Think Wall Street’s rigged? This episode uncovers how two “quiet” giants—BlackRock and Vanguard—manage a combined $19 trillion+ in assets and hold majority stakes in almost 90 % of the S&P 500—yet most investors have never questioned their influence. Jason and James trace the playbook from J.P. Morgan’s 1907 panic rescue to BlackRock’s AI engine Aladdin, revealing why the system bends to a select few—and what you can do about it.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

00:17 – Why “tear down the facade” of traditional wealth advice still matters today

02:45 – The psychological pivot away from Wall Street’s comfort narrative

08:10 – BlackRock + Vanguard’s $19–22 T grip and majority ownership of 90 % of S&P 500 firms—what that means for your 401(k)

14:20 – How the Fed handed BlackRock $750 B in 2020 to “stabilize” markets—and BlackRock bought its own ETFs

22:05 – Aladdin: the proprietary AI that de-risks trillions and fuels BlackRock’s shadow power

30:40 – Money vs. power: why Larry Fink’s personal wealth is dwarfed by his influence—and how that affects policy

36:10 – Alternative paths: outrunning the “bear” by diversifying into off-Wall-Street plays

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

1. “If BlackRock were a country, it would be the biggest economy on earth.” — James
2. “In America, when you seize on chaos, you don’t become a dictator—you own a bank.” — Jason
3. “You don’t have to outrun the bear—just the slower investors still trusting autopilot 401(k)s.” — James

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS

1. Audit your retirement plan – Check which BlackRock or Vanguard funds your 401(k) automatically buys; rebalance intentionally.
2. Reallocate 10-20 % into alternatives – Consider real estate syndications, private credit, or crypto for true diversification and cash flow.
3. Follow the power, not the hype – Track policy hires and bailouts tied to BlackRock/Vanguard; they telegraph market moves.
4. Measure wealth in time – Use passive-income plays to buy back hours, not just portfolio points.
5. Keep an “Aladdin radar” – Monitor emerging AI-driven funds so you’re not the last to know where risk is being off-loaded.

BOOKS MENTIONED

• “All the Worst Humans” by Phil Elwood
• “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius
• "All The Presidents' Bankers" by Nomi Prins

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