In this week’s episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin and Laurie Kamhi delve into the world of "Non Fungible Tokens" (or "NFTs") with Jake Spinowitz, Head of Community at Courtyard IO.  They explain "Smart Contracts;" share thoughts on why NFTs were initially created (and, perhaps, who they benefit most); and what the primary differences between the three categories of Open Marketplaces are.  They also discuss the very real risks of investing in NFTs (including volatility in price and value), which add another layer of risk on top of the Crypto Currencies, in which they're denominated, themselves. 

TIMESTAMPS

[1:02] Introduction to Jake Spinowitz, Head of Community at Courtyard IO

[2:27] What is an NFT?

[3:13] The value of Non-Fungible Tokens

[7:10] NFT marketplaces and giving artists more control

[9:23] Using technology as proof of ownership and identity 

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stanley Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if a recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

In this week’s episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin and Laurie Kamhi continue their conversation on “Risk & Reward,” discussing (again) the importance of understanding what risk means for you. They suggest, when it comes to defining "Risk," how it might be better to think in terms of "Acceptable" versus "Un-Acceptable" and, given the current market environment, share some thoughts where and how to invest.  

TIMESTAMPS

• [01:43] Understanding risk and the misleading nature of "Beta" and "Standard Deviation"
• [05:29] Assessing risk in the global economy
• [08:41] Exploring investment opportunities in a low-interest rate environment
• [10:34] Bond market yields and forming good financial habits
• [12:11] Investment strategies for financial security

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stanley Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if a recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

In this week’s episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin and Laurie Kamhi talk about the need to redefine "Risk & Reward." After sharing some of the more traditional definitions, they explain how emotional considerations are just as important as monetary ones because both are critical to our well-being.

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [01:24] “Low Risk” no longer IS
• [03:10] “Fear Of Missing Out”
• [07:24] Financial planning and Expected Rates of Return
• [09:32] Gen Z and Millenials: work-life balance
• [10:57] Outro

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stanley Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if a recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

In this week’s episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin and Laurie Kamhi talk about the current state of crypto and what the future could hold for Bitcoin. They discuss the events leading up to the recent FTX crash; the demise of Sam Bankman-Fried; and the importance of due diligence while rebuilding trust in Bitcoin and the Blockchain  network. 

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [01:04] What has happened with Bitcoin?
• [04:19] Commingling explained
• [11:23] Sam Bankman-Fried and the FTX bankruptcy
• [12:40] Disclosure and limits to borrowing
• [14:20] Outro

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stanley Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if a recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

In this episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, it's Laurie's turn to talk about the importance of the upcoming, midterm elections on November 8th and what outcomes may already be priced into the stock and bond markets. She explains what economists are truly concerned about and -- regardless of the election outcomes -- compares predictions for the coming year to historical moments and why (as Barnaby suggested last time) the stock market often prefers a stalemate   

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [01:19] The importance of the upcoming midterms
• [03:50] Inflation, Stagflation and the threat of a Wage-Price Spiral
• [06:37] De-globalization and current supply chain disruptions 
• [10:21] Reposition yourself with long-term money
• [12:50] Outro

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stan Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

In this episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin talks about forecasts and (given people's natural inclination to base their decisions on Assumptions) whether they can ever be of any value. Either way, he discusses the impact forecasts do have on investing and, in the end, asks whether the Fed or the upcoming, Mid-Term Election is more important, longer term.

 TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [01:02] Do forecasts really help?
• [04:10] Cognitive dissonance
• [06:27] The impact on investing
• [13:10] What could happen with Mid-term elections
• 14:34] Outro

RESOURCES

• What I Think I Know by Barnaby Levin
• The Illusion of Knowledge by Howard Marks
• Closing Technique of the Week: The Ben Franklin Close
• CNBC: The Fed has not made a compelling case for taming inflation by crushing demand, says Judy Shelton
• Stanley Druckenmiller says he'd be 'stunned' if recession doesn't happen in 2023
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

In this episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Barnaby Levin continues his and Laurie's discussion on land on his own, while she's traveling. He recaps the history and transfer of ownership between farmers and institutions and why (in this case) it's important for government to get more involved, so we don't lose control of our own food and water supply to other nations. He also talks about the pros and cons of farm-related investments.

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [02:06] Ownership transfers from farmers to institutions
• [05:51] The Pros and Cons of investing in farmland and other, farm-related industries
• [08:38] The solution lies in innovation
• [09:18] Outro

RESOURCES

• Gone With The Wind Scene: Land Is The Only Thing That Lasts
• U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds
• VanEck Agribusiness ETF
• Invesco DB Agriculture Fund
• Pick-and-Shovel Play
• Contact Barnaby

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

In this episode of the Plutonomix Podcast, Laurie Kamhi and Barnaby Levin begin with a reminder of the pending collapse of our Social Security and Medicare systems. They recommend a few, incremental actions they hope we'll take as a Country and some things in which to invest -- turning, today, to farming and farmland, where they first address some key issues for context. 

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.

In the next two episodes of the Plutonomix Podcast, Laurie Kamhi and Barnaby Levin focus on the critical consequences of one of the country's more-important, demographic trends: the Aging of the Baby Boomers. This week, they discuss some of the problems and challenges this transition will pose. 

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:01] Intro
• [02:34] Are the Baby Boomers ready for retirement?
• [06:06] Elderly Americans who need a caregiver today
• [09:54] a Green Card and path to Citizenship, for foreign students after they graduate
• [11:29] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Aging of America: Will the Baby Boom Be Ready for Retirement? by William G. Gale
• Contact Barnaby
• Contact Laurie

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SPIC.