First Trust ROI Podcast
On the ROI podcast, we discuss some of the most important questions facing investment professionals today, ranging from macroeconomic views, to perspectives on the equity and fixed income markets, to insights on practice management. We aim to cut through the noise, examine the data, and provide fresh insights to investment professionals as they help their clients find better ways to invest…seeking to generate attractive returns on their investments.
Episodes
48 episodes
Ep 48 | Richard Bernstein | Where to Invest When Certainty is Scarce | ROI Podcast
Richard Bernstein draws on over four decades of investment experience to offer insights on how to navigate risks and opportunities amid soaring economic uncertainty and market volatility.
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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33:00
Ep 47 | Bob Carey | Cataracts and Cadillacs…Unpacking Equity Market Trends | ROI Podcast
Bob Carey discusses his long-term outlook for equity markets as the baby boom generation ages. He also weighs in on potential near-term drivers of equity market performance, including tariffs, regulations, and the “one big, beautiful bill...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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37:27
Ep 46 | Ron Pernick | Power and Infrastructure: Beyond the Political Narratives | ROI Podcast
Ron Pernick is the founder of Clean Edge, a firm specializing in thematic research surrounding clean energy, transportation, water, and the power grid. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of these themes and how a new administration...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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38:32
Ep 45 | Brian Wesbury | Trading Quarter-Zips for Farmland | ROI Podcast
Brian Wesbury shares his views on why the Trump Administration is upending global trade, why tariffs may be an insufficient cure for problems created by big government, and where the US economy is headed for the rest of 2025.
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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59:00
Ep 44 | Bob Stein | Tariffs, Taxes, and Trade: Decoding the New Administration | ROI Podcast
Bob Stein provides perspective on likely economic outcomes that may result from the evolving policy mix of the new Trump Administration. Plus…Bob shares an early peak at potential contenders for the 2028 US Presidential election.
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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45:55
Ep 43 | Bill Housey | Separating the Signal from the Noise in the Bond Market | ROI Podcast
Bill Housey explores how fixed income investors can navigate rising uncertainty—from trade policies to inflation and beyond—in this deep dive into the bond market’s shifting dynamics.
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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34:43
Ep 42 | Dave McGarel | Down but Not Out: New Opportunities Emerge as Equity Markets Broaden | ROI Podcast
Amid a sharp drawdown in US equities, Dave McGarel highlights the risks and opportunities that may lie on the horizon.
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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33:04
Ep 41 | Gibson Smith | Actively Managing Through Uncertain Times | ROI Podcast
Gibson Smith, founder and CEO of Smith Capital, discusses some of the unique challenges—and opportunities—facing fixed income investors today.
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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35:01
Ep 40 | Jim Murchie | Who Benefits from the Growing Power Demands of AI, Reshoring, and EVs? | ROI Podcast
Electricity demand is poised to soar after decades of slow growth, driven by AI, reshoring, and EVs. Jim Murchie, CEO and portfolio manager at Energy Income Partners, unpacks how natural gas, nuclear power, and renewables will fuel this s...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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1:01:21
Ep 39 | Brian Wesbury | Why Government Spending Cuts May Cause Short-Term Pain, But Long-Term Prosperity | ROI Podcast
Brian Wesbury explains why cutting government spending could be painful in the near-term but boost longer-term economic growth, similarities and difference between Trump and Reagan, and how he thinks about investing in an overvalued market.
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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47:52
Ep 38 | Mandeep Singh | What’s Next for Artificial Intelligence? | ROI Podcast
Mandeep Singh, Global Head of Technology Research at Bloomberg Intelligence, joins the podcast to explore how massive investments in artificial intelligence made over the past few years could drive future innovations and profits. From humanoid ...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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39:34
Ep 37 | Ryan Issakainen | Ripple Effects & Second Order Investment Opportunities Arising from AI | ROI Podcast
Companies are investing billions to build out artificial intelligence capabilities. Ryan shares First Trust’s perspective on various investment themes that may benefit—either directly or indirectly—in the years ahead.
