Investing for Tomorrow

Hosted by The Thinking Ahead Institute

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May 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Investing for Tomorrow, the Thinking Ahead Institute's (TAI) podcast channel. The world is transforming at breakneck speed and we're here to talk about what this means for investments. TAI is a global not-for-profit group whose members comprise asset owners, asset managers and other groups motivated to influence the investment industry for the good of savers worldwide.

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39 recent

May 27, 2026Episode 319 min

3. Inside Middle East mega funds

We turn our focus to the Middle East – a region rising up the ranks of global capital despite ongoing tensions. Drawing on our latest Asset Owner 100 research, we explore the Middle East as one of five global asset clusters, where leading sovereign wealth funds are moving beyond silos and thinking more holistically about capital, risk and opportunity. In this episode, Louisa Minter-Kemp chats to Laura Merlini, Managing Director, EMEA who shares fresh insights into how these funds are evolving, what they're investing into and what others can learn from the Gulf's approach.

May 2, 2026Episode 240 min

2. Power, politics and portfolios

Markets like certainty. Geopolitics offers anything but. This episode explores why investors might be getting geopolitical risk wrong, how a shifting world order is changing markets, and what a more adaptive approach to risk could look like. Power shifts, strategic rivalry and the breakdown of the global rules‑based order are reshaping markets in ways that traditional risk frameworks struggle to capture. In this episode of Investing for Tomorrow, Louisa Minter‑Kemp speaks with Alastair Irvine of Jupiter Asset Management about why geopolitics is so hard to price, how recent shocks exposed collective blind spots, and why investors need to think differently about uncertainty. Drawing on decades of experience, the conversation explores mispricing, volatility and the case for a more adaptive, systems‑led approach to risk, what the Thinking Ahead Institute calls Risk 2.0, focused on resilience, long‑term thinking and understanding the world through the eyes of key protagonists. You can explore Alastair's insights via Substack.

March 25, 2026Episode 136 min

1. The big wealth reset

Kick off the new season of our Investing for Tomorrow podcast with a sharp look at how wealth is transforming. Louisa Minter-Kemp, Communications & Engagement Director at Thinking Ahead sits down with Rio Stedford of St. James's Place (SJP). SJP is the UK's largest wealth manager supported by almost 5,000 advisors across the country. With a front row view of how wealth clients needs are shifting, Rio unpacks those changing client expectations, the rise of private markets and how technology and hyper personalisation are reshaping advice. Listen in for an insightful take on where wealth is heading next. Resources mentioned: Thinking Ahead Institute's Global Wealth Study Thinking Ahead Institute's wealth hub

December 8, 2025Episode 945 min

9. Leadership for a changing world

From geopolitical uncertainty to climate risk, technological disruption to shifting workplace expectations, today's leaders are operating in a world that looks nothing like the one they entered. The demands are higher, the context more complex, and the need for clarity, empathy and long-term thinking has never been greater. In this episode, we explore how leadership is being redefined, not in theory, but in lived experience. What does it mean to lead with purpose? How do leaders stay grounded amid complexity? And what does the next era of leadership require from all of us, inside and outside the workplace? Joined by three industry leaders — Kirshni Totaram Global Head of Institutional Business, Coronation Fund Managers, Yolanda Blanch Chairperson, Pensions Caixa 30 (PC30) and Diya Luke, Global Head of Investments, WTW — we explore the principles, practices and perspectives shaping leadership today. Resources mentioned: Toolkit: Spotlight on Superteams Research paper: Culture – the organisational superpower Book: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Daniel Pink Book: The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organisation – Peter Senge Book: Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things – Adam Grant Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman Book: Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgement – Daniel Kahneman et al. Book: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking – Susan Cain Explainer: Theory U – Otto Scharmer Article: Understand team effectiveness – Google

November 5, 2025Episode 839 min

8. The next chapter for DC

Defined contribution (DC) pensions have overtaken defined benefit schemes globally, marking a fundamental shift in how societies save for retirement. But while the model has grown in scale and sophistication, a central challenge remains: how can DC systems deliver reliable income for life? In this episode, we explore the evolving world of DC pensions — from technology and private markets to sustainability, systemic risk, scale, and member outcomes. Joined by Tim Hodgson, Co-founder, Thinking Ahead Institute, and Jelena Croad, Head of LifeSight, WTW, we unpack insights from Thinking Ahead's Global DC Peer Study and discuss how leading providers are responding to growing pressures and opportunities. Resources mentioned: Study: Global DC Peer Study Investment insight: Data 'slop' and disinformation emerge as systemic risks for investors

