The Blunt Dollar

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with David Stevenson, one of the UK’s most candid financial commentators. David writes the Adventurous Investor column for the Financial Times, runs a popular Substack, and is also the founder of ETF Stream. From his days as a BBC producer to sitting on multiple investment trust boards, David has a fascinating multi-decade career that straddles journalism, fintech, and asset management.We cover a ton of ground, including:📚 How David’s time at the BBC shaped his blunt, evidence-based approach to communicating finance💰 The problem with alpha, why many asset managers are “lazy,” and how the industry is becoming increasingly ossified📈 The rise of thematic ETFs and why European defence stocks have quietly outperformed everything in 2025🪙 Emotional assets, from wine to old coins and Chinese stamps, and why he’s cautious despite collecting them himself🤖 A sceptical take on AI in investing and why personal relationships still matter more than everIf you’re into ETFs, the future of asset management, and raw takes on financial media, this one’s for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manish Singh, Chief Investment Officer at Crossbridge Capital and a veteran global macroeconomist with nearly two decades of experience steering multi-asset portfolios. From his engineering roots in Mumbai to building an investment philosophy rooted in patience, trust, and historical perspective, Manish shares how he balances data-driven rigor with deep human insight.We explore:✅ The surprising ways an engineering background shapes investment thinking 🛠️✅ Why history, from the European revolutions of the 1800s to COVID panic, remains a critical guide for modern markets ✅ How Manish defines real risk (hint: it’s not volatility) and why position sizing is everything ✅ The psychological traps of herd behaviour, overconfidence, and chasing outcomes✅ Why falling in love with the process, not the outcome, is the ultimate edge in investingIf you’re into thoughtful discussions on long-term investing, behavioural finance, and how philosophy and history intersect with capital markets, this one’s for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with one of the most prolific voices in the financial planning space: Jason Pereira. A financial planner, fintech strategist, professor, podcaster, and tireless advocate for professional standards, Jason joins Ignacio to talk through the present and future of financial advice.With over 750 pieces of content under his belt and multiple roles shaping the Canadian and global advisor landscape, Jason doesn’t hold back in this wide-ranging conversation on technology, regulation, and what it really means to serve clients in a world reshaped by AI.In this episode, we talk about:💼 Jason’s multifaceted career: financial planner, tech consultant, policy advocate🧠 The evolution of advice from stock picking to life planning🤖 Why AI will elevate, not replace, human advisors📉 What breaks in advisory firms and how to rebuild better🔥 The real problems with financial industry incentives and educationIf you’re into advisor tech, financial planning evolution, and unfiltered industry truths, this one’s for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Vincent Kaufmann, CEO of the Ethos Foundation, a leading voice in sustainable finance and corporate governance in Switzerland. With over two decades at Ethos, Vincent shares an insider perspective on why active ownership matters, the real tools investors have to drive ESG change, and the fine line between meaningful impact and greenwashing. This is a masterclass on ESG from someone who's lived it from the inside.🎯 How shareholder engagement can push even giants like Nestlé and Holcim to adopt real sustainability targets📉 The hidden risks of passive investing and the concentration of voting power among the "Big Three"🌱 Why divestment alone isn't enough, and how fixed income markets can offer more pressure than equity🧠 Greenwashing decoded: Vincent's view on what real sustainable investing looks like (and how to spot a fake)🇨🇭 Swiss DNA in finance: How Switzerland’s consensus-driven model shapes Ethos’ dialogue-based approachIf you're into ESG, shareholder activism, or just want to understand how investors can shape corporate behaviour without sacrificing returns, this one's for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

