Mukarram Mawjood on Global Investing, Risk, and Teaching the Next Generation | Ep 1086

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Digital Executive

Episode: Mukarram Mawjood on Global Investing, Risk, and Teaching the Next Generation | Ep 1086
Host: Brian, Coruzant Technologies
Date: July 20, 2025
Guest: Mukarram Mawjood, Chief Investment Officer at Bullionite Asset Group

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features Mukarram Mawjood, an accomplished global investor and educator, who shares insights on how diverse financial ecosystems have shaped his investment philosophy, the most misunderstood risks in modern asset classes, his mission to foster financial literacy among youth, and the role of technology—especially AI—in trading and investing.
The discussion revolves around bridging cultures in finance, redefining risk, the difference between earning and creating money, and the importance of education and resourcefulness in today's tech-driven investment landscape.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Impact of Diverse Financial Ecosystems on Investment Philosophy

[01:18] Mukarram Mawjood’s Global Investment Mindset

• Cultural Sensitivity: Having lived and been educated in Asia, the Middle East, and the US, Mukarram emphasizes cultural awareness in addressing the diverse investment needs of clients around the globe.
• Bridging Countries: "I always wanted to bridge the US with these certain entities. I had these triangles in my head all the time and I was like, hey, I'd like to bridge these countries together." (01:38)
• Global Ripple Effects: Personal experience with economic crises (e.g., the Malaysia–Indonesia currency crisis of the late ’90s) allows him to anticipate and hedge global risks for clients.

“We don’t create stories in our head just by listening to the news... we’ve experienced how that spreads, and how we can manage that for our clients. And I think that gives our clients a massive, massive edge.” (02:43)

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2. Understanding Risk in Modern Asset Classes

[03:39] Rebranding and Risk Perception

• Firm Name Change: Blackstone Commodity Group is now Bullionite Asset Group (aligning investment and educational arms).
• Misunderstood Risk:

  “People have been taught that risk means losing money... But risk simply means that there’s a possibility that you can lose money and there is a probability that you can make money.” (04:43)

• Risk Management and Emotional Intelligence:
  • Managing risk increases the probability of gains without excessive anxiety.
  • “Having that emotional intelligence will give you that edge that you need to be consistently successful... you want to have that edge where you have more winners than losers.” (05:29)

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3. Financial Literacy for Youth: The Young Trader of the Year

[06:27] Teaching the Principles of “Creating” Money

• Deep Passion: “It’s always been a goal of mine when it comes to youth literacy with money... I’m not into just teaching when to start a credit card or saving.” (06:31)
• Creating vs. Earning Money:

  “If you look at money as something that you’re going to earn, then you’re going to live by a certain set of rules. Whereas creating money, which is what investing and trading is, is completely different to earning money.” (06:56)

• Formative Education: Focuses on ages 16–22; teaches that “time is your currency, not money” and that self-reliance stems from financial understanding.
• Addressing Current Challenges: Empowers kids not just to “make a few million by being a YouTuber,” but to truly understand, manage, and grow their wealth responsibly.

“Not understanding money and how to manage that... is going to ruin their lives if they don’t respect education.” (09:13)

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4. AI, Technology, and the Future of Trading

[10:18] Does Tech Level the Playing Field?

• Not a True Leveler:

  “Leveling the playing field is a very difficult thing to accomplish just with technology... What the real leveler is education and effort and resourcefulness.” (10:19, 10:37)

• Importance of Resourcefulness and Emotional Intelligence:
  • Those who put forth effort and become resourceful can succeed regardless of technological advancements.
• Price Action and Practical Example:

  “If you’re in Hawaii... you paddle, you wait in that calm waters waiting for that massive big wave, right? And when that wave starts coming, that wave is that hedge fund, right? What you do is you get on that wave... but you get off before that wave crashes.” (12:08)

  • Following price action and being resourceful is crucial for individual investors.
• Trading Is Largely Mental:

  “I always say 75% of trading is mental, 25% is skill.” (12:55)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bridging Global Investment Needs:
  “That awareness allows us to bridge the two countries, right? ...Understanding how they work and their sensitivities allows us to be successful in our projects there, especially with international real estate.” (01:28–02:16)

• On Rethinking Risk:
  “If ever you’re in a conversation... and someone’s just talking about risk, already there’s a preconceived notion that you’re going to lose money. One of the biggest ways that I help clients... is turning that around and understanding what risk really is.” (04:41)

• On Teaching Youth Financial Literacy:
  “Time is your currency, not money. So don’t let anyone else tell you that you should exchange your time for a very small amount of money.” (08:24)

• On AI in Finance:
  “Technology is not the leveler. What the real leveler is education and effort and resourcefulness.” (10:37)

• On the Essence of Trading:
  “I always say 75% of trading is mental, 25% is skill.” (12:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:18] Mukarram’s international upbringing and its influence
• [03:39] Rebranding to Bullionite Asset Group and the definition of risk
• [06:27] The story and goals behind the Young Trader of the Year program
• [10:18] The impact of AI and technology on the investment “playing field”
• [12:08] Surfing analogy for following major market moves
• [12:55] The mental aspect of trading

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Overall Tone

The conversation is candid, practical, and motivational, emphasizing real-world experience over hype, and advocating for sustained education, resilience, and a growth mindset both in finance and life.

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Resources & Contact

• Bullionite Asset Group: bullionite.com
• (For more about the name change and programs, visit the websites shared by Mukarram at the conclusion.)

Transcript

[Brian]

Foreign welcome to Coruscant Technologies, home of the Digital Executive podcast. Welcome to the Digital Executive. Today's guest is Mukarim Wajood. Mukarim Wajood is the Chief Investment Officer at Bullionite Asset Group. Mukarim has lived and was educated in three diverse and major global financial regions such as Asia, the Middle east and the United States. He holds over 15 years of direct experience trading global markets, equities, commodities and cryptocurrency through both historic bull and bear markets. This is especially important now when understanding the evolving needs of a global financial post Covid world. He continues to trade the global markets and educate his followers from his offices in Orange County, California. Well, good afternoon Makarim. Welcome to the show.

[Mukarim Wajood]

Hi Brian. Thank you for having me.

[Brian]

Absolutely, my friend. I appreciate you hailing out of Orange County, California, my old stomping grounds. Believe it or not, that's an awesome place. I just appreciate you making the time, me being in Kansas City and always traversing these time zones. But Mukarim, if I could, I'm going to jump into your first question. You've lived and been educated in Asia, the Middle east and the US how have those diverse financial ecosystems shaped your global investment philosophy?

[Mukarim Wajood]

I think it's a few different things, right? One is having the cultural sensitivity to the different investment needs that people have, right. Even though most of our clients are from the U.S. i mean I travel a lot for business. We do a lot of different projects outside the country as well there. I think that really helps. Understanding that cultural sensitivity and then having that awareness allows us to bridge the two countries, right? Which I always, that was one of my biggest things when I was in college. I always wanted to bridge the US with these certain entities. I had these triangles in my head all the time and I was like, hey, I'd like to bridge these countries together. And that helps us get progress because there are certain countries where some companies get stuck in getting some things done, but we, because we understand the culture or we understand how they work and their sensitivities, allows us to be successful in our projects there, especially with real estate and international real estate and things like that. The other thing, Brian, that I think that really, really helps us is just knowing how certain major fundamental effects can have ripple effects right across the pond. Or it may start off all the way in Australia or in Indonesia, like for example, the Malaysia, Indonesia currency crisis that happened in the late 90s and how that reverberated across the pond and came over here and that allows us to hedge and manage risk properly because we don't create stories in our head just by listening to the news or anything like that. But we've experienced kind of how that spreads and how we can manage that for our clients. And I think that gives our clients a massive, massive edge.

[Brian]

That's awesome. I appreciate that. Absolutely. I think your diverse background and having that cultural sensitivity really helps you understand people's needs. And having that sensitivity, as you mentioned, helps bridge that gap between countries, cultures, et cetera. What I really also liked is knowing, really, you know, that foresight, knowing the fundamental differences around the globe and how to better manage risk and not just get excited about hyperbole. Sometimes people get excited about different things. Yeah. So I appreciate that. Makarim, my next question for you. Let's talk about Bullionite Asset Group. It trades across equities, commodities and crypto. What do you see as the most misunderstood risk or opportunity among these asset classes today?

