Cents of Security by Interactive Brokers

AI spending is exploding, but are the returns keeping pace? Mary MacNamara sits down with James Yendrey of InvestMentorSM to explore hyperscaler CapEx, rising debt loads, shrinking free cash flow, GPU utilization concerns, and whether today's AI infrastructure boom resembles the telecom buildout of the 1990s or the setup for a costly correction.  

Most people never think about commodities until prices go up. But from the beef in your burrito bowl to the copper in your iPhone, the rubber in your sneakers, and the gas in your car, commodity markets influence nearly every purchase you make. In this episode, Mary MacNamara sits down with Ryan Gorman, Manager of Retail Education at CME Group, to uncover how futures markets, tariffs, freight costs, supply shocks, and global events quietly shape what you pay every day.  

Stocks are soaring, earnings are up 25%, and yet Americans keep saying the economy feels broken. Jose Torres explains why — a shrinking workforce, a Fed playing catch-up, and an AI-fueled market that's leaving regular paychecks behind.

The unemployment rate grabs headlines, but is it telling the whole story? James Yendrey of InvestMentorSM joins Drew Tunstall to explain why labor force participation may be one of the most important and overlooked indicators of economic health. From retiring Baby Boomers and Gen Z's delayed workforce entry to labor shortages and long-term growth, they unpack what the numbers really reveal about America's workforce.

Why do people take on student loans, buy homes, and invest decades before retirement? James Yendrey of InvestMentor breaks down consumption smoothing—the economic theory that explains how people spread resources across their lifetime—and explores how behavioral biases, debt, investing, and future expectations shape our financial decisions.  

Ryan Gorman from CME Group breaks down single stock futures, how they work, why they’re gaining traction, and the critical risks every trader needs to understand before diving in.

Despite growing fears around AI replacing workers, job growth remains surprisingly strong. Mary MacNamara and Jose Torres break down the latest data on hiring, inflation, and markets—and what it all means for investors navigating an AI-driven economy.

Why do losses feel twice as painful as gains feel good? In this episode, Mary MacNamara and James Yendrey unpack the psychology of loss aversion—and how it may drive panic selling and missed recoveries.

CME Group’s Retail Education Manager Ryan Gorman breaks down how he got into futures, the “aha” moment when trading finally clicked, and why futures can be a powerful tool for access, leverage, and risk management—not just speculation. They also tackle the biggest misconceptions (including physical delivery fears), how liquidity varies by contract/month, and the best first steps for curious traders, from simulators and education hubs to finding one market you genuinely want to learn.

Interactive Brokers Senior Economist Jose Torres joins the Cents of Security Podcast to break down the recent market rally, rising energy-driven inflation, and why strong labor data and fiscal stimulus may not be enough to fuel another big equity year. From CPI risks to sector winners and losers, Jose shares a sober take on what investors should watch next.