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Trends with Benefits

VanEck

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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  • 21 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 45 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • #159
    August 18 · 47 min

    Steph Pomboy: AI Debt Binge, Credit Cracks, & Gold

    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. 00:00 Introduction 03:04 AI, leverage, and the dot-com parallel 05:54 The competition for capital in 2026 08:48 The $15 trillion capital problem nobody is talking about 09:51 The triple B debt crisis and corporate balance sheet risk 22:25 The Fed as buyer of last resort for treasuries 28:24 The private credit boom and the pension problem 39:27 The upside of deglobalization and reshoring 44:52 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E158
    August 4 · 54 min

    Mark Zandi: Stock Wealth Fuels Growth, But at What Risk?

    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. 00:00 Introduction 02:01 Divergence Between Economy and Markets 12:03 Consumer Spending Dynamics 18:04 Wealth Effect and Its Implications 23:56 Equity Valuations and Market Concerns 30:46 Globalization, Inflation, and Economic Outlook 35:55 Interest Rates and Economic Outlook 36:38 Consumer Spending and Recession Risks 39:43 Job Losses and AI Impact 44:01 Policymaking in the Age of AI 50:15 Trend or Fad?

  • #157
    July 21 · 17 min

    Ed Lopez Recaps Wealth Management EDGE

    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. 00:00 Conference Overview and Key Themes 02:04 EDGE Conference evolution 05:28 Christian Munafo's session on private markets 07:20 AEO: Making your business searchable on AI 08:40 Ed Lopez sits on Women in ETFs panel 15:15 Ed's EDGE Takeaways

  • S1 · E156
    July 7 · 49 min

    A CIO's Take on Geopolitics, the Dollar, and the Case for Going Global

    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. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:57 Changes in Asset Allocation and Private Markets 04:01 US and International Equity Diversification 07:11 Market Concentration and Diversification Benefits 11:14 Geopolitical Risks and Global Market Drivers 16:57 US Political Risks and Domestic Instability 17:53 India's Growth and Investment Potential 24:20 Gold as a Strategic Asset and Trade 29:33 Private Markets and Current Valuations, Access and Risks 35:23 Private Equity and IPO Strategies 40:46 Market Mispricing and Geopolitical Risks 44:14 Long-term Trends and AI Innovation 47:59 Trend or Fad

  • S1 · E155
    June 9 · 53 min

    Space, AI, and Private Equity Trends

    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.

  • S1 · E153
    May 12 · 47 min

    This Mining CEO Is Not a Gold Bug. But He Is Bullish.

    Explore the dynamics of the gold market, supply constraints, technological innovations, gold as a currency, and technology in mining efficiency, with Agnico Eagle Mines CEO Ammar Al-Joundi. 00:00 Introduction 03:30 Drivers of Gold Prices 14:38 Challenges to Gold's Bullish Outlook 17:24 Supply Constraints in Gold Mining 21:33 Advantages of Operating in Developed Markets 25:56 Investor Perspectives on Gold Mining 32:38 Leveraging Technology for Efficiency 42:05 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E152
    April 28 · 38 min

    The Tax Changes Nobody Is Talking About

    Explore the biggest tax planning changes of 2026, the One Big Beautiful Act, Roth conversion pitfalls, and how AI is reshaping wealth management, with Wealth.com Senior Tax Strategist Shane Ball. 00:00 Introduction 08:28 The Role of Technology in Tax Planning 17:08 Common Tax Mistakes and Best Practices 17:56 Navigating State and Federal Tax Provisions 18:28 Understanding Roth Conversions 25:09 Integrating Estate and Tax Planning 27:17 The Future of Tax Policy 31:46 Investment Trends and Insights 34:24 Trend or Fad?

