Tag: Market Volatility

2025 Economic Insights From Senior Economist, Strider Elass (Ep. 73)

2025 Economic Insights From Senior Economist, Strider Elass (Ep. 73)

Where is the economy headed amidst all this uncertainty? 

Well, who better to ask than a Senior Economist!

Robert Curtiss sits down with Strider Elass, a Senior Economist from First Trust, to navigate the financial landscape we’re seeing so far in 2025. They discuss the implications of recent policy decisions, historic market volatility, and what they could mean for your investments.

Other key conversation points include:

  • The impact of COVID-19 shutdowns and subsequent policy decisions on the current economic climate [04:17]
  • The “payback period” we’re entering due to recent economic stimuli [04:55]
  • The role of the Magnificent Seven companies in stock market fluctuations [08:39]
  • The transformative power of AI across different sectors, reminiscent of the dot-com boom [11:09]
  • Strategies for navigating economic slowdowns and the importance of diversification in uncertain times [18:13]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Strider Elass:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Strider Elass is Senior Economist and part of the First Trust Economics Team that Bloomberg has consistently ranked as one of the top forecasters of the U.S. economy over the past decade plus.

At First Trust, Strider is responsible for analyzing economic indicators, writing economic commentaries, and building content. In 2022, The First Trust Economic Team was rated the Most Accurate Economic Forecasters in the United States by Consensus Economics.

The team also won multiple Gold Medals from Financial Advisor IQ in both 2020 and 2021 for Macro Commentary, overall content, and commentary and was also rated 2nd for Thought Leadership by Fuse Research.

The First Trust Economics Team has been awarded the “Crystal Ball Award” by Zillow® in partnership with Pulsenomics over multiple years for accurate home price predictions. In 2017, First Trust’s thought leadership material was ranked as number one for most read and most shared by financial professionals with colleagues or clients in the “Top 10 Financial Providers for Thought Leadership Activity.”

Strider was instrumental in researching for the book, It’s Not As Bad As You Think, published in 2009 by First Trust’s Chief Economist, Brian Wesbury. Strider’s contribution to the team’s success goes beyond his research responsibilities. He is also a highly sought-after speaker and regularly presents at broker and retail events across the country and abroad, sharing his experience with a wide audience.

How To Cut Through Modern-Day Financial Noise with Gary Sinderbrand (Ep. 72)

How To Cut Through Modern-Day Financial Noise with Gary Sinderbrand (Ep. 72)

In a world filled with financial noise, how do you know which signals actually matter? 

Join Robert Curtiss as he chats with Gary Sinderbrand, a seasoned financial professional with roots going back to their days at Merrill Lynch. 

They unravel years of insights on keeping your financial journey on track. Delving into tales from the trading floor to personal anecdotes from the ski slopes, Curtiss and Sinderbrand uncover strategies for managing financial anxieties and the importance of a disciplined, rules-based approach.

Key discussion points include:

  • Navigating financial fear in today’s world [00:05:00]
  • Effective strategies for overcoming biases in investing [00:07:00]
  • The significance of process and discipline in wealth management [00:31:00]
  • Analyzing market signals amidst the noise [00:33:00]
  • Real-world examples of market volatility and client management [00:41:00]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Gary Sinderbrand:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Gary Sinderbrand brings a rare combination of elite production experience and transformative training expertise to your doorstep. As the co-creator of the influential Payne-Sinderbrand Program at Merrill Lynch—which helped shaped the careers of over 12,000 Financial Advisors—he has a proven ability to develop systems that drive extraordinary results at scale.

Gary’s journey spans decades as both a top-tier producer and a practice management innovator. This dual perspective allows him to see opportunities others miss and implement strategies others can’t teach because they haven’t lived them.

At BetterPath Training, we meet you exactly where you are. For next-generation advisors building books from scratch, Gary provides battle-tested client acquisition methodologies that bypass years of costly trial and error. For seasoned FAs preparing for succession, you can expect comprehensive frameworks for legacy planning, revenue optimization, and workload management that protect the practice you’ve worked so hard to build.

Your path to exceptional results starts with exceptional guidance. That’s the BetterPath promise.

