Strong winds of change are blowing - we appear to be entering a new age of populist and economic nationalism. What does it all mean for the outlook for the markets?

In 2002, we embarked on a quest to identify the secular forces which would substantially influence markets over the coming decade. We proposed five megatrends - which still drive portfolio construction today.

With the onward marching of computing power, our transition from being "knowledge workers" to "relationship workers" may be here sooner than we realise.

We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In the end, it all comes down to people and values.

The biggest event for global financial markets in 2017 is likely to have taken place on 20 January. How the Trump Presidency unfolds will clearly have a significant impact not just on the US but on global markets in 2017 and beyond.

Four common behavioural problems make the journey of investing particularly challenging for many investors. An understanding of each help investors stay the course and meet their goals.

In our first Fodder for the year, Jonathan Pain makes the case that 2017 is a year politics really matters to investing, while Mohamed El-Erian is on the same wave length. Dr Bob Gay gives his unique insider's view of what will cause the US Fed to raise rates, when and by how much. Michael Kitces explains how to properly integrate two dimensions of risk profiling into portfolios (don't use a simplistic questionnaire!). Lastly, our own Will Jackson reports on the hot topics debated by the group of 10 senior fund analysts on our Research Roundtable International program.

In our first Fodder for the year, Jonathan Pain makes the case that 2017 is a year politics really matters to investing, while Mohamed El-Erian is on the same wave length. Dr Bob Gay gives his unique insider's view of what will cause the US Fed to raise rates, when and by how much. Michael Kitces explains how to properly integrate two dimensions of risk profiling into portfolios (don't use a simplistic questionnaire!). Lastly, our own Will Jackson reports on the hot topics debated by the group of 10 senior fund analysts on our Research Roundtable International program.

The stage is set for an inevitable tightening in monetary conditions. The only questions are how soon, how much and with what consequences.

Beware using risk tolerance assessment tools that blend risk tolerance and risk capacity into a single result. The two need to be measured separately.

America is living through a kind of Trumpian Genesis - seven days of high-speed political creation. No one yet knows how all this will pan out.

Should we just keep our heads down and treat political events as nothing more than noise? 2017 is going to be a year when politics does matter. In fact, it always has.

Senior secured loans offer a combination of strong current income with relatively low volatility given their defensive position in the capital structure and short duration.

Like all presidents, Trump will be judged by how far he makes good on his pledges. It is important to distinguish between the real and the imaginary obstacles Trump faces.

No doubt the liberal media will wage unrelenting war on Trump, as they did on Nixon nearly half a century ago. But this is not the 1970s.

How often should a portfolio be rebalanced? Rather than the conventional wisdom of rebalancing at fixed time intervals, a superior methodology is tolerance band rebalancing.

While rebalancing may be helpful as a risk management strategy, it may actually reduce long-term returns. But that isn't a reason to avoid it.

We've been drilled that rebalancing in portfolios results in improved returns and/or reduced risk. But the benefits of rebalancing are far smaller than we’ve been led to believe.

In our final Fodder for 2016 Tim Farrelly explains why hybrids are not equities, Hamish Douglass offers his take on our Summit 2017 theme and then listen to Prof Niall Ferguson recap the events of 2016 and the implications for markets. India Avenue's Mugunthan Siva argues investors need to relook at why they have equities in portfolios and SSGA's Thomas Poullaouec explains why diversification is a "free drink". Finally, we end with a celebration of the life and times of the Forum's Security and Compliance Manager (aka office sausage), Schnitzel von Krumm.

In our final Fodder for 2016 Tim Farrelly explains why hybrids are not equities, Hamish Douglass offers his take on our Summit 2017 theme and then listen to Prof Niall Ferguson recap the events of 2016 and the implications for markets. India Avenue's Mugunthan Siva argues investors need to relook at why they have equities in portfolios and SSGA's Thomas Poullaouec explains why diversification is a "free drink". Finally, we end with a celebration of the life and times of the Forum's Security and Compliance Manager (aka office sausage), Schnitzel von Krumm.