The Investors First Podcast

Jaksot

• The PE Guy, Unfiltered (Mostly) 04.06.2026 52min

  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: Due To My Role Podcast – Apple/Spotify Follow PE Guy: Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook
• Mike Pyle, BlackRock – White House to Wall Street, An Allocator's Perspective 14.05.2026 1t 3min

  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. Mike brings a unique perspective to markets, having served in the Obama White House before joining BlackRock as their Global Chief Investment Strategist, followed by another stint at the White House with the Biden-Harris Administration and back to BlackRock in 2024. While in government, he worked closely on economic policy at the highest levels and completed much of the CFA Program during his first turn at the White House. In this conversation, we revisit Mike's journey, explore how BlackRock is thinking about today's evolving macro regime, and discuss the BlackRock Investment Institute before pivoting to portfolio construction in a world where stock-bond diversification is less reliable. We also dive into the growing role of hedge funds and alternatives as investors navigate higher volatility, geopolitical fragmentation, and structurally higher rates. 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: BlackRock – BlackRock.com BlackRock Investment Institute - https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/insights/blackrock-investment-institute
• Danny Jenkins, ThreatLocker – Zero Trust Cybersecurity 02.04.2026 38min

  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. After witnessing firsthand how devastating cyberattacks can be, he became a leading advocate for the Zero Trust model—blocking everything by default and only allowing what's trusted. Today, ThreatLocker protects tens of thousands of organizations globally, and Danny is a frequent speaker, Forbes Technology Council member, and one of Orlando's most influential leaders. We are proud to feature a local thought leader today. Danny is right here in our backyard in Central Florida and is at the helm of one of the fastest growing cybersecurity firms in the world. 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: threatlocker.com
• Brent Sullivan, Tax Alpha Insider – Tribology of Tax Alpha 05.03.2026 1t 9min

  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. Brent has an interesting career background, both corporate and entrepreneurial. As mentioned before, he is the Founder of The Tax Alpha Insider, as well as the Basis Northwest Conference. He was also a Software Engineer at Parametric, who is the godfather of direct indexing. Before that, he worked in Investment Banking and Asset Management. Brent holds a Masters of Engineering from Cornell University (Financial Engineering/Statistics), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Riverside. In this episode, we discuss all things Tax Alpha, as this is our first interview with Brent. We talk about the reasons he decided to launch this, why Tax Alpha is important now, and how this is one of the best times in history to be a taxable investor with all of the tools available. We discuss everything from householding/asset location, to direct indexing, to tax-aware long-short, buffer ETF's, 351 exchanges, advisor launched ETF's, assets that shouldn't be used for taxable investors, collars/variable prepaid forward contracts, heartbeat trades/ETF share classes, box loans, tax alpha as a volatility buffer, trader funds, etc. We also discuss the impact of AI on advisors and taxable investing, as well as taking the other side, why not just pay the taxes and keep things simple. 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 Learn more: https://www.taxalphainsider.com/ https://www.basisconf.com/
• Joe Davis, Vanguard – An Economist Crossing the T 06.02.2026 58min

  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. In this episode, we are all over the place (which is normal), ranging from Vanguard's 50+ year history as a disruptor, to how many CFA charter holders are at Vanguard now (hint: a lot), their vast and under the radar research group, new CEO Salim Ramji, patents that Vanguard created in ETF space, the breakdown of active vs. passive funds in their lineup (which surprises many) and Joe's new book on AI. This was a great segue into the markets, with the impact of AI, Fed independence being potentially disrupted, a new multi-polar world, expected returns, potential market scenarios, and 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
• Rick Rieder, BlackRock – Rieder, Riting & Rithmetic 08.01.2026 49min

  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. In this episode, we start where his interest in finance began with analyzing sports outcomes and probabilities—sometimes betting lunch money to test his thinking. We cover everything in this episode, from Rick's start as a credit analyst at SunTrust, to a lengthy stay at Lehman Brothers, and then joining BlackRock post GFC. We discussed the team/resources he manages, his investment approach with a heavy emphasis on risk management, and the ability of his strategy to go anywhere to find yield. We discussed gambling vs. investing, the impact of new technologies, AI, and opportunity abroad in fixed income markets, along with 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 Learn more: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/insights/blackrock-investment-institute/publications/outlook
• Kevin Shea, CFA, BNY Mellon – AI: Investment Implications & Lessons from Late 90's 04.12.2025 1t 1min

  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. In this episode, Kevin joins Steve Curley and co-host Dan Fasciano to break down the state of AI, technology leadership, and the increasing concentration within U.S. equity markets. He explains why today's mega-cap technology firms continue to dominate—highlighting advantages in data scale, free-cash-flow margins, and unparalleled AI investment. The discussion explores whether we are in an "AI bubble," how current valuations compare to the late-1990s dot-com era, and the unprecedented capital-expenditure supercycle underway as companies race to build data-center infrastructure. Kevin also offers a global lens—comparing U.S. and Chinese capabilities, semiconductor constraints, and the geopolitical factors shaping the AI race. The conversation then pivots to how AI is transforming the investment-research process itself. Kevin walks through the tools BNY Mellon and industry analysts increasingly rely on—from ChatGPT and internal models like "Eliza" to AlphaSense, Sentieo, and Claude—and how these systems enable teams to process far more information than ever before. He also discusses how AI-driven productivity may help address demographic and inflation challenges over the long run. The episode closes with a memorable perspective on work ethic, drawing parallels between success in investing and Kobe Bryant's "Mamba mentality," emphasizing that excellence is built on consistent, behind-the-scenes effort. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Dan Fasciano, CFA (Principal at GW&K Investment Management) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com
• Perth Tolle, Life & Liberty Indexes: Perth Tolle's EM Freedom Factor 06.11.2025 50min

  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. We discuss how she constructs and maintains the FRDM Index, the impact of excluding authoritarian regimes like China and Russia, the wide dispersion across EM index methodologies, and why her strategy has delivered top-tier long-term performance. Perth also walks us through fee decisions, her unique "team of one" operating model, her chance encounter with Rob Arnott and his future support of the Freedom 100 EM ETF, and what it's like partnering with Alpha Architect. This conversation offers a fresh perspective for advisors and investors seeking a freedom-focused approach to global markets. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 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 More info at: https://freedometfs.com
• Marty Bicknell, Mariner – A Private Wealth Shipwright in Kansas 02.10.2025 48min

  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. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 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
• Matt Orosz, Trinity Family Builders – Current State of Housing & Homebuilders 07.08.2025 56min

  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. In today's episode, we discussed: · Matt's curiosity, passion for homebuilding, & background in the industrial side of CRE · Public vs. private homebuilders · First-time buyers, market shifts, price points, affordability & rate buydowns (a gimmick?) · Market forecast, build-to-rent trend & regulatory headwinds · How the brothers run their family office (their investment allocation) · Orosz family history, giving back & the success of Cristo Rey Orlando High School · Advice for young professionals [CEP + 3]   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). Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com
• Coaching, Creating Your Own Window & Capital Allocation: Chris Hyzy's Playbook 10.07.2025 1t 5min

  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 05.06.2025 49min

  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. Founded in 1980, Ned Davis Research is an independent investment research firm, offering a variety of research products and services to institutional clients globally. They emphasize a data-driven approach, using models, charts, indicators and a "weight-of-the-evidence" methodology to help clients make informed decisions (Gemini created summary). In this episode, we discuss Alejandra's career as she has been on the economics track at an early age and is practically a lifer at Ned Davis Research, which is rare these days. We discuss all things tariff related, along with her take on current economic data, the risk of stagflation and how investors should best position their portfolios. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 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: www.ndr.com See the Signals Podcast Signal Exchange Podcast NDR Signals Blog
• Mike Thrasher, Modus - Family Office 101 10.04.2025 1t 1min

