Is it a Chain that Rules or a Chain-Chain-Chain of Fools?  We speak of Blockchain.  In Episode 95, Lex Sokolin, Global Director of Fintech Strategy for Autonomous Research, and Chris Cahill of Financial Poise Radio discuss what blockchain is, what problems it may address (re settlement of transactions, smart contracts, and even land records reform) and the threat to it of hackery.

You can learn more about Alexey Sokolin and Vanare here.

Or you can find them here:

Twitter: @LexSokolin & @vanareplatform

LinkedIn

Facebook

About Alexey Sokolin

leading research firm for the financial sector.  His mission is to help the industry serve clients better by understanding innovations like wearable technology, machine learning, bitcoin, ethereum and the blockchain, and crowd-sourced asset management. Lex has been referred to by WealthManagement.com as the "financial futurist", and was selected for the InvestmentNews  "40 under 40" and ThinkAdvisor's "IA25" lists of influencers in the investent industry.

Previously, Lex was the Chief Operating Officer of digital wealth management platform Vanare, and CEO and Founder of pioneering roboadvisor NestEgg Wealth (acquired by Vanare). Additionally, Lex was an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, and a member of the strategy team at Barclays Wealth (formerly Lehman Brothers Investment Management). He is active in the early-stage community, and advises startups on growth and market strategy.

Lex received a B.A. in Economics and Law from Amherst College, an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He also holds a Certificate in International Relations from the Five College Consortium, and a Certificate in Digital Production and New Media Studies from Middlebury College.

How do you give home owners in financial distress a way to relieve their mortgage woes? Jorge Newbery, Founder and CEO of American Homeowner Preservation, has some great options. In Episode 95 of Financial Poise Radio, he discusses many under-utilized methods that benefit both borrower and lender with host, Chris Cahill.

You can learn more about Jorge Newbery and American Homeowner Preservation here.

Or you can find him here:

LinkedIn Twitter: @JorgePNewbery   

About Jorge Newbery

Jorge P. Newbery is on a mission to help Americans crushed by unaffordable debts.

Jorge P. Newbery is Founder and CEO of American Homeowner Preservation LLC, which crowdfunds the purchase of nonperforming mortgages from banks at big discounts, then shares the discounts with struggling homeowners. A 2004 natural disaster triggered the financial collapse of Newbery's former business, leaving him with $26 million in debts he could not pay. Newbery rebuilt himself through AHP, sharing what he learned from his challenges to help families at risk of foreclosure stay in their homes. 

In episode 93 of Financial Poise Radio, our Chris Cahill and Avi Levine, of Star Funding, Inc., discuss out-of-the-box ways to finance production of goods when the customer needs them.  

You can find out more about Star Funding and Avi Levine here.

Or you can find them here:

@avilevine

@STARFunding

Linkedin: Avi Levine; Star Funding

Instagram

Slideshare

About Avi Levine

Avi specializes in finance operations and business development for manufacturers, distributors, and other wholesale organizations. Coming from roles within top brands and lifestyle companies Avi understands the dynamic wholesale trade industry inside and out. When he is not funding businesses for growth you will find him enjoying the outdoors with his wife and two beautiful daughters. Avi is currently working with STAR Funding, a leader in Purchase Order Funding to help expand their portfolio of domestic manufacturers and distributors. 

Entrepreneurs look to Avi to provide creative funding solutions for working capital and growth funding. Avi can be reached at [email protected].

Frauds! Fakes! Ponzis!  In Episode 92, Chris Cahill and Adam Hirsch, of Robinson, Curley & Clayton speak of these fascinating things, along with RICO! Restitution! and Receivers!  Adam draws upon his experience litigating business fraud cases to illustrate recoveries and defenses. See also Adam's column -- (Alleged) Frauds, Fakes and Ponzis -- on www.financialpoise.com.

You can learn more about Adam Hirsch and Robinson Curley & Clayton P.C., click here.

