Portfolio Intelligence Podcast

Smart use of technology and social media is critical for investment professionals to help clients and grow their business. Brendan Barca, a coach, speaker, and consultant at Brendan Barca Solutions, teaches advisors how to seamlessly enter the digital age through live workshops, webinars, and online courses. In this episode, investment professionals can learn how to work with clients remotely and...

Fixed‐income investors are making some false assumptions about the market that could negatively affect portfolios, according to Co‐Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA. Using fixed‐income data analytics and market history, the strategists debunk narratives such as the U.S. Federal Reserve tapering its bond purchases will automatically lead to higher U.S. T...

Cheryl I. Smith, Ph. D., CFA, portfolio manager at Trillium Asset Management, and Matthew A. Zalosh, CFA, portfolio manager at Boston Common Asset Management, join the podcast to discuss ESG investment strategy. The portfolio managers delve into the details of using environmental, social, and governance factors in investment portfolios. For example, when it comes to environmental impact, ESG manag...

Financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz offers some timely wisdom for families with students seeking financial aid. Mark discusses the most common errors families make when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and he serves up some great tips for applicants to get the most aid possible. As students prepare for the FAFSA filing on or after October 1 each year, Mark’s tips...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, and Emily R. Roland, CIMA, provide their take on the economy and markets so far in 2021, and their outlook on what the rest of the year may hold for investors. The strategists discuss the prospects of tapering from the U.S. Federal Reserve and what it might mean for fixed-income investors. They also offer their best ideas for bond and equity...

U.S. Co-Head of Retail Product Steve Deroian shares his insight on the rise of asset allocation model portfolios and how new technology is changing how financial professionals work with clients. Deroian details how third-party model portfolios can help professionals focus more on the relationship building that’s important to clients. Finally, he explains how model portfolios may make sense for spe...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, share where they are seeing the most attractive opportunities now in the global equities market. The strategists discuss whether the recent outperformance of value indexes over tech stocks could be a lasting trend. Miskin and Roland also explain why they think international stocks and economic growth could catch up...

College admissions coach Nancy Steenson is an expert at helping students and parents navigate this often daunting process. In this episode of the Portfolio Intelligence podcast, she discusses underutilized strategies that students can use and how to find universities that try to lure good students with tuition discounts and scholarships. Steenson also lists helpful tips for the college application...

Frances Donald, global chief economist and global head of macroeconomic strategy at Manulife Investment Management, discusses the outlook for inflation and how rising prices affect both consumers and investors. Inflation can be difficult to measure because different indicators such as the Consumer Price Index may use different price inputs. She explains how government spending and the economic reo...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, and Emily R. Roland, CIMA, visit the podcast for an update on economic growth and where we could be in the current economic cycle. The strategists explain why consumer spending and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s inflation policies are encouraging signs for investors. They also weigh in on why they like mid-cap and industrial stocks, and how inves...

Steve Deroian, U.S. head of asset allocation models and ETF product at John Hancock Investment Management, discusses the history and benefits of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since the first U.S. ETFs launched in 1993, these popular investment products have grown to more than $5 trillion in assets under management. Deroian provides an insider’s perspective on which areas could see the fastest grow...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, discuss what the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) current outlook for inflation and growth mean for the maturity of the current economic cycle. After the recent rise in interest rates and a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, investors are looking for clues when the Fed might begin to tighten. However, at the March meetin...

Sandy Sanders, CFA, senior portfolio manager at Manulife Investment Management, weighs in on the health of the consumer and why conditions now are very different from previous economic recoveries. He discusses how technology, demographics, and productivity increases could shape an economy that’s rebounding after the pandemic recession. The portfolio manager also outlines various bullish and bearis...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, and Emily R. Roland, CIMA, discuss why they like emerging markets as one way to position for a new cycle as the global economy recovers from the pandemic. In U.S. equities, they see signs of a rotation to value and small-cap stocks. Meanwhile, bond flows suggest a preference for passive investment, but the strategists make the case for an act...

Michael J. Scanlon, Jr., CFA, portfolio manager at Manulife Investment Management, discusses the recent stock market volatility and why companies beating quarterly earnings estimates may be getting lost in the shuffle as investors focus on recent hedge fund losses. Scanlon, who co-manages the John Hancock Balanced Fund, delves into the mechanics of shorting a stock, how short squeezes happen, and...

Thomas Mucha, geopolitical strategist for Wellington Management, discusses what investors should be looking for during the pivotal first 100 days of Joe Biden’s presidency. The longtime Washington observer expects an intense focus on combating the COVID‐19 pandemic and rolling out economic stimulus. Other key issues to watch during Biden’s first 100 days include the possible introduction of an inf...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, evaluate how their top portfolio ideas performed last year and share how they’re positioning for 2021. The co-strategists explain why they’re looking for some parts of the equity markets—including traditional value sectors, mid caps, and emerging markets—to catch up to the hot performance of dominant mega-cap stocks...

2020 was one for the record books in terms of market and economic volatility. In the latest Portfolio Intelligence podcast, Co‐Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, look back at the year that was, and offer their 2021 outlook. The strategists discuss how COVID‐19 vaccines may alter the economic trajectory, what they’re watching in equity markets, why infla...

Putting credit research at the center of a fixed‐income portfolio is the key to robust active management inside the $20 billion John Hancock Bond Fund. In his interview with Portfolio Intelligence host John Bryson, fund manager Howard Greene of Manulife Investment Management describes how he and his team do credit research differently than many competitors. With individual analysts providing full...

Director of ETF Capital Markets Will Creedon discusses how investment professionals are preparing for year-end tax planning and how ETF tax efficiency can help make their jobs easier. The 2020 market volatility has created tax-loss harvesting opportunities that haven’t been seen in several years, he tell host John Bryson. Will also provides insight on which asset classes might be ripe for tax harv...

In today’s environment, financial professionals can’t really maximize their businesses’ potential without using virtual technologies. National Sales Manager Andy McFetridge joins John Bryson to talk about making the most of these technologies and techniques—including online meeting platforms, strategies for personalizing the client experience, and other best practices for communicating through vir...

Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily Roland and Matt Miskin weigh in on the recent market volatility and what investors should focus on in the weeks leading up to the crucial U.S. election. The strategists also update host John Bryson on what the latest economic data is hinting about the growth trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, Emily and Matt share their highest-conviction ideas f...

College admissions coach Nancy Steenson tells host John Bryson how students can distinguish themselves from thousands of other college applications, particularly during the time of COVID‐19. She also provides tips on taking the SAT, if a gap year is appropriate now, why the high school transcript is so important, and how to write engaging essays to get noticed by college admissions boards. Finally...

Thomas Mucha, geopolitical strategist for Wellington Management, offers an expert and timely opinion of what to look for in November, and how markets may react in various election scenarios. The veteran political and macro economic analyst tells host John Bryson which polls and battleground states he’s watching and how the COVID-19 pandemic may figure into the upcoming elections. Finally, Mucha pr...