The Blunt Dollar

After four decades in European finance, David Hawa has seen it all, from the birth of the euro to managing €3 billion bond portfolios and leading distribution at firms like Nordea, Fortis, and Robeco. In this episode, David unpacks the evolution of fixed income markets, the critical role of client communication, and how staying calm in a crisis defines great investors.

We explore his career arc, from cold-calling at Morgan Stanley to managing sovereign debt portfolios and shaping sustainable investing strategies long before they were fashionable.

Here’s what we cover:

📉 How managing €3B in government bonds teaches discipline, clarity, and staying power

🌍 Why European firms differ so much in culture, and what he learned from each

🌱 What “transition investing” means, and why ESG is entering a new, more rigorous chapter

💼 How to build client trust and explain complex strategies with precision

🧠 The overlooked beauty (and misunderstood complexity) of fixed income investing

If you like career deep dives, European market insights, and brutally honest takes on ESG and risk, this one's for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this week’s episode of The Blunt Dollar, I’m joined by Spencer Jakab, renowned investment columnist at The Wall Street Journal, author of "Heads I Win, Tails I Win" and "The Revolution That Wasn’t", and the voice behind the widely read "Markets AM" newsletter. Before journalism, Spencer was a top-ranked equity analyst and head of EM research at Credit Suisse. He’s been on both sides of the machine, and now writes to explain why smart investors still make dumb mistakes.

This conversation is a candid dive into the craft of financial storytelling, the psychology of market manias, and what it means to be a journalist in an age of information overload.

We get into:

📈 Spencer’s unusual path from emerging markets research to *WSJ* columnist

📚 The GameStop saga, what it revealed about retail behavior, and why conspiracies still persist

🧠 Why intelligence alone won’t make you a good investor (and what might)

🗞️ How financial journalism is adapting to AI, social media noise, and collapsing attention spans

🧵 The newsletter flywheel: how Spencer writes daily for half a million readers without losing his voice

If you’re into behavioral finance, media skepticism, and finance without the fluff, this one’s for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

What do a monastery in India, a £50 billion multi-asset franchise, and a fixed income desk have in common?

In this episode, we sit down with Mitesh Sheth, former CEO of Redington and CIO at Newton Investment Management, for a deeply human conversation about purpose, reinvention, and what it truly means to lead.

An actuary by training and a strategist by conviction, Mitesh has built his career not only around financial alpha—but organizational alpha.

From sleeping on a straw mat in a monastery to transforming investment firms from the inside out, Mitesh challenges the traditional narratives of finance with radical humility, emotional intelligence, and spiritual insight.

We discuss:

🌍 Growing up as a “double exile” between Bolton and India and how it shaped his leadership style

🧘‍♂️ Why he chose to live like a monk right after university—and what it taught him about purpose and identity

🏢 His concept of “organizational alpha” and how culture can become a firm’s greatest edge

🧠 How AI and spirituality can co-exist in a more human-centered model of finance

📖 Why storytelling, not spreadsheets, drives real inclusion and innovation

If you like conversations about purposeful leadership, rethinking the future of finance, and finding meaning in the messiness of life, this one's for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Dr. Henning Stein  a strategist, academic, and Chief Innovation Officer at One Business World  to unpack the future of investing through the lens of long term thinking, technology, and behavioral insight.

Henning brings a rare mix of experience: from insurance and asset management to launching Europe's early blockchain ETFs and shaping strategic intelligence platforms powered by AI. We dive deep into what it really means to build resilient portfolios, how AI is misunderstood in finance, and why patience still beats prediction.

Here’s what we cover:

📊 Strategic asset allocation vs market calls  why most investors get it wrong

🧠 AI in finance  the myth of machine driven alpha and the rise of “quantamental”

🔒 From childhood detective to CIO  how curiosity shaped Henning’s unconventional career

🥇 Gold, equities, and psychology  what this debate says about investor behavior

🕰️ Long term thinking in short term times  what leaders (and portfolios) need to survive volatility

If you like conversations that blend data, discipline, and deep curiosity, this one’s for you.

And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every week right here on YouTube.

You can also follow me on LinkedIn for more behind the scenes content and upcoming guest updates: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/)

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

After 25 years inside the engine room of global commodity markets, Martijn Bron walked away from his post as Global Head of Cocoa and Chocolate Trading at Cargill to carve his own path and speak more candidly than ever before.

In this episode, Martijn joins Ignacio to unpack a career built at the intersection of sharp trading instincts, global supply chains, and raw honesty.

From the pressure-cooker of Geneva's trading floors to navigating African supply shocks, Martijn shares the scars, lessons, and mental frameworks that shaped his edge in a volatile world. Whether you're trading cocoa, crude, or ideas, this is a masterclass in real-world risk-taking.

What we cover in this episode:

🔍 The true meaning of a “trading edge” and why most retail investors don’t have one

📈 Why a solid trading process beats perfect forecasts every time

💣 Cocoa markets, irrational actors, and the graveyard of failed firms

🧠 Managing trading teams under pressure: micromanagement, trust, and team psychology

🎯 Advice for young traders: be proactive, seek mentors, and never have a “comfortable day”

If you're into commodities, risk management, or trading psychology, this one's for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Oswaldo Zapata, a string theorist turned quantum finance expert, to unpack one of the most hyped (and misunderstood) forces heading toward Wall Street: quantum computing.