Elsa Razborsek joins The Blunt Dollar for a deep, nuanced conversation on nonlinear careers, women in finance, and the behavioural biases that shape both our portfolios and personal lives. From Goldman Sachs analyst to health coach and back to finance, Elsa’s journey is anything but typical, and it’s exactly that winding path that fuels her insights today.In this episode, we talk about:🔄 Career pivots and the power of nonlinear paths👩‍💼 Navigating visibility, ambition, and bias as a woman in finance🧠 Coaching insights on stress, burnout, and sustainable high performance📉 Behavioural finance: how sunk cost fallacy and blind spot bias derail decisions🧠 Why journaling, self-awareness, and dopamine matter more than spreadsheetsIf you're into investing, mindset, and the messy truth behind high-achieving careers, this one's for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Julia Carreon, a digital transformation powerhouse with leadership experience at Wells Fargo and Citi, to dissect the crossroads of finance, technology, and generational change. Julia brings her signature candor and deep industry knowledge to a conversation that spans everything from AI and gamification to social media misinformation and the trust crisis in banking.We explore what it truly takes to modernize wealth management for Gen Z and millennials, and why the clock is ticking for traditional players.🎯 Why big banks are struggling to keep up with Gen Z's expectations, and what’s at stake🤖 How AI and gamification could reshape financial education and advisory experiences📱 The role of influencers, TikTok, and social media in driving (and distorting) financial literacy💥 Personal stories of fintech failure and how they shaped Julia's views on trust and regulation🧠 The power of behavioral science and hyper-personalization to redefine client engagementIf you’re into AI in finance, the future of banking, and what it’ll take to win over the next generation of investors, this one's for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

Sustainable investing has gone from niche to necessary. But where is it headed next? In this episode, Ignacio sits down with Marina Severinovsky, Head of Sustainability for North America at Schroders, to unpack the shifting ESG landscape. Marina draws from two decades of experience in finance and sustainability to explain how investors can navigate today’s volatile mix of climate risk, political backlash, and growing demand for impact.Topics we cover:🌍 Why sustainable investing isn’t just about values—it’s about identifying long-term risk and opportunity💼 How institutional investors are redefining ESG integration across asset classes💣 The rise (and fallout) of ESG backlash—and why Marina sees it as a “necessary reset”📊 The trouble with ESG ratings and how Schroders builds proprietary sustainability models👩‍💼 Women in sustainable finance, and Marina’s unfiltered advice for building a career in ESGIf you’re into impact investing, long-term market trends, and no-BS insights into how sustainability really works in finance, this one’s for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode we dive deep into the engine room of sustainability, with a guest who has one of the most unique seats in the house.I sit down with Brian Matt, Head of Sustainability Advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, to unpack what’s really going on behind all the ESG headlines. With two decades of experience in investor relations and sustainability, Brian offers a rare dual lens into both investor expectations and corporate realities when it comes to sustainability strategy, regulation, and storytelling.In this candid and insightful conversation, we cover:🌱 How ESG has evolved from checkbox compliance to value creation📊 What asset managers actually look for in ESG disclosures🧑‍⚖️ Why fiduciary duty and political pressure are reshaping stewardship teams🏛️ How new regulations like CSRD and California climate rules are impacting listed companies📈 And why smaller public companies aren’t necessarily doomed in today’s ESG landscapeIf you like sustainability strategy, investor behavior, and behind-the-scenes capital markets insight, this one's for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manuel Grenacher, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Unique, a company revolutionizing financial services with agentic AI. Manuel shares his journey from building startups in Switzerland to leading one of the most exciting AI-driven companies in finance today. We dive deep into how AI is reshaping the industry, where the biggest disruption opportunities lie, and why empathy remains irreplaceable by machines.Key topics we cover:🔹 What is agentic AI and how it goes beyond ChatGPT🔹 How Unique is helping financial institutions scale AI adoption🔹 The future of relationship managers in an AI-driven world🔹 Trust, hallucination scores, and responsible AI use in finance🔹 Why mid-sized banks could outperform the giants with AI🔹 The real-world use cases driving the fastest ROI today (KYC, investment insights, and due diligence)🔹 Manuel’s personal journey: from corporate comfort at SAP back to the startup grind🔹 How to stay relevant and thrive in a world where AI becomes a superpowerIf you like conversations about AI innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of finance, this one's for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Marlena Lee, Global Head of Investment Solutions at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Marlena leads a 70-person team that bridges deep academic research with practical client education, helping investors navigate the complexities of markets, factor investing, and long-term portfolio construction.With a PhD from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and experience working alongside Nobel laureate Eugene Fama, Marlena shares her unique insights into translating rigorous research into real-world investment strategies. We dive into her career journey, her biggest lessons from Fama, and how she’s helping advisors and investors make smarter decisions today.In this episode, we discuss:🔹 Lessons from working with Eugene Fama and simplifying complex ideas🔹 How Dimensional turns academic research into real-world investing strategies🔹 The critical role of storytelling and empathy in finance communication🔹 Redefining risk and the true meaning of diversification🔹 Why preparation beats prediction when dealing with market uncertaintyIf you're interested in market behavior, smart investing, or the art of financial storytelling, this episode is for you.Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.