Insights on Global Economy, Wealth Building, and Investing with Alpesh Patel
Alpesh B Patel OBE
Asset Management. Great Investments Programme. 18 Books, Bloomberg TV alum & FT Columnist, BBC Paper Reviewer; Fmr Visiting Fellow, Oxford Uni. Multi-TEDx. UK Govt Dealmaker. alpeshpatel.com/links Proud son of NHS nurse.
But the situation may prove unsustainable if I’m funding my consumption by taking out a second mortgage on my home. And that is essentially what the United States has been doing over the past three decades by running a trade deficit year after year.
These persistent deficits are financed by net inflows of capital—which means that every year, the country must sell U.S. assets to foreign investors in order to sustain the gap between exports and imports.
Americans like buying products made elsewhere more than the rest of the world likes buying products made in the U.S. Inevitably, that causes America to ship about $2 billion of IOUs and assets daily to the rest of the world. And over time, that puts pressure on the dollar.
There’s been much talk recently of sovereign wealth funds and how they are buying large pieces of American businesses. This is our doing, not some nefarious plot by foreign governments. Our trade equation guarantees massive foreign investment in the U.S.
When we force-feed $2 billion daily to the rest of the world, they must invest in something here. Why should we complain when they choose stocks over bonds?Who said that? Not who you think.
Twenty years ago, I loathed trips to Switzerland.
Not the cheese, nor the mountains nor the people —those are world-class. It was the ritual. The dance of desperation. Flying out to Zurich or Geneva to attend yet another hedge fund conference, donning a suit of optimism, and pitching our fund to institutional investors who’d nod, smile politely, sip their wine—and then never call back. We called it the “Swiss Freeze.” The only thing colder than Lake Geneva in February was the institutional investor’s follow-up rate: 0.1%. You’d work the room like your life depended on it, only for your pitch deck to disappear into a banker’s briefcase graveyard.
At the time, we had just launched our hedge fund, and I was full of conviction—but equally full of anxiety. When you’re young in finance, especially in asset management, you often equate success with validation from large allocators. If Goldman Sachs or a large family office said “no,” it felt like they were saying you’re not good enough. It was soul-numbing.
But fast forward two decades—and now, I love going.
Love this.
Most recently, I found myself back in Switzerland for our Rootbridge fund launch. Same venues. Same lake. But a completely different mindset. Not because Switzerland changed. I did. My fantastic partners of two decades have done the heavy lifting and created an enviable institution I’m proud to be part of. Well done Ajay P. Singh and Nayan Srivastava All credit to them and the team they’ve assembled. More to follow about RootBridge Capital.
Congratulations and well done everyone - outstanding launch and amazing energy. Midnight and we were still going strong. Geneva next. See you there.
The change started with age, yes—but more importantly, with experience and a recalibration of success. I’ve spent decades building a track record and helping thousands through investment education. I no longer feel the need to chase. I show up with something great and let the chips fall where they may. If you want in, fantastic. If not, we’ll be just fine. It’s a confidence that comes from within, not just pitch decks.
This mindset is perhaps best embodied in the fictional character Bobby Axelrod—“Axe”—in Billions. There’s a scene where he tells a room full of allocators, “You can ride with me if you want. Or don’t. I’m good either way.” That used to sound arrogant to me. Now it sounds like freedom.
My wife crystallised it for me about four years ago. She said, “You know you never need to do anything again in your life you don’t want to.” That hit me harder than any balance sheet ever could. That, for me, was the true definition of success. Not a fund size figure. Not press coverage. Not LP sign-ups. But the freedom to choose how I spend my time and energy.
So yes, I now look forward to Switzerland. Not because of who might invest, but because I enjoy sharing what we’ve built—without neediness, without ego. I’m just telling a story that happens to be true. And if someone wants to join the journey, they’re welcome. But if not? Well, I’ll enjoy the Alps, the coffee, and the quiet satisfaction of a life that no longer needs permission.