Oswaldo holds a PhD in theoretical physics and has conducted research at institutions like the Albert Einstein Institute and the London School of Economics. But today, he’s helping financial professionals demystify the real-world impact of quantum technologies. This is not about hype. This is about what’s actually coming, and how to prepare.

We cover:

🔬 The truth behind quantum computing and why it’s not just science fiction

💰 How quantum will impact portfolio optimization, risk management, and encryption

🛡️ Why financial institutions need to care now about quantum threats to cybersecurity

📉 Why Oswaldo calls BS on most of the quantum hype in finance

🧠 What quantum mechanics can teach us about uncertainty, decision-making, and truth

If you're into finance, tech, and the occasional existential rabbit hole, this one's for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

What does it take to go from fixing cars in Brooklyn to managing billions on Wall Street? In this powerful episode, Chris Thompson shares his extraordinary journey from Automotive High School to JP Morgan, and now to leading impact investments and executive coaching with purpose.

Chris opens up about growing up in Crown Heights, the painful loss of his mother, and the quiet identity struggles many finance pros face at the top. 

This is a raw and deeply honest conversation about resilience, purpose, and what it really means to live in alignment.

💡 From food stamps to finance: Chris' incredible path from trade school to Wall Street

🧠 Coaching vs. capital: why Chris sees impact investing and executive coaching as two sides of the same coin

🏀 Athlete mindset in finance: how high performers can reclaim agency using tools from pro sports

🔥 Burnout at the top: the quiet crisis facing senior finance professionals and how to break out of career purgatory

📈 Movement, visualization, planning: Chris’ MVP framework for staying intentional, resilient, and fulfilled

If you care about career reinvention, financial purpose, and the power of mentorship, this one's for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Philippe Gijsels, Chief Strategy Officer at BNP Paribas Fortis and co-author of "The New World Economy in Five Trends". With decades of market experience and a mind shaped by literature, history, psychology, and economics, Philippe brings a truly unique perspective to investing. This conversation is a deep dive into the ideas behind his work, from market cycles to storytelling, strategy to philosophy.

📚 How stories shape markets and the power of narrative in investing

🧠 Why reflexivity, psychology, and human behavior matter more than models

🔥 The five megatrends driving today's world: inflation, innovation, demographics, climate, and geopolitics

🏖️ From the beach bar to Bloomberg: Philippe’s “three windows” framework for viewing the world

🐊 Lessons from pigeons, poker games, and alligators: analogies that bring strategy to life

If you’re into market history, macro strategy, or simply love hearing from thinkers who blend rigor with storytelling, this one’s for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

Craig Coben, former Global Head of Equity Capital Markets and Vice Chairman at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, joins The Blunt Dollar to share insights from a 25-year career at the very top of investment banking.

From raising billions in IPOs and rights issues to writing sharp columns for the Financial Times, Craig’s journey is packed with hard-earned lessons on leadership, competition, and reinvention.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about how to invest, personal finance, or what actually goes on behind major stock market deals. Whether you're an aspiring banker, someone just getting into investing for beginners, or a fan of Warren Buffett investment strategy, you'll take away plenty from Craig’s no-nonsense wisdom.

In this conversation, we cover:

📈 What ECM bankers really do and how Craig climbed to number one in European dealmaking

💡 Why most pitches fail and what great origination looks like in a high-stakes world

🤖 How trust, relationships, and emotional intelligence still beat AI in investment banking

📉 The rise of private capital, and why public markets are struggling to keep up

✍️ Craig’s post-banking pivot to writing, and why angel investing isn’t as easy as it looks

If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of a multibillion-dollar IPO, how bankers win and lose deals, or why relationships still matter more than Excel shortcuts, this one’s for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

What do a rock guitarist, a math-loving economist, and a fixed income strategist have in common? They’re all Dean Smith.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Dean, Chief Strategist at FolioBeyond, to unpack his unconventional journey from the stage to Wall Street, his sharp takes on market inefficiencies, and the behavioral blind spots that even the most seasoned investors fall into.

Whether you're investing for beginners or diving deep into structured products, this episode is packed with insights on how to invest smarter, avoid common pitfalls, and think beyond the headlines.

In this episode:

🎸 From Baltimore rock bands to Wall Street: how Dean’s creative past shapes his personal finance mindset

📉 The trade that predicted the 2008 crisis:  and why it matters for stock market risk management today

🧠 Recency bias, overconfidence, and why investing isn't just numbers:  it's psychology

🏛️ What’s wrong with rating agencies, and why pricing data beats forecasts when investing during uncertainty

🤖 The future of how to invest for beginners:  why AI, math, and curiosity are now essential tools

If you're into markets, stocks, how to save money, or just trying to figure out how to invest in stocks without getting lost in jargon, this one’s for you.

Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations.

New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/

Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.