Money Maze Podcast

Armed with a degree, MBA, MPA, and a PhD, the author of 5 bestselling books, a trained economist, a previous employee of Goldmans Sachs, a life peerage in the House of Lords, sought after board member, one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and on Oprah Winfrey’s “O” Power List, our guest today seems to have it all! Dambisa Moyo has written about why development aid to Africa isn’t working, the economic vulnerability of the West, China’s single minded-focus, why democracies are under threat, and how company boards can work more effectively. In this conversation we laser in on her assessment of developed markets’ economic growth, or lack thereof, and where she sees the investment opportunities. She discusses where the UK and Germany are failing, why excessive regulation is a problem, how she weighs up bonds versus stocks, EM versus DM equities. She also covers why Warren Buffett may be spot on with his energy investments, and how the US economic boom masks a more stagnant picture in emerging markets (home to 90% of the world population). She finishes with some fabulous advice for young people: “No doesn’t mean never!” ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, IFM Investors and the World Gold Council. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

Through direct, entertaining & insightful interviews with masters of the real life money maze, we hope to learn about different approaches to allocating capital, making business decisions and navigating the pitfalls that line the paths to prosperity. Each episode, with invite leading figures from the investment management and finance sector onto the show, who share their investment insights and career tips with our community. We're driven by a commitment to opening up the industry, which can often be shrouded in the fog of jargon and apparent complexity. To provide listeners with a wider perspective, we also occasionally feature guests from the arts or wider business world. The interviews is available completely free on all major podcast apps, on YouTube and via www.moneymazepodcast.com If you have any questions or guest ideas, feel free to email us at info@moneymazepodcast.com. Sign up to our newsletter for more in-depth insights | Follow us on LinkedIn ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders,IFM Investors and the World Gold Council.

Back in September 2021, we met with Nic Cary of Blockchain.com, which was already well on its way to becoming one of the world’s leading digital asset platforms. Since then cryptocurrency volatility has been extraordinary, and witness to wild gyrations, the imprisonment Sam Bankman-Fried, SEC action, regulatory hand wringing and then this year, BlackRock’s launch of one of several crypto ETFs (approved by the SEC), and Bitcoin's halving last weekend. In this conversation Nic makes the case for crypto to a sceptical Simon, discussing the importance of blockchain technology, the growth of the crypto markets, scarcity, risk, speculation, institutional versus retail participation, and of course, the merits of gold vs crypto. Blockchain has now grown to be one of the world’s largest crypto infrastructure providers, enabling both institutions and individuals to buy, sell, utilise, understand and exchange crypto products. Since being co-founded by Nic in 2011, they’ve facilitated about a third of all bitcoin network transactions, processing over $1tn in transaction volume for 37m users. Also joining this conversation was Will Campion of Campion Capital (who set up the podcast with Simon), making his debut appearance on the show! ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

In this interview, we return to Canada. Having interviewed Jo Taylor of OTPP last year, this time we sought out one of the most well-known and successful women in private equity, someone who is also proving to be a huge role model for young women pursuing careers in the investment industry. Suyi Kim, educated at the University of Seoul and then Stanford, explains the attraction PE had for her as she pivoted from consultancy. She discusses sourcing the deals, when they entered and exited Alibaba, the differences in the opportunities in PE investing across continents, and importantly, how they approach China. She discusses how PE has changed, why it remains a bottom-up process, the potential for high returns, and why it is an attractive business for young people to consider. Finally; she shares her two most important words: “Be Curious”! ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders and IFM Investors Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

It’s not every day that one of our guests from the world of finance has successfully scaled Everest 5 times, been awarded an MBE by the Queen, raised millions for charity, and is a vocal ambassador for the NSPCC. For his day job, he led trading desks at Goldmans, CS, UBS and Bluecrest. If that wasn’t enough for most people, he then became sufficiently intrigued by the changing world of gold to become CEO of the World Gold Council (WGC). In this fascinating conversation, David explains how the WGC is bringing gold bullion into the digital age from regulatory, provenance, ESG, and tokenisation angles. He assesses growing institutional demand (gold prices have hit record highs in recent weeks), describes the supply side dynamics, examines why gold improves the risk/return characteristics in a portfolio, why gold mining companies may be too cheap, and how the future may look for gold. Finally, David reflects on his childhood as a victim of child sexual abuse, the agony and therapy of the film about him, Sulphur & White, and the priorities which need addressing (in the UK alone, 1 in 20 children suffer sexual abuse). ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders and IFM Investors Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

