Monetary Matters with Jack Farley

This episode is brought to you by CAIA.nxt. Learn more about their alternatives education courses for investment advisors and get 10% off with code MMTEN: https://caia.org/content/welcome-monetary-matters-and-other-peoples-money-listeners Steven Novakovic, Managing Director of Educational Programs at CAIA, discusses the monumental shift from strategic asset allocation to the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA), a change recently highlighted by major moves at CalPERS. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of private markets, specifically how secondary markets are providing crucial liquidity and entry points for investors dealing with slowed distributions and the "denominator effect". Novakovic also provides a candid look at the friction between hedge fund fees and beta-heavy returns, arguing that sophisticated limited partners will not pay for beta. As alternative investments become more accessible to retail wealth, he emphasizes the critical need for education regarding evergreen funds and the unique risks of private market liquidity. Finally, the episode looks forward to 2026 educational initiatives at CAIA.Follow Steve Novakovic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-novakovic-caia/ Follow Max on X: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Other People’s Money on:Apple Podcast https://bit.ly/4e7QJ1M Spotify https://bit.ly/3Yhaazi YouTube https://bit.ly/3C63VXR X https://x.com/opmpod Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Governance Changes in Pension Plans 00:45 Strategic Asset Allocation vs. Total Portfolio Approach 03:24 Early Adopters and Global Trends in TPA 05:06 Benchmarking and Decision-Making Shifts 09:58 CalPERS Case Study: Governance and Tactical Opportunities 17:32 Impact on Managers and Investment Strategies 22:08 Current Market Trends and Private Credit 25:54 Private Equity Distributions and Secondary Markets 35:32 Reinvesting Portfolio Proceeds 36:39 Understanding Secondary Market Buyers 37:09 Benefits of Secondary Allocations 39:14 Challenges and Strategies in Secondary Markets 45:03 Hedge Funds vs. Equity Markets 46:35 Evaluating Hedge Fund Performance 49:02 Active Management and Fee Structures 56:53 Educating Investors on Alternatives 01:03:00 CAIA's Educational Resources 01:05:44 Upcoming CAIA Programs

Dr. Michael Power, a seasoned financial analyst, consultant, and strategist, joins Jack to discuss his recent work that predicts the Chinese A.I. industry may soon beat the U.S. at its own game. Dr. Power explains what makes the Chinese approach fundamentally different from U.S. labs like OpenAI and how it will likely affect the Chinese economy, the worldwide adoption of A.I., and the valuations of U.S. A.I. companies. As Dr. Power explains, China has the potential to not only catch up to the U.S., but to become the global leader in artificial intelligence. He and Jack get into the weeds to cut through the noise and get a read on what is really happening with Chinese A.I. Recorded on January 7th, 2026.   Read Dr. Power’s No More Moore? Essay https://tinyurl.com/hvxdubbw Follow Dr. Power on LinkedIn https://za.linkedin.com/in/michael-power-8825473 Follow Jack Farley on Twitter https://x.com/jackfarley96 Follow Monetary Matters on: Apple Podcasts https://rb.gy/s5qfyh Spotify https://rb.gy/x56dx5 YouTube https://rb.gy/dpwxez

