Futures Edge Show: Finance Unfiltered with Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino

What happens when rising oil prices, Middle East conflict, weakening jobs data, and America’s affordability crisis all collide at once?In this episode of Future’s Edge, Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino sit down with Jeffrey Tucker, president of the Brownstone Institute, for a wide-ranging and provocative conversation on the biggest forces shaping America right now. From Trump’s handling of Iran and the economic fallout of war, to recession fears, stagflation, tariffs, energy prices, and the slow collapse of the middle-class lifestyle, this episode pulls no punches.Jeffrey breaks down why he believes the Iran situation could be a major strategic mistake, how higher oil prices impact inflation and growth, why the latest jobs data is flashing warning signs, and whether America is drifting toward a new version of the 1970s. The conversation also digs into trade, debt, Fed policy, housing affordability, consumer habits, and the uncomfortable truth about why so many people feel poorer despite having more “stuff” than ever before.This is a deep, candid discussion about politics, markets, culture, and the real state of the American economy.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Bow Tie Anecdotes05:47 Iranian Situation: A Misstep by the Administration11:31 Economic Ramifications and Job Market Concerns16:40 Stagflation and Global Oil Dynamics27:39 The Inflation Debate: Oil Prices and Economic Impact30:11 Understanding Inflation: Real-Time Indexes and Economic Indicators32:00 Historical Economic Patterns: Lessons from the 1970s34:43 Geopolitical Dynamics: Trump, Iran, and China37:16 Midterm Elections: Implications for Trump's Agenda41:51 Reflections on Political Choices: Trump vs. Harris45:20 Consumer Behavior: Wants vs. Needs in Modern Society52:02 Frugality and Spending Habits: Lessons from the PastFollow along on social media: Twitter: https://x.com/bob_iaccinoTwitter: https://x.com/jimiuorioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-iaccino/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-iuorio/Newsletter: http://theunfilteredinvestor.com/This episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U

Jeffrey Carter, former Chicago Mercantile Exchange trader turned Nevada State Treasurer candidate, brings decades of market experience to public finance. He discusses missed debt-reduction chances, professionalizing the treasury, modernizing systems for transparency, 529 plan risks, and how Nevada manages large public portfolios amid rising interest rates and new technologies like crypto and AI.

A wide-ranging look at crude oil moves tied to geopolitical tension and key technical levels. Gold, silver and copper reactions and critical price lines get focused attention. Bitcoin’s bounce is dissected without claiming a breakout. Major stocks like Nvidia, Tesla, Oracle and GM are analyzed through technical setups and risk management in a choppy market.

What if the best investing edge isn’t a chart pattern… but a business model?Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino sit down with John Tinsman (Founder, AOT Invest) to break down why “low marginal cost” companies have dominated for decades—and how his ETF AOTG is built to target them.In this episode, John explains the core thesis behind AOTG: prioritize high-growth, profitable businesses where the cost of serving the next customer is near-zero—then rebalance to keep growth high while lowering valuation metrics. We also dig into drawdowns, bear-market questions, why Apple isn’t always “growth,” and how passive market-cap indexing can distort allocations at exactly the wrong times.What you’ll learn:- Why “low marginal cost” is the hidden driver behind mega-winners (Visa, Microsoft-style economics)- Why John focuses on profitable growth (and avoids speculative “story stocks”)- How AOTG thinks about valuation (why Palantir got cut, why cheaper faster growers can win)- What happens in a sharp tech selloff and how AOTG handles slowdowns / profitability changes- Why John believes today’s Nasdaq is not the Nasdaq of 2000- Rebalance cadence, portfolio turnover, and what can hurt this strategyTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome + why Jim is laser-focused on portfolio construction now02:05 – From investing in high school → building AOTG05:02 – “Low marginal cost”: what it is (and why Ford ≠ Visa)07:32 – Tech disruption risk + why moats form anyway09:44 – Why John avoids small/mid caps + stock-based comp dilution13:26 – Drawdowns, volatility, and why fundamentals matter17:27 – AOTG vs QQQ/SPY performance discussion20:38 – “You haven’t been through a bear market…”—John’s response30:38 – Valuation filter: why Palantir got removed35:11 – 2000–2003 Nasdaq comparison (then vs now)37:52 – How often AOTG rebalances + turnover43:29 – The hardest question: what crushes this strategy?48:40 – Bonus: best burger in the Chicago suburbs 🍔Tickers mentioned:AOTG, QQQ, SPY (plus company examples referenced: NVDA, V, HOOD, etc.)Follow along on social media: Twitter:    https://x.com/bob_iaccinoTwitter:   https://x.com/jimiuorioLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-iaccino/LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-iuorio/Newsletter:  http://theunfilteredinvestor.com/This episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U

