Mackenzie Investments Bites & Insights

Tax season is upon us, and with it comes a slew of changes and challenges. In this episode, Tim Brisibe, Head of Mackenzie's Tax and Estate Team, covers a range of topics crucial for navigating tax season and beyond. He discusses the implications of recent policy changes, including the suspension of the consumer carbon tax and the deferral of the capital gains inclusion rate increase. Tim explains the importance of understanding the complexities that come with significant wealth and how advisors can play a pivotal role in managing these complexities, connecting this to the concept of "homeostasis" for financial harmony. Additionally, Tim provides practical strategies for advisors to help clients plan for the financial needs of loved ones with disabilities and how to incorporate strategic philanthropy.  This episode was recorded on April 4, 2025.

In this episode, Katherine Owen, Vice President and Portfolio Manager on the Mackenzie Global Equity & Income Team, discusses the team's portfolio construction process amidst President Trump's turbulent tariff policy. Katherine explains the importance of pricing power and diversification across sectors, regions, and styles in the companies the team invests in. She also discusses how these factors have influenced the team's portfolio positioning, including exposure to defensive sectors. Katherine also shares two examples from the "Dividend Dream Team" that illustrate the team's investment process.  This episode was recorded on April 1, 2025.

In this episode, Phil Taller, Portfolio Manager and Lead on the Mackenzie Growth Team, discusses the impacts of rising trade barriers and tariffs, and why now may be an opportune time to consider allocating to small and mid-cap equities. He explains how US small and mid-cap companies differ from those in the Canadian market, noting that these companies are often leaders in their niches. Phil provides a detailed overview of his team's investment philosophy and selection process, which combines qualitative and quantitative analysis, focusing on sustainable growth and the uniqueness of a company's offerings. Additionally, he explores the potential positive effects of corporate tax cuts and deregulation on small and mid-cap companies, which often face greater challenges compared to their larger counterparts.    This episode was recorded on March 19, 2025. 

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, discusses the Federal Reserve's shift towards a more uncertain economic outlook, highlighting concerns about downside growth risks and rising inflation projections. He explores trade dynamics between the US and Canada, covering current and upcoming tariffs and the political context influencing Canada's response. Additionally, Dustin examines current events in Canadian politics, the Bank of Canada, and Germany's suspension of the debt brake and its commitment to military and infrastructure spending.     This episode was recorded on March 20, 2025. 

In this episode, Movin Mokbel, VP and Portfolio Manager on the Mackenzie Fixed Income Team, explores the growing investor appeal of floating rate loans. He highlights their ability to eliminate interest rate risk and unpacks common misconceptions about Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs). Movin explains the regulation, liquidity, and diverse risk-reward characteristics of CLOs and how floating rate loans and CLOs can be accessed through ETFs, offering attractive yields with minimal credit risk and enhance investment portfolios. This episode was recorded on March 11, 2025.

In this episode, Hussein Sunderji, Portfolio Manager of the Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity Fund, discusses the Ivy Team's unique investing philosophy. Focusing on high-quality companies, maintaining a long-term perspective, and adhering to strict valuation disciplines, Hussein explains how the team has navigated the volatile markets of the past two years. Hussein notes that market volatility can create opportunities to capitalize on valuation disconnects. Despite macroeconomic challenges such as trade protectionism and tariffs, the Ivy Team remains committed to delivering superior risk-adjusted returns over the long term, aiming for a smoother path of returns for investors.    This episode was recorded on February 27, 2025. 

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Strategist for Fixed Income, discusses the ongoing volatile macro economic landscape in North America and Europe. Dustin explains how the market is perceiving the impact of both Canadian and US inflation data, and what the likely implications are for Bank of Canada and Fed policy. Dustin also speaks to how the Trump administration is viewing tariffs and where cross-asset markets might not be pricing what could happen next.  This episode was recorded on February 19, 2025.

In this episode, Lesley Marks, Chief Investment Officer of Equities, unpacks the potential long-term impacts of President Trump's tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. While the market response has been muted, Lesley cautions that these tariffs could lead to increased costs and chaos, particularly in the automotive industry. Lesley also explores the recent strength of the Canadian dollar, explaining the factors behind its rally. Additionally, Lesley highlights the strong performance of Canadian, European, and Hong Kong equities compared to US equities this year.  This episode was recorded on February 13, 2025.

In today’s unpredictable environment, understanding and managing market fluctuations is crucial for advisors and investors. In this episode, Haijie Chen, Portfolio Manager on Mackenzie’s Global Quantitative Equity Team discusses the current state of market volatility, key drivers behind it, and how quantitative investing can address these challenges. Haijie also breaks down the construction of Mackenzie’s low volatility ETFs and how they can be effectively integrated into an advisor’s portfolio. This episode was recorded on January 27, 2025.

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Mackenzie Investments, discusses the recent decisions by the Bank of Canada and Federal Reserve, exploring their future actions amid current economic conditions and looming tariff deadlines. Dustin also examines developments in equity markets, particularly the impact of the new Chinese AI model, DeepSeek, and its implications for technology stocks and energy consumption. This episode was recorded on January 29, 2025.