Life Expectancy in 2025: Why It Still Depends on Where You're Born
Imagine two babies born on the same day in 2025—one in Monaco, the other in Nigeria. The Monegasque child is projected to live an average of 89 years, while the Nigerian child may only live to 54. That’s a 35-year difference, determined not by genetics or personal choice, but by geography.
The global map of life expectancy, visualised beautifully by Visual Capitalist, reveals more than just numbers—it tells the story of inequality, healthcare access, public health, and prosperity.
Let’s unpack what’s behind the highs, the lows, and the surprising middle.
The Longevity Leaders: Living Well and Long
🇲🇨 Monaco (89 years) – World’s Longest Life Expectancy
Monaco’s life expectancy is often cited as the highest globally, and for good reason:
Though its small population can skew averages, Monaco still offers an example of how affluence and healthcare converge to promote long life.
🇯🇵 Japan (85 years)
Japan continues to lead Asia thanks to:
Studies of Okinawa, one of the world’s five "Blue Zones," show that lifestyle and community support are key ingredients for longevity.
🇦🇺🇫🇷🇪🇸🇮🇹 Australia, France, Spain, Italy (84–85 years)
These countries combine:
Notably, these nations also tend to emphasise social cohesion, which numerous studies link to lower stress and better aging.
The Longevity Crisis: Sub-Saharan Africa
🇳🇬 Nigeria (54 years) – The Shortest Life Expectancy
The average Nigerian born in 2025 is expected to live 35 years less than someone in Monaco. Reasons include:
UNICEF reports that 1 in 10 Nigerian children die before age 5, and WHO data shows that more than half of all maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Other countries with similarly low life expectancy:
Even in peaceful times, access to safe water, vaccinations, and basic care remains out of reach for millions.
🇺🇸 The U.S. Paradox (80 years)
Despite having the world’s most expensive healthcare system, the U.S. ranks behind many European countries and even behind Chile and Costa Rica.
Contributing factors:
According to the CDC, U.S. life expectancy dropped by more than 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been slow to rebound.
Middle Performers Making Progress
🇨🇳 China (78 years) has seen vast improvements thanks to rapid urbanisation, economic growth, and public health investments. China’s life expectancy has nearly doubled since the 1960s.
🇮🇳 India (71 years) still faces challenges from air pollution, rural healthcare access, and poverty—but its government is expanding health insurance and maternal care services through programs like Ayushman Bharat.
What Drives Longevity?
Based on extensive global research, the key factors influencing life expectancy include:
The Road Ahead: Can the Gap Be Closed?
The world is aging—but not equally. The WHO forecasts that by 2050, the number of people aged 60+ will double to 2.1 billion, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. If these countries don’t invest now in healthcare, infrastructure, and disease prevention, the global longevity gap may actually widen.
But the solutions aren’t out of reach.
What can work?
Bottom Line
Life expectancy may be rising globally, but it still heavily depends on where you’re born. A child in Monaco is promised nearly nine decades; a child in Nigeria, just five and a half.
That’s not just a health crisis—it’s a moral one.
By sharing knowledge, investing wisely, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare and opportunity, we can ensure that longevity isn’t a luxury reserved for a few—but a right guaranteed for all.
Sources:
Opportunity
From Machiavelli
"But who art thou, with curious beauty graced,
O woman, stamped with some bright heavenly seal
Why go thy feet on wings, and in such haste?"
"I am that maid whose secret few may steal,
Called Opportunity. I hasten by
Because my feet are treading on a wheel,
Being more swift to run than birds to fly.
And rightly on my feet my wings I wear,
To blind the sight of those who track and spy;
Rightly in front I hold my scattered hair
To veil my face, and down my breast to fall,
Lest men should know my name when I am there;
And leave behind my back no wisp at all
For eager folk to clutch, what time I glide
So near, and turn, and pass beyond recall."
"Tell me; who is that Figure at thy side?"
"Penitence. Mark this well that by decree
Who lets me go must keep her for his bride.
