Critical thinking

In this episode of The CEO Perspectives, Mick Dempsey, President of Mercer Investments & Retirement business, sits down with Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, for a candid conversation on the structural forces reshaping private markets. As one of the architects of the convergence between insurance capital and private credit, Marc offers his perspective on how this model is evolving and why it's becoming central to the future of long-term investing.The discussion also explores the shift from 'return on capital' to 'return of capital,' the risks building beneath the surface of rising allocations, and what's keeping senior decision-makers up at night. For institutional investors navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain environment, Marc's insights provide a clear-eyed view into what it takes to lead and allocate with conviction.This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.Read our full important notices - click here

Over the past five years, we've seen vast changes in interest rate and inflation levels globally, making it important for investors to understand what is driving market dynamics and the impact on portfolio execution and risk management.In this episode of Critical Thinking, Mercer’s UK Head of Investments Helen Hope is joined by US LDI Investments Leader, Brett Dutton and Dan Cunnington, Head of LDI Solutions UK and EMEA, to unpack what the change in bond yields could mean for investors and new participants in the market, the latest trends in fixed income portfolios, and share, in our view, the key areas to typically focus on when it comes to implementing liability hedges with precision and accuracy.This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions. This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.  Read our full important notices - click here 

We're excited to launch the first episode of our new Critical Thinking series: 1 Theme, 2 CIOs, 3 Questions. Each episode focuses on one key investment theme, featuring two leading Chief Investment Officers who tackle three big questions shaping today's investment landscape.In this debut episode, Mercer's Andre Boucher sits down with Jim Mahoney, CIO of Bon Secours Mercy Health, and Leslie Lenzo, CEO/CIO of the Hershey Trust, to explore how to navigate markets in a macro-driven environment. They share insights on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Endowment & Foundation and Healthcare organizations.Topics covered include:• The evolving debate of active versus passive management• Governance best practices that seek to enhance decision-making and align investments with organizational missions• Managing private capital commitments and liquidity in today's fast-changing market environmentThis content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.  This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.  Read our full important notices - click here 

With developed markets facing higher debt burdens, elevated rates, and ongoing uncertainty, investors are increasingly considering frontier market debt as a means of diversifying portfolios and achieving long-term growth potential.In this episode of Critical Thinking, host Jean de Kock is joined by Anja Needham and Adam Shenton. Together, they discuss the fundamentals of frontier market debt, the characteristics that make the asset class so compelling, whilst also addressing the risks and practical considerations that make manager selection critical.This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.Read our full important notices - click here

With increasing uncertainty and market complexity putting decision makers under mounting pressure, governance shines through as a tool for gaining a potential competitive edge. In this episode, Helen Hope is joined by Jay Love and Boutros Thiery, to unpack what good governance is, explain why poor structures may hinder investors, and break down how to make governance work for your individual needs. This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions. This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.Read our full important notices - click here