Explore every episode of the podcast The Investors First Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Booth, Dimensional Fund Advisors – The Outsider Who Changed Investing | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:55:30 | |
David Booth is one of the most influential figures in modern investing. As the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Dimensional Fund Advisors, he helped bridge the gap between academic finance and real-world portfolio management, transforming decades of research into practical investment solutions for advisors and investors around the world. In this episode, David joins us as he approaches his 80th birthday, celebrates Dimensional's 45th anniversary and more than $1 trillion in assets under management, and prepares for the release of his new book, Stay Calm. We discuss the origins of evidence-based investing, the development of the CRSP database, lessons from the University of Chicago during the formative years of financial economics, and the founding of Dimensional alongside pioneering researchers including Gene Fama, Merton Miller, and Myron Scholes. We also explore implementation, trading flexibility, advisor-client alignment, market behavior, speculation versus investing, AI's future impact on innovation, and David's reflections on wealth, family, purpose, and what matters most after a lifetime in finance. Few individuals have done more to improve outcomes for investors worldwide, yet David remains remarkably humble, continually emphasizing science, discipline, and long-term thinking. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon, CFA (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust). Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com.
Show Notes:
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| The Physical Economy: Where AI Meets Value Investing | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:51:06 | |
In today's episode, we welcome Don Wordell, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of Ceredex Value Advisors, an institutional asset manager specializing in value-oriented domestic small, mid and large cap equity strategies. Don has been with the firm since 1996, starting with Ceredex's predecessor firm as a research analyst covering value equity strategies. He became portfolio manager of the Mid-Cap Value Equity strategy in 2001 and portfolio manager of the Small Cap Value Equity strategy in 2023. Don earned a B.S. in finance and an M.B.A from the University of Central Florida. He has been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder since 2004.
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| Ari Rubin, Flock Homes – Exchange Fund for Residential Rental Properties | 09 Jul 2026 | 01:06:20 | |
In today's episode, we sit down with Ari Rubin, Founder & CEO of Flock Homes, for a deep dive into tax‑efficient exits for residential real estate through 721 exchanges into the Flock Homes fund.
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| The PE Guy, Unfiltered (Mostly) | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:52:31 | |
In today's episode, we welcome the PE Guy, whose real name is Johnny Hilbrant Partridge. The PE Guy character was started in early 2025 after capitulating from years of ridiculous travel and lifestyle stories from folks in finance, but particularly, private equity. He is certainly making his rounds in the CFA community, and we quickly realized he would be a great guest on our podcast (due to his role in PE, Private Equity, as the PE Guy often says in his skits). We cover Johnny's start with the Ellen DeGeneres show, then his sudden fame as a Soul Cycle Instructor, and then becoming a content creator. We discuss why he picks on private professionals more than any other position in finance, how he strikes the balance between making the PE Guy unlikeable yet charismatic, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the PE Guy. We then dive into social media influencer platforms and how he manages each of them. We also talk about how financial firms should pay attention to unique content, instead of traditional advertising. Last, and certainly not least, the PE Guy makes a brief appearance in character, asking him where he summers, to his thoughts on the best golf courses in Florida, to where he stations his yacht in the Mediterranean, and much more. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon, CFA(CIO/Principal, FirsTrust).
Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com
Show Notes: | |||
| Mike Pyle, BlackRock – White House to Wall Street, An Allocator's Perspective | 14 May 2026 | 01:03:11 | |
In today's episode, we welcome back Mike Pyle of BlackRock. Mike is a senior leader within BlackRock and a key member of the BlackRock Investment Institute (BII), where he helps shape the firm's global macro views and portfolio construction frameworks. Mike has a law degree from Yale and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth. | |||
| Danny Jenkins, ThreatLocker – Zero Trust Cybersecurity | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:38:41 | |
In today's episode, we have Danny Jenkins, who is the CEO and Co-Founder of ThreatLocker, a rapidly growing cybersecurity firm focused on Zero Trust endpoint protection. With over 20 years in cybersecurity and a background in ethical hacking, Danny is unique in that he dropped out of school when he was 15 years old and has an unconventional resume. Danny has built multiple security companies and is widely recognized for his hands-on, real-world approach to stopping ransomware and cyber threats before they happen. Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com Show Notes: | |||
| Brent Sullivan, Tax Alpha Insider – Tribology of Tax Alpha | 05 Mar 2026 | 01:09:37 | |
We are excited to welcome a friend of the show, Brent Sullivan of The Tax Alpha Insider. We discuss all things Tax Alpha as the investment puzzle is different when it comes to taxable investors. I have been fortunate to have known Brent since the very beginnings of his Tax Alpha Insider Newsletter, a highly successful, focused publication in the wealth management space. I often say that he could become the Michael Kitces of Tax Alpha. Brent is also behind the first Tax Alpha Conference, Basis Northwest, in Seattle on May 28th and 29th, which I will be attending. | |||
| Joe Davis, Vanguard – An Economist Crossing the T | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:58:01 | |
