The Investors First Podcast

• Kevin Shea, CFA, BNY Mellon – AI: Investment Implications & Lessons from Late 90's

  Kevin Shea is a Director/Senior Equity Strategist at BNY Mellon, where he focuses on individual security analysis, market structure, and emerging technologies—most notably artificial intelligence. Raised in a blue-collar household in Boston, Kevin learned the value of investing early and carried that discipline through Penn State University and into his professional life. He earned the CFA charter while beginning his career at Merrill Lynch Investment Management, eventually joining BNY Mellon's Equity Advisory Group, a team dedicated to helping wealth clients navigate complex equity markets and fast-moving innovation cycles. In this episode, Kevin joins Steve Curley and co-host Dan Fasciano to break down the state of AI, technology leadership, and the increasing concentration within U.S. equity markets. He explains why today's mega-cap technology firms continue to dominate—highlighting advantages in data scale, free-cash-flow margins, and unparalleled AI investment. The discussion explores whether we are in an "AI bubble," how current valuations compare to the late-1990s dot-com era, and the unprecedented capital-expenditure supercycle underway as companies race to build data-center infrastructure. Kevin also offers a global lens—comparing U.S. and Chinese capabilities, semiconductor constraints, and the geopolitical factors shaping the AI race. The conversation then pivots to how AI is transforming the investment-research process itself. Kevin walks through the tools BNY Mellon and industry analysts increasingly rely on—from ChatGPT and internal models like "Eliza" to AlphaSense, Sentieo, and Claude—and how these systems enable teams to process far more information than ever before. He also discusses how AI-driven productivity may help address demographic and inflation challenges over the long run. The episode closes with a memorable perspective on work ethic, drawing parallels between success in investing and Kobe Bryant's "Mamba mentality," emphasizing that excellence is built on consistent, behind-the-scenes effort. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Dan Fasciano, CFA (Principal at GW&K Investment Management) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com

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• Perth Tolle, Life & Liberty Indexes: Perth Tolle's EM Freedom Factor

  In this episode of the Investors First Podcast, we sit down with Perth Tolle, founder of the Freedom 100 Emerging Markets Index (FRDM), now over $1.6B in assets. We explore her vision for how personal and economic freedom can shape global investment outcomes. Perth shares her journey from growing up in Beijing to moving to the U.S. at age nine, her early career as a Fidelity advisor, and how those experiences ultimately inspired her differentiated approach to emerging-markets investing. We discuss how she constructs and maintains the FRDM Index, the impact of excluding authoritarian regimes like China and Russia, the wide dispersion across EM index methodologies, and why her strategy has delivered top-tier long-term performance. Perth also walks us through fee decisions, her unique "team of one" operating model, her chance encounter with Rob Arnott and his future support of the Freedom 100 EM ETF, and what it's like partnering with Alpha Architect. This conversation offers a fresh perspective for advisors and investors seeking a freedom-focused approach to global markets. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com More info at: https://freedometfs.com

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• Marty Bicknell, Mariner – A Private Wealth Shipwright in Kansas

  Marty Bicknell is the CEO and founder of Mariner, a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm providing comprehensive financial solutions to individuals, families, and institutions. Under his leadership since founding the firm in 2006, Mariner has grown from a small startup into one of the largest registered investment advisory (RIA) firms in the United States, with over $500 billion in assets under advisement. With a strong emphasis on client-first service, innovation, and culture, Marty has cultivated a business model that prioritizes holistic financial planning, investment management, and long-term relationship-building. Mariner has been ranked as a top 5 RIA by Barron's from 2016-2024. Beyond his role as CEO, Marty is an advocate for the financial advisory profession and frequently shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of wealth management. Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Chris Cannon (CIO/Principal, FirsTrust) Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com

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• Matt Orosz, Trinity Family Builders – Current State of Housing & Homebuilders

  Today's guest is Matt Orosz. Matt Orosz is Co-President of Trinity Family Builders, launched in March 2024 by the Orosz brothers in Central Florida. He oversees marketing, sales, land acquisition & operations. Before starting Trinity Family Builders, he co-founded Royal Oak Homes (2011) and Hanover Family Builders (2017), both high-growth companies that were sold—Royal Oak in 2014 and Hanover in 2022 (to Land & Sea Homes, a publicly traded entity). He holds a bachelor's degree from Villanova and an MBA from Rollins College. In today's episode, we discussed: · Matt's curiosity, passion for homebuilding, & background in the industrial side of CRE · Public vs. private homebuilders · First-time buyers, market shifts, price points, affordability & rate buydowns (a gimmick?) · Market forecast, build-to-rent trend & regulatory headwinds · How the brothers run their family office (their investment allocation) · Orosz family history, giving back & the success of Cristo Rey Orlando High School · Advice for young professionals [CEP + 3]   Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Jeff Goll, CFA(Managing Director & Head of Capital Markets at Hillpointe). Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com

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• Coaching, Creating Your Own Window & Capital Allocation: Chris Hyzy's Playbook

  Today's guest is Chris Hyzy. Chris is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer supporting Bank of America Private Bank and Merrill Lynch (within Bank of America Corporation). He leads investment strategy, asset allocation, equity and fixed income management, due diligence, and wealth planning guidance.   Previously, he was CIO and Chief Investment Strategist for the Private Bank at Bank of America. Before that, he held senior investment roles at Citigroup Private Bank, including CIO for Latin America and chair of the Global Investment Themes Committee. He also led investment strategy teams at Merrill earlier in his career.   Chris holds a bachelor's degree in business from Villanova University and an MBA in finance from NYU's Stern School of Business. He serves on Villanova's board of trustees and has held other advisory and nonprofit investment roles.   In today's episode, we discussed:   · Chris shared his early career story, which began at Merrill in 1991, learning about finance after being cut from the baseball team at Villanova & focusing instead on investing. · Discussion of Chris's experience coaching sports (football, basketball) and keeping his competitive edge outside of work, noting his national championship softball team. · Chris described the BofA Chief Investment Office (CIO) structure, highlighting manager due diligence, thought leadership, portfolio management, & wealth structuring. · Emphasis on encouraging team members to pursue the CFA designation (worth noting he was a CFA candidate before he pursued his MBA at NYU) · Discussed the balance of absolutes vs. probabilities in market forecasting, including the importance of scenario planning, with their current base case being a "soft patch" rather than an imminent recession, referencing the resilience of the consumer and job market. · Exploration of valuations, equity allocations, and continuing opportunities in global markets & alternative assets as a diversifier. · Chris spoke about the evolving office market in commercial real estate, seeing "slow burn" adjustments and repositioning as potential outcomes. · Final thoughts touched on best practices for young professionals: keys being curious, prepared, & disciplined. · Chris named Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as two historical figures he would want to interview if the tables were turned & he were the host of the Investors First Podcast.   Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA (Co-Managing Principal at 55 North Private Wealth) & co-host Steven Rogers, CFA (VP, Capital Markets at Hillpointe).   Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn or at investorsfirstpodcast.com

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