October 16, 2025Episode 744 min

7. The future of wealth

In this episode we explore the future of wealth management at a time of profound demographic and cultural change. Joined by Andrea Caloisi, Associate Director, Thinking Ahead Institute, and Ellie Lloyd Jones, Director, WTW Investments and Strategic Development Support, atomos wealth, we unpack the findings of Thinking Ahead's new Global Wealth Study and the implications for an industry in transition. We discuss the "Great Wealth Avalanche" and how this shift is already reshaping client expectations. We also examine the role of technology and AI in lowering barriers to advice, the growing demand for ESG-integrated products, and why wealth management may increasingly look like wealth care: a model built around financial wellbeing as much as financial returns. Resources mentioned: TAI Global Wealth Study TV series: Succession

September 3, 2025Episode 635 min

6. Risk 2.0 in practice

Risk 2.0 isn't just a theory—it's changing how risk is measured, analysed, and managed in real time. In part one of our Risk 2.0 series, we explored the concept as a more adaptive approach to risk—one that accounts for uncertainty, resilience, and long-term thinking. In part two, we turn to practice. Investors are applying new tools, new data, and new thinking to navigate today's more complex landscape. From forward-looking indicators to options-based hedging, the focus shifts from philosophy to application. Joined by Benedek Voros, Director of Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, and Mandy Xu, Head of Derivatives Market Intelligence at Cboe Global Markets, we unpack the relevance of volatility dashboards, the growing role of dispersion, the breakdown in traditional correlations, and the tools enabling more precise, flexible risk management.

July 16, 2025Episode 548 min

5. AI and tokenisation: shaping the future of investment and private markets

In this episode of Investing for Tomorrow, we unpack the digital transformation reshaping investment organisations and the evolving landscape of private markets. Joined by Martin Dietz, Head of Diversified Strategies at L&G Asset Management, and Christine Moy, Head of Digital Assets, Data & AI Strategy at Apollo Global Management, we explore how blockchain, tokenisation, and AI are driving innovation, operational efficiency, and new opportunities across asset management. We discuss the shift from fragmented record keeping to unified infrastructure, the power of programmable finance to democratise private markets, and the accelerating role of AI in transforming the industry. Resources mentioned: Research paper: The Future of Wealth Management: Ultra-efficient portfolios of traditional and alternative investments powered by tokenization Artwork: Everydays by Beeple

June 18, 2025Episode 439 min

4. Building smarter portfolios: a look inside the Total Portfolio Approach

In this episode of Investing for Tomorrow, we explore the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) — a model that prioritises long-term goals, cross-team collaboration, and dynamic decision-making over rigid asset class buckets. Joined by Sue Brake, former CIO of the Future Fund and Board member at NZ Super Fund and Stephen Gilmore, Chief Investment Officer at CalPERS, we unpack the practical and cultural changes required to implement TPA, from breaking down silos to fostering joined-up thinking. As well as the benefits and the real challenges in making the transition. Whether you're just starting to explore TPA or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers timely insight into one of the most promising evolutions in institutional investing. Resources mentioned: Research paper: It's about time Research hub: Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) hub

May 14, 2025Episode 337 min

3. The rise of alternatives and gold

As market dynamics shift, alternative and private market investments are taking centre stage—reshaping portfolios and redefining investment strategies. In this episode of Investing for Tomorrow, we explore why asset owners are increasing their allocations to private markets, the rise of "Alternatives+++", and how gold continues to serve as a safe-haven asset in uncertain times. Joined by Denise Kehler, Chief Investment Officer, North America at WTW, and Jeremy De Pessemier, Asset Allocation Strategist at the World Gold Council, we explore the trends, innovations, and challenges driving a new approach to portfolio construction—one that emphasises resilience and long-term performance through alternative investments. Resources mentioned: Global Asset Owner Peer Study on best practices Goldhub