
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

Jan 14, 2025 • 25min
Ep 37 | Ryan Issakainen | Ripple Effects & Second Order Investment Opportunities Arising from AI | ROI Podcast
Companies are investing billions to build out artificial intelligence capabilities. Ryan shares First Trust’s perspective on various investment themes that may benefit—either directly or indirectly—in the years ahead.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Dec 30, 2024 • 58min
Ep 36 | Paul Black and Mike Trigg | Why Culture Matters When Seeking to “Defy the Fade” for International Equities | ROI Podcast
Paul Black and Mike Trigg are portfolio managers and co-CEOs at WCM Investment Management. They join the podcast to discuss WCM’s unique path to becoming a leading global equity manager, highlighting WCM’s unconventional approach for identifying investment opportunities, including why a company’s culture matters and the important of economic moat trajectory.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Dec 9, 2024 • 32min
Ep 35 | Richard Bernstein—What Surprises Await Investors for 2025? | ROI Podcast
Richard Bernstein provides his perspective on key investment themes to watch in the year ahead, including overlooked opportunities, potential pitfalls, and the value of seeking “maximum diversification”.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Nov 25, 2024 • 46min
Ep 34 | Dave Rutherford | Lessons in Leadership, Fear, and Success | ROI Podcast
Dave Rutherford has been a Navy SEAL, a contractor for Blackwater and the CIA, and performance coach. In this episode, he shares insights and strategies for pursuing excellence and overcoming fear in high-pressure environments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Nov 11, 2024 • 33min
Ep 33 | Brian Wesbury | Post-Election Economic Insights | ROI Podcast
In this episode, Brian Wesbury discusses the implications of Trump's recent election victory. Recorded the day after Election Day, Brian explores potential changes in economic and tax policies, providing insights into the future economic landscape.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Oct 28, 2024 • 45min
Ep 32 | Bob Stein | Election Countdown: Assessing the Odds and Outcomes | ROI Podcast
Bob Stein — As Election Day looms, Bob analyzes the probabilities of different election scenarios. Additionally, we explore how tariffs and other tax policies might affect the economy, discuss the implications of government spending, and consider if advancements in AI might pave the way for universal basic income initiatives.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Oct 14, 2024 • 27min
Ep 31 | Bill Housey | Why Have Longer-Term Interest Rates Increased Since the Fed Began Cutting Rates? | ROI Podcast
Bill Housey discusses recent dynamics in the bond market, including why longer-term interest rates have increased since the Fed began cutting rates, where we are in the economic cycle, and implications for fixed income investors.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Sep 30, 2024 • 33min
Ep 30 | Dave McGarel |Broadening Markets and Factor Investing: Opportunities Amid Fed Rate Cuts | ROI Podcast
Dave McGarel provides insights on what sort of stocks are poised for long-term outperformance in light of Fed rate cuts, valuation gaps, and factor analysis.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Sep 19, 2024 • 43min
Ep 29 | Bob Carey | Risks and Opportunities for Stocks When Interest Rates Decline | ROI Podcast
Ryan talks with Bob Carey about the implications of a falling interest rate environment for equity markets.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Sep 3, 2024 • 51min
Ep 28 | Brian Comiskey | Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, AI/Robotics, and the New Era Of Digital Coexistence | ROI Podcast
Brian Comiskey, Senior Director at the Consumer Technology Association, joins the podcast to discuss how recent trends in technology are reshaping the spending priorities of businesses, consumers, and governments around the world.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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