We are excited to welcome Joe Davis for this episode, currently Vanguard's Global Chief Economist and Global Head of the Investment Strategy Group. Many of you likely know various iterations of the Vanguard story, but most of the professionals I know do not know how big a research team they have. Joe has a big influence on the company because he is also chairs the firm's Strategic Asset Allocation Committee. Ok, that was exhausting listing all of his titles, he is a busy person. Before that, he was still busy; he earned his M.A. and Ph.D at Duke University and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of U Penn. Joe is a frequent keynote speaker and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Journal of Fixed Income. | |||
| Rick Rieder, BlackRock – Rieder, Riting & Rithmetic | 08 Jan 2026 | 00:49:42 | |
To kick off year 7 of the Investors First Podcast, we interviewed Rick Rieder of BlackRock, currently Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, Head of the Fundamental Fixed Income business, and Head of the Global Allocation Investment Team. After earning a BBA in Finance from Emory University and later an MBA from The Wharton School. He started his career as an Analyst at SunTrust, briefly joining E.F. Hutton's training program, and then spending nearly two decades at Lehman Brothers trading before joining BlackRock. | |||
| Kevin Shea, CFA, BNY Mellon – AI: Investment Implications & Lessons from Late 90's | 04 Dec 2025 | 01:01:44 | |
Kevin Shea is a Director/Senior Equity Strategist at BNY Mellon, where he focuses on individual security analysis, market structure, and emerging technologies—most notably artificial intelligence. Raised in a blue-collar household in Boston, Kevin learned the value of investing early and carried that discipline through Penn State University and into his professional life. He earned the CFA charter while beginning his career at Merrill Lynch Investment Management, eventually joining BNY Mellon's Equity Advisory Group, a team dedicated to helping wealth clients navigate complex equity markets and fast-moving innovation cycles. | |||
| Perth Tolle, Life & Liberty Indexes: Perth Tolle's EM Freedom Factor | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:50:04 | |
In this episode of the Investors First Podcast, we sit down with Perth Tolle, founder of the Freedom 100 Emerging Markets Index (FRDM), now over $1.6B in assets. We explore her vision for how personal and economic freedom can shape global investment outcomes. Perth shares her journey from growing up in Beijing to moving to the U.S. at age nine, her early career as a Fidelity advisor, and how those experiences ultimately inspired her differentiated approach to emerging-markets investing. | |||
| Marty Bicknell, Mariner – A Private Wealth Shipwright in Kansas | 02 Oct 2025 | 00:48:09 | |
Marty Bicknell is the CEO and founder of Mariner, a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm providing comprehensive financial solutions to individuals, families, and institutions. Under his leadership since founding the firm in 2006, Mariner has grown from a small startup into one of the largest registered investment advisory (RIA) firms in the United States, with over $500 billion in assets under advisement. With a strong emphasis on client-first service, innovation, and culture, Marty has cultivated a business model that prioritizes holistic financial planning, investment management, and long-term relationship-building. Mariner has been ranked as a top 5 RIA by Barron's from 2016-2024. Beyond his role as CEO, Marty is an advocate for the financial advisory profession and frequently shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of wealth management. | |||
| Matt Orosz, Trinity Family Builders – Current State of Housing & Homebuilders | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:56:31 | |
Today's guest is Matt Orosz. Matt Orosz is Co-President of Trinity Family Builders, launched in March 2024 by the Orosz brothers in Central Florida. He oversees marketing, sales, land acquisition & operations. Before starting Trinity Family Builders, he co-founded Royal Oak Homes (2011) and Hanover Family Builders (2017), both high-growth companies that were sold—Royal Oak in 2014 and Hanover in 2022 (to Land & Sea Homes, a publicly traded entity). He holds a bachelor's degree from Villanova and an MBA from Rollins College.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Jeff Goll, CFA(Managing Director & Head of Capital Markets at Hillpointe).
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| Coaching, Creating Your Own Window & Capital Allocation: Chris Hyzy's Playbook | 10 Jul 2025 | 01:05:06 | |
Today's guest is Chris Hyzy. Chris is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer supporting Bank of America Private Bank and Merrill Lynch (within Bank of America Corporation). He leads investment strategy, asset allocation, equity and fixed income management, due diligence, and wealth planning guidance.
Previously, he was CIO and Chief Investment Strategist for the Private Bank at Bank of America. Before that, he held senior investment roles at Citigroup Private Bank, including CIO for Latin America and chair of the Global Investment Themes Committee. He also led investment strategy teams at Merrill earlier in his career.
Chris holds a bachelor's degree in business from Villanova University and an MBA in finance from NYU's Stern School of Business. He serves on Villanova's board of trustees and has held other advisory and nonprofit investment roles.
In today's episode, we discussed:
· Chris shared his early career story, which began at Merrill in 1991, learning about finance after being cut from the baseball team at Villanova & focusing instead on investing. · Discussion of Chris's experience coaching sports (football, basketball) and keeping his competitive edge outside of work, noting his national championship softball team. · Chris described the BofA Chief Investment Office (CIO) structure, highlighting manager due diligence, thought leadership, portfolio management, & wealth structuring. · Emphasis on encouraging team members to pursue the CFA designation (worth noting he was a CFA candidate before he pursued his MBA at NYU) · Discussed the balance of absolutes vs. probabilities in market forecasting, including the importance of scenario planning, with their current base case being a "soft patch" rather than an imminent recession, referencing the resilience of the consumer and job market. · Exploration of valuations, equity allocations, and continuing opportunities in global markets & alternative assets as a diversifier. · Chris spoke about the evolving office market in commercial real estate, seeing "slow burn" adjustments and repositioning as potential outcomes. · Final thoughts touched on best practices for young professionals: keys being curious, prepared, & disciplined. · Chris named Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as two historical figures he would want to interview if the tables were turned & he were the host of the Investors First Podcast.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Steven Rogers, CFA (VP, Capital Markets at Hillpointe).
Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com | |||
| Alejandra Grindal, Ned Davis Research – Tariff Lesson with Prof. Grindal | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:49:22 | |
Today's guest is Alejandra Grindal. Alejandra serves as the Chief Economist for Ned Davis Research. Based in Florida and a graduate (undergraduate and Master's) of Florida State University, we were pleased to host a true Floridian for this episode. We recently hosted Alejandra for our Annual Dinner for CFA Society Orlando and did such a great job, we wanted to have her on the podcast. She joined Ned Davis in 2006 and has been quoted in national media, including Barron's, WSJ, CNBC, and TIME, and is a guest on CNBC, and Bloomberg TV. Prior to Ned Davis, she served as a full-time Professor and also worked in British Parliament as a research assistant.
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| Mike Thrasher, Modus - Family Office 101 | 10 Apr 2025 | 01:01:14 | |
In this episode, the discussion centered around the complexities and dynamics of family offices. Topics covered included the growing number of single-family offices, especially in North America, the typical asset size that justifies establishing a family office, and the transition to multifamily offices to manage costs and expand services. The conversation touched on investment management within family offices, the mystique and challenges of maintaining privacy, and the psychological factors, including family dynamics and governance. We also highlighted trends such as technological advancements, charitable involvement, and interest in unique investments like art and collectibles. Furthermore, the discussion emphasized the importance of journalism's role in bringing transparency and information to this evolving sector, with insights into Mike Thrasher's new company, Modus, which focuses on family office content. Mike Thrasher is Founder & Editor of Modus News, a newsletter for family-office professionals. His background includes two stints at Institutional Investor, time with Pensions & Investments as a Senior Reporter, as well as time at WealthManagmeent.com. Our host today are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & guest host Chris Cannon, CFA (Chief Investment Officer, FirsTrust). Please enjoy the episode. Follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn. | |||
| Herb Greenberg – Red Flags | 06 Mar 2025 | 01:03:07 | |
For our third episode of year six of the podcast, we welcome Herb Greenberg to the Investors First Podcast. Herb's career is incredible, with time as a journalist at major news outlets ranging from the Chicago Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle, to the WSJ, and also time at The Street and CNBC. It should be noted that he was born and raised in Florida and attended the University of Miami. Herb's energy and curiosity are up there with anyone we have interviewed in the history of this podcast.
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| John Bowman, CAIA Association – Alternative Investing in 2035 | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:55:46 | |
For our second episode of year six of the podcast, we welcome my friend John Bowman to the podcast. I can't say enough positive things about what John is doing with the CAIA Association (as well as his predecessor Bill Kelly), both of whom put investors first, which is what this podcast is all about. John stepped in as CEO at the beginning of 2025 and we thought it would be great to hear his vision for where alternative investing is headed over the next decade. John is a speaker, writer, commentator and frequently keynoting industry conferences and has been featured in the WSJ, NYT, Pension and Investments, Financial Advisor, CNBC and more. John earned a BS in Business Administration from Mary Washington College and is a CFA charter holder, which is how we have known John for so long.
Show Notes:
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| Tom Lee, Fundstrat – 2025 Market Outlook | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:48:54 | |
To kick off year six of the Investors First Podcast, today's guest is Tom Lee. Tom is the Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, with over 25 years of experience in equity research. Formerly J.P. Morgan's Chief Equity Strategist, he is a top-ranked strategist and you will frequently find him on CNBC. Lee holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and is a CFA charter holder.
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| Rob Arnott, Research Affiliates – Getting Dumped, AI, & Expected Returns | 05 Dec 2024 | 01:03:02 | |
Today's guest is Rob Arnott, Founder and Chairman of Research Affiliates, where he actively contributes to research, portfolio management, product innovation, business strategy, and client relations. He co-manages several funds, including the PIMCO All Asset and RAE™ funds. Throughout his career, Rob has challenged conventional financial wisdom and pioneered strategies such as tactical asset allocation, global tactical asset allocation, tax-advantaged equity management, and the Fundamental Index™ approach. | |||
| Marlena Lee, PhD – Fama, Factors & Women in Finance | 14 Nov 2024 | 01:01:24 | |
Today's guest is Marlena Lee. Marlena is Dimensional Fund Advisor's (DFA) Global Head of Investment Solutions, leading a team focused on investment thought leadership and client education. She is also a member of DFA's Investment Research Committee. Founded in 1981, DFA is a global asset management firm with ~$800B in assets under management, known for successfully applying academic research to practical investing. Prior to her time at DFA, Marlena served as Co-Head of Research, directing the firm's global research agenda. Marlena was a teaching assistant for Nobel laureate Eugene Fama at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She holds a PhD and MBA from Chicago Booth, an MS in agricultural and resource economics, and a BS in managerial economics from UC Davis. (ChatGPT generated Bio) In this episode, we start by covering Marlena's academic journey as a TA with Nobel Laureate Professor Gene Fama at the University of Chicago. We pivot to the investment side with a discussion about the Magnificent 7 and what is driving US market performance, an update on factor investing, a brief history of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), small c(r)ap investing, the use of Russell 2000 as a benchmark and the dwindling number of public names in US markets. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Christina Shaffer, CFA (Director of Fixed Income, AllGen Financial) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com Show Notes: https://www.dimensional.com https://www.dimensional.com/hk-en/bios/marlena-lee | |||
| Marko Papic – GeoMacro Lens on U.S. Election, China Policy, & Markets | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:53:51 | |
Today's guest is Marko Papic, Marko leads BCA Research's BCA Access and developed GeoMacro Research, the first discretionary macro-geopolitical investment strategy in finance. He connects clients with a broad expert network and custom research, having founded BCA's Geopolitical Strategy service. His book, Geopolitical Alpha, presents a framework for predicting investment outcomes. Previously, Marko was a Partner and Chief Strategist at Clocktower Group, advising institutional investors. His work is included in the CAIA curriculum and The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Geopolitics. Starting as a Senior Analyst at Stratfor, he has lectured at Stanford and Georgetown. Marko holds advanced degrees from the University of Texas and UBC.