  • April 13 · 50 min

    How AI is Shaping Next-Gen Manufacturing

    Explore how AI is transforming industrial automation, machine learning, autonomous manufacturing, and the key workforce skills required, with Rockwell Automation VP Jordan Reynolds. 00:00 Introduction 02:18 Rockwell Automation's Role in Industrial AI 06:03 Adaptable Learning: The Next Inflection Point of Automation 16:39 The Rise of Learning and Adaptation in Automation 29:49 Jobs and Skills in the Age of AI 31:16 The Human Role in Autonomous Manufacturing 35:47 AI's Impact on Supply Chains and Scarcity 44:23 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E150
    February 24 · 46 min

    The Human Role in Modern Financial Advice

    Explore how fintech and AI expand access to personalized financial guidance, regardless of wealth level, and why human connection is vital in the age of AI with Connective CEO Ian Rosen. 00:00 Introduction 02:49 The Gaps in Financial Education and Advisory Services 09:08 Building Trust in Financial Services 13:03 Addressing Financial Anxiety and Health 14:37 The Journey to Founding Connective 23:08 The Future of Human Connection in Wealth Management 31:36 The Ripple Effect of Financial Support 32:31 The Need for Financial Professionals 42:24 Trend or Fad?

  • February 11 · 11 min

    Bitcoin's Next Move: Volatility, Cycles & Signals

    Explore Bitcoin's recent price drawdown, the four-year halving cycle, leverage unwinds, market structure shifts, and why long-term Bitcoin adoption continues to advance despite near-term volatility.

  • S1 · E149
    February 3 · 58 min

    Dave Nadig's ETF Reality Check for 2026

    Explore today's ETF landscape, including retail usage, AI in portfolios, market outlook, regulations, and the rise of active ETFs with President and Director of Research at ETF.com, Dave Nadig. 00:00 Introduction 02:27 ETF Awards and Innovations 04:41 State of the ETF Landscape 12:01 Regulatory Changes and ETF Launches 17:59 Active ETFs and Market Trends 32:04 Navigating the Challenges of Private Investments 38:05 Emerging Trends in Investment Products 40:23 The Impact of AI on Investment Strategies 53:18 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E148
    January 20 · 46 min

    Why We Panic, Hesitate, and Chase Markets

    Learn about the importance of behavioral finance in understanding investor emotions, decision-making, and common behavioral mistakes investors make with Chief Behavioral Officer, at RFG Advisory, Brendan Frazier. 00:00 Introduction 03:29 Journey into Behavioral Finance 12:21 Behavioral Mistakes Investors Make 14:17 The Impact of Past Experiences on Financial Behavior 22:43 The Rivalry Between Current and Future Sel 25:15 Understanding Client Goals and Motivations 30:50 The SAFE Framework for Clients 38:11 Setting Expectations to Mitigate Fear 42:39 The Impact of Technology on Human Behavior 44:56 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E147
    January 6 · 48 min

    How Couples Can Become a Financial Team

    Hear how understanding individual money stories and shared contributions helps couples build a healthier relationship with each other through money, with Money Together authors Douglas and Heather Boneparth. 00:00 Introduction 02:06 The Book Launch and Reception 10:59 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Financial Views 21:05 Navigating Difficult Conversations About Money 31:39 The Importance of Financial Knowledge 32:11 Joint vs. Separate Accounts 34:26 Navigating Financial Agency 36:23 Addressing Non-Financial Risks 39:43 Planning for Future Caregiving 42:01 The Impact of Technology on Relationships 44:30 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E145
    Nov 25, 2025 · 49 min

    Harnessing Social Media for Smarter Investing

    Learn how online investing is redefining transparency, trust, and community for the next generation of retail investors from Blossom CEO Max Nicholson. 00:00 Introduction 02:22 What Is Blossom? 07:14 Privacy vs. Transparency 09:20 Blossom Origin Story 19:59 Where Blossom Fits in the Investor Lifecycle 22:05 Can Tech Help Advisors Serve Smaller Accounts? 29:45 Covered-Call & Single-Stock ETFs: Education vs. Yield-Chasing 34:00 Is the Meme-Stock Era Over? 35:57 Diversification vs. Thematics 39:45 Long-Term Retail Trends 47:24 Trend or Fad?

  • S1 · E143
    Oct 28, 2025 · 56 min

    The Future Hard Asset Supercycle: Inflation, Credit & Geopolitics

    In this episode of Trends with Benefits, Ed Lopez sits down with Larry McDonald, Founder of the Bear Traps Report, to discuss the current state of financial markets. Larry dives into signals pointing to potential economic turbulence, from mounting consumer credit pressures to persistent inflation. He shares insights on the growing investor shift toward hard assets amid de-dollarization and global tensions and weighs in on how demographics are reshaping asset allocation. The conversation also touches on the future of AI, energy infrastructure, and the changing dynamics of passive investing, highlighting why reading market signals is more critical than ever.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes