Inside Active by Bloomberg Intelligence

Episoder

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   JPMorgan’s El-Asmar on Active ETF Growth in APAC 21.07.2026 36min

  Active ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the investment industry, but their evolution in Asia Pacific is unfolding very differently than in the US. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Rebecca Sin, a senior ETF analyst at BI, and Philippe El-Asmar, APAC head of ETFs at JPMorgan Asset Management, about what’s driving adoption across the region. They discuss why Taiwan has emerged as one of the industry’s biggest growth stories, how investor demand differs across markets and why regulations, distribution models and local preferences are shaping the active-ETF landscape. They also explore how institutions and retail investors are using active ETFs, the misconceptions that continue to slow adoption and what could define the next phase of growth across Asia-Pacific. Recorded July 13.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Liberty Street’s Moss on Private Company Research 14.07.2026 22min

  As companies remain private longer, investors increasingly need new ways to access growth that once occurred in the public markets. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Kevin Moss, managing director at Liberty Street Funds and portfolio manager of the Private Shares Fund (PRIVX), about how active managers research, value and manage portfolios of late-stage private companies. They discuss the role of governance and management quality in investment decisions, how disciplined valuation frameworks help separate compelling investments from compelling stories, and why diversification, position sizing and liquidity planning are critical in private markets. They also explore the evolution of secondary markets, the growing push to expand retail access to private investments and the trends shaping the next generation of private-company investing. Recorded July 8.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  NEOS’ Mathews on the Evolution of Option ETFs 07.07.2026 24min

  As option-based income ETFs move deeper into adviser portfolios, product design and implementation are becoming just as important as the income they seek to deliver. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Wes Mathews, senior managing director and head of investment strategy at NEOS Investments, about how the category has evolved from early covered-call strategies into more dynamic, tax-aware approaches. They discuss why investors have turned to options-based ETFs as an alternative source of income, how NEOS seeks to balance monthly distributions with equity participation, and why flexibility around option coverage, strike selection and volatility can matter across different market environments. They also explore the role of tax-loss harvesting and index options in after-tax outcomes, how advisers are using these funds across equities, fixed income and alternatives, and where options-based ETF strategies may expand next. Recorded June 23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Invesco’s Burrello on Option Income Trade-Offs 30.06.2026 27min

  Option-income ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the ETF market, but headline yields often obscure meaningful differences in portfolio construction, risk profile and objectives. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with John Burrello, senior portfolio manager for Invesco’s Global Strategies team, including the Invesco QQQ Income Advantage (QQA), about how investors should evaluate these funds beyond their headline yields. They discuss the trade-offs between income generation, equity participation and downside protection, why total return may matter more than distribution rate alone and how volatility can affect option-overlay strategies. They also explore the differences between systematic and passive approaches, the risks of chasing unusually high yields and why advisers may view these products more as equity replacements or complements than fixed-income substitutes. Recorded June 11.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Baron’s Matt Camuso on Bringing Active to ETFs 23.06.2026 25min

  The rapid growth of active ETFs is pushing traditional and boutique managers to adapt mutual-fund strategies into ETF wrappers without compromising their investment identity. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Matt Caumso, Head of ETF Solutions at Baron Capital about how boutique active managers can translate established mutual-fund strategies into the ETF wrapper. They discuss why Baron entered the ETF market, how mutual fund conversions can give active managers scale and continuity, and what liquidity, capacity and transparency mean for long-term, high-conviction strategies. They also explore the operational demands of launching ETFs, the importance of dedicated capital markets expertise, and how active ETFs can complement passive-heavy portfolios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Morgan Stanley’s Rogers on Consistent Growth 16.06.2026 35min

  Growth investing has faced no shortage of challenges over the past decade, from shifting interest-rate regimes and benchmark concentration, to the rise of AI and unprecedented flows into passive strategies. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Doug Rogers, managing director at Morgan Stanley and portfolio manager on funds including the Eaton Vance Growth Fund (ELCIX) and Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunities Fund (EIFGX) about what it takes to generate alpha as an active growth investor in today’s market. They discuss why Rogers focuses on companies capable of delivering consistent, sustainable growth, how his team identifies innovation-driven inflection points, and the role rigorous debate plays in building conviction and challenging investment assumptions. They also explore valuation discipline, risk management, the impact of passive investing on markets, and why separating signal from noise has become increasingly important for long-term investors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Allspring’s Wise on Passive Bond Fund Risks 09.06.2026 31min

