

Investing Unscripted
Jason Hall and Jeff Santoro
Welcome to Investing Unscripted, where we ask the hard questions about investing, the stock market, and personal finance.
We don't have THE answers, we only have OUR answers.
We don't have THE answers, we only have OUR answers.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 8, 2025 • 1h 6min
First Fridays 16: February 2025
Jason and Jeff answer questions live during their February First Fridays livestream. Join us live on YouTube at 4 pm on the first Friday of every month, except for when it’s on the second Friday.03:55 Investing Unscripted: Monthly Recap08:50 AI and Market Reactions22:50 AI in Everyday Life32:46 AI in Sales: Automation and Efficiency34:33 AI in Contract Review: Real-World Applications36:48 The Impact of Tariffs on the Market38:34 Investment Strategies During Uncertain Times44:07 Portfolio Contest Updates and Challenges54:31 Earnings Reports: Key InsightsCompanies mentioned: AMZN, CRM, NVDA, TTD*****************************************Subscribe to our portfolio onSavvy Trader *****************************************Email:investingunscripted@gmail.comTwitter: @InvestingPodCheck out ourYouTube channel for more content: ******************************************To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visithttps://finchat.io/unscripted******************************************Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show onSpotify,Apple Podcasts, orYouTube******************************************Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com* Visithttps://public.com/investingunscripted *All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The 6%+ yield is the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of 12/13/2024. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule). Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. SeeBond Account Disclosures to learn more.Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Alpha is experimental and may generate inaccurate responses. Output from Alpha should not be construed as investment research or recommendations, and should not serve as the basis for any investment decision. Public makes no warranties about its accuracy, completeness, quality, or timeliness of any Alpha out. Please independently evaluate and verify any such output for your own use case.*Terms and Conditions apply.*****************************************2025 Portfolio Contest2024 Portfolio Contest2023 Portfolio Contest

Feb 5, 2025 • 58min
140. This is What Risk Looks Like
In this episode, Jeff and Jason discuss the recent AI market shakeup with special guests Nick and Kasey Rossolillo of Chipstock Investor. The conversation revolves around the unexpected impact of DeepSeek's AI developments, which have caused significant shifts in AI-related stocks. The group explores why companies might spend heavily on high-end AI infrastructure, the potential long-term implications of commoditized AI, and the importance of maintaining a diversified investment portfolio.
Be sure to check out https://chipstockinvestor.com/
03:35 DeepSeek and AI Market Uncertainty
06:11 DeepSeek's Technological Impact
10:34 Big Tech's AI Investments
17:06 NVIDIA and Cloud Computing
27:17 The Evolution of Search Algorithms
28:14 Understanding Jevons Paradox in Technology
30:05 Real-World Examples of Technological Paradoxes
34:09 The Importance of Diversified Portfolios
42:08 The Future of AI and AGI
49:08 Long-Term Investment Strategies in AI
Companies mentioned: AMD, AMZN, CRM, EME, GOOG, INTC, ORCL, MSFT, NVDA, TSM
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader
Email: investingunscripted@gmail.com
Twitter: @InvestingPod
Check out our YouTube channel for more content
To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visit https://finchat.io/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com* Visit https://public.com/investingunscripted
*All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The 6%+ yield is the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of 12/13/2024. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule).
Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See Bond Account Disclosures to learn more.
Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Alpha is experimental and may generate inaccurate responses. Output from Alpha should not be construed as investment research or recommendations, and should not serve as the basis for any investment decision. Public makes no warranties about its accuracy, completeness, quality, or timeliness of any Alpha out. Please independently evaluate and verify any such output for your own use case.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
2025 Portfolio Contest
2024 Portfolio Contest
2023 Portfolio Contest

