Show from 09/19/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz is joined live from Mallorca by Pierre Debru, Head of Research at WisdomTree Europe, to explore shifting investor sentiment across the continent. Pierre discusses how European investors are reallocating away from the US and toward domestic equities and thematics like defense, nuclear, and rare earths, fueled in part by a weaker dollar. He outlines the renewed interest in defense investing spurred by NATO's 5% GDP spending target, as well as the long-term outlook for Europe’s political and fiscal stability across markets like Greece, Poland, and Italy. The conversation covers capital efficiency, the need for diversification through gold and crypto, and the rise of thematic exposure to quantum computing and AI-related infrastructure. (30:17) Professor Siegel and Kevin Flanagan join to analyze the Fed’s latest 25 basis point rate cut. Professor Siegel emphasizes the strength of the consumer, upward revisions to GDP forecasts, and unity within the Fed despite differing views reflected in the dot plots. He critiques the current path of policy, pointing to lingering inflation concerns from tariffs and the need for further rate cuts amid signs of softening in the labor market. Siegel also discusses falling mortgage premiums, the resilience of housing and business investment, and how investment incentives and AI are likely to benefit small-cap firms over time.

Pierre Debru on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-debru/

Kevin Flanagan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-flanagan-wt/

WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 09/12/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel analyze the recent inflation data, highlighting the implications for next week’s pivotal Fed meeting. The Professor suggests a 25-basis-point rate cut is likely, but notes that a weak retail sales report could justify a 50-basis-point move. He emphasizes the importance of the September dot plot in gauging Fed sentiment and explores the limited current impact of tariffs on inflation metrics, despite market anticipation. Siegel also points to diverging signals in the CPI and PPI reports and the potential for dissenting votes within the Fed as signs of growing internal debate. (9:28) Jeremy is joined by Sam Rines, Jeff Weniger, and Chris Gannatti for a dynamic discussion covering Fed expectations, political volatility, and macroeconomic developments. The team examines Oracle’s massive AI-linked bookings and its potential to reshape the software sector, discusses how manufacturers are navigating tariffs with pricing power, and reflects on potential Supreme Court developments that could spark a surprise fiscal stimulus. They dive into early innings of AI adoption, exploring how government policy, private innovation, and breakthroughs in biotech and quantum computing may drive future productivity. The group discusses European defense spending as a de-risked investment theme and the rising significance of Asian defense budgets, particularly in Japan, India, and South Korea. They close with commentary on under-owned trades like gold and Japanese equities, the challenge of disrupting entrenched players in healthcare, and optimism around innovation driving long-term growth despite short-term valuation concerns.

WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 09/05/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the latest job report, which showed weaker-than-expected numbers, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare. The Professor highlights that while the household survey showed a gain, it's too volatile to weigh heavily. He emphasizes that the labor market is softening, which aligns with the bond market's pricing-in of rate cuts at upcoming Fed meetings. Siegel also notes productivity data remains unimpressive despite a recent bounce and reiterates his belief that equity markets remain in a bull phase, supported by anticipated rate cuts and broader AI optimism. (11:51) Jeremy is then joined by Sam Rines and Jeff Weniger, who analyze consumer behavior through companies like Costco and Lululemon, noting that middle- and upper-income consumers remain resilient. They dive into the struggles of traditional staples like Kraft-Heinz and Pepsi, which are facing breakup speculation and activist investor pressure, while also discussing historical examples of value creation through corporate spin-offs. The conversation expands to gold and gold miners, which are benefiting from central bank buying, falling interest rates, and improved operational efficiencies. In the second half of the episode, Blake Heimann and Chris Gannatti join to unpack insights from a tech conference, highlighting AI infrastructure trends, chip supply dynamics, and the rising relevance of companies like NVIDIA, Broadcom, and SoftBank. They also explore pressures in the software sector from private competitors and ongoing leadership transitions. The group discusses how firms are building agentic AI workflows atop specialized datasets, creating opportunities and risks as Big Tech integrates AI across platforms. The show closes with a detailed conversation on AI compute economics, GPU payback cycles, and the sustainability of massive CapEx spending in AI infrastructure.

Blake Heimann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeheimann/?originalSubdomain=uk

WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 09/01/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz travels across Indiana with Brandon Zick, CIO of Ceres Partners, as they explore farmland investments following WisdomTree’s acquisition announcement of Ceres. Brandon and Jeremy dive into the fundamentals of farmland investing, including its inflation-hedging characteristics, active property sourcing strategies, and the portfolio's strong historical returns. They also discuss the optionality in farmland from uses like solar, wind, and data centers, the role of dairy and biodiesel, and the impact of tariffs, labor dynamics, and energy policies on farm operations and profitability.

Guest: Brandon Zick is responsible for managing all investments at Ceres Partners, including Ceres Farms flagship farmland fund and Ceres Food & Agriculture private equity strategies. In this role he supervises valuation analysis, acquisition/investment due diligence, portfolio and tenant management, and acquisition negotiations and execution. Prior to joining Ceres in 2010, Mr. Zick served as Vice President of Strategic Acquisitions at Morgan Stanley Investment Management where he performed due diligence, valuation analysis, deal negotiation and execution of strategic business transactions. Previously, he worked as a senior associate of investor relations at Morgan Stanley, and Brandon began his career as a finance associate at Lehman Brothers.Brandon currently serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Council and the Small Business, Agriculture & Labor sub-council. Mr. Zick is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in finance and a Japanese concentration and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. Mr. Zick grew up on a family dairy and crop farm in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Brandon Zick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-zick-394a5310

WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/29/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the PCE inflation data coming in exactly as expected, a surprising widening in the July trade deficit, and the implications of upcoming employment data on the Fed's decision-making. The Prof suggests a 25 basis point cut is likely unless job numbers are unexpectedly weak. (14:22) Jeremy is joined by Sean Avory, CIO of Avory Co, who shares his constructive view on markets, discusses opportunities in small and mid-cap equities, and outlines his firm's high-conviction investment strategies across public and private markets. The conversation highlights themes such as AI infrastructure, data-driven investing, and identity verification as a key growth sector. Sean also offers insight on valuation dislocations caused by passive investing trends and the role active ETFs may play going forward.

