2025 Market Outlook: Greater Stability is on the Horizon, but Volatility Lurks
In Short
Healthy GDP growth and employment, a still-strong consumer and an expected easing of the regulatory environment could help create market stability in 2025 for insurance company portfolios. However, volatility may lurk in fiscal policy and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy. Join Conning’s investment experts for insights on what could drive markets and their best ideas for the new year.
Host
Sunny Wadhwa is a Managing Director and Head of Asset Management Sales at Conning, where he is responsible for business development and client relationships for North American insurers. Prior to joining the business development team in 2012, Mr. Wadhwa worked as a Portfolio Manager at Conning for 15 years. Previously, Mr. Wadhwa was employed by MetLife as a Financial Analyst and Connecticut Housing Authority Insurance as a Senior Accountant. Mr. Wadhwa is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in accounting.
Moderator
Cindy Beaulieu is Chief Investment Officer of Conning North America. She is also a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager where she is responsible for managing several large life and P&C insurance general account portfolios as well as pension assets for institutional clients of Conning's subsidiary, Goodwin Capital Advisers. Over the course of her 30-plus years in the industry, she has held positions of increasing responsibility, from trading all sectors of the fixed income market to analyzing foreign investment opportunities as well as management of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). Ms. Beaulieu was previously employed by Shawmut Bank as a Corporate Trust Analyst and is a graduate of LaSalle University with a degree in finance.
Speakers
Donald Townswick, CFA, is a Managing Director and the Head of Equity Strategies, responsible for the development and implementation of equity investment strategies and is a member of the team managing Conning’s dividend equity strategies. Prior to joining Conning in 2015, he was senior portfolio manager for global equity strategies at Golden Capital Management. Previously, he was director of quantitative research for ING, and a U.S. equities portfolio manager with INVESCO and Aetna. Mr. Townswick earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Mike Griffin, CFA, is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Corporate and Municipal Teams. Prior to his current role, Mr. Griffin was the Head of Corporate Trading. Before joining the trading team, Mr. Griffin was a portfolio manager responsible for managing insurance company portfolios. Prior to joining Conning in 2011, he was an analyst and team lead in client service analytics with Bridgewater Associates. Mr. Griffin earned a degree in business administration from St. Michael's College.
Mike Nowakowski is a Managing Director and Head of Structured Products, overseeing trading of ABS securities. Prior to joining Conning, he was a portfolio manager focused on Agency MBS and ABS at GE Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors, and People’s United Bank. Previously, Mr. Nowakowski was a portfolio manager focused on Money Markets. Mr. Nowakowski earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Plymouth State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
