Episodes

This week, Doug Stokes and Greg Stokes discuss the unique and successful American experiment, what’s going on with the U.S. housing market, when inflation will eventually end, and what they believe is an even bigger issue than inflation itself. Key Takeaways [00:47] - What the American experiment (and America itself) means to Greg and Doug. [10:51] - The state of the U.S. housing market. [16:15] - What Doug believes inflation will look like one to two years from now. [18:48] - When will thi...

In 2008, as a recession raged on in America, Jonathan Shafer believed it was time to make a difference elsewhere. After meeting a family searching for someone to launch an investment strategy company in West Africa, Jonathan jumped on the opportunity. Planning to be in Africa for only one year, Jonathan and his family ended up staying for seven years. Despite its challenges, Jonathan saw tremendous opportunity in Africa, both financially and through humanitarian work. Given that 600 million peo...

The happiness and contentment we feel surrounding money doesn’t end with the number in our bank account. Take it from Brian Portnoy, founder of Shaping Wealth, a financial wellness company that helps clients make smarter financial moves. Brian understands the psychology behind financial decisions as much as he does the strategy behind investment. For instance, as human beings, we instinctively compare ourselves to others, seeking comfort in status and discomfort when our social media is flooded...

After spending years going through a tough academic program, one dissertation away from achieving a degree, Wes Gray chose to take a step back and join the Marine Corps. Following five years of service, Wes finished his degree at The University of Chicago, studying under the acclaimed Eugene Fama. While working as a professor, a cold call from a billionaire in New York prompted Wes to begin moonlighting as an internal due diligence agent. That decision to take on a second job became his inspira...

It’s no secret that cryptocurrency has been a trending point of contention for financial experts and the general public. But is it worth the hype or a bubble waiting to burst? David Chase of Crescent City Capital has become an expert on the subject. But David’s desire to explore crypto was not for the sake of hopping on a fintech fad. Spending his early career learning the nuances of central bank policy, David had a hunch there was a better way to regulate policy. After diving into the subject,...

Sometimes, the best places to invest are the places no one’s looking. Ian Bezek has become an expert on under-the-radar places to spend his time and invest his money. Having spent the last eight years living in South and Latin American countries, he’s an advocate for exploring countries that cost less for a higher quality of life. Not to mention, he’s diving headfirst into the international markets and is here to share his tips for investing overseas. Rather than looking where everyone else is ...

At the heart of Il San Pietro in Positano, one of Italy’s – and the world’s – finest hotels, is a family business with a fascinating story. Il San Pietro was built by Carlino Cinque when Positano was a simple fishing village. Carlino’s family believed him crazy for pursuing a life outside their home and even had Carlino impeached for his entrepreneurial aspirations. Luckily Carlino overcame obstacles and his grand hotel came to fruition. Today, Vito Cinque co-owns Il San Pietro with his brother...

What would you do with a family fortune? Taking a hard look at the downfall of the Vanderbilt dynasty tells us a few things about wealth, purpose, and the importance of a trusted financial advisor. History can tell us what to expect during unpredictable global events, how bear markets typically come to a close, and the surprising similarity between institutional and retail investors. This week, Doug and Greg why wealth alone won’t buy happiness, what the market corrections of the past mean for...

While times may feel unsteady and unpredictable, if you take a look through history, you’ll see these very market fluctuations repeated, time and time again. The tricky part is convincing your psyche to invest during a downtime when the market’s on sale. So how can you override your human instinct to hoard cash in a downturn? And when will there be resources available to prevent ourselves from acting on less than financially favorable inclinations? This week, Doug and Greg discuss their point o...

Bull or bear? Always the question and (almost) always difficult to answer. Especially in 2022. Between the Russia-Ukraine invasion, rising interest rates, and spiked inflation, the markets have been up and down. And it’s incredibly difficult to take a hint from what’s happening when deciding whether to invest or play it safe. Given today’s turmoil, it’s important to consider what’s worked in crisis markets of the past and what indicators signal it’s time to “go long” with your investments. CNN,...

Despite dealing with the aftermath of a global pandemic, an unpredictable stock market, and record-breaking inflation, life in 2022 may not be as bad as you think it is. 150 years ago, the richest people in America didn’t have easy access to basic commodities like air conditioning and ice, not to mention apps that deliver food and streaming services playing everything you can imagine. Rising interest rates, higher mortgage payments, and a low inventory can make it feel like a crazy time to be...

If the past few months have reminded us of anything, it’s that market volatility is constant and unpredictable. With the spread of information accelerating faster than ever, global volatility now matches that of the market in (seemingly) real-time. So it’s no surprise that such upheaval takes a toll on our psyche as investors. But if there’s one thing we can predict, it’s that volatility isn’t going anywhere and we have to prepare for it, financially and mentally. Although it sounds like an ox...

With America more divided than ever before, few things have the power to bring together both sides of the political spectrum. The Opportunity Zone program is one of those rarities specially designed to satisfy political opposites. Not to mention, dramatically improving the community around us. But some businesses and individuals are hesitant about holding an investment for 10 years, or maybe they only remember the policy’s flawed origin story. An expert on all things Opportunity Zones, Joe Truh...

If there’s one industry that’s been uprooted since March 2020, it’s live entertainment. Just as leaders within tourism and hospitality have struggled to regain ground, runners of festivals and owners of live theaters have unleashed a wheelhouse of creativity just to stay afloat and continue serving the communities and artists around them. In this episode, Greg and Doug talk with Becker Hall, CEO of Hogs For The Cause, and Barrett Cooper, COO of ERG Enterprises. Although Becker manages the unpr...

In this episode, Doug and Greg discuss the recent market volatility and ramifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Learn more at lagniappepodcast.com. Connect with our hosts Doug Stokes Greg Stokes Stokes Family Office Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts LagniappePodcast.com Disclosure The information in this podcast is educational and general in nature and does not take into consideration the listener’s personal circumstances. Therefore, it is not inte...

In this episode, Doug and Greg talk with Peter Ricchiuti, Founder and Director of Burkenroad Reports. Peter started Tulane’s nationally acclaimed student stock research program Burkenroad in 1993. Since then, he has mentored hundreds of students about underpriced and overlooked stocks in southern states. Before that, Peter also served as the Chief Investment Officer for the state of Louisiana. Peter talks with Doug and Greg about overlooked stocks, the impact of the pandemic on the decline in ...

Argentina just struck a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to give the South American country some “breathing space” for the next few years to pay off debt. From an Argentinian expert’s perspective, how is it looking for the economy and more importantly, to its people? In this episode, Doug and Greg talk with Santiago Solanet, Senior Investment Analyst at BlackTORO Global Investments. Santiago is known for monitoring and analyzing the local and global economic situation of the Arge...

In this episode, Doug and Greg talk with Jamie Catherwood, Client Portfolio Associate at O’Shaughnessy Asset Management. Jamie has a deep fascination with and expertise in finance history. Throughout the years, he’s shared finance content that goes in-depth to help investors make better and more evidence-based financial decisions. Jamie talks with Doug and Greg about the importance of financial history in strategizing portfolios, and insights on innovation entering deep value territory. Key Ta...

In this episode, Doug and Greg talk with Cullen Roche, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Discipline Funds. Aside from advocating for rebalancing portfolios with low-fee, tax-efficient funds, Cullen also writes about the macroeconomy and investing strategies through his blog, Pragmatic Capitalism. Cullen also advises on the overall impact of inflation in the current market. Cullen talks with Doug and Greg about inflation, economic cycles, and countercyclical indexing with ETFs. Key Takea...

In this episode, Doug and Greg talk about the effect of electoral party systems and politics on the markets, and the promising investment opportunities in New Orleans. Key Takeaways [00:42] - How do politics affect the markets? [05:11] - How the market behaves amid political uncertainties. [07:59] - Why markets don’t like uncertainties. [12:06] - Current living conditions in New Orleans. [18:03] - Promising investment opportunities in New Orlean. Quotes [03:48] - “That's the beauty of the...

Doug and Greg talk about why the cure to inflation is inflation, and why US stocks continue to outperform international stocks. Key Takeaways [00:28] - 2022 kicks off with a consumer price rise. [05:31] - Why Doug believes the Federal Reserve is very market-facing. [09:49] - The cure to inflation is inflation. [12:13] - Efficient automobiles: from gasoline to electric. [13:04] - What is ESG investing? [14:12] - The rule of the commodity market. [15:50] - What's a commodity supercycle? [...

In this episode, Doug and Greg discuss everything you need to know about the blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital assets—its speculative market, its stance against looming inflation, and its promise to be the currency of the future. Key Takeaways [00:42] - The triple threat of policy tightening. [02:05] - Insights on unemployment during COVID. [06:04] - The need for focusing on continued ability to grow amid the pandemic. [07:40] - What transpired in the downfall of Peloton? [10:38] - W...

In this episode, Doug and Greg talk about the rate hiking cycle as we enter 2022, the truth about debt and the affordability of housing, the impact of monopoly capitalism, and the new business investor mindset amid a pandemic. Key Takeaways [00:55] - Ken Fisher’s insights on the rate hiking cycle of 2022. [03:51] - There is no rule of thumb in markets. [06:29] - Debt and affordability in housing. [08:25] - How Amazon remains on top. [09:47] - How the smallest Airpods became as big as all o...

Investors’ decisions are mostly based on financial predictions made by so-called experts. So, when the news broke that we were about to enter a pandemic, investors and advisors were in shock. How do investors move forward when modern society is suddenly afflicted by an uncontrollable peril like COVID-19? In this episode, Doug and Greg talk about the risks of poor financial forecasting, the truth about market corrections, and the true indicators for smart investing practices. Key Takeaways [02...