In this Easter special we explore a slightly different realm: religion! Very occasionally one individual can have a disproportionately powerful impact on a collection of people, but very rarely does that person’s impact grow in time and reach, and expand beyond anyone’s expectations and for millions, be responsible for enhancing their lives. Our guest, the Reverend Nicky Gumbel, talks of his own odyssey from barrister to clergyman, before widening both awareness and access to Christianity to those outside the church via the Alpha Course. Alpha - a term which we usually employ in a very different context on the podcast - effectively rebranded and modernised Christianity for a new generation in the 1990s, with tens of thousands of courses being run by the end of the decade. The programme has now been translated into 112 different languages, and 30 million people have taken part. In this interview he explains his own pivot to faith, how he was asked to take charge of the Alpha Course development, and in the subsequent years how its reach was extended globally. He explains how he built it into a global brand, how charismatic leadership can be relevant to all fields, the changing relationship between faith and secularism, the role of religion for prisoner rehabilitation, as well as thoughts on morality, money and giving! ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

Our guest today earned her master’s degree in physics, captained her rugby team at Oxford, and then a few years later was posted as bp’s engineering manager to Baku, Azerbaijan. She then spent time as Country Head in neighbouring Georgia and COO of Lightsource bp, and is now bp’s Senior Vice President, Wells. In this conversation, Ann explains bp’s mission to become an integrated energy company, built on three strategic pillars: resilient hydrocarbons, convenience and mobility and low carbon energy. She talks of the need for a reliable and balanced energy system, priced appropriately and invested pragmatically as the world transitions towards a lower carbon future. Also discussed is how energy supplies are evolving amidst global conflicts, the role of financing in the energy transition, and how AI is impacting energy demand. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, and IFM Investors. DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded in February 2024. You can find the latest information on BP’s performance and operations at bp.com/results.

In May 2021, we turned our attention to an investor dilemma – Should we view wine as a proper asset class? And how should we think about the wine industry, unmodernised for so long, but ripe for change! A disrupter emerged in 1997, in the shape of Bordeaux Index, set up by Michael Spencer and Gary Boom. In this conversation we learn about the shifting sands of supply and demand. We discuss global climate impact and some of its advantages for the wine industry. We discuss wealth creation and the continued thirst for luxury wines, champagnes and whiskies. Gary also explains where new and exciting wines are emerging, why he’s re-assessed the emerging English opportunity set, and how they’re embracing digital transformation via their new LiveTrade platform (which was rebranded & expanded this year). Gary discusses the impact of their technology in helping bring liquidity and transparency to wine trading - reflecting on his previous life at ICAP - and why increasing numbers of investors are building portfolios in the wine & spirits world. We then assess the key question; where might there be money to be made in this fast-evolving market? And aside from the investment implications, who doesn’t like to sample lovely wine?! No one wants to finish their lives observing wistfully, as Ernest Hemingway once did, that “my only regret in life is that I didn’t drink more wine!” NOTE - This episode was recorded in late 2023, prior to the re-launch of their LiveTrade product in early 2024. The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

In this bitesize feature, David Einhorn, Founder & President of Greenlight Capital, discusses the potential impact passive investing has had on value investors, and where opportunities may lie. David is one of Wall Street's most closely followed hedge fund managers, whose public commentary on stocks has had market moving results ('The Einhorn Effect'). He's perhaps most well-known for his short bet on Lehman Brothers in 2007. This is an excerpt from his appearance at the London Value Investor Conference in May 2023, included as part of our short-form Money Maze Vignettes series. The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

In today’s episode, the Money Maze Podcast takes a short trip back to 2023 to revisit our Second Private Markets Series. We shared fascinating conversations with guests from the likes of TPG, Tikehau Capital, Nasdaq Private Market, CAIS, and IFM Investors. In case you missed those episodes, we have compiled together some of the highlights from those episodes, including David Neal of IFM Investors on why infrastructure ‘feels like almost the perfect institutional asset class’ and Matt Brown of CAIS on how technology is bridging the gap between financial advisors and alternative asset managers. We also hear from Pamela Pavkov and Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri of the TPG NEXT fund, which is investing in underrepresented alternative asset managers, Mathieu Chabran on Tikehau Capital’s extraordinary growth story and Tom Callahan, CEO of Nasdaq Private Market, who explains how the world of secondary markets for private stocks works. You can listen to all the full episodes here via www.moneymazepodcast.com/series/private-markets. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, and IFM Investors.

