

Lead-Lag Live
Michael A. Gayed, CFA
Welcome to the Lead-Lag Live podcast, where we bring you live unscripted conversations with thought leaders in the world of finance, economics, and investing. Hosted by Melanie Schaffer each episode dives deep into the minds of industry experts to discuss current market trends, investment strategies, and the global economic landscape.In this exciting series, you'll have the rare opportunity to join Melanie Schaffer as she connects with prominent thought leaders for captivating discussions in real-time. The Lead-Lag Live podcast aims to provide valuable insights, analysis, and actionable advice for investors and financial professionals alike.As a dedicated listener, you can expect to hear from renowned financial experts, best-selling authors, and market strategists as they share their wealth of knowledge and experience. With a focus on topical issues and their potential impact on financial markets, these live unscripted conversations will ensure that you stay informed and ahead of the curve.Subscribe to the Lead-Lag Live podcast and follow @leadlagmedia on X to stay updated on upcoming live conversations and to gain exclusive access to a treasure trove of financial wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and brightest minds in the business.Join us on this journey as we explore the complex world of finance and investments, one live unscripted conversation at a time. Be sure to like, comment, and share the Lead-Lag Live podcast with your network to help others discover these invaluable insights.Stay tuned for the latest episode of the Lead-Lag Live podcast, and remember to turn on notifications so you never miss a live conversation with your favorite thought leaders. Happy listening!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 11, 2025 • 45min
Why Platinum Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hidden Gem: Investment Masterclass
Discover why savvy investors are turning their attention to platinum in this comprehensive investment masterclass. Join our panel of precious metals experts as they break down:• The unique supply-demand dynamics making platinum increasingly valuable• How platinum compares to gold and silver in a diversified investment portfolio• Industrial applications driving long-term platinum demand• Strategic approaches to platinum investment: ETFs, physical holdings, and mining stocks• Risk management techniques when investing in precious metals• Expert price projections and market analysis for 2025-2030Whether you’re a seasoned investor looking to diversify or a newcomer exploring precious metals for the first time, this webinar provides actionable insights to help you make informed decisions about platinum investments.Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead of the market—watch now and discover if platinum deserves a place in your investment strategy.Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. 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

Aug 8, 2025 • 13min
Avoiding the Tax Man: Bruce Lavine on how to Diversify Without Getting Burned
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Bruce Levine, COO and Head of ETFs at Astoria Portfolio Advisors, to talk about one of the biggest problems facing investors today — how to diversify out of concentrated stock positions without triggering massive tax bills.We dig into the upcoming launch of the LCOR ETF, built around the innovative 351 exchange structure, and how it can help investors turn overexposed gains into a diversified, actively managed portfolio.In this episode:Why “yesterday’s winners” rarely lead the next decadeHow the 351 exchange works — and who can benefitThe tax advantage that only comes once: October 1 launch dateWhy diversification matters, even for the biggest tech winnersHow LCOR aims to beat the S&P 500 with a large-cap core strategyLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with top financial minds shaping markets in real time.Subscribe for more interviews, insights, and raw takes that cut deeper than the headlines.Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. Support the show

Aug 7, 2025 • 30min
The ETF That Owns X.AI and Anthropic — Inside the AI Arms Race with Derek Yan
Derek Yan, the Head of Strategy at KraneShares, provides insights on the groundbreaking AGIX ETF, which invests in private AI powerhouses like X.AI and Anthropic. He explains why KraneShares believes AGI represents the next major tech supercycle and discusses what distinguishes these companies from others in the sector. The conversation also highlights the development of an innovative AI score for assessing potential winners in public markets and explores the transformative impacts of AI technologies on various applications.

Aug 7, 2025 • 27min
Preservation Over Prediction: How Richard McWhorter Navigates Risk in Today’s Market
In my first episode hosting Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Richard McWhorter, Managing Partner at SRM Private Wealth, to unpack how he’s advising high-net-worth clients through today’s volatile market.We talk valuation risk, tariffs, and intergenerational wealth strategy — and why Richard is focused on preservation over prediction in a market full of noise. In this episode:- Why today’s stock multiples don’t add up- The long-term impact of U.S. tariffs and trade deals- How SRM helps clients navigate macro uncertainty- What younger generations can learn about risk- How to protect and grow wealth across generationsLead-Lag Live brings you straight into conversations with top financial minds shaping markets in real time.Subscribe for more interviews, insights, and raw takes that go deeper than headlines.#LeadLagLive #WealthStrategy #MarketValuations #FinancialAdvisors #PrivateWealth #Tariffs #InvestingEnergy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Support the show

Aug 6, 2025 • 51min
The Truth Behind Investment Gurus and Fast Money
Mark Mattson, founder of an $11.5 billion investment advisory firm managing wealth for 35,000 families, delivers a masterclass in separating investing truth from financial noise in this compelling conversation about wealth creation, market efficiency, and reclaiming the American Dream.Mattson cuts through the clutter of internet investment gurus with refreshing candor: "What investing takes—and getting in shape takes—is work. A crap ton of hard, serious work." In an age where financial advice is abundant but results are scarce, his focus on evidence-based investing principles offers a stark contrast to the get-rich-quick schemes flooding social media.The discussion explores a counterintuitive approach to wealth building that prioritizes creating value for others first. "If you want to create the American Dream for yourself, help other people create their American Dream and then you won't have to worry about yours," Mattson explains. This perspective shifts the focus from entitlement to contribution and provides a framework for sustainable prosperity.Mattson dives deep into portfolio construction, making a compelling case for broad diversification across asset classes, geographies, and company sizes based on academic principles like Efficient Market Theory and Modern Portfolio Theory. He methodically dismantles arguments for concentrated investing, warning that "there's no better way to go bankrupt fast than to dump your money in three or four or five stocks." Instead, he advocates for a disciplined approach that removes emotion from the investment process through systematic rebalancing.The conversation tackles controversial topics like cryptocurrency (which Mattson calls "one of the most toxic investments"), political biases in investing decisions, and the challenges of building a company culture with urgency and purpose. Throughout, Mattson's experience as both an investment manager and entrepreneur shines through, offering practical wisdom for anyone looking to build wealth ethically and systematically.Whether you're just starting your investment journey or managing substantial assets, this discussion provides a roadmap for navigating financial markets with intelligence rather than emotion. As Mattson reminds us, "No one can tell you where the next 20% is going to be, but what we do know historically is the next 100% has always been up."Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. 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