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/22/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel react to Powell’s dovish shift in tone, with the Professor characterizing it as a clear pivot towards rate cuts. Siegel emphasizes that inflationary pressures driven by tariffs are likely to be treated as one-time increases and ignored by the Fed, while the labor market becomes the primary focus going forward. He outlines a forecast of 75 basis points of cuts by early next year, contingent on labor conditions, and notes that falling long-term yields could significantly ease mortgage rates, supporting continued strength in equities. (28:36) Jeremy continues with Samuel Rines live from Margate, where they examine how corporate earnings, particularly from Walmart and Ross stores, reveal that consumers remain active despite rising prices. However, they caution that tariff impacts are starting to show up in margins, especially for small caps, which have already been under pressure from high interest rates. The conversation turns to sector positioning, including renewed strength in defense stocks amid European geopolitical developments, and optimism around Japan’s equity markets driven by favorable global policies and undervaluation. They also discuss the role of government involvement in strategic industries like semiconductors, the equity premium in Japan versus the U.S., and how policy changes are reshaping investment flows. Sam concludes that managing margins, not revenues, will be the critical driver of equity performance over the next 6 to 12 months, especially as companies navigate cost pressures without triggering political backlash.

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/15/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel unpacked a busy week of economic news, starting with an analysis of the CPI and PPI data. The Professor highlighted how headline inflation may appear elevated due to one-off components like portfolio management fees but emphasized that key metrics feeding into the Fed’s preferred PCE deflator remained tame. He also reiterated his longstanding view that the Fed should not react to tariff-induced inflation and spotlighted next week's Jackson Hole speech from Jerome Powell as a pivotal moment for monetary policy. (12:17) Jeremy continued the show with Sam Rines and the Wisdom Tree team, exploring the implications of the Trump-Putin summit, the enduring global defense spending cycle, and the long-term impact of defense innovation on technology. They analyzed inflation indicators, alternative shelter metrics, and sector reactions, including defense, AI, housing, and chipmakers. The conversation closed with reflections on earning season surprises, small-cap sensitivity to Fed policy, and geopolitical dynamics shaping tech and energy infrastructure.

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/08/25

Host Chris Gannatti and Professor Siegel discuss Trump’s recent Fed nominations, labor market weakness, and the likelihood of a September rate cut. The Professor notes seasonal market risks in late August, continued strength in AI-driven tech earnings, and trade tensions impacting India, which he views as a potential buying opportunity. He also highlights his new article on the challenges of conducting monetary policy under the current interest-on-reserves system. (12:18) Chris continues with Samuel Rines, and Jeff Wenninger, exploring India’s oil trade dynamics with Russia, Trump’s geopolitical tactics, and the broader implications for markets. The conversation shifts to the Fed’s outsized influence, the economics of premium credit cards, and potential competition from stablecoins. They close with thoughts on airline travel trends, the energy demands of AI infrastructure, and big tech’s strategies in AI deployment and monetization.

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/01/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel dive into market sentiment following Powell's recent remarks. The Professor discusses the Fed's hawkish stance, Powell's views on the neutral rate, and the implications of inflation driven by tariffs. He emphasizes concern over potential delays in Fed action and critiques Powell's consistency in messaging. (29:20) Jeremy continues the show with Sam Rines, Jeff Weniger, and Chris Gannatti to break down the August jobs report, implications of the two FOMC dissents, and the Fed’s hesitancy to pivot despite softening labor data. They discuss WisdomTree’s acquisition of Series Partners and the strategic importance of farmland investment. The team also reviews earnings from major tech firms and the role of AI in driving productivity. Lastly, they assess global trade dynamics and the geopolitical implications of new tariffs, alongside potential impacts of evolving AI technologies.

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 07/25/25

Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discussed the Japan tariff deal, market optimism surrounding its announcement, and how it contributed to Japan’s stock market breakout. They analyzed the ambiguity of the deal’s financial terms and its potential geopolitical ripple effects. (27:08) Jeremy is joined by WisdomTree’s Ryan Louvar and Dovile Silenskyte for a deep dive into crypto developments. The conversation covers the Genius Act and Clarity Act’s implications for U.S. crypto regulation, the growing U.S. adoption of stablecoins, and the potential impact on blockchain infrastructure. They also explore parallels between the ETF and digital asset ecosystems, stablecoin usage in retail, and evolving European regulatory dynamics.

Guest: Ryan Louvar has over 25 years of legal and business experience with deep expertise in ETFs, digital assets, tokenization, and financial innovation. He currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Digital Assets at WisdomTree, where he oversees legal, risk, and compliance functions and helps drive the firm’s leadership in tokenized real-world assets through its WisdomTree Prime® mobile app and WisdomTree Connect™ web platform. Mr. Louvar also leads WisdomTree’s regulatory and legislative policy advocacy, supporting its mission to innovate within financial services and asset management.

Dovile Silenskyte is a director of digital assets research at WisdomTree. Before joining WisdomTree in May 2024, Dovile worked as an index equity product strategist at BlackRock. Currently, she is responsible for conducting analyses for in-house digital assets publications and assisting the sales team with client queries about products and markets. Dovile holds an MSc in Finance from Texas A&M University – Commerce, and she is also a chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Ryan Louvar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlouvar/

Dovile Silenskyte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dovilesilenskyte/

Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments