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The Alternative Investor

Brad Johnson
The Alternative Investor
Latest episode

79 episodes

  • The Alternative Investor

    The Biggest Bet Ever Made: Do You Own Too Much Tech?

    03/08/2026 | 12 mins.
    Should You Diversify Away From Tech? The Massive AI Capex Bet and Key Red Flags

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    https://zpr.io/W6JaycaP8EeT

    Evergreen Capital
    info@evergreencap.com

    The script addresses investors heavily concentrated in technology stocks and offers a framework for deciding whether to reduce exposure as big tech makes an unprecedented, speculative AI bet requiring trillions in capital spending. It argues AI can be world-changing yet still disappoint shareholders if returns on invested capital don’t justify massive buildouts, and highlights red flags: circular, interconnected revenue and investment relationships reminiscent of the telecom unwind; incentives around depreciation schedules that may make recurring AI infrastructure costs look like long-lived assets and boost earnings; and rising use of cheaper open-source models that could commoditize “intelligence,” shifting value to customers. Using railroads, fiber, and airlines as parallels, it warns transformational tech can still be a poor investment, and that AI stocks can underperform even if AI succeeds if results take longer than valuations assume. It concludes with diversification and tax-aware rebalancing considerations, especially near retirement.

    00:00 Tech Heavy Portfolio
    00:31 AI Capex Mega Bet
    02:26 Red Flag One Spaghetti Deals
    03:47 Red Flag Two Depreciation Games
    05:28 Red Flag Three Model Commoditization
    07:19 History Warns Infrastructure
    09:34 Math Behind Expectations
    11:19 Diversify And Rebalance
    11:53 Taxes And Next Steps
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Alternative Investor

    How the New Fed Chair Could Change Investing

    22/06/2026 | 9 mins.
    The Fed Put May Be Ending: How a Warsh-Led Regime Change Could Reshape Investing

    Book a Call
    https://zpr.io/W6JaycaP8EeT

    Evergreen Capital
    info@evergreencap.com

    The Fed Put May Be Ending: How a Warsh-Led Regime Change Could Reshape Investing

    The script argues that the 15-year era of heavy Federal Reserve market support—lower rates, liquidity, and quantitative easing that encouraged “buy the dip” and inflated asset pricing—may be ending under new Fed chair Kevin Warsh, who wants a smaller, quieter Fed with less intervention and fewer tailwinds for growth-at-all-cost assets, shifting markets from liquidity-driven to cash-flow-driven returns. It says this is a regime change more important than any single rate cut, critiques the Fed’s lagging inflation measures, and notes hotter inflation and war-driven energy price spikes complicate near-term easing. The author “handicaps” three likely changes: smoothing inflation data and de-emphasizing the 2% target to allow modest short-rate cuts while keeping long rates higher, potentially selling mortgage-backed securities to pressure mortgage yields, and leaning on AI productivity while debt is inflated away. For income investors, cash/T-bills may become less compelling, volatility may rise without a “Fed put,” and hard assets with pricing power and contractual cash flow may outperform; the biggest mistake is sticking with the post-2009 growth/multiple expansion playbook instead of building durable income portfolios.

    00:00 Fed Put Era Ending
    00:54 Warsh Regime Shift
    01:47 Inflation Data Debate
    02:49 Handicapping Not Forecasting
    03:51 Three Fed Changes
    06:14 Yield Curve Reality Check
    06:42 Income Investor Playbook
    08:46 Avoid Old Growth Trap
    09:08 Build Durable Income
    09:34 Wrap Up And Next Steps

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Alternative Investor

    How Business Owners Create Passive Income After An Exit

    25/04/2026 | 10 mins.
    Episode Description
    In this episode, Brad Johnson explains how business owners can turn the proceeds from selling a company or experiencing a major liquidity event into passive monthly income that can fund retirement indefinitely. He shares why many entrepreneurs reach the finish line without a real plan for their wealth, why traditional stock-and-bond portfolios often feel misaligned after an exit, and how Evergreen’s two-engine income strategy is designed to create both dependable cash flow today and income growth for the future. Brad also covers the trade-offs of private markets, the importance of choosing the right advisor, and why focusing on income goals can be far more useful than chasing a net worth number.

    Book a Call

    https://zpr.io/izgjKaDsgQNw

    Evergreen Capital

    info@evergreencap.com

    Connect with Brad Johnson

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjohnson/

    Key topics:
    • How entrepreneurs can convert a major liquidity event into passive monthly income
    • Why many business owners feel unprepared for life and money after selling a company
    • The emotional and practical challenges entrepreneurs face after retirement
    • The difference between managing investments yourself and outsourcing portfolio strategy
    • Why traditional ETF-and-bond portfolios often fall short for business owners
    • How Evergreen’s two-engine income strategy combines private income investments with dividend growth stocks
    • What goes into vetting high-quality private asset managers
    • Why many traditional advisors struggle to implement private market strategies
    • The pros and cons of private investments, including illiquidity
    • Why setting a passive income target may matter more than aiming for a specific net worth

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Introduction: Converting Liquidity into Passive Income
    00:59 - Post-Retirement Ambitions for Entrepreneurs
    01:57 - Options for Portfolio Management: DIY vs. Outsourcing
    02:32 - The Limitations of Vanilla Investment Strategies
    03:56 - The Evergreen Income Strategy: Two Engines
    04:51 - Vetting High-Quality Asset Managers
    05:14 - Choosing the Right Advisor for Private Markets
    07:04 - The Trade-offs: Illiquidity and Behavior
    08:38 - Focusing on Income Goals over Net Worth
    10:03 - Next Steps and Resources
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Alternative Investor

    My 10 Worst Real Estate Nightmares

    21/03/2026 | 7 mins.
    In this episode, Brad Johnson shares ten real-world real estate nightmares that show why rental properties are far from passive. Drawing from over $150 million of investment experience, he walks through costly mistakes, unexpected risks, and operational headaches that investors rarely see coming. Brad also explains why these experiences ultimately led him to shift toward more passive, income-focused investments.

    Book a Call
    https://zpr.io/czXpQcCXKQLX
    Evergreen Capital
    info@evergreencap.com
    Connect with Brad Johnson
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjohnson/

    Key topics:
    • Why real estate is often far more operationally intensive than investors expect
    • The hidden risks that can turn “passive income” into active problem-solving
    • How natural disasters can create unexpected repair costs and insurance battles
    • Tenant-related risks, from property damage to eviction challenges
    • Legal exposure and how small issues can turn into lawsuits
    • Infrastructure failures and environmental risks in real estate investing
    • The financial impact of rare but severe events like flooding and system failures
    • How employee issues and fraud can affect property performance
    • Why unpredictable expenses can erode returns over time
    • Why many investors eventually shift toward more passive income strategies

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Introduction
    00:20 - Tornado Damage
    01:10 - Unauthorized Dog Breeding
    01:34 - Hoarding and Hazmat Cleanup
    01:50 - Hurricane Scare
    02:06 - The “Professional Tenant”
    02:47 - Lawsuit Over a One-Inch Curb
    03:14 - Lift Station Failure
    03:48 - Ice Dam and Flood
    05:03 - Employee Theft
    05:43 - Massive Water Leak
    06:29 - Why I Moved to More Passive Investments
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Alternative Investor

    The Biggest Mistakes Dividend Investors Make

    18/03/2026 | 10 mins.
    In this episode, Brad Johnson breaks down the biggest mistakes dividend investors make and why chasing high yield can quietly hurt long-term results. He explains what dividend investors should actually focus on, how to identify stronger businesses with staying power, and why dividend growth matters far more than the highest starting yield. Brad also shares how Evergreen Capital thinks about pairing dividend growth stocks with alternative income-producing assets for high-net-worth investors.

    Book a Call
    https://zpr.io/W6JaycaP8EeT
    Evergreen Capital
    info@evergreencap.com
    Connect with Brad Johnson
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjohnson/

    Key topics:
    • Why the goal of dividend investing is lasting income, not just a high starting yield
    • How yield traps can pull investors into weak businesses with unsustainable payouts
    • What to look for in quality dividend growth stocks
    • Why Texas Pacific Land Trust is a useful case study in dividend growth investing
    • How yield on cost compounds over time
    • The behavioral benefits of owning cash-flowing investments
    • Why over-concentrating in REITs can create portfolio risk
    • How payout ratios help reveal whether a dividend is sustainable
    • The tradeoff between total return investing and dividend-focused investing
    • Why high-net-worth investors often prefer income-producing portfolios

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Introduction to Dividend Investing
    00:21 - The Goal of Dividend Investing
    00:39 - Avoiding Yield Traps
    01:40 - Finding Quality Dividend Growth Stocks
    02:34 - Case Study: Texas Pacific Land Trust (TPL)
    03:51 - The Power of Yield on Cost
    04:31 - Behavioral Benefits of Dividends
    05:20 - Risks of Over-Concentrating in REITs
    06:08 - Understanding Payout Ratios
    07:13 - Total Return vs Dividend Strategy
    08:04 - Achieving Market Returns with Quality Growers
    09:03 - Strategy for High-Net-Worth Investors
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The Alternative Investor
The Alternative Investor is a show about investing money outside of the stock market (private equity, real estate, venture capital, etc.) where the returns are typically higher but the investment decisions are less straightforward. Join Brad Johnson from Evergreen Capital as he discusses investing in alternative assets to help you make better decisions with your investment portfolio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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