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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24:37
Ep 36 | Paul Black and Mike Trigg | Why Culture Matters When Seeking to “Defy the Fade” for International Equities | ROI Podcast
Paul Black and Mike Trigg are portfolio managers and co-CEOs at WCM Investment Management. They join the podcast to discuss WCM’s unique path to becoming a leading global equity manager, highlighting WCM’s unconventional approach for iden...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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57:35
Ep 35 | Richard Bernstein—What Surprises Await Investors for 2025? | ROI Podcast
Richard Bernstein provides his perspective on key investment themes to watch in the year ahead, including overlooked opportunities, potential pitfalls, and the value of seeking “maximum diversification”.
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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31:36
Ep 34 | Dave Rutherford | Lessons in Leadership, Fear, and Success | ROI Podcast
Dave Rutherford has been a Navy SEAL, a contractor for Blackwater and the CIA, and performance coach. In this episode, he shares insights and strategies for pursuing excellence and overcoming fear in high-pressure environments.
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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46:14
Ep 33 | Brian Wesbury | Post-Election Economic Insights | ROI Podcast
In this episode, Brian Wesbury discusses the implications of Trump's recent election victory. Recorded the day after Election Day, Brian explores potential changes in economic and tax policies, providing insights into the future economic landsc...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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32:53
Ep 32 | Bob Stein | Election Countdown: Assessing the Odds and Outcomes | ROI Podcast
Bob Stein — As Election Day looms, Bob analyzes the probabilities of different election scenarios. Additionally, we explore how tariffs and other tax policies might affect the economy, discuss the implications of government spending, and consid...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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44:57
Ep 31 | Bill Housey | Why Have Longer-Term Interest Rates Increased Since the Fed Began Cutting Rates? | ROI Podcast
Bill Housey discusses recent dynamics in the bond market, including why longer-term interest rates have increased since the Fed began cutting rates, where we are in the economic cycle, and implications for fixed income investors.
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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27:19
Ep 30 | Dave McGarel |Broadening Markets and Factor Investing: Opportunities Amid Fed Rate Cuts | ROI Podcast
Dave McGarel provides insights on what sort of stocks are poised for long-term outperformance in light of Fed rate cuts, valuation gaps, and factor analysis.
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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33:00
Ep 29 | Bob Carey | Risks and Opportunities for Stocks When Interest Rates Decline | ROI Podcast
Ryan talks with Bob Carey about the implications of a falling interest rate environment for equity markets.
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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43:26
Ep 28 | Brian Comiskey | Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, AI/Robotics, and the New Era Of Digital Coexistence | ROI Podcast
Brian Comiskey, Senior Director at the Consumer Technology Association, joins the podcast to discuss how recent trends in technology are reshaping the spending priorities of businesses, consumers, and governments around the world.
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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50:53
EP 27 | Bob Stein | Updated Odds and Scenarios for a Reset Presidential Race | ROI Podcast
Bob Stein joins the podcast to discusses how the nomination of Kamala Harris will impact the upcoming presidential election, his thoughts on each candidate’s choice of running mate, and how elections results may impact the economy in the years ...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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59:22
Ep 26 | Chris Jeppesen | Should Financial Professionals Feel Threatened or Empowered by AI? | ROI Podcast
In this episode, Ryan talks to Chris Jeppesen, Chief of the Advisor Practice group at First Trust Chief of Advisor Consulting about what sets financial professionals apart from their peers.
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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34:04
Ep 25 | Bob Stein | Key Insights from the First Half of 2024 | ROI Podcast
In this episode, Ryan looks back at the first half of 2024, highlighting some of the key insights provided by guests of the podcast—including Bob Stein, Brian Wesbury, Jim Murchie, and Richard Bernstein. He also reveals plans for the seco...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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25:36