Jan 29, 2025 • 56min
139. Investing Myths and Learning the Wrong Lessons
In this episode, Jason and Jeff delve into common investing myths and the wrong lessons investors often learn. They explore topics like the misconception of 'house money,' the pitfalls of selling based on short reports, and why avoiding risky stocks entirely can be a mistake. They also discuss the dangers of averaging down without rationale and emphasize the importance of understanding the business behind the stock.
02:45 Listener Mailbag: Gorsk's Question
05:02 Investing Myth: Playing with House Money
11:29 Investing Myth: Reacting to Short Reports
18:42 Investing Myth: Avoiding Risky Stocks
30:45 Learning the Right Lessons from Market Downturns
32:40 Biotech and Medical Device Investment Lessons
38:02 Evaluating Past Investment Decisions
52:04 The Myth of 'It Can't Get Any Worse'
55:31 Concluding Thoughts
Companies mentioned: AAPL, AMZN, NFLX, NVDA, TWLO
****************************************
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader
*****************************************
Email: investingunscripted@gmail.com
Twitter: @InvestingPod
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
*************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visit https://finchat.io/unscripted
*************************
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
*************************
Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com* Visit https://public.com/investingunscripted
*All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The 6%+ yield is the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of 12/13/2024. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule).
Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See Bond Account Disclosures to learn more.
Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Alpha is experimental and may generate inaccurate responses. Output from Alpha should not be construed as investment research or recommendations, and should not serve as the basis for any investment decision. Public makes no warranties about its accuracy, completeness, quality, or timeliness of any Alpha out. Please independently evaluate and verify any such output for your own use case.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
***************************
2025 Portfolio Contest
2024 Portfolio Contest
2023 Portfolio Contest

Jan 22, 2025 • 54min
138. January 2025 Mailbag
Dive into listener insights on preferred shares versus common stock, exploring their respective risks and rewards. Tune in for strategies around portfolio rebalancing and the importance of diversification amidst market volatility. Intrigued by REIT metrics? Learn about distribution payout ratios and funds from operations. Discover the solar energy market with a focus on prominent companies like SolarEdge and Enphase. Finally, grasp the unique mindset needed for options trading and how it differs from traditional investment strategies.

Jan 15, 2025 • 1h 6min
137. Back to Basics
Jason and Jeff discuss the importance of revisiting the fundamentals of investing as we enter the new year. They highlight why it's crucial to know your financial goals, understand what you own, and make informed decisions about buying and selling stocks.
01:34 Back to Basics: Investing Fundamentals
02:06 Listener Engagement and Feedback
04:38 The Importance of Financial Goals
08:05 Understanding Your Investments
18:19 Goals vs. Incentives in Investing
37:14 Personal Investing Journey and Mistakes
40:43 Market Trends and Stock Performance
44:06 Basics of Buying and Selling Stocks
47:45 Challenges and Decisions in Stock Investing
52:50 The Art of Selling Stocks
Companies mentioned: AAPL, BOC, CRWD, MELI, NVDA, ZS
*********************************
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader at: https://savvytrader.com/investingunscripted/investing-unscripted-portfolio?s=MjM0NDM6NTQ1OA==
********************************
Email: investingunscripted@gmail.com
Twitter: @InvestingPod
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@InvestingUnscripted
*******************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visit https://finchat.io/unscripted
*******************************
Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com* Visit https://public.com/investingunscripted
*All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The 6%+ yield is the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of 12/13/2024. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule).
Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See Bond Account Disclosures (https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account) to learn more.
Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Alpha is experimental and may generate inaccurate responses. Output from Alpha should not be construed as investment research or recommendations, and should not serve as the basis for any investment decision. Public makes no warranties about its accuracy, completeness, quality, or timeliness of any Alpha out. Please independently evaluate and verify any such output for your own use case.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
*********************************
Find the 2025 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/2025IUcontest
Find the 2024 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/2024contest
Find the 2023 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio2023

