About Dr. Sara Zervos Knutson

For more than 25 years, I've analyzed markets and managed portfolios across six continents—progressing from emerging market strategist to portfolio manager to head of a team managing over $23 billion. I've navigated the Asian Financial Crisis, Russian default, dot-com bubble, global financial crisis, and every market cycle through today. Now I bring that same analytical rigor to education and consulting, helping RIAs, investment committees, and individual investors translate economic analysis into strategic decisions.

From Managing Billions to Sharing Insights

My career has taken me from the trading floors of New York to the halls of the IMF and World Bank, from managing hedge funds to advising governments, from co-founding a tech startup to teaching the next generation of investors.

The common thread? A relentless focus on understanding how the global economy actually works—and making that knowledge useful.

After more than 25 years in institutional investment management and international economics, I made an intentional shift. I realized that the most valuable contribution I could make wasn't adding another billion to a fund—it was sharing what I'd learned. Today, I focus on what I love most: education, strategic thinking, and helping people cut through market noise with the same frameworks that guided my portfolio decisions.

What I Do Today

Fractional Chief Economist & Consultant

As a fractional chief economist, I partner with RIAs, wealth management firms, and investment committees to provide the strategic economic insight they need—without the overhead of a full-time hire. I help translate complex global dynamics into clear, actionable context for client conversations and internal decision-making.

Capital Markets Educator

I teach capital markets and investing courses, bringing real-world experience from managing billions into practical education. My students range from aspiring portfolio managers to seasoned advisors looking to sharpen their economic thinking.

Individual Consulting

Working one-on-one with investors seeking clarity, I provide the kind of economic education and portfolio interpretation that's typically only available at the institutional level. Sessions focus on understanding—not selling—and clients leave with frameworks they can use independently. Many clients appreciate an objective second opinion on their portfolios, and I help them develop informed questions and strategic talking points for conversations with their advisors—from those just building wealth to high net worth individuals.

IMF Economist (On-Demand Roster)

I remain active on the International Monetary Fund's roster for international economic assignments, continuing to advise on capital market development and monetary policy issues globally.

Fractional CFO Services

Drawing on my operational experience co-founding and running a tech startup, I provide fractional CFO services to growing companies that need strategic financial leadership without a full-time executive.

"What in the World"

My Substack newsletter tackles real questions about economics and markets with clarity and depth. Sophisticated analysis made accessible. It's where I explain what's actually happening in the economy and what it means for your portfolio.

Subscribe to What in the World

Beyond Economics

I'm based in Boulder, Colorado, where I can hike before breakfast and still make East Coast market open. I'm an avid traveler—63 countries so far—and I believe you can't really understand global markets until you've haggled in Istanbul, eaten street food in Bangkok, and gotten lost in São Paulo.

The name Cairn Economic Advisors comes from those carefully stacked stones you find on hiking trails—markers that guide travelers through uncertain terrain. Just as cairns help hikers navigate complex landscapes, I help investors and advisors find their way through the complexities of the global economy.

I'm a Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef (because if you're going to obsess over precision, might as well make dessert). I love ballroom dancing (pattern recognition!), camping (no cell service!), and home renovation (because apparently I enjoy projects with uncertain timelines and budget overruns). I recently joined Boulder Mountain Fire as a rookie firefighter, serving the community in a whole new way.

Hiking trails - where cairns mark the path, just like economic insight guides strategic decisions