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© 2025 SKEPTIC’S GUIDE TO INVESTING
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Straight Talk for All, Nonsense for None
About - Our podcast looks to help improve investing IQ. We share 15-30 minutes on finance, market and investment ideas. We bring experience and empathy to the complex process of financial wellness. Every journey is unique, so we look for ways our insights can help listeners. Also, we want to have fun😎
Your Hosts - Meet Steve Davenport, CFA and Clem Miller, CFA as they discus the latest in news, markets and investments. They each bring over 25 years in the investment industry to their discussions. Steve brings a domestic stock and quantitative emphasis, Clem has a more fundamental and international perspective. They hope to bring experience, honesty and humility to these podcasts. There are a lot of acronyms and financial terms which confuse more than they help. There are many entertainers versus analysts promoting get rich quick ideas. Let’s cut through the nonsense with straight talk!
Disclaimer - These podcasts are not intended as investment advice. Individuals please consult your own investment, tax and legal advisors. They provide these insights for educational purposes only.
108 Episodes
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Please text and tell us what you like We unpack gold’s surge, why central banks—especially China—are buying, and how to balance conviction with risk. We share how we trimmed, built a cash buffer, and considered collars to cut downside while staying in the trade. • Central bank demand as a structural tailwind • China’s reserve ambitions and gold accumulation • Dollar and U.S. policy risk shaping safe‑haven flows • Rate cuts, inflation hedges, and market plateau • Trimming exposure after parab...
Please text and tell us what you like The U.S. government's unprecedented move to take a 10% ownership stake in Intel raises serious questions about the appropriate boundaries between government and private enterprise in American capitalism. • Government equity ownership in Intel marks a significant shift in U.S. industrial policy • Argument for equity stakes: if taxpayers provide subsidies, they should share in potential upside • Critical questions about who manages these positions and how ...
Please text and tell us what you like Aradhana Kejriwal shares insights on her work as an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) and discusses how women are reshaping the investment landscape with their growing control of wealth and unique perspectives on risk. • OCIOs function as dedicated investment departments for advisory firms, providing sophisticated research and investment management while allowing advisors to focus on client relationships • AI serves as a companion in finance, ma...
Please text and tell us what you like We delve into the controversial topic of allowing private equity, real estate, debt, and even cryptocurrency into 401k retirement accounts, offering a skeptical analysis of this potential shift in retirement planning. • Government is willing to allow private markets and crypto in 401ks, though these options aren't widely available yet • Private markets involve less transparency and liquidity than traditional investments • Historically, private investment...
Please text and tell us what you like Retirement investing has lost its way. While Wall Street fixates on asset growth and total return, millions of retirees struggle with a fundamental question: how do I generate reliable income without depleting my savings? Steve Selengut, veteran investor and former RIA owner who managed $100 million in assets, challenges the industry's growth-obsessed paradigm with a refreshingly old-school approach. His investment philosophy centers on four principles l...
Please text and tell us what you like The financial markets are running hot as we head into Q4 2025, but are we witnessing sustainable growth or dangerous froth? In this thought-provoking episode, Clem Miller and Steve Davenport tackle the pressing question on many investors' minds: what's ahead for the markets? Steve kicks things off with a bold prediction - the market appears to be discounting an overly optimistic future, particularly in AI-related stocks. When companies merely mentioning ...
Please text and tell us what you like Women are consistently outperforming men in investment returns—by about four basis points—yet they're starting later and investing less. This fascinating paradox lies at the heart of our conversation with financial services veteran Megan Smith, who brings decades of experience in alternative investments and client advising to the table. "Investing is more about patience and consistency than it is about number crunching," Smith reveals, challenging the no...
Please text and tell us what you like Gene Natali, CFA, joins us to discuss his mission to solve America's financial literacy crisis through his innovative platform Troutwood and his bestselling book "The Missing Semester." We explore how technology can scale financial education and planning to reach millions of Americans who lack basic financial knowledge despite good jobs and education. • Gene's journey from institutional asset management to becoming a financial literacy champion • The ins...
Please text and tell us what you like Joe Sroka of NovaPoint Capital shares his journey from West Point graduate and military officer to financial advisor, explaining how military discipline informs his investment approach for clients. • From buying savings bonds during military service to becoming a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch • West Point education provided strong math and analytical skills that transferred well to finance • NovaPoint specializes in dividend growth investing rather ...