[Mukarim Wajood]

Yeah, great question. First, what I'd like to do is let the audience know that other listeners know that Bullionite Asset Group is the new name for our company. Blackstone Commodity Group.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

Blackstone Commodity Group has been in business for a significant period of time, like almost 15 years plus. We've now changed the name to Bullionite Asset Group. Kind of having a group together where. Because my educational branch of the company has been called Bullionite, and we've been doing that since 2014. 15. And I felt like it was time to make sure that the alternative asset branch reflects that uniformity.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

So that's why we have Bullionite Asset Group, which is the alternative asset firm where we do physical, precious metals, cryptocurrency, IRA, self directed IRAs, all that. And then Bullionite, where we do the creating, education, the coaching, the mindset, training.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

To become successful creators. So getting back to your question, I think the most misunderstood to me would be on how people perceive risks.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

Because I think a lot of the times we have been taught that risk means losing money.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Okay.

[Mukarim Wajood]

It's like you're guaranteed to lose money if ever you're in a conversation, right. Or someone's just talking about risk already there's a preconceived notion that you're going to lose money. One of the biggest ways that I help clients and that we've had significant returns from the market is turning that around and understanding what risk really is. Risk simply means that there's a possibility that you can lose money and there is a probability that you can make money.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Okay.

[Mukarim Wajood]

I am Choosing those words very carefully because how you increase that probability of making money and reduce the possibility of losing money is risk management. So if you can manage the risk, then you can take massive, gigantic risks without being this individual that can't sleep at night or is completely frazzled.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right?

[Mukarim Wajood]

So having that emotional intelligence will give you that edge that you need to be consistently successful. Now, that doesn't mean you're not going to have losing trades. You're not going to have some investments that don't make money, but you want to have that edge where you have more winners than losers.

[Brian]

Thank you. I appreciate you breaking that down for us. And thank you for highlighting the name change to Bully and I. I think that's important for our audience to understand. You really highlighted how people perceive risks or they don't perceive risks. You know, you talked about helping your clients understand the meaning of risk versus, you know, the probability and changing that mindset.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Brian]

And I know you can train your gut, right, that intuition to be better at trading. People say, don't rely on your gut. But I've talk. Talk to people in your line of work that say you actually can train it and know what, what type of risks to take and so forth. So I appreciate you helping our audience understand that. Carm, you've placed a strong emphasis on financial literacy for youth. What inspired you to launch the Young Trader of the Year and what impact have you seen so far?

[Mukarim Wajood]

Oh, wow, Brian, that's a very, very passionate project of mine.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Okay.

[Mukarim Wajood]

And it's always been a goal of mine when it comes to youth literacy with money. I don't mean just letting people know, like, well, when do you start a credit card or when you start saving money? That's not what I'm into.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

For me, my biggest successes came when I really understood what creating money was about and the principles that go into creating money versus earning money.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right?

[Mukarim Wajood]

And there's a big difference. And I want everyone to understand that, like, if you look at money as something that you're going to earn, then you're going to live by a certain set of principles or a certain set of rules. Whereas creating money, which is what investing and trading is, is completely different to earning money. And you cannot live that same set of rules and then be successful. This is why people go, hey, I've lost money. Or kids, they, they young college could say, hey, I'm broke. I don't understand. It's because they bring the rules of earning money to creating money.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right?

[Mukarim Wajood]

So first of all, the reason I did this was because we as parents, right, I have kids, we as parents, we put so much effort into all of their, like their life, right? We put so much effort into teaching them so many things and send them to classes and these programs. But what we don't put effort in is teaching them about money. And there are some parents and families and groups that actually shy away from talking about money, right? And that's one of the biggest things because knowing and understanding money will affect all of their decision making. And decision making is the biggest reason that they'll be successful later, right? So this is why in my Young Trader of the Year program, what we do is we work with individuals who are between 16 and 22. Because I feel that's the most formative time, right? There'll be just like junior in high school and a junior in college. And that time in between is where we can teach them about money, that money is not a currency. Time is your currency, not money. So don't let anyone else tell you that you should exchange your time for a very small amount of money, right? And then understanding how to create money and make great decisions based on having that, that reliance. Because once you understand that and when you get confident, then your children, our youth, will become confident and they'll become winners because they'll be self reliant, right? And the reason I say this is you can, you know that there's a generation right now, they've moved in with their parents, right? They don't have their self reliance that they should have. Also we have young kids like I have a 9 year old and a 10 year old and a 13 year old and sometimes they say, hey, you know, I don't need to go to college. I can make a few million dollars by being a YouTuber.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Great.