Or you can find them here:

Twitter: @robinsoncurley

LinkedIn: Adam Hirsch; Robinson Curley

About Adam Hirsch  

Adam Hirsch has practiced law in Chicago for more than 15 years, with a regular focus on commercial litigation. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2001, he began his legal career at Jenner & Block, LLP.  For the last 11 years, he has practiced at Robinson, Curley & Clayton, P.C., a Chicago litigation boutique that has practices in commercial, receivership and employment litigation, and employment counseling.

Hirsch represents a wide variety of clients, ranging from individuals to small business owners to large corporations.  He has a particular focus on business and investment disputes, in particular claims brought by investors relating to unregulated securities, limited partnerships and private equity investments.

Hirsch also shares his thoughts on current events and legal issues in the world of commercial fraud in his column called “(Alleged) Frauds, Fakes and Ponzis,” on FinancialPoise.com

In Episode 91, Chris Cahill and Jeff Pomerantz, President of the American Bankruptcy Institute and member of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP, discuss why retail is under stress, how Chapter 11 bankruptcy theoretically promotes operational and financial reorganization, and how developments in financing, capital structures, and supplier strategies continue to shape retailers' fortunes in bankruptcy. 

You can learn more about Jeff Pomerantz, PSZJ Law and the American Bankruptcy Institute here, here and here.

Or you can find them here:

Twitter: @Pachulski; @abiworld

LinkedIn: Jeff Pomerantz, PSZJ Law, ABI

About Jeff Pomerantz

Mr. Pomerantz is a member of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP's management committee, a co-chair of the firm's creditors' committee practice, and is resident in the firm's Los Angeles office. Mr. Pomerantz is also the president of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the largest restructuring organization in the United States. His practice includes representing companies, creditors' committees, and private equity funds in complex financial restructurings and merger-and-acquisition transactions both in and out of court. Mr. Pomerantz has particular expertise in restructurings in the energy, manufacturing, restaurant and retail sectors. He also frequently represents private equity funds in asset- acquisition transactions.

Mr. Pomerantz is a graduate of New York University (1986 Phi Beta Kappa), where he also received his J.D. (1989, Order of the Coif). He holds an AV Preeminent Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ability; has been named a "Super Lawyer" in the field of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights every year since 2009 in a peer survey conducted by Law & Politics and the publishers of Los Angeles magazine, an honor bestowed on only 5% of Southern California attorneys; and was selected by "Best Lawyers in America." Mr. Pomerantz has also been recognized as an outstanding lawyer by the preeminent publication Chambers USA every year since 2007.

The Bells of Retirement toll for thee, heh, heh. So plan. With whose help? The Department of Labor weighed in on that question with its "fiduciary rule," which has sent brokers and advisors scurrying to comply -- and which has consequences for investors. In this show, Jeff Kelley of Equity Institutional (an asset custodian) and John Drachman of Alpha Segment (a Series 7 Registered Representative) offer their perspectives.

You can learn more about Equity Institutional and Alpha Segment here and here.

Or you can find them here:

LinkedIn- Jeff Kelley & John Drachman

Twitter: @AlphaSegment

About Jeff Kelley

Jeff Kelley has over 20 years of experience in financial services operations management, and was named Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Trust in January 2008. He began his career with Sterling Trust in June of 1999 as Vice President of Qualified Plans and Institutional Group. Prior to joining Sterling Trust, Jeff was employed by Academy Capital Management as a Registered Investment Advisor, where he served as the Manager of the Operations and Trading Departments since 1991. He is an Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC) through the Society of Professional Administrators and Recordkeepers. Jeff earned a BBA in Finance/Management from Baylor University.

About John Drachman

John C. Drachman serves as team leader, senior writer, and principal of AlphaSegment, a creative group of marketing communications freelancers dedicated to meeting the marketing needs of RIAs, asset managers and financial services providers.