  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 06.03.2025 1t 3min

  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. In today's episode, we cover a wide range of topics, starting with Herb's successful career as a journalist, how he developed a niche in covering red flags on individual companies, how to use his intel to help mitigate risk, and what are his top red flags today, along with much more. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder/Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-hostChris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com Show Notes: · Substack: https://substack.com/@herbgreenberg · Site: herbgreenberg.com
• John Bowman, CAIA Association – Alternative Investing in 2035 06.02.2025 55min

  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. In this episode, we discuss past CEO Bill Kelly, miles traveled over the past year, the future of CAIA, liquidity budgets for investors and how to size an allocation to alternatives, the private/public convergence, tokenization of private assets, and more. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder & Co-Managing Principal of 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host  Kevin Laake, CFA, CAIA (Team Lead at Mariner Institutional). Both of us are past Presidents of CFA Society Orlando. It is worth noting that Kevin serves as a Chapter Executive for CAIA Florida, which is why I thought he would be great as a co-host for this episode. Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com   Show Notes: · From Vision to Action: CAIA's CEO on Shaping Tomorrow's Industry (https://caia.org/blog/2025/01/14/vision-action-caias-ceo-shaping-tomorrows-industry) · Capital Decanted Podcast (https://caia.org/capital-decanted-podcast) · Caia.org · CFA stackable program (https://caia.org/stackable)
• Tom Lee, Fundstrat – 2025 Market Outlook 02.01.2025 48min

  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. In this episode, we discuss where the S&P 500 will end up in 2025 and areas of the market Tom likes in 2025. Tom discusses bitcoin and how it should be valued relative to gold. We talk about AI and its impact on the market, but more importantly, the importance of ethics as it relates to AI. We also discuss DOGE (which hasn't been discussed since Truman in the 40's), why more basketball players should shoot free throws underhand, and how he developed the granny shots strategy. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Drew Papke, CFA (Director, Private Bank Investments at Fifth Third Bank). Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com Show Notes: · FundSrat: https://fundstrat.com · Complimentary Research: fsinsight.com · Granny Shots: https://fsinsight.com/members/stock-lists/?category=granny-shots-stock-list · Book rec: The Coming Wave (By: Mustafa Suleyman)
• Rob Arnott, Research Affiliates – Getting Dumped, AI, & Expected Returns 05.12.2024 1t 3min

  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. Before founding Research Affiliates in 2002, Rob was chair of First Quadrant, LP, global equity strategist at Salomon Brothers, and CEO of TSA Capital Management. He has published over 150 articles and won numerous awards, including eight Graham and Dodd Scrolls awarded annually by the CFA Institute. Rob also received the 2013 William F. Sharpe Indexing Lifetime Achievement Award. Rob holds a summa cum laude BS in economics, applied mathematics, and computer science from UC Santa Barbara. (Note: bio condensed by ChatGPT). In this episode, Rob gets us current since he last visited us in Orlando last February, with everything from market returns to the returns impact pre and post-election. We officially welcome Rob as a Florida resident, we discuss the beginning of Research Affiliates, along with indexes dumping stocks and the contrarian launch of his new ETF, NIXT, expected returns, AI and its impact on white-collar professionals, and more. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Javier Perez, CFA (Director, BlackPoint Capital), both of us are Past Presidents of CFA Orlando. Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com Show Notes: Link: Expected Returns Interactive Tool Research Affiliates: https://www.researchaffiliates.com/ NIXT ETF: https://nixtetf.com/etf/
• Marlena Lee, PhD – Fama, Factors & Women in Finance 14.11.2024 1t 1min

  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 17.10.2024 53min

  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 https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/report/gmac/what-geomacro/100026   Please enjoy the episode.  
• Jeremy Schwartz, CFA – Currency Hedging, Legacy of Professor Siegel & Innovation in ETF's 05.09.2024 49min

  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. In this episode, we start by covering Jeremy's charter holder story. We discuss how he first met Professor Jeremy Siegel while at U Penn and the amazing partnership they have had over the last couple of decades. We also dived into currency hedging in equity markets, the calculus behind launching a new ETF, his podcast and more. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Founder, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust) Please enjoy the episode.