In his first week in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency, sparking debates about the acceleration of permitting for oil, gas, and power projects. In this episode, Benoit Gervais and Onno Rutten, Portfolio Managers on Mackenzie’s Resource Team, discuss President Trump’s latest executive orders and their implications for the resource sector. Benoit and Onno explore the theme of reshoring and the “America First policy”, emphasizing the significance of Canadian resources in bolstering US industrialization. Lastly, Benoit and Onno discuss how AI is impacting energy demand in relation to electrification and the power grid. This episode was recorded on January 22, 2025.

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, explores the potential implementation of tariffs under the new Trump administration and its implications for cross-asset markets. He discusses the role of the External Revenue Service and Canada's political and economic landscape. Dustin highlights key topics such as market pricing and expectations, deregulation, tax cuts, immigration policies, and potential changes in leadership.   This episode was recorded on January 23, 2025.

What are fixed income markets expect from a second Trump presidency? And where might investors find opportunities? In this episode, Konstantin Boehmer, Head of Mackenzie’s Fixed Income Team, discusses the Bank of Canada’s approach and the Canadian economy’s outlook, addressing the threat of tariffs, low productivity, and rising unemployment. Konstantin also shares his insights on the US economic landscape, the potential impacts of a Trump presidency on fixed income markets, and global investment opportunities in fixed income.   This episode was recorded on January 9, 2025.

With the Canadian ETF market experiencing remarkable growth in 2024, trust and adoption of ETFs have surged among a diverse range of investors. Will this momentum continue into 2025? In this episode, Prerna Mathews, Head of ETFs at Mackenzie Investments, discusses the 2025 ETF Outlook. She delves into the sector’s remarkable growth and innovation highlighting 2024’s record inflows of $76 billion into ETFs in Canada—a staggering 45% increase over previous records. Prerna also shares insights into why more advisors and their clients are embracing ETFs and how these investment vehicles can be instrumental in building resilient portfolios. This episode was recorded on January 6, 2025.

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, discusses the Fed’s recent decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points and its implications for both the US and Canadian markets. He highlights the Fed’s forecast for core PCE inflation at 2.5% for 2025, which exceeds their 2% target, and discusses how the Fed is now factoring in the potential economic impacts of tariffs—a notable shift from their traditional approach. Dustin also examines significant global events, such as changes in government leadership and ongoing trade tensions, and their influence on market behavior. This episode was recorded on December 19, 2024.

The sweeping Republican victory is expected to have potentially significant implications for geopolitical risk and trade flows, and for the outlook of various asset classes and sectors. On this special episode, Lesley Marks, CIO of Equities, and Steve Locke, CIO of Fixed Income and Multi-Asset Strategies, discuss their market outlook for 2025. Topics discussed in their conversation include: How an incoming Trump administration could potentially benefit stocks, particularly small caps, and certain segments of the bond market Why the Bank of Canada will need to continue cutting rates in 2025 and potentially more aggressively than expected Why the resource sector may be poised for strong performance in 2025 For more insights and perspectives, download our 2025 market outlook. This episode was recorded on December 3, 2024.

Following the Republican electoral sweep, discussions have emerged about the effect the Trump administration may have on the clean energy sector – despite the US accounting for only a small percentage of the industry. On this episode, John Cook, Portfolio Manager and Co-Lead of the Mackenzie Greenchip Team, discusses the current state of the energy transition and clean tech investments, global opportunities, and how the incoming administration could affect environmental policies and investments. As a pioneer in environmental thematic investing, John believes the underlying drivers of the energy transition will remain unchanged. This episode was recorded on November 19, 2024.

On this episode, Jules Boudreau, Senior Economist at Mackenzie Investments, discusses the potential impacts of a second Trump administration on US small caps. Jules highlights how US small caps are poised for potential growth, citing cheaper valuations, greater cyclicality, and higher leverage on balance sheets, but emphasizes the necessity of rate cuts and sustained US growth. Additionally, Jules examines the bond market’s reaction to increased government deficits under a Trump administration and explores the challenges facing the Canadian economy. Further reading: - The narrow window for small caps This episode was recorded on November 15, 2024.

In this episode, Adam Gofton, Portfolio Manager on the Mackenzie Ivy Team, discusses the team’s investment philosophy and approach to long-term investing. Adam emphasizes the importance of finding quality companies at reasonable prices and highlights how corporate culture, economic resilience, and a strong balance sheet are key factors to long-term success. He also explains why the outcome of the US election won’t result in any major changes to the portfolio, as the team continues to focus on investing in high-quality companies that can perform well across different environments. This episode was recorded on October 31, 2024.

In this episode, Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential economic and market impacts of President-elect Trump’s return to the White House. Dustin explores the implications of Trump’s proposed economic policies on supply chains, inflation, and the global economy, and expected focus on immigration and deregulation. Dustin also discusses the Fed’s recent rate cut, future monetary policy, and the challenges ahead. This episode was recorded on November 8, 2024.