
Trends with Benefits
Trends with Benefits is a podcast that offers an insider's perspective on finance, tech, and investing. Hosted by Ed Lopez, VanEck's Head of Product Management, it explores current trends and insights in these fields. The show aims to provide listeners with valuable knowledge and analysis to help them navigate the investment landscape.
Episodes

Steph Pomboy: AI Debt Binge, Credit Cracks, & Gold
Explore the case for hard assets over paper, the pension system's growing private credit exposure, and why deglobalization may reshape financial markets for a generation, with Macro Mavens founder Steph Pomboy. 00:00 Introduction 03:04 AI, leverage, and the dot-com parallel 05:54 The competition for capital in 2026 08:48 The $15 trillion capital problem nobody is talking about 09:51 The triple B d
Mark Zandi: Stock Wealth Fuels Growth, But at What Risk?
Explore the growing divide between top and bottom earners, the wealth effect driving consumer spending, inflation's staying power, and what AI may mean for jobs and the economy, with Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi. 00:00 Introduction 02:01 Divergence Between Economy and Markets 12:03 Consumer Spending Dynamics 18:04 Wealth Effect and Its Implications 23:56 Equity Valuations and Marke
Ed Lopez Recaps Wealth Management EDGE
From the Wealth Management Edge conference floor: VanEck's Head of Product Management Ed Lopez explores what advisors are asking about, from AI and AEO to private markets, real assets, and the three macro themes shaping portfolios. 00:00 Conference Overview and Key Themes 02:04 EDGE Conference evolution 05:28 Christian Munafo's session on private markets 07:20 AEO: Making your business searchable
A CIO's Take on Geopolitics, the Dollar, and the Case for Going Global
Explore why the S&P may be mispricing geopolitical risk, the case for India, the dollar's decline, and gold as a trade (not a strategy), with Mercer Advisors CIO Don Calcagni. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:57 Changes in Asset Allocation and Private Markets 04:01 US and International Equity Diversification 07:11 Market Concentration and Diversification Benefits 11:14 Geopolitical Risks
Space, AI, and Private Equity Trends
AI is creating 'zombie companies' and the next wave of winners may never go public. VanEck's Head of Private Growth Strategies Christian Munafo reveals how to find them, why IPOs are still stalled, and what the SpaceX listing could unlock.

20 Years of GDX: How VanEck Changed the ETF Industry
Explore the origin story of VanEck's first ETF, the bullish case for gold, and where the ETF industry may be headed next, with VanEck CEO Jan van Eck and COO Adam Phillips.
This Mining CEO Is Not a Gold Bug. But He Is Bullish.
Explore the dynamics of the gold market, supply constraints, technological innovations, gold as a currency, and technology in mining efficiency, with Agnico Eagle Mines CEO Ammar Al-Joundi. 00:00 Introduction 03:30 Drivers of Gold Prices 14:38 Challenges to Gold's Bullish Outlook 17:24 Supply Constraints in Gold Mining 21:33 Advantages of Operating in Developed Markets 25:56 Investor Perspectives
The Tax Changes Nobody Is Talking About
Explore the biggest tax planning changes of 2026, the One Big Beautiful Act, Roth conversion pitfalls, and how AI is reshaping wealth management, with Wealth.com Senior Tax Strategist Shane Ball. 00:00 Introduction 08:28 The Role of Technology in Tax Planning 17:08 Common Tax Mistakes and Best Practices 17:56 Navigating State and Federal Tax Provisions 18:28 Understanding Roth Conversions 25:09 In
How AI is Shaping Next-Gen Manufacturing
Explore how AI is transforming industrial automation, machine learning, autonomous manufacturing, and the key workforce skills required, with Rockwell Automation VP Jordan Reynolds. 00:00 Introduction 02:18 Rockwell Automation's Role in Industrial AI 06:03 Adaptable Learning: The Next Inflection Point of Automation 16:39 The Rise of Learning and Adaptation in Automation 29:49 Jobs and Skills in th
EM Debt Strengthens Amid U.S. Fiscal Uncertainty
Explore U.S. fiscal uncertainty, tariff shifts, Fed changes, and why stronger emerging market fundamentals may offer diversification despite tighter spreads.
The Human Role in Modern Financial Advice
Explore how fintech and AI expand access to personalized financial guidance, regardless of wealth level, and why human connection is vital in the age of AI with Connective CEO Ian Rosen. 00:00 Introduction 02:49 The Gaps in Financial Education and Advisory Services 09:08 Building Trust in Financial Services 13:03 Addressing Financial Anxiety and Health 14:37 The Journey to Founding Connective 23
Bitcoin's Next Move: Volatility, Cycles & Signals
Explore Bitcoin's recent price drawdown, the four-year halving cycle, leverage unwinds, market structure shifts, and why long-term Bitcoin adoption continues to advance despite near-term volatility.
