Podcast appearances and mentions of Bear Stearns

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The Wealth Formula Podcast is one of the longest-running personal finance podcasts still standing. For more than a decade, I've shown up every single week to talk about investing, markets, and the forces shaping the economy. What's interesting is how much my own thinking has evolved over that time. Early on, I was more rigid. I was—and still am—a real estate guy. But back then, I didn't give much thought to ideas outside that lane. I was dogmatic, and I didn't always challenge my own beliefs. Time has a way of doing that for you. I've now lived through multiple market cycles. I've watched the stock market melt up to valuations that felt absurd—and then keep going. I've seen gold go from flat for a decade to parabolic over a year. I've seen interest rates sit near zero for a decade and then snap higher at the fastest pace in modern history. And I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that diversification is about survival and that every asset class has its day. One lesson I learned that I am thinking a lot about these days is: ignore major technological shifts at your own peril. Back in 2014, I first started hearing people talk seriously about Bitcoin. At the time, I dismissed it. I listened to the critics, was convinced it was a scam, and didn't take the time to truly understand it. That was a mistake—not because everyone should have bought Bitcoin, but because I ignored a structural change happening right in front of me. Bitcoin went from a cypherpunk expression of freedom to the largest ETF owned by BlackRock. Today, the dominant story is artificial intelligence. And whether you love stocks, hate stocks, prefer real estate, or focus exclusively on cash flow, you cannot afford to ignore AI. This isn't a fad. It's a general-purpose technology—on the scale of electricity, the internet, or the industrial revolution itself. That doesn't mean it's easy to invest in. It's hard to look at headline names trading at massive valuations and feel good about buying them today. But investing in AI isn't about chasing a single company. It's about understanding second- and third-order effects: energy demand, data centers, productivity gains, labor displacement, capital flows, and how blockchain and decentralized systems intersect with all of it. What experience has taught me is this: you don't need to be first to invest—but you do need to be early in understanding. If you wait until something feels obvious, most of the opportunity is already gone. This week's episode of the Wealth Formula Podcast is focused squarely on AI and blockchain—what's real, what's noise, and where the long-term implications may lie. Listen to this episode. You'll come away smarter. And years from now, you may look back and realize this was one of those moments where paying attention really mattered. Transcript Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you notice any errors or corrections, please email us at phil@wealthformula.com.  Welcome everybody. This is Buck Joffrey with the Wealth Formula Podcast. Coming to you from Montecito, California. Today we wanna start with a reminder. We are in a new year and we are already doing deals, uh, through the Wealth Formula Accredit Investor Club. You can go and sign up for that for free. Uh, wealth formula.com just hit investor club and you just get on there and, and you’ll get onboarded. And from there, all you gotta do is wait for deal flow and webinars coming to your inbox. And, um, you know, if nothing else, you learn something. So go check it out. Uh, go to. Wealth formula.com and sign up for Investor Club now onto today’s show. Uh, the, it is interesting. I don’t know if you are aware it’s a listener, but we are, wealth Formula is, uh, probably I would say one of the, certainly in the one of the top longest running personal finance podcasts still. Standing. Uh, I’ve been around, well, I think the first episode was on like 2014, so it was a long time, but in earnest, you know, at least for over a decade. And, you know, during that time, I’ve shown up every week, every single week. Don’t Ms. Weeks, but none, none. Isn’t that incredible? I’ve shown up, uh, talked about investing and talked about very way markets are working, forces, shaping the economy, all that kind of stuff. But you know, as you can imagine, as a. As a younger individual versus, um, my crusty self. Now, you know, a lot of my own thinking has evolved over that time, you know, back then. And I, you know, I think this appealed to some people, but, um, you know, I was really dogmatic. I’m a real estate guy, right? And I still am a real estate guy, but back then I wouldn’t give anything else the time of day to even think about, you know, and, and, uh, I, I, you know. I was dogmatic and didn’t always challenge my own belief systems. Um, I’m different now, right? I’ve softened And time is a way of, of changing all of that dogmatic stuff for you. You know, I’ve lived through multiple market cycles. I’ve watched, well, I’ve watched the stock market, which I, which I always maligned, you know, melt up to valuations. Uh, that felt absurd. And then keep going higher. I’ve seen gold, which was kind of ridiculous for the longest time. I watched it for like a decade, just pretty much flat, and then it goes parabolic. Over the last year, I’ve seen interest rates sit near zero for a decade and then snap higher. Uh, not even as time, just launch higher at the fastest space in modern history. And I’ve learned sometimes I guess, the hard way that diversification is about survival and that every class, every asset class has its day. Just like every dog has its day. And um, you know, one other lesson that I learned that I’m thinking a lot about these days is ignore major technological shifts at your own peril. So what am I talking about? Well. It’s kind of a, it is a technological shift, whether you think it about not, but Bitcoin. Okay. Back in 2014, I first started hearing people talk seriously about Bitcoin, and at that time I dismissed it. I was, uh, I was listening to critics beater Schiff that constantly called it a scam, said it was going to zero and so on. I didn’t, I didn’t take the time to truly understand it, to try to understand it the way I understand it now, that makes me a believer in Bitcoin. That, of course was a big mistake, not because, you know, everyone should have bought Bitcoin and, uh, back then, well, they, you know, would’ve been nice if they did, but because fundamentally I ignored something that was a structural change happening right in front of me. And since then, Bitcoin went from a cipher punk expression of freedom to the large CTF owned by BlackRock today. The dominant story is actually artificial intelligence. Now, whether you love stocks, hate stocks, prefer real estate focused exclusively on cab, whatever, you cannot afford to ignore ai. It’s not a fad. It’s a general purpose technology and a technology shift, and the scale of electricity. The internet bigger than the internet, bigger than the industrial revolution. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to invest in. I mean, I’m gonna go invest in AI and make a bunch of money because I mean, what does that even mean? It’s hard to look at headline names, trading at massive valuations like Nvidia and all that right now, and saying, oh, I’m gonna go buy that. Who knows? That’s gonna work out. When I talk about investing in AI isn’t really just investing in stocks or any individual company or data centers or whatever. It’s about understanding. The second and third order effects, energy demand. You know, as I mentioned, data centers, productivity gains, labor displacement, capital flows, and how blockchain and decentralized systems intersect with all of that. It is very, very complicated. Um, but it’s really important to start to try to understand, you know, an experience that stop me is this. You don’t need to be the first to invest, but you do need to be early in understanding. If you wait until something feels obvious, usually the opportunity’s gone by then. And you know, the thing about AI is even if you think it’s obvious now. The reality is that most people haven’t really caught on. Maybe they played with chat GPT, but I don’t think they’re understanding what this whole, you know, this thing is gonna do to our world. Um, anyway, so that is what this week’s episode of Wealth Formula Podcast, uh, is about. It’s about AI and also, um, a little bit about, you know, bitcoin and blockchain and that kind of thing. Um, we’re gonna talk about what’s noise, uh, you know, where the long, what the long-term, uh, implications are all of this stuff. This is a show that, uh, I really enjoy doing really, really good stuff. Um, so make sure you listen in. We’ll have that interview for you right after these messages. Wealth Formula banking is an ingenious concept powered by whole life insurance, but instead of acting just as a safety net. The strategy supercharges your investments. First, you create a personal financial reservoir that grows at a compounding interest rate much higher than any bank savings account. As your money accumulates, you borrow from your own bank to invest in other cash flowing investments. Here’s the key. Even though you borrowed money at a simple interest rate, your insurance company keeps paying you compound interest. On that money, even though you’ve borrowed it, that result, you make money in two places at the same time. That’s why your investments get supercharged. This isn’t a new technique. It’s a refined strategy used by some of the wealthiest families in history, and it uses century old rock solid insurance companies as its backbone. Turbocharge your investments. Visit Wealth formula banking.com. Again, that’s wealth formula banking.com. Welcome back to the show, everyone. Today. My guest on Wealth Formula podcast is Jim Thorne, chief Market strategist at Wellington. L is private wealth with more than 25 years of experience in capital markets. He’s previously served as chief capital market strategist, senior portfolio manager, chief economist, and CIO. Uh, equities at major investment firms and has also taught economics and finance at the university level. Uh, Jim is known for translating complex economic, political, and market dynamics into clear actionable insights to help investors and advisors navigate long-term capital decisions. Uh, Jim, welcome with the program. Thanks for having me Buck. Well, um, Tim, I, I, I, uh, had been following a little bit of, uh, what you discuss on, uh, on X and, um, one of the things that caught my eye is, you know, your, your narrative on, on ai, a lot of people are tend to be still sort of skeptical of AI and what’s going on, uh, with the markets. Um, uh, but at the same time, uh, there’s this. Sense. I think that ignoring AI altogether as an investor is, is, is downright potentially dangerous. So, uh, at the highest level, why is AI something people simply can’t dismiss? Well, we live in an, uh, uh, you know, many other people have coined this term, but we live, we’re living in an exponential age of, of technological innovation. And, you know, AI and I’ll just add into their, uh, blockchain is just the normal evolutionary process that, you know, for me started when I left graduate school and came into the business in the nineties where everybody had this high degree of skepticism of the computer and the, the, the phone, the, the. And the internet. And so, you know, what we do is we go through these cycles and there are periods of time where the stars align. And we have a period of time where we have what I would call an intense period of innovation where I would suggest to you that. People are skeptical. Skeptical, and yet at the same point in time, they very early on in the, in the, in the trade, call it a bubble when it’s not. And so I think it comes from the position of ignorance. One, I think two, fear, and then three. If you think about if you are an active manager, I in a 40 ACT fund, um, you know, and you’re sitting there with, uh, you know, mi. Uh, Nvidia at, you know, eight or 9% of your index. And that’s a big chunk that you’ve gotta put into your fund, uh, just to be market neutral. So there’s a lot of people that hate this rally. There’s a lot of people that are can, going to continue to hate this rally. But the thing I anchor my hat on are a couple of things. Look at if this is no different than the railroad. Canals, any major technological innovation, will it become a bubble? Yes. Just not now. So, so let’s follow up on that, because a lot of people think, or are talking about the, do you know the.com bubble, uh, comparisons, and you’ve argued that that sort of misses the real story. So, so where are we getting it wrong right now? Are those people getting it wrong? In the nineties buck, you’d walk into a bar and there wouldn’t be ESPN on there’d be CNBC on people were getting their jobs to become day traders. Folks didn’t go to the go to university because they were basically getting their white papers financed. You had companies that were trading off of clicks. So I lived that. Anybody who is of a younger generation has no idea what a bubble is, and it’s specious and pedantic for them to use that term when they have no clue about what they’re talking about. But you did mention that it could become a bubble. How do we know when it does become a bubble? Oh, it’ll become a bubble. Well, when, when, when you know, the, what, what I am looking for is, you know, when we, when the good investment opportunities start to dry up, when liquidity starts to dry up. So what I, it’s not about valuation, to me it’s about liquidity. So in 2000, what, and I’m roughly speaking, what went down was you had all these companies that were trading at Strat catastrophic valuation, this stupid valuations, and you walked in one day and they didn’t get financing. And if you read the prospectus or you followed the company, you knew that they were not going to be free cash flow positive for another two or three rounds of financing. All of a sudden you walked in and everybody goes, oh my God, this thing, you know, trading at 250 times sales. And everybody went, yeah, of course. And so what it was is, was when does liquidity dry up? So I’ll give you a date, um, you know, with Trump’s big beautiful bill act. 100% tax deductibility of CapEx and that goes until Jan 1, 20 31. So to me, that’s a very motivating factor for people to, um, invest. The last thing I would say to you in more of a game theoretic context book is, look, if you are a big tech company and you don’t invest in ai. You are ensuring your death. Yahoo, Hela Packard. I can go through the list of companies that cease to invest, so they’re looking. If it was you and I when we were running this company, I would say, dude, we gotta invest because if we don’t have a poll position in this next platform, whatever it is, we’re done. We’re toast. And I think that’s why you’re seeing all these hyperscalers spending as much money as they are. ’cause they get this, they saw it. So, you know, you framed ai not necessarily as a a tech trade, but as a capital expenditure cycle. Can you explain that to people? Well, what we need to do is we need to build out the infrastructure of ai. Then, and that’s the phase that we’re in right now. So it’s more like we’re building out all of the railroads, the railway tracks and the railway stations across the United States back in the 18 hundreds. And then we’re gonna go through that building phase. And then as that building phase goes, some companies, some towns, are going to basically realize and recognize what’s happening and start to basically take ai. Bring it into their business model, into enhanced margins. Right. So right now we’re building it out. I mean, you know, we all focus on the hyperscalers, but the majority of companies, pardon me, governments. Individuals, they haven’t used AI and, and what is interesting about this is back in the nineties, they were talking about how the internet had to evolve to be much more. You know, uh, have critical thinking in, in, in it. And it was more explained when you went to these conferences, as you know, you know, think about this. You’re hearing this in 99, okay? Not today. You go in and you ask Google or dog pile at the same time, or excite, okay? You would say, I wanna go to Florida in the third week of March and I wanna stay here and I wanna spend this amount of money and I wanna rent a car. Plan it for me. And they would come back and they would tell you that it would come back and it would, it would, everything would be there. And you would have your over here and all you would have to do is drop your money and you had your thing planned. So none of this is as, it’s aspirational, but we’ve heard it before. And in technology, what happens is it’s not like it’s new. We’ve been talking to, I did machine learning in in graduate school. Ai, you know, I did neural networks and I’m a terrible Ian. This isn’t, you know, Claude Shannon wrote about this in 1937, right? But it’s about when does it hit, and so it was chat GBT. Can we argue, was that right? As an investor, it’s stop arguing, start investing. Then what you’ve gotta figure out, which is the question you ask, is when does the music stop? I think it goes until the end of the decade. You know, one of the things that, uh, is interesting about this, uh, AI investment, uh, it’s, it’s unfolding in a higher interest rate environment. Why is that detail so important? Understanding its significance? Well, it’s the cost of capital, right? And so this phase that we have right now. It’s funny you say that, right? ’cause our reference point is zero interest rates, right? Yeah, yeah. Right. That’s right. So, you know, you know, so, so think about this, what it happens right now. Now we’re in the phase where you’ve got these hyperscalers that instead of taking all their free cash flow and buying bonds and buying back stock, are increasing CapEx because there’s a great tax deduction on it. So you get a lot of, so we’re in this phase where, for where, where a lot of the money is, you know, was. Was, let me, let me be clear, was a hundred free cashflow. Now we’re getting these guys, these companies like Oracle and what have you, you know, starting to issue debt and look at debt isn’t bad as long as the rate of return on debt is higher than the interest rates. And so, you know, you know, I, I would say historically speaking, for a lot of these high quality names, the interest rates are not, uh, at levels that will stop them from investing. Right. Right. You know, you’ve written that, um, productivity is ultimately the real story behind ai. So why does productivity matter more than the technology headlines themselves? Well, let me just put it this way, right? So we’ve grown, I grew up, I, I joined, I’m up here in Toronto, right? So I’m gonna give it to you in Canadian dollars, right? So I joined, I joined here. You know, I grew up here, went to the states, came back home. Growing this company I joined when we’re about three and a half billion. We’re getting close to 50 billion, and we’re the fastest growing independent platform in the country. I’m a one man band, right? I use three ai. In the old days, I’d have four research assistants. Where’s the margin in that? And so I, that’s how I see it. And let me be clear, it’s, you know, this isn’t we’re, it’s not perfect. But if I wanted to say, instead of you, but hey, write me a 2000 word essay on the counterfactual of what happened with railroads up until 1894 when the, when the bubble popped, give me a f, you know, a a thousand word essay and, and just a general overview. I can get that in less than five minutes. Michael Sailor is writing product on ai, which, which, which you would take, which you would take. He’s in his presentation, say it would take a hundred lawyers. So it’s gonna be more about those. And it’s, it’s no different than Internet of things or, you know, it was, uh, Kasparov that talked about this. Gary Kasparov talking about the melding of, of technology in humans. He would ran, run this chess tournament called freestyle. You could use a computer, you could use, you know, grand Masters. You could use whatever you wanted to compete. And who won? Well, who won it Was that those teams that were generalists that had a little bit of that, the knowledge of the computer and the knowledge of the test. Uh, o of chess, right? That’s what’s gonna happen. So this isn’t we’re, as far as I’m concerned, we’re not, yes, there’s going to be some d some jobs that are going to be replaced, but that is always the case in technology. I’m not a Luddite, okay? I am not Luddite. But the same point in time. I, I would suggest to you that it, it is just a really, for me, it’s a, helps me. Do research no different than when I was an undergrad and they went from cue cards in the, the library at the university to actually having a dummy terminal and I could ask questions in queue. You know, it stalked me from having to go to the basement of the library and going to microfiche. Right. Have helping that way. Now can it, can, will it do other things? I’m sure it is, and I’ll lead that to Elon Musk and the crew. You know, that’s above my pay grade. But for me, I see it as a very helpful way of, you know, allowing me to process and delineate. Much more information a a and not have me waste so much time trying to figure out what got went on in the past or, you know, QMF. Right. You know, summarize me the talk five, you know, academic papers in this area, what are they saying? And then they gimme the papers. Right. It just speeds the process up. Yeah. You know, um, one of the things that I’ve been sort of talking about and thinking about. Is that it’s hard to not see AI as a very, very strong deflationary force. Um, how do you think about that? Yeah. Technology is deflationary, right? Doubt about it. And so I look at it this way, Ray. Um, so I work at the financial services industry, okay. You know, Mr. Diamond of JP Morgan is talking about how they are starting to embrace blockchain and ai. They are going to cut out the back end of that in the, the margins in that, in that company by the end of the cycle are going to be fantastic. People just do not get in. You know, the financial services industry is built on a platform. Of the 1960s, dude. I mean, they’re still running Fortran, cobalt. So you know what I, how I look at this is much more as a margin type story, and there’s going to be a lot of displacement. But at the same point in time, I look at Tesla and automation and ai. And you know, people look at Tesla as a car company. I look at Tesla as an advanced manufacturing company. Elon Musk could basically go into any industry and disrupt it if it wanted to. Right. So that’s how I look at it. And so, you know, the hard part is going to be, you know. Nothing. If we get back to where we were, it’s not going to be perfect, right? Because here’s, here’s where the counter is, here’s where the counter is. Right? If you, if, if you think about, and we’re, I’m gonna take Trump outta the equation and ent outta the equation right now, but if we just went back to the way things were before COVID, we would have strong deflationary forces. Okay. Just with demographics, just with excessive levels of debt. Just with, you know, pushing on a string in terms of, in terms we couldn’t get the growth up, you know, and, you know, and the overregulation of financial institutions. Trump and descent are basically applying what’s called supply side economics, and they’re deregulating. It’s says law, which is John Batiste, that says basically supply creates his own demand and it’s non-inflationary. But really what they’re going to try to do is they’re going to try to run the economy hot and they’re gonna try to pull this way out of the debt. And if you do that and you deregulate the banks. And allow the banks to get back to where they were before the financial crisis. Okay. You know, and, and the Fed takes its interest rates down to neutral, expands the balance sheet. Then I don’t think we’re gonna go back to the zero bound in deflation. I think this thing’s gonna run hot for a long time. And I think it, the real question is, is, is is 2 75 in the United States the neutral rate? I think it is. Uh, but as, as, as Scott be says, and, and, and, and, and let’s be clear, buck, the guy’s a superstar. Okay. Guy is a legend. Just you sit there, just shut up and listen to him. Okay. They keep up, right? Well, so they’re gonna run it hot, but where we are is, in his words, mine, not mine. We’re still in this detox period, you know what I mean? We still got the Biden era. We still got, you know, a over a decade of excessive ca of Central Bank intermediation. That needs to get, you know, go away. So what I say, and what I’ve been writing about is 26 is going to be the year that the baton is passed back to the private sector. Let’s get rates down to 2 75. That’s, I mean, I’m going off the New York Fed model. That says real fed funds, the real, the real neutral rate is 75 to 78 basis points. I think inflation’s at two. That that gets you 2 75. Get the rates there and then get the balance sheet of the Fed to the level so that overnight lending isn’t loose or tight. It’s just normal. And then step back, go away and let Wall Street and the private sector create credit. Create economic growth and let’s get back to the business cycle. And if we do that, we’re gonna have non-inflationary growth. It’s gonna be strong, but we’re not going back to the zero bound and we’re gonna grow our way out of this. And so that’s where I get really excited about. This is a very unique time in history. A very, very, very unique time in history where, and I don’t know how long it’s going to last because of the compression that we have now because of the, you know, we live in