The Real Investment Show Podcast

The pending World Series contest between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals will be an on-going thread throughout this morning's show; a big week for quarterly reporting; Fed Districts with weakest reports are those with most exposure to China Trade Tariffs; Who's Richer? How Capitalism works vs the WeWork Ponzi scheme; Life is good until you turn 43: The Happiness Curve; Season tickets of GreenBay Packers, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49'er's: will offer of food inclusion help sales?The Sports Gene; why markets are offering an opportunity to increase exposure to stocks.

Consumer buying habits are shifting with prevailing demographics, and there are some products that will be going away because no one's buying them; special thanks to a Conan O'Brien segment featuring Gary Gulman;

As we age, we begin to lose some acuity in our vision, dexterity, and hearing...or so we're told. Lance discovers he's still 'got it,' and why his & her's Amazon Prime accounts might be worth the expense.

What are quarterly reports (beating lowered estimates) really telling us about the economy; Why Millennial spending patterns matter; excerpts from Gary Gulman on Conan: Cereal for Breakfast; Is Lance going deaf? Shopping on Amazon; Labor Force participation, and why we're not prepared to not have a job; results of Target's minimum wage hike to $15/hour.

Market Review and "The Great Sag;" Christmas decorations and market commentary; China's GDp--can the numbers be believed? Teaching the kiddos about money; Gary's Money Experiment; Moonjar; Save, spend, give; the Bertha Cabello podcast preview.

"If the value of a currency rests on its limited supply, are we now entering a phase where the value of the dollar will begin to be questioned." A frank discussion of monetary policy, and the need for the will of the people to foment change; a discussion of the Gold Standard, and whether there is a need for a return to some kind of monetary standard in order to hobble the Fed and the Government's ability to spend without restraint; what history tells us the economic outcome will be.

The ironic similarities between Brexit and the ongoing trade "talks" between the US and China; Boris Johnson vs Donald Trump Hair; Texas Weather; Thanksgiving at The Roberts' House; Michael Lebowitz on a Matter of Trust and The Gold Standard: A history of Monetary Policy; why markets are priced for 'perfection,' which is where nobody lives; wage growth not keeping up with inflation in cost of living; why debt matters, and rising debt hampers economic growth.

So you think Free Trades are really free?? Here's what really goes on with your 'free' trades that don't cost you anything...or do they?

The importance of Trust in Currency; Tips for Avoiding Tax Mistakes; How the Fed's latest round of QE (that's NOT QE) rallied Wall Street; Astro's Win; Dem Debate no mention of Climate Change--which is a huge wealth transfer; Bernie Sanders' attack on the rich(er than he); the value of a dollar; Brokerage Firms offer "free" trades; why sometimes it's better to pay for a service; How China Trade Tariffs may impact 2020 Election; things older Lance would tell younger Lance.

Economist Daniel LeCalle's new book, "Freedom or Equality," will be released in March 2020, and we get a preview of his thoughts on the difference between equality and equal opportunity, whitewashing interventionalism; capitalism isn't broken, but it's been warped by corporate stock buy-backs; four reasons US Healthcare is the way it is; why our challenges cannot by solved by destroying the greatness of the US; why you cannot equalize-up, only equalize-down to the lowest-common denominator.

As the next Earnings Season cycle emerges, weaker GDP Growth is expected to be reflected in coming reports; Bulls are getting QE and Trade but remain stuck in the middle; WeWork and Tesla are examples of companies burning through cash, still not turning a profit; look for big changes as WeWork goes public because it has to--likely will be taken over by its debtors; a preview of our podcast interview with Daniel LaCalle on Freedom, Equality, and Capitalism.

A continuation of Lance Roberts' discussion of how Capitalism was distorted by Wall Street, the myths about Capitalism used to extract votes from the populace, and how investors can capitalize on Capitalism.

The latest China Trade "deal" is no deal for the US; parking fun and games at the Austin Music Festival; Lance's Mom and her new mobile phone; Houston's winningest pro teams ever; Capitalism under attack; why deficits aren't self-financing; Bernie Sanders is so Socialist, he's calling Elizabeth Warren a Capitalist; China's social credit system: Why the US really isn't too far behind.

What does market volatility mean for your portfolio? Why we're all in financial purgatory; retail sales forecasts are cautiously optimistic. Why Ken Fisher wants to get in your pants: A marketing critique; buzzwords for transactions; the real responsibility of financial planners. ROTH Accounts and the Five Year Rule.

The rumors vs the reality of what's happening between Washington and Beijing are having an effect on Wall Street. RIA Advisors Portfolio Manager, Michael Lebowitz, CFA provides his take, plus commentary on Millennials' perspective on the markets--they've never lived through a down market; the generation that created Social Media is now using that tool to amplify their voice; is it time for investors to "sit on their hands?'

With more and more workers taking on second and third jobs, the opportunity was ripe for the development of an app to connect contractors with gig employers. Moonlighting founder and CEO, Jeff Tennery, reveals the metamorphosis of the Moonlighting app with RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts.

How Trump Tweets are affecting CEO Confidence--and the interesting correlation to the economy and GDP; Kroger and vaping and smoking; raising kids in the 21st Century; Consumer Credit, credit card debt, and student loan debt; why forgiveness of debt is a bad path to follow; preview of the Jeff Tennery interview podcast; why Capitalism is what the 2020 Election will be all about; nothing comes for free; debt created to pay for free stuff still must be serviced.

Who are we really angry with as the wealth gap continues to widen? RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts compares "The Company Men" movie to modern day corporate tactics.

China now says it might not be open to a trade deal before the 2020 elections, unsure of who will be in charge in 2021; Auto Sales are coming to the end of their latest cycle; Billionaires, pay gaps, and the cost of living; Capitalism isn't broken; Corporate America in today's economy; why you can thank Bill Clinton for today's pay gap between CEO's and workers; the problem with pension funds;

Why economics is a Social Soup, and paying attention to those around you can be profitable; why I-10 has surpassed HWY 290 as Houston's "Highway to Hell;" Market commentary, plus why bonds "guaranteed" income should be viewed carefully in a negative rate environment; why is Open Enrollment is so feared by employees; What's in your portfolio? The purpose of Central Banks vs how they're being used; plus, a preview of upcoming classes and workshops.

Regardless of what the Federal Reserve wants to call it, measures to continue economic stimulation by the central bank would appear to mimic earlier editions of Quantitative Easing. As RIA Advisors Portfolio Manager, Michael Lebowitz, CFA quips, "If it walks like a duck...:

Forrest Gump once said, "Stupid is as stupid does..." In this segment, Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff review an essay written in 1976 by University of California at Berkley Prof. Carlo M. Cipolla on "The Five Laws of Human Stupidity," which Lance has applied to the present-day, bone-headed stunts some investors perform upon themselves. BUMP MUSIC by Leo Moracchioli/Frog Leap Studios: "Born to Be Wild" and "Bittersweet Symphony"

There is now a 60% chance some kind of China Trade "deal" emerge before the 2020 Elections; meanwhile, economic data--particularly lagging indicators--are beginning to show cracks in the facade of the US economic story; Portfolio Manager Michael Lebowitz, CFA w Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, explore the possibilities of more Quantitative Easing by the Fed--could this be a permanent "tool?" Why UFO sightings are down, even as the Navy confirms their existence; an early termination fee for a 102-year old satellite TV customer.

The latest ISM numbers are not promising, and now even the dumbest economists are proposing tariffs and debt is leaching productivity out of the economy; proof that communism does not work, as Capitalism is credited for lifting the Chinese people "out" of poverty; meanwhile, in America, the only thing that has contributed to our economic growth has been Government Spending. The Five Universal Laws of Human Stupidity; Why your taxes WILL go up within the next 5-years.

The latest ISM numbers are not promising, and now even the dumbest economists are proposing tariffs and debt is leaching productivity out of the economy; proof that communism does not work, as Capitalism is credited for lifting the Chinese people "out" of poverty; meanwhile, in America, the only thing that has contributed to our economic growth has been Government Spending. The Five Universal Laws of Human Stupidity; Why your taxes WILL go up within the next 5-years.