In this bitesize feature, A-Rod Corp’s CEO, Alex Rodriguez, discusses principal capital, creating opportunities for partners, and A-Rod’s geographical scope. In the full interview, Alex speaks about how he came to dominate his sport, developing a substantial portfolio of investments and businesses through his investment firm, invaluable advice given to him by Warren Buffet. Listen or watch here. Money Maze Moments are short extracts taken from some of our most popular episodes, which we found interesting or struck a chord with our listener community. The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, and IFM Investors.

With a successful career incorporating 18 years at Goldman Sachs, and then CEO of the Man Group, Emmanuel explains today’s landscape for investors across the fixed income universe. He explains PIMCO’s mission and reach. He discusses how the world is awash with cash and short-term maturities, creating opportunities with interest rates having adjusted upwards. He feels there is a tidal wave of liquidity, underpinning an optimistic view of the possible investments which exist; from credit, both public and private, through to emerging market local FX debt. He explains why alpha is very identifiable and investable and why active beats passive in the fixed income universe. He discusses how AI is transforming data processing in the finance sector. Finally, he explains why banks are retreating from some quarters of the lending landscape, creating opportunities for PIMCO. Finally, he reflects on the European dilemma in being able to create meaningful growth, and why all these government debts will have to be paid at some point ahead. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches and IFM Investors. -- DISCLAIMER: PIMCO manages $1.86 trillion in assets, including $1.48 trillion in third-party client assets as of 31 December 2023. Assets include $82.2 billion (as of 30 September 2023) in assets managed by PIMCO Prime Real Estate (formerly Allianz Real Estate), an affiliate and wholly-owned subsidiary of PIMCO and PIMCO Europe GmbH that includes PIMCO Prime Real Estate GmbH, PIMCO Prime Real Estate LLC and their subsidiaries and affiliates. PIMCO Prime Real Estate LLC investment professionals provide investment management and other services as dual personnel through Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. PIMCO Prime Real Estate GmbH operates separately from PIMCO.

Why does a teacher trained to help children with special needs decide to switch, earn an MBA, then work at Pepsi, become an investment consultant, and end up becoming CIO at an $8 billion dollar foundation? In this conversation, Roz recaps on lessons learned with investing organisations, (including CalPERS) before arriving at Helmsley Foundation in 2010. She describes what makes for an effective investment committee, why investment boxes like ‘growth’ and ‘value’ can be counterproductive, and instead why portfolio construction by tranches of liquidity appeal more. She offers a range of valuable and pithy investment advice, including why “you shouldn’t worry about volatility, if you have ample liquidity”, and why for asset allocation it may be a case of “back to the future”. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors

Our guest today has been referred to as "the English Warren Buffett" for his style and success in investing. His book, published in 1992, Accounting for Growth, and its ensuing controversy helped propel it to the top of the bestsellers chart, displacing Stephen Hawking's ’A Brief History of Time’ from the No.1 spot. He’s been head of research, CEO of a public company, a former top banks analyst (who won’t own a bank in his fund), and is now highly respected Founder and CIO at the global equity fund manager, Fundsmith. Terry details his progress through finance, including how he examines inconsistencies and checks cash flows. He explains why he believes you cannot be successful in investing unless you break out from the crowd. He then describes the genesis of Fundsmith, its mission “to run the best fund ever; by which we mean the one with the highest return over the long term adjusted for risk.” He then details what he looks for in the companies he selects, red lines, distrusting management gloss and why he believes that equities beat bonds over the long term. Lots to learn! The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

What if clearing out early stage cancers from your body could become as routine as going to your dentist, or what if a single vaccine could protect you against multiple viruses? In this episode, we trace Mike Milken’s journey from developing and popularising high yield corporate bonds, to catalysing changes in the world of cancer, and addressing key unmet medical challenges. Mike describes the centrality of medicine in powering economic growth. He describes the current priorities, progress, and the impact of tech and AI on medical advancements. He sizes the costs of obesity, the role of prevention, the microbiome, and your gut. Furthermore he explains why data sits at the centre of achieving faster cures and shares the reasons that underpin this optimism. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors.

