the persistent sources of escalation risk in the Middle East. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:00:35) - The new geopolitical baseline: Cyclical vs secular risks (00:03:46) - The US: Domestic drivers of geopolitical risk (00:06:45) - US foreign policy (00:09:08) - Iran war: The long-term implications (00:10:58) - China's positioning

June 15, 202622 min

AI, energy innovation and the UK stock market

In the first episode of our Scholar & Investor series, we bring together academic insight and investment expertise to examine one of the most important intersections shaping markets today. Professor Constantine Yannelis, Professor Cambridge University and Thomas Moore, Senior Investment Director at Aberdeen Asset Management explore how artificial intelligence, energy innovation and structural shifts in the UK economy are influencing global markets. Drawing on both research-led perspectives and real-world investment experience, they discuss the opportunities—and constraints—facing investors. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:04:12) - Energy, innovation and AI (00:10:33) - Unpacking energy prices (00:12:30) - Capital markets and the energy transition (00:15:50) - Investing in the UK: AI and energy (00:18:40) - The Oxford–Cambridge corridor: Fostering innovation

January 28, 202610 min

Geopolitical risk in 2026: A wake-up call for businesses

Has geopolitical denialism run its course? Welcome back to the FTSE Russell Convenes ‘geopolitical’ series. Tina Fordham, Founder of Fordham Global Foresight, returns to explore how the current constellation of risks interact with markets. Tina reflects on 2025 and reveals the key signposts shaping the 2026 risk map—from U.S mid-terms to Hungary's upcoming elections. She also explains how geopolitical risk will impact businesses and shares the word she believes best captures the year ahead. Chapters (00:00:00) - Looking back at 2025 (00:03:00) - Shifting geopolitical risks in 2026 (00:06:10) - Structural change: How companies are navigating risk (00:08:03) - Has geopolitical denialism run its course?

November 5, 202518 min

The mega trends and innovations affecting real estate investing

“ Real estate touches all the big evolutions we see in society ”. Listen as David Sol, Global Head of Policy, FTSE Russell, and Dominique Moerenhout , CEO of the European Real Estate Association (EPRA) discuss how mega trends such as s peciali s ation, s cale, c onsolidation, s ustainability and i nnovation affect the real estate market.

October 30, 20257 min

Managing risk exposure to private equity through public equity

In this episode, Indrani De, FTSE Russell and Ed Tom, Cboe, present new research they have co-authored that explores how options on public equity can be used to manage private equity risk. Their findings reveal surprising similarities between private and public markets once smoothing techniques are applied—and how options strategies can be a good hedge of private equity risk exposures, using both tactical and systematic hedges.

October 22, 202511 min

Pacer ETFs: Focus on advisors

Listen as Joe Thomson, Founder and CEO of Pacer ETFs, discusses Pacer’s origins in fund distribution. Our discussion covers the launch of Pacer’s ETF business in 2015 and their focus on developing deep relationships with financial advisors. Guest: Joe Thompson, Founder and CEO, Pacer Financial Host: Steve Kriechman, Director, Index Investments Group, FTSE Russell Chapters (00:00:00) - Pacer's evolution (00:04:06) - Their cash cows (00:05:44) - The products of the future (00:07:23) - Diversifying your portfolio (00:08:44) - Planning ahead

October 15, 2025Episode 710 min

Diversifying into international fixed income

Marina Mets (FTSE Russell) and BlackRock's Joyce Choi talk about the recent market volatility and how the recent market dynamics in the US along with the falling US dollar make international fixed income more attractive to invest in. Joyce discusses the best way to dip your toes into international bonds and which iShares ETF invests that way. Guest: Joyce Choi, Head of Institutional Product Strategy, Fixed Income, ETFs, BlackRock Host: Marina Mets, Head of Americas, Fixed Income & Convertibles, FTSE Russell Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:00:50) - How fixed income markets fit into the big picture (00:03:11) - Looking beyond US borders (00:04:55) - International fixed income and its different segments (00:06:22) - Considerations for investors (00:08:43) - International markets: A diversifier or complimentary?

October 8, 20255 min

Decentralising proxy voting power and investor democracy

In this episode, Stephanie Maier, FTSE Russell and Laura Starks, University of Texas, discuss investor democracy and the evolving landscape of proxy voting where shareholder voting becomes more open and inclusive, enabling broader participation and representation. Laura explains the impact of decentralised voting and investor choice programs, revealing key findings from her latest research on how these shifts influence decisions on ESG and climate proposals, and corporate governance. Guest: Laura Starks, George Kozmetsky Centennial Distinguished University Chair and Professor of Finance at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin Host: Stephanie Maier, Head of Sustainability, FTSE Russell Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:01:04) - Proxy voting: Key findings (00:03:04) - Shareholder resolutions: How voting behaviour changed