such a digital world, but let’s say it’s five years demographic says it’s to 33, 32 to 33. That’s, you know, that’s how long this run is. And, and to me, uh, AI is a massive play. I, I, to me, blockchain is a massive play and to me it’s to those countries and companies that get it is, whereas investors, we wanna think, start thinking about investing. Yeah. You mentioned, um, non non-inflationary growth. Can you drill down on that a little bit just so people understand a little bit where. Usually you think of an economy running super hot, you, you think automatically there’s an, you know, an inflationary growth. So I want you to think in your mind into your list as think in your mind. Go back to economics 1 0 1 with the demand curve. In the supply curve, okay? And there are an equilibrium. And at that equilibrium we have a price at an equilibrium, and we have an output as an equilibrium. Okay? Now what I want you to do is I want you to keep the demand curves stagnant or, or, or anchored. Then I want you to shift the supply curve out. Prices go down, output goes out. We can talk all this esoteric stuff, you know, you know Ronald Reagan and, and Robert Mandel and supply side economics. But it’s really your shift in the supply curve out, and that’s what, and that’s what BeIN’s doing. I mean, this is a w would just sit down and be quiet. He’s talking about, you know, what is deregulation? He’s pushing the supply provider. Oh, hold on. My phone. My, my thing. And what did, since the two thousands, what did, what was the policy? It was kingian, it was all focused on the demand curve. Everything was focused on demand. And so all we’re doing is we’re, we’re getting the keynesians out. I use 2000 ’cause that’s when Ben Bernanke really came in and was very influential. Let me just say he’s a very smart, I learned so much from reading. Smart, smart, smart, smart guy. But his whole thing was Kasan. He came from MIT, his thesis supervisor was Stanley Fisher, right? We’re going back to, you know, Mario Dragons thesis supervisors, Stanley Fisher, all these guys came from MIT, Larry, M-I-T-M-I-T, Yale, and Princeton. Whereas previously it was the University of Chicago. It was Milton Friedman. It was, it was supply side economics. We’re going back, they’re going back to supply side economics and right now we need it. We need balance. But my god, what did we end off with? We ended off with four years of mono modern monetary theory. Deficits matter. That’s insanity. You had mentioned a little bit, uh, you, you’ve talked about blockchain a few times here. Talk about the significance. I mean, it’s sort of, you know, blockchain was a thing that everybody was, everybody was talking about it, you know, three, four years ago, but now it’s all about ai. But you know, now you’ve got, um, but in, but in the background, blockchain has grown, uh, adoption has grown. Uh, tell us what’s going on there, and if you could tie it into the significance of, of where we’re at today. Yeah. Um, uh, Jeff Bezos gave a wonderful speech, I think in two thou, early two thousands, where he basically talked about the fact that, you know, once this innovation is led out of the genie’s, led out of the bottle, whether or not, you know, buck and Jim, like it as an investment, the innovation continues. And so after the internet bubble pop, right? Really smart guys like Jeff Bezos, uh, Zuckerberg, you, you, the whole cast of characters, right? Basically built it out. Okay. And it wasn’t perfect and everybody knew it wasn’t perfect. I mean, that was the whole thing that was so bizarre. But they knew it wasn’t perfect and they knew that they needed to solve some problems. Right. And you know, it was a double spend problem. I mean, the internet that we were dealing with right now was developed in the 1950s and so on and so forth. And so, you know, that always stuck with me. Right. A couple of things stuck with me because I’ve lived through a couple of these cycles. The first one is Buck. When the, when Wall Street coalesces around something just shut up and buy it, right? I mean, I, I spent too much of my life arguing about whether dog pile and Ask Gees was better than Google. Wall Street said Google was the best. Shut up. Invest, right? And so, so look, blockchain solved the double spend problem. Blockchain solved all the problems that the original iteration of the internet could solve, and everybody knew it was coming along okay. So it’s a decentral, it’s decentralized, right? Uh, does, does not need to be reconciled. So no. Not only do you have another iteration of the internet. You have basically introduced into society the biggest innovation in accounting or recordkeeping since double entry. Bookkeeping accounting was introduced in Florence, Italy centuries ago by the Medicis and, and buck. All this is out there like, so this is a profound, right? So think about you’re in an accounting department and you don’t have to reconcile, right? So look. The first use cakes was Bitcoin. And what was the, what was the beautiful thing about it? Well, first off, it grew up by itself. And secondly, it’s got perfect scarcity, right? And so let’s just full stop. And I mean, yes, gold and silver had the run that they should have had decades. So I had been waiting and listening to people, gold bugs, talking about this type of run since the nineties. Okay. Um, but look, you know, and the problem with fi money, right? I mean, this is, this goes back decades. It’s an old argument. The way you solve it is, is Bitcoin. That’s the solution. I mean, forget about it. I mean, if they’re gonna whip it around and do all this stuff, fine. But the other thing that people miss and Sailor hasn’t, and Sailor is brilliant, is look. Bitcoin is pristine collateral in 2008, in September. What caused the, the system to stop was the counter. We could not identify counterparty risk for near cash. It was a settlement problem. Anybody you talk to Buck that says it was, you know, the subprime this and it, yeah, that was crap. I get that. But when the system shut down is you had a $750 million near cash instrument with X, Y, Z, wall Street firm, and you did this for three extra beeps and it was no longer cash. Guess. And guess what? Your institutional money market fund broke the buck. That’s when the system blew sky high. When the money market broke the buck and it was a settlement problem, blockchain and Bitcoin solved that. Sailor knows that, look where Wall Street’s gonna go. They understand now that. Bitcoin is pristine, collateral and capital that is 100% transparent. Let’s lend against it, and that’s what Sadler’s doing. That’s why Wall Street hates the guy so much, right? Think about that. Think of where is he going after he’s going after all the stranded capital on Wall Street. And, and the whole point is he’s sitting there going, I’m too busy for this. And you’ve got all these other people that are gonna live off of other people’s ignorance. Meanwhile, Jing Diamond knows exactly what he’s talking about. We can identify, if I hear one more person on me in, in the meeting say, I don’t know. You know, you know, uh, micro strategies balance sheet is so complicated. Really. Compared to JP Morgans, I mean, you know what his capital is. It says Bitcoin, like, what are you guys talking about? But hey, fucking in this business, people make generational wealth on ignorance of people who think they know what they don’t know. So, you know, just going back to Jamie Diamond, you know, he spent, I don’t know how long. Throwing every insult, uh, he could towards Bitcoin. And now they’ve really kind of, they haven’t backtracked. I think he’s, he’s, you know, his, his, um, I think the way he phrases is the blockchain’s a real thing. He never seems to really say the word Bitcoin, uh, in this regard. Um, banks in general, where do you think they’re headed with this stuff? I mean, I, you know, right now, again, you can kind of see even. Um, I think, you know, some of the big advisory firms suddenly recommending one to, you know, one to 4% of people’s portfolios in Bitcoin. I mean, this is all, I mean, gosh, I, I’ve, you know, been talking about Bitcoin since 2017. This is in unbelievable transformation in less than a decade. Where do you see this going in the next five to 10 years? It’s called the, it’s called, what is it? It’s called, I’m gonna call it the Evolution of Jim. Me, you know, in my business and, and, and, and you know, the thing I have book is I’ve survived and I’ve gone through a lot of cycles. I’ve done a lot, you know, and you ask yourself, you scratch your head a lot and you’re, and you, but you’re continually doing objective research and you’re this, if you, this is why I love this game so much. Right? So let’s just go stop for a second. Let’s get some context. Right. My first summer job, one of my first summer jobs, I worked in the basement of a bank in the in, in downtown Toronto, right up the street from the Toronto Stock Exchange. And my job was to let guys in with beak, briefcases into the cage, into the big vault, to basically bring in certificates. Okay. And, and what? Stock certificates. And so remember, you know, and I remember my grandfather when we, when he died, look at, we couldn’t sell the house because he didn’t believe in the banks. And we were finding certificates all over the house in the walls. Okay? Right. So in the 1960s it was bare based. The whole industry was bare based. And there was the volume in Wall Street started to pick up to the point where they couldn’t handle the volume. There was a paper crisis where almost a third of the companies went down bankrupt because of the cage. The cage. Okay. So basically what happened was, to make a long story short, they came out with, they came, Hey, why don’t we get two computers At one point in time, they said, okay, crisis. Let’s solve it. Well, why don’t we get these two computers and we can solve, or we can sell trades among, amongst each other. Okay. And then we don’t need to have guys riding around Wall Street with bicycles and big briefcases. Okay. And then what we did was, what we did was we sat there and said, well, why don’t we have a centralized clearing, and we’re gonna call it DTC or CDS, depending on what country you’re in. And what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna offer paper, we’re gonna, we’re gonna issue paper rights to the underlying stock that was developed in the early 1970s. That’s the system that we’re on right now. There are a lot of faults with that. Let me give you, when you’ve talked about the GameStop a MC situation, when you have a company that’s basically have more shares outstanding short, sorry, more shares short than outstanding, that shows you that the old system doesn’t work. It’s called ation. The paper writes to the underlying assets, it, it doesn’t match up. There have been guys that make a career outta this and write books about this, right? Dole Pineapple. They had a corporate, a corporate event, right? Hostile takeover. 64,000 for 64 million shares, voted, I think, and there was only 3,200 on. We all know this, so this has to be solved. The way you solve it is you tokenize assets, and this was talked about a decade ago, and they know about it and true tofor, they, and if you’re thinking about it, it’s totally logical, right? But if we allow this innovation to go full stream ahead, we’re wiped out, right? So what did they do? They delayed. They delayed. And as you know, you could talk about, it’s called Operation choke 0.2 0.0. Right. You know, the Fed overreached their bounds, they de banked people. I mean, this is why, why Best it’s going after them. They, yet they stepped over their constitutional mandate. Right. The federal, the Fed Act is not, uh, does not supersede the US Constitution. Elizabeth warned the whole thing. They did it. Okay, so let’s not complain about it. So now Atkins is gonna, we’re gonna have the Clarity Act come out and they’re gonna basically deregulate New York Stock Exchange already there. They’re gonna put everything on the blockchain and when you put everything on the blockchain, trade a settlement. There’s no hypo. Immediate settlement. Immediate, which is a benefit if you can get your act together because it, you know, for Wall Street firms you need less capital, right? So it’s a natural evolutionary process. And then you sit there and go back in history, if you and I were writing it, we’d sit there and go, well, should we be surprised that the incumbents right, the status quo pushed back on innovation? No, there was a guy, there was a prophet, um. At, at Harvard, his name was Clay Christensen, and he wrote this wonderful book called The Innovator’s Dilemma. You know, why does, why don’t companies evolve, or why do they go bankrupt? It’s because they cease to evolve and the status quo doesn’t allow the evolution of the companies to take place. Right? Well, that’s what happened in RA. We’re gonna complain about it. No, it, it is what it is. It’s water under the bridge. And so what I think is happening is, you know, Mr. Diamond is basically saying. He’s pragmatic, he’s a realist. And now he’s saying, we gotta evolve. And hey, by the way, now I’ve gotten to the point where I think I can make a tunnel. Think about that. Yeah. Think about his own stable coins, right? So his own stable coins. And, uh, well think about this. If you trade like internal meetings, right? And I’m hyped this hypothetical, right? I go, fuck, don’t screw this up this time. And you’re gonna go, Jim, what are you talking about? I go. We want a nice bread between bid and ask in these financial price. We don’t wanna go down to pennies. Okay? Can we go back to the old days when we were, you know, trading in quarters and sixteenths and so we can make some skin in the game? I think you’ve got the deregulation of the banking industry where the banks are gonna, they’re fit. It’s gonna be baby steps. But what’s gonna happen is they’re gonna basically say, stop taking all that capital that’s sitting at the Fed, making four or fed funds rate overnights wherever it’s four half, 3 75 right now. And you can now trade it. Go back to prop trading, which is what they did. And they’re gonna start off, they will start off with, its only treasuries. Eventually they’ll be able to expand throughout our lifetime. So the old way you gotta look at it is, you know. We’re bringing the ba, you know, we’re putting the band back together, man. Right. And the banks are gonna deregulate, they’re gonna deregulate the banks, they’re going to innovate, they’re gonna be able to use the capital, their earnings profile going out into the end of the decade. It’s, it’s gonna be monstrous, it’s gonna be, you know, it, it’s, it’s, and, and that’s how I get, you know, when people say, where do you think the s and p goes? You know, I say, you know, 14,000, you know, double from here by the end of the decade. And he goes, well, what about ai? I go, well, they’re gonna, that’s important, but it’s the banks. I think the banks are gonna have a renaissance. Yeah. Yeah. Um, one thing just to get your thoughts on, so when you look at the banks, you talked about sort of the inevitability of tokenization. Um, the stock exchange, uh, we talked about stable coins. I mean, another great way for banks to make money. Uh, essentially where does that, how, how does that help or hurt Bitcoin adoption? Because Bitcoin is a sort of a separate, separate, you’re not, you’re not building on Bitcoin as much as you are, say, Ethereum, Mar Solana or, you know, some of the, some of the blockchain things. So, so is it just that. Is it just a, an adoption issue? Because you live in a, in a different world. You live in a world of blockchain and Bitcoin is, its currency. It’s weird, right? Because I, I’m writing this feed like, so Buck, where are you right now? Where, where, where are you located? I’m in Santa Barbara. You’re in California. So, yeah, so I’m in Toronto, right? Uh, you know, I lived in, worked in the States for, you know, a decade, a couple of decades, and I’m back home and it’s like, man, they don’t get it. Right, and, and, and, and what am I talking about? Well, well, this, this is the, the thing that you’ve gotta understand is this, right. Ethereum was invented by Vladi Butrin in this town, Joe Alozo, who’s the head of one of the largest Ethereum groups. Father is a dentist at Bathurst and Spadina. We’re up here and people are saying, oh, you know, president Trump don’t talk about being a 51st state. We act like a colony, duke. We are a, you know, we forget about calling us one. We are. So, look, it, look, there is no doubt in my mind that Ethereum is going to have a place and, and we’re going to use it. Seems like we’re going to use Ethereum and that’s the smart contract, you know? Um. And that’s fine. Um, you know, but going back in time. But, but remember, there’s not per, there’s not perfect scarcity there. So I like Ethereum, don’t get me wrong, but I look at Bitcoin and I look at the, I look at the scarcity, and I also look at the fact of, you know, what sa, what Sailor, if you sailor did a presentation in the middle of next year and all hell broke loose. What he did, and it’s, you know, and of course I’m hypothesizing. He basically went to New York and said, I am going to create fixed income products and I am going to give yields. On those products, and I’m coming after the stranded capital that sits on Wall Street that you guys have been ripping on for years. In the middle of last year, staler went public and declared war. Okay. Are we surprised that Jim Shane Oaks came out and everybody came out basically guns a blazing. Are we surprised? But what he, what Sailor did and put and slammed on the table is it’s pristine capital, it’s transparent capital. And what are you willing to pay for that? And now you GARP banks trading at. We have no idea what their capital structure really is. Honestly, we have an idea, but it’s very opaque, right? You know, the high quality names are trading at two, two to, you know, two times tangible book. You’ve got fintech’s companies trading at four to five times, right book, and you know, what’s Sailor doing right now? Diluting his stock so he can buy as much Bitcoin as he wants because he sees the next game. He says the hell with what you guys think the next game is going to be. Wall Street’s going to realize that Bitcoin is pristine capital and there’s only 21 million of it. What do you and, and what just happened today? What did Morgan Stanley just file a treasury company. So everything you and I are talking about, they know they’re smart guys, right? They’re real, they’re not. That’s, this is the whole point. They’re really, really, really smart. Okay. They see they’ve gone through the history. They know. Okay, so you’re sitting there, you get around the room, you say, so wait a minute. Wait. Whoa, sailor’s over here. And he’s basically saying he’s gonna give you a a pref that’s basically backed by Bitcoin charging 10%. And he’s going after our corporate clients. I mean, and what’s the pitch Buck? You’ve got a hundred million dollars. Okay, you got a hundred million dollars in the kitty. Okay, buck. What happens is you need $10 million a year for working capital, which is in cash, which means you’ve got $90 million sitting there idle. Hey, buck, I can give you 10% on that. You go to Jamie, he’s giving you two. What are you gonna do? Yeah. I think one of the issues right now is I the, the perceived risk profile of that. Right. Uh, you know. I tend to agree with you about the, uh, pristine nature of Bitcoin s collateral, but just in general, the perception. I don’t know that, that that’s. That’s the case. Well, you gotta go back to the fact that, do you think Bitcoin’s going to zero or not? No, of course not. Yeah. ‘ cause the Bitcoin doesn’t go to zero. There’s no, then, then that are, there’s Bitcoin could go to zero. There’s no, I mean, I don’t think, I mean, non-zero probability, of course, right? I don’t think it is. And if that has been, if it has been selected and now you have Wall Street coalescing it, I haven’t even mentioned the president of the United States or his family. Right. Uh, or the Commerce Secretary and his family, right? Or if you go to New York, wall Street, right, they’re all talking about it, right? So, I, I, you know, to me, I, I, the question about micro strategy, to me it’s not. That it’s a treasury company and it’s got a pile of Bitcoin. What does he do with it? Does he become a bank? Like why does it, this is me. I’m pitching him. Right. Hey, Mike, why don’t you just become a FinTech, say you’re like a FinTech company and you’ll get, and you, you’re gonna instantaneously trade it five to six times book. Why don’t you, why are you, you’re talking like you’re attacking them, but you’re still, you’re still a software company with a, with a big whack of Bitcoin that you are writing pres. Right? So, and, and so that’s, that’s how I look at it. I think the wave is too big. We are going to digitize. And the other thing that we didn’t really touch on with respect to AI and blockchain, and I’m gonna paraphrase the president. Right. Um, Mr. Trump is, look, um, it’s a matter of national security, duke, and when I hear that, I go back to the nineties in the eighties when I was in late eighties when I was an undergrad. Right. And it wasn’t China, it was Japan. And, and you know, what happened was, you know, it, it’s funny, Al Gore did deregulate so that. The internet could become for-profit. We all stood around and said, you know what the hell could, how do we make money on this? That’s, you know, what do we do? And then what did we do? We, we, we threw a ton of money at it and the United States controlled it. And what did we get out of it? We got out, we got, you know, all those companies. Right. The last thing I would say to you, and this is much more of a personal story, is I, when I was younger, I was in New York and it was 2000 and I was at the Grand Hyatt, and it was a tech, it was a tech conference and, uh, Larry Ellison Oracle was there and he gave a, he gave a, he gave a a, a fireside chat. Then, um, we go to a breakout room and, you know, in a break, I don’t know about if you’ve been to one, but you go to a breakout room, it’s a smaller room at the hotel, and you know, sometimes you got 25 people, sometimes you got 50 people, right. And, you know, I went to the, I went to the breakout with Mr. Allison ’cause of Oracle and I went in there and it was absolutely jammed and I was sweating and he just looked at us and he just ripped us. He AP Soly, just, I still have the scars today. I’m talking to you about it. Okay. He called it a bubble. He called it a bubble. He, he was early in calling it a bubble. I never forgot that. And then you sit there and see what he’s doing right now. Where he’s levering up the balance sheet. Now, to me, having survived in this game for such a long period of time, and I call it a game, it’s a game of strategy, whatever, you know, how does that not, you know, I would say to you, we were, your office was next to mine. Fuck. I remember New York, he’s loading the goose loaded in. He go in, he’s borrowing money from his grandmother. He’s, you know, what is going on. And he’s really stinking smart. You know, he’s, he, Larry Allenson just doesn’t do, and people, oh, he’s in, you know, he’s, no, he’s not, he’s, he’s like the mentor of all of these guys. You know what I mean? So there’s a, to me, there’s a discontinuity that these need to believe that we’re still early on because you know, what, if Larry’s, what do we take when Larry or Mr. Ellison is leveraging up to me, it’s profound because I’m anchoring off of my bias to the New York, the New York high at, at the Tech Co. I think it was, I think it was at Bear Stearn. I couldn’t remember Bear Stearns or Lehman. But you know, one of those I carry that experience on with the rest of my life. I do. It’s like, what is Larry thinking? Right? So he’s leveraging up buck. That’s all I know. He’s a priest or guy. Well, that’s probably a good place for us to stop, Jim, uh, chief, uh, market strategist at Wellington Elta Private Wealth. Thank you so much for joining me. Thanks so much and be safe. You make a lot of money but are still worried about retirement. Maybe you didn’t start earning until your thirties. Now you’re trying to catch up. Meanwhile, you’ve got a mortgage, a private school to pay for, and you feel like you’re getting further and further behind. Now, good news, if you need to catch up on retirement, check out a program put out by some of the oldest and most prestigious life insurance companies in the world. It’s called Wealth Accelerator, and it can help you amplify your returns quickly, protect your money from creditors, and provide financial protection to your family if something happens. The concepts here are used by some of the wealthiest families in the world, and there’s no reason why they can’t be used by you. Check it out for yourself by going to wealth formula banking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Hope you enjoyed it. Uh, and, uh, as I said before, do not ignore ai. This is something that you need to start using. Have your kids start using it. Uh, make sure that they, you know. They use it every day because this whole world is turning AI and it’s gonna happen. You know, it’s gonna happen in, in a blink of an, uh, blink of an eye. And the world is gonna change and there are gonna be real winners out there. And the winners are gonna be people who knew where there was, was going and kind of used it in their mind’s eye as they looked on navigating how. You know how to allocate their money. Anyway, that is it for me. This week on Wealth Formula Podcast. This is Buck JJoffrey signing off. If you wanna learn more, you can now get free access to our in-depth personal finance course featuring industry leaders like Tom Wheel Wright and Ken McElroy. Visit wealth formula roadmap.com.

