September 28, 2021
Will China succeed in its efforts to supplant the United States as a global power? What does the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan mean for national security? What might the future hold for U.S.–Russian relations? Geopolitical events can have a significant global impact on the global economy and investment markets, and as an investor, it’s important to understand the key geopolitical issues that could affect the world — and your portfolio.
On Thursday, September 30, we held a webinar to discuss the geopolitical landscape with David Bridges, Senior Geopolitical Advisor at Fidelity Investments. With 25 years of service in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, David is an expert on geopolitical affairs, and in this must-see discussion he discussed:
Meet the Presenters
David Bridges is a Senior Geopolitical Advisor at Fidelity Investments, where he provides expert geopolitical assessment to Fidelity investors. Prior to joining Fidelity in 2012, Mr. Bridges served a 25-year career in the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Clandestine Service. He retired from the CIA in 2011. At the time of his retirement, he was a member of the Senior Intelligence Service, the elite leadership team that guides CIA activities across the globe. Over the course of his career, Mr. Bridges held a number of critical positions, including executive director of all CIA activity in Russia, the former Soviet Union, central and eastern Europe, and the Balkans, operational command of all CIA offensive and defensive counterintelligence operations worldwide, and several assignments as chief of station. In recognition of his outstanding work, he received CIA’s Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the George Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism, the Donovan Award (the Clandestine Service’s highest honor), and several Director of Central Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations.
Prior to joining the CIA, Mr. Bridges spent five years working for a peacekeeping force in the Middle East. He has been in the financial industry since 2012. Mr. Bridges earned his bachelor’s degree with high honors from Dartmouth College and his master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies. He speaks five languages.
As CEO and Co-Founder of GYL Financial Synergies, Gerry Goldberg, JD, CIMA®, provides consulting services to corporations, municipalities, self-insurance funds, non-profit organizations, and high-net-worth private clients in areas that include investment policy, asset allocation, and investment management selection and oversight. He also advises clients on the structure and development of qualified retirement plans. Gerry lectures and authors articles on various investment-related topics, and has served as an adjunct professor in the MBA Program at the University of Hartford.
Before co-founding GYL Financial Synergies in 2016, Gerry worked for Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessors for 18 years. He was formerly one of 75 members of the Senior Consulting Council, Wells Fargo Advisor’s elite senior consulting group. Prior to Wells Fargo Advisors, Gerry practiced law for six years, most recently with the Boston firm, Bingham, Dana, LLP, and is currently a member of the bar in New York and Connecticut (not currently practicing).
From 2010–2016, Gerry was recognized six times by Barron’s as one of “The Top 1,200 Advisors”1 (formerly “The Top 1,000 Advisors”) in the nation. He was also recognized by Financial Times as being among the “Top 400 U.S. Advisors of 2014.”2
Gerry obtained his JD from George Washington University and his BA in Political Science with a concentration in World Political Economics from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification, administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (formerly known as the Investment Management Consultants Association®), and taught in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
For the 25 years that Gerry has resided in Connecticut, he has been involved in many local organizations in a volunteer capacity, including serving as a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford; President of the Hebrew High School of New England; Community Trustee for the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford; and a past trustee of the board for the Solomon Schechter Day School. When not working or giving back to the community, Gerry is an avid skier and enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
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