Shows
The Blunt DollarManish Singh: How the Market’s Herd Mentality Can Destroy Your FortuneIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manish Singh, Chief Investment Officer at Crossbridge Capital and a veteran global macroeconomist with nearly two decades of experience steering multi-asset portfolios. From his engineering roots in Mumbai to building an investment philosophy rooted in patience, trust, and historical perspective, Manish shares how he balances data-driven rigor with deep human insight.We explore:✅ The surprising ways an engineering background shapes investment thinking 🛠️✅ Why history, from the European revolutions of the 1800s to COVID panic, remains a critical guide for modern markets 2025-07-221h 00The Blunt DollarJason Pereira: What AI Can’t Replace in Financial Advice (Yet)In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with one of the most prolific voices in the financial planning space: Jason Pereira. A financial planner, fintech strategist, professor, podcaster, and tireless advocate for professional standards, Jason joins Ignacio to talk through the present and future of financial advice.With over 750 pieces of content under his belt and multiple roles shaping the Canadian and global advisor landscape, Jason doesn’t hold back in this wide-ranging conversation on technology, regulation, and what it really means to serve clients in a world reshaped by AI.In th...2025-07-1552 minThe Blunt DollarVincent Kaufmann: The CEO Using Quiet Diplomacy to Shake Big BusinessIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Vincent Kaufmann, CEO of the Ethos Foundation, a leading voice in sustainable finance and corporate governance in Switzerland. With over two decades at Ethos, Vincent shares an insider perspective on why active ownership matters, the real tools investors have to drive ESG change, and the fine line between meaningful impact and greenwashing. This is a masterclass on ESG from someone who's lived it from the inside.🎯 How shareholder engagement can push even giants like Nestlé and Holcim to adopt real sustainability targets2025-07-0858 minThe Blunt DollarElsa Razborsek: The Surprising Parallels Between Dating Fails and Bad TradesElsa Razborsek joins The Blunt Dollar for a deep, nuanced conversation on nonlinear careers, women in finance, and the behavioural biases that shape both our portfolios and personal lives. From Goldman Sachs analyst to health coach and back to finance, Elsa’s journey is anything but typical, and it’s exactly that winding path that fuels her insights today.In this episode, we talk about:🔄 Career pivots and the power of nonlinear paths👩💼 Navigating visibility, ambition, and bias as a woman in finance🧠 Coaching insights on stress, burnout, and sustainable high performance📉 Behavioural f...2025-07-011h 08The Blunt DollarJulia Carreon: The Shocking Truth About Financial Illiteracy on TikTokIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Julia Carreon, a digital transformation powerhouse with leadership experience at Wells Fargo and Citi, to dissect the crossroads of finance, technology, and generational change. Julia brings her signature candor and deep industry knowledge to a conversation that spans everything from AI and gamification to social media misinformation and the trust crisis in banking.We explore what it truly takes to modernize wealth management for Gen Z and millennials, and why the clock is ticking for traditional players.🎯 Why big banks are struggling to k...2025-06-2458 minThe Blunt DollarMarina Severinovsky: The Real Reason Your Portfolio Needs a Climate PlanSustainable investing has gone from niche to necessary. But where is it headed next? In this episode, Ignacio sits down with Marina Severinovsky, Head of Sustainability for North America at Schroders, to unpack the shifting ESG landscape. Marina draws from two decades of experience in finance and sustainability to explain how investors can navigate today’s volatile mix of climate risk, political backlash, and growing demand for impact.Topics we cover:🌍 Why sustainable investing isn’t just about values—it’s about identifying long-term risk and opportunity💼 How institutional investors are redefining ESG...2025-06-171h 05The Blunt DollarBrian Matt: The Real Talk on ESG From Inside the NYSEIn this episode we dive deep into the engine room of sustainability, with a guest who has one of the most unique seats in the house.I sit down with Brian Matt, Head of Sustainability Advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, to unpack what’s really going on behind all the ESG headlines. With two decades of experience in investor relations and sustainability, Brian offers a rare dual lens into both investor expectations and corporate realities when it comes to sustainability strategy, regulation, and storytelling.In this candid and insightful conversation, we cov...2025-06-101h 05The Blunt DollarManuel Grenacher: The Rise of Agentic AI, and the Fall of Traditional FinanceIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manuel Grenacher, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Unique, a company revolutionizing financial services with agentic AI. Manuel shares his journey from building startups in Switzerland to leading one of the most exciting AI-driven companies