Embark with us on a financial expedition through Asian markets. We are joined by Dr. James Thorne of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, who guides us through a landscape rich with both promise and peril.

We evaluate how Japan's strategic regional alliance with the U.S. and Australia, plus the sustained market reform tailwind from the Three Arrows of Abenomics, opens up new investment opportunities with Japanese firms. We also briefly consider India’s opportunities.

We consider, by contrast, how China’s Communist Party ideology, plus China-U.S. trade and technology tensions, has limited the returns investors can reap from investing in Chinese stocks.

We then turn to Taiwan, whose Taiwan Semiconductor fabricates many of the world’s most advanced chips, including those supporting the new world of AI.

As tensions simmer across the Taiwan Strait, we align with the view that outright warfare is an unlikely prospect—yet the specter of conflict looms, with potential to unsettle markets worldwide.

We scrutinize Taiwan’s informal
regional security alliances and the strategic prowess of Taiwan's defenses, which stand as a bulwark against aggression.

Beyond the immediate horizon, we ponder Asia's broader geopolitical and economic risks, the potential for internal upheaval within China, and the ramifications of debt entanglement among global superpowers.

Join Clem Miller and Steve Davenport, alongside Dr. Thorne, as we navigate the intricate interplay of military might, economic interconnectedness, and the catalysts that could ignite a shift in the Asia-Pacific region.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Embark on an expansive journey to travel through the economic and political landscape of Europe and the Middle East, including a foray into energy geopolitics, with the esteemed Dr. James Thorne and our seasoned co-hosts Clem Miller and Steve Davenport.

We reflect on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine cut off the supply of cheap energy to European industries, damaging their competitiveness, and upended global energy markets.

We highlight North America’s emergent status as an energy superpower. We illuminate the importance of cheap electricity—not just for households but as a catalyst propelling cutting-edge technologies, namely AI.

We consider investment opportunities with globally oriented European stocks.

We also consider prospects within the oil services sector, the increased demand for uranium as an alternative fuel source, and the potential boon for the defense industry as Western militaries rebuild their weapons supplies.

Last, we broaden our discussion by confronting the burgeoning debt levels and higher bond yields that shadow Western economies, the role of China and Japan in holding such debt, and the potential long-term financial repercussions of such heavy debt loads.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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In this episode, Clem Miller and Steve Davenport address a key investor question: Just how actionable is the economists’ and strategists’ standard playbook of intense “Fed Watching”?

Steve and Clem challenge the myopic view, reinforced by business media, that somehow the Fed is an all-seeing puppeteer controlling U.S. and global financial markets.

Steve and Clem point out that for investors to make any money on Fed decisions depends on their being able to make quick macro trades on non-consensus views on inflation rates and employment. And even then, the chances of success are minimal.

Steve and Clem stress that they favor buy-and-hold investing, where earnings, corporate structures, and capital allocation, among other fundamentals sculpt stock performance, outweighing the influence of the Fed’s short-term interest rate adjustments.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Prepare to peer into the crystal ball of technology's future as Clem Miller and Steve Davenport, dissect Alphabet's latest developer conference bombshell, the generative AI phenomenon Gemini. This episode reveals how Alphabet's AI brainchild is shaping up to be core to the evolution of Google Search, Android, and other Alphabet products, giving OpenAI a run for its money. We'll navigate the intricate dance of AI and hardware, examining Alphabet's budding alliance with NVIDIA and their homegrown Tensor Trillium chips. Stick with us to understand why these strategic moves by Alphabet could usher in an era where AI's reach is vast and unbounded, as we speculate on how this could redefine the competitive tech landscape.

Then, we pivot to dissect the shockwaves that a TikTok ban in the U.S. could send through the digital ecosystem, possibly catapulting YouTube Shorts and Meta's Facebook Reels into the spotlight. Clem and I scrutinize the contrasting tech competition philosophies of the U.S. and EU, offering our take on the EU's use of its competition policy to defend small businesses. We'll also break down Alphabet's current market stronghold, diving into its financial vigor and the audacious 'reach projects' that could redraw the boundaries of tech innovation. Get ready for a riveting evaluation of how Alphabet's integration of AI into personal tech could solidify its avant-garde status, and why this juggernaut remains an unshakeable presence in our investment portfolios.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Unlock the secrets behind the meme stock madness. Steve Davenport and Clem Miller take a whirlwind tour through the rise and reign of stocks like AMC and GameStop, dissecting the cult followings these companies have garnered, thanks in part to mysterious Reddit icons such as Roaring Kitty. We contrast these phenomena with giants like Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, and Nvidia, and ponder whether zeal among their investors brand them as semi-meme stocks. Delving deeper, we discuss how the meme stock surge—propelled by pandemic lockdowns and fiscal stimulus—continues to warp the investment world, weaving in the tales of Bitcoin and the Trump Media and Technology Group to showcase just how sentiment can outweigh solid fundamentals.

The line between sound investment and sheer speculation has never been more blurred than in the era of meme stocks. Amidst our conversation, we tackle the role of social media in steering investment choices and stress the vital importance of grasping a company's core financial health. Steve and Clem discuss the high-stakes game of options and leverage, and how such strategies can shape or shatter the investment outlook of a generation. As we close, we reflect on the uphill battle for credible, sound financial advice in a world where the siren song of swift financial gains echoes across the web, challenging the trust in conventional financial wisdom. Tune in for an episode that promises not just insights but a roadmap through the tempest of today's market trends.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Skeptic’s Guide to Investing hosts Frazer Rice, the seasoned Director of Family Office Services at Next Capital Management and author of "Wealth, Actually”. Fraser helps us explore complexities of wealth management. Peer into the holistic approach required to harmonize investments, cash flow, and estate planning with your personal values—a symphony of strategies tailored for everyone from the mass affluent to the ultra high net worth. Frazer shares his emphasis on the power of meaningful conversations with clients.

We dissect the allure of private equity and hedge funds for personal portfolios and take a critical look at the role of active management in today's market dynamics. Through our dialogue with Frazer, we also tackle the art and science of portfolio construction, weighing the merits and challenges of various investment vehicles and the impact of fees on the bottom line.

Finally, we tackle the intricate dance between tax planning, estate strategies, and family dynamics, where the technical intertwines with the personal. Our conversation sheds light on preparing for potential shifts in tax legislation and the nuances of preserving wealth across generations. We leave you with a clearer vision of choosing a wealth management firm or family office that aligns with your financial aspirations, driven by transparency, comprehensive understanding, and a lifelong commitment to learning.

Join us for this enlightening journey through the multifaceted terrain of wealth management, where clarity and strategy lead to financial security.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Unlock the secret to smarter investment decisions as Steve Davenport and I celebrate the groundbreaking and Nobel-winning work of Daniel Kahneman, the father of behavioral investing.

We dissect the intricate dance of human biases and investment decision-making. We bring Kahneman's legacy vividly to life, as we delve into the ways in which his psychology-rooted insights—particularly regarding loss aversion—continue to mold our financial pursuits and quest for happiness.

Picture this: your ancestors, primed for survival, have passed down instincts that still dictate today's economic behaviors. We navigate through these prehistoric impulses and their impact on our responses to modern crises, such as the recent pandemic. We also consider how AI might play a future role in management of our economic behaviors.

This episode is a compelling narrative that stitches together the fabric of our decision-making processes, from the stock market to retirement planning, revealing the often overlooked influence of behavioral economics on professional and retail investors alike.

Ending on a note of self-reflection, we embrace the concept of a utility function for happiness.. This episode is not just a journey through the mechanics of wealth accumulation but a guide to aligning financial decisions with personal contentment.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


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Unlock the secrets of gold as an investment with Steve Davenport and Clem Miller, as we venture beyond common misconceptions to reveal gold’s appropriate role. From the possibility of gold being the ultimate protector of wealth during severe economic or geopolitical upheaval, to historical instances where governments have stepped in and seized private gold holdings, we cover it all. Our conversation navigates the performance of gold versus stocks in various inflation scenarios, and we probe the motivations behind central banks and individual investors in buying and holding gold.

This episode offers guidance incorporating this precious metal into your portfolio. We delve into the appeal of gold in nations such as India and China and dissect the advantages and potential pitfalls of gold ETFs. With a sharp focus on the strategic inclusion of gold in your asset allocation, we consider just how much gold you might want to hold in your portfolio. Join us, and let’s together navigate the golden path between myth and solid investment strategy.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None


Please check out our other podcasts:

https://skepticsguidetoinvesting.buzzsprout.com