Dave Nadig's ETF Reality Check for 2026
Explore today's ETF landscape, including retail usage, AI in portfolios, market outlook, regulations, and the rise of active ETFs with President and Director of Research at ETF.com, Dave Nadig. 00:00 Introduction 02:27 ETF Awards and Innovations 04:41 State of the ETF Landscape 12:01 Regulatory Changes and ETF Launches 17:59 Active ETFs and Market Trends 32:04 Navigating the Challenges of Private
Why We Panic, Hesitate, and Chase Markets
Learn about the importance of behavioral finance in understanding investor emotions, decision-making, and common behavioral mistakes investors make with Chief Behavioral Officer, at RFG Advisory, Brendan Frazier. 00:00 Introduction 03:29 Journey into Behavioral Finance 12:21 Behavioral Mistakes Investors Make 14:17 The Impact of Past Experiences on Financial Behavior 22:43 The Rivalry Between Curr
How Couples Can Become a Financial Team
Hear how understanding individual money stories and shared contributions helps couples build a healthier relationship with each other through money, with Money Together authors Douglas and Heather Boneparth. 00:00 Introduction 02:06 The Book Launch and Reception 10:59 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Financial Views 21:05 Navigating Difficult Conversations About Money 31:39 The Importance of
Harnessing Social Media for Smarter Investing
Learn how online investing is redefining transparency, trust, and community for the next generation of retail investors from Blossom CEO Max Nicholson. 00:00 Introduction 02:22 What Is Blossom? 07:14 Privacy vs. Transparency 09:20 Blossom Origin Story 19:59 Where Blossom Fits in the Investor Lifecycle 22:05 Can Tech Help Advisors Serve Smaller Accounts? 29:45 Covered-Call & Single-Stock ETFs: Educ
The Power of Financial Planning for Women Breadwinners
Hear how women breadwinners can take control of their finances through intentional planning, clear goals, and confidence.
The Future Hard Asset Supercycle: Inflation, Credit & Geopolitics
In this episode of Trends with Benefits, Ed Lopez sits down with Larry McDonald, Founder of the Bear Traps Report, to discuss the current state of financial markets. Larry dives into signals pointing to potential economic turbulence, from mounting consumer credit pressures to persistent inflation. He shares insights on the growing investor shift toward hard assets amid de-dollarization and global
Robinhood's Approach to Reaching Next-Gen Investors
Steph Guild, CIO and Director of Investment Strategy at Robinhood, shares insights on AI, next-gen investors, market shifts, and financial education.
Future-Proof Investing: Stephanie Link on the Biggest Growth Trends
Stephanie Link, Chief Investment Strategist and Portfolio Manager at Hightower Advisors, unpacks investor sentiment, tech innovation, and demographic shifts, and what's next for Q4 and beyond.
Inside MP Materials and America's Rare Earth Revival
MP Materials CFO Ryan Corbett shares how his firm is rebuilding America's rare earth supply chain by securing magnets for EVs, defense, and tech in a post-China world.
How Investor Sentiment is Driving the Markets with Jamie Wise
Find out how online sentiment can be used to track dynamic stock themes, like AI, crypto, and space, and why retail investors remain a powerful market force.
The GENIUS Act: A Game Changer for Stablecoins, with Matthew Sigel
Understand the GENIUS Act and its impact on stablecoins, the U.S. banking system, payments, and crypto adoption across traditional finance.
The GENIUS Act: A Game Changer for Stablecoins
Understand the GENIUS Act and its impact on stablecoins, the U.S. banking system, payments, and crypto adoption across traditional finance.
Catching Big Trends: Todd Sohn on ETFs, Sentiment & Market Signals
Todd Sohn breaks down 2025's top trends, from crypto and thematics to smart risk tools, and how investors are using ETFs to stay agile, diversified and ahead of the market curve.
Alts for All: Retail Investors and the Private Market Revolution
Find out from Eric Mancini how private investments are transforming portfolios, offering new access points, lower correlations, and long-term growth through evolving fund structures and strategies.
The Next Big Shift in Investing Has Begun with Jim Wiandt
Learn how ETF pioneer Jim Wiandt is using AI, fintech, and venture capital to enhance advisor-client gaps, build smart infrastructure, and shape the future of personalized investing.