Please text and tell us what you like What if your investment dollars could create positive change while still generating competitive returns? In this eye-opening conversation, financial expert Mimi Locke joins hosts Steve Davenport and Glenn Miller to explore the world of values-aligned investing and women's financial empowerment. Mimi shares her journey from being the lone woman in a room of 60 stockbrokers to co-leading courses for Invest for Better, a nonprofit helping women align their ...
Please text and tell us what you like When politics collides with economic data, investors face a troubling dilemma: can we trust the numbers that drive markets? The unprecedented firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics head by President Trump signals a concerning shift in how government economic data might be manipulated for political gain. The BLS produces critical labor and inflation statistics that power Federal Reserve decisions and investment strategies worldwide. Now, this foundation...
Please text and tell us what you like Joe Ryu, manager of Prospect Capital's private real estate credit fund, shares his journey from investment banking through the Great Financial Crisis to his current role in real estate credit investing. He explains how private credit offers attractive risk-adjusted returns through specialized financing structures that combine agency lending with subordinated positions. • Real estate private credit involves loans on commercial properties that don't freely...
Please text and tell us what you like What does the market look like through the eyes of a seasoned Wall Street veteran? Adam Parker, founder of Trivariate Research and CNBC contributor, joins us to share his institutional perspective on today's investment landscape. The conversation begins with Adam's surprising take on political developments – while headlines focus on tariffs and tax policy, institutional investors are looking elsewhere. He shares what's really dominating client conversati...
Please text and tell us what you like Stablecoins represent a fascinating middle ground in the crypto universe - digital tokens backed by real dollars, designed to provide stability in the notoriously volatile cryptocurrency landscape. Steve Davenport and Clem Miller take you on a deep dive into this evolving ecosystem, examining the regulatory framework established by the recently passed Genius Act and what it means for companies like Circle that have gone public. The conversation reveals t...
Please text and tell us what you like The political theatrics behind Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" mask a troubling economic reality that could reshape America's fiscal landscape for years to come. This massive 900-page legislation, passed by the narrowest of margins, reveals how calculated political maneuvering drives fiscal policy more than sound economic principles. Diving deep into the mechanics of the bill, we uncover how the administration strategically front-loaded tax benefits while p...
Please text and tell us what you like Tariffs have moved from economic policy to political weapons, and smart investors need to understand the real impacts on markets and portfolios. In this eye-opening exploration of the tariff landscape, we break down the fundamentals of international trade policy and how it affects your investments. From the recent 50% tariff on Brazil (imposed for political reasons) to the unrealistic expectation of "90 deals in 90 days," we cut through the rhetoric to r...
Please text and tell us what you like Rich Weiss, CIO of Multi-Asset Strategies at American Century, brings 40 years of investment experience to discuss market reactions to global turmoil and why the VIX index remains surprisingly calm despite international tensions. • Markets appear to be undervaluing risk despite geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainties • Economic consensus forecasts predict 1.5% growth this year, avoiding recession but not stellar • Manufacturing and housing sect...
Please text and tell us what you like Financial literacy isn't just about knowing investment terms—it's about transforming your relationship with money. Marcus Sturdivant, founder of ABC Squared in Charlotte, shares his journey from a loving household where money wasn't discussed to becoming a financial advisor passionate about educating others. "We didn't grow up rich, but we didn't realize we weren't rich," Marcus explains, highlighting how his entrepreneurial spirit emerged early—selling ...
Please text and tell us what you like Clem Miller recounts his month-long journey through Eastern Canada, sharing observations about icebergs, puffins, and whales along with insights into Canadian economics and culture with relevance for investors. His adventures to Newfoundland and Labrador reveal how travel experiences can broaden investment perspective and inform financial decision-making. • Planning for retirement should include time and energy for adventure, not just financial security ...
Please text and tell us what you like We explore how news media affects investment decision making and identify reliable sources of financial information in today's fragmented media landscape. • Traditional media networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX) prioritize sensationalism and local stories over global context • Bloomberg and Reuters provide better global perspectives on how various markets interconnect • News media has shifted from educating viewers to entertaining them for ratings • Corpor...
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