Most people assume IPO shares are allocated based on demand and fairness. In reality, access to IPOs is tightly controlled, with most shares going to a small group of large institutions while retail investors, employees, and customers are left out. In this episode of Test Optimize and Scale, we sit down with Matt Venturi and Kayle Watson of ClearingBid to break down how IPO allocation actually works today. They explain why the process has barely changed in decades, how conflicts of interest shape pricing and allocations, and why only a small percentage of investors ever receive shares at the IPO price. Matt and Kayle also walk through ClearingBid's auction-based approach to IPOs, which plugs into existing broker infrastructure, shows real demand in real time, and aims to create a more transparent and balanced allocation process. The conversation also covers how this model fits into the broader capital markets ecosystem, including the path from crowdfunding and private raises to public listings. Guests Matt Venturi is the Founder and CEO of ClearingBid. After a long Wall Street career spanning Merrill Lynch, Salomon Smith Barney, and Houlihan Lokey, he left investment banking to address long-standing inefficiencies and access issues in the IPO market. Kayle N. Watson III is Head of Business Development at ClearingBid. A former Navy SEAL, he spent years in institutional equity sales at Bear Stearns and Guggenheim before leading ETF sales and distribution at BlackRock. He joined ClearingBid to help modernize how companies access public markets. Social and Website ClearingBid website: https://www.clearingbid.com/ Matt Venturi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venturi-63b29913/ Kayle Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayle-watson-28043716/

The public reawakening to the Jeffrey Epstein story has exposed not just the scale of his crimes, but how profoundly they were misunderstood and minimized for years. Many who once dismissed deeper reporting on Epstein are now fully engaged as legacy outlets publish long retrospectives on his wealth, social connections, and early career, particularly his time at Bear Stearns. While this shift in coverage may appear overdue, it raises an uncomfortable question: why these stories are being told now, long after Epstein abused victims openly in New York and elsewhere with little sustained scrutiny. For years, major media organizations treated the more troubling implications of Epstein's power as speculative, focusing on isolated scandals rather than the structural forces that allowed him to operate with impunity. The current reporting, much of it recycling information known for half a decade or more, still largely avoids confronting how Epstein repeatedly survived scandals that should have ended his freedom.The missing piece, critics argue, is the role of institutional protection—specifically the possibility that Epstein functioned as a confidential informant for the FBI, explaining his extraordinary immunity from consequences. This framework helps account for the consistent pattern of stalled investigations, lenient treatment, and prosecutorial deference that followed Epstein for decades, culminating in the unprecedented 2008 non-prosecution agreement that shielded both Epstein and unnamed co-conspirators. Rather than interrogating how Epstein escaped accountability at every turn, mainstream coverage has remained fixated on how he made his money, a safer line of inquiry that avoids scrutiny of law enforcement itself. Until journalists squarely address why Epstein was protected—not merely how he accumulated wealth—the story remains fundamentally incomplete, leaving the most consequential questions about power, complicity, and systemic failure unanswered.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's entry into Bear Stearns in the mid-1970s was unusual from the start, as he was hired despite lacking a college degree and having misrepresented his academic background. He began in a junior role but quickly moved into advising wealthy clients and was eventually made a limited partner, a rise aided more by internal relationships than traditional qualifications. Concerns about his behavior and credibility circulated within the firm, and his tenure ended after roughly five years amid regulatory scrutiny. The firm never publicly explained the precise circumstances of his departure, leaving lingering questions about how and why he was allowed to advance as far as he did.After leaving Bear Stearns, Epstein repeatedly leveraged his association with the firm as a badge of legitimacy, using it to portray himself as a seasoned Wall Street insider. Contacts from that period helped him attract ultra-wealthy clients and establish himself as a private money manager operating largely outside public view. The Bear Stearns connection became central to the financial identity he cultivated, providing credibility and access that far exceeded the scope and substance of his actual work there. That early Wall Street pedigree helped open doors that would later prove critical to the scale of his wealth, influence, and reach.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's entry into Bear Stearns in the mid-1970s was unusual from the start, as he was hired despite lacking a college degree and having misrepresented his academic background. He began in a junior role but quickly moved into advising wealthy clients and was eventually made a limited partner, a rise aided more by internal relationships than traditional qualifications. Concerns about his behavior and credibility circulated within the firm, and his tenure ended after roughly five years amid regulatory scrutiny. The firm never publicly explained the precise circumstances of his departure, leaving lingering questions about how and why he was allowed to advance as far as he did.After leaving Bear Stearns, Epstein repeatedly leveraged his association with the firm as a badge of legitimacy, using it to portray himself as a seasoned Wall Street insider. Contacts from that period helped him attract ultra-wealthy clients and establish himself as a private money manager operating largely outside public view. The Bear Stearns connection became central to the financial identity he cultivated, providing credibility and access that far exceeded the scope and substance of his actual work there. That early Wall Street pedigree helped open doors that would later prove critical to the scale of his wealth, influence, and reach.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's entry into Bear Stearns in the mid-1970s was unusual from the start, as he was hired despite lacking a college degree and having misrepresented his academic background. He began in a junior role but quickly moved into advising wealthy clients and was eventually made a limited partner, a rise aided more by internal relationships than traditional qualifications. Concerns about his behavior and credibility circulated within the firm, and his tenure ended after roughly five years amid regulatory scrutiny. The firm never publicly explained the precise circumstances of his departure, leaving lingering questions about how and why he was allowed to advance as far as he did.After leaving Bear Stearns, Epstein repeatedly leveraged his association with the firm as a badge of legitimacy, using it to portray himself as a seasoned Wall Street insider. Contacts from that period helped him attract ultra-wealthy clients and establish himself as a private money manager operating largely outside public view. The Bear Stearns connection became central to the financial identity he cultivated, providing credibility and access that far exceeded the scope and substance of his actual work there. That early Wall Street pedigree helped open doors that would later prove critical to the scale of his wealth, influence, and reach.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The public reawakening to the Jeffrey Epstein story has exposed not just the scale of his crimes, but how profoundly they were misunderstood and minimized for years. Many who once dismissed deeper reporting on Epstein are now fully engaged as legacy outlets publish long retrospectives on his wealth, social connections, and early career, particularly his time at Bear Stearns. While this shift in coverage may appear overdue, it raises an uncomfortable question: why these stories are being told now, long after Epstein abused victims openly in New York and elsewhere with little sustained scrutiny. For years, major media organizations treated the more troubling implications of Epstein's power as speculative, focusing on isolated scandals rather than the structural forces that allowed him to operate with impunity. The current reporting, much of it recycling information known for half a decade or more, still largely avoids confronting how Epstein repeatedly survived scandals that should have ended his freedom.The missing piece, critics argue, is the role of institutional protection—specifically the possibility that Epstein functioned as a confidential informant for the FBI, explaining his extraordinary immunity from consequences. This framework helps account for the consistent pattern of stalled investigations, lenient treatment, and prosecutorial deference that followed Epstein for decades, culminating in the unprecedented 2008 non-prosecution agreement that shielded both Epstein and unnamed co-conspirators. Rather than interrogating how Epstein escaped accountability at every turn, mainstream coverage has remained fixated on how he made his money, a safer line of inquiry that avoids scrutiny of law enforcement itself. Until journalists squarely address why Epstein was protected—not merely how he accumulated wealth—the story remains fundamentally incomplete, leaving the most consequential questions about power, complicity, and systemic failure unanswered.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Carmen M. Reinhart is the Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System at Harvard Kennedy School. She was Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Director at the International Monetary Fund and held positions as Chief Economist and Vice President at the investment bank Bear Stearns in the 1980s. She serves in the Advisory Panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and was a member of the Congressional Budget Office Panel of Economic Advisors. She has written on a variety of topics in macroeconomics and international finance. Her work has helped to inform the understanding of financial crises in both advanced economies and emerging markets. Her best-selling book (with Kenneth S. Rogoff) entitled This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly documents the striking similarities of the recurring booms and busts that have characterized financial history. It has been translated to over 20 languages and won the Paul A. Samuelson Award. Based on publications and scholarly citations, Reinhart is ranked among the top economists worldwide, according to Research Papers in Economics (RePEc). She has testified before Congress and has been listed among Bloomberg Markets Most Influential 50 in Finance, Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers, and Thompson Reuters' The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds. In 2018 she was awarded the King Juan Carlos Prize in Economics and NABE's Adam Smith Award, among others.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC News