  Over the past decade, passive investing has reshaped much of the investment landscape, but fixed income presents a different set of challenges and opportunities. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Noah Wise, senior portfolio manager and head of global macro strategy for the Plus Fixed Income team at Allspring Global Investments about why active management may have a stronger case in bonds than in equities. They discuss how bond indexes are constructed, why passive investors can become increasingly exposed to the largest borrower and interest-rate risks and how the complexity of fixed-income markets creates opportunities for active managers. They also explore the role of central banks and other noneconomic buyers in shaping bond prices, and the importance of flexibility across duration, sectors and geographies. Recorded May 26.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Baillie Gifford’s Coutts, Burns Look Beyond US 02.06.2026 36min

  Europe and Japan’s earnings outlooks have improved, with double-digit growth expectations, though upgrades are concentrated in technology and energy, while inflation pressures could weigh on valuations. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist at BI, speak with Tom Coutts and Lawrence Burns, portfolio managers at Baillie Gifford, and subadvisers on the Vanguard International Growth Fund (VWIGX). They discuss why investors should still look beyond the US for long-term growth opportunities and how Baillie Gifford identifies durable growth companies. The conversation also explores international beneficiaries of the AI boom, why Japan is becoming more attractive, and how to balance valuation discipline with backing exceptional businesses over the long run. Recorded May 21.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  American Beacon’s Cavazos on Durable Managers 26.05.2026 27min

  As investors gain access to an expanding universe of active strategies and investment structures, distinguishing durable investment skill from short-term performance has become increasingly important. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Paul Cavazos, chief investment officer at American Beacon Advisors, about what separates durable investment managers from those benefiting from favorable market environments. They discuss why philosophy, process and people matter more than recent returns, how quantitative and qualitative analysis complement each other in manager research, and why discipline and consistency often matter most during difficult market periods. The conversation also explores concentration risk, style drift, private markets and how manager oversight can help identify when an investment process begins to break down. Recorded May 21.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Massif Capital’s Thomson on Real-Asset Equities 19.05.2026 35min

  Shifting geopolitical risks, growing AI-driven power demand and consolidation across global energy markets are reshaping investment opportunities in oil, natural gas and real assets. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and Vincent Piazza, senior energy analyst at BI, speak with Will Thomson, founder and managing partner of Massif Capital LLC. They discuss investing across energy, mining and other liquid real assets, and why commodity-producing companies are often misunderstood as simple bets on commodity prices. The conversation also explores how Thomson combines bottom-up company research with macro views on commodities and geopolitics, and why management teams, project execution and overlooked “orphan periods” can create opportunities for active managers, as well as structural natural gas trends and the challenge of managing volatility in cyclical sectors. Recorded May 5.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  State Street’s Paglia on Performance and Scale 12.05.2026 31min

  Over the past decade, expanded market access through ETFs and new structures has raised questions about capacity, outcomes and what it means for active management. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Anna Paglia, executive vice president and chief business officer for State Street Investment Management, about how the industry is moving beyond the traditional active-versus-passive debate as ETFs evolve into a vehicle for both. They explore how strong benchmarks and investor focus on returns are raising the bar for active managers, and how capacity and liquidity shape decisions around product structure. They also discuss the role of model portfolios in driving flows and the potential to expand access to private markets by improving transparency and liquidity. Recorded May 4.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Alger’s Crawford on Finding Durable Growth 05.05.2026 32min

  Markets have recently been driven by a narrow set of AI-linked winners, but as these trends become widely recognized, the challenge is identifying what opportunities remain and what is already priced in. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Dr. Ankur Crawford, executive vice president and portfolio manager at Alger, including the Alger Focus Equity Fund (ALGRX) and Alger Concentrated Equity ETF (CNEQ), about how she identifies positive dynamic change across both disruptive growth companies and businesses undergoing reinvention. They explore how a longer-term investment horizon helps distinguish durable growth from hype, the role of deep research and pricing power in building conviction and how valuation shapes opportunities in AI. They also discuss concentrated portfolio construction, risk management and what differentiates being early from being wrong. Recorded April 21.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Avantis’ McInnis on Active vs. Passive Spectrum 28.04.2026 34min

  Over the past decade, passive investing has dominated flows and performance, but the rapid growth of ETFs and evolving market dynamics are blurring the line between active and passive. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Phil McInnis, chief investment strategist at Avantis Investors, about how investors should think about this shift. They explore why active and passive exist more on a spectrum rather than as binary opposites, how systematic, valuation-driven approaches aim to deliver consistent excess returns, and why costs and implementation remain critical to long-term outcomes. They also discuss the rise of active ETFs, how allocators build portfolios across strategies, and what would signal a durable shift back toward active management. Recorded April 15.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  BlackRock’s Jeff Shen on Systematic Edge and AI 22.04.2026 40min

