Podcast
The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas
Hosted by SoFi · EN
Every investment is a high-stakes decision made without certainty. How do the world's most successful investors and business leaders navigate risk, tolerate failure, and stay agile when everything changes? And what can be learned from their insights?
Liz Thomas, SoFi's Chief Market Strategist, sits down with influential leaders to unpack the pivotal decisions that shaped their careers and portfolios, and wade through the noise to get to the important part. Liz speaks with top voices in finance, business, academia, and media armed with knowledge to help listeners achieve their financial goals. Investing isn't just about picking stocks. It's about defining your relationship with risk, learning from failure, and staying resilient.
For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday on SoFi’s website, sign up for On the Money, SoFi's financial literacy newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.
This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.
©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
SpaceX, OpenAI and the Future of IPOs
Jun 300:34:42Summary readyCompanies are staying private longer. Retail investors have more access than ever. And when companies like SpaceX or OpenAI eventually go public, they could become major tests for how today’s IPO market actually works. In this episode of The Important Part, Liz Thomas sits down with Tom Farley, CEO of Bullish and former president of the New York Stock Exchange. Farley watched roughly 600 companies go public during his time at the NYSE, including Alibaba, Snap and Spotify. But when he took Bullish public himself, he says he saw the process from an entirely different angle. Liz and Tom discuss why the IPO market has changed, what retail investors are bringing to the table, and why some companies may still see public markets as a source of credibility, liquidity and long-term opportunity. They also get into blockchain, tokenized securities, and whether the plumbing of modern finance could look very different in the years ahead. Subscribe to The Important Part for smarter conversations about markets, investing and the forces shaping your financial future. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Summary
Why Some of The Biggest Investment Opportunities Aren’t on Wall Street
May 2700:47:31Tap to summarizePublic markets may dominate the headlines, but some of the biggest investing opportunities may be happening where most investors aren’t looking. In this episode of The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas, Anastasia Amoroso, Chief Investment Strategist at Partners Group, joins Liz to unpack the rapid rise of private markets. From private equity to private credit, Amoroso breaks down why investors may be underestimating just how much value creation is happening outside the stock market. She explains why companies are staying private longer, how AI is reshaping both software and lending markets, and why the next phase of innovation may never hit public exchanges at all. Watch or listen to this episode to learn about some of the headwinds facing private credit and why “innovate or die” may become the defining theme of the AI era. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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How to Find a Job in 2026 According to This LinkedIn Expert
May 2000:47:41Tap to summarizeBy the numbers, the job market may look solid. But for many job seekers, the experience feels far more uncertain, frustrating, and opaque. In this episode of The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas, Liz sits down with Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn’s Editor at Large for Jobs and Career Development, to better understand what is really happening inside today’s hiring market. They discuss the disconnect between the macro data and the lived experience of job seekers, why the hiring process can feel so difficult to navigate, how companies are evaluating candidates, and the growing role AI is playing on both sides of the job search. Seaman also shares perspective on what candidates may be missing, how job seekers can think more strategically about the process, and why positioning yourself clearly may matter more than ever in a changing labor market. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Is a Recession Coming? Neil Dutta on Signals He’s Watching
May 13Tap to summarizeMarkets have remained resilient in 2026. But beneath the headline strength, some signals are getting harder to ignore. In this episode of The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas, Neil Dutta, Head of Economic Research at Renaissance Macro, joins Liz to break down how he is reading the current market and economic backdrop. While recession is not his base case, Dutta explains why he believes certain risks may not be fully reflected in current market expectations. The conversation explores the labor market, inflation, market cycles, and the disconnect between areas of the economy that continue to hold up and areas that may be showing signs of weakness. Dutta shares the signals he is watching and why this moment may be more complicated than the headlines suggest. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Liz’s 2026 Outlook: AI, Stocks, Gold, and What Investors Should Watch
Jan 21Tap to summarizeWhat will 2026 bring for your portfolio? From precious metals to interest rates and tech stocks, we’re kicking off the new year by answering some of your most pressing questions. In this bonus episode of The Important Part, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas brings deep research and thoughtful insight to this year’s economic outlook. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Transcribe →Communicating Finance and Strategy with Confidence with Liz Thomas
May 14, 2025Tap to summarizeHow does one start a career in investment strategy? For that matter, what IS an investment strategist? In this special episode, host Liz Thomas gets on the other side of the mic in conversation with Brian Walsh, a.k.a. “Dr. Money,” Head of Advice and Planning at SoFi. Brian and Liz discuss her career evolution, from early career pivots, to what she does as an investment strategist, to how to communicate ideas in finance effectively. Liz Thomas is the Head of Investment Strategy at SoFi. Prior to SoFi, Liz was the Director of Market Strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management. As an analyst, she worked at both BMO Global Asset Management as well as Baird. Liz earned her BBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her MBA from Marquette University.For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the On The Money newsletter, and follow Liz @LizThomasStrat.Notable mentions in the episode:00:00 Introduction02:10 Growing up in Wisconsin03:32 Money lessons and values06:10 Finding finance in college07:42 Early career10:27 Pivotal career moments19:10 What is an investment strategist?24:31 Career advice28:07 Career at SoFi31:55 Experience as a female in a male-dominated industry35:18 Liz’s financial information diet40:50 Keeping a level head through market volatility44:28 Investment role models48:01 Communicating ideas in finance51:44 Closing ThoughtsAdditional resources:On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right.Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Transcribe →Lens Into the Real Estate Market With Skylar Olsen
Apr 25, 2023Tap to summarizeHow is the housing market really doing in the US? Dr Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow, joins Liz to speak about recent data that looks at key factors like housing prices, demand, and why some primary homeowners are holding onto their homes. She also chats about whether inflation will go down soon (and affect housing prices) and whether home buying interest has actually softened. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Transcribe →Benefits of Charitable Giving With John Marick
Mar 28, 2023Tap to summarizeAre there other upsides other than tax benefits when it comes to giving to charitable causes? John Marick, former CEO of Consumer Cellular and board member of Meals On Wheels America, joins Liz to speak about partnering with nonprofits or charities as part of a company mission and how charitable giving is beneficial beyond the balance sheet. He also speaks about what investing in a nonprofit looks like, and whether it’s all that different from other types of organizations. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Transcribe →Checking on the Tech Industry With Dan Ives
Nov 29, 2022Tap to summarizeWith talks of layoffs and other volatility in the tech industry, what should investors do? This week’s guest, Dan Ives, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst covering the Technology sector at Wedbush Securities offers his take on the overall landscape. He talks with Liz about why growth in the tech industry will still continue, and what the future may hold for groups like software and semiconductors.why enterprise companies are the ones to watch out for, and Dan’s take on what companies are the ones to watch.For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Transcribe →The Link Between Advertising and Investing With Joe Marchese
Sep 27, 2022Tap to summarizeHow much weight should an investor put on a company’s advertising strategy? According to this week’s guest, quite a lot. Joe Marchese, Executive Chairman at Human Ventures and previous President of Advertising Revenue for Fox Networks Group, sit down with Liz to talk about looking at ads - specifically ones that aim to acquire a customer versus ones that simply acquire a transaction- can give investors a lot of insight into how a company may fare in the long run. Liz and Joe also talk about advertising trends and what that could mean for the consolidation of a business, or M&A, through the business cycle.For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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