Trade headlines hit… and suddenly gold spikes, stocks drop, and the guys start seeing signals that feel uncomfortably familiar. Jim Iuorio and Bobby Iaccino break down why the market may be reacting less to “tariffs” and more to trade uncertainty, what a surge in SOFR upside calls could be hinting at, and how they’re positioning across equities, precious metals, oil, and crypto.You’ll hear the duo’s unfiltered take on why technical analysis isn’t voodoo (it’s the “steering wheel” while news is the “gas pedal”), why “defensive” stocks may not be defensive anymore, and the exact crude oil chart setup they’re watching next. Plus: Jim’s blunt assessment of Bitcoin’s identity crisis and why it’s still trading like a high-beta Nasdaq proxy.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Sponsorships00:56 Technical Analysis and Market Movements04:04 Understanding Tariffs and Market Reactions06:48 Market Positioning and Economic Indicators09:51 Gold and Silver as Safe Havens13:01 Bitcoin's Correlation with the Nasdaq14:46 Political Commentary and Market Implications18:54 Equity Market Trends and Defensive Stocks21:36 Crude Oil Market Analysis24:55 Options Trading Strategies29:46 Boomer Portfolio Strategy34:48 The Importance of Discussion Topics36:16 Masculinity and Sports Culture38:01 Jeff Carter's Political AspirationsFollow along on social media: Twitter:    https://x.com/bob_iaccinoTwitter:   https://x.com/jimiuorioLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-iaccino/LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-iuorio/Newsletter:  http://theunfilteredinvestor.com/This episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U

Bitcoin is down hard… so is it a buyable asset class or just a trader’s toy?Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino welcome back Shana Orczyk Sissel (Founder & CEO, Banrion Capital)—aka the queen of alternatives—for a fast, wide-ranging conversation on crypto positioning, market breadth, why earnings feel “rigged” by whisper numbers, and whether crude oil is setting up for a real move.Shana breaks down how she thinks about Bitcoin as a high-risk alternative allocation, why ETFs may be the best on-ramp for most investors, and where crypto fits inside a broader portfolio. Then the conversation pivots into the bigger market picture: the AI trade broadening out, equal-weight vs. cap-weight as a “stock picking is back” signal, and why quarterly earnings have become a game of under-promise/over-deliver. Finally, Jim and Bob dig into crude oil—technical setup vs. fundamental reality—and touch on how headline-driven policy noise can skew sentiment.What you’ll learn in this episode- Where Bitcoin fits in a real portfolio (tradable vs investable framework)- Best way to own crypto for most people: ETF vs cold storage vs exchange accounts- A simple “top coins” idea: crypto index-style exposure (top basket discussion)- Why the AI rotation and market breadth can be a healthy sign- How equal-weight vs market-cap weight can hint that stock picking is working- Why Shana thinks earnings reactions are overrated (and why companies “game” guidance)- Crude oil: technical breakout talk vs fundamental supply/demand skepticism- Energy stocks + deepwater drilling: what actually needs to happen for that theme to workTimestamps:00:00 – Shana’s back + quick recap of her last “Corning” timing01:23 – Bitcoin: where it fits (alternative asset, high risk)04:23 – “How should people own it?” ETFs vs cold storage vs exchanges06:27 – Crypto baskets / index-style exposure discussion16:05 – AI broadening out + why breadth matters19:59 – “Do earnings even matter anymore?” whisper numbers + delayed reaction idea26:08 – Wall Street all-bullish sentiment: should that scare you?28:14 – Crude oil setup: technical case vs fundamental pushback33:00 – Tariffs + negotiation “anchoring” framework (how to think about the noise)37:44 – Deepwater drilling + RIG/Valaris reaction40:24 – Wrap + sponsorsFollow along on social media: Twitter:    https://x.com/bob_iaccinoTwitter:   https://x.com/jimiuorioLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-iaccino/LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-iuorio/Newsletter:  http://theunfilteredinvestor.com/This episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U

James Fishback, founder & CEO of Azoria Partners and 2026 Florida gubernatorial candidate, outlines an affordability-first agenda. He discusses eliminating property taxes on primary residences, curbing institutional home buying, opposing AI data centers over grid and land concerns, defending broad free speech, and pushing state divestment from certain foreign bonds.

