InsuranceAUM.com

Episode 366: Private Infrastructure Debt – Confidence with Discipline

Patrick Manseau, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure Debt for the Americas and Asia Pacific at MetLife Investment Management (MIM), joins host Stewart Foley, CFA, for a conversation on the evolving infrastructure debt market and the importance of maintaining discipline in today’s competitive private credit environment.

 

The episode explores how infrastructure is defined within institutional portfolios, the differences between infrastructure debt and traditional corporate or middle-market private credit, and how insurers are accessing opportunities across the asset class. Patrick also discusses origination, sponsor-friendly market dynamics, underwriting standards, covenant protections, and why long-term borrower and sponsor relationships remain essential in infrastructure investing.

 

The discussion also dives into digital infrastructure and the growing impact of AI-driven power demand, including the rapid growth of data centers, merchant power exposure, and the challenges of underwriting energy-related infrastructure assets in a changing market. Patrick shares how MetLife Investment Management coordinates risk across infrastructure, real estate, and asset-based finance platforms, along with broader perspectives on portfolio construction, asset-liability matching, and why infrastructure debt continues to play an important role for insurance investors seeking long-duration, capital-efficient fixed income exposure.

Episode 365: Direct Lending: Sorting Signal from Noise

Ron Kantowitz, Managing Director and Head of Private Debt for Invesco’s Global Private Credit Group, joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to examine the growing gap between headlines and reality in direct lending. As concerns around AI disruption, software exposure, and liquidity pressures dominate the narrative, Ron explains why many of these issues are being misinterpreted and why the broader private credit market remains fundamentally sound.

 

He shares how his team has approached risk differently, avoiding highly leveraged sectors like software due to structural concerns rather than market timing, and instead focusing on businesses with durable, non-discretionary demand. The discussion also dives into portfolio construction, the importance of sponsor-backed lending, and how private equity dynamics are evolving in a more uncertain environment.

 

Ron also outlines what institutional investors should be looking for when evaluating managers, from hidden risk indicators like “bad PIK” to diversification, leverage trends, and underwriting discipline. In a market shaped by volatility and shifting sentiment, this episode offers a clear framework for identifying real risk and opportunity in private credit.

Episode 364: Fund Finance: Evolution, Opportunity, and Portfolio Construction for Insurers

Michael Timms, Managing Director and Co-Head of Fund Finance at Bayview Asset Management, joins the InsuranceAUM.com podcast to explore how fund finance has evolved into a critical and rapidly expanding segment of private markets. From its origins in subscription lines to today’s broader ecosystem including NAV lending, GP financing, and structured solutions, Michael outlines how innovation and growing capital demand are reshaping the landscape.

In this episode, Michael shares where he is seeing the most compelling opportunities today, particularly as insurers increasingly play a larger role in providing capital where traditional banks have stepped back. He discusses how different fund finance strategies offer a wide range of risk-adjusted return profiles, and why understanding the structure and underlying collateral is key for effective portfolio construction.

The conversation also dives into how insurers should think about accessing the space, where manager differentiation truly matters, and what potential risks or headwinds investors should keep in mind. As adoption continues to grow, fund finance is moving from a niche strategy to a core consideration for insurance portfolios.

Episode 363: Repricing and Resurgence: The Evolution of Real Estate

Peter Braffman of GCM Grosvenor joins host Stewart Foley on the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to explore how real estate has evolved from a traditional institutional allocation into a far broader and more sophisticated asset class. Their conversation looks at how periods of dislocation have historically created new investment opportunities, why repricing matters in the current environment, and how insurance capital continues to play a major role across the market.

 

Peter also shares how his experience at Zurich shaped his perspective as an investor, particularly in understanding real estate not just as a collection of assets, but as a business driven by capital, operators, and long-term execution. Together, he and Stewart discuss how institutional investors, especially insurance companies, are approaching allocations differently today as they navigate higher rates, inflation uncertainty, and a changing capital markets backdrop.

 

The episode also covers some of the most talked-about segments in the market, including data centers and office, while highlighting where Peter sees compelling opportunities today. From specialty operators to operational outperformance and niche sectors that remain underfollowed, this is a thoughtful conversation on where real estate may be headed next and what that means for insurance-focused investors.