What do JR Tolkien, Emma Watson, Oscar Wilde, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Niall Ferguson & Dr. Seuss have in common? They all attended Oxford University, which for nearly 1,000 years has been educating some of the brightest of British and global youth. To have proved so permanent and excellent is testimony to many forces, both financial and educational. In this episode we’re delighted to have its founding Chief Investment Officer and CEO, Sandra Robertson, who explains their approach, investment goals, managing a foundation, and what excites her about the investment landscape in 2024. She discusses managing an endowment, how a new manager becomes included in the fund, and her thinking about risk. She explains her approach to hiring, encouraging a culture which prioritises straightforward & honest communication, and the enduring magic of the internationally renowned Oxford ecosystem. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors.

This week, the Money Maze Podcast is packing up and shutting down for Christmas and New Year. But before we get away, we wanted to catch you up on everything we’ve been up to these last 12 months! Otherwise, we wish all our listeners, sponsors & friends an enjoyable festive break! The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

If you don’t know about his most recent book ‘Going Infinite’, you’ll probably want to buy it after listening to or watching this episode with Michael Lewis, author of multiple books and associated films, including 'The Big Short', 'Moneyball', 'Flash Boys', 'The Blind Side', 'Liars’ Poker', and more. In this interview, with co-host Ravi Joseph, we start out with Liar’s Poker and the wild west of the Salomon Brothers trading floor. Then, picking up from where we left off from our interview 18 months earlier, we probe why Michael had suggested that crypto might be his next subject. He describes the ascent and collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried. We hear how despite writing that “everything about him [SBF] was peculiar”, Sam develops a magnetism that attracts politicians, celebrities, and financiers alike. Michael describes the fault lines, the failings and even feedback from speaking to him recently in prison, awaiting sentence. A fantastical tale and fabulously fun conversation. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors.

For all the narratives around investing and making money, those who have survived the investment cycles for decades and earned above average returns have typically adhered to sound disciplines. This means valuing companies correctly, not taking shortcuts, not being swayed by management ebullience, and digging into the financial statements is key to optimising returns. In this episode, Steve Clapham, veteran analyst, investor and creator of Behind the Balance Sheet explains why effective investment training has diminished, and how reading accounts is more important than ever in an era of waning cheap money. Steve shares his candid thoughts on the CFA and explains why the cash flow statements are so vital. He then explains why opportunities on the buy-side are increasingly plentiful, before covering a few case studies of 'creative accounting' (including two recent high profile fraud scandals: Patisserie Valerie and Wirecard). ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, LiveTrade and IFM Investors. -- FURTHER RESOURCES To help improve your equity analysis and access world-class training videos, consider signing up to Steve’s Analyst Academy Course. As a festive thank you, he’s offering Money Maze Podcast listeners a 10% discount on the acclaimed course. At checkout, add the code ‘MMP10’ to enjoy the Black Friday discount. Learn more and sign up here! (Offer ends on December 15th 2023). Steve also runs the Behind the Balance Sheet Newsletter. It aims to expose as many people as possible to equity investing, sharing analysis to improve your investing skills, backed by his 25+ year institutional career. Steve is kindly also offering listeners a 30% discount on the newsletter via this link!

In his report ‘Birth, Death, and Wealth Creation’, Michael Mauboussin observes and then claims that corporations are surviving longer and winning more. This week, we welcome Michael Mauboussin, Head of Consilient Research at Counterpoint Global, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, to discuss the unique patterns of wealth creation in public equity markets. After explaining the similarities between ice hockey and investing, Michael discusses why corporate ‘death rate’ is higher than firms’ ‘birth rates. He describes why firms are increasingly choosing forgo IPOs, opting to stay private for longer. He also covers Hendrick Bessembinder’s theory of wealth destruction, the distinction between value investing and value factors, and why investors may want to look beyond the headlines when it comes to tech. Michael Mauboussin was interviewed by Simon Brewer at the Quality-Growth Investor Conference in London. The next in-person event to be held by the organizers of the conference will be Value Invest New York on December 12. Use this link and enter “MONEYMAZE_VINY” at checkout to enjoy a 40% discount on tickets (worth $600; offer valid until 30th November 2023). The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches, IFM Investors and LiveTrade. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube