UPTHINKING FINANCE

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

In this episode, I welcome back Tom Luongo, publisher of Gold, Goats, and Guns, who bridges the complex worlds of economics and geopolitics with clarity and insight. We discuss the recent turmoil in global finance, focusing on the yen carry trade and its broader implications. Tom breaks down the mechanics of carry trades, exposes the risks involved, and shares the strategic maneuvers by central banks and global financial institutions that have shaped recent market events. Tom’s expert analysis shows how these behind-the-scenes moves affect economies and policy worldwide.

Y...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

This episode is my reflection on nearly four decades in the financial services industry. I want to share some of the most important lessons I’ve learned—from portfolio management missteps and tax planning pitfalls, to the value of flexibility, liquidity, and real client relationships. Over the past four decades, the financial industry has evolved enormously, and these days, experience and adaptability matter when you’re building a practice rooted in trust and personal connection may outshine growth-at-all-costs strategies.

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Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

In this Step One edition, we tackle one of the most pressing topics for the younger generation: homeownership. With home prices rising dramatically faster than incomes, buying a home today requires more thoughtful planning, saving, and strategy than ever before.

We explore the reality of the home-buying journey, break down the economics behind the decision, and discuss the psychological and social factors at play. Whether you’re contemplating purchasing a home, thinking about renting long-term, or considering alternative living arrangements, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons to help y...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

On the show this week, I’m joined by Larry Reddell, Partner at St. James Investment Company, to discuss the changing landscape of investing and financial stewardship. We explore the enduring principles of long-term, value-oriented investing in a market that can feel saturated with speculation and passive strategies. Larry shares his experience on the importance of independent thinking and a commitment to client trust, and digs into the lessons learned from market bubbles and the implications of global economic shifts.

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Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

The enduring wisdom of financial planning often revolves around diversification(1). Yet, as highlighted in this episode of Upthinking Finance™, the ways we balance portfolios—and the very assumptions underpinning traditional advice—may be overdue for review. We’re focusing on the critical importance of risk management for investors, especially in the years leading up to retirement, and on how past market conditions may not reflect what lies ahead. My guest, Mike Philbrick, shares his thoughts on the shift from decades of falling interest rates and stable inflation to a more volatile e...

As AI tools continue to develop, prompting equal measures of optimism and apprehension, we explore their profound impact on our lives—from the opportunities it creates to the risks it poses.

Global Futurist and Foresight Consultant John Smart joins us to examine how AI is not just a technological leap but an extension of humanity’s collective wisdom and decision-making. We discuss practical uses of AI in everyday life, its potential to enhance or erode critical thinking skills, and the ethical and personal boundaries we have to navigate as individuals and professionals.

You will...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

For many young people today, money feels confusing, stressful, and often out of reach. Between rising living costs, debt, and uncertainty about the future, it’s no surprise that financial planning can feel overwhelming. In this episode of UpThinking Finance, we cut through the noise with a refreshingly simple approach: a three-step framework designed to help you feel more in control of your money—without sacrificing your present lifestyle.

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In this episode, we’re joined by metals market experts from Aberdeen Investments, Bob Minter, Director of Investment Strategy, and Dan Magnusson, Senior Director of Mutual Fund Operations, to break down the dramatic movements in the precious and industrial metals markets over the past year.

They take you through the cyclical history of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper, exploring what’s behind their recent surges, shifting correlations, and the complex global forces at play. Bob and Dan demystify how rising geopolitical tensions, evolving central bank policies, and the global race for electrification are rewriting old market rule...

I welcome back market analyst, former hedge fund manager, and author Alex Krainer to discuss the intersection of global finance, organized crime, and geopolitical intrigue. We explore headline-grabbing scandals like the Epstein list and their far-reaching implications on economic and political systems in the UK, Europe, and beyond.

Alex breaks down the hidden machinations of money laundering, offshore banking, and the underbelly of globalized crime networks, connecting the dots between historical cover-ups, bank settlements, and power players in government and finance. The conversation also includes the collapse of public trust in institutions, the emergence of alternative power...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

We welcome back Julia C. Hermann, Global Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, for a wide-ranging conversation on the 2026 economic outlook. We’re discussing the key macro trends shaping the future, from the ongoing AI boom and its comparison to the dot-com era, to the Federal Reserve's policy moves, the impact of tariffs and inflation, and the fast-evolving global geopolitical landscape.

