Lead-Lag Live

Financial literacy forms the bedrock of generational wealth preservation, yet remains strikingly absent from our educational system. This knowledge gap creates the perfect storm for the "shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in three generations" phenomenon that plagues family fortunes—wealth created in one generation, enjoyed in the second, and squandered by the third.George Stefanu, with over 15 years of financial advising experience, tackles this pressing issue head-on. Drawing from his book "Two Comma Wealth," he reveals the critical conversations families must have about money and the principles that extend wealth beyond a single generation. The timing couldn't be more crucial, as we stand at the precipice of history's largest wealth transfer from Baby Boomers to their heirs.Stefanu unpacks the concept of "hitting your number"—that magical retirement figure that supposedly guarantees financial security—and why the traditional 4% withdrawal rule requires nuanced application. He offers a refreshing metaphor of investment "lanes" (from the emergency lane of cash reserves to the sports car lane of growth equities) that helps visualize proper diversification strategies needed to combat inflation while preserving capital.The challenges of working with high-net-worth individuals receive special attention, particularly how their business success can paradoxically hinder investment discipline. Men and women approach money differently too—men often rushing to action during market volatility while women process information before making decisions, frequently becoming better long-term investors as a result.Strategic tax and estate planning emerge as critical yet underappreciated aspects of wealth preservation. With potential changes to estate tax exemptions looming, Stefanu illuminates how proper asset location and distribution timing can save heirs significant money while honoring philanthropic intentions without "tipping the IRS" unnecessarily.What about AI in financial planning? While technology will enhance data analysis and pattern recognition, the human element—behavioral coaching, accountability, and personalized understanding—remains irreplaceable, especially during market turbulence.Subscribe now to explore how meaningful kitchen-table money conversations can transform financial education from a missing curriculum subject into your family's greatest inheritance. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

The market is sending clear warning signals that shouldn't be ignored. Technical analysis expert Vincent Randazzo reveals how deteriorating market breadth—a critical measure of market health—suggests we've entered a bear market that could persist longer than most anticipate.Drawing on over two decades of experience in technical analysis, Randazzo explains that market breadth essentially represents liquidity: how much money is flowing into how many different companies. A healthy market shows broad participation across companies of all sizes, while an unhealthy one features concentration in fewer names. At February's market peak, only 53% of stocks in the Russell 3000 were trading above their 200-day moving averages despite major indices hitting all-time highs—a classic divergence pattern that has preceded major market tops throughout history.Small cap underperformance has been particularly telling, with the Russell 2000 effectively experiencing a "lost half-decade" already when accounting for inflation. This divergence between small caps and large caps represents one of the most significant warning signs in current market conditions and could be foreshadowing a potential "lost decade" for equities similar to 2000-2010.For investors accustomed to the "buy and hold" approach that has dominated the last 15 years, this environment demands a tactical, risk-aware strategy. The value of avoiding major drawdowns while still capturing upside becomes paramount for effective long-term compounding. Diversification needs to extend beyond asset classes to include different strategies with varying signals and time horizons.Whether you're managing your own investments or working with an advisor, understanding these technical signals could make the difference between protecting your capital and suffering significant losses as this bear market potentially unfolds. Visit viewright.ai to learn more about navigating these challenging market conditions with discipline and systematic risk management. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

The investment landscape is changing dramatically, and Seth Cogswell of Running Oak believes most investors aren't prepared. "People have gotten away with investing without thinking for the last decade," he observes, pointing to fundamental shifts that could upend conventional portfolio strategies.At the heart of this change lies the potential reversal of globalization—a multi-decade trend that has kept corporate profit margins artificially inflated and supported unprecedented valuations in certain market segments. This shift creates both dangers and opportunities that demand a more thoughtful approach to portfolio construction.The conversation reveals a critical blind spot in how most investors structure their portfolios. Between large-cap dominated passive funds (where often just eight companies represent 60% of holdings) and small/mid-cap allocations sits an overlooked space with compelling characteristics. Mid-caps have outperformed large caps by 60 basis points annually over 33 years while maintaining lower valuations—creating what Seth describes as "the most attractive asymmetry within the US equity market."Seth makes a compelling case for disciplined investing focused on three core principles: maximizing earnings growth, avoiding companies that should go down (particularly those with unreasonable valuations), and mitigating drawdowns. This rules-based approach removes emotion from the investment process and has proven valuable through various market cycles.The discussion also explores how companies that have taken on significant debt primarily to repurchase shares may face difficulties if we enter a recession or if interest rates remain elevated. "You go back to the end of bull markets, that's where the most crowded, most popular trades drop 50% in a few months," Seth warns, highlighting why investors should reassess concentration risks in their portfolios.Whether you're concerned about potential market turbulence or simply looking to optimize your portfolio construction, this conversation offers valuable perspective on finding opportunities in overlooked market segments through disciplined, logical investment approaches that focus on sustainable growth and risk management. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

