In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Tim Adams, President and CEO of the IIF, to kick off the new year with a forward-looking discussion on the forces set to shape global finance in 2026 as financial leaders prepare for the IIF’s annual board meetings and convene in Davos.

Drawing on Tim’s extensive global engagement with policymakers and industry leaders, the conversation explores the macro forces most likely to matter in the year ahead, from geoeconomic risk and innovation to growth opportunities and overlooked vulnerabilities. Clay and Tim also discuss the regulatory themes expected to shape strategy in 2026, including how financial institutions can navigate fragmentation in trade, sanctions, and industrial policy without overreacting.

The episode concludes with practical guidance for financial services leaders planning for the year ahead, as well as a look at what to expect from on-the-ground conversations at Davos and how increased U.S. engagement could influence the broader World Economic Forum agenda.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Eric Farnsworth, Partner at Continental Strategy and a veteran of U.S. government and international policy circles, to examine one of the most dramatic geopolitical developments in recent years: the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3. This unprecedented move has thrown Venezuela into political uncertainty and raised critical questions about the country’s future.

Together, Clay and Eric discuss the objectives behind the U.S. action, who is now in charge in Venezuela, and what this means for governance and stability. The conversation also explores Venezuela’s economic collapse, the state of its oil sector, and whether lifting sanctions could reopen the door for investors and financial services firms.

Finally, the episode looks ahead to what might come next for Venezuela, from potential regime change to the challenges of rebuilding infrastructure and restoring economic capacity.

For more from the IIF on Venezuela, read our recent publication here: LatAm Views: Venezuela’s Transition — Early Signals and Market Implications.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by two leading voices in the insurance sector, Jérôme Haegeli, Swiss Re Group Chief Economist and Head of Swiss Re Institute, and Philippe Brahin, IIF Director of Insurance and NBFI Regulation and Policy, to explore how economic uncertainty, regulatory changes, and shifting risk landscapes are reshaping global insurance markets.

Together, they discuss the forces driving change in the industry, from trade tensions and technological disruption to rising natural catastrophe exposures. The conversation highlights how insurers are responding to these pressures, the strategies they are pursuing to close protection gaps, and the initiatives underway to strengthen investment capabilities. They also talk through the recent announcement by Treasury about the future of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and what it means for insurance broadly.

The episode then looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, when global insurance premium growth is expected to slow to an average of 2.3 percent in real terms, slightly below the pace of the past five years. Clay and his guests consider what insurers must do to maintain resilience and profitability in a more challenging environment.

For more on insurance markets, find here Swiss Re's report: Shifting sands: Global economic and insurance market outlook.[](https://www.swissre.com/institute/research/sigma-research/sigma-2025-05-global-economic-insurance-outlook-shifting-sands.html "https://www.swissre.com/institute/research/sigma-research/sigma-2025-05-global-economic-insurance-outlook-shifting-sands.html")

Current Account programming will return in January 2026.

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This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.