  Despite geopolitical tensions, value has held up better than expected, while defensive strategies like low volatility and quality have failed to attract the typical safe-haven flows, suggesting markets are largely looking past the Iran war. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Christopher Cain, US quantitative strategist at BI, speak with Jeff Shen, co-chief investment officer and co-head of BlackRock’s Systematic Active Equities. They discuss the evolution of systematic active equity and how advances in data, AI and machine learning are reshaping alpha generation. The conversation also explores factor timing, expansion beyond traditional factors into alternative data and new signals, and how portfolio construction and risk management are driving more consistent and differentiated outcomes. Recorded March 31.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  T. Rowe’s Rizzo on Finding Technology Winners 14.04.2026 40min

  Over the past decade, technology investing has been dominated by a handful of mega-cap companies, but AI is opening the door to a broader and potentially very different set of future winners. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Dominic Rizzo, portfolio manager of the T. Rowe Price Global Technology Equity Fund (PRGTX) and the T. Rowe Price Technology ETF (TTEQ), about his investment framework. They explore how Rizzo identifies linchpin technologies and improving fundamentals, and why active managers may be better positioned than passive strategies to uncover the next generation of tech winners. The conversation also covers valuation, portfolio concentration, AI’s effect on productivity and growth, and how private companies like OpenAI and Anthropic fit into the opportunity set. This episode was recorded March 30.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Tweedy, Browne’s Spears and Hill on Insider Value 07.04.2026 36min

  As value investing has lagged behind in a market led by a narrow group of large-cap growth stocks, insider buying has remained a closely watched signal, particularly during periods of volatility. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with John Spears and Jay Hill, managing directors with Tweedy, Browne and portfolio managers for the Insider + Value ETF (COPY) and International Insider + Value ETF (ICPY) about combining those ideas into a systematic investment approach. They discuss how they define value today, why insider buying can be a powerful signal, how they separate meaningful trades from noise and how they build portfolios designed to capture the strategy’s long-term results. This episode was recorded on March 24.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Vanguard’s Johnson on the Bond ETF Shift 31.03.2026 29min

  Active fixed-income ETFs are entering a new phase of growth, driven by investor demand, structural advantages and expanding product breadth. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Jeff Johnson, head of Fixed Income Product at Vanguard, about the rapid rise of active bond ETFs and why fixed income remains a compelling space for active management. They discuss Vanguard’s expansion beyond its indexing roots, the appeal of ETFs for flexibility, liquidity and cost efficiency, and the key design challenges of active strategies in an ETF wrapper, including daily portfolio disclosure and scalability. The conversation also explores where flows are moving across short duration, core and higher-yielding strategies. Recorded March 19.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Strategas’ Todd Sohn on the Active ETF Boom 24.03.2026 24min

  Active ETFs may be in a golden age, not just a hot streak, driven by product innovation, lower structural frictions, conversions and potential ETF share classes. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, a mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Athanasios Psarofagis, an ETF analyst at BI, speak with Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Strategas Securities. They discuss the current state of the active ETF market, including the breadth of flows across asset classes, the rise of outcome-oriented products and whether crowded areas like buffers and certain derivative-based strategies have become overhyped. They also examine which products helped redefine the category, where active ETFs are taking share and underappreciated areas of future growth such as small-cap, fixed income and alternatives. This episode was recorded on March 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  CrossingBridge’s Sherman on Return of Capital 17.03.2026 45min

  Rating agencies have been broadly positive, but their outlook is turning more cautious — especially in high yield — as geopolitical risks rise and spreads remain tight. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Sam Geier, corporate credit strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, speak with David Sherman, founder and chief investment officer of CrossingBridge Advisors and a portfolio manager of the RiverPark Strategic Income Fund (RSIIX). Sherman explains why protecting return of capital matters more than chasing return on capital, how he applies a value-investing discipline to credit markets and where he’s finding opportunity in an expensive environment, including in the Nordic bond market. The conversation also explores the K-shaped divide in corporate credit fundamentals, the evolving distressed landscape and why liquidity premiums may be the most underappreciated risk in fixed income today. The podcast was recorded on March 3.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Horizon’s Stahl on Letting Winners Run 10.03.2026 36min

  In a market shaped by index concentration and short-term performance pressures, contrarian strategies are leaning into opportunities others may not have the patience or liquidity to own. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Murray Stahl, CEO, CIO and co-founder of Horizon Kinetics and a portfolio manager for the Paradigm Fund (WWNPX). They discuss the firm’s long-horizon contrarian philosophy, grounded in Stahl’s view that investors optimize for one-year grading periods, and its concept of an equity yield curve to explain why long-duration opportunities can be overlooked. The conversation also covers the fund’s willingness to let winners compound rather than trim positions, the tax considerations behind concentration, Stahl’s framework for Bitcoin exposure and why he views private investments as a natural extension of the strategy in an era of index dominance. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 18.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.