Jay Hatfield, Chief Investment Officer at Infrastructure Capital Management, shines a light on market dynamics and investment strategies amidst volatility. He delves into the 'small cap tariff problem', exposing the technical factors behind small caps' underperformance. Hatfield challenges the notion that tariffs drive inflation, arguing they are one-time increases misunderstood by the Fed. He remains optimistic about market targets, suggesting a range of 5,000 to 6,000 for the S&P, and highlights the potential of undervalued funds in today’s economic landscape.

Are you prepared for a financial landscape unlike anything we've seen in decades? The investing playbook that worked for the past ten years might be obsolete as we navigate unprecedented uncertainty in markets."It's very possible there's a sea change and the next decade looks very different from the last decade," warns Alex Shahidi of Evoke Advisors. After years of low interest rates, stable volatility, and US stock dominance, today's environment features sticky inflation, political uncertainty, and a significantly constrained policy response toolkit. The potential range of outcomes is wider than at any point in recent memory, with greater risk of extreme scenarios.Most investors remain dangerously positioned for yesterday's market conditions. While many believe their 60/40 portfolios provide adequate diversification, Shahidi reveals that such allocations are 98% correlated with the stock market because stocks contribute disproportionately to volatility and returns. True diversification requires balancing risk contributions across multiple asset classes – what's known as risk parity.The conversation challenges conventional wisdom about gold, revealing it has returned approximately 8% annually since 1971, just behind equities' 9%, with near-zero correlation. The 1970s and 2000s were excellent for gold but poor for stocks, while the 1980s and 1990s saw the reverse pattern. This makes gold an exceptionally valuable diversifier that remains underrepresented in most portfolios.Perhaps most importantly, Shahidi offers a powerful framework for navigating today's uncertainty: "Diversification always trumps conviction." While it's natural to want to predict the future and position accordingly, the odds of consistent success in market timing are slim. A truly diversified portfolio removes much of the emotional pressure from investing decisions, allowing investors to follow a "slow and steady" path that historically delivers superior long-term results.Ready to rethink your investment approach for the decade ahead? Listen now to discover how true diversification might be your best protection against whatever the markets throw at us next. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

Trump's unexpected tariff announcements have sent global markets into a tailspin, yet beneath the chaos lies a fascinating story: Chinese tech stocks have actually outperformed their US counterparts over the past year. Why? The valuation gap is stunning—Chinese tech companies trade at just 14-15x earnings while US tech giants command 25-30x multiples.The emergence of DeepSeek marked a watershed moment for China's technology sector. This breakthrough AI model demonstrated that China isn't merely participating in the artificial intelligence revolution but potentially positioned to lead it. For investors who've written off China as "uninvestable," this revelation demands a serious reconsideration of global portfolio allocation.What many investors miss is how Chinese tech companies differ fundamentally from their manufacturing counterparts. These digital businesses primarily serve domestic consumers through online shopping, mobile payments, and gaming—activities largely insulated from direct tariff impacts. This domestic focus provides a buffer against trade tensions while still offering exposure to one of the world's largest consumer markets.The AI revolution extends far beyond consumer applications like chatbots. The real transformation is happening at the enterprise level, where AI integration into existing systems is creating tremendous efficiency gains across sectors. From logistics optimization to healthcare advancements, AI is reshaping business operations globally. Most impressive is AI's coding capability, which has reached approximately 80% of human performance levels.For those looking to capitalize on these trends, a diversified approach offers advantages over concentrated bets on the "Magnificent Seven." Consider exploring solutions like KraneShares' AGIX ETF, which provides exposure to 40+ companies across the AI ecosystem, including unique access to private AI unicorns typically reserved for institutional investors. In times of market volatility, this comprehensive strategy may help navigate uncertain waters while maintaining exposure to tomorrow's technology leaders.Ready to rethink your global tech allocation? Explore how adding exposure to Chinese innovation might enhance your portfolio's long-term growth potential and resilience during market turbulence.DISCLAIMER – PLEASE READ: This is a sponsored episode for which Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC has been paid a fee. Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in the episode or make any representation as to its quality. All statements and expressions provided in this episode are the sole opinion of KraneShares and Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC expressly disclaims any responsibility for action taken in connection with the information provided in the discussion. The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

Volatility has returned to markets with a vengeance, but is this something to fear or embrace? It depends entirely on your perspective and preparation.When markets plummet, most investors panic. But what if market downturns actually represent opportunity? For younger investors with decades ahead, buying assets at discounted prices might be the best possible scenario. As Meb Faber points out, "You want to dollar cost average when stocks are at a PE of 10, not a PE of 40."The conversation delves into the nature of market volatility itself. Historical data reveals that approximately 70-80% of the market's best and worst days occur when prices trade below their 200-day moving average. This volatility clustering means big down days and big up days tend to happen close together - a phenomenon that quantitative approaches can potentially exploit.Perhaps most illuminating is the discussion around what true diversification actually means. Many investors believe they're diversified simply by owning the S&P 500, failing to recognize they're only exposed to U.S. large-caps. Genuine diversification extends across asset classes, geographies, and strategies - particularly important when correlations tighten during market stress.The discussion explores effective tail risk management strategies, including tactical allocation approaches and explicit hedging techniques. International markets trading at single-digit PE ratios offer compelling value compared to expensive U.S. indices, potentially signaling a regime shift after years of U.S. dominance.Whether this market volatility represents the beginning of something larger or merely a temporary correction remains uncertain. What's clear is that having a written investment plan before volatility strikes makes all the difference between reacting emotionally and responding strategically. As markets continue their wild ride, those who prepared for turbulence will navigate with confidence while others scramble for direction.DISCLAIMER – PLEASE READ: This is a sponsored episode for which Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC has been paid a fee. Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in the episode or make any representation as to its quality. All statements and expressions provided in this episode are the sole opinion of Cambria and Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC expressly disclaims any responsibility for action taken in connection with the information provided in the discussion. The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken or recommended any investment position discussed, but may close such position or alter its recommendation at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Please consult your own investment or financial a Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

Ever wonder why markets seem to overreact to news we all saw coming? Cullen Roche challenges conventional wisdom about market efficiency with a refreshing perspective: "The price is always wrong." This fundamental insight transforms how we should approach investing during uncertain times.When tariffs send markets plunging, investors face the classic struggle between what they intellectually know they should do versus what feels right in the moment. Roche expertly dissects why traditional risk profiling fails most investors—everyone knows the "correct" answers on questionnaires, but real-world market volatility triggers emotional responses that make seemingly irrational decisions feel completely logical. As uncertainty surges during market corrections, even legendary investors can get caught in this psychological trap.The conversation introduces a powerful framework called "defined duration investing," which quantifies investment time horizons to match appropriate assets with specific financial needs. The stock market, fundamentally a 17-year instrument, cannot be forced to behave like a money market fund without consequences. This misalignment explains why many investors struggle behaviorally with market volatility—they're trying to "turn water into wine" by expecting short-term stability from inherently long-term assets.Particularly enlightening is Roche's analysis of treasuries as "deflation insurance" and his critique of popular income strategies. The discussion on dividend stocks versus total return challenges mental accounting habits that separate yield from capital appreciation, while his examination of monetary policy reveals how interventionist approaches can create unintended consequences.Whether you're navigating current market turbulence or building a portfolio for the long term, this conversation provides critical insights into aligning your investment approach with both market realities and your own psychology. Check out Roche's work at disciplinefunds.com or explore his ETF (DSCF) designed to weather behavioral challenges in volatile markets.The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken or recommended any investment position discussed, but may close such position or alter its recommendation at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Please consult your own investment or financial advisor for advice related to all investment decisions. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

