Insightful Investor
Alex Shahidi
The Insightful Investor is a weekly podcast hosted by Alex Shahidi, Co-CIO of one of the nation’s leading RIAs. In a conversational, “fireside chat” format, Alex interacts with some of the world’s premier investors and business icons to share market insights rarely found elsewhere. While many investors echo common sentiments, our “insights” include concepts that we believe are counterintuitive, widely misunderstood, or underappreciated. With over two decades of experience managing billions of dollars in client assets, Alex offers unique access to some of the industry’s top thinkers. He has authored two investment books and contributed to leading journals, and he consistently ranks among the elite financial advisors by Forbes and Barron’s. As an independent and innovative voice, Alex offers a fresh take on investing. We invite you to tune in and would love to hear your feedback.
https://insightfulinvestor.org/
https://insightfulinvestor.org/
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Jun 17, 2025 • 45min
#75 - Liz Ann Sonders: Investing Principles, Inflation, Instability, Diversification
Liz Ann is the long-time Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab, with over 25 years at the firm and frequent appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, and CBS News. She shares insights on the core principles of investing, the challenges of maintaining discipline, and the impact of economic and policy uncertainty. We discuss inflation trends, market cycles, portfolio construction, diversification, and how investors can navigate today’s rapidly changing environment.
Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 4min
#74 - Alan Waxman: Sixth Street, Leadership, Outlook
As Co-Founding Partner and CEO of Sixth Street, Alan has guided the firm from its founding to a leading global investment firm — an achievement that followed his early success as one of Goldman Sachs’ youngest-ever partners. He offers an inside look at Sixth Street’s investor-first approach and shares his perspectives on today’s investment landscape.
15 snips
Jun 3, 2025 • 49min
#73 - Greg Sharenow: Inflation History, Outlook, and Hedging
Greg Sharenow, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at PIMCO, shares his expertise on navigating the complex world of inflation and investment. He discusses the key forces driving inflation today, emphasizing the importance of diversification in hedging against inflation risks. Greg also highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by deglobalization and fiscal stimulus. He offers insights into the historical performance of natural resource equities and the significance of long-term thinking in portfolio construction.
May 27, 2025 • 51min
#72 - Damien Bisserier: Bridgewater Lessons, Advising Families, Diversification
Damien is my long-time business partner and the other Co-CIO of Evoke Advisors. He brings a unique perspective shaped by his journey from advising some of the world’s largest institutional investors at Bridgewater to working with wealthy families and smaller institutions. Through this transition, Damien has gained firsthand experience with a wide range of investment approaches and priorities.
May 20, 2025 • 1h 7min
#71 - David Rutherford: Navy Seal Mindset, Embracing Fear
David is a former Navy SEAL, SEAL instructor, and CIA contractor who has become a motivational speaker, performance coach, and founder of the Froglogic Institute. In this episode, David shares powerful lessons on embracing fear, building resilience, and developing a SEAL mindset-offering actionable insights for investors, business leaders, and anyone striving for peak performance.
May 13, 2025 • 55min
#70 - David Powers: Wasatch Culture, Market Cycles, Long-Term
David Powers, Senior Portfolio Manager at Wasatch Global Investors, shares his insights on investment management, emphasizing the collaborative culture at Wasatch. He draws intriguing parallels between pitching in college and strategic investing, highlighting adaptability and continuous learning. Powers explores market inefficiencies, revealing how emotions affect stock prices, and discusses the nuances of market cycles through a five-phase model. He also delves into U.S. exceptionalism and its implications in global markets, advocating for cautious investment strategies amidst changing economic conditions.
May 6, 2025 • 47min
#69 - Bob Louzan: Asset-Based Lending, Downside Protection
Bob Louzan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at WhiteHawk Capital Partners, brings a wealth of expertise in asset-based lending for middle-market companies. He discusses how creative lending strategies provide downside protection while identifying undervalued firms ripe for recovery. The conversation dives into the nuances of asset-based lending versus traditional methods, navigating bankruptcy risks, and maintaining capital preservation. With a focus on rigorous due diligence, Bob shares valuable insights into minimizing losses and leveraging asset values for resilient investment.
Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 11min
#68 - Andrew Sheiner: Private Equity, Selectivity, Discipline
Andrew is Founder and CEO of Altas Partners, which is a Toronto-based private equity firm that manages over $10B (as of 3/31/25). Andrew shares insights about why a concentrated, quality-focused approach can deliver superior results in private equity, how disciplined risk management and patient capital drive value, and the significance of partnering closely with management teams.
39 snips
Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 18min
#67 - Soo Chuen Tan: Long-Term Equity Investing
Soo Chuen is the founder of Discerene Group, a $2.5 billion investment manager (as of 12/31/24) specializing in fundamental, contrarian, long-term value investing in global equities. He shares insights into his unique investment approach, which emphasizes patience, structural moats, and significant margins of safety.
Apr 15, 2025 • 59min
#66 - Jason Illian: Leadership, Legacy, Principles
Jason Illian, co-founder of Highmount Capital, shares his insights on leadership and legacy through a lens of integrity and curiosity. He emphasizes redefining success to focus on significance rather than just profits. Illian discusses innovative investment strategies that prioritize relationship-building, explores the impact of technology on various industries, and highlights his $100 million investment in Dude Perfect. He also contrasts building a legacy with constructing an empire, advocating for humility and empowerment in entrepreneurship.
