Inside the Mind of a Global Market Analyst | Big Picture Thinking for Smarter Investing

In this episode of Loud Investing, Chanel is joined by Lale Akoner, Global Markets Analyst at eToro, to explore how understanding the bigger picture can completely change the way you invest. Lale takes us through her journey from studying economics with some of the world’s most influential thinkers, to working on Wall Street and building a career in global markets. Along the way, she breaks down what it really means to be a macro investor and why big picture thinking matters more than trying to predict every market move. Together, they unpack how human behaviour shapes markets and the economy, why emotions often drive prices more than logic, and how learning to zoom out can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control as an investor. This episode is about building perspective, understanding what’s happening beneath the headlines, and learning how long term thinking can make you a smarter, more resilient investor. You’ll Hear Highlights On • What a macro investor actually does and why it matters • How studying behavioural finance changed Lale’s view of markets • Why prices move even when fundamentals have not changed • How human psychology influences markets and the economy • Why big picture thinking helps reduce stress and emotional decisions • How beginners can apply macro thinking without feeling overwhelmed Focus on understanding why markets move, not trying to predict every move Notice when emotions are driving your decisions and pause before reacting Use education tools to simplify complexity rather than avoid it Key Moments Within the Episode (01:01) Lale’s current role and her journey from Yale to Wall Street (03:05) What retail investing really means and why education matters (03:48) Studying economics through maths, psychology, and human behaviour (05:21) Learning from Robert Shiller and why markets are not always rational (12:08) Entering Wall Street after the financial crisis (15:54) What it really means to be a macro investor (19:27) How beginners can apply macro thinking to their own portfolio (22:17) Using AI responsibly to understand markets (23:31) Final reflections on learning and long-term thinking Helpful Links Investopedia: What Is Macroeconomics https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/macroeconomics.asp Investopedia: Behavioural Finance Explained https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/behavioralfinance.asp Yale School of Management, Behavioural Finance Research https://som.yale.edu/centers/international-center-for-finance World Economic Forum, Global Economic Trends https://www.weforum.org/topics/economic-growth Monetary Policy Basics http://investopedia.com/terms/m/monetarypolicy.asp About Robert Shiller https://www.ubs.com/microsites/nobel-perspectives/en/laureates/robert-shiller.html About Richard Thaler https://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/richard-thaler About David Hirshleifer https://www.marshall.usc.edu/personnel/david-hirshleifer About Nick Barberis https://som.yale.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/nicholas-c-barberis Learn more about Loud Investing https://www.etoro.com/LoudInvesting Important Disclosures This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation or an offer of or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient investment objectives or financial situation and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Make sure you subscribe and follow eToro on social media: 👇 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@etoro?sub_confirmation=1 eToro's platform: https://www.etoro.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etoro/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/eToro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etoro_offic... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etoro/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@etoro_official eToro's official YouTube channel, your trusted source for insightful trading tips, market analysis, interviews, and tutorials to help you make the most of our innovative investing platform. This communication is for information and education purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient’s investment objectives or financial situation, and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Any references to past or future performance of a financial instrument, index or a packaged investment product are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication.