The Blunt Dollar

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with David Stevenson, one of the UK’s most candid financial commentators. David writes the Adventurous Investor column for the Financial Times, runs a popular Substack, and is also the founder of ETF Stream. 

From his days as a BBC producer to sitting on multiple investment trust boards, David has a fascinating multi-decade career that straddles journalism, fintech, and asset...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manish Singh, Chief Investment Officer at Crossbridge Capital and a veteran global macroeconomist with nearly two decades of experience steering multi-asset portfolios. 

From his engineering roots in Mumbai to building an investment philosophy rooted in patience, trust, and historical perspective, Manish shares how he balances data-driven rigor with deep human insight.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with one of the most prolific voices in the financial planning space: Jason Pereira. A financial planner, fintech strategist, professor, podcaster, and tireless advocate for professional standards, Jason joins Ignacio to talk through the present and future of financial advice.

With over 750 pieces of content under his belt and multiple roles shaping the Canadian and global a...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Vincent Kaufmann, CEO of the Ethos Foundation, a leading voice in sustainable finance and corporate governance in Switzerland. 

With over two decades at Ethos, Vincent shares an insider perspective on why active ownership matters, the real tools investors have to drive ESG change, and the fine line between meaningful impact and greenwashing. 

This is a mastercla...

Elsa Razborsek joins The Blunt Dollar for a deep, nuanced conversation on nonlinear careers, women in finance, and the behavioural biases that shape both our portfolios and personal lives. 

From Goldman Sachs analyst to health coach and back to finance, Elsa’s journey is anything but typical, and it’s exactly that winding path that fuels her insights today.

In this episode, we talk about:
🔄 Career pivots and ...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Julia Carreon, a digital transformation powerhouse with leadership experience at Wells Fargo and Citi, to dissect the crossroads of finance, technology, and generational change. 

Julia brings her signature candor and deep industry knowledge to a conversation that spans everything from AI and gamification to social media misinformation and the trust crisis in banking.

Sustainable investing has gone from niche to necessary. But where is it headed next? In this episode, Ignacio sits down with Marina Severinovsky, Head of Sustainability for North America at Schroders, to unpack the shifting ESG landscape. 

Marina draws from two decades of experience in finance and sustainability to explain how investors can navigate today’s volatile mix of climate risk, political backlash, and growing dema...

In this episode we dive deep into the engine room of sustainability, with a guest who has one of the most unique seats in the house.

I sit down with Brian Matt, Head of Sustainability Advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, to unpack what’s really going on behind all the ESG headlines. 

With two decades of experience in investor relations and sustainability, Brian offers a rare dual lens into both investor expect...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Manuel Grenacher, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Unique, a company revolutionizing financial services with agentic AI. 

Manuel shares his journey from building startups in Switzerland to leading one of the most exciting AI-driven companies in finance today. 

We dive deep into how AI is reshaping the industry, where the biggest disruption opportunities lie,...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Marlena Lee, Global Head of Investment Solutions at Dimensional Fund Advisors. 

Marlena leads a 70-person team that bridges deep academic research with practical client education, helping investors navigate the complexities of markets, factor investing, and long-term portfolio construction.

With a PhD from the University of Chicago Booth School of Busines...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we’re joined by George Lagarias, Chief Economist at Mazars, for a thought-provoking conversation on financial crises, economic cycles, and the elusive search for stability in global markets. 

With over 20 years of experience navigating economic turmoil from Athens to London, George offers a deeply reflective and honest perspective on the past, present, and future of capitalism.

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Oktay Kavrak, Director of Communications and Strategy at Leverage Shares, a leading provider of exchange-traded products (ETPs). With over a decade in the financial industry and a CFA charter under his belt, Oktay shares a wealth of insights into the evolving world of ETPs, including how they’re reshaping modern investing.

We explore everything from the rise of active ETPs to the ...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, we sit down with Tom Idzorek, CFA, Chief Investment Officer for Retirement at Morningstar and one of the most influential voices in modern financial planning. With a career spanning decades and awards like the Graham and Dodd Award of Excellence under his belt, Tom has consistently pushed the boundaries of how we think about portfolio theory, human capital, and retirement planning.

We d...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with François Trahan, one of the most respected macro strategists on Wall Street.

François is a Hall of Fame-ranked Institutional Investor strategist, former head of macro research at Bernstein, BCA, and Wolfe Research, and founder of the Macro Research Institute, a program training investors to understand real-world macroeconomics.

But this isn’t just about big call...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Lori Heinel, Global Chief Investment Officer of State Street Global Advisors, who oversees over $4 trillion in assets. 

With 41 years of experience in finance, Lori brings unmatched depth to the conversation, from leadership and risk management to indexing, AI, and the future of investing.

We explore how institutional investors influence markets, the evolving ro...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Wylie Tollette, Chief Investment Officer of Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. 

Wylie oversees over $160 billion in multi-asset portfolios and has spent his career bridging investment strategy, operations, and leadership, from CalPERS to Franklin Templeton.

But this isn’t just a CIO talking markets. This is a conversation about trust, transparency, and the...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, where he oversees over $500 billion in assets and leads a global team of investment professionals.

But today’s conversation isn’t about markets. It’s about leadership, psychology, and what makes people thrive under pressure.

We dive into Sébastien's latest book, The Psychology of Leadership, and unp...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Eric Sim, former UBS Managing Director turned author, educator, and personal branding expert. 

Eric’s journey is anything but typical. He started helping his father at a hawker stall in Singapore and rose to one of the top roles in global banking. Then he pivoted again to build a personal brand that reaches millions on LinkedIn.

We talk about:
📈 How Eric bu...

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with David Blanchett, Head of Retirement Research at PGIM and one of the most respected voices in financial planning. 

From his early start as a certified financial planner at 21 to becoming a go-to name in retirement income research, David has spent his career challenging outdated assumptions and building better models to help people retire smarter.

We get into why ...