in finance today. We dive deep into how AI is reshaping the industry, where the biggest disruption opportunities lie, and why empathy remains irreplaceable by machines.Key topics we cover:🔹 What is agentic AI and how it goes beyond ChatGPT🔹 How Unique is helping financial institut...2025-06-031h 01The Blunt DollarMarlena Lee: What a Nobel Prize Winner Taught Me About Beating the MarketIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Marlena Lee, Global Head of Investment Solutions at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Marlena leads a 70-person team that bridges deep academic research with practical client education, helping investors navigate the complexities of markets, factor investing, and long-term portfolio construction.With a PhD from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and experience working alongside Nobel laureate Eugene Fama, Marlena shares her unique insights into translating rigorous research into real-world investment strategies. We dive into her career journey, her biggest lessons from Fama, an...2025-05-271h 09The Blunt DollarGeorge Lagarias: What the World Gets Wrong About Financial CrisesIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we’re joined by George Lagarias, Chief Economist at Mazars, for a thought-provoking conversation on financial crises, economic cycles, and the elusive search for stability in global markets. With over 20 years of experience navigating economic turmoil from Athens to London, George offers a deeply reflective and honest perspective on the past, present, and future of capitalism.We kick off with George’s personal experience of living through the Greek and Cypriot debt crises, uncovering how they left generational scars on institutions, job markets, and societal optimism.But t...2025-05-201h 09The Blunt DollarOktay Kavrak: The Truth About Leveraged ETPs Nobody Tells YouIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Oktay Kavrak, Director of Communications and Strategy at Leverage Shares, a leading provider of exchange-traded products (ETPs). With over a decade in the financial industry and a CFA charter under his belt, Oktay shares a wealth of insights into the evolving world of ETPs, including how they’re reshaping modern investing.We explore everything from the rise of active ETPs to the misunderstood role of leverage in trading strategies. Oktay also talks about his personal journey, why he left the comfort of traditional finance roles, and ho...2025-05-1353 minThe Blunt DollarThomas Idzorek: How to Future-Proof Your Money in the Age of UncertaintyIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Tom Idzorek, CFA, Chief Investment Officer for Retirement at Morningstar and one of the most influential voices in modern financial planning. With a career spanning decades and awards like the Graham and Dodd Award of Excellence under his belt, Tom has consistently pushed the boundaries of how we think about portfolio theory, human capital, and retirement planning.We dive into his co-authored book, Lifetime Financial Advice, and discuss why human capital is an investor’s most overlooked asset—and how incorporating it can drastically change your inve...2025-05-061h 06The Blunt DollarFrancois Trahan: You’re Getting Markets Wrong, And Here’s Why.In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with François Trahan, one of the most respected macro strategists on Wall Street.François is a Hall of Fame-ranked Institutional Investor strategist, former head of macro research at Bernstein, BCA, and Wolfe Research, and founder of the Macro Research Institute, a program training investors to understand real-world macroeconomics.But this isn’t just about big calls and big titles. This is a conversation about conviction, cycles, and the brutal honesty required to get markets right.We dive into the moments that made...2025-04-291h 16The Blunt DollarLori Heinel: What It’s Really Like to Manage $4 TrillionIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Lori Heinel, Global Chief Investment Officer of State Street Global Advisors, who oversees over $4 trillion in assets. With 41 years of experience in finance, Lori brings unmatched depth to the conversation, from leadership and risk management to indexing, AI, and the future of investing.We explore how institutional investors influence markets, the evolving role of the CIO, and why adaptability and curiosity are crucial in today's finance world. Lori also opens up about the journey women in finance still face, the importance of st...2025-04-2253 minThe Blunt DollarWylie Tollette: What Most Investors Get Totally Wrong About RiskIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Wylie Tollette, Chief Investment Officer of Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. Wylie oversees over $160 billion in multi-asset portfolios and has spent his career bridging investment strategy, operations, and leadership, from CalPERS to Franklin Templeton.But this isn’t just a CIO talking markets. This is a conversation about trust, transparency, and the invisible infrastructure that makes long-term investing work.We dive into Wylie’s unusual path from CPA to CIO and unpack the habits, frameworks, and philosophies that have shaped his career at the h...2025-04-151h 06The Blunt DollarSébastien Page: What Federer Taught Me About MarketsIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, where he oversees over $500 billion in assets and leads a global team of investment professionals.But today’s conversation isn’t about markets. It’s about leadership, psychology, and what makes people thrive under pressure.We dive into Sébastien's latest book, The Psychology of Leadership, and unpack the habits, mindsets, and mental models that separate high performers from the rest.We cover:🧠 Why measurable goals can backfire🎯 How to develop master...2025-04-081h 12The Blunt DollarEric Sim: The Branding Strategy Every Finance Professional NeedsIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Eric Sim, former UBS Managing Director turned author, educator, and personal branding expert. Eric’s journey is anything but typical. He started helping his father at a hawker stall in Singapore and rose to one of the top roles in global banking. Then he pivoted again to build a personal brand that reaches millions on LinkedIn.We talk about:📈 How Eric built a personal brand while still working in investment banking📉 Why many finance professionals make branding mistakes (and how to fix them)2025-04-011h 06The Blunt DollarDavid Blanchett: The One Retirement Risk Nobody Talks AboutIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with David Blanchett, Head of Retirement Research at PGIM and one of the most respected voices in financial planning. From his early start as a certified financial planner at 21 to becoming a go-to name in retirement income research, David has spent his career challenging outdated assumptions and building better models to help people retire smarter.We get into why most retirement plans are based on flawed assumptions, how retirees actually spend their money (hint: it’s not how models say they do), and why the 4% rul...2025-03-251h 04The Blunt DollarByron Gilliam: What Crypto Can Learn from Wall Street (And Vice Versa)In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Byron Gilliam, market strategist at BlockWorks and the writer behind one of the most engaging daily newsletters in finance. Byron spent 25 years trading global equities across financial hubs like Frankfurt, London, Paris, and New York before making the jump into crypto.We talk about what led him to shift from trading to writing, how explaining crypto to traditional finance professionals changed his perspective, and why financial markets keep making the same mistakes.We also cover: 🚀 How speculation in crypto compares to past...2025-03-181h 04The Blunt DollarPatrick DeBattista: The Financial Literacy Crisis and the Truth About MoneyIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Patrick DeBattista, CFA, CPA, and financial educator, who is on a mission to democratize financial knowledge. With over 200 workshops delivered across Europe, a growing social media presence, and a leading role in Malta’s national initiative on financial education, Patrick is redefining how people approach money.We dive deep into the financial literacy crisis, why only 34% of adults pass a basic financial test, and the shocking misconceptions about money management that even professionals struggle with.Patrick shares his take on:💡 The most harmful finan...2025-03-1155 minThe Blunt DollarTed Merz: 32 Years at Bloomberg & the Future of Financial MediaImagine working 32 years at Bloomberg.Now picture shaping how millions of professionals consume financial news.Now imagine:↳ Working closely with Mike Bloomberg.↳ Leading AI-driven initiatives before AI was even a buzzword.↳ Pioneering the integration of Twitter into the Bloomberg Terminal.That’s Ted Merz, CFA.In this episode of The Blunt Dollar podcast, we dive into his journey.From faxes and newspapers to real-time market intelligence, algorithmic trading, and the future of financial media.What was Bloomberg’s secret to staying unchallenged for decades?2025-03-041h 07The Blunt DollarReda Farran: Retail Investing, AI & Market TruthsIn this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I'm joined by Reda Farran, a seasoned finance professional with over 12 years of experience in the industry. From his early days as a sell-side analyst to his current role at Finimize, where he simplifies complex financial concepts for retail investors, Reda has seen firsthand how markets and investing have evolved.We dive deep into:1) The democratization of finance and how retail investors are reshaping markets.2) How to filter through financial noise on social media and find reliable investment insights.3) The rise of A...2025-02-251h 03The Blunt DollarAnthony Cheung: How to Break Into Finance (For Real)In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Anthony Cheung, Chief Content & Culture Officer at AmplifyME, podcast host, and finance educator, to talk about his journey from a small-town upbringing in a rest home to a career navigating high-stakes financial markets. We get into his early days as a trader, the lessons he learned from working alongside old-school finance pros, and how he now helps students break into the industry without a traditional finance background.We also chat about market narratives, imposter syndrome, the cutthroat nature of trading desks, and whether AI is a...2025-02-161h 06