And thou hast spent much time in talk with me
Busied with thoughts and fancies vainly grand,
Nor hast remarked, O fool, neither dost see
How lightly I have fled beneath thy hand."
There is an internal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives. Those who are lucky enough to find it ease like water over a stone, onto its fluid contours, and are home. Some find it in the place of their birth; others may leave a seaside town, parched, and find themselves refreshed in the desert.
There are those born in rolling countryside who are really only at ease in the intense and busy loneliness of the city. For some, the search is for the imprint of another; a child or a mother, a grandfather or a brother, a lover, a husband, a wife, or a foe.
We may go through our lives happy or unhappy, successful or unfulfilled, loved or unloved, without ever standing cold with the shock of recognition, without ever feeling the agony as the twisted iron in our soul unlocks itself and we slip at last into place.
- Josephine Hart
That's it, I'm off to Dubai. No, not me, don't be daft. But before you go and I see yet another article, you know we're lobbying Labour to introduce a nationality based tax system and not residence based. Like the US. Now, the inner Trump in me is also suggesting a punitive, call it tariff, on non-resident UK nationals. Hey, you can always give up your nationality. (Cue the algorithm...)
Apple attacked by Orange. I like a bargain. Wife and son in. Please threaten 100% tariffs. In fact, declare banning iPhone ownership.
In Hinduism, the hexagram, is a symbol of the Divine Union - The Shatkona represents the union of the masculine and feminine, often symbolised as Shiva (Purusha) and Shakti (Prakriti). This union is seen as the source of creation.
Yantra and Meditation:
The Shatkona is used in various Hindu yantras, which are geometric diagrams used to focus the mind and facilitate meditation.
Growing up, and today, my mandir at home has both this and the swastika. It is a sacred symbol representing well-being, prosperity, and good fortune, particularly the sun. The symbol's origin is rooted in the Sanskrit words "su" (good) and "asti" (to be), meaning "well-being" or "good fortune". One of the oldest symbols made by humans, the swastika dates back some 6,000 years to rock and cave paintings. Scholars generally agree it originated in India.
On Monday I visited to Embassy of Israel in Kensington to have a meeting. Outside were two armed police officers, visibly and clearly holding sub-machine guns.
When working in Congress, I visited the then newly opened Holocaust museum in Washington.
What words? May the tribes of the two sons of Abraham find peace living side by side in our home - the children of Isaac and the children of Ishmael.
From Confused to Confident: Paul's Investing Journey with Great Investments Programme
“I’ve learnt so much from the GIP and firmly believe I now manage my ISA and SIPP better than my ex-IFA ever did.”
– Paul, GIP Member & Independent Investor From Stop-Losses to 100% Gains
Investing isn’t just about choosing the right stocks — it’s about having a strategy, managing risk, and knowing when to stay calm. Paul, a member of Alpesh Patel’s Great Investments Programme (GIP), has learned exactly that.
In just 12 months, Paul saw two of his GIP picks return over 100%, all while managing his emotions, risk, and timing like a pro. But perhaps most importantly, he developed the confidence and knowledge to manage his investments better than his own financial adviser ever had.
The Power of a Structured Strategy
Paul’s experience highlights the value of a disciplined investment plan — one grounded in data, taught through GIP.
Let’s take a look at the results:
Stock 1: Turning Point Brands (TPB)
“Had I stayed in, it could’ve reached 148%. But I’m still very happy with my profits — and more importantly, I followed my plan.”
Stock 2: Sea Ltd (SE)
His consistency in applying the same rules to both positions shows a disciplined mindset — something Paul credits to GIP's teachings.
Case Study Paul.pdf
Download PDF • 2.38MB
Lessons Beyond the Returns
While the gains were impressive, what Paul found most rewarding was the learning process. Anyone can get lucky with a stock tip. But what Paul gained went far beyond the numbers.
He learned how to think like an investor. How to interpret charts. How to set rules — and stick to them. Most importantly, he learned how to manage risk.