This is the second time we have had the privilege of hosting Marko, almost 4 years ago on the button. Marko is no doubt one of our favorite guests in the history of this podcast.
In this episode, we cover the U.S. election, who will win and what America's foreign policy will look like for Trump or Harris. We discuss the powerful American consumer driven economy, how to position your portfolio, the untapped equity in American's homes, and getting us current on the last 4 years since the last time Marko joined us.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust)
Links: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/report/gmac/what-geomacro/100026
Please enjoy the episode.
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| Jeremy Schwartz, CFA – Currency Hedging, Legacy of Professor Siegel & Innovation in ETF's | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:49:35 | |
Today's guest is Jeremy Schwartz, CFA, Global Chief Investment Officer at WisdomTree. Before Jeremy started at WisdomTree in 2005, he was a head research assistant for Professor Jeremy Siegel and became his co-author on the sixth edition of the book Stocks for the Long Run. He received his B.S. in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and hosts the Wharton Business Radio program Behind the Markets on SiriusXM 132. Jeremy is a CFA charter holder and is a member of CFA Society Philadelphia. | |||
| Michael Mauboussin – Market Concentration, Buybacks & Luck vs. Skill | 11 Jul 2024 | 01:05:46 | |
In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Michael Mauboussin, Michael is a highly respected figure in finance, celebrated for his deep insights into decision-making, behavioral economics, and investing. Michael is currently the Head of Consilient Research at Counterpoint Global (part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management). He also serves as an adjunct professor of finance teaching Security Analysis at Columbia Business School (since 1993), teaching essentially the same class that Ben Graham started teaching in 1920. Michael is chairman emeritus of the board of trustees of the Santa Fe Institute, a leading center for multi-disciplinary research in complex systems theory. Mauboussin is best known for his influential books like "The Success Equation" and "Think Twice," which explore critical concepts such as the interplay of skill and luck in business and the power of counterintuitive thinking, which we will touch on in this episode.
In today's episode, we cover a wide range of topics, including the ongoing public vs. private equity discussion, luck vs. skill as skill increases, stock market concentration, buybacks, valuation and advice for aspiring investment professionals.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust)
Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com | |||
| Ali Hamed – Contrarian Early-Stage Investing | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:56:12 | |
Today we host Ali Hamed, a Co-Founder and Partner at CoVenture and a prominent figure in venture capital and alternative investments. With a background in finance and technology, Ali brings strategic insights to early-stage investing. Hamed's track record of success and commitment to fostering entrepreneurship make him a key player in shaping the startup ecosystem. (concise bio courtesy of ChatGPT).
In today's episode, we start with Ali's origin story, starting with his time as a baseball player and agriculture major at Cornell, and what led to him eventually saying the internet was his major in college (which you will see on his LinkedIn profile). I have witnessed Ali's differentiated view on investing in person and have enjoyed listening to his firm's approach, which in some cases, they are 1 of 1 in their space. We discuss whether it is better to have capital or a good investment idea first, the democratization of private market investing, funding YouTube creators, and more.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust)
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| Dr. Meir Statman – A Diversified Measure of Wealth | 02 May 2024 | 00:54:19 | |
Today we host Dr. Meir Statman, somebody who was extremely productive during the pandemic, which included completing his new book A Wealth of Well Being. For those familiar with his behavioral finance research, Meir needs no introduction. For the rest of you listening, Meir has devoted his entire career to behavioral finance and making better investment decisions. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to host Meir for an event before the pandemic, but this is the first time he has been on our podcast.
Meir received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and his B.A. and M.B.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It is worth noting that his research has been published in countless reputable academic journals and has been supported by the CFA Institute Reserarch Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).
In today's episode, we cover the different measures of wealth in a person's life and the case for diversification across the various measures of wealth one can have (financial, social, cultural, among others). We also discuss human capital as a measure of wealth, optimal vs. sensible portfolio management, overspending vs. underspending, self-actualization, and more.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & guest host Frank Garcia, CFA (Founder, Frankly Finances).