The latest ISM numbers are not promising, and now even the dumbest economists are proposing tariffs and debt is leaching productivity out of the economy; proof that communism does not work, as Capitalism is credited for lifting the Chinese people "out" of poverty; meanwhile, in America, the only thing that has contributed to our economic growth has been Government Spending. The Five Universal Laws of Human Stupidity; Why your taxes WILL go up within the next 5-years.

The structure of relaxed lending rules, peer-to-peer arrangements, and why IPO's occur; the story behind WeWork, and why its path to profitability is non-existent...and why you should care.

With roughly 80% of the China Trade Deal already agreed upon, what happens if President Trump can't close 'em before the 2020 Election? How Political Fatigue is affecting the electorate; the True Job of Government; Why what happens to WeWork Should Matter to You; What's in your wallet/401-K?

As teen clothing retailer, Forever-21, slips into bankruptcy, the evolution of retail sales, home sales, and the definition of work continues apace: Wage inequality is spawning unrest between the have's and the have-not's, and everyone is looking to someone else to take on the debt of others; the appeal of Bernie Sanders' promises of free stuff for all;

What is the Markets' reaction to the current impeachment circus? Babies on Airplanes--why seats set farthest away from them could draw premium prices; US Retirement Security Ranking drops to #18; Richard touts our new "My Blocks" financial planning feature; the latest on Medicare/Medigap enrollment advice; the new Medicare Plan Finder website; volatility in the markets likely to increase as politics creep into the narrative as 2020 draws nearer; how retirees should look at taking their distributions--and when.

An in-depth explanation of what happened in the Overnight Repurchase Agreement (REPO) Funding Market on Monday (9/16/19), why it matters, and the repercussions to be expected; this could be the end of the Era (error) of Quantitative Easing, and the connective tissues of the mind set that would rather bailout troubled companies (and individuals) rather than allow failures (and corrections) to occur; and why today's political party pandering and proviso's of free-everything is so appealing, despite the incongruity of their logic.

What happens to the markets every time the president sends a tweet? Could this argument be made--or are they all wrapped up in it together? The Astros and Mattress Mac--time to buy a new bed? On-line match-making, marriages, and tad of fraud at Match.com; the REPO liquidity crisis explained--how you know there's a problem; McDonald's veggie burger; Are we seeing the end of the QE Era or error (or both)? We've had socialism for the wealthy for years; Dem's want it for themselves now.

The mix of 60/40 Stocks to bonds will continue to enable porfolio's so arranged to out-perform the S&P 500, according to RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, reviewing the math, and a recommendation to revisit a prescient book from by gone days of yore--which turned out to be spot on.

George P. Mitchell was the 'Father of Fracking,' and we begin this podcast segment with an abridged edition of our interview with Mitchell biographer Loren Steffy, and continue with a discourse on subsidies, Tesla, WeWork, and the unintended consequences of bailing out companies that should be allowed to fail.

The Houston Astros are having one of their winningest seasons ever, and Las Vegas Odds makers are now giving 3-to-1 odds the lit' ol' team from Texas will take the 2019 World Series. RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, RIchard Rosso, Director of Financial Planning, and KSEV Operations Manager Russell Sherrill discuss the possibilities and why Vegas bets aren't too different from Wall Street bets.

How might effects of a Trump Impeachment investigation impact Wall Street? Excerpts from our podcast interview with Loren Steffy on his biography of George P. Mitchell; an email is answered: No Subsidies for Anyone! Richard Rosso's explainer on My Blocks feature; Bernie vs Billionaires; Bond Yields' connections to the economy; Why the 60/40 portfolio mix will continue to outperform the S&P 500; being bearish vs realistic; why political policies attacking wealth will fail.

Who wouldn't want to bank more cash for working fewer hours? There's an downside to this financial nirvana that's being peddled by politicians; why Millennial women aren't the marrying kind (it's not them!); and a basic, teachable moment about savings for the kids.

The life and times of George P. Mitchell from biographer Loren Steffy (author of "Deepwater Horizon): his take on electric cars, how fracking and saving the planet were interconnected, and Mitchell's agenda for global sustainability.

