The Truth About Risk Parity: Alex Shahidi on Building a Real Balanced Portfolio

Markets sit near record highs even as economic signals send mixed messages, and many portfolios are more concentrated today than ever. In this Lead-Lag Deep Dive, Melanie Schaeffer sits down with Alex Shahidi, CO-CIO at Evoke Advisors, to break down what risk parity really is and why traditional frameworks like 60 40 may leave investors exposed.Shahidi explains how growth and inflation cycles historically drive long term returns, why diversification is often misunderstood, and how a true balanced allocation uses equities, commodities, gold, treasuries, and inflation linked bonds to weather very different market regimes. He also discusses the philosophy behind the RPAR Risk Parity ETF and why more advisors are reconsidering how they approach portfolio construction.In this episode:Why most portfolios are less diversified than investors thinkHow growth and inflation surprises drive major market cyclesThe role of commodities, gold, and inflation linked bonds in a balanced allocationWhy equal risk contribution matters more than traditional 60 40 mixesHow advisors can use risk parity to build more resilient portfoliosLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.#LeadLagLive #Investing #PortfolioStrategy #GlobalMarkets #RiskManagement #MacroTrends #AssetAllocation #Finance #MarketOutlook #ETFStrategiesStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Stephen Sikes, Chief Operating Officer at Public, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming retail investing, brokerage platforms, and portfolio construction.From AI-powered research to custom-built indexes and the rise of agentic brokerage, Sikes explains how new tools are giving individual investors access to capabilities once reserved for institutions and what risks and responsibilities come with that shift.In this episode:– How AI research tools are changing how retail investors analyze stocks– What it means to build custom indexes using natural language– The rise of agentic brokerage and automated portfolio management– Where AI can help investors and where human judgment still matters– Why the next generation of brokerages may look nothing like the lastLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Mike Barrasso, Co-Founder and CEO of WealthReach, to uncover one of the biggest blind spots in advisor growth: knowing who is researching you before they ever reach out.From intent data and website visitor identification to compliant AI-driven outreach, Barrasso explains how advisors can stop wasting marketing spend and start engaging prospects at the exact moment they are actively looking for help.In this episode:– Why over 90 percent of advisor website traffic disappears without a trace– How intent data reveals who is actively researching wealth management topics– The difference between cold prospecting and warm, high-probability outreach– How AI can personalize compliant emails at scale for advisors– Why better data changes how advisors grow in a competitive marketLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.#LeadLagLive #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvisors #AI #MarketingStrategy #FinTech #DigitalMarketing #MarketsStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

Emerging markets are changing fast. Old economy sectors like banks and energy no longer define the space. Instead, growth is being driven by internet platforms, tech enabled consumer companies, and new economy business models reshaping how investors approach EM exposure. In this Lead-Lag Deep Dive, Melanie Schaffer sits down with Brendan Ahern, Chief Investment Officer at KraneShares, to break down how this transformation is unfolding and what investors need to understand about both broad EM strategies and single stock levered ETFs.Ahern explains the mechanics of daily leveraged ETFs, why fundamentals for companies like Alibaba, Mercado Libre, Pinduoduo, JD and others may be misunderstood, and how concentrated growth exposure differs from traditional EM allocations. He also discusses how investors should think about volatility, sizing, and the macro factors that create both opportunity and risk across emerging markets.In this episode:- How single stock levered ETFs actually work and why daily resets matter- Why EM fundamentals are shifting toward internet platforms and tech enabled services- The temptation and the risk in overweighting individual EM growth names- How KWEB and KEMQ isolate growth that broad EM indices miss- How to size and risk adjust aggressive EM exposures inside a diversified portfolioLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.#LeadLagLive #EmergingMarkets #Stocks #Investing #TechGrowth #ETFStrategies #MarketOutlook #Finance #MacroTrendsStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