Please enjoy the episode. Follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Social Media:
LinkedIn Post (and Facebook): New episode w/ Dr. Meir Statman, Professor of Finance at Santa Clara University, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Frank Garcia, CFA
*Various measures of wealth a person can have *The healing power of multiple forms of wealth *Human capital as a measure of wealth *Optimal vs. sensible portfolio management *Overspending vs. underspending *Self-Actualization
Enjoy! Insert link here
Twitter Post: New episode w/ Dr. Meir Statman, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Frank Garcia, CFA. We discuss personal wealth beyond the numbers (well-being) with the authority on the topic.
Show Notes: Santa Clara University: https://www.scu.edu/business/finance/faculty/statman/ New book: A Wealth of Well-Being Office Hours with Professor Meir Statman: A Crash Course in Behavioral Finance | |||
| Sion Evans, VenCap – Exponential Outliers: The Power Law's Role in VC | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:55:22 | |
Our guest today is Sion Evans, CFA, Senior Investment Manager at VenCap, one of the longest-established investment management and advisory firms active in the VC industry today. They've made over 500 commitments to venture capital funds in the US, Europe, China and India.
In today's episode, Sion gives a masterclass on what the data says about venture capital. We spend a lot of time on the importance of capturing the fund returners, why power laws drive venture returns, and what the global VC & startup landscape looks like today.
Our co-hosts today are Frank Garcia, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| Vikram Mansharamani on Developments to Watch Over the Next Five Years | 01 Feb 2024 | 01:12:28 | |
Our returning guest today is Vikram Mansharamani, a global trend-watcher who shows people how to anticipate the future, manage risk and spot opportunities.
In today's episode, Vikram updates us on what's been a busy three years since he first came on the podcast. We discuss his senatorial campaign in New Hampshire, his unfortunate split at Harvard, and then get into his new book, The Making of a Generalist. He gives a brief overview of the book and then apply his generalist lens to talk about his annual blog post that shares global developments he's keeping an eye on over the next five years. We touch on immigration, the space economy, AI, tensions between US & China, and more.
Be sure to check out the show notes for all the related links we discuss in the episode.
Our co-hosts today are Chris Cannon, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
Resources 24 Global Developments to Watch Over the Next Five Years Purchase his book, The Making of a Generalist: An Independent Thinker Finds Unconventional Success in an Uncertain World Read the intro to his book
Vikram's Recommendations Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything Hardcover Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| Howard Marks - Investing During a Regime Change from CFA Charter #3,700 | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:49:18 | |
Today we host Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management. For most of us in the investment community, Howard needs no introduction. He is somebody we have looked forward to hosting for quite some time and I couldn't think of anybody better to kick off year five of the Investors First Podcast. We could go on and on about his track record, whether it be his time at the University of Pennsylvania or the University of Chicago, his firm's investment performance, or his various professional achievements, but we must note that Howard is a fellow CFA charter holder (circa 1975).
In today's episode, we cover the various phases of Howard's career. We then discuss the beginning of his time in high-yield debt and how the shift to a risk-return framework for fiduciaries forever changed the investing profession. We also discussed his famous memos and his important thoughts on the Sea Change we are currently experiencing in markets and much more. We are truly grateful for the time Howard offered and he was everything we expected and then some.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & guest host Chris Cannon, CFA (Chief Investment Officer, FirsTrust).
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| Daffy's Adam Nash on Disrupting DAF's (Donor Advised Funds) | 07 Dec 2023 | 01:03:44 | |
Our guest today is Adam Nash, the co-founder & CEO of Daffy.org, a modern platform and community for charitable giving that allows you to sign up for your donor-advised fund. Adam has served as an executive, angel investor, and advisor to some of the most successful technology companies to come out of Silicon Valley, including Dropbox, LinkedIn, eBay, and Apple. Adam also served as President & CEO of Wealthfront.
In today's episode, Adam explains why his time at Wealthfront gave him the idea to launch Daffy (which stands for donor-advised fund for you). We walk through the ins and outs of a donor-advised fund, how Daffy manages to offer it at a cost that makes Vanguard 13x more expensive, and why this can be a great tool for year-end tax planning.
Listeners get an extra $25 for charity when they join Daffy. Get started for free here.
Our co-hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| Aswath Damodaran: Unmasking ESG | 02 Nov 2023 | 01:20:11 | |
Today we host Professor Aswath Damodaran, where we speak about how Aswath gained his love for teaching and how it led to him becoming an expert in valuation. The episode quickly veered into a sharp critique of the shortcomings of ESG investing. We also discuss market efficiency as it relates to active vs. passive investing, his story approach to individual companies, the future of education, career advice for finance professionals and more.
Our hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA & guest host Chris Cannon, CFA (Chief Investment Officer, FirsTrust).
Please enjoy the episode. Follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Social Media:
LinkedIn Post (and Facebook): New episode w/ Aswath Damodaran, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Chris Cannon, CFA.
*Aswath's love for teaching and how it led to him becoming an expert in valuation *A sharp critique of ESG investing *Market efficiency *His story approach to individual companies *Future of education and career advice for finance professionals
Enjoy! Insert link here
Twitter Post: New episode w/ Aswath Damodaran, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Chris Cannon, CFA. We discuss his love for teaching, his story approach for individual companies, a sharp critique of ESG investing and more.
Show Notes:
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| Phil Hayes, Berman Hopkins: Everything Everywhere All At Once w/ The ESOP Guy | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:53:34 | |
Today we host Phil Hayes, The ESOP Guy, where we speak about how Phil went from banker to Managing Partner of a large regional accounting firm (as a non-CPA) to now becoming an expert in ESOP's.
