Franklin Templeton’s global reach and incredible breadth of capability give Michael instant access to some of the best thinkers around to help you anticipate opportunities in today’s dynamic investment landscape.
Explore the macro, the markets and the managers – designed to give you clarity, context and actionable insight.
BONUS Q&A: Stuart Kirk debates pensions, US inflation and active vs passive investing
In this bonus episode of Macro moments, recorded straight after the main conversation, Stuart Kirk, author of the Financial Times' Skin in the Game column, Michael Browne (Franklin Templeton Institute) and Oliver Wallin (Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions) tackle the remaining investor questions.
They explore whether a £1 million pension is enough for retirement, why investors may not need to reduce equity exposure as they get older, and if markets are overestimating US interest rate cuts. It also looks at AI’s impact on jobs and growth, and takes on the active versus passive investing debate.
Episode 2: Will Stuart Kirk reach £1m? AI, market bubbles and portfolio positioning (59 min)
In this episode of Macro moments, Oliver Wallin, Solutions Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton, applies an institutional portfolio construction framework to the personal pension portfolio of Stuart Kirk; author of the Financial Times’ Skin in the Game column.
Using the same analytical lens employed for institutional portfolios, the discussion evaluates asset allocation, regional exposures, portfolio risks and return assumptions, assessing whether Stuart’s portfolio is on track to reach its £1m target by 2032.
Episode 1: Emerging Markets in Focus: Geopolitics, AI Growth & Investment Opportunities
For the debut of Macro Moments monthly series, Global Investment Strategist Michael Browne hosts a discussion with a distinguished panel from Franklin Templeton. He is joined by Oliver Wallin, Solutions Portfolio Manager; Elias Elias, CFA, Client Portfolio Manager; and Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Senior ETF Investment Strategist EMEA. Adding further depth to the conversation is regular contributor Mohieddine (Dino) Kronfol, CIO of Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income.
The panel provides an in-depth analysis of the changing emerging markets environment, exploring how geopolitical conflicts and energy-related risks impact global trade, commodities, investor sentiment, and overall market stability.
Monthly publication offering insights on global asset allocation and capital market views.
Michael and his guests provide the macro context, asset allocation ideas to help navigate the markets and portfolio insights from the managers on the ground.
From emerging markets to UK small caps and gilts - get ready for actionable insights, candid conversations, and a truly international outlook. Watch the whole episode or take your pick from the extracts below.
In our fast-paced, private markets 2026 outlook episode of ‘Macro moments’, Michael Browne brings together Franklin Templeton’s private markets experts to examine what’s next in 2026 and beyond. He connects three perspectives – the macro, the markets, and the managers.
He’ll provide the macro context ahead of some portfolio construction idea to help navigate today’s markets. Then he’ll speak to the managers – what’s shaping portfolios across private equity secondaries (Lexington Partners), real estate (Clarion Partners), European private credit (Apera Asset Management) and US private credit (Benefit Street Partners).
2026 OUTLOOK EDITION
Franklin Templeton Institute global investment strategist, Michael Browne, peers into the 2026 investment landscape for public and private markets.