How to Build a Diversified Investment Portfolio with Phil Huber, CFA, CFP®(Ep.70)

How to Build a Diversified Investment Portfolio with Phil Huber, CFA, CFP®(Ep.70)

Are you ready to unlock the potential of alternative investments in your portfolio?

Join Robert Curtiss as he sits down with repeat guest Phil Huber from Cliffwater to explore the dynamic world of alternative investments. 

The episode delves into the benefits of diversification, the current volatility in global markets, and the strategic role of private debt and equity. Discover why modern investors can’t afford to ignore these opportunities and how they’ve helped portfolios remain robust amidst market uncertainty.

Other key discussions include:

  • Broad asset allocation outlook and capital market assumptions [00:01:52]
  • The role and expectations of traditional versus private asset classes [00:05:22]
  • Differences in stock valuation between US and non-US stocks [00:05:53]
  • Performance insights and misconceptions about private markets [00:22:17]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Phil Huber:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Phil is a Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Solutions for Cliffwater, based in their Chicago office. In this role, Phil leverages his prior experience as a wealth management CIO to produce and curate investment research, advise on product strategy and positioning for the firm’s growing platform, and help establish and strengthen relationships with the nation’s leading wealth management firms.

Prior to joining Cliffwater, Phil was the Chief Investment Officer for Savant Wealth Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has attained his Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S., which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

How To Invest Smart in Uncertain Times with Miles Clark (Ep. 58)

How To Invest Smart in Uncertain Times with Miles Clark (Ep. 58)

A 50-basis-point rate cut has shaken up the market — so what does that mean for your investments? 

With 11-12 rate hikes since March 2020 and a rapidly evolving economic landscape, uncertainty looms. The key to staying ahead lies in understanding how different assets respond to these shifts. 

This week on The Millionaire Next Door, Rob Curtiss teams up with Miles Clark from Nasdaq Dorsey Wright to reveal the strategies and tools you need to navigate the current economic landscape with confidence.

Key Highlights:

  • The Impact of Rate Cuts: While rate cuts stimulate the economy, the effect varies across asset classes — fixed-income tends to benefit, while equities may face mixed outcomes depending on economic strength
  • Technical Analysis & Relative Strength: Learn how Dorsey Wright’s point-and-figure charting can help you identify market leaders, much like selecting top athletes for a fantasy team
  • Market Participation & Seasonality: The months of November and December are typically strong, and broadening market participation is a positive sign for 2024
  • Investment Discipline: A systematic, rules-based approach becomes essential during periods of uncertainty, particularly with an election on the horizon. Sticking to a disciplined strategy can help investors focus on long-term success, filtering out short-term noise
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Miles Clark:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Miles Clark is a recognized expert in technical research at Nasdaq Dorsey Wright, specializing in point-and-figure charting and relative strength analysis. His years of experience have helped investors navigate complex market dynamics with confidence, making him a trusted voice in the industry.

Unpacking Today’s Market Trends with Will Gibson (Ep. 52)

Unpacking Today’s Market Trends with Will Gibson (Ep. 52)

Research indicates that markets have risen approximately 75% of the time during election years since 1928. 

So, what does this mean for your investing efforts today?

Join Robert Curtiss as he welcomes back Will Gibson, senior analyst with Nasdaq Dorsey Wright, to dive into today’s investment market, the impact of election cycles, and the importance of objective investing. 

Tune in and hear real-life stories and data to help guide you through these times!

Rob and Will discuss:

  • May market performance 
  • The concentration of market gains among mega-cap stocks
  • The anticipated effects of the upcoming election on market volatility
  • The importance of objective, rules-based investing (and why it’s wise to avoid emotional decision-making)
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Will Gibson:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Will Gibson, CFA, currently works as a Senior Research Analyst for Nasdaq Dorsey Wright (DWA), a boutique investment advisory and asset management division of Nasdaq focused on providing quantitative capital market strategies to Wall Street and professional money managers globally. He joined the team as an intern in 2018 and now produces macro technical research for the firm’s clients and Daily Market Report. Other involvements include indicator testing, adaptive modeling, and furthering the firm’s media/educational efforts.

Preserving Capital in Retirement with David Marra (Ep. 43)

Preserving Capital in Retirement with David Marra (Ep. 43)

Have you considered the significance of safeguarding your capital and managing risks during retirement? How does capital preservation play a role in maintaining a stable stream of income?

