
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 17, 2024 • 41min
ROI Podcast | | Episode 23 | Is Government Spending Boosting or Slowing the Economy? | Brian Wesbury | June 17, 2024
On this episode of the podcast, Ryan asks Brian Wesbury about the impact of government spending on economic growth, the upcoming presidential election, and whether or not tariffs are an effective policy tool.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 3, 2024 • 37min
ROI Podcast | Episode 22 | Are Investors Ignoring a More Powerful Secular Growth Theme than AI? | Richard Bernstein | June 3, 2024
Richard Bernstein, CEO/CIO of Richard Bernstein Advisors, shares insights on pressing economic themes such as deglobalization and reindustrialization. He highlights how investors are overlooking significant growth opportunities beyond AI. Bernstein emphasizes the crucial need for modernization in the U.S. grid infrastructure to meet rising energy demands and forecasts a staggering $14 trillion capital requirement. He also addresses the Federal Reserve's challenges in managing inflation and the evolving landscape of profit growth, urging a long-term investment approach.

May 20, 2024 • 39min
ROI Podcast | Episode 21 | A Recession is Still Likely…But Here’s Why We Could Be Wrong | May 20, 2024
Brian Wesbury, an expert on the US economy, dives into the effects of government spending on growth and why a recession may still be on the horizon. He discusses the Federal Reserve's challenges with inflation and interest rates while reflecting on the disparity between government job growth and the private sector. Wesbury also shares an optimistic view on economic recovery linked to historical policy shifts and the enduring relevance of Milton Friedman’s insights. Additionally, he touches on the importance of Stoicism in navigating today's chaotic landscape.

May 6, 2024 • 35min
ROI Podcast | Episode 20 | Will the Stock Market Continue to Defy Expectations? | May 6, 2024
In this episode, Dave McGarel, Chief Investment Officer at First Trust shares his perspective on the risks and opportunities that may lie ahead for equities. Dave shares why First Trust believes low volatility stocks are growing more attractive, why the technology sector has been the secular growth story of our lifetimes, and which data points investment professional should pay close attention to for the rest of 2024.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 22, 2024 • 33min
ROI Podcast | Episode 19 | Rethinking Diversification: Are Stocks and Bonds Enough? | John Gambla | April 22, 2024
In this episode, we explore why more and more investment professionals are allocating to call-writing funds, long/short strategies, and commodities.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 8, 2024 • 33min
ROI Podcast | Episode 18 | Navigating a Narrow Market | Chris Bush | April 8, 2024
Ryan discusses factor investing with Chris Bush, portfolio manager at First Trust, as well as risk and opportunities for various industries and themes, including artificial intelligence, regional banks, and more.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 25, 2024 • 33min
ROI Podcast | Episode 17 | How Can Technical Analysis Guide Portfolio Allocations? | Jay Gragnani | March 25, 2024
In this episode, Ryan is joined by Jay Gragnani, Senior Market Strategist at Nasdaq Dorsey Wright for a discussion about how financial professionals are utilizing technical analysis and Dorsey Wright’s research as an objective input for their decision-making process.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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, 2024 • 35min
ROI Podcast | Episode 16 | Has the Balance between Potential Risks and Returns Shifted in Favor of Bond Investors? | Bill Housey | March 12, 2024
In this episode of the podcast, Ryan is joined by Bill Housey, Managing Director of Fixed Income at First Trust for a discussion about the US economy, the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and why Bill believes that an asymmetry between risk and return has shifted in favor of bond 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

Feb 26, 2024 • 33min
ROI Podcast | Episode 15 | What Solutions Can Direct Indexing Offer? | Jon DiGiovanni | February 26, 2024
In this episode of the podcast, Ryan speaks with Jon DiGiovanni, Managing Director of Direct Indexing and Separate Managed Accounts at First Trust, about some of the reasons that Direct Indexing has quietly been one of the fastest growing innovations in the financial services industry. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 12, 2024 • 1h 1min
ROI Podcast | Episode 14| Dissecting Incentives and Opportunities in (Traditional and Alternative) Energy | Jim Murchie | February 12, 2024
In this episode of the podcast, Ryan is joined by Jim Murchie, co-founder of Energy Income Partners for a deep dive into the energy industry, discussing incentives and opportunities that 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
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