Insights
Sharper Thinking. Tactical Clarity.
Insights and Perspectives from the front line
Our commentary cuts through the noise. We share hard-won insights on structuring, capital markets innovation, and financial advisory.
Distilled from over 30 years of live market execution and strategic experience.
Featured Blogs
Singapore Insurers Are Leaving 400 Basis Points on the Table
Many Singapore insurers are losing up to 400 basis points in annual performance – not due to markets, but outdated investment governance. In this article, Mike Duncan explores the root causes, global comparisons, and how insurance investment offices can reclaim lost alpha.
The $3 Trillion Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight
Australia’s superannuation sector is big on assets but lagging on performance. Our latest white paper explores why outdated mandates, poor execution, and capital inefficiency are costing members up to 100bps annually – and what global leaders do differently. Discover strategic reform levers and practical solutions to rebuild performance.
Featured White Papers
Turning Convexity into Cash – The Discipline of Active Tail-Hedge Management
Most tail-hedge programmes are treated as trophies or theory. This paper reframes them as liquidity tools – showing how disciplined monetisation and governance convert mark-to-market gains into real cash when it matters most.
Rethinking the Insurance Investment Office
Discover how insurers are losing up to 400bps annually–and what it takes to transform the investment office into a true performance engine.
Ready to Challenge the Status Quo?
A strategic blueprint to transform Australian superannuation funds from benchmark-tracking administrators into capital-efficient investment engines.
Featured Media & Speaking
Ex-BlueCrest, RBS Exec Launches Advisory to Fix Derivatives Blind Spot
Veteran structurer Mike Duncan, formerly of BlueCrest and RBS, launches Para Bellum Advisors to tackle one of the biggest blind spots in institutional portfolios – derivatives inefficiency. Featured in EQD Intelligence the piece explores capital drag, portable alpha, and how Para Bellum is helping investors unlock billions in dormant performance.
FOW Singapore Trading Conference 2024 – Post-Event Recap
Mike Duncan joined fellow industry leaders at FOW’s Singapore Trading Conference 2024 to discuss trading strategy and institutional risk in a shifting market landscape. The session delivered practical insights, spirited debate, and a clear signal on where the future of capital markets may be headed.
Asia EQD 2025 – Volatility, Derivatives & Portfolio Strategy
Mike Duncan, Founder & Head of Advisory at Para Bellum Advisors, has been invited to speak at Asia EQD 2025, a premier institutional forum on volatility, derivatives, and cross-asset strategy.
Eurex Derivatives Insights Asia 2024 – Post-Event Recap
Mike Duncan joined Eurex’s Derivatives Insights Asia 2024 panel at Raffles Hotel to explore global benchmarks, strategic hedging, and ESG investment themes. A dynamic discussion with Société Générale and Nikko AM on navigating risk, rotation, and derivatives innovation across institutional portfolios.
Enhancing Collateral Resilience: Strategies for Liquidity Preparedness
Mike Duncan joins ISDA, Rothesay, Tonic and Cassini to discuss collateral strategy, liquidity resilience, and UMR/Basel III insights in a global webinar event.
Eurex Derivatives Insights Asia 2024 – Investing in Global Benchmark
At Eurex Derivatives Insights Asia 2024, Mike Duncan joined a panel of institutional leaders to explore shifts in European and global benchmarks, sustainable investing, and derivative strategies amid market volatility.