CFA Society Chicago
CFA Society Chicago
CFA Society Chicago is proud to present a podcast where Society Members will be hosting discussions on a range of topics related to the investment industry. Hear from leading industry experts on a variety of investment topics including equity and fixed income analysis, portfolio allocation, ESG investing, venture capital and private equity, and much more. Tune in to hear Society Members pick the brains of leading industry professionals at www.cfasocietychicago.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 31, 2025 • 39min
Macro Matters - post FOMC, pre NFP
Blaine Reed, Tony Zhang and Rich Excell get together to discuss what the FOMC did and should do. The FOMC has a dual mandate of price stability and full employment. Do measures of either suggest the Fed should cut? What does argue for the Fed to cut, housing? But the Fed controls short and not long term rates? Lots covered, lots to discuss
Jul 14, 2025 • 47min
Macro Matters - is there any inflation and what will the Fed do about it?
It is July 14 and this is CPI and PPI week. What will we hear on the inflation front? More importantly, what could tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill mean for inflation. Finally, what is the Fed to do with all of this information. Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back to discuss these topics and more!
Jun 20, 2025 • 56min
Macro Matters - rate cuts & Treasury demand
Its mid-June so it is all about the FOMC. However, there are a lot of cross-currents out there from a fiscal and regulatory standpoint that may have differing effects on Treasury demand. What are we to do? Hard to say because even the FOMC doesn't know what to do! Have a listen and let us know what you think
Jun 12, 2025 • 38min
Private Asset Performance: the Latest Academic Research
CFA Society Chicago member Dan Grana, CFA speaks with Greg Brown, the Van and Kay Weatherspoon Distinguished Professor of Finance at UNC Kenan-Flagler. They discuss the latest academic research in private asset performance, including results and applicability to practitioners in these asset classes.
Jun 11, 2025 • 48min
Macro Matters - back after a long break
Tony Zhang PhD, CFA, Blaine Reed CFA, AFM and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back talking markets after a bit of a break. Do Blaine and Rich think global investors are sick of the US? With 10 year yield at 4.5%, will it hit 4.2% or 4.8% first? What will the Fed do given the data we have seen? Have a listen to find out
Apr 21, 2025 • 49min
Macro Matters - Easter Monday update
With Europe on Easter Monday holiday, and many in the US starting their Spring Break this week, the markets are starting on a weak, but quiet note. Rich Excell CFA is joined again by Tony Zhang CFA and Blaine Reed CFA for a discussion of tariffs, inflation expectations, credit market liquidity and dislocations in FX. We covered the gamut, so you don't have to. Have a listen!
Apr 11, 2025 • 58min
Investment Exchange Forum - recapping the 2025 Investment Themes & discussing future events
Rich Excell CFA, CMT is joined by the CEO of the CFA Society Chicago Chris Vincent CFA to recap the 2025 Investment Themese series that just completed. Chris then tells us what to expect in the upcoming CFA Institute Live event from May 4-7 in Chicago
Apr 9, 2025 • 46min
Investment Exchange Forum - Investment Themes for 2025 - Convexitas' Zed Francis
Any volatility in the market these days? We couldn't have gone through investment themes for 2025 without discussing volatility and the options markets Very lucky to have Zed Francis CIO of Convexitas join our host Rich Excell, CFA on this last installment of the CFA Society Chicago Investment Exchange Forum - Investment Themes for 2025 series
Apr 7, 2025 • 50min
Macro Matters - Liberation Day!
In this episode, hosts Tony Zhang and Rich Excell are joined by fellow CFA Society Chicago member Blaine Reed to discuss the market reaction to the tariff news and how investors should try to think through the scenarios going forward
Apr 3, 2025 • 46min
Investment Exchange Forum - 2025 Investment Themes - economic forecast
We continue to explore the themes that are driving markets in 2025. The impact of changing policies in the US and elsewhere is clearly causing investors to reconsider how they will forecast the economy and markets going forward. We are lucky to be joined by Brian Wesbury of First Trust, consistently one of the top forecasters on Wall Street, to discuss the important issues facing investors today
