Global Thinking

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast , Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack one of the biggest investment themes of 2026: The Great Rebuilding .   While investors have spent the year reacting to wars, tariffs, inflation scares, and shifting central bank expectations, Tyler argues these aren't isolated events. They're all part of a much larger transforma...

For more than a decade, investors have been rewarded for a simple strategy: buy U.S. stocks, own big technology companies, and trust that American exceptionalism would continue to drive markets higher.   But what if that playbook is beginning to change?   In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, Rob Duncan sits down with Sébastien Mc Mahon, Chief Economist at iA Financial Group, to discuss...

Markets are rallying. Oil is rising. War is ongoing.   And yet, investors seem to be moving on.   In this episode of the  Global Thinking Podcast , Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong Lead Portfolio Manager David Kletz to unpack the biggest question facing markets today. Is this resilience — or complacency?   While headlines focus on conflict in the Middle East, the real story is unfolding beneath...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast , host Rob Duncan sits down with Dr. Joe Nelesen from S&P Dow Jones Indices to break down the SPIVA Canada 2025 report and what it reveals about active vs passive investing . The data is clear. Most active managers underperform their benchmarks — not just in 2025, but over longer time horizons. This raises a critical question for investors and advisor...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO & CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack the market reaction to the escalating conflict involving Iran and why investors may be focusing on the wrong risk.   When geopolitical shocks hit, markets tend to do what they always do: sell first and ask questions later. But history suggests most conflicts don't leave a lasting ma...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Nimar Bangesh of Obsiido to unpack one of the most infuriating developments in Canadian investing this year: fund gating.   After years of rapid growth, private markets have become mainstream in Canadian portfolios. But recent gating events have forced investors to confront a hard truth — liquidity in alternatives isn't...

2025 looked like the kind of year that should have broken markets — geopolitical shocks, political dysfunction, and nonstop macro stress. Instead, risk assets powered ahead. That disconnect is exactly why investors should be paying attention.   In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong's Lead Portfolio Manager, David Kletz, to explain why markets ignored th...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast , Rob Duncan is joined by Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy , to unpack a market that refuses to send a single, clear signal. Equity markets are strong, yet risks are building — a Split-Screen World where optimism and fragility coexist. Tyler provides some insight into the annual Forstrong Super Trends report, Double Vision. From recession risk and c...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Matthew Barasch, Senior Portfolio Manager at RBC Dominion Securities, for a candid, wide-ranging look at the realities of investing in today's market environment. Barasch calls this one of the toughest years of his 25-year career — a market defined by narrow leadership, stubborn inflation, and a handful of tech and gold...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan sits down with Lead Portfolio Manager, David Kletz, to explore the powerful shift in global market leadership that has defined the year. Since "Liberation Day," momentum has moved decisively toward International and Emerging Markets, with Europe and Asia driving much of the advance.   While U.S. equities have staged a recovery, they face mo...

Emerging Market equities are the year's top performer, with Canadian and International equities close behind — leaving U.S. stocks lagging. Will America stage a comeback, or are we entering a new era where global equities take center stage?   In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast  host, Rob Duncan, sits down with Forstrong's CEO/CIO, Tyler Mordy, to explore whether the bull market is wire...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Jamie McBride of Stewart & Kett to unpack the evolution of wealth management and the rise of Wealth 3.0.   Wealth 3.0 represents a shift beyond spreadsheets and tax strategies toward an approach that prioritizes family values, collaboration, and open conversations about legacy. Rob and Jamie explore why the "three gener...

Steve Bannon once described Donald Trump's media strategy as "flooding the zone" — overwhelming the airwaves with noise to confuse and distract. Recent months have offered a masterclass, leaving investors to sift through tariffs, trade wars, and endless headlines. In this mid-year edition of the Global Thinking Podcast , host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO & CIO Tyler Mordy to cut through...

In this episode of Global Thinking , Forstrong Portfolio Manager Rob Duncan sits down with friend of the firm, Chris McHaney , Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Management and Strategy at Global X Investments Canada Inc., for a wide-ranging conversation on where global capital is moving, and why. Many of the themes Chris is tracking - rising defense spending, a potential commodities...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast , host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong Portfolio Manager, Terry Shaunessy, to unpack how investors are navigating a world where political theatrics, including Trump's tariff flip-flops, no longer move markets like they used to. They explore why the U.S. may need to consider a GST-style tax, why service-based economies could be the next big growth...

Global Thinking: Power Shifts, Trade Rifts, and Investment Lifts   In this no-holds-barred episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with AGF Investments CEO and CIO, Kevin McCreadie, to unpack the chaos, clarity, and contradictions shaping markets in 2025.   From political plot twists in Canada to the unpredictable theatre of Trump 2.0, they dive into how power moves and p...

In this episode of the Global Thinking podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack a rowdy stretch in markets and politics. From Canada's recent election to Trump's tariff tantrums, the conversation dives into how economic confidence has taken a hit on both sides of the border. But while Canada seems to be finding it's way with new leadership and domestic...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan is joined by Forstrong CEO and CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack what may become one of the most studied financial panics of our time. With markets rattled by a sudden loss of confidence, they explore how erratic policy moves and recent tariff announcements have triggered a global risk-off sentiment and shaken investor faith in American capital m...

The majority of active managers underperform their benchmarks - but why?   In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob sits down with Dr. Joseph Nelesen, Head of Specialists, Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, to unpack the 2024 SPIVA Report—the definitive study comparing active fund managers to their benchmarks.   The discussion explores how most active managers have under...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast Rob Duncan sits down with Forstrong's CEO & CIO, Tyler Mordy, to unpack the evolving market landscape and the unmistakable "vibe shift" happening in global markets. The once-unstoppable dominance of U.S. equities and the MAG 7 is showing signs of fatigue while broader global markets are stepping into the spotlight. Europe is showing signs of economic...

In this episode of the Global Thinking podcast Rob sits down with Forstrong's Lead Portfolio Manager, David Kletz, to tackle two of the biggest forces shaping markets today: trade policy and technology. To start, they dive into the latest tariff turmoil, where Trump's abrupt policy flip-flop left markets scrambling. What does this unpredictability mean for global trade and investor confidence? Dav...

In this episode of the Global Thinking podcast, host Rob Duncan sits down with Adam Payne, President and Chief Compliance Officer of Kinsted Wealth, for a deep dive into the evolving world of alternative investments. With market uncertainty and traditional asset classes facing headwinds, alternatives have taken center stage—but how can investors truly access them? Rob and Adam explore the critical...

In this episode Rob joins Forstrong CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Tyler Mordy, to unpack the defining moments of 2024 and the forces shaping 2025. The past year was further evidence we are not in a traditional economic cycle. In the face of elevated volatility, geopolitical tensions, and a charged political landscape markets powered higher. Yet, amidst the chaos, two themes stood tall: the com...

In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, host Rob Duncan welcomes Keith Dicker, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at IceCap Asset Management, for an in-depth exploration of the global financial landscape. Keith shares captivating insights from his unique career path, the art of global investing, the power of networking, and why risk management remains the cornerstone of successful strate...

2024 is proving to be another year full of surprises. Investors have been bracing for recession as a waterfall of misleading signals have dominated headlines. While many braced for a looming recession, markets defied expectations with strong returns—leaving many sidelined in cash or GICs, missing out on the upside. In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, Rob sits down with Forstrong's CEO...