In our cover story, we look at whether national self-interest in the US, China and Russia will lead to the emergence of new ‘spheres of influence’, and the potential economic and market ramifications. In this issue, we also take a look at how robo advice is shaking up the intermediary market, the fintech revolution in China and why demographic shifts will be a major driver of investment performance.

Disruption and disorder

In recent months, the established world order has been turned on its head. Two events in particular – the UK’s vote to leave the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as US president – confounded political commentators and financial markets; triggering fears of a new era of protectionism.

The collapse of the Soviet Union signalled the end of the Cold War and, supposedly, “the end of history”. In our cover story, we look at whether national self-interest in the US, China and Russia will lead to the emergence of new speheres of influence, and the potential economic and market ramificaions.

Disruption isn’t limited to the political arena. Technology is radically altering the financial services industry, too, including asset management. In this issue, we take a look at how robo advice is shaking up the intermediary market, with claims it could lead to the 'democratisation' of wealth management. For those who dismiss the threat, it is worth reading our story on the FinTech revolution in China, where digital disruption is the norm.

In this issue, we take a look at how robo advice is shaking up the intermediary market, with claims it could lead to the ‘democratisation of wealth management. For those who dismiss the threat, it is worth reading our story on the FinTech revolution in China, where digital disruption is the norm.In issue one, Aviva Investors’ CEO Euan Munro gave his thoughts on what the asset management industry must do to win back public trust.In this issue, we invited someone with a very different perspective – former FTfm editor Pauline Skypala – to share her thoughts on why shifts will be a major driver of investment performance.