Big News for Nuclear Energy—What It Means for Investors
Find out about the future of nuclear power in the U.S.
Back the Farmer, Bank the Yield: Farmland Lending Takes Root
Dr. David Mieczkowski of AgAmerica discusses trade impacts, farmland investing, ag lending trends, and the future of U.S. farming in a changing economic and demographic landscape.
Navigating 2025 Without Losing Your Mind
Mary Ann Bartels unpacks 2025 market volatility, AI trends, crypto, and how Star Trek may have predicted our digital financial future.
The Case for Israel and Global Diversification in 2025
Discover the current state of global markets, tariff risks, implications for investors, and opportunities beyond the U.S., including Israel.
Bringing Institutional-Grade Investing to Individual Portfolios
Learn how institutional investing, proper diversification, and goal-driven planning are transforming wealth management for modern families.
Unlocking the VC Secondary Market
Explore how VC secondary markets are transforming venture capital, what's fueling their growth and how they are creating new opportunities for investors.
Navigating Private Investments and Alternatives with Craig Robson
Discover why investors are turning to alternatives, including private equity, private credit, and digital assets and how each plays a unique role in portfolio diversification and growth.
Reviewing Crypto Predictions with Matthew Sigel
VanEck's Matthew Sigel reflects on his 2024 crypto predictions—wins, misses, and what's next for 2025, including his bitcoin price target and the Trump administration's impact on crypto.
How Tech and Consolidation Are Reshaping the RIA Industry with Eric Flynn
Find out how technology, AI, and consolidation are transforming RIAs as Eric Flynn shares insights on scaling firms, offering seamless client experiences, and industry trends.
Shape Up Your Financial Health with Shannon McLay
Learn how to improve your financial health by overcoming emotional spending, identifying your non-negotiable spending habits, and setting goals-based budgeting strategies.
Harvesting Opportunities in the Agricultural Commodities Market with Sal Gilbertie
This episode's guest is Sal Gilbertie, the CEO and founder of Teucrium Trading, a leader in commodity-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs). We discuss the impact of geopolitics, the Trump administration, and climate change on the pricing of agricultural commodities. Sal dives into how to approach investing in different commodities and shares what led him to founding Teucrium.
Is Inflation Conquered? With David Schassler
Hear about inflation regimes over time, how different types of assets function during them, and why today's core issue is financial excess.
Unpacking the Semiconductor Market: AI and Beyond with Brian Colello
As AI and the semiconductor industry remain in the spotlight and continue to capture investor interest, this episode takes a deep dive into the dominant companies and the competitive landscape.
How Election Cycles and Seasonality Affect Market Patterns with Jeff Hirsch
Find out about market cycles, the 2024 election, and sector opportunities, along with trends like AI, biotech, and Bitcoin.
Financial Planning Strategies for Uncertain Markets with Katy Song
This episode covers some of the top financial planning goals facing families, including homebuying, childcare, long-term care, and college funding.

Trends with Benefits Podcast Trailer – Discover the Perks
What's the next big thing in finance, tech, and investing? Trends with Benefits is the podcast that gives you an insider's edge in this fast-paced world. We tackle everything from tech innovations to revolutionizing your investment strategies to financial planning for the future. Discover the perks of Trends with Benefits.
What's Next in Markets with Cameron Dawson
Cameron Dawson covers small-caps, her election outlook, how to approach thematic investing, and attractive areas in equities and fixed income.
Scaling Advisor Solutions with TAMPs
Learn how turnkey asset management platforms are helping RIAs and how model portfolio adoption has changed over time.
The Business of Sports with Will Wilson
Following the recent start of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Will Wilson discusses the Olympics economy, why he thinks sponsors are the biggest "winners," and wealth management for athletes.
Investing Using Artificial Intelligence with Ron Insana
Hear from Ron Insana about artificial intelligence as an investing tool, India's economic potential, and whether he's concerned about Nvidia's concentration in the market.
Investing in Corporate Credit with Winnie Cisar
Learn about the top factors to consider when investing in corporate bonds and prominent trends in fixed income.
The Growth of Padel and What's Next in Financial Services
Bill Ullman joins this episode to discuss padel, a fast-growing racket sport, as well as factors transforming the financial services industry.
AI-Powered Investing with Doug Clinton
Doug Clinton discusses how AI models can drive investment decisions.
NFTs and Tokenization with Matt Bartlett
Hear about trends in digital assets, including NFTs and tokenization, and how SegMint is enhancing protection for digital assets.
