Episodes

We begin this week by discussing the two biggest stories: inflation and tariffs. We’ll also delve into the performance of retail stocks, the influence of GLP-1 medications on fast food sales, and the performance of small caps and international markets. We’ll then dive into how shelter continues to drive CPI numbers and the contrasting dynamics of commercial and residential real estate markets. Key Takeaways [02:25] - Tariff rates on other countries vs. those on the U.S. [04:00] - The CPI stor...

Our daily commutes include celebrity sightings these days which means it’s Super Bowl time in New Orleans. We’ll discuss the big game and why the Big Easy is such a great host. We’ll also give our analysis of market volatility given the recent jobs report, political movement, and AI developments. We’ll finish with the importance of long-term investment strategies, and the psychological factors such as recency bias that influence investor behavior. Key Takeaways [00:17] - Celebrity sightings in...

Episode 150! As we look out our window watching New Orleans prepare and improve before the Super Bowl, we delve into the recent turmoil in the AI market, particularly the impact of a Chinese company's AI announcement on major tech stocks like Nvidia and Broadcom. Our discussion emphasizes the importance of market expectations and the potential for volatility in tech stocks, drawing parallels to past large shifts like the beginning of the Internet age. Key Takeaways [00:17] - New Orleans prepar...

We’re snowed in! We’ll discuss our experiences during a once-in-a-lifetime snow in New Orleans, analyze market reactions to Trump's presidency, and give prudent investment approaches as experts try to “predict corrections”. Plus NFL Championship weekend predictions. Key Takeaways [00:17] - Making memories during a rare snow in New Orleans [05:35] - Market reactions to Trump’s inauguration [08:00] - Expectations as we transition from Biden to Trump terms [11:40] - Can we take anything from T...

Greg and Doug continue last week’s conversation on bond market intrigue so far in 2025. They explore the implications of rising interest rates on bonds and the attractiveness of fixed-income investments compared to equities. The conversation also touches on changing consumer behaviors, particularly with alcohol consumption, and how these trends may affect related markets/investments. Key Takeaways [00:17] - The bond market continues to interest us most in 2025 [07:23] - How bonds are affectin...

Doug and Greg begin with reflections on recent tragedies, including a terrorist attack in New Orleans and the devastating wildfires in California. They discuss the significant movements in the bond market, the ongoing housing affordability crisis, and the implications of rising interest rates and inflation. The conversation also touches on the performance of international markets and the resilience of the American economy, highlighting the importance of innovation and risk-taking in driving econ...

Greg and Doug welcome back Santiago Solanet to discuss the current economic landscape of Argentina following the election of Javier Milei, nicknamed the Chainsaw President. They explore the historical context of Argentina's financial struggles, the impact of Milei's presidency, and the potential for investment opportunities. Santiago provides insights into the shift from socialist policies to economic reform, the challenges ahead for Milei's administration, and how he’s potentially providing a p...

After a brief chat about Elf on the Shelf and TV recommendations, we dive into the current state of the markets to find pockets of value when valuations can feel stretched. We’ll also discuss the concentration of returns in the S&P 500 and the continuing bullish sentiment among investors. With Elon Musk at the forefront, we highlight America's tech dominance, particularly in data centers and innovation, and share our excitement for the future of technology and investment opportunities. Key Take...

This week, we’ll begin our year-in-review as the analyst forecasts for 2025 start rolling in. We’ll balance those predictions by examining the volatility of the S&P 500 and the market’s historical performance. We’ll also continue our cryptocurrency conversation by considering it a speculative asset similar to gold while so much of it has no utility. We end with a historical look at markets in year 1 of presidential terms and how that data, coupled with the earnings variable, may predict a slight...

We’re bouncing around this week, starting with the recent surge in Bitcoin and market enthusiasm, although maybe not market-wide. We'll analyze valuations and dig into why the S&P 500's growth is largely driven by earnings and dividends. The conversation shifts to the comparison between US and international markets, highlighting the challenges faced by European economies and the growing wealth disparity between the US and Europe. We'll conclude with a historic market run and what history says th...

Doug and Greg Stokes begin this week's discussion with NVIDIA's recent earnings report, the ongoing AI race, and the implications of new data centers. They explore the characteristics of market bubbles, particularly in the context of AI and cryptocurrency, and analyze the performance of small-cap stocks versus large-cap tech. The conversation also touches on interest rates, economic policies, tariffs, and international markets. Key Takeaways [00:17] - NVIDIA Earnings + data center construction...

This week, Doug and Greg Stokes—Stokes Family Office Managing Partners—discuss market enthusiasm following the election, focusing on the rise of speculative assets like cryptocurrency and Tesla. They’ll delve into inflation picking back up and how it has influenced market performance recently and over the last four years. The conversation also looks back at historical market performance during political shifts and the implications for future valuations and market predictions. Key Takeaways [00...