Julia offers a balanced perspective, exploring why the current environment may feel at odds with headlines about global chaos, and how investors can think about risk, portfolio construction, and...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked 

On the show this week, we’re exploring the real-life transitions and perspectives around retirement and life after work. In this episode, we’re joined by a diverse panel, Vicki Goodman, Darci Fersch, Cookie Talmage, Howard Lenoble, Joy Lunt, and Con Haffmans, who open up about their own journeys, challenges, and share their words of wisdom surrounding retirement.

You’ll hear a spectrum of views: some embrace the idea of retirement, while others challenge its very concept, redefining it as a time for pursuing passions, creativity, or simply maintaining purpose. Whether i...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

Is the energy transition really leaving oil and gas behind, or is the story more complicated? In this episode, Emerson sits down with Simon Lack, CFA, Managing Partner at SL Advisors and veteran of more than four decades in investment management, to unpack what is actually happening inside the midstream energy space.

Simon draws on his experience as an investor, author, and board member of the CFA Society in Naples, Florida to walk through the history of MLPs, the painful reset after 2014, and why he believes natural gas and energy in...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

In this episode of Upthinking Finance, we’re joined by returning guest Alex Krainer, a former hedge fund manager, market analyst, and outspoken commentator on global affairs, who shares candid perspectives on looming global tensions and his personal mission to help others understand the forces shaping our economic and political landscape.

We discuss the fragility of current international alliances, the unraveling of the European Union, the global “darkness before the dawn”, from the U.S.-Russia relationship to the mechanics of debt-driven economies, and the importance of grassroots businesses in restorin...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

Most retirement planning tends to focus on the financial side, but on this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we welcome Dr. Sara Yogev, clinical psychologist and author of “A Couple’s Guide to Happy Retirement and Aging.” We’re digging into the often-overlooked emotional and psychological aspects of transitioning into retirement.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience, Dr. Yogev unpacks why psychological preparation is just as important as financial security, and sometimes even more challenging. We explore why retirement represents one of life’s biggest transitions, the stages most people experience, and the surpri...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

Melissa Ciummei, an independent investor and researcher in Northern Ireland, joins us on Upthinking Finance™ to take a global look at the rapidly evolving world of digital currencies, digital IDs, and the shifting economic landscape.

We discuss the push for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the EU, UK, and US, explaining how digital identity is becoming an essential precursor for programmable money and increased financial oversight.

The discussion digs into the societal impacts of these technologies, exploring everything from privacy concerns and geopolitical pressures to generational shifts in v...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked 

Today's guest is Kristian Kerr, who is the head of macro Strategy at LPL Finance. Before joining LPL, he was the Western region head of foreign exchange and macro at City Private Bank. Before that, he spent a number of years in New York as a global hedge fund manager and is also head of various strategy and trading roles at other global financial institutions. 

Kristian believes investment strategy should be both data-driven and guided by human expertise. He says that this balance creates a more dynamic, flexible, and effective inve...

Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

Today, we have the opportunity to learn more about Emerson Fersch as he shares his personal story, interviewed by Amy LeNoble. Discover more about how Emerson got started in finance, his convictions in business and life, and the experiences that shaped them. 

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Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

Today’s guest is Charles Hugh Smith, a returning voice of insight and critique. As the founder of the long-running blog OfTwoMinds and a published author, Charles has explored the intersections of society, economics, and technology since 2005. His thought-provoking work is featured across platforms, including Patreon and Substack. Today's interview explores how growing economic inequality and loss of opportunity in America have fueled cultural fragmentation, political polarization, and a crisis of identity, creating a need for value-driven social change.

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Upthinking Finance™ is now trademarked

It’s a pleasure to welcome back to the show, Mr. Alex Krainer, a highly respected expert in finance and economics. A former hedge fund manager and portfolio manager, Alex is also the founder of I-System Trend Following, an innovative strategy focused on market trends. 

He’s authored several books on market dynamics and economic trends, and his insights are in high demand, often featured on podcasts worldwide. Beyond his professional success, Alex is a devoted father of two. Today, we’re excited to have him return to share his expertise...

I’m excited to welcome Julia Hermann, CFA, Global Market Strategist at New York Life Investments, to today’s episode. As a director on the Global Market Strategy team, Julia provides valuable economic research, asset allocation insights, and thought leadership that help guide investment decisions. She’s also the co-host of the “Market Matters” podcast.

Before joining New York Life, Julia worked as a Global Market Strategist for an emerging markets equity fund. She’s a CFA Charterholder, a summa cum laude graduate from the University of Notre Dame, and holds a Master’s in International Economics from Johns Hop...

In this episode of UPThinking Finance™, Chris Hoke shares the story behind Underground Ministries, an organization dedicated to helping incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society. Also joining us is Corrina Lozano, a former participant whose journey of struggle and redemption highlights the transformative power of the ministry’s support. Through their key programs—gang outreach and One Parish, One Prisoner—Underground Ministries is making a lasting impact on individuals and communities alike.

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How do we reinvigorate a global resistance that seems to have lost its way? In this thought-provoking episode of UPThinking Finance®, John Waters reflects on the challenges facing modern movements for change. 

Drawing comparisons to the unity and purpose of past revolutions, like the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Waters questions why today’s resistance struggles to attract artists, intellectuals, and the broader public. He argues that fear, gatekeeping, and fragmentation have stifled the creative voices essential for meaningful progress.

Waters offers a hopeful perspective, urging us to reclaim faith in humanity's potential for redemption and change. By f...

Today’s guest is economist Lyn Alden, an independent analyst and founder of Lyn Alden-Investment Strategy, where she publishes monthly research reports for both retail and institutional investors. 

With a background in electrical engineering and a master’s in engineering management specializing in financial modeling, Lyn excels at breaking down complex economic trends into plain English. 

She is also a general partner at Ego Death Capital and the author of the 2023 bestseller “Broken Money,” which examines the evolution of money through the lens of technology. In this episode, Lyn offers her perspective on the macroeconomic factors shapi...

Today, I want to share a message of hope—one that invites us to reflect on what progress truly looks like in our world today and how it should look moving forward. To help explore this topic, I’m joined by my business partner, Amy LeNoble, and returning guest Charles Hugh Smith.

Charles has been writing about social, economic, and technological trends since 2005 on his widely followed blog. He’s also the author of several thought-provoking books, including his most recent, “Mythology of Progress, Anti-Progress, and a Mythology for the 21st Century.”

In this episode, Charles cha...

In today’s episode, we dive into the significance of the 2024 Presidential Election. While every election impacts the country, this one feels especially critical, with far-reaching consequences that extend beyond U.S. borders.

Our guest is Alex Krainer, a former hedge fund manager, market analyst, and creator of the I-System trend-following model. With his unique global perspective, we explore the potential implications of this election on both the U.S. and the world.

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Today's episode is for anyone interested in learning about the intricacies of investing in the financial markets. Are you wondering what the fiat currency system is, or are you curious about how financial analysis works? 

We explore perspectives on the currency market and how it impacts investment strategies. We discuss the complex relationships between financial concepts that influence the value of currency. We discuss quantitative analysis and how leveraging it can help maximize investment portfolios.

Charles Ashley, a portfolio manager at Catalyst Funds, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and an M...

Is the U.S. economy heading for a crisis, or is it still the safest bet in the global marketplace?

Peter Cavelti, an expert with over 50 years of experience in investment and geopolitical analysis, returns to talk about the Fed's recent rate cut, the future of the U.S. dollar, and global economic shifts.

In our wide-ranging conversation, Peter goes pretty deep into why predictions of the dollar's imminent collapse might be exaggerated. Plus we talk about the rising influence of the BRICS nations, and how the United States' debt burden could lead to significant...

A common theme among the guests of UPThinking Finance™ is that the global economy is derailing, and wealth and inequality are leading us to a day of reckoning. However, this sense is not just about monetary implications—there is a spiritual element as well. 

There’s a concern that a personal consciousness or self-awareness is needed to create a global transformation. My guest, Emma Slade, is here to talk about her transformative shift from being a global chartered financial analyst to a Buddhist Monk.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...<...

How will the upcoming US elections impact the geopolitical landscape? We recently saw an attempt on former President Trump’s life. Biden “bowed out” of running for another term. How does that play a role in upcoming elections? We’ve seen and continue to see the pollution of elections worldwide. Will things change? John Waters and Alex Krainer return to discuss the current geopolitical landscape in episode #59 of UPThinking Finance™.

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What is the status of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)? How could creating global division ultimately lead to humanity’s loss of control? How can we open our eyes and really see what’s going on before it’s too late? 

In this episode of UpThinking Finance™, Melissa Ciummei—an independent investor and researcher in Northern Ireland—returns to revisit CBDCs, the balance of power, and what individuals can do to fight for their freedom. 

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Tom Luongo is a former research chemist and part-time goat farmer. He publishes the “Gold Goats ‘N Guns” blog, a monthly newsletter, and records podcasts. His work is also published in Bitcoin magazine and syndicated regularly on sites like ZeroHedge, Investing.com, etc. Tom has a unique way of connecting geopolitical dots. In this episode of UPThinking Finance™, I pick his brain about some of the latest things he’s written about. 

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Cynthia Chung’s education taught her that energy consumption is destroying our world. It taught her that the hole in our ozone layer was growing. It taught her that the destruction of rainforests was wreaking havoc on humanity. Industry was portrayed as something that killed anything it touched.

Cynthia’s research paints a far different picture. Cynthia dives into the fallacy of green energy in her docuseries, “Escaping Calypso’s Island.” 

In her series, Cynthia points out that our entire lives revolve around energy usage. Access to the best medical care, nutritious food, clean water, and adequat...

Richard Laterman is a Portfolio Manager at ReSolve Asset Management, Inc. with 18 years of investment experience in capital markets. He has the unique ability to take complex information and boil it down into something concise and understandable. 

In his role, he provides us with invaluable information about geopolitical events, economic events, and the markets. In this conversation, we get Richard’s opinion on the world, the drive to embrace alternative strategies, and the necessity of leaning into discomfort. 

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Can we find an answer to the world’s ills? Is a return to a gold standard feasible? Can we keep our current system from imploding? Do we even want to? In this conversation, Charles Hugh Smith gets into the weeds on the socioeconomic issues we’re facing. We talk about whether or not a new economic system is the answer or if a focus on relocalization and self-reliance may be key to inciting change.

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Inflation continues to rise. Interest rates are at 30-year highs. Gold is at all-time highs. There’s geopolitical conflict and confusion everywhere. Yet most global equity markets continue to go up. Where do you turn to get rational analysis, advice, or opinions? 

Today’s guest brings three decades of experience to the equation. Charles Heenan is the Co-Investment Director at Kennox Asset Management. He’s adopted a distinct value approach to global investing over the last 30 years. He shares some insight into global investing (and why it’s important to diversify internationally) in this episode of UPThinking Finance™...

Kevin Flanagan started his career as a Fed watcher i.e. money market economist working on the trading floor. As a fixed-income strategist, he looks at things from a broad perspective because numerous things impact the bond market—economics, geopolitics, elections, etc. All play a role in how the bond market and interest rates are developed. 

He found it fascinating that you could look at the past and present to gain insight into the future. Kevin joins me in this episode of UPThinking Finance™ to shed some light on this confusing topic. 

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This episode marks the second anniversary of UPThinking Finance™. Alex Krainer was our guest for our first anniversary, so it made perfect sense to invite him back again. In this episode of UPThinking Finance™, he speaks on both financial topics and the ever-changing geopolitical landscape. 

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Our thoughts and ideas are being molded through the clever use of psychology. Our enemies aren’t generals and admirals but behavioral scientists and psychologists. They know how the brain operates and how to manipulate it. 

In 2010, after years in the music industry, DJ Mark Devlin underwent a “conscious awakening.” He started to study the mainstream music industry and how A-list artists have been used to manipulate and mind-control the masses. 

In 2016, He published “Musical Truth: Exposing the Mind-Control Manipulations of the Corporate Music Industry.” We discuss how humanity is being manipulated through music and popular cult...

The media is completely disconnected from reality. We’ve all known it for a while. The challenge becomes—if we don’t trust the news—where do we source information? How do we filter it? How do we discern the truth? 

When did spreading propaganda begin? When did the news become a source we could no longer trust? Michelle Stiles wrote the book, “One Idea To Rule Them All: Reverse Engineering American Propaganda,” to answer these questions. It’s written to expose the realities of the world we live in, in terms of the role of propaganda and manipulatio...

If there was ever an industry where history repeats itself, finance is at the top of the list. Russell Napier has worked in investing for over 30 years. He’s written exceptional books, including “The Anatomy of the Bear” and “The Asian Financial Crisis.” He’s the Founder and Course Director for the Practical History of Financial Markets, an online course at the Edinburgh Business School. 

In 2014, he founded the charitable venture, “The Library of Mistakes,” a business and financial history library based in Scotland with branches in India and Switzerland. They recently threw their “Mistake of the Year Awards.” Liste...