Estate Planning with Anne Rhodes
Anne Rhodes discusses estate planning, addresses common obstacles, and highlights why having some plan in place is better than nothing.
Supporting Bitcoin Core Developers with Brink
Learn about the technical side of bitcoin, including the developers who maintain the network, how they do it, and how Brink supports them through grants and fellowships.
Model Portfolio Solutions with Joe Mallen
Joe Mallen discusses how customizable model portfolios can meet financial advisors' needs.
What's Shaping the Asset Management Industry with Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson covers the top trends in asset management.
Goals-Based Asset Allocation with Jack Ablin
Jack Ablin discusses goals-based investing, volatility in bond markets, the U.S. fiscal situation, and tax loss harvesting.
Geopolitics and Your Portfolio with Charles Myers
As geopolitical risks escalate, investors should be aware of the potential financial implications of these events.
Creating Shareholder Value Amid India's Digitization with Vellayan Subbiah
Learn from Vellayan Subbiah about running a successful business in India and how digitization and policy changes are impacting the business climate.
Get Ready for Retirement with Mariann Montagne
Mariann Montagne is here to help you prepare for retirement (and sleep better at night).
Who's Buying Gold? with Axel Merk
Ed Lopez meets with Axel Merk to explore the gold demand of central banks and trends in gold markets.
How to Allocate to CLOs with Laila Kollmorgen
Laila Kollmorgen is back on the podcast to share what's going on in the collateralized loan obligation (CLO) market and how to allocate to CLOs.
Modernizing Financial Advice with Ritik Malhotra
This episode explores how technology can be used in wealth management to improve financial advisors' relationships with their clients.
Alternative Investment Allocation with Joe Taiber
Understand the different types of alternative investments and how to approach them in a portfolio in the context of the broader economy.
To T-Bill or Not to T-Bill
Explore whether T-bills fit your investment needs in this market environment.
Is Solar Energy the Solution? with Robert Lane
This episode covers the current environment for solar energy, including recent headwinds and legislation, as well as what the future of the industry looks like.
The Shift From a 2% to a 5% World and the 60/40 Portfolio with Jared Woodard
Jared Woodard shares his view on artificial intelligence, portfolio allocation, recent economic developments and what investors should expect for the rest of the year.
Alleviating Advisor Challenges with Denise Wypiszenski
Learn how the 4U platform disrupted an antiquated process within the financial services industry and what it's like to transition from the corporate world to being an entrepreneur.
Divergent Trends in Gold Markets Explained with Ima Casanova
Portfolio Manager Ima Casanova covers recent updates in gold markets and shares the top benefits of owning gold in a portfolio.
A Robotics Rundown with Luis Sentis
Robots are becoming increasingly important to society and the economy as they change our everyday lives and transform industries.
To the Widow Goes the Wealth
Learn how to educate and prepare family members for the wealth transfer to women.
The Macro Economy and Institutional Investing
Explore what individual investors can learn from institutional investors in the context of today's headlines – the banking crisis, small-cap stocks and artificial intelligence.
The Man Behind the Mic
This special episode of Trends with Benefits features an interview with Host Ed Lopez and looks back to how the podcast began.
Brush Up on Brazilian Investment Markets with Caue Mancanares
Learn about the growth of Brazilian investment markets, including the impact of legislation on the current business climate and widespread crypto adoption.
Financial Literacy with Lisa Crafford
Understand why financial literacy is important today and what advisors can do to help.
Beyond the Trees with Laurie Wayburn and Anthony Gibbs
Ed gets a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the documentary "Beyond the Trees" which focuses on the unique management model of the van Eck Forests.
Accessing Private Markets with Matt Malone
Learn about private market investments, how they provide more exposure, and how to determine if they're appropriate for your clients' investing needs.
Saudi Arabia: A Rising Investment Destination with Ola El-Shawarby
This episode features Ola El-Shawarby who discusses the macroeconomic drivers in Saudi Arabia, including social and economic reforms and growing sectors.
Caregiving Planning for the Sandwich Generation with Sarah Ricca
This episode offers caregiving tools and tips to those in the "sandwich generation" and explains how financial advisors can serve as a key resource when planning for caregiving.
Economic Updates with Milton Ezrati
Learn about U.S. relations with China, the probability of recession, and asset classes that provide an inflationary hedge with Host Ed Lopez and Milton Ezrati, Chief Economist at Vested.
Wealth Planning for the Largest Generation, Millennials, with Stacey McKinnon
Ed chats with Stacey McKinnon about millennial investors, including their values and behavior, and how the business of financial advice will need to adapt.
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