Critical thinking

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.

Critical thinking is a business podcast hosted by Mercer, a Marsh business, with 143 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mercer, a Marsh business hosts Critical thinking, a business show with 143 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Critical thinking

  Accountability at the table: The role of the investment committee

  Aug 7, 202622 min

  In this episode of Critical thinking, Eimear Walsh, European Head of Investments, is joined by Michel Meert, European Consulting Leader for Endowments, Foundations and Family Offices, and Michael Curtin, Senior Investment Consultant at Mercer, to explore why the investment committee is often the point where governance becomes real and where investment culture can be most visible. The conversation unpacks the investment committee’s role in turning purpose, strategy and risk appetite into decisions and what helps them work well, from clear delegation and strong chairing to good preparation and documentation. It also explores often common pitfalls – slow decisions, unclear accountability, groupthink – and discusses ways asset owners can aim to overcome these to strengthen committee effectiveness over time. 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

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  Critical thinking

  What’s driving institutional interest in professional sports?

  Jul 29, 202615 min

  In this episode Mercer's US Alternatives Investment Leader Matt Vokes is joined by Neil Blundell, CIO at CAIS Advisors, and Catherine Abely, Private Equity Research Specialist at Mercer, for a discussion on the structural characteristics that distinguish professional sports as an asset class — including franchise scarcity, contracted revenue streams, media rights deals, and the evolving liquidity landscape. Together, they also address what investors should consider before allocating, including long holding periods, limited leverage constraints, and the importance of alignment when entering an asset class still in the early stages of institutional participation. 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. 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. Read our full Important notices. Sources: 00:07:51:18 - 00:08:15:19: Total % of Sports programming of the top 100 shows in 2025. Sports Business Journal, “Sports make up 96 of top 100 telecasts in 2025, tying an all-time record,” 2025. 00:08:56:22 - 00:09:19:01: ESPN, NBA agrees to terms on $76B media rights deals, Jul 10, 2024.

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  Critical thinking

  How wealth managers are rewriting the alternatives playbook amid macro shifts and retailization

  Jul 28, 202630 min

  In this episode of Critical Thinking , Teena Jilka is joined by David Scopelliti and Karl Heckenberg, President and Managing Partner at Constellation Wealth Capital, to explore how wealth managers are evolving their alternatives playbooks in response to macro shifts, changing client expectations, and the continued retailization of private markets. The conversation looks at how some firms are adapting their offerings, where scaling pressures are emerging, and what the growth of private markets could mean for the future of wealth management. Capital at Risk. This content was recorded in July 2026. The views expressed are those of the speaker(s). They are current as of the date of recording and subject to change without notice. Podcast guests may be from firms that Marsh Investments evaluates or rates. Podcast guests may have commercial relationships with Marsh Investments. Notwithstanding any separate relationship between Marsh Investments and a guest, no guest receives direct or indirect compensation for their participation in the podcast. For Marsh Investments’s conflict of interest disclosures, see Conflicts of Interest . None of the material presented in this podcast is intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any particular investment manager or investment. This is provided for informational and educational purposes only. This does not constitute a recommendation or an offer to purchase or sell any securities. This does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The discussion is not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial position. No investment decision should be made based on this information. Certain information may constitute forward-looking statements though there is no guarantee that these results will be achieved. Past performance of any asset class or security is not a reliable indicator of future results. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. There are substantial risks associated with investments classified as alternative investments. Investors considering alternatives should have the ability, investing sophistication and experience to bear the risks associated with such investments. Marsh Investments makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of statements or information contained herein and takes no responsibility or liability (including for indirect, consequential, or incidental damages) for any error, omission or inaccuracy. This material should not be copied, distributed, published or reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. A transcript may be provided for your convenience. Marsh Investments is not responsible for any errors in the transcript. © 2026 Marsh. All rights reserved. Important notices Podcast guests may be from firms that Mercer Investments evaluates or rates. In addition, podcast guests may have commercial relationships with Mercer Investments. Notwithstanding any separate relationship between Mercer Investments and a guest, no guest receives direct or indirect compensation for their participation in the podcast. None of the material presented in this podcast is intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any particular investment manager or investment.

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  Critical thinking

  Trends and Opportunities in (Re)insurance

  Jul 20, 202625 min

  In this episode of Critical Thinking , David Morrow, Global Insurance Proposition Leader at Mercer, is joined by Laurent Rousseau, CEO for EMEA and Global Capital Solutions at Guy Carpenter, and Eryn Bacewich, Head of Insurance Solutions within Mercer’s insurance investment practice, to discuss the evolving role of alternative capital in the reinsurance market. Together, they consider the development of risk transfer, from the emergence of Bermuda as a reinsurance hub after Hurricane Andrew, to the growth of catastrophe bonds, sidecars and collateralised reinsurance. The conversation also highlights why investors are seeking exposure to insurance risk, how higher interest rates have renewed focus on insurance float, and what the convergence of financial and reinsurance capital could mean for insurers, reinsurers and institutional investors. 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

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  Critical thinking

  [Recorded in Dutch] A conversation with Mark Heemskerk

  Jun 30, 202639 min

  In the fifth episode of Wegwijs na Invaren, Roel Mehlkopf (Cardano) and Marc Heemskerk (Mercer) talk to pensions lawyer and professor, Mark Heemskerk, about an important and topical theme: pensions in court - particularly in relation to the new Dutch pensions system. Together they explore different scenarios and discuss: how realistic lawsuits are related to conversion, who could be held responsible (the pension fund, directors or other parties), and which issues could become decisive. 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

  ListenShow Notes

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