In this episode of Monetary Matters, Max Wiethe sits down with Michael Kao, CIO of Cantos Capital Management and the Kao Family Office, to unpack the real energy risks facing the U.S. economy. The conversation opens with Venezuela and the Trump administration’s push to reshape global oil supply. Michael explains why Venezuela’s vast reserves are unlikely to move the market quickly, why OPEC spare capacity still caps oil prices, and why he remains structurally bearish on oil despite constant fears of shortages. From there, the focus shifts to what Michael believes is the true vulnerability: natural gas. He lays out a three-pillar thesis centered on premature electrification, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and expanding LNG exports. Together, these forces are driving electricity demand higher for the first time in decades, straining a power grid that increasingly depends on natural gas for baseload generation. The episode concludes with a discussion of how Michael is positioning for this shift, why he favors natural gas mineral rights over commodities or equities, and why natural gas is fundamentally different from oil when it comes to geopolitics and government intervention. Read Michael’s Substack, “Macro/Geopolitics/Investing - The Energy Achilles' Heel of America” here: https://www.urbankaoboy.com/p/re-macrogeopoliticsinvesting-the Follow Michael Kao on Twitter: https://x.com/UrbanKaoboy Follow Max Wiethe on Twitter: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Jack Farley on Twitter: https://x.com/JackFarley96 Follow Monetary Matters on: Apple Podcast https://rb.gy/s5qfyh Spotify https://rb.gy/x56dx5 YouTube https://rb.gy/dpwxez Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Geopolitical Energy Security 00:46 US Energy Concerns and Venezuela 01:33 Venezuela's Oil Production Potential 03:22 Natural Gas: The New Dependency 04:49 Challenges in Oil Production and Pricing 15:16 The Role of Natural Gas in the Energy Market 20:58 The Future of Natural Gas and Electricity Demand 31:13 Investment Strategies in Natural Gas 32:03 Challenges and Risks in Natural Gas Trading 33:45 Advantages of Mineral Rights Investments 38:16 Global and Local Dynamics of Natural Gas 40:39 Data Centers and Energy Demand 42:39 Future of Natural Gas and Market Trends 52:26 Investment Considerations and Strategies 01:03:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This Monetary Matters episode is brought to you by Fiscal.ai. Sign up for a 2-week free trial and get 15% off any paid tier at: ⁠http://fiscal.ai/mm⁠ In this episode, Jack Farley and Max Wiethe break down what really happened in markets in 2025 and what it means for investors heading into 2026. While U.S. equities delivered strong returns and continued to attract record foreign capital, global markets quietly outperformed, with emerging markets, Europe, Japan, and parts of Asia posting significantly higher total returns. The conversation digs into why the “U.S. is the only game in town” narrative broke down, how currency hedging changed foreign capital flows, and why countries like South Korea and China dominated performance. Jack and Max also explore sector-level winners and losers, the ongoing strength of AI and semiconductors, and the rise of speculative excess in areas with little fundamental support. Looking ahead, they debate the biggest risks for 2026, including AI valuations, private credit, labor market weakness, and the growing disconnect between corporate profits and employment. The episode closes with a discussion of tariffs, geopolitics, precious metals, and where real opportunities and hidden risks may lie as the global bull market continues to evolve. Follow Jack Farley on Twitter: https://x.com/JackFarley96 Follow Max Wiethe on Twitter: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Monetary Matters on: Apple Podcast https://rb.gy/s5qfyh Spotify https://rb.gy/x56dx5 YouTube https://rb.gy/dpwxez Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 US Market Performance in 2025 02:37 Global Market Comparison 04:25 Top Performing Countries and Sectors 05:08 Worst Performing Markets 11:29 Sector Analysis and Trends 16:50 Speculative Stocks and Quantum Computing 19:59 AI Trade and Precious Metals 23:55 Silver Market Dynamics and Supply Constraints 25:02 Biggest Risks to Market Stability in 2026 26:58 Bond Market and Inflationary Concerns 30:28 Private Credit and Market Risks 36:02 Tariffs and Their Impact on the Market 41:29 Geopolitical Special Situations: Venezuela 44:15 Upcoming Interviews and Fiscal AI

Harley Bassman, managing partner at Simplify Asset Management and widely known as the “Convexity Maven,” joins Monetary Matters to break down the hidden risks shaping today’s markets. He explains why inflation is likely to remain structurally higher, why massive fiscal deficits matter more than Fed policy, and how passive flows continue to support equities despite growing cracks underneath. The conversation dives deep into bonds, mortgage-backed securities, credit risk, gold as an alternative currency, and why convexity is the key concept investors consistently underestimate. Bassman also outlines practical portfolio hedges designed to perform when markets move to extremes, offering a rare, long-horizon framework for navigating uncertainty in 2026 and beyond. Read Harley’s 2026 Stocking Stuffers here: https://www.convexitymaven.com Follow Harley Bassman on Twitter: https://x.com/ConvexityMaven Follow Jack Farley on Twitter: https://x.com/JackFarley96 Follow Max Wiethe on Twitter: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Monetary Matters on: Apple Podcast https://rb.gy/s5qfyh Spotify https://rb.gy/x56dx5 YouTube https://rb.gy/dpwxez Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Financial Crises and Convexity 00:30 Meet the Convexity Maven: Harley Bassman 01:08 Macro View: Inflation and Economic Drivers 01:48 Demographics and Spending Trends 03:24 Immigration and GDP Growth 04:21 Fiscal Policy and Inflation 05:36 Bond Market Predictions 13:27 Equity Markets and Passive Flows 17:31 Mortgage-Backed Securities: A Safe Bet? 23:51 Leveraged Trades and Interest Rate Hedges 32:09 Comparing Long Duration Investments 33:50 Understanding Positive Carry in Options 40:36 Private Credit and High Quality BDCs 48:48 Investing in Big Oil and MLPs 55:03 Gold as an Alternative Currency 01:00:12 Portfolio Construction and Sizing 01:01:50 Conclusion and Future Episodes