The markets have shifted into a new volatility regime, and traders need fresh tools to navigate these choppy waters. In this illuminating conversation, Michael Gayed hosts David Dziekanski (Founder and CEO of Quantify Funds), Mike Venuto (Co-Founder of Tidal ETF Services), and Michael Silva (trader and host of Figuring Out Money) to explore innovative trading strategies for today's challenging market environment.David introduces Quantify's groundbreaking launch of four new "stacked" ETFs that provide a revolutionary approach to thematic investing. Unlike traditional leveraged funds, these products offer 100% exposure to two carefully paired stocks within a single fund, creating effective 2:1 leverage with built-in rebalancing. The newly launched funds include APED (MicroStrategy/Coinbase), LAYS (NVIDIA/AMD), SPCY (NVIDIA/SMCI), and ZIPP (Uber/Tesla) - each targeting high-interest themes from cryptocurrency to artificial intelligence.The conversation delves into the mechanics behind these innovative products, explaining how they solve one of the most challenging aspects of portfolio management: executing those difficult rebalances between correlated assets, especially during earnings seasons or market turbulence. As David explains, "These are prepackaged vehicles offering rebalancing in an ETF that you don't have to think about."Silva shares practical insights on adjusting trading strategies during periods of expanded volatility, while Venuto illuminates the structural tax advantages ETFs offer over traditional investment vehicles. The panel also explores Quantify's successful BTGD fund, which applies the stacking approach to Bitcoin and gold, demonstrating how automatic rebalancing can capture value during volatile market swings.For traders navigating today's unpredictable markets, this discussion offers valuable perspectives on using innovative investment vehicles to maintain tactical exposure while managing risk more effectively. Whether you're looking to trade through earnings season, add tactical leverage to your portfolio, or simply understand the evolving landscape of ETF innovation, this episode provides crucial insights for surviving and thriving in volatile markets. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show

In a world where traditional income sources fall short and market volatility threatens portfolio stability, finding the sweet spot between yield and growth becomes increasingly challenging. Enter Cullen Capital's Enhanced Equity Income Strategy (DIVP), a thoughtfully constructed approach that's been delivering consistent results for over 14 years.Unlike many covered call strategies that sacrifice upside potential for current income, DIVP takes a more selective approach. By writing options on just 25-40% of portfolio holdings, the strategy maintains meaningful exposure to market upside while generating a target yield of 7% or higher. Half of this yield comes from dividends paid by high-quality value stocks, with the remainder from option premiums – creating a more tax-efficient income stream than strategies relying solely on options.The portfolio consists of approximately 30-35 carefully selected large-cap value companies across all eleven market sectors, each chosen for their strong fundamentals, dividend growth potential, and attractive valuations. Trading at just 13x forward earnings, these companies offer both current income and growth potential that many pure fixed-income alternatives simply cannot match.Perhaps most compelling is the strategy's historical ability to protect capital while delivering income. A hypothetical $1 million investment at inception with 5% annual withdrawals would have provided $856,000 in cumulative income while growing to $1.3 million over 14 years – demonstrating that income generation doesn't have to come at the expense of principal.With recent market volatility highlighting the vulnerabilities of growth-heavy portfolios, DIVP's value-oriented approach has demonstrated resilience, outperforming many technology-focused covered call strategies. As investors reassess their income needs in an uncertain market environment, consider how this balanced approach to income generation might enhance your portfolio's yield while maintaining potential for long-term growth.DISCLAIMER – PLEASE READ: This is a sponsored episode for which Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC has been paid a fee. Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in the episode or make any representation as to its quality. All statements and expressions provided in this episode are the sole opinion of Cullen Capital and Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC expressly disclaims any responsibility for action taken in connection with the information provided in the discussion. The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken or recommended any investment position discussed, but may close such position or alter its recommendation at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Please consult your own Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It’s social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world’s first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today: Support the show