In today's episode, we speak about exit strategies in general, where ESOP's fit, the mechanics of ESOP transactions and the tax advantages of this structure. We then bounce around and discuss everything all at once ranging from 1042 exchanges with qualified replacement property, to whether this is a good deal for BOTH the owners and the employees and much more.
Our hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA & guest host Chris Cannon, CFA (Chief Investment Officer, FirsTrust).
Please enjoy the episode. Follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Social Media:
LinkedIn Post (and Facebook): New episode w/ Phil Hayes, Partner at Berman Hopkins, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Chris Cannon, CFA.
*Journey from banker to Managing Partner of Regional accounting firm to ESOP expert *The ESOP Guy podcast *Exit strategies and where ESOP's fit for business owners *Tax advantages *1042 qualified replacement property *Is this a good deal for BOTH seller and employees?
Enjoy! Insert link here
Twitter Post: New episode w/ Phil Hayes, Partner at Berman Hopkins, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Chris Cannon, CFA. We discuss the ESOP Guy podcast, goodness of fit for business owners, tax advantages, 1042 qualified replacement property, and whether this a good deal for all parties involved.
Show Notes: https://www.journeytoanesop.com https://www.bermanhopkins.com/ https://www.esopassociation.org/resources https://www.nceo.org/find-your-resource https://www.esop.org | |||
| Peter Atwater – Diversifying by Sentiment | 14 Sep 2023 | 01:09:12 | |
Our guest today is Peter Atwater, President of Financial Insyghts and an adjunct professor at William & Mary and the University of Delaware. He studies the impact of changing confidence on consumer decision-making, using his research to advise investors, business leaders, and policymakers. In 2023, he released the book, The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity.
In today's episode, Peter walks through some of the key topics in the world today, including the dominance of U.S. stocks, the rise of grifters in the past few years, why he coined the term K-Shape Recovery in 2020. Everything Peter discusses is through the lens of the decision-making framework laid out in his recent book, which is the best writing about the way feelings of confidence and vulnerability relate to the markets at any given time.
Our co-hosts today are Chris Cannon, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
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| KC Joyner - Fantasy Football Draft Prep Using Peter Zeihan's Geopolitical Framework | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:58:50 | |
Our guest today is Orlando's own fantasy football expert, KC Joyner. KC used to work for ESPN and now runs his own website called The Football Scientist. We've had lots of amazing podcast guests since we started in March 2020, but since last year's episode with KC was the second most downloaded episode of any episode we've had, we had to invite him back on.
In today's episode, KC explains how another past podcast guest Peter Zeihan's geopolitical framework applies to fantasy football. We cover a range of topics to get you prepped for your draft, and KC was kind enough to give our listeners a discount to his draft guide, so visit www.thefootballscientist.com and use the code CFA for a discount on his draft guide and season-long packages.
Our co-hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| NewEdge Wealth's Cameron Dawson on the State of the Markets | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:44:12 | |
Our guest today is Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer of NewEdge Wealth. Cameron is a Florida native, Rollins college graduate and former board member of the CFA Society of Orlando. In today's episode, Cameron talks about her overall view of the markets. She touches on value, emerging markets, alternatives, and why she's keeping a close eye on the Bank of Japan going forward. Our co-hosts today are Chris Cannon, CFA, and myself, Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode. Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| David Lau, DPL & Dr. Wade Pfau, RISA: Insurance, Annuities & The Outsourced Chief Insurance Officer | 13 Jul 2023 | 01:01:23 | |
Our guests today are David Lau and Wade Pfau. These two individuals have been collaborating for quite some time to solve retirement income puzzles for investors. David has been doing it with DPL, bridging the gap between low cost insurance and Fee Only wealth management firms. On the other hand, Wade has been approaching retirement solutions from the academic lens with rigorous research.
In today's episode, we discuss the potential blind spot in Fee-Only wealth management firms as it relates to insurance and annuities, whether insurance and investments should be comingled and the concept of the outsourced Chief Insurance Officer. We break down the cost of certain products and discuss the puzzles that David and Wade are trying to solve for retirees seeking stable income sources. We also discuss if Ken Fisher is a fiduciary, what products should exist that don't currently exist, recreating your grandparents pension with lower cost products and whether long term care insurance products are cost efficient for retirees.
Wade will receive the award as the most resilient guest of the Investors First Podcast, as he was kind enough to join us while on a trip in Japan and even experienced two earthquakes while recording the episode.
Our host today is Steve Curley, CFA. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL
Social Media:
LinkedIn Post (and Facebook): New episode w/ David Lau, DPL & Dr. Wade Pfau, RISA, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA.
*Breaking down a commission free insurance product *The challenges of market volatility and homemade dividends in retirement *Credit risk associated w/ the implicit guarantee in insurance products *Is Ken Fisher a fiduciary?
Enjoy!
