Trends with Benefits
Welcome to Trends with Benefits, the podcast that gives you an insider's edge into finance, tech, and investing. Hosted by Ed Lopez, VanEck's Head of Product Management.
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Parrot Finance: From Shark Tank to a Registered Investment Advisor
<p>These three Parrot Finance co-founders went from Wall Street and fintech careers, to a Shark Tank pitch, and eventually became an SEC registered investment advisor. Hear what they learned about pivoting, building fast, and why the human touch still matters in an AI world, with VanEck's Ed Lopez.</p> <p >00:00 Meet Parrot Finance </p> <p >02:55 Meet the Founders </p> <p >06:48 Pivots, 13F Data, Integrations and Compliance </p> <p >13:48 Investment Strategies and What Users Want </p> <p >24:20 Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank </p> <p >31:00 What's Next: AI and Personalization </p> <p >35:23 Trend or Fad</p>
Mortgage REITs Are Back? Annaly CEO talks Rates, GSEs, and Housing
<p>Explore why mortgage REITs are a macro play, not a real estate bet, how GSE reform shifted from IPO to policy tool, and why today's rate environment echoes Annaly's best decade, with Annaly Capital CEO David Finkelstein and VanEck's Ed Lopez.</p> <p >00:00 Introduction to mortgage REITs and episode overview</p> <p >11:08 Interest rates normalization and market equilibrium</p> <p >19:15 Long-term capital allocation and growth strategies</p> <p >26:25 GSE reform, conservatorship, and market implications</p> <p >34:34 Housing policy, institutional investment, and market stability</p> <p >41:30 Advice for individual investors in mortgage REITs</p>
Sports as an Asset Class: NY Islanders Owner Jon Ledecky
<p >Explore why sports franchises are increasingly viewed as an investable asset class, how institutional capital and media rights are reshaping valuations, and why owners see themselves as stewards of a community asset, with New York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and VanEck's Ed Lopez.</p> <p >00:00 Introduction <br />04:30 From Entrepreneur to Sports Owner<br /> 08:30 Lessons from Failure and Entrepreneurial Spirit<br /> 12:01 Community Impact Through Sports Ownership<br /> 19:29 Acquisition of the New York Islanders<br /> 23:10 Sports as an Alternative Investment<br /> 32:25 The Evolving Landscape of Sports Ownership<br /> 38:37 Emerging Sports and Investment Opportunities<br /> 41:29 Sports as an Asset Class<br /> 43:04 The F...
Future Proof 2026: Tech, Real Assets, and What Clients Really Need
<p >Explore what stood out at Future Proof 2026, from advisor skepticism about AI's real client value, to the rising case for fixed income and real assets, and why human connection remains the edge no algorithm can replicate, with VanEck's Ed Lopez.</p> <p >00:00 Introduction to Future Proof Conference<br /> 02:46 AI's Impact on Financial Advisory<br /> 06:01 The Human Element in Financial Advisory<br /> 08:54 Fixed Income and Real Assets</p>
Bob Pisani. 40 Years of Market History. Zero Filter.
<p>Explore CNBC's Bob Pisani's reflections on 40-plus years of finance journalism, how he navigated the information overload of modern markets, what he learned from the NYSE trading floor, and what life looks like after leaving one of the most recognizable roles in financial media.</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 09:39 The Art of Storytelling in Finance <br /> 12:28 Reflections on Career and Life Choices<br /> 18:32 Curiosity: An Innate Trait or Learned Skill?<br /> 23:13 Wealth Inequality and Market Participation<br /> 32:19 The Reality of Market Volatility<br /> 51:20 Active vs. Passive Investment Strategies<br /> 53:51 Market Concentration and Indexing Concerns<br /> 56:36 Inflation and Bond Market Dynamics<b...
Steph Pomboy: AI Debt Binge, Credit Cracks, & Gold
<p >Explore the case for hard assets over paper, the pension system's growing private credit exposure, and why deglobalization may reshape financial markets for a generation, with Macro Mavens founder Steph Pomboy.</p> <p>00:00 Introduction</p> <p>03:04 AI, leverage, and the dot-com parallel</p> <p>05:54 The competition for capital in 2026</p> <p>08:48 The $15 trillion capital problem nobody is talking about</p> <p>09:51 The triple B debt crisis and corporate balance sheet risk</p> <p>22:25 The Fed as buyer of last resort for treasuries</p> <p>28:24 The private credit boom and the pension problem</p> <p>39:27 The upside of deglobalization and...
Mark Zandi: Stock Wealth Fuels Growth, But at What Risk?
<p >Explore the growing divide between top and bottom earners, the wealth effect driving consumer spending, inflation's staying power, and what AI may mean for jobs and the economy, with Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.</p> <p >00:00 Introduction</p> <p >02:01 Divergence Between Economy and Markets</p> <p >12:03 Consumer Spending Dynamics</p> <p >18:04 Wealth Effect and Its Implications</p> <p >23:56 Equity Valuations and Market Concerns</p> <p >30:46 Globalization, Inflation, and Economic Outlook</p> <p >35:55 Interest Rates and Economic Outlook</p> <p >36:38 Consumer Spending and Recession Risks</p> <p >39:43 Job Losses and AI Impact</p> <p >44:01 Policymaking in the Age of...
Ed Lopez Recaps Wealth Management EDGE
<p > From the Wealth Management Edge conference floor: VanEck's Head of Product Management Ed Lopez explores what advisors are asking about, from AI and AEO to private markets, real assets, and the three macro themes shaping portfolios.</p> <p>00:00 Conference Overview and Key Themes</p> <p>02:04 EDGE Conference evolution</p> <p>05:28 Christian Munafo's session on private markets</p> <p>07:20 AEO: Making your business searchable on AI</p> <p>08:40 Ed Lopez sits on Women in ETFs panel</p> <p>15:15 Ed's EDGE Takeaways</p>
A CIO's Take on Geopolitics, the Dollar, and the Case for Going Global
<p >Explore why the S&P may be mispricing geopolitical risk, the case for India, the dollar's decline, and gold as a trade (not a strategy), with Mercer Advisors CIO Don Calcagni.</p> <p >00:00 Introduction and Guest Background</p> <p >01:57 Changes in Asset Allocation and Private Markets</p> <p >04:01 US and International Equity Diversification</p> <p >07:11 Market Concentration and Diversification Benefits</p> <p >11:14 Geopolitical Risks and Global Market Drivers</p> <p >16:57 US Political Risks and Domestic Instability</p> <p >17:53 India's Growth and Investment Potential</p> <p >24:20 Gold as a Strategic Asset and Trade</p> <p >29:33 Private Markets and Current Valuations...
Space, AI, and Private Equity Trends
<p >AI is creating 'zombie companies' and the next wave of winners may never go public. VanEck's Head of Private Growth Strategies Christian Munafo reveals how to find them, why IPOs are still stalled, and what the SpaceX listing could unlock.</p>