Join Rob Curtiss and his guest, David Marra, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Markin Asset Management, LP, as they navigate the connection between finance and technology, specifically delving into David’s expertise in quantitative investment research and machine learning. 

But that’s not everything! David and Rob also explore the importance of capital preservation and effective risk management, focusing on ensuring a stable stream of retirement income. 

Rob and David touch on:

  • David’s career and how it led to his focus on capital preservation and quantitative investment research
  • The importance of capital preservation leading up to retirement
  • Mitigating risk during market volatility
  • Ways the pandemic impacted investment strategies
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with David Marra:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

David Marra is the Chief Investment Officer at Markin Asset Management, LP.  David has been an invited speaker on quantitative asset management at numerous family offices, hedge funds, conferences, and organizations, including ALTSLA, NAPFA, and the Financial Planning Association (FPA). 

Throughout his career, David has developed a unique ability to explain complex portfolio concepts in a language allocators can use in client communications. David previously founded a quantitative research firm serving institutional asset managers and funds. His three decades of experience include advising C-level executives at some of the world’s leading asset management and pharmaceutical firms as a Principal with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). 

Earlier in his career, he was the Founder & CEO of a search engine technology firm overseeing over 70 researchers and technologists. David received an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, where he was a Fellowship recipient.

Trust and Transparency: The Foundation of a Successful Advisor-Client Relationship with Mike Cy (Ep. 39)

Trust and Transparency: The Foundation of a Successful Advisor-Client Relationship with Mike Cy (Ep. 39)

Advisors, are you currently evolving your business? 

What opportunities and information might your clients miss if you don’t continue growing your practice?

This week, Rob Curtiss brings back Mike Cy, a returning guest and business consultant at Pareto Systems. Rob and Mike discuss the importance of communication and building relationships with clients and explain why it is valuable to both of them.

Listen in as they touch on the value of aligning and personalizing services to their client’s unique needs while addressing all things market volatility, geopolitical tensions, and alternative investment strategies. 

Rob and Mike explore:

  • Reasons advisors should continually evolve their financial advisory practice depending on their client’s unique needs 
  • Client engagement as an essential financial planning component 
  • The comprehensive role of a financial advisor beyond basic financial advice
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Cy:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Mike “Cy” Cajthaml Jr. has enjoyed a 14-year career in the financial services industry. Mike is a passionate and energetic leader who enjoys developing business refinement and practice management strategies and thrives on helping his clients achieve their goals.

He got his start in the industry at a large insurance marketing organization, where he consulted financial advisors across the country with product and marketing solutions for their businesses. It was during his time with this firm that he was introduced to Pareto Systems and began learning about the Pareto Process.

After six years of coaching and consulting advisers, Mike decided to become a financial advisor himself and built a practice with his father in Overland Park, KS. Together, they managed millions of dollars of assets and utilized various insurance-based products. In an incredibly competitive marketplace, Mike knew the value of creating professional contrast and began implementing many of Pareto’s processes.

The Role of Alternative Investments In Investment Planning with Sam Miller, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA® (Ep. 29)

The Role of Alternative Investments In Investment Planning with Sam Miller, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA® (Ep. 29)

With market volatility and political uncertainty being a few reasons, the truth is that the investment market doesn’t always cooperate with our portfolios.

But as an advisor, how can alternative investments protect our client’s portfolios? Do you know?

In this episode, Robert Curtiss speaks with Sam Miller, the director of research and marketing at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors (SEIA). Sam talks about the role of alternative investments in building (and diversifying) a portfolio and the ways they are being integrated within existing client investment plans.

Sam discusses:

  • What you need to know about alternative investments
  • The four key tenets of SEIA’s due diligence process 
  • What kind of income and volatility do alternative investments face compared to public stock markets
  • How institutional investment strategies have trickled down to investment advisory firms and the changes that have been made for individuals rather than institutions
  • The value of identifying what’s important to your clients
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Sam Miller:

Connect with Robert Curtiss:

About Our Guest:

Sam Miller, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA® is the Director of Research & Marketing and a member of the SEIA investment management and research department, where he contributes thought leadership and expertise to the due diligence, portfolio construction, and investment selection processes. He works closely with SEIA’s Investment Committee to formulate and communicate opinions on the economic and investment environment.