AMA 167 - Waffle Street: The Confession & Rehabilitation of a Financier with James Adams

Jason Hartman talks with James Adams, former Waffle House employee and analyst. His new book, Waffle Street: The Confessions & Rehabilitation of a Financier, tells of his time working on Wall Street during the housing market crash. After exiting the modern version of organized crime that is Wall Street, James got a job at Waffle House. His time there led him to write his book (now movie starring Danny Glover).

James explains the central banking system, the ramifications of printing money, and which major nation the next crisis might wipe out.

Key Takeaways:

[1:25] James' original title for the book

[5:02] While some areas of the book are dramatized, the crisis was on a bigger scale than anyone could imagine.

[6:25] Haphazard underwriting and an improbable US housing decline made many US financial institutions to reassure clients until the crash happened

[9:23] The ripple effects of leverage because of how out of whack rent to home price ratios were

[12:05] James fears the treasury balance sheets of G8 countries could be the cause for another meltdown.

[14:23] Central banks are creating electronic liabilities.

[16:10] What needs to be done to the banks before we can even begin to solve our underlying problems

[21:59] Printing money works until it doesn't

[22:38] Japan has many factors that are working against their long term success

[23:58] Are options on Japanese debt a good idea?

[26:05] The Waffle Street film is trending well on Netflix and is experiencing good distribution.

[27:10] James has another movie and works as a Senior Research Analyst

Website:

http://www.wafflestreetmovie.com https://twitter.com/wafflestmovie