Episode 362: What Now? Private Market Implications in Tumultuous Times

Drew Schardt, Co-Head of Direct Equity Investments at Hamilton Lane, joins the InsuranceAUM.com podcast to discuss how investors should be thinking about private markets in today’s uncertain environment. From the firm’s “Pandora’s Box” outlook to the broader macro backdrop, Drew breaks down the key forces shaping private equity, private credit, and portfolio construction.

 

Drew Schardt also explores the disconnect between headlines and underlying fundamentals, particularly in private credit, and why diversification, structure, and long-term positioning remain critical. The conversation touches on liquidity trends, secondaries, and the growing role of new investment structures as investors adapt to a more complex and dynamic market landscape.

Episode 361: Blurring the Lines: How AI Is Redefining Fixed Income Boundaries

Rachel Campbell, Portfolio Manager and Director of Securitized at Income Research and Management, and Kristoff Nelson, CFA, Director of Credit Research at Income Research and Management, join the InsuranceAUM.com podcast to explore how AI is changing the fixed income landscape. The conversation looks at the scale of the data center buildout, where capital is flowing, and how investors are evaluating opportunities across corporate and securitized markets.

They also discuss the implications for credit quality, utilities, infrastructure, and portfolio construction as the lines between traditional fixed income sectors continue to blur. From bottom-up security selection to evolving risk frameworks, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how investors can approach one of the market’s most closely watched themes.

Episode 360: Global Fixed Income and Insurance Portfolios

Brendan Murphy and Jim Kaniclides of Insight Investment join the InsuranceAUM.com podcast to explore how global fixed income can play a larger role in insurance portfolios. In the conversation with host Stewart Foley, they explain the size and structure of the global bond market, why U.S. insurers remain heavily concentrated in domestic fixed income, and how currency hedging can potentially turn global diversification into a source of additional yield rather than added cost.

 

They also discuss how insurers can access global fixed income through familiar portfolio structures, where relative value may exist across developed markets, and what risks could create headwinds for a global allocation. The episode offers a practical look at portfolio construction, accounting considerations, and the ways insurers can broaden their opportunity set while staying within investment grade and core fixed income frameworks.

Episode 359: Going Beyond Core: How Allocators are Tapping New CRE Debt Opportunities

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Justin Pinckney, Head of Private Debt at AEW, to explore how investors are going beyond core commercial real estate (CRE) debt to uncover new sources of yield and diversification. The discussion begins with a market overview of real estate credit, highlighting the impact of higher interest rates, improving liquidity, and shifting risk-return dynamics across the CRE landscape.

Stewart and Justin then dive into where AEW is finding the most compelling opportunities today, including alternative sectors like senior housing, while also outlining key underwriting considerations, risk management approaches, and portfolio construction strategies for insurance allocators. The episode also examines potential headwinds, the importance of information and execution advantages, and how disciplined lending can help investors navigate an evolving and increasingly complex market environment.

Episode 358: High Yield Real Estate Lending: 2026 Outlook

Bill Maclay, Portfolio Manager in Fidelity’s High Income and Alternatives Division, joins Stewart Foley for a timely conversation on high yield real estate lending and how insurers are positioning in this evolving segment of the market. With banks retrenching, capital structures shifting, and construction volumes slowing, Bill shares how Fidelity is identifying opportunity while managing credit and structural risk across the real estate debt landscape.

 

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across real estate equity and debt markets, Bill walks through key market dynamics, including the role of construction lending, geographic supply-demand imbalances, and where insurers can align capital with niche opportunities. He also discusses the potential for insurer partnerships, co-lending structures, and how Fidelity’s platform brings together public and private real estate capabilities to create value.

 

Whether you're focused on CRE debt allocations, yield targets, or managing risk in uncertain markets, this episode offers a grounded, forward-looking view of where the real estate lending market is headed.

Episode 357: Lessons from the Tranches: How to Pick Good Bonds in Securitized Credit

Noah Funderburk, Portfolio Manager and Director of Securitized Credit at Pioneer Investments, joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast for a deep dive into the mechanics that matter most in structured credit.

 

In this episode, he explores why risk and discomfort are often the source of return, how credit risk and interest rate convexity can compound drawdowns, and why sponsor incentives should never be overlooked. The conversation moves beyond headline yield to focus on tranche-level analysis, correlation risk, asset obsolescence, and securitization structures that delever over time.

 

For insurance investors allocating to ABS, RMBS, CMBS, and multi-sector portfolios, this discussion offers a practical framework for evaluating complexity, pricing uncertainty, and managing downside risk in an evolving market environment.