Greg and Doug Stokes chat about the surprising results of the 2024 election, where Trump emerged victorious, and the implications of this outcome on the market and economic policies. They analyze polling accuracy, market reactions, and the potential for changes in tax policies and regulations. The discussion this week also covers the movements in various financial markets, including treasuries, stocks, gold, and crypto, and wraps with thoughts on future economic growth and inflation. Key T...

Less than a week from voting day, we’ll analyze the tight race and the historical context of market performance/reactions. We’ll also talk about the evolving role of AI in corporate America and how we can place value on it from an investment perspective. We’ll finish with a conversation on market seasonality and historical trends during election years. Key Takeaways [00:17] - New earnings/jobs report + the markets being agnostic to politics [05:13] - Super Micro Computer's stock volatility/re...

This week, we’ll discuss the rapidly changing political landscape as the election approaches, focusing on how market predictions and betting trends reflect potential outcomes. We’ll analyze the implications of different presidential policies on market sectors, the relationship between economic growth and interest rates, and the long-term perspectives on investment strategies. We’ll finish by taking a step back to look at positive global trends and the overall wealth of humanity, encouraging a br...

Greg and Doug look at polling data and betting markets marking a shift that could be happening in the race. They’ll also examine historical data that shows the party in power does not significantly impact market performance. The conversation then shifts to economic trends, highlighting the recent performance of small and mid-cap stocks and the resurgence of gold as a viable investment. Finally, they delve into technological innovations, including autonomous vehicles and energy efficiency advance...

With updated CPI data in hand, Greg and Doug discuss the juxtaposition of market highs and inflationary effects on consumer behavior and sentiment. They’ll also analyze the current bull market and its future projections, interest rates, the evolving office market post-COVID, and of course, a weekly election update. Key Takeaways [01:04] - Strong economic growth vs. rising prices [04:41] - Election predictions: polls vs. betting markets [09:32] - Bull market analysis and future projections [...

A lot is certainly happening all over the world. This week, we discuss the current geopolitical tensions, particularly focusing on the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah and the subsequent reactions from Iran. We analyze the impact of these events on global oil prices and the stock market, highlighting the surprising resilience of the markets despite these tensions. The conversation then shifts to the domestic economic landscape, including the performance of the Chinese market and the implications of...

Doug and Greg discuss the recent 50 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve, analyzing its implications on the economy and the labor and real estate markets. They explore market reactions, economic indicators, and the bullish/bearish conversations around a soft or hard landing. They also touch on the ongoing hurricane season and its economic impact, as well as a weekly update on the upcoming election and its significance. Key Takeaways [00:57] - The Fed's rate cut: implications and analysi...

This week, Doug and Greg Stokes interview Kyle Bass, Founder & Chief Investment Officer of Hayman Capital Management, and a prominent macro strategist. They discuss the current economic landscape, the implications of Federal Reserve policies, the real estate market, and the geopolitical tensions surrounding China and Taiwan. Bass provides insights into the economic challenges facing the U.S. and China, the importance of tariffs, the financial/defense ramifications of the election, and America's...

As we brace for the first hurricane of the season, we hope everyone in the storm’s path stays safe. This week, Greg & Doug Stokes discuss what a soft landing for the market means and the challenges faced by urban areas and the commercial real estate industry. They also touch on the yield curve, Fed cuts, and the upcoming U.S. presidential election as we continue to emphasize the importance of not letting political ideologies drive investment strategies. Key Takeaways [00:17] - Hurricane updat...

This week, we welcome on special guest Walker Moody, President of Pickering Energy Partners based out of Houston. He’ll educate us on the geopolitical ramifications on the energy sector, from wars to our elections. Walker also tells where he sees the future of energy transition heading—in terms of investment—and why Pickering is focused on upstream investments and looking toward longer time horizons. Key Takeaways [00:17] - Introducing Walker Moody, President of Pickering Partners [04:28] - G...

With the news out of Jackson Hole signaling that the Fed is ready to make cuts, what happens now that we’re heading into a rate-cutting cycle outside of the realm of emergency cuts in a recession? We’ll dive into how that affects real estate and the economy as a whole, and we’ll discuss the seemingly closed IPO window and a revised jobs report. Key Takeaways [00:18] - An aura of “mission accomplished” from the Fed [05:14] - What happens to real estate prices post-rate cuts? [11:30] - What to...

This week we had a fascinating chat with Evan Loomis, General Partner at Overmatch and Founder of ICON. We discuss investing in our defense and how the U.S. strategy is moving from big to small and from expensive to cheap. He’ll also educate us on our weak spots, how we compare to Russia and China, and how autonomous weapons and surveillance vehicles keep our brightest servicemen and women out of harm's way. We’ll then shift gears away from Earth and talk about the commercialization of space a...