Beyond the Benchmark by EFG

What lies ahead for the global economy and financial markets in 2027?   In this special edition, EFG’s CIO Moz Afzal is joined by Deputy CIO Daniel Murray to explore the ten key themes we see shaping the outlook in 2027. Together they examine the economic, geopolitical and structural forces se to influence investment markets in the year ahead.   From the resilience of global growth and shifting in...

Could the US midterm election trigger the next big move in financial markets?   With control of Congress hanging in the balance, investors may face a pivotal moment. From the future of the AI boom to the outlook for banks, the election results could have far-reaching consequences for markets and portfolios. EFG Deputy CIO Daniel Murray is joined by Dan Clifton, Partner at Baird Strategas, whose lo...

As the global economic order becomes increasingly fragmented, investors are navigating a landscape shaped by deglobalisation and shifting geopolitical alignments. In this episode, Moz Afzal is joined by Thomas Roderick, Portfolio Manager at Trium Capital to explore how these structural forces are reshaping global markets. Their conversation explores the growing economic divide between the US and C...

As the US midterm elections come into view, Moz Afzal is joined by Clayton Allen, Practice Head for the United States at Eurasia Group, to unpack what really matters to Trump and voters. Clayton breaks down why Trump is likely to shrug off a Democratic House and pivot even further toward foreign policy. They also dig into the political backlash facing data centres, the state of US relations with C...

After years of being the market’s perennial underdog, Europe is finally having a moment. In this episode Moz Afzal sits down with Gerry Fowler, Head of European Equity Strategy at UBS, to explore why sentiment on European equities has shifted and why this upgrade in tone looks structurally different from false dawns of the past. Gerry walks through the bottom-up story reshaping the market – from A...

Enterprise artificial intelligence demand is booming, semiconductors remain volatile, and July’s sharp sell-off has left investors asking whether the AI trade is cracking or simply resetting. Hosted by Moz Afzal, Global CIO at EFG, in conversation with Henry Walters, EFG Equity Analyst, this episode explores what drove the July wobble – from crowded positioning and leverage to rising rates and cre...

What happens when the models, forecasts and systems have done all they can – and it’s down to human judgment? Ocean racing skipper Boris Herrmann explains how he leads Team Malizia through some of the toughest races on the planet. While much of the race outcome is already determined through the preparation beforehand, intuition, trust and teamwork still play a vital role. Listen to this fascinatin...

In EFG’s Outlook 2026 publication, private equity secondaries were highlighted as a key opportunity within private markets. In this episode, CIO Moz Afzal is joined by Jake Elmhirst, Partner and Head of Private Wealth Secondaries Solutions at Coller Capital, to discuss why secondaries have become a core building block in client portfolios. They explore the current liquidity squeeze in private mark...

In this special Mid-Year edition Moz Afzal is joined by Deputy CIO Daniel Murray to revisit EFG’s 2026 Outlook, assessing what has played out so far – and what investors should be watching next. Together, they discuss why the US continues to lead global growth, “shark‑infested” bond markets, as well as the AI investment boom. They also share what this all means for portfolios today, highlighting w...

In this Future Leaders edition of the Beyond the Benchmark podcast (recorded as of early June 2026), Moz Afzal speaks with Nicholas Hopton, former UK ambassador to Iran, Qatar, Libya and Yemen and Chair of the Advisory Board at the Centre of Geopolitics, University of Cambridge. Drawing on 35 years of frontline diplomatic experience, Hopton explains how the Iran–US war, nuclear negotiations, and s...

Alexandra Vidyuk, CEO and Founding Partner of Beyond Earth Ventures, sits down with Moz to explore how the SpaceX IPO marks a turning point in the commercialisation of space. Plummeting launch costs open the door to transformational new industries such as in-space pharmaceutical labs, orbital data centres and semiconductor crystal growth, and a new breed of founders are competing to reshape the se...

What does the “market balance sheet” for US equities look like? Jason Trennert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Strategas Research Partners, weighs up the key assets and liabilities for investors today, from powerful earnings growth and AI-driven productivity gains to the headwinds from inflation, higher rates and geopolitics. Jason also explains why themes such as populism, deglobalisatio...