An IABC Gold Quill-winner for writing and publications, John has developed marketing communications initiatives for dozens of clients over three decades. He has also served in executive positions at Putnam and Pioneer Investments.  John applies his editorial skill and marketing knowledge toward crafting marketing strategies designed to help clients attract, grow and retain assets under management.  Applying sound journalistic principles to the story telling process, John has the ability to turn complex themes into compelling and actionable messages.

John is a frequent contributor to industry publications on topics related to financial technology trends, crowdfunding and alternative investments.  Most recently, he drafted articles for RIABiz and PrivateWealth. A Series 7 General Securities Agent, he is affiliated with Innovations Partners, LLC, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.

Fintech!  Episode 89 brings us Albert Periu, co-head of Capital Markets at Funding Circle, which provides secured loans to small businesses that Banks do not typically serve, while offering speed and transparency fostered by digital technology. The show looks at the borrower and the investor (in effect, the lender) perspective.

You can find out more about Albert Periu and Funding Circle here.

Or you can find them here:

Twitter: @FundingCircleUS

LinkedIn: Albert Periu; Funding Circle

Facebook

YouTube

About Albert Periu

Albert leads the Capital Markets team and is responsible for platform funding and the overall structuring, execution and distribution of Funding Circle’s offerings to institutional and accredited investors. He also serves as President of Funding Circle Securities, the affiliated broker-dealer of Funding Circle USA.

Albert was most recently a Director at Telsey Advisory Group. Previously, he spent six years as a Vice President at FBR Capital Markets working with hedge funds, family offices and asset managers on private and public transactions. Prior to that, Albert was an associate at Merrill Lynch Capital. He started his career in investment banking at Deutsche Bank in the Global Media Group. Albert received a BSBA in Finance and International Business from Georgetown University.

In Episode 88, we ask David Jarczyk, founder and CEO of KtMINE about secrets, specifically the intellectual property capabilities and strategies of business entities. Anyone sloshing through tech start-up fever swamps should harken. Jarczyk explains how he selects and analyzes IP data to get beyond company filings and management pronouncements, to say nothing of journalistic hype.

You can learn more about David Jarczyk and ktMINE here.

Or you can find them here:

Twitter: @ktMINEglobal

Google+

LinkedIn: David Jarczyk & ktMINE

YouTube

About David Jarczyk

If Jarczyk’s bio tells you anything, it’s that he loves to uncover secrets. From his love of exploring caves, tunnels, and dark alleys, to his need to uncover company strategies, Jarczyk has always been motivated by finding something new. Jarczyk set out on a journey to identify companies’ innovation strategy. That undertaking turned him into an evangelist for corporate data transparency, getting him named one of the world’s leading intellectual asset strategists.

Jarczyk recognized that intellectual assets represent up to 80% of corporate value, but that it was impossible to figure out a company's innovation strategy by reading its filings or listening to management. So he started a company to find scattered data which, once organized and connected, leads to the prediction of companies’ strategies. Taking it further, Jarczyk challenged conventional pricing models by offering data on a pay-as-you-go basis, making data accessible to small and large businesses alike. Today, David’s company collaborates with major players such as Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg, and has prominent customers in consulting, law, financial services and government. Jarczyk took ktMINE from a startup with no customers to over 5,000 global users.

David has been invited to contribute to organizations such as the UN’s WIPO, OECD, European Union and global Ministries of Finance. 

Outside of his work, Jarczyk promotes innovation by mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. David is not only involved with the LES Foundation business plan competition, but leads seminars at universities including Texas A&M, Boston University and Northwestern University.

In Episode 87, Chris Cahill and Larry Swedroe, Director of Research Buckingham Asset Management and BAM Advisor Services discuss Larry’s upcoming book, “Your Complete Guide to Factor-Based Investing: The Way Smart Money Invests Today” (co-authored with Andrew Berkin).  Larry has the gift of assimilating academic research and conveying its practical essence in a conversational, plain English manner.  The first part of this interview aired previously and can be found here.

You can find out more about Larry Swedroe and Buckingham here.

Or you can find him here:

Twitter: @larryswedroe

LinkedIn

You can find Larry's previous interviews with Financial Poise here & here.

About Larry Swedroe

Since joining the firm in 1996, Buckingham’s Director of Research Larry Swedroe has spent his time, talent and energy educating investors on the benefits of evidence-based investing with enthusiasm few can match.

Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, “The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need.” He has since authored seven more books: “What Wall Street Doesn’t Want You to Know” (2001), “Rational Investing in Irrational Times” (2002), “The Successful Investor Today” (2003), “Wise Investing Made Simple” (2007), “Wise Investing Made Simpler” (2010), “The Quest for Alpha” (2011) and “Think, Act, and Invest Like Warren Buffett” (2012).

He has also co-authored six books about investing. His latest work, “The Incredible Shrinking Alpha: And What You Can Do to Escape Its Clutches,” was co-authored with Andrew Berkin and published in January of 2015.

In his role as director of research and as a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and Board of Managers, Larry regularly reviews the findings published in dozens of peer-reviewed financial journals, evaluates the outcomes and uses the result to inform the firm’s formal investment strategy recommendations.

Larry’s dedication to helping others has made him a sought-after national speaker. He has made appearances on national television shows airing on NBC, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg Personal Finance. Larry is a prolific writer, contributing weekly to multiple outlets including MutualFunds.com and ETF.com.

Before joining Buckingham, Larry was vice chairman of Prudential Home Mortgage. He has held positions at Citicorp as senior vice president and regional treasurer, responsible for treasury, foreign exchange and investment banking activities, including risk management strategies.

Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College in New York.

In Episode 86, Chris Cahill and Larry Swedroe, Director of Research at Buckingham Asset Management and BAM Advisor Services, discuss Larry’s upcoming book, “Your Complete Guide to Factor-Based Investing: The Way Smart Money Invests Today” (co-authored with Andrew Berkin).  Larry has the gift of assimilating academic research and conveying its practical essence in a conversational, plain English manner. The second part of this interview will air at a later date.

You can find out more about Larry Swedroe and Buckingham here.

Or you can find him here:

Twitter: @larryswedroe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/larry-swedroe/8/791/59

You can find Larry's previous interviews with Financial Poise here & here.

About Larry Swedroe

Since joining the firm in 1996, Buckingham’s Director of Research Larry Swedroe has spent his time, talent and energy educating investors on the benefits of evidence-based investing with enthusiasm few can match.

Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, “The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need.” He has since authored seven more books: “What Wall Street Doesn’t Want You to Know” (2001), “Rational Investing in Irrational Times” (2002), “The Successful Investor Today” (2003), “Wise Investing Made Simple” (2007), “Wise Investing Made Simpler” (2010), “The Quest for Alpha” (2011) and “Think, Act, and Invest Like Warren Buffett” (2012).

He has also co-authored six books about investing. His latest work, “The Incredible Shrinking Alpha: And What You Can Do to Escape Its Clutches,” was co-authored with Andrew Berkin and published in January of 2015.

In his role as director of research and as a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and Board of Managers, Larry regularly reviews the findings published in dozens of peer-reviewed financial journals, evaluates the outcomes and uses the result to inform the firm’s formal investment strategy recommendations.

Larry’s dedication to helping others has made him a sought-after national speaker. He has made appearances on national television shows airing on NBC, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg Personal Finance. Larry is a prolific writer, contributing weekly to multiple outlets including MutualFunds.com and ETF.com.

Before joining Buckingham, Larry was vice chairman of Prudential Home Mortgage. He has held positions at Citicorp as senior vice president and regional treasurer, responsible for treasury, foreign exchange and investment banking activities, including risk management strategies.

Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College in New York.