Twitter Post: New episode w/ David Lau & Dr. Wade Pfau, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA. We break down commission free insurance products for Fee-Only Advisors, the challenges of homemade dividends for retirees with total return approaches, whether Ken Fisher is a fiduciary and the concept of the Outsourced Chief Insurance Officer.
https://retirementresearcher.com/ https://www.theamericancollege.edu/our-people/faculty/wade-pfau | |||
| Wes Gray, Alpha Architect: Build Your Own ETF, Advanced Tax Strategies & a New T-Bill Alternative | 01 Jun 2023 | 00:59:54 | |
In today's episode, we host Wes Gray, CEO of Alpha Architect. Founded in 2010, Alpha Architect is a research focused quant firm that put themselves on the map offering value and momentum factor exposures, but it doesn't stop there. Wes and his group have evolved to offer advanced tax strategies in the form of ETF's, separately managed accounts (SMA's), and ETF white-labeled services. Wes has an incredible bio that starts with humble beginnings growing up on a ranch. He later becomes a Captain in the US Marine Corps followed by earning his MBA & PhD studying under Nobel Prize Winner Eugene Fama at the University of Chicago.
This episode is centered around investments and tax minimization, starting with why Wes moved to Puerto Rico a few years ago. We discuss his bio and his mission for Alpha Architect & ETF Architect. We focus the rest of the episode on tax efficiency for asset owners, starting with white labeling ETF's, creative conversions to ETF's, whether direct indexing is currently oversold, post ESOP investment strategies, box spreads as an alternative to T-Bills and more.
Hosting today's episode is myself Steve Curley, CFA & guest host Frank Garcia, CFA.
Please enjoy the episode. Follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Social Media:
LinkedIn Post (and Facebook): New episode w/ Wes Gray, CEO of Alpha Architect, hosted by Steve Curley, CFA & Frank Garcia, CFA.
*PR Act 60 (Preferred Tax Status for Puerto Rico Residents) *Bio/Mission if Alpha Architect & ETF Architect *White labeling ETF's & creative ETF conversions *Direct indexing, oversold? *Box spreads as an alternative to T-Bills *Post ESOP investment strategies
Enjoy! Insert link here
Twitter Post: New episode w/ Wes Gray, CEO of Alpha Architect & ETF Architect. We discuss everything tax, from PR Act 60, to his firm's mission & focus on tax efficient investments, white labeling ETF's, creative ETF conversions, direct indexing being oversold, box spreads instead of T-Bills & more.
Show Notes: Alpha Architect: https://alphaarchitect.com/about ETF Architect: https://etfarchitect.com/ Box spreads: https://alphaarchitect.com/2023/05/box-spreads-an-alternative-to-treasury-bills/ March for the Fallen: https://alphaarchitect.com/mftf/ Democratize Quant: https://alphaarchitect.com/democratizequant/ How to Start an ETF: https://alphaarchitect.com/2021/11/how-to-start-an-etf-resources-and-faq/ | |||
| Jan van Eck, VanEck: Back to School, A Lesson in Financial History | 04 May 2023 | 00:47:02 | |
Today we host Jan van Eck for the second time on the Investors First Podcast. Jan is the CEO of VanEck, a global asset manager with over $57 billion in assets under management, including ETF's, mutual funds, SMA's, UCITS and more. Since our first recording with Jan in April 2020, Jan took the initiative to create a financial history course at VanEck during the pandemic. Jan is a brilliant investment professional with a passion for financial history. Beyond VanEck's work as a pioneer in the asset management business, we wanted to highlight the great work he is doing (beyond managing money) in this episode.
In today's episode, we speak about Jan's financial history curriculum, railroads as the first internet of the United States, the philosophical debate continuing between Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians, the concentration of power with ETF's (and politicization of ESG), predicting the future and much more.
Our host today are Steve Curley, CFA & today's guest host is Chris Cannon, CFA (Chief Investment Officer, FirsTrust).
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| Rick Bookstaber & Govinda Quish, Fabric Risk - Current State of Banking & Risks of Contagion | 06 Apr 2023 | 00:52:19 | |
Our guest today are Rick Bookstaber and Govinda Quish, co-founders at Fabric Risk, which provides factor-based risk management applications for investment advisors, consultants and family offices. This is the second time we have hosted Rick on our podcast, with this time focused on the current state of banking and the risks of contagion, as well as other risks in public and private markets. We encourage you to listen to our prior episode with Rick to learn more about his background or visit fabricrisk.com to learn more about their professional backgrounds. Hosting today's episode is Steve Curley, CFA, co-founder of The Investors First Podcast & former President of CFA Orlando. Please enjoy the episode. Follow CFA Society of Orlando on LinkedIn & Twitter @CFAOrlandoFL. You can find every past episode of the The Investors First Podcast at investorsfirstpodcast.com. | |||
| Dan Rasmussen & Bob Elliott - Replicating Private Equity/Hedge Funds in Public Markets | 02 Feb 2023 | 01:11:37 | |
Our guests today are Dan Rasmussen and Bob Elliott. This is the first time both Dan and Bob have shared a podcast stage and they did not disappoint. In today's episode, we discuss Dan and Bob's time at Bain Capital and Bridgewater and how that experience led to founding their respective firms. We then discuss the idea of return smoothing in venture capital, whether active management has an edge in this market environment, is alpha just beta waiting to be discovered, the flaws of private market indices, and much more. Our host today is Steve Curley, CFA. Please enjoy the episode. BIO's: Dan is the Founder of Verdad, which is an independent research driven global asset management firm seeking to replicate private equity exposure in public markets. Prior to Verdad, Dan spent time at Bain Capital Private Equity and Bridgewater Associates. In 2017, Dan was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Dan earned an AB from Harvard College and a MBA from Stanford. Bob is Co-Founder, CEO and CIO of Unlimited Funds, which uses machine learning to create low cost ETF's to replicate the returns of classic hedge fund strategies. Prior to Unlimited, Bob was at Bridgewater Associates, where he served on Bridgewater's investment committee, led Ray Dalio's personal research team and authored hundreds of Bridgewater's widely read Daily Observations. Bob holds a BA in History and Science from Harvard. Follow CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| Jeffrey Sherman, DoubleLine – 'Sherman Says' His Take on The Fed, Rates, & State of the Markets | 05 Jan 2023 | 00:47:27 | |
Our guest today is Jeffrey Sherman, Deputy CIO of DoubleLine, which manages over $100 billion. Jeffrey oversees and administers DoubleLine's Investment Management sub-committee coordinating and implementing policies and processes across the investment teams. He also serves as lead portfolio manager for multi-sector and derivative-based strategies. In today's episode, Jeffrey shares how he views the investment landscape as we kick off a new year. He touches on inflation, interest rates, and whether or not he expects a Fed pivot. He also shares where he sees opportunity in the market today, specifically in the credit markets. Our co-hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA, and Colby Donovan, CFA. Please enjoy the episode. Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| Mark Brewer, Central Florida Foundation: Strategic Philanthropy: Head, Heart & Wallet | 29 Nov 2022 | 00:45:09 | |
Our guest today is Mark Brewer, President and CEO of the Central Florida Foundation. Mark frequently advises private and corporate foundation grantmakers across the region and plays a public policy advisory role on strategy and advisory boards around the state of Florida.
Our conversation on this Giving Tuesday focuses on the role philanthropy in society, best practices on how to be strategic about causes you choose to support, and the major areas of need in Central Florida today.
Our co-hosts today are Steve Curley, CFA, and Colby Donovan. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL | |||
| David Berns & Mike Taylor, Simplify: Finance for a Cure | 03 Nov 2022 | 00:57:57 | |
Our guests today are David Berns & Mike Taylor. | |||
| Dr. Sean Snaith, UCF: Florida Economic Update & Predicting Recessions | 06 Oct 2022 | 00:48:05 | |
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| Zach Conway, Seeds Investor: ESG, Values Based Investing & Bespoke Portfolios | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:31:10 | |
Our guest today is Zach Conway, Founder and CEO of Seeds Investor. Seeds Investor is a new wealth technology platform designed to empower advisors to better understand investors and deliver the personalized portfolios that align. | |||
| Zach Conway, Seeds Investor: ESG, Values Based Investing & Bespoke Portfolios | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:31:10 | |
Our guest today is Zach Conway, Founder and CEO of Seeds Investor. Seeds Investor is a new wealth technology platform designed to empower advisors to better understand investors and deliver the personalized portfolios that align. | |||
| Andrew Beer, Dynamic Beta Investments: Replicating Hedge funds in an ETF Wrapper | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:45:11 | |
Our guest today is Andrew Beer, Managing Member and Co-Portfolio manager for Dynamic Beta Investments, an investment firm founded in 2012. Over the past decade, Andrew's singular focus has been to identify strategies to match or outperform portfolios of leading hedge funds with low fees, daily liquidity, and less downside risk. Andrew has been in and around the financial services and hedge fund industry in particular for more than 25 years. In today's episode, we will discuss Andrew's journey to starting dynamic beta, democratizing access to hedge fund strategies at a reasonable costs, the benefits of replication and managed futures for portfolios, and building investment solutions to solve for client needs. My name is Frank Garcia and I currently serve as the president of CFA Society Orlando and will be your host today. Please enjoy the episode.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @Andrewdbeer1 | |||
| KC Joyner, The Football Scientist: A Buffett/Munger Approach to Fantasy Football | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:49:13 | |
Our guest today is KC Joyner, a fantasy football guru and pioneer of the football analytics revolution, featured on ESPN and The Athletic. He is Founder of the Football Scientist, a data analytics subscription service designed to help you win your fantasy football league. | |||
| Ranji Nagaswami, SVP Global: A Primer on Private Credit | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:56:20 | |
Our guest today is Ranji Nagaswami, Managing Director, Chief Strategy/Commercial Officer at SVP Global. Headquartered in Greenwich, CT. SVP is a global investment firm focused on distressed debt and private equity opportunities. Founded in 2001, SVP has over $18 billion in assets under management, 4 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia and has ~140 employees and over 60 investment professionals. | |||
| Samir Vasavada, Vise: Automating Wealth Management | 02 Jun 2022 | 00:42:57 | |
Our guest today is Samir Vasavada, co-founder & CEO of Vise. Samir came up with the idea for Vise when him and Runik Mehrotra (fellow co-founder) were teenagers. Samir is responsible for Operations, Business Development and managing a team of Engineers and Ph.D. AI and Quantitative Finance Researchers at Vise. Vise is a venture-backed FinTech startup using Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize Portfolio Construction and Management for Financial Advisors. Vise has raised enough capital to be considered a unicorn (valuation greater than $1B) and is backed by Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, & the Wharton School of Business (among other investors). Samir is one of the youngest FinTech founders I have ever met and was named in the 2021 Forbes list for top 30 under 30. | |||