Robin Wigglesworth

From Gulf Correspondent to Global Finance Authority

Wigglesworth’s journey began in 2008 as the FT’s Gulf correspondent, where he covered the Arab Spring’s economic fallout in Bahrain and Libya. This foundation in crisis reporting honed his ability to untangle financial systems under stress. Subsequent roles—including U.S. markets editor and deputy head of FastFT—sharpened his focus on structural market changes. His 2021 book Trillions cemented his reputation as the definitive chronicler of index funds’ quiet revolution.

Landmark Reporting: Three Pillars of Influence

• ‘This Is Not Normal’ (RealClearMarkets, April 2025): A trenchant analysis of market volatility patterns post-2023 banking crisis, arguing that traditional risk models fail to account for passive investing’s systemic impacts.

Wigglesworth dissects how index funds amplified the 2024–2025 bond market rout, drawing parallels to 2008 liquidity crunches. Through interviews with central bankers and quantitative analysts, he reveals how passive strategies have created “feedback loops of complacency” in risk pricing. The article’s warning about hidden correlations in ETF holdings sparked regulatory debates across major financial hubs.

• The Case for Passive Investing (The Bull Podcast, April 2025): A masterclass in making complex finance accessible, this 60-minute discussion traces passive investing’s evolution from academic theory to $20 trillion force.

Wigglesworth deftly connects historical milestones—like Jack Bogle’s 1976 Vanguard experiment—to contemporary debates about market efficiency. His analysis of Norwegian sovereign wealth fund’s passive strategy offers rare insights into institutional decision-making. The episode’s viral “financial storm navigation” analogy became industry shorthand for long-term portfolio management.

• The Real History of Index Funds (Jessica Moorhouse Podcast, 2021): This deep dive into passive investing’s origins remains foundational to understanding current market structures.

By profiling unsung pioneers like John McQuown and Nate Most, Wigglesworth reveals how index funds emerged from 1960s computer labs rather than Wall Street boardrooms. His excavation of early resistance from active managers provides crucial context for today’s fee compression battles in asset management.

Pitching Perspectives: Where Strategy Meets Story

1. Macro Impacts of Microstructural Changes

Wigglesworth consistently links technical market developments to broader economic consequences. A successful pitch might explore how blockchain settlement systems could alter index fund composition, using his 2025 analysis of ETF liquidity mismatches as a model. Focus on second-order effects rather than pure technology explanations.

2. Historical Parallels in Financial Innovation

His book Trillions demonstrates how understanding financial history illuminates current trends. Propose stories comparing today’s private equity boom to 1980s LBO waves, or draw parallels between crypto ETFs and early index fund adoption hurdles. Emphasize archival research and interviews with industry veterans.

3. Geopolitical Dimensions of Capital Flows

Leverage Wigglesworth’s expertise in sovereign wealth funds (particularly Norway’s NBIM) to pitch analyses of how national strategies influence global markets. Recent columns on Middle Eastern SWFs pivoting to climate investments suggest interest in intersectional policy/finance stories.

4. Quantitative Investing’s Unintended Consequences

Building on his 2024 series about factor investing, develop pitches examining niche areas like ESG scoring’s impact on index construction or machine learning’s role in ETF rebalancing. Include data scientists or academic researchers as key sources.

5. Philosophical Debates in Modern Finance

Wigglesworth often frames market trends through ideological clashes between figures like Warren Buffett and Eugene Fama. Pitch think pieces exploring contemporary disputes—for instance, the active/passive “cold war” in emerging markets debt. Prioritize access to high-profile managers or policymakers.

Awards and Industry Recognition

Gerald Loeb Award Finalist (2022): Recognized for investigative series on SPAC accounting irregularities, this honor underscores Wigglesworth’s ability to blend hard-hitting reporting with complex financial analysis. The Loeb Awards, considered journalism’s Pulitzer for business reporting, validate his work’s impact on industry practices.

‘Trillions’ Industry Acclaim: Praised by Nobel laureates and FT colleagues alike, Wigglesworth’s book has become required reading in finance programs worldwide. Mohamed El-Erian’s endorsement—“a wonderfully engaging romp through market history”—highlights its rare balance of rigor and accessibility.

“The index fund’s rise represents both capitalism’s greatest democratization and its most insidious homogenization—a paradox that continues to shape 21st-century markets.”