Blind to Power: The Hidden Investing Risk of Rising Strongmen | Peter Atwater

In this episode of Excess Returns, Matt Zeigler sits down with Peter Atwater—President of Financial Insyghts, author of The Confidence Map, and expert on decision-making under uncertainty. Peter lays out a bold and timely framework: in a world led by dominant nationalist figures, global corporations—and their investors—must now navigate a high-stakes game of being labeled either beneficiaries or victims. This conversation digs deep into how these dynamics shape capital flows, investor sentiment, policy risk, and the future of globalization.📌 Topics Covered:Why today’s political leaders are reshaping markets and capitalismHow investors must rethink confidence, control, and certaintyThe "beneficiary vs. victim" framework for companies and countriesImplications for capital allocation in a deglobalizing worldFragility of dominant leadership and geopolitical riskHow social media and sentiment shape investor perceptionWhere investors are most misaligned with current realitiesConfidence mapping for AI, private credit, Chinese equities, and more