Natural disasters are becoming more severe and costly—who should bear the financial burden? We explore the tension between socialized risk and market-based insurance. Topics covered include: The surprisingly large percentage of natural disaster losses that are uninsured Why natural disaster severity is increasing A deep dive into the complexity of the home insurance market, including state-run home insurance plans How California has tried to update its home insurance … [Read more...]
444: Natural Disasters: Are They Truly Increasing?
From raging wildfires to devastating floods, how are these natural events reshaping our financial landscape? What if anything, should we be doing with our investments as a result? Topics covered include: The devastating Maui wildfire: What are the factors that led to one of the deadliest wildfires in US history. Global wildfire trends: Are they really increasing? The data might surprise you. The role of insurance companies: Learn how the giants of the reinsurance world, like … [Read more...]
442: Crisis-Proof Investing: Strategies for a Shaky Future
Given climate change and other risks, how should you invest for the next forty years? Topics covered include: What predictions from the last forty years came true and which didn't Why the next forty years will have a lot of similarities to the last forty years despite the promise of AI Why the scale and complexity of the world make big transitions away from oil, cement, and natural gas unlikely Why economic growth and consumption will likely continue leading to positive … [Read more...]
413: What if the World Stopped Shopping?
How to solve the conundrum that consumption reductions lead to economic disasters while benefiting the environment. Topics covered include: Why consumption, fossil fuel usage, and carbon emissions keep growing How fossil fuel consumption goes well beyond heating and transportation uses but is tied to agriculture, steel, and cement production The four times global consumption fell and the dire economic consequences that resulted How the world is consuming twice as many … [Read more...]
395: How Population Trends Will Impact Growth, Inflation, Investing and Well Being
How slowing population growth and an eventual population peak will lead to competition for foreign workers, potentially higher inflation, and ultimately the need to transition to a steady-state economy rather than one based on constantly producing more. Topics covered include: How longevity and birthrates impact population growth What areas of the world are seeing population increases versus declines Why high income countries will need more immigrants in order to sustain their … [Read more...]
390: Are BlackRock and Vanguard Too Big and Powerful?
How big index fund and ETF providers have increased their sway over publicly-traded companies while potentially discouraging competition. What can be done about it? Topics covered include: How market share for assets under management has become increasingly concentrated with big fund complexes like Vanguard and BlackRockWhat is a fiduciary relationship and how do asset managers serve as fiduciariesWhy do investors in index funds and ETFs have no input as to how fund sponsors vote on … [Read more...]
351: How to Profit From Carbon Investing While Combatting Climate Change
How the carbon emissions allowance and carbon offset markets are structured and how to invest in them. Topics covered include: How much greater are the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and how much have average temperatures increasedWhy industries and companies are seeking to cut their greenhouse gas emissionsHow cap and trade emissions trading systems workWhat are the demand and supply dynamics of tradable emission allowancesWhat has been the performance of tradeable … [Read more...]
340: Climate Change, ESG, and What Should Investors Do?
How businesses, households, governments, asset managers, and investors interact in unpredictable ways to address the risks and opportunities related to climate change and other global trends. Why ESG investing goes beyond just buying an ESG fund or ETF. Topics covered include: What are the incentives, constraints, opportunities, and risks faced by businesses, households, governments, asset managers, and investors when deciding what to do. What is ESG and sustainable … [Read more...]
335: Are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) Good Investments?
How do non-fungible tokens work, what are the risks, and how do NFTs fit within the landscape of investments. Topics covered include: Investing in physical art versus cryptoartHow NFTs work on the ethereum blockchainHow Ethereum differs from BitcoinWhat is the purpose of investing and are NFTs investmentsHow much energy do cryptocurrencies and the financial system consumeWhat are the risks of NFTs Show Notes Want to Buy an NFT? Here’s What to Know by Amber Burton—The Wall … [Read more...]
281: Four Forces That Will Shape The Next Decade
This decade that is coming to a close has been rewarding for investors. The 2010s were marked by a slow but prolonged economic recovery following the Great Financial Crisis of 2008 and 2009. The U.S. began the decade with an unemployment rate of 10%. Now it is 3.5%. The current U.S. economic expansion is the longest in U.S. history. Stock and Bond Return Expectations Against that backdrop, global stock markets as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index in U.S. … [Read more...]