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Christopher Whalen to the show. Christopher Whalen is an Investment Banker, Author, and Chairman Whalen Global Advisors. The discussion centers on the current economic landscape, with a particular focus on gold, monetary policy, and the future of the global financial system. Whalen argues that the world is in the early stages of a gold up-cycle, primarily driven by central banks increasingly adopting gold as a key reserve asset. He emphasizes that while the US dollar remains crucial for global trade, its dominance is gradually shifting. Whalen provides insights into the current economic challenges, highlighting inflation as a significant concern. He suggests that the federal deficit and monetary expansion are primary drivers of economic instability. The conversation explores the potential for alternative monetary approaches, including gold-linked bonds and revaluing gold stocks, though Whalen remains skeptical about a complete return to a gold standard. Regarding global currency dynamics, Whalen believes the BRICS settlement currency and attempts to challenge the US dollar’s supremacy are unlikely to succeed in the near term. He argues that the dollar’s utility in financing transactions and its widespread acceptance make it difficult to replace. However, he anticipates a gradual decline in the dollar’s global share, moving towards a more multilateral system reminiscent of the pre-World War II era. On investment strategies, Whalen recommends diversification, particularly advocating for 10-20% of portfolios to be allocated to gold. He is cautious about current equity markets, especially tech stocks driven by artificial intelligence hype. The banking sector presents mixed prospects, with consumer banking relatively stable but commercial real estate posing significant challenges. Ultimately, Whalen remains optimistic about the United States’ economic potential. He believes the country’s natural resources, economic flexibility, and inherent strengths will help manage current financial challenges. The discussion concludes with a nuanced view of economic transformation, suggesting adaptation rather than catastrophic decline. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:54 – Gold’s Long-Term Cycle 00:01:21 – Central Banks Buying Gold 00:03:13 – Inflation and AI Hype 00:05:44 – Monetary Inflation Defined 00:07:04 – Metals as Safe Havens 00:11:13 – Commodity Supercycle Thesis 00:13:03 – Treasury Debt Issuance Strategy 00:15:44 – Gold-Linked Bonds Proposal 00:19:12 – Gold Remonetization Incentives 00:21:36 – BRICS Currency Challenge 00:26:56 – Outgrowing US Debt 00:32:41 – Equities in Inflation 00:36:26 – Banking Sector Health 00:38:32 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://www.rcwhalen.com/ X: https://x.com/rcwhalen Books (Amazon): https://tinyurl.com/mv3wctcr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcwhalen/ Over three decades, Chris has worked as an author, financial professional, and journalist in Washington, New York, and London. After graduating, he served under Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY) at the House Republican Conference Committee. In 1993, he was the first journalist to report on secret FOMC minutes concealed by Alan Greenspan. His career included roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Bear Stearns & Co., Prudential Securities, Tangent Capital, and Carrington Mortgage Holdings. Christopher holds a B.A. in History from Villanova University. He is the author of three books: “Ford Men: From Inspiration to Enterprise” (2017), published by Laissez Faire Books; “Inflated: How Money and Debt Built the American Dream” (2010) by John Wiley & Sons; and co-author of “Financial Stability: Fraud, Confidence & the Wealth of Nations,” also with Wiley. He served on FINRA’s Economic Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2023 and was an advisor on Season 5 of SHOWTIME's “Billions.” Additionally, he was a fellow at Indiana State University (2008-2014), a member of Villanova School of Business' Finance Department Advisory Council (2013-2016), and a board member of the Global Interdependence Center (2017-2019). Christopher edits The Institutional Risk Analyst and contributes to other publications and forums. He has testified before Congress, the SEC, and FDIC. A regular media commentator on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox News, Chris is active on social media under “rcwhalen.” He is also a member of The Mortgage Bankers Association and The Lotos Club of New York.