[Mukarim Wajood]

I love that you have, we have a social economy. I love that we have kids now that can take in millions rather than tens of thousands of dollars, right? But not understanding money and how to manage that and having the knowledge base to create it and keep it is going to ruin their lives if they don't respect education. So that's the approach I'm taking with my Young Pre program.

[Brian]

I really love that. And that's one thing we talk about a lot with people that have come on the podcast is really their purpose. And a lot of times it's, it's giving back. And your passion project that you mentioned is helping mentoring the youth. And I really like hearing you broke it down a little bit. Earning money versus creating money, they're two different things. And we need to help the younger generation and kids understand what that means. Because knowing and understanding finances will obviously influence our kids success in the future, as you said. And time. Absolutely. A hundred percent. That's your currency, not money. But teaching kids to be self reliant is the big message that I took away. So I appreciate that. McCarran, last question of the day. With AI tools becoming more prevalent in retail and institutional trading, do you believe technology will level the playing field or further widen the gap between investors?

[Mukarim Wajood]

Well, here's the thing, Brian. Leveling the playing field is a very difficult thing to accomplish just with technology. Okay. And I want to break this down a bit. If we take a little longer, and here's why I want to say this, there's always going to be a new technology. Today it's AI, tomorrow it could be something else. Next year it could be something that's just unimaginable.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

But does that really level the playing field between an institution that has a massive amount of resources versus you? Not really. Here's the difference, because technology is not the leveler. What the real leveler is education and effort and resourcefulness. So if you want to level the playing field, whether it is between your friends in your family, whether it's a small group of people in your city or whether it's in the world, right. You have to become a more resourceful person. You have to become someone who's extremely emotionally intelligent because that emotional intelligence and that resourcefulness is what allows you to make these massive gains in your life and then increase your net worth. And I'm not just talking about just money, but also just your entire life purpose right? Now here's the interesting thing. Will I make it more accessible? Will it make it more prevalent?

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

Or will someone who wasn't thinking of investing now think it's simpler to do it? Yes, that I agree with. But you cannot take away effort and resourcefulness.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

The other thing that I want to focus on here, and this is how I look at leveling the plancade because let's say you're going against the behemoth, right? Like a $100 billion hedge fund are not going against, but meaning they're trading the same instruments that you're trading. But they do have way more resources.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Right.

[Mukarim Wajood]

How do you level the playing field there? By understanding price action, by understanding what price action means in an asset class and then how you followed. And here's the best example I'll give.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Okay.

[Mukarim Wajood]

And I hope I can, I can create this vision for individuals who are listening it's like if you're in Hawaii and then early, early morning, like 3:34am you paddle, you wait in that calm waters waiting for that massive big wave, right? And when that wave starts coming, that wave is that hedge fund, right? What you do is you get on that wave. That's your job. Because you understood that price analysis, after that, you go for the ride, but you get off before that wave crashes because you can't level the playing field in that way on a surfboard. But if you put the effort, you're up early, you're resourceful, you follow the price action, then you'll make significant gains. Sometimes the sentence will amaze you and that's how you level the playing field here. And this is what I teach in our coaching programs in bullion night in trading, I always say 75% of trading is mental, 25% is skill.

[Brian]

Thank you. I really appreciate that. Breaking that down. Obviously, when I asked about leveling the playing field, you did mention that, yeah, AI will certainly help you. But being resourceful, having resources, putting in the effort, you were very clear about that. Technology is really not the leveler. It's the education, the effort, the resourcefulness that a person puts in or a company puts into that. As far as effort and then understanding, there's a lot of things you can understand, but you highlighted some things like understanding price action and other strategies to further, you know, yourself in this line of education. And then you broke down 75% of its mental, 25% of its skill. I didn't know that. And I think that's really important. Obviously you got to be a risk taker in your line of work and I appreciate everything that you shared with us. Nkarim, it was certainly a pleasure having you on today and I look forward to speaking with you real soon.

[Mukarim Wajood]

Yeah, thank you very much, Brian. I really enjoyed it. And if anyone wants to kind of find out more information about us, they can go to blackstonecommodity.com can visit bullionite.com and then once the name change is completed, you'll see Blackstone forward to Bullionite. And also you guys can reach me through the phone number and the contact.

[Interviewer/Host Assistant]

Information we give you.

[Brian]

Bye for now.