The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas

Most investors think global diversification means adding a little Europe or a slice of Asia into their portfolios. Endeavor CEO Linda Rottenberg thinks that is missing a massive opportunity. In this episode, Linda makes the case for “elsewhere markets,” those places beyond Silicon Valley and China, where she's spent the past 3 decades backing entrepreneurs who are now generating over $90 billion in annual revenue. From Bitcoin’s unlikely origin story in Patagonia, to why Turkey has been one of the best-performing markets despite persistent political tumult, to the stablecoin revolution sweeping Africa and Latin America, she offers compelling evidence that the next unicorns might emerge far from Silicon Valley. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A 20x markup. Vertical integration across manufacturing, retail, and insurance. One company controlling 80% of the market. Most investors would see Luxottica's dominance of the eyewear market and walk away. Dave Gilboa and his co-founders saw the opportunity of a lifetime. In this episode, Warby Parker's co-CEO breaks down the strategic decisions that turned a business school insight into a multi-billion dollar public company, and why the playbook still works in 2026. Dave shares the lessons he’s learned in spotting market inefficiency, timing entry during crisis, building defensible moats in commodity categories, and positioning for platform shifts before they're obvious. He also discusses Warby Parker's partnership with Google and Samsung to build AI-powered glasses and the hardware play that positions them at the center of what he believes will be “the first form factor native to the AI era.” It's a strategic pivot that could 10x their addressable market. For investors making high-stakes allocation decisions in consumer tech, DTC, or AI hardware, this conversation offers rare insight into how disruption actually scales. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We're witnessing the most profound shift in global finance since the 1970s, and Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck knows why. As a third-generation trendspotter, he shares the family recipe for identifying macro shifts before anyone else notices. His father predicted gold would break free in 1968, and it rocketed from $35 to $800 an ounce. Now Jan sees the next breakout: countries abandoning the dollar, with gold as the only alternative. Learn why this rally could push gold past $10,000, why American investors are making a huge mistake sitting on the sidelines, and how to position your portfolio for this shift. Jan also explains why the AI bubble has already popped (and why that's your buying opportunity), what Treasury Secretary Bessent's interview reveals about the Fed's real plans, and why Bitcoin is “like a teenager” that needs to grow up. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In this special, live recording of The Important Part, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas asks the question many investors are thinking about: when – if ever – will the markets cool off? She sits down with two of the top critical thinkers in the world of finance: Tom Lee, Co-founder and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Michael Lewis, the New York Times bestselling author of Moneyball, The Big Short, The Blind Side, and Going Infinite. Together, they work through the most pressing questions facing investors in 2026. Discover why retail investors are outperforming hedge funds, whether gold has peaked, and if Bitcoin's 40% dip signals a crypto winter. Lee explains why the recent AI-driven software tumble could actually reflect corporate productivity gains, while Lewis shares his contrarian gold bet and why he's “long fear.” They tackle the independence of the Federal Reserve under nominee Kevin Warsh, the risks of AI job displacement, and whether the federal government could nationalize failing AI companies. Plus: crypto's Black Swan events and what flash-frozen food teaches us about technological disruption. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Think your investment losses are about bad stock picks? Think again. Certified financial therapist Erika Wasserman reveals why 90% of your financial decisions are driven by emotion, not logic, and how your seven-year-old self still controls your money mindset today. Whether you’re panic-selling during market dips, avoiding money conversations with your partner, or wondering why you can't seem to build wealth despite knowing all the “right” strategies, this episode will change how you think about money. Erica shares her MONEY Method for productive financial conversations, and provides actionable tools to help you rewrite the unconscious money scripts that are sabotaging your success. If you’ve ever felt anxious checking your portfolio, guilty about spending, or stuck in the same financial patterns despite your best intentions, this is the conversation you need to hear. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What will 2026 bring for your portfolio? From precious metals to interest rates and tech stocks, we’re kicking off the new year by answering some of your most pressing questions. In this bonus episode of The Important Part, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas brings deep research and thoughtful insight to this year’s economic outlook. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We're taught that smart people get the right answer. The gold star. The A+. But Bobby Parmar, professor of business administration at the University of Virginia and author of Radical Doubt: Turning Uncertainty into Surefire Success, argues that this conditioning sabotages our most important decisions. In this episode, Bobby shares why doubt isn't the enemy of good decision-making, it's the foundation. He reveals how to shift from being a “right answer getter” to becoming a “better answer maker,” and the framework he uses to help executives embrace uncertainty as a strategic advantage. You'll learn why embracing doubt can unlock better decisions for you and why the best investors treat uncertainty as their superpower. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What does it actually take to break into finance? Mario Ismailanji, Senior Investment Strategist at SoFi, shares his unconventional path from philosophy major to finance professional, including the impulsive late-night decision that changed everything. He shares why critical thinking beats perfect credentials, how to filter through the noise in a world of constant headlines, and why your portfolio should be a cruise ship, not a jet ski. Mario and Liz explain what investment strategy teams actually do (spoiler: it's not picking stocks), the hidden tax trap of meme stock trading, and how democratized finance has changed the game for retail investors. Whether you're considering a career pivot, building your first portfolio, or just trying to focus on long-term goals, this conversation offers practical wisdom wrapped in relatable stories. Bottom line: your "wrong" major might be exactly right. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What happens when entrepreneurial ambition collides with the demands of your relationships? In this revealing conversation, renowned VC Brad Feld and philanthropist Amy Batchelor share what they’ve learned during 35 years of marriage: including the late-night moment when Amy said “I'm done” after a decade of 100-hour work weeks, and the honest reckoning that followed. From navigating income disparities to establishing true equality in their partnership, Brad and Amy share hard-learned wisdom about setting boundaries, aligning values around money, and defining success beyond the balance sheet. Plus, Brad weighs in on today's AI bubble, the Rule of 40, and why speculation is threatening the startup ecosystem. Whether you're building a company, building a relationship, or trying to figure out how to do both, this conversation offers lessons in what it really takes to have it all–and why "having it all" might not mean what you think. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What separates billion-dollar bets from billion-dollar disasters? Wall Street Journal columnist and author Tim Higgins has spent two decades covering the world's boldest CEOs: from Elon Musk betting his entire fortune on electric cars, to Mark Zuckerberg wagering Meta's future to escape Apple's “perfect mousetrap.” In this episode, Tim reveals the patterns behind high-stakes tech decisions, explains why OpenAI might already be too big to fail, and shares why every innovation cycle – from Detroit's Model T to today's ChatGPT – starts the same way (spoiler: it always looks frivolous at first). You'll learn how to spot transformative technology before it transforms and why “insane” decisions often work. Whether you're trying to separate hype from reality or are simply fascinated by how power players think, this conversation will change how you see today's AI arms race, and what comes next. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.