Critical thinking

Mercer, a Marsh business
  • 5.0 (2)
  • INVESTING
  • EVERY TWO MONTHS

Join our thought leaders and special guests, as they explore and debate the themes, trends and opportunities shaping markets, and how these may translate for investors. This content is for institutional investors and 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 position. 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 publication, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

  1. 22 HR AGO

    From banks to assets: How asset-backed finance is rewriting credit markets

    In this episode of Critical Thinking, Amit Popat is joined by Andreas Vermeiren and Huw van Steenis to explore the rapid rise of asset-backed finance (ABF) and its role in modern portfolios.  The discussion examines the drivers behind ABF’s recent momentum, as banks retrench and institutional investors, particularly insurers, seek long-duration, stable cash flows. It also highlights the growing role of non-bank capital and the increasing importance of selectivity as the asset class scales. While ABF offers compelling growth potential, success hinges on disciplined credit underwriting and a clear understanding of its role within a broader portfolio.   This content is 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 backed 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 important notices.

    15 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    [Recorded in Dutch] A conversation with Jacob Schoenmaker, financial journalist

    In this first episode of our Dutch Podcast Wegwijs na Invaren, Roel Mehlkopf, Pension Fund Advisor, Cardano Netherlands, and Marc Heemskerk, Actuarial Consultant at Mercer, speak with financial journalist Jacob Schoenmaker to explore how the media is covering the Netherlands’ transition to the new pension system. They unpack the narratives that tend to surface in reporting – including the often‑mentioned “casino pensioen” – and the impressions left by newspaper headlines, TV segments and radio coverage. Together, they analyze what journalists choose to highlight, why complex pension matters can be difficult to explain, and how pension experts themselves can better navigate media dynamics and framing. Finally, they also look ahead: what can we expect from pensions media coverage in the coming years? 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.

    40 min

  3. 3 APR

    1 Theme, 2 CIOs, 3 Questions: Values aligned investing in a rapidly evolving landscape with CBIS and Mercy Investment Services

    Join host Cori Trautvetter as she sits down with Lisa Laird, CIO of Mercy Investment Services, and Tom Digenan, CIO of Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), for a frank conversation about the promise - and the misconceptions - of values-aligned investing. Together they cut through the noise to explore whether mission-driven portfolios must sacrifice returns, how AI and rapid structural change are reshaping opportunity and risk, and the practical tools investors could use beyond simple exclusion screens. The views and opinions expressed by the speakers in this podcast are those of their respective organizations, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercer or its affiliates. This podcast is intended solely as a platform to share insights and learnings with the broader investment community regarding developments in values-aligned investing. It is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation. 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. References to Mercer shall be construed to include Mercer (US) LLC and/or its associated companies. Mercer provides investment solutions and services to a wide range of clients across geographies, regardless of political, social, or religious viewpoints. Mercer has a range of tools and solutions available to help clients meet their particular investment objectives, which may be informed by regulatory requirements and market practices that vary across geographies and investor types. To provide a broad education on topics, including environmental, social, governance (ESG), values aligned and sustainable investing, Mercer does not artificially limit or intentionally target educational content to readers based on the circumstances of a particular audience. The ESG, values aligned, or sustainable investing concepts mentioned herein may not be suitable or appropriate for all investors or in all geographical areas.  Read our full important notices - click here

    16 min

  4. 25 MAR

    Private credit: what matters now?

    In this episode of Critical Thinking, host Kenny Pitman, Senior Director, Alternative Investments, takes a closer look at the evolving private debt landscape with David Scopelliti, Global Head of Private Equity and Private Debt and Scott Wilkinson, Head of Private Debt, APAC. Tackling recent headlines – from AI-driven repricing in the software sector and widening credit spreads to liquidity strain in certain BDCs – they map out the risk management playbook which matters now: rigorous manager selection, loan- and manager-level diversification, disciplined underwriting, and active liquidity management. As well as discussing potential near-term opportunity areas such as credit secondaries, fund finance, tailored capital solutions, credit risk transfer, and asset-based finance (notably in data center infrastructure).  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. There are substantial risks associated with investments classified as alternative investments. Investors should have the ability, investing sophistication and experience to bear the risks associated with such investments.

    22 min

  5. 25 MAR

    Trade finance’s breakout moment

    As traditional banks step back from short-term lending due to regulatory pressures, a significant gap has opened up in global commerce, and alternative lenders are stepping in. In our latest episode of the Critical Thinking podcast, Deborah Wardle sits down with Gerard Sheehan and Gavin Dredge to unpack why trade finance is becoming one of the fastest-growing areas in private credit. They explore the origins, challenges, and opportunities of trade finance, and why it has become interesting for investors. This podcast contains statements on historical performance which may not be repeated in the future. Please note that returns on investments are not guaranteed. 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 Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (US), March 2026.

    18 min

  6. 10 MAR

    Insurance private markets and the Prudent Person Principle

    In this episode, we join Roman Knipprath, Andreas Vermeiren and Arco van Oord to hear how insurers can strengthen their approach to the Prudent Person Principle (PPP) as regulatory scrutiny increases. From valuation and liquidity to governance, stress testing and data-driven decision-making, the discussion explores practical steps to evidence prudence and build more resilient private market portfolios. 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

    18 min

  7. 10 FEB

    Return on resilience

    In this episode, Anne Marie Schultz, US Investments Commercial Leader, Bernardo Serpa Pimentel, Senior Investment Consultant, and Michel Meert, European Consulting Leader for Endowments, Foundations and Family Offices, explore the idea of a “Return on Resilience.”  Resilience is not just about endurance, it’s about adaptability, the capacity to respond to disruption with speed and confidence. Governance, when designed well, may be an effective enabler of that process. It may help create conditions for foresight, flexibility, and better alignment between long-term objectives and near-term action.   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

    19 min

  8. 30 JAN

    Where values meet value: Faith-based investing in a changing world

    Faith-based investing is evolving quickly, driven by advances in data, greater transparency, and more sophisticated portfolio design. Today, some investors are demonstrating their conviction through a range of strategies that seek to align mission with return. In this episode of Critical Thinking, host Michael Lernihan, Global Commercial Leader for Mercer’s Investments and Retirement Business, presents “Where Values Meet Value”, a compelling discussion on faith-based investing in today’s evolving landscape. Joined by Jeffrey McCroy, President & CEO of Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), and Tom Digenan, Chief Investment Officer, the conversation delves into how CBIS’ mission to transform the world through “Catholic Responsible Investments” is adapting across markets, and how they approach faith-based investing.  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

    19 min
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About

Join our thought leaders and special guests, as they explore and debate the themes, trends and opportunities shaping markets, and how these may translate for investors. This content is for institutional investors and 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 position. 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 publication, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

Information

  • Creator
    Mercer, a Marsh business
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Critical thinking
  • Show Website
    Critical thinking

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