After Epstein's death, the SEC opened a probe into whether his network or affiliated entities had been operating as unregistered brokers or investment advisers, particularly focusing on whether he provided financial services or investment advice without proper registration and oversight. The inquiry looked at how Epstein's complex web of trusts, funds, offshore entities, and financial relationships might have skirted regulatory requirements, and whether investors or third-parties were exposed to irregularities. Though the investigation's full scope, findings, and status remain largely non-public, the existence of the probe marks one of the few regulatory actions documented in the wake of Epstein's criminal and financial scandals.Rumors have long circulated that Jeffrey Epstein served as a confidential informant or “snitch” for government and intelligence agencies, beginning as far back as his Wall Street days at Bear Stearns, where he was alleged to have cooperated with federal investigators during financial-crime inquiries, including insider-trading probes. Additional allegations claim that Epstein was later protected because he provided information to U.S. authorities and possibly foreign intelligence networks, including suggestions of ties to the CIA, FBI, and Israeli Mossad. These rumors intensified after his 2008 sweetheart plea deal and again following his death, with whistleblowers, journalists, former prosecutors, and survivor advocates arguing that such preferential treatment only made sense if Epstein was leveraging intelligence value. According to these allegations, Epstein's trafficking network doubled as an influence-operation designed to collect kompromat on powerful political, financial, and academic figures, giving him leverage and explaining why investigations into him were repeatedly derailed or buried.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

After Epstein's death, the SEC opened a probe into whether his network or affiliated entities had been operating as unregistered brokers or investment advisers, particularly focusing on whether he provided financial services or investment advice without proper registration and oversight. The inquiry looked at how Epstein's complex web of trusts, funds, offshore entities, and financial relationships might have skirted regulatory requirements, and whether investors or third-parties were exposed to irregularities. Though the investigation's full scope, findings, and status remain largely non-public, the existence of the probe marks one of the few regulatory actions documented in the wake of Epstein's criminal and financial scandals.Rumors have long circulated that Jeffrey Epstein served as a confidential informant or “snitch” for government and intelligence agencies, beginning as far back as his Wall Street days at Bear Stearns, where he was alleged to have cooperated with federal investigators during financial-crime inquiries, including insider-trading probes. Additional allegations claim that Epstein was later protected because he provided information to U.S. authorities and possibly foreign intelligence networks, including suggestions of ties to the CIA, FBI, and Israeli Mossad. These rumors intensified after his 2008 sweetheart plea deal and again following his death, with whistleblowers, journalists, former prosecutors, and survivor advocates arguing that such preferential treatment only made sense if Epstein was leveraging intelligence value. According to these allegations, Epstein's trafficking network doubled as an influence-operation designed to collect kompromat on powerful political, financial, and academic figures, giving him leverage and explaining why investigations into him were repeatedly derailed or buried.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

After Epstein's death, the SEC opened a probe into whether his network or affiliated entities had been operating as unregistered brokers or investment advisers, particularly focusing on whether he provided financial services or investment advice without proper registration and oversight. The inquiry looked at how Epstein's complex web of trusts, funds, offshore entities, and financial relationships might have skirted regulatory requirements, and whether investors or third-parties were exposed to irregularities. Though the investigation's full scope, findings, and status remain largely non-public, the existence of the probe marks one of the few regulatory actions documented in the wake of Epstein's criminal and financial scandals.Rumors have long circulated that Jeffrey Epstein served as a confidential informant or “snitch” for government and intelligence agencies, beginning as far back as his Wall Street days at Bear Stearns, where he was alleged to have cooperated with federal investigators during financial-crime inquiries, including insider-trading probes. Additional allegations claim that Epstein was later protected because he provided information to U.S. authorities and possibly foreign intelligence networks, including suggestions of ties to the CIA, FBI, and Israeli Mossad. These rumors intensified after his 2008 sweetheart plea deal and again following his death, with whistleblowers, journalists, former prosecutors, and survivor advocates arguing that such preferential treatment only made sense if Epstein was leveraging intelligence value. According to these allegations, Epstein's trafficking network doubled as an influence-operation designed to collect kompromat on powerful political, financial, and academic figures, giving him leverage and explaining why investigations into him were repeatedly derailed or buried.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

pWotD Episode 3117: Jeffrey Epstein Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 183,957 views on Thursday, 13 November 2025 our article of the day is Jeffrey Epstein.Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and child sex offender. Born and raised in New York City, Epstein began his professional career as a teacher at the Dalton School. After his dismissal from the school in 1976, he entered the banking and finance sector, working at Bear Stearns in various roles before starting his own firm. Epstein cultivated an elite social circle and procured many women and children whom he and his associates sexually abused.In 2005, police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein after a parent reported that he had sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter. Federal officials identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused. Epstein pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He was convicted of only these two crimes as part of a controversial plea deal agreed by the US Department of Justice's Alex Acosta, and served almost 13 months in custody but with extensive work release.Epstein was arrested again on July 6, 2019, on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. He died in his jail cell on August 10, 2019. The medical examiner ruled that his death was a suicide by hanging. Epstein's lawyers have disputed the ruling, and there has been significant public skepticism about the true cause of his death, resulting in numerous conspiracy theories. In July 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released CCTV footage to support the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell. When the Department of Justice released the footage, approximately 2 minutes and 53 seconds of it was missing, and the video was found to have been modified despite the FBI's claim that it was raw.Since Epstein's death precluded the possibility of pursuing criminal charges against him, a judge dismissed all criminal charges on August 29, 2019. Epstein had a decades-long association with the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who recruited young girls for him, leading to her 2021 conviction on US federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy for helping him procure girls, including a 14-year-old, for child sexual abuse and prostitution.According to The New York Times, Epstein made much of his fortune by providing tax and estate services to billionaires. He was also a renowned social networker, whose vast network included business people, royalty, politicians and academics. His friendships with public figures including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton have attracted significant controversy. Documents released by the House Democratic Caucus in September 2025 show that he maintained connections with Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Steve Bannon.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:22 UTC on Friday, 14 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Jeffrey Epstein on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

Are you looking to save time, make money, and start winning with less risk? Then head to https://www.ovtlyr.com.Two major hedge funds just blew up, and the internet instantly jumped to the whole “this feels like 2007” panic. You've probably seen the thumbnails already. Collapse. Crash. Doom. But when you dig into what actually happened, the story is way more interesting than the fear-mongering. This video breaks everything down in a way that makes sense and shows you what really matters behind the scenes.It all kicks off with a dramatic headline about subprime funds getting wiped out. And sure, it grabs attention, but the real takeaway is how familiar the pattern looks. When liquidity gets tight and confidence cracks, things can unravel fast. That's exactly why understanding the market cycle becomes such a powerful edge. Once you know how stage one, stage two, stage three, and stage four actually look on a chart, all the noise starts to fade away.The video walks through those stages using real examples, showing how the 10 EMA, 20 EMA, and 50 EMA tell the truth long before the headlines do. Most traders don't realize they're buying at the very beginning of stage three, which is why it feels like the market keeps slapping them around. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.Here's what you'll pick up along the way:✅ How the full market cycle really works✅ The signals that actually start a bullish trend✅ Why traders always seem to buy the top✅ How bank redemptions turn into liquidity spirals✅ The surprising overlap between UBS today and Bear Stearns back thenThere's also a super clear breakdown of how bank runs happen in real life. Not the movie version, the real-world version where people pull funds, banks scramble to sell assets, and suddenly confidence disappears. Once you understand that, the whole UBS situation makes a lot more sense.The video also takes a look at past crashes like 1987 and the Covid drop to show something most people don't want to admit. The market almost always gives warning signs. The trend breaks first, then the disaster comes later. You don't have to guess tops or bottoms. You just need a plan that responds to what the market is actually doing.And if you've been curious about options rolling or why traders shift from deep in the money to slightly out of the money, that gets explained in a simple, real-world way. Delta, gamma, credit received, reduced risk, keeping the trade alive, it's all laid out without the usual confusion that comes with options talk.There's also a look at how OVTLYR helps with notifications, exit signals, ATR stops, and the kind of education that helps you trade based on structure instead of emotion. The whole point is helping you cut through the fear and actually make informed decisions.If you're tired of the clickbait panic and want a grounded, practical look at what's going on with hedge funds, liquidity, and smart trade management, this video is absolutely worth watching.Gain instant access to the AI-powered tools and behavioral insights top traders use to spot big moves before the crowd. Start trading smarter today

UBS is reportedly closing down not one but two hedge funds, in a more that raises a lot of questions but also some very uncomfortable parallels to 2007. One of those funds is exposed to First Brands, so understandable. The other...isn't. And that raises the prospect of the R-word; in this case, that does not stand for recession, rather its uglier monetary twin. Bloomberg UBS Winds Down O'Connor Funds in Sign of First Brands Strainhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-06/ubs-to-wind-down-o-connor-funds-with-first-brands-exposureNYT $3.2 Billion Move by Bear Stearns to Rescue Fundhttps://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/23/business/23bond.htmlhttps://eurodollar.university

Send us a text 45 minutes of Ep 258 - 2 hour special, I'm diving deep into the real life monsters in this Halloween Episode. I start with Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and deliver some serious gossip that I promised you about the latest drama on Season 6 Ep 6 unfolding with the cast. I break down the current storylines and give you my insider take on what's really happening behind the scenes in Salt Lake with Bronwyn's felonies, Lisa Barlow take down and Mary Cosby's demons, but then I shift gears into something much darker. I've just finished reading Virginia Giuffre's new book, Nobody's Girl and I'm breaking down the most shocking revelations about her experiences with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. I walk you through how Ghislaine first approached Virginia when she was just sixteen years old working at the Mar-a-Lago spa, how she was groomed and manipulated into Epstein's world, and the disturbing details about his properties from El Brillo Way mansion to Zorro Ranch to his infamous island Little St. James. I also expose what's happening now with Sarah Kellen, one of Epstein's alleged accomplices who's living in luxury at the Continuum in Miami while victims demand justice. I reveal details about Epstein's background from Virginia's perspective, his time teaching at the Dalton School sleeping with girls for grades, his connections to Bear Stearns, and his calculated methods of control. There are shocking revelations about Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, George Clooney and the web of powerful people in Epstein's orbit that you won't want to miss. We learn about all Virginia's abuse from a child to when she meets Epstein. This is only the first part of the book, so we're just getting started with Virginia's full testimony. Full episode here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DishingDramaWithDanaWilkey

Jeffrey Epstein manipulated financial markets not by traditional trading fraud but through influence, opacity, and access. He embedded himself inside the financial empires of billionaires like Les Wexner and Leon Black, gaining control of vast capital reserves under the guise of “exclusive money management.” By structuring himself as a gatekeeper rather than a trader, Epstein positioned his network at the intersection of elite capital and secrecy. Through Financial Trust Company, registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he exploited generous tax shelters, confidentiality protections, and regulatory blind spots to quietly move and obscure assets. These offshore structures let Epstein shift funds globally, mask ownership trails, and shield beneficiaries — creating the illusion of legitimate financial sophistication while actually leveraging loopholes and relationships.Epstein's real power lay in his ability to manipulate liquidity and market perception through shell entities and credit instruments like repos and mortgage-backed securities. His Bermuda-based vehicle Liquid Funding Ltd. — partially financed by Bear Stearns — operated in debt and derivatives markets that allowed him to obscure leverage ratios and offload risk to counterparties. He also had historical ties to Towers Financial, a company later revealed to be a massive Ponzi scheme, where Epstein reportedly advised founder Stephen Hoffenberg on structuring debt packages that misled investors. Taken together, these networks enabled Epstein to influence pricing, conceal illicit inflows, and present himself as a mysterious financial genius while effectively manipulating money flows that blurred the line between investment and laundering.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Ben Hunt returns to Excess Returns to break down the hidden risks building inside private credit and the parallels between today's “alternative asset managers” and the shadow banking system that triggered the 2008 financial crisis. Using the Godfather's Tessio as a metaphor for betrayal and broken trust, Ben explains how opacity, leverage, and narrative collapse can turn small defaults into systemic crises. He and Matt Zeigler explore what's really happening beneath the surface of private markets, how common knowledge shifts shape investor behavior, and how Perscient Pro's “storyboards” and “semantic signatures” help track the narratives driving markets in real time.Main topics coveredWhy Ben believes we're at a “trust-breaking” moment similar to 2007The Godfather analogy and what frauds reveal about human behaviorHow private credit has evolved into today's “shadow banking” systemFlow machines, hidden leverage, and why opacity is intentionalThe dangers of informational asymmetry between investors and lendersHow broken trust creates chain reactions in financial systemsThe link between narrative collapse and liquidity crisesCommon knowledge, crowd reactions, and market psychologyDoom loops between Wall Street and the real economyHow Perscient Pro tracks financial narratives using semantic signaturesWhy gold's current rally is about safety, not debasementWhat investors should monitor next in credit, housing, and macro narrativesTimestamps0:00 Hidden leverage and the trust problem1:04 Introduction to Ben Hunt and Epsilon Theory2:12 The Tessio analogy – betrayal and the structure of fraud6:10 How private credit became today's shadow banking system10:55 Flow machines and why opacity is intentional14:48 Trust breaks and the “funding stops first” dynamic18:35 The Biden “common knowledge” moment explained21:00 What happens when narratives collapse24:26 Apollo, asymmetric information, and shorting First Brands28:00 Hidden leverage and the domino effects of default33:40 The “doom loop” between Wall Street and the real economy39:10 Why Silicon Valley Bank was different44:18 What a “run on Wall Street” could look like48:00 Perscient Pro and tracking financial storyboards53:32 Semantic signatures and narrative detection57:10 Housing, inflation, and gold storyboards1:00:48 Where to follow Ben Hunt and learn more about Perscient Pro