Short term yields have shifted, liquidity matters more than ever, and investors are rethinking how to manage cash efficiently. In this Lead-Lag Deep Dive, Melanie Schaeffer sits down with Aram Babikian to break down the purpose of TRSY, why its structure is different from traditional cash vehicles, and how investors are using it in today’s rate environment.They explore why liquidity, cost, and transparency are shaping cash decisions, how TRSY compares to CDs, money markets, and ultra short bond funds, and what its treasury-only structure means for both risk and potential tax advantages. Babikian also explains how the short duration profile, competitive expense ratio, and intraday tradability create flexibility for investors who need cash options without sacrificing yield.In this episode:• Why TRSY offers a different approach to short term cash management• How intraday liquidity can help investors react to market volatility• How expense ratios impact yield preservation in a higher rate world• Key differences between TRSY, CDs, money markets, and ultra short bond funds• The potential tax benefits tied to treasury backed incomeLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Matt Simpson, CEO of Brazil Potash (NYSE: GRO), to break down how the Autazes project could transform fertilizer security for Brazil and shift the balance of power in global agriculture.From navigating permits and construction milestones to securing long-term offtake agreements for more than 90 percent of expected production, Simpson explains how domestic potash supply could reduce Brazil’s reliance on imports and strengthen global food stability at a time when commodity markets remain volatile.In this episode:– Why fertilizer supply is tightening as global agriculture demand accelerates– How domestic Brazilian potash could reduce geopolitical and logistics risk– What the Autazes project means for future pricing, imports, and food security– How infrastructure partnerships are cutting project Capex and speeding timelines– Why growth in fertilizer demand could reshape commodities in 2025–2027Lead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

In this special Lead-Lag Live webinar sponsored by GraniteShares, Michael Gayed brings together some of the biggest YouTube creators in the income-investing space for a fresh, free-flowing conversation on weekly dividends, options-based income ETFs, yield strategies, and the rise of “living free from your brokerage account.”Featuring leaders from across the ETF and income-investing world, this session dives into:Why weekly dividend ETFs have exploded in popularityThe psychology behind income now vs long-term growthHow YieldBoost works — and how it differs from traditional covered callsMyths and misunderstandings about options-based incomeHow creators and investors actually use weekly distributionsGlobal demand for passive-income toolsHow income ETFs behave in a rate-cutting cycleNew launches from GraniteShares, including semiconductors & gold minersIf you’re looking to build income, understand the mechanics of modern ETF strategies, or learn from creators who have built massive communities in this space — this conversation is packed with practical insight.#GraniteShares #YieldBoost #Dividends #ETFs #InvestingStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V  Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Support the show

Join Michael Gayed, Melanie Schaffer, and the OptionsANIMAL team for a conversation about options trading, risk management, and the famous “George Costanza Trade.”In this webinar, they chat about:What the “Costanza approach” really means in tradingHow professional traders manage risk and avoid emotional decisionsHigh-probability setups explained in simple termsOptions strategies that work in volatile marketsActionable tips you can start applying immediatelyWhether you're looking for CE credits, want to improve your trading discipline, or simply want to learn new frameworks from top options educators, this conversation is packed with value.Lead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise#OptionsTrading #OptionsAnimal #LeadLagLive #Investing #FinanceStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

International markets are leading and according to DWS’s Aram Babikian, we’re still in the early innings. In part 1 of this Lead-Lag Deep Dive Series, Melanie Schaeffer sits down with Aram to explore why Europe and Japan are gaining momentum, what’s structurally different this time, and how two key XTrackers ETFs, HDEF and DBEF, are positioned for 2025–2026.They break down:- Why Europe, especially Germany, is entering a new era of investment- Japan’s wage growth, inflation stabilization & corporate reforms- How DBEF helps reduce currency-driven volatility- Why advisors are using a 50/50 split between HDEF & DBEF- The global policy shifts creating long-term opportunity- What investors should expect in 2025, 2026 and beyondStart your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show

In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, to break down what Nvidia’s blockbuster quarter means for mega-cap tech, why markets fade after earnings season, and the implications for dividend stocks, preferreds, and small caps as rate expectations shift.From valuation pressure in momentum names to tightening money supply and the path of Fed policy, Hatfield explains where he sees opportunity as volatility resets — and why income strategies may be entering their strongest stretch of the cycle.In this episode:– Why strong tech earnings often lead to short-term market weakness– How Bitcoin and leveraged crypto products spill over into tech volatility– Why dividend-heavy large caps offer resilience in rotation periods– How preferreds and corporate bonds can outperform into 2026– The setup for small-cap value once Fed cuts beginLead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V Support the show