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Podcast · 141 episodes

Insightful Investor

by Alex Shahidi · English

The Insightful Investor is a weekly podcast hosted by Alex Shahidi, Co-CIO of one of the nation’s leading RIAs. In a conversational, “fireside chat” format, Alex interacts with some of the world’s premier investors and business icons to share market insights rarely found elsewhere. While many investors echo common sentiments, our “insights” include concepts that we believe are counterintuitive, widely misunderstood, or underappreciated. With over two decades of experience managing billions of dollars in client assets, Alex offers unique access to some of the industry’s top thinkers. He has authored two investment books and contributed to leading journals, and he consistently ranks among the elite financial advisors by Forbes and Barron’s. As an independent and innovative voice, Alex offers a fresh take on investing. We invite you to tune in and would love to hear your feedback. https://insightfulinvestor.org/

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#142 - Todd Ahlsten: AI, Moats, and QualityTodd Ahlsten, CIO of Parnassus Investments, discusses the firm’s “principles and performance” approach to investing: durable competitive advantages (“moats”), why industry structure matters most, how…29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 26 chapters
#141 - Peter Mintzberg: The Case for Digital AssetsPeter Mintzberg (CEO, Grayscale Investments) argues digital assets are the next growth wave in asset/wealth management, driven by institutional access via ETFs/ETPs, a 180-degree regulatory shift,…22 Sep 2026 · 30 min · 18 chapters
#140 - Peter Kraus: Incentives vs AlphaIncentives and agency risk in asset management; how to distinguish luck from skill amid noise and survivor bias; why scale and fee structures can erode “dollar alpha”; when active management is worth…15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 20 chapters
#139 - Bob Steers: Four Decades of Real Assets InvestingBob Steers, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Cohen and Steers, discusses four decades of listed real assets investing: how the firm built the REIT mutual fund market, why “wave of change”…8 Sep 2026 · 53 min · 23 chapters
#138 - David Booth: Evidence Over NoiseEvidence-based investing under uncertainty—why markets are hard to beat, why investors should “tune out the noise,” and how to judge decision quality (process) rather than outcomes (luck).1 Sep 2026 · 58 min · 25 chapters
#137 - Ken Kencel: Private Credit Beyond the HeadlinesThe evolution of private credit beyond headlines, focusing on why the “core middle market” can deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns, how market structure and relationships shape deal access, and…25 Aug 2026 · 1 h 15 min · 24 chapters
#136 - Cathie Wood: Not Another 1999Cathie Wood (ARK Investment Management) explains why ARK was founded after the tech/telecom bust and 2008-09, how it invests in “innovation platforms” using Wright’s Law and active research, and why…18 Aug 2026 · 49 min · 22 chapters
#135 - Luke Sarsfield: Finding Alpha in Private MarketsLuke Sarsfield, CEO/chairman of Rich Post Capital, discusses how to find “alpha” in private markets—especially the middle and lower middle market—using proprietary, long-horizon data, disciplined…11 Aug 2026 · 53 min · 21 chapters
#134 - Steve Ketchum: No Called Strikes in Private CreditSteve Ketchum (SoundPoint Capital Management) explains how he thinks about credit cycles and private credit, emphasizing downside protection, “no called strikes,” and disciplined underwriting to…4 Aug 2026 · 54 min · 17 chapters
#133 - Jan van Eck: Macro Forces Shape MarketsMacro forces shaping markets; how to use multi-decade history for portfolio construction; key macro “patterns” (demographics, fiscal policy, monetary policy, technology, country deregulation); limits…28 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 20 chapters
#132 - Steven Klinsky: Private Markets as Operational EdgeSteven Klinsky (New Mountain Capital) argues that private markets outperform public markets when returns come from operational control and business building, not “risk creates return.” He explains…21 Jul 2026 · 37 min · 15 chapters
#131 - Jason Schwarz: Scaling Institutional Private MarketsJason Schwarz (Bullshare/Wilshire) discusses scaling institutional private markets and “institutional quality” investing beyond traditional pensions—especially into wealth management and defined…14 Jul 2026 · 46 min · 24 chapters
#130 - Bihua Chen: Inside Biotech InvestingBiotech investing through the lens of science, risk, and capital allocation, spanning public vs. private markets, how to judge drug hypotheses, and where breakthroughs may come next.7 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 19 chapters
#129 - Cathy Marcus: Real Estate ResetReal estate “reset” after the mid-2022 repricing; how higher-for-longer rates change underwriting; sector-by-sector evolution; and how data, leadership, and crisis experience affect risk decisions.30 Jun 2026 · 54 min · 19 chapters
#128 - Sarah Ketterer: Temporary Setbacks, Durable BusinessesSarah Ketterer, CEO/Portfolio Manager at Causeway Capital Management (co-founded 2001; ~$70B AUM), discusses global value investing, “active value” for under-earning companies, leadership/culture at…23 Jun 2026 · 57 min · 25 chapters
#127 - Brian D'Arcy: Institutional Sports InvestingSixth Street’s thematic, flexible investing approach and how it applies to sports, media, and live entertainment as institutional opportunities.16 Jun 2026 · 55 min · 22 chapters
#126 - Greg Bond: Alpha at Scale, AI for CollaborationGreg Bond, CIO at Man Group, discusses “alpha at scale” as Man Group’s core identity; how the firm evolved from AHL (trend) and GLG (discretionary) plus Numeric (quant earnings-revision anomaly) into…9 Jun 2026 · 56 min · 22 chapters
#125 - Paul Desmarais III: Right to Win, Built to LastPaul Desmarais III explains how Cigard builds long-term, “right to win” advantages in niche, hard-to-access investment areas, why process and collaboration protect returns, and how AI and regulation…2 Jun 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 30 chapters
#124 - Robert Smith: Enterprise Software, AI, Agentic ExecutionRobert Smith (Vista Equity Partners) explains how engineering thinking shapes investing and leadership, and how enterprise software is evolving with AI/agentic execution.26 May 2026 · 42 min · 18 chapters
#123 - Chris Davis: Stewardship, Patience, Value InvestingChris Davis discusses stewardship and patience in value investing, separating price from value, using “pre-mortems,” and adapting to changing industries while holding unchanging principles.19 May 2026 · 1 h 14 min · 24 chapters
#122 - Doug Merritt: Cybersecurity Risk in the AI EraCybersecurity risk and leadership in the AI era, with a shift from “assume breach and detect/respond” toward containment-focused defenses in cloud environments.12 May 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 23 chapters
#121 - Matt McLennan: Resilient Wealth Creation, Patience, GoldMatt McLennan (First Eagle Investments) explains “resilient wealth creation” built on intrinsic business value, deep patience, and avoiding permanent capital impairment.5 May 2026 · 59 min · 20 chapters
#120 - Michael Nierenberg: Rithm’s Evolution Beyond a REITMichael Nierenberg (Rhythm Capital) explains Rhythm’s evolution from mortgage-focused New Residential into a diversified alternative asset manager, arguing that performance and “real assets” should…28 Apr 2026 · 42 min · 23 chapters
#119 - David Eichhorn: Client‑Focused Solutions at ScaleLiability-driven investing (LDI) and risk-controlled fixed income at Nyssa Investment Advisors, including how client conversations changed from near-zero rates to 2022, and how Nyssa defines risk,…21 Apr 2026 · 50 min · 25 chapters