Jeffrey Epstein manipulated financial markets not by traditional trading fraud but through influence, opacity, and access. He embedded himself inside the financial empires of billionaires like Les Wexner and Leon Black, gaining control of vast capital reserves under the guise of “exclusive money management.” By structuring himself as a gatekeeper rather than a trader, Epstein positioned his network at the intersection of elite capital and secrecy. Through Financial Trust Company, registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he exploited generous tax shelters, confidentiality protections, and regulatory blind spots to quietly move and obscure assets. These offshore structures let Epstein shift funds globally, mask ownership trails, and shield beneficiaries — creating the illusion of legitimate financial sophistication while actually leveraging loopholes and relationships.Epstein's real power lay in his ability to manipulate liquidity and market perception through shell entities and credit instruments like repos and mortgage-backed securities. His Bermuda-based vehicle Liquid Funding Ltd. — partially financed by Bear Stearns — operated in debt and derivatives markets that allowed him to obscure leverage ratios and offload risk to counterparties. He also had historical ties to Towers Financial, a company later revealed to be a massive Ponzi scheme, where Epstein reportedly advised founder Stephen Hoffenberg on structuring debt packages that misled investors. Taken together, these networks enabled Epstein to influence pricing, conceal illicit inflows, and present himself as a mysterious financial genius while effectively manipulating money flows that blurred the line between investment and laundering.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Rumors that Robert Maxwell bankrolled Jeffrey Epstein have been circulating for decades, not just in fringe corners but among journalists, investigators, and intelligence veterans who find Epstein's rise too abrupt and too secretive to be explained by normal finance. Epstein's jump from a failed high-school teacher to a Bear Stearns trader with instant entrée to billionaires has long looked like a manufactured career rather than a natural one. That's where Maxwell enters the picture: a man who himself plundered pension funds, operated in and around intelligence services, and maintained a global network of fixers and financiers. People close to the Epstein story, including Julie K. Brown, have acknowledged the plausibility of such a connection precisely because Maxwell had both the resources and the covert reach to set someone like Epstein up as a front. This theory is attractive because it connects two figures who both thrived in the same murky world of secret deals, intelligence ties, and shadow wealth.What remains unknown is not the plausibility but the paper trail. No bank records, verified wire transfers, or sworn testimony have surfaced that explicitly show Maxwell funding Epstein's early career. That doesn't erase the pattern; it highlights how carefully such an arrangement, if it existed, would have been hidden. The absence of a smoking gun does not make the suspicion baseless — it reflects the very nature of covert patronage. In this light, the rumors about Maxwell's money fueling Epstein's rise are not some idle conspiracy—they're a working hypothesis about how Epstein's wealth materialized and why it remains so difficult to trace.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Rumors that Robert Maxwell bankrolled Jeffrey Epstein have been circulating for decades, not just in fringe corners but among journalists, investigators, and intelligence veterans who find Epstein's rise too abrupt and too secretive to be explained by normal finance. Epstein's jump from a failed high-school teacher to a Bear Stearns trader with instant entrée to billionaires has long looked like a manufactured career rather than a natural one. That's where Maxwell enters the picture: a man who himself plundered pension funds, operated in and around intelligence services, and maintained a global network of fixers and financiers. People close to the Epstein story, including Julie K. Brown, have acknowledged the plausibility of such a connection precisely because Maxwell had both the resources and the covert reach to set someone like Epstein up as a front. This theory is attractive because it connects two figures who both thrived in the same murky world of secret deals, intelligence ties, and shadow wealth.What remains unknown is not the plausibility but the paper trail. No bank records, verified wire transfers, or sworn testimony have surfaced that explicitly show Maxwell funding Epstein's early career. That doesn't erase the pattern; it highlights how carefully such an arrangement, if it existed, would have been hidden. The absence of a smoking gun does not make the suspicion baseless — it reflects the very nature of covert patronage. In this light, the rumors about Maxwell's money fueling Epstein's rise are not some idle conspiracy—they're a working hypothesis about how Epstein's wealth materialized and why it remains so difficult to trace.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

What happens when you stop chasing returns and start investing in purpose?Ron Diamond, Founder and Chairman of Diamond Wealth, believes the future of finance isn't just about building wealth—it's about what that wealth can do. As a trusted advisor to over 100 family offices ranging from $250 million to $30 billion, Ron has spent more than two decades helping ultra-wealthy families align their capital with causes that matter.In this episode, Ron shares how the collapse of Drexel Burnham shaped his perspective on loyalty, legacy, and leadership—and why “patient capital” is poised to disrupt the short-termism of private equity. We explore how purpose-driven investing is solving real-world challenges, from cancer to climate, and what it takes to build sustainable family office infrastructure in an era of unprecedented generational wealth transfer.And the timing couldn't be more relevant: family offices are no longer niche players. The number of single-family offices has surged 31% since 2019, with projections reaching over 10,700 globally by 2030. As trillions of dollars transition to the next generation, Ron offers a front-row seat to the values, strategies, and systems needed to steward that wealth wisely.Ron is also the Founder, Host, and CEO of Family Office World Media, and helped establish the Family Office Program for TIGER 21, where he chairs a national peer group. He lectures at Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and was recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of The National Law Review's first Family Office newsletter. A LinkedIn Top Voice, TEDx speaker, and former hedge fund founder, Ron began his career on Wall Street at Bear Stearns and Drexel Burnham.Key TakeawaysPeople Over Companies: Ron's experience during Drexel's collapse taught him that relationships—not institutions—are what endure.Patient Capital Is a Game-Changer: Family offices can think in decades, not quarters, offering strategic advantage over traditional funds.Purpose Before Profit: Legacy and social impact must anchor investment decisions.Professionalization Is Essential: Governance, infrastructure, and talent are what turn capital into capability.The Ego Barrier: Great wealth doesn't guarantee great management—humility is crucial for longevity.Five Core Principles from Ron Diamond1. Guiding North Star: Profit with PurposeAnchor investments in something bigger than financial return—personal mission, legacy, or societal impact. → Tip: Define your North Star early and align capital accordingly.2. Trust & Relationships FirstBack character over credentials. Trust and personal integrity build more resilient partnerships than models or metrics. → Tip: Focus on people, not pitch decks.3. Patient, Long-Term CapitalThink in decades, not exit cycles. Family offices can outperform by holding steady and avoiding short-termism. → Tip: Let compounding do the heavy lifting.4. Professionalizing Family OfficesFamily offices must evolve beyond legacy systems—invest in governance, talent, and infrastructure like any top-tier fund. → Tip: Treat talent as a profit center, not a cost.5. Entrepreneurial PhilanthropyDeploy strategic, venture-style capital into social challenges. Purpose and profit can—and should—coexist. → Tip: Apply the same rigor to social impact as you do to your investments.Episode Highlights00:00 – Episode...

Jeffrey Epstein's offshore financial dealings were exposed in part through the Paradise Papers, which revealed his role as chairman of Liquid Funding Ltd., a Bermuda-registered company linked to Bear Stearns. The law firm Appleby, which administered Liquid Funding, operated across multiple tax havens, including the British Virgin Islands, and this connection often creates confusion about Epstein's financial footprint there. While Appleby's BVI presence meant that its clients could easily incorporate or shift assets through that jurisdiction, available records show Epstein's personal offshore entities were tied more directly to Bermuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he established companies like Financial Trust Company and Southern Trust.The BVI does not appear as a core base of Epstein's corporate structures in the released data, but it factored into the broader offshore web through Appleby's extensive operations in the territory. In other words, Epstein's name emerges in the same investigative files that highlight BVI corruption and secrecy issues, but his direct offshore holdings were anchored elsewhere. The overlap underscores how tightly interwoven these secrecy jurisdictions are, with Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands all serving as nodes in the same shadow financial system that Epstein exploited.To contact me: bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/british-virgin-islands-corruption-scandal-threatens-its-dependable-tax-haven-reputation/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Alberto Gallo is Chief Investment Officer and Co-founder at Andromeda Capital Management. Prior to that, Alberto initiated and ran the Global Credit Opportunities fund at Algebris Investments. Previously, he ran macro credit research at RBS in London and served in senior research roles at Goldman Sachs in New York, Bear Stearns in New York and London, and Merrill Lynch in London. In this podcast we discuss the Western debt crisis, monopolisation and rising inequality, demographic problems, and much more.    Follow us here for more amazing insights: https://macrohive.com/home-prime/ https://twitter.com/Macro_Hive https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-hive

