
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

Sep 26, 2023 • 43min
Ep 4 - Bob Stein - Will an economic recession decide the next US president? - ROI Podcast
Bob Stein, Deputy Chief Economist at First Trust, spent several years working in Washington D.C. before coming to First Trust in 2006, including as chief economist for the Senate Budget Committee and as Assistant Secretary of Economic Policy at the US Treasury Department. In this episode of the First Trust ROI Podcast, Ryan and Bob discuss:Why many are underestimating the likelihood of a US recessionHow the Federal government will “eventually” address irresponsible budget deficits (just not yet)Why the economy may play an outsized role in determining the next US president📚 Bob Stein's Recommend Reading: Optimally Irrational by Lionel Page----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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, 2023 • 28min
Ep 3 - Jeff Chang - How can investors exploit volatility to manage risk and generate income? - ROI Podcast
In this episode of the First Trust ROI Podcast, Ryan talks with Jeff Chang, President of CBOE Vest, about two areas of the ETF industry that have seen robust growth over the past few years: Buffered ETFs and Call-writing ETFs.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Aug 10, 2023 • 29min
Ep 2 - Bill Housey - Is the Inverted Yield Curve a Broken Signal or Is a Recession Still Coming? And What Does that Mean For Fixed Income? - ROI Podcast
Historically, an inverted yield curve has often preceded economic recessions, and many investment professionals view the current inversion as a troubling sign for what may lie ahead for the US economy. However, the 10-year US Treasury yield has been lower than the 2-year US Treasury yield for over a year, and a recession has (apparently) not yet begun. In this episode of the ROI podcast, Ryan and Bill Housey discuss:Is the inverted US Treasury yield curve a broken signal today or is a recession still coming?Are investors too optimistic about “soft landing” (or “no landing”) scenarios for the US economy?What’s lies ahead for Fed policy?How should investment professionals think about risk and positioning fixed income portfolios for what lies ahead?Read the latest Housey's Income Insights NewsletterFollow on 'X' @BillHousey Connect on LinkedIn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Aug 2, 2023 • 31min
Ep. 1 - Bob Carey - Why are stocks up this year & can the rally continue? - ROI Podcast
Why are stocks up this year…and can the rally continue?On the heels of the worst year for stocks since 2008, pessimism dominated most forecasts coming into 2023. In this episode of the ROI podcast, Ryan and Bob discuss some of the most common questions investment professionals and their clients are asking, including:Why have stocks defied expectations so far in 2023?Will returns continue to be driven by a small number of stocks, or will markets broaden out?Will international stocks outpace domestic stocks?Perhaps most importantly, can the stock market rally continue?Visit the Cash Flow and Carey Blog Follow on X: @bobcareyftaConnect on LinkedIn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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