
First Trust ROI Podcast
On the ROI podcast, we discuss some of the most important questions facing investment professionals today, ranging from macroeconomic views, to perspectives on the equity and fixed income markets, to insights on practice management. We aim to cut through the noise, examine the data, and provide fresh insights to investment professionals as they help their clients find better ways to invest…seeking to generate attractive returns on their investments.
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2025 • 42min
Ep 49 | Brian Wesbury | Unconventional Wisdom on Tariffs, Taxes, and the Fed | ROI Podcast
Brian Wesbury discusses why the conventional wisdom about tariffs and inflation is wrong, how the Fed can save taxpayers $2 trillion over the next decade, and the positives and negatives of the Big, Beautiful Bill. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Jun 16, 2025 • 33min
Ep 48 | Richard Bernstein | Where to Invest When Certainty is Scarce | ROI Podcast
Richard Bernstein draws on over four decades of investment experience to offer insights on how to navigate risks and opportunities amid soaring economic uncertainty and market volatility. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Jun 2, 2025 • 37min
Ep 47 | Bob Carey | Cataracts and Cadillacs…Unpacking Equity Market Trends | ROI Podcast
Bob Carey, Chief Market Strategist at First Trust, shares his insights on how the aging baby boomer population influences equity markets. He critiques outdated investment strategies and champions a year-round approach instead of seasonal ones. Carey explores the complexities of tariffs and their impact on market stability, especially in technology sectors. He also discusses the transformative role of AI in healthcare, and how the Federal Reserve's policies affect inflation and smaller companies, offering a rich tapestry of economic insights and future trends.

May 19, 2025 • 39min
Ep 46 | Ron Pernick | Power and Infrastructure: Beyond the Political Narratives | ROI Podcast
Ron Pernick is the founder of Clean Edge, a firm specializing in thematic research surrounding clean energy, transportation, water, and the power grid. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of these themes and how a new administration may impact their continued growth. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

May 5, 2025 • 59min
Ep 45 | Brian Wesbury | Trading Quarter-Zips for Farmland | ROI Podcast
Brian Wesbury shares his views on why the Trump Administration is upending global trade, why tariffs may be an insufficient cure for problems created by big government, and where the US economy is headed for the rest of 2025.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Apr 21, 2025 • 46min
Ep 44 | Bob Stein | Tariffs, Taxes, and Trade: Decoding the New Administration | ROI Podcast
Bob Stein provides perspective on likely economic outcomes that may result from the evolving policy mix of the new Trump Administration. Plus…Bob shares an early peak at potential contenders for the 2028 US Presidential election.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Apr 7, 2025 • 35min
Ep 43 | Bill Housey | Separating the Signal from the Noise in the Bond Market | ROI Podcast
Bill Housey explores how fixed income investors can navigate rising uncertainty—from trade policies to inflation and beyond—in this deep dive into the bond market’s shifting dynamics.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Mar 24, 2025 • 33min
Ep 42 | Dave McGarel | Down but Not Out: New Opportunities Emerge as Equity Markets Broaden | ROI Podcast
Amid a sharp drawdown in US equities, Dave McGarel highlights the risks and opportunities that may lie on the horizon.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Mar 11, 2025 • 35min
Ep 41 | Gibson Smith | Actively Managing Through Uncertain Times | ROI Podcast
Gibson Smith, founder and CEO of Smith Capital, discusses some of the unique challenges—and opportunities—facing fixed income investors today.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

Feb 24, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ep 40 | Jim Murchie | Who Benefits from the Growing Power Demands of AI, Reshoring, and EVs? | ROI Podcast
Electricity demand is poised to soar after decades of slow growth, driven by AI, reshoring, and EVs. Jim Murchie, CEO and portfolio manager at Energy Income Partners, unpacks how natural gas, nuclear power, and renewables will fuel this surge, as utilities scramble to keep up.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel