First Trust ROI Podcast

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a disruptive force in the economy, as investors race to identify companies and industries that could be disintermediated.  Brian Murphy, Co-CIO of First Trust Capital Management, breaks down the implications for private credit, including potential risks and opportunities for investors.

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Investors have been on edge this year, as mounting concerns related to geopolitical risk, interest rate risk, and credit risk have contributed to rising volatility.  Bill Housey provides his prospective on where investors are and are not being adequately compensated for taking risk.

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Jim Murchie joins the podcast to break down how the war in Iran may impact the energy sector as well as the misunderstood relationship between AI data centers and consumer utility bills.

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Bob Stein discusses the economic impact of the war in Iran, whether high energy prices will cause inflation, and how the upcoming midterm elections are shaping up. 

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Gibson Smith, founder of Smith Capital Investors, discusses emerging risks and opportunities in the bond market amid heightened geopolitical risk, a new Fed Chair, and a fresh wave of borrowing for the buildout of AI.

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Jackie Wilke discusses how artificial intelligence is being leveraged by financial professionals to improve productivity and “level up” the client experience.

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On the heels of a strong year for international equities in 2025, Andrew Wiechert, Portfolio Manager at WCM Investment Management, breaks down why developed and emerging markets remain positioned to benefit from attractive valuations and improving fundamentals in 2026 and beyond. He highlights the risks and also some of the potential competitive advantages enjoyed by active managers seeking to navigate these opportunities. 

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Dave McGarel highlights why sky-high valuations in 2026 are like lingering too long at the summit of Mount Everest oxygen is thin and small mistakes can lead to dire consequences.  He explains the key risks ahead and points to where he sees more attractive, lower altitude opportunities for equity investors.

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In this episode, Brian Wesbury discusses his recent testimony on Capitol Hill, First Trust’s economic outlook for 2026, and implications of overvalued markets.

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Will the stock market finally broaden?  Are valuations stretched?  Will momentum stall for AI-related stocks?  Richard Bernstein provides his perspective on these questions and others, laying out risks and opportunities for investors for 2026.

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Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News
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