AI isn’t coming for markets — it’s already here.In this episode of Futures Edge, Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino sit down with Nathan Powell, Founder & CEO of Deep Market Making, to explore how deep learning is quietly transforming bond markets, trading desks, and financial decision-making — far faster than most investors realize.Nathan shares his journey from Microsoft’s early deep-learning research to JP Morgan, where AI models beat traditional bond pricing systems and went live in production. From there, the conversation expands into bigger, more uncomfortable questions:- Will AI eliminate trading jobs — or redefine them?- Is the “edge” in markets shifting from execution to asking better questions?- Can AI optimize markets without causing dangerous alignment or crashes?- And what does this mean for younger generations choosing careers in a world where intelligence is automated?This episode goes well beyond investing. It’s about how humans coexist with exponentially improving machines, why finance may be the most under-AI’d industry of all, and why traders may need to think more like entrepreneurs going forward.Timestamps: Chapters00:00 Introduction and Housekeeping01:00 Nathan Powell's Background in AI and Finance03:59 The Role of AI in Trading and Market Predictions07:44 Human vs AI: The Future of Trading11:44 Deep Market Making: Applications and Future Plans14:24 AI's Pervasiveness and Its Impact on Employment17:16 Education and the Future Job Landscape20:54 Concerns About Technology and Its Effects on Society24:31 AI's Accuracy and Reliability in Financial Markets27:59 The Impact of AI on Various Sectors29:03 AI in Finance: A Game Changer29:52 Challenges in Quantitative Finance31:01 Measuring AI's ROI in Banking32:40 Optimizing Trading Strategies with AI37:00 Multi-Objective Optimization in Trading39:07 Addressing AI Fears and Misalignments42:08 The Future of AI and Financial Crashes44:07 Convergence of AI and Crypto

William Rhind, President and CEO of GraniteShares, explains the strange macro setup behind rising yields and a surging gold market. He discusses Japan’s bond shock, tariffs and geopolitical stress. Conversations touch on ETF design, AI-driven flows expanding into metals and infrastructure, and whether gold and Bitcoin are reshaping allocations amid sovereign demand and de-dollarization.

The market narrative you think you’re trading might be the one that breaks your portfolio.In this episode of Futures Edge, Jim Iuorio and Bob Iaccino sit down with Michael Green (Chief Strategist & Portfolio Manager, Simplify Asset Management) for a wide-ranging conversation that connects the dots between Bitcoin’s structural problem, the controversy around the U.S. poverty line, gold/silver narrative trades, and the growing risk that passive investing distorts markets in ways traders aren’t prepared for.Michael explains why “divisible” isn’t the same as “elastic” (and why that matters for Bitcoin long-term), why the official poverty line may be radically outdated, and how modern markets can fail when liquidity disappears exactly when you need it. Plus: what he’s watching for 2026—from tariffs and fiscal dynamics to Taiwan/semiconductors and the geopolitics reshaping global capital flows.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro + sponsors01:03 Michael in Annapolis + Naval Academy story03:01 Bitcoin debate: divisible vs elastic money09:18 “Just in case we’re wrong?” BTC vs ETH/SOL11:53 The poverty line controversy: what people missed18:05 Absolute vs relative poverty (and why it matters)28:43 2026 outlook: tariffs, deficits, and volatility33:51 Silver & gold: narrative trades and momentum dynamics35:15 The Fed: rules vs discretion + unintended consequences39:51 2008: “cash became non-cash” and the liquidity spiral43:26 Passive investing: why the distortion matters48:15 China/Taiwan risk + semiconductors53:46 Gold as reserves diversification + de-dollarization incentives58:40 What Simplify does + how their ETF strategies workFollow along on social media: Twitter:    https://x.com/bob_iaccinoTwitter:   https://x.com/jimiuorioLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-iaccino/LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-iuorio/Newsletter:  http://theunfilteredinvestor.com/This episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U