Jul 31, 2025 • 29min
Beyond the Bull: Navigating the 351 Exchange Revolution With Meb Faber
Tax strategies rarely generate genuine excitement, but the 351 exchange is proving to be the exception that financial advisors, investors with concentrated positions, and forward-thinking asset managers can't stop talking about. This little-known provision allows investors to contribute appreciated securities to create new ETFs without triggering taxable events – essentially functioning as a "1031 exchange for stocks."Matt Faber breaks down how this century-old tax code provision is finally hitting its stride at the perfect moment. With U.S. markets delivering 10-20x returns over the past 15 years, many investors find themselves trapped by potential tax consequences, unable to diversify away from concentrated positions that have grown to dominate their portfolios. The 351 exchange offers a compelling solution by allowing them to contribute these appreciated assets to seed a new ETF, receiving diversified exposure in return while deferring capital gains taxes.Cambria has already completed two successful exchanges with growing participation, expecting their next fund to reach $300-500 million in assets. While the process requires coordination across financial advisors and custodians, the benefits are substantial – particularly for high-net-worth individuals, founders with concentrated stock positions, and investors needing strategic rebalancing after years of U.S. outperformance.Beyond this tax innovation, Faber shares insights on dramatic market trends emerging in 2023. International value stocks have delivered returns of 30-35%, with some markets like Poland up approximately 60%, even as U.S. valuations approach record highs. The conversation also explores the potential recovery in cannabis stocks after eight brutal years of declines, positioning them as a contrarian opportunity with significant upside potential if regulatory progress materializes.Whether you're seeking tax-efficient portfolio solutions, exploring international diversification, or hunting for asymmetric investment opportunities, this conversation offers valuable perspectives from one of the industry's most innovative thinkers. Subscribe to hear more insights on navigating today's complex investment landscape.Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Support the show

Jul 31, 2025 • 39min
Wall Street's Blind Spot: Why Most Analysts Miss the Budget Deficit Story with Jay Hatfield
The financial world is plagued by misconceptions about the budget deficit, with both political parties incentivized to make our fiscal situation appear worse than reality. Diving into the actual numbers reveals a fundamentally different picture than what dominates headlines.Examining Congressional Budget Office projections shows they completely omit approximately $300 billion in annual tariff revenue. When properly accounted for, next year's projected deficit falls to roughly $1.4 trillion or 4.5% of GDP—a level that becomes sustainable when compared to our nominal economic growth rate. The relationship between debt sustainability, economic growth, and monetary policy creates a more nuanced story than the oversimplified crisis narratives that dominate public discourse.The Federal Reserve's current policy has resulted in an extraordinary 9% annual contraction of the money supply, a condition not seen since the Great Depression. This monetary tightening creates deflationary pressures that will eventually force rate cuts—likely beginning in September. Understanding these dynamics provides crucial context for investment decisions across asset classes.For equity markets, our analysis maintains a year-end S&P target of 6,600 despite near-term challenges. The market appears fully valued with earnings expectations running high, particularly for technology companies, creating potential volatility through August and September. Small-cap stocks, despite recent underperformance, stand to benefit significantly from upcoming Fed rate cuts, particularly those with strong balance sheets and meaningful dividends.The most profound insights often come from following the money supply data that mainstream financial media consistently overlooks. Whether you're positioning for potential market turbulence or seeking income through high-yield bonds yielding around 8%, having a clear-eyed view of these economic fundamentals provides an edge in navigating what promises to be an eventful conclusion to 2024.Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Support the show

Jul 30, 2025 • 42min
Markets Gone Wild with Seth Cogswell
Energy Rocks: the trending Focus Candy now on sale! or Power up now with Energy Rocks Adult Focus Candy. energyrocks.store/LEAD25OFF. 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

Jul 27, 2025 • 49min
Income Strategies for Uncertain Markets with Jay Hatfield
Jay Hatfield, Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment Officer at Infrastructure Capital Advisors, shares his expertise on navigating uncertain markets. He dives into fixed-income investment strategies and the evolving role of preferred stocks and master limited partnerships (MLPs). The conversation highlights the significance of active management and diversification in a fluctuating environment. Hatfield also demystifies expense ratios and the impact of U.S. federal debt on market dynamics, offering valuable insights for savvy investors.

Jul 26, 2025 • 51min
Beyond Traditional Diversification with Brad Barrie
Brad Barrie, portfolio manager for the Dynamic Alpha Macro Fund at Dynamic Wealth Group, redefines diversification in investing. He likens portfolio construction to baking the perfect cookie, emphasizing that true diversity involves blending non-correlated assets, not just stocks and bonds. Barrie introduces a multi-dimensional approach that leverages global macro strategies, showcasing how factors like weather can impact prices irrespective of market trends. His insights aim to help investors navigate volatility and optimize long-term performance with innovative asset allocation.