Kicking off EFG’s Future Leaders series, Moz Afzal sits down with Jordi Visser, Head of AI Macro Nexus at Visser Labs. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping global markets, the challenges and opportunities for investors, and the rapid pace of technological change. Jordi also shares his unique perspective on the future of innovation and the evolving role of AI in economic disruption. Our host,...

Continuing his trip down under, Moz Afzal crossed over to Auckland to sit down with Andrew Kelleher, Director at Shaw and Partners New Zealand. Together they discuss the structure and outlook for the New Zealand economy, the behaviour of the Kiwi dollar, and the country’s long-term prospects. Andrew also explores the evolution of New Zealand’s investment services industry, as well as his unconvent...

On his recent trip to Australia, Moz Afzal sat down with Martin Crabb, CIO of Shaw and Partners, for a deep dive into the Australian economy and markets. They discuss how the latest Middle East tensions and higher energy prices are feeding into Australian inflation and interest rates, what that means for the Reserve Bank’s hiking path, and the implications for the Aussie dollar and bond markets. T...

Conflict in the Middle East, volatile energy prices and the state of its independence made for an interesting backdrop for the Federal Reserve meeting, even if it did not deliver any policy changes. Deputy CIO Daniel Murray is joined by EFG’s Chief Economist, Stefan Gerlach, in this short update episode to unpack the Fed’s latest meeting and inflation expectations. In addition, Stefan outlines the...

From South Korea’s memory leaders to Taiwan’s artificial intelligence supply chain, we explore what’s really behind recent market moves in the Asia Pacific region. EFG portfolio manager Chris Chan discusses how the AI hardware cycle, shifting geopolitical risks as well as China’s two‑speed economy are shaping equity markets. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Chris Chan https:/...

The Brazilian equity market had a strong 2025 and momentum has so far carried over, but can it continue? Tiago Berriel, chief strategist at BTG Pactual joins us on the podcast to unpack what has driven Latin America’s largest economy and what lies ahead. Real rates, trade relations, election considerations and why Tiago is more positive on the economy than the Brazilian soccer team come in to focu...

Dominic Jacobson, Senior Equity Analyst in EFG Asset Management’s US Growth Equity team unpacks whether tech bubble fears are misplaced, and why compute power and energy availability may in fact be keeping excess in check. Also featured are geopolitical competition, open-source versus closed-source models and what could be the next big untapped opportunity in tech. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit...

In the second episode of this three-part series, EFG International CEO Giorgio Pradelli reflects on successful engagement with investors, long-term strategy, and the discipline required to deliver consistent, compounding growth in global wealth management. From the importance of setting the course to aligning 40 locations worldwide, Giorgio shares how clear vision, execution and people underpin EF...

In this year-end episode of Beyond the Benchmark, Moz and Daniel unpack the defining forces of 2025 — from the return of Donald Trump and global tariff shocks to the Middle East conflict, shifting geopolitics, and surprisingly resilient markets. They conclude by outlining key scenarios for 2026, including why a soft landing remains the base case despite looming midterm volatility and policy uncert...

As the US enters midterm year, Dan Clifton returns to help navigate the political and economic crosscurrents impacting the world’s largest economy. Fiscal stimulus, election year market volatility, recession risks and the Fed’s strategy are all under the microscope in this episode of Beyond the Benchmark with Moz Afzal. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guests: Dan Clifton, Head of P...

Evgenia Goti, Global Head of Wealth Planning at EFG joins Moz to shed light on both the technical and human considerations of structuring family wealth across generations. As the great wealth transfer gathers pace, she explains how families can preserve cohesion and avoid common pitfalls while building legacies. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Evgenia Goti https://bit.ly/4pd...

What’s really on the mind of strategists and economists right now? In this special, bitesize update episode of Beyond the Benchmark, Daniel Murray, EFG’s Deputy CIO, delivers the key takeaways from his recent trip to the US, covering tariffs, valuations and the future of the Federal Reserve. Our host, Sam Jochim: https://bit.ly/4o0EYzr Our guest: Daniel Murray: https://bit.ly/3NBVBC2 EFGAM: https:...

Torsten Slok, Chief Economist at Apollo Global unpacks the shifting macro landscape, from trade tensions and tariff impacts to the rapid industrial and AI revolutions reshaping markets. In focus are the contrasting inflation dynamics between the US and Europe, risks tied to AI valuations, and what investors should watch in the months ahead. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: To...