How to add money in an over-bought markets; playing guessing games with Steve Mnuchin; what happens if/when China Trade issues are (partially) resolved? Is Wework on the verge of melting-down; what is impact on Real Estate in New York, and nationally? Working in Retirement; Elizabeth Warren's plan for Government Income--loss of innovation; frugality as a teaching moment for Danny's kids; Elizabeth Warren's plan to tax productivity and marriage; Sagitarius-A--the Big Black Hole; why business is always optimistic; preparing for Halloween and Christmas at the Roberts' house.

You see the strangest things at market tops...as well as at Market Bottoms, as we look at some ideas for making money on money making--what could possibly go wrong??

What are actions typical of Market Tops vs Market Bottoms? The story of the $55-million Bowie Bonds; CD's vs Lp's and the digitization of music; NBA's Spencer Dinwiddie and his bond offering to fund investment in Bitcoin; the significance of The Fed's "Mid-Cycle Rate Adjustment;" companies with no path to profitability: WeWork/Andy Newman; the veneer of the financial markets is cracking

Why CEO's are predicting Recession by 2020; the Amazing Mattress Mac and Houston Flood Relief; End of Life and Estate Planning; The Fed's impact on investors and savers (America is the best house in a bad neighborhood; how lower rates affect savers; going to Disney World, and the creation of Misney World; how poor saving habits can hurt you; why America is like Japan, w changing demographics and culture.

In considering the Stability/Instability paradox now facing the Federal Reserve, a look at data vs sentiment, and the story of one business' success by leveraging the news of the day, thus mocking the newsmakers.

What happens when the Fed drops rates, but teases leaving the door open for more quantitative easing? Why Jerome Powell can't say a recession is coming--because recessions are self-fulfilling prophecies; what small business owners know and fell; NFIB report, CFO Survey: 53% expect recession before 2020 elections; Why Barack Obama and Beto O'Rourke are the best gun salesmen; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are still "dumpster fires" ten-years after their bailouts, and still insolvent.

When markets nearly ground to a halt on Monday (9/16) the Fed stepped in with measures to save the day--still unknown is WHAT caused the problem: Was it a search for funds by the Saudi's following weekend drone attacks on their refineries? RIA Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts w Portfolio Manager Michael Lebowitz, CFA and Danny Ratliff, CFP on likely occurred, and what it means to investors.

Will the Washington slug-fest continue (Donald Trump bashing Jerome Powell) after today's Fed Meeting? Why have the odds of a rate cut dropped to 50-50: What's going on that we don't know about? The liquidity crunch on Monday that spooked Wall Street; what the White House wants vs what's really best for the US Economy and economic policy. RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts w Portfolio Manager Michael Lebowitz, CFA and Danny Ratliff, CFP.

How the illusion of economic growth has blinded investors to the slowdown that is already occurring globally; why the ECB's move on rates was for the benefit of a certain Germany-based bank; investors who ignore the elevated risks do so at their own peril.

The impact of oil prices on drilling; how shale production has enabled US independence; OPEC efficacy on pricing; the pricing power of small business; Netlfix acquisition of "Seinfeld;" Streaming wars and the battle for content; Why Amazon isn't a monopoly--yet; the risks of a liquidity-driven event; yield curve inversion ISN'T the problem--it's when it RE-inverts that the trouble begins; corporate credit and debt issues; Deutsche Bank is the Lehman Bros of Europe; paying attention to what you own: Why a liquidity crunch will happen rapidly.

The weekend drone attack on Saudi oil refineries are sure to have an effect on oil prices--which may not be a bad thing, economically speaking...plus a critical look at the timing of the UAW Strike against General Motors.

The economic and policy responses to the weekend drone attacks on Saudi Refineries: What will be the Fed's reaction; Trump's Tweets; The Problem with Oil Prices has been too much supply; other exogenous events impacting US economy: UAW Strike (at a time when inventories are highest, financing costs at lowest); NFIB Report: Higher Labor Costs are number one concern; what happens if Recession hits before 2020 Elections? Teen Weekend at the Roberts' House; A Dog's Life-2; what's happening at fast-food franchises.