“I’ve learnt so much from the GIP and firmly believe I have better risk management. I’m managing my ISA and SIPP better than my ex-IFA ever did.”
This level of personal growth is at the heart of the Great Investments Programme. It represents the shift from dependence to independence — and that’s exactly what GIP is designed to empower.
Why GIP Isn’t Just About Picking Stocks
Alpesh Patel’s Great Investments Programme is about teaching you how to invest — not just telling you what to buy.
That means:
Whether you’re investing through an ISA, SIPP, or other portfolio, GIP equips you with the tools to take control — without being dependent on costly advisers or vague tips.
Emotional Balance and the Value of Education
Paul noted that Alpesh often teaches how investors should not let emotions sway their decisions — something he’s embraced.
Even though some trades didn’t work out, Paul kept perspective. He followed his rules, stayed consistent, and trusted the strategy. That mindset is what sets successful investors apart.
“I realise you give the message about positive and negative situations and how they should NOT change your investing emotions. I believe I am fairly balanced in these situations.”
What You Can Take Away from Paul’s Story
A Programme That Empowers You to Own Your Journey
Paul’s story is proof that when you pair expert guidance with education, you don’t just make better trades — you become a better investor.
Whether you're tired of mediocre results from traditional advisers or you want to learn how to think for yourself in the markets, the Great Investments Programme could be your turning point.
As Paul says: “Thank you for helping people like me make the most of our investing journey.”
Ready to Take Control of Your Wealth?
If you’re tired of average returns, want to understand your investment or ready to manage your money like a pro?
Then it’s time to see what Alpesh Patel’s Great Investments Programme can do for you.
Don’t wait to say what Paul said: “I wish I’d started this sooner.”
RISK WARNING: All investing is risky. Returns at not guaranteed. Past performance and case studies are no guarantee of future results.
If the abundant source of wealth creation and untold riches which is the pinnacle of capitalism greatest achievement - the stock market - (sorry Karl) makes you nervous. Remember, get some perspective. I find reading the Bhagavad Gita helps - detachment, perspective, faith (in the American Spirit), drowning out your nagging noises (CNBC, brokers, IFA trying to get you to do things because it makes them money). Move rarely and deliberately.
I'm sure Trump will have a strong finish and mean revert :-)
There’s a point in every civilisation’s maturity when the polite fiction of “delicacy” gives way to the raw truth of survival. That moment may have arrived for the West—especially for Europe and India too.
When a U.S. Congressman recently responded to a question about why Europe isn’t at the Ukraine peace talks with the blunt, surgical strike: “Because Europe has no defence to speak of”.
We live in a world where the old diplomatic choreography—letting others down gently, pretending everyone pulls their weight—is being torched by reality. The U.S. is a hyperpower, not because it seeks to be, but because no one else bothers. Europe spends like a pensioner in a sweet shop when it comes to defence, yet expects strategic relevance at the geopolitical table. That’s not strategy; that’s nostalgia dressed as entitlement.
India, meanwhile, has decided it will not be lectured. Nor will it be brokered. As the country rises—economically, militarily, diplomatically—it has taken a stance often deemed ‘undiplomatic’: “We don’t want, need, or invite others to broker talks.” This is not arrogance. It’s clarity. It’s sovereignty. And it’s a challenge to the post-colonial, condescending habit of assuming Western mediation is some divine gift.
It’s time to stop mistaking restraint for strength and start calling spades what they are. Offence is not about aggression for its own sake—it is about initiative. About shaping the battlefield—whether it’s military, diplomatic, or in boardrooms—before someone else does. In politics, just like in business, the ones who win are often those who act while others are still deliberating
The West Wing’s fictional President Bartlett said it best in one of the finest speeches never given by a “real” leader and I’ve redrafted it for India post the Kashmir terrorist massacre:
“We did not seek, nor did we provoke, an assault on our freedoms and our way of life.