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC News

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC News

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

In the early 2000s, Jeffrey Epstein served as the chairman of Liquid Funding Ltd., an offshore financial entity registered in Bermuda, from November 2001 at least through March 2007. The firm was initially about 40% owned by Bear Stearns and specialized in securitizing complex debt instruments—bundling commercial and residential mortgages into AAA-rated securities. This intricate repurchase ("repo") structure obscured underlying risks and played a part in the broader collapse of Bear Stearns and the 2008 financial crisis.Though Epstein was known better for his criminal activity than his financial acumen, his leadership at Liquid Funding highlights an unusual parallel: he was not only embroiled in illicit trafficking schemes but also entwined in the darkest corners of Wall Street's pre-crash financial engineering. Despite the potential systemic risk his firm represented, there is no record of tangible consequences—legal, financial, or criminal—stemming from his involvement in Liquid Funding. The company's role in crisis-era finance remains part of Epstein's shadowy legacy, but the expected regulatory or legal reckoning never came.To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/jeffrey-epsteins-offshore-fortune-traced-to-paradise-papers/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's life makes little sense when viewed through the lens of a rogue financier or even a Mossad agent, but it becomes coherent when understood as the creation of the CIA. From his early placement at the Dalton School by Donald Barr, to his sudden leap into finance at Bear Stearns, to his inexplicable relationship with Leslie Wexner, Epstein's career looks less like chance and more like cultivation. His fortune was smoke and mirrors, likely bolstered by covert funding, and his so-called philanthropy in genetics and AI neatly overlapped with U.S. intelligence interests. His homes wired with cameras, his blackmail operations ensnaring politicians, scientists, and billionaires, and his sweetheart deal in Florida that shielded not just him but his co-conspirators—all of it suggests he was protected because he was too valuable to the intelligence state to lose.While Mossad connections through Ghislaine Maxwell cannot be denied, foreign services couldn't have orchestrated the decades-long media suppression, the unprecedented non-prosecution agreement, or the circumstances of Epstein's death in federal custody. Only U.S. intelligence had the power to build and protect him, then silence him when he became a liability. Epstein was not simply a predator; he was a CIA instrument of blackmail and control, designed to compromise America's own elites and keep them in line. His death was not the end of a scandal—it was the final act of a cleanup operation, ensuring that the files, tapes, and evidence he gathered would never see daylight, and leaving the public with a scapegoat narrative while the machinery of secrecy rolled on.to contact  me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Sara Wyman, founder and CEO of Stackpack, joins me to share her journey from investment banking and a Wharton MBA to launching a company that's redefining how finance and operations teams manage vendors. From surviving the Bear Stearns collapse to scaling Etsy and Affirm through IPOs, Sara's career has been built on spotting patterns and acting with conviction. In this episode, she breaks down how she validated her idea with 75 CFOs before writing a line of code, why timing and conviction matter more than a perfect resume, and what it really takes to leave the safety of corporate life to build something of your own.Key Takeaways• Why solving a problem you've lived through yourself is the best foundation for a startup• How interviewing potential customers before building can double as both research and sales• Why founders should outsource what they're not great at instead of spinning wheels• The hidden advantage of years of work experience when stepping into a founder role• Why pace setting—not just hiring—is one of the founder's most critical responsibilitiesTimestamped Highlights00:39 — What Stackpack does and how it helps finance teams gain full visibility into spend and contracts02:10 — Lessons from investment banking, the Lululemon IPO, and the realization she wanted to be the CEO, not the banker04:30 — Spotting the problem of vendor chaos and validating it through 75+ CFO conversations07:12 — The leap from corporate security to founder risk and why timing mattered more than age12:47 — A different founder path: starting with customers and funding before building the team17:15 — Why the stereotype of the 24-year-old coder isn't the reality of most successful exits19:45 — Hard-earned lessons: outsource what you don't excel at and embrace the founder role as a pace setterA Standout Moment“If you're not awesome at something, outsource it or find the person that is. You don't get bonus points for struggling through work that isn't your strength.”Pro TipTalk to customers before you build. Sara's early interviews not only validated her idea but converted into her first paying design partners.Call to ActionIf Sara's journey resonated with you, share this episode with someone considering the founder path. Don't forget to follow the show on your favorite platform so you never miss stories like this one.

Justin Paperny had the perfect life — a privileged childhood in California, a promising baseball career, and by 26, he was the youngest broker at Bear Stearns' Los Angeles office. But behind the polished image, greed took over. First, it was stealing commissions. Then, he got pulled into a multi-million dollar fraud scheme with a client. At 32, he traded luxury boardrooms for 18 months in federal prison camp. In this interview, Justin reveals how his choices unraveled his career, the reality of life inside a federal prison camp, and how he turned his biggest mistake into a new mission — helping others avoid the same fate. His story is a cautionary tale of ambition, greed, and redemption. #WhiteCollarCrime #PrisonStories #FraudCase #FederalPrison #FinanceScandal #PrisonInterviews #TrueCrimePodcast #redemptionstory Connect with Justin Paperny: Website: https://free.whitecollaradvice.com/google2?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=White+Collar+Advice&utm_campaign=KS-Leads-Search-Brand&utm_content=Brand-Exact&utm_keyword=justin+paperny&utm_matchtype=e&campaign_id=22279642692&ad_group_id=174779004879&ad_id=734949328994&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22279642692&gbraid=0AAAAAC59KDbd9vbZE8r8cORPwr__0suk-&gclid=CjwKCAjwtfvEBhAmEiwA-DsKjqq4EOzZG9qXnXhrGdbvhfgeOeaGsqJOA-Y0j_5b61KcCob5GtNevxoCU0cQAvD_BwE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitecollaradviceteam/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiteCollarAdviceOfficial Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Get 50% off the Magic Mind offer here: https://www.magicmind.com/IANB50. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Use code LOCKEDIN for 20% OFF Wooooo Energy Buy Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Justin's Story & Downfall 02:23 From Wall Street to Prison 06:41 Turning Prison into Purpose 12:12 Building a New Life After Release 24:24 Baseball Dreams & Early Influences 36:00 Breaking into Finance 43:38 The Slippery Slope: Small Cheats, Big Consequences 51:13 Rationalizations and the Cost of Fraud 01:01:12 The Federal Investigation and Plea 01:05:41 Preparing for Prison and Self-Reflection 01:13:21 Life Inside: Surprising Prison Realities 01:28:39 Finding Redemption & Building Discipline 01:35:01 Life After Prison: Stigma, Success & Giving Back 01:44:34 Final Reflections & Outro Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on the podcast today is Nick Murray. Nick has written several influential books about investing and financial advice, including The Game of Numbers, Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth, and his latest, This Time Isn't Different. His newsletter for financial advisors is called “Nick Murray Interactive,” and he also frequently leads seminars for financial advice professionals. Nick started out at EF Hutton, then moved on to Shearson and eventually to Bear Stearns. Since then, he has built his career around advising financial advisors.BackgroundAbout Nick MurrayNick Murray Interactive newslettersBooks and E-BooksThis Time Isn't Different: Shockproofing Our ClientsThe Game of Numbers: Client Acquisition for Financial Advisors 2010Simple Wealth, Inevitable WealthNick Murray's Scripts: What to Say and How to Say ItBehavioral Investment CounselingTalking It Over, Just The Two Of Us: A Guide for the Financial Advisor's Life Partner with Joan MurrayAround the Year with Nick Murray: Daily Readings for Financial AdvisorsPodcasts and More“Financial Advisor Nick Murray,” Bloomberg Masters in Business podcast by Barry Ritholtz, Aug. 7, 2015“The Man Who Saved My Career: How Nick Murray came along and showed me my true purpose in this business,” by Josh Brown, downtownjoshbrown.com, May 21, 2024“The Value Proposition of a Financial Advisor With Nick Murray,” The Unlock podcast, May 21, 2024“The Golden Door For Financial Advice With Nick Murray,” The Unlock podcast, May 31, 2024“My Financial Planning Heroes: Nick Murray,” by Juniper team, juniperwealth.co.uk/blog, Jan. 1, 2025“Nick Murray's Hard Truths for Advisors” by Jane Wollman Rusoff, thinkadvisor.com, March 5, 2015“Lessons Learned From the Legendary Financial Advisor Nick Murray,” Think Smart With TMFG podcast, Oct. 14, 2022“Murray: Financial Healing,” Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack, May 6, 2016

Ever wondered how a space can make you feel genuinely cared for? Bruno Viterbo, Vice President of Design at Irvine Company, shares his profound insights into 'the sense of being known' and how it transforms hospitality design at every scale. Bruno shares his extensive experience in the design and real estate industries, including insights from his previous roles at Champalimaud Design and Las Vegas Sands Corp. He reflects on the unique lessons learned from industry legends and how these insights have shaped his approach to creating extraordinary spaces. The episode highlights the significance of partnerships, the role of conviction in leadership, and the challenges and creativity involved in working within regulatory constraints.Takeaways: Taking a moment to genuinely connect with people around you can provide opportunities for deeper understanding and relationships. Make an effort to be attentive and engaged in your interactions.Maintaining a sense of curiosity about other cultures, experiences, and professions can greatly enhance your perspective and creativity. Don't hesitate to dig deeper and ask questions about the hows and whys of different practices.Cultivating long-term relationships with colleagues, clients, vendors, and mentors can significantly enhance your professional journey. Trust and mutual respect are foundational to successful collaborations.Embrace challenges and view constraints as opportunities to innovate. Regulatory and environmental constraints can inspire new levels of creativity and problem-solving.Always consider the end-user's experience first. This mindset can guide decisions in design, customer service, and overall environment creation, ensuring a more meaningful impact.During economic downturns or challenging times, focus on maintaining quality, supporting your team, and staying optimistic. Resilience and adaptability can help navigate and thrive in difficult periods.Learning from experienced professionals can significantly shape your career. Be open to listening and absorbing lessons from mentors and industry veterans.Quote of the Show:“I started by thinking that we needed to do a lot, and over time I realized I just need to listen a lot more. Then the doing sort of comes with it.” - Bruno ViterboLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruno-viterbo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viterbobruno/ Website: https://www.irvinecompany.com/ Shout Outs:0:41 - Champalimaud Design https://www.champalimaud.design/ 0:42 - Las Vegas Sands Corp https://www.sands.com/ 0:56 - Gold Key Awards https://goldkeyawards.com/ 1:47 - HD Expo https://hdexpo.hospitalitydesign.com/ 9:05 - Alexandra Champalimaud https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-champalimaud-1741b91b/ 9:10 - Sheldon Adelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Adelson 9:12 - Wing Chao https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_T._Chao 12:13 - Disney https://www.disney.com/ 21:56 - NeoCon https://neocon.com/ 24:20 - Donald Bren https://www.donaldbren.com/ 28:12 - Napoleon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon 28:14 - Julius Caesar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar 35:35 - Traction https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837 41:55 - Bear Stearns https://www.bearstearnscompanies.com/ 47:29 - The Venetian https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/ 47:34 - CES https://www.ces.tech/ 

We sit down with Jamie Dimon for a live conversation at Radio City Music Hall, covering the incredible journey from his 1998 firing at Citgroup (where he was widely expected to become CEO) to building the most powerful bank in the world. Today JPMorgan Chase is a juggernaut — the most systemically important non-governmental financial institution in the world, with over twice the market capitalization of its nearest competitor. But it certainly wasn't always this way! Jamie takes us from his career restart at the struggling Chicago-based Bank One through how he transformed that platform into the foundation for the modern JPMorgan Chase. We dive into the “fortress balance sheet” strategy that has defined his tenure, and cover blow-by-blow Jamie's approach to the Great Financial Crisis, Bear Stearns, WaMu, First Republic and more. Tune in for an incredible conversation, live from New York City's most iconic venue!Sponsors:Many thanks to our fantastic Summer ‘25 Season partners:J.P. Morgan PaymentsVercelAnthropicStatsigEpisode image photo credit: Rockefeller CenterMore Acquired:Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Check out the latest swag in the ACQ Merch Store!‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

This Flashback Friday is from episode 337, published last September 6, 2013. Doug Brunt is the former CEO of Authentium and author of, "GHOSTS OF MANHATTAN." In his new book, he transports readers back to the extravagant times before Bear Stearns collapsed, exposing a culture with boundless bonuses, where the company expense account was routinely used for bar tabs, visits to strip clubs, and worse. He even throws in some comical stories and describes some of them. Brunt offers a withering view of life on Wall Street from the perspective of an unhappy insider, run-down by the corrosive lifestyle which is jeopardizing his marriage, who is too hooked on the money to find a way out.  Brunt is married to FOX News anchor Megyn Kelly, who has helped him with his books. Brunt describes their relationship and why he gave up a lucrative career as an Internet security entrepreneur. Find out more about Doug Brunt at www.douglasbrunt.com.   Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class:  Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com