Jan 8, 2025 • 1h 8min
136. Options Investing with Jeff Fischer
In this episode, Jason and Jeff are joined by investing expert Jeff Fisher. They dive into the world of options trading, discussing beginner strategies such as covered calls and selling puts, as well as more advanced techniques like synthetic longs. The conversation covers the importance of starting with a solid equity foundation, managing risk, and the nuances of using options in various account types.
03:23 Jeff Fisher's Investing Journey
06:15 Understanding Options: A Beginner's Guide
10:48 Options Strategies: Calls and Puts
17:52 Practical Tips for Trading Options
34:39 Understanding the Value of Options
36:44 Advanced Options Strategies
42:20 Choosing the Right Stocks for Options
47:15 Managing Risk and Volatility
01:00:50 Jeff Fisher's Future Plans
Companies mentioned: ABNB, NVDA, GOOG
*****************************************
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader at: https://savvytrader.com/investingunscripted/investing-unscripted-portfolio?s=MjM0NDM6NTQ1OA==
*****************************************
Email: investingunscripted@gmail.com
Twitter: @InvestingPod
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@InvestingUnscripted
******************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visit https://finchat.io/unscripted
******************************************
Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com* Visit https://public.com/investingunscripted
*All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. The 6%+ yield is the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across all ten bonds in the Bond Account, before fees, as of 12/13/2024. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule).
Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See Bond Account Disclosures (https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account) to learn more.
Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Alpha is experimental and may generate inaccurate responses. Output from Alpha should not be construed as investment research or recommendations, and should not serve as the basis for any investment decision. Public makes no warranties about its accuracy, completeness, quality, or timeliness of any Alpha out. Please independently evaluate and verify any such output for your own use case.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
*****************************************
Find the 2025 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/2025IUcontest

Jan 4, 2025 • 1h 6min
First Fridays 15: January 2025
It’s our first First Fridays livestream of 2025. Join us live on YouTube on the first Friday of every month, except when it’s the second Friday. Or maybe the third Friday?
01:12 Live Stream Kickoff and Introductions
02:21 2024 Portfolio Contest Overview
08:07 2024 Contest Winners Announcement
14:23 Reflections on 2024 and Lessons Learned
25:35 Tesla's Delivery Numbers and Market Insights
38:47 Undervalued Stocks for 2025
39:19 Brookfield Infrastructure: A Long-Term Winner
41:07 Investing in Mercado Libre and PayPal
42:36 Adding to Adobe and Moderna Positions
50:05 Kinsale Capital and Insurance Market Insights
51:01 Chart Industries: A Sneaky Investment Opportunity
56:49 Homebuilders and REITs: Undervalued Sectors
01:00:31 AMD's Prospects in the AI Market
Companies mentioned: ADBE, KNSL, GTLS, MRNA, NVDA, PLTR, STLA, TSLA, TSM
*****************************************
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader at: https://savvytrader.com/investingunscripted/investing-unscripted-portfolio?s=MjM0NDM6NTQ1OA==
*****************************************
Email: investingunscripted@gmail.com
Twitter: @InvestingPod
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@InvestingUnscripted
******************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at finchat.io, visit https://finchat.io/investingunscripted
******************************************
Investing Unscripted is brought to you by Public.com*
*A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule (https://public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule). Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more.
*****************************************
Find the 2025 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/2025IUcontest
Find the 2024 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/2024contest
Find the 2023 Portfolio Contest here:
https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio2023

6 snips
Jan 1, 2025 • 53min
135. 2025 and Beyond
The hosts reflect on the past year's investment journeys and evolving strategies, emphasizing a move towards more conservative investments. They dive into tax loss harvesting tactics and the emotional nuances of selling underperforming stocks. Long-term financial goals and the balance between growth and dividend stocks take center stage as they outline actionable steps for 2025. The discussion also highlights the importance of pensions and the benefits of consulting with financial advisors for better retirement planning.

Dec 28, 2024 • 1h 10min
Replay: 84. Reckless Predictions for 2024
Join financial experts Simon Erickson, founder of 7Investing, and Ryan Henderson & Brett Schafer, co-hosts of Chit Chat Money, for a lively discussion on reckless predictions for 2024. They reflect humorously on past forecasts and dive into bold insights about tech stocks, the EV market rivalry between Tesla and Ford, and the potential seismic shifts in the housing market. The trio also tackles intriguing economic forecasts, exploring the impact of rising interest rates and geopolitical tensions. It's a fun blend of laughs and investment wisdom!

Dec 25, 2024 • 1h 6min
134. John Rotonti’s Search for Quality and Value
In this discussion, John Rotonti, a seasoned investor with a rich background from The Motley Fool, shares his fresh insights as he embarks on a new role at Islamorada Investment Management. He delves into his value investing philosophy and the focus of his new fund on industrials, infrastructure, and housing. John emphasizes the significance of free cash flow and historical context in investment decisions. Plus, he throws in some bold predictions for 2025—definitely a must-listen for aspiring investors!