We did not expect, nor did we invite, a confrontation with evil.
Yet the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive.
Twenty seven people were killed in Kashmir, for being of the wrong religion. For being a Hindu. When after having heard the gunfire from their posts, the police and army ran into harms way to help get people out.
Ran into harms way.
The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our brothers and our friends and our citizens and students and family.
The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless.
This is a time for Indian heroes and we reach for the stars.”
This is an age for clarity, for directness, for not being ashamed to stand up and say, “We’re here to win.” And in that spirit, the best defence—be it for nations, companies, or individuals—is to go on the offensive.
And stop apologising for it.
Why Manoj Stopped Relying on Financial Advisers — and Never Looked Back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Outstanding Results and Education – A Game-Changer!” – Manoj Popat
Introduction: A Familiar Frustration with Financial Advisers
For decades, Manoj Popat did what many diligent professionals do — he trusted Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) to manage his pension and investments. Over the course of 40 years, his returns typically hovered in the range of 4–6% before fees.
A steady performance, yes — but nothing extraordinary. And certainly not enough to meet the full potential of his financial goals.
“I thought this was just how it was,” he reflects. “Reliable, but unimpressive. I didn’t question the status quo — until I realised there could be more.”
That moment of realisation led Manoj to Alpesh Patel’s Great Investments Programme (GIP) — and it’s fair to say, it changed everything.
Case Study Manoj.pdf
Download PDF • 2.35MB
The Turning Point: Seeking More Than Just Average
Manoj came across the GIP investment programme at a time when he was craving more clarity, more control, and better returns.
What stood out wasn’t just the promise of results — but the emphasis on education.
“I didn’t just want someone to manage my money anymore. I wanted to understand it. I wanted to be involved — confidently,” Manoj says.
This shift in mindset, from passive delegation to active learning, would become the foundation of the transformation that followed.
The Results: A 17% Return in Just 12 Months
After joining the GIP programme and applying Alpesh’s structured investment approach, Manoj’s portfolio grew by 17% in just one year — a result that dramatically outpaced his past experience with IFAs.
“This level of performance completely surpassed my expectations. It gave me confidence that I had found a far more strategic and profitable approach to wealth management.”
It’s a result worth pausing on — not just because it beat his previous returns, but because it reflected a clear shift in method, mindset, and mastery.
The Hidden Win: Education That Empowers
But for Manoj, the true value of the GIP wasn’t only the numbers — it was the depth of financial understanding he gained.
“What truly sets Alpesh and his team apart is the education they provide. I now have a far deeper understanding of financial markets, empowering me to make more informed investment decisions.”
This focus on learning meant Manoj was no longer just watching his investments grow — he was growing with them. The programme gave him frameworks for evaluating opportunities, tools for assessing risk, and the clarity to take control of his financial future.
And like many alumni of Alpesh’s programme, he’s left with one recurring thought: “I only wish I had met Alpesh earlier in my career — the difference in my financial trajectory could have been incredible.”
What You Can Take Away from Manoj’s Story
If you’ve ever felt unsure about your investment strategy — or stuck with mediocre returns and opaque advice — Manoj’s story will resonate. His journey shows what’s possible when investors combine expert guidance with educational empowerment.
Here are a few powerful takeaways:
Final Word: A Programme That Delivers More Than Returns
Alpesh Patel’s Great Investments Programme doesn’t just aim to make you wealthier — it aims to make you wiser. For Manoj Popat, it did both.
So if you’re tired of average returns, generic advice, or feeling in the dark about your financial future, maybe it’s time to ask yourself:
What if you didn’t just invest better — but understood better too?
That’s what GIP offers. Real results. Lifelong skills. And, as Manoj puts it, “a true game-changer in wealth management.”
RISK WARNING: All investing is risky. Returns at not guaranteed. Past performance and case studies are no guarantee of future results.
Alpesh Patel OBE
Visit www.alpeshpatel.com/shares for more and see www.alpeshpatel.com/links