Podcast
Trends with Benefits
Hosted by VanEck · EN
Welcome to Trends with Benefits, the podcast that gives you an insider's edge into finance, tech, and investing. Hosted by Ed Lopez, VanEck's Head of Product Management.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ed Lopez Recaps Wealth Management EDGE
2w ago00:17:15Tap to summarizeFrom 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 on AI 08:40 Ed Lopez sits on Women in ETFs panel 15:15 Ed's EDGE Takeaways
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A CIO's Take on Geopolitics, the Dollar, and the Case for Going Global
4w ago00:49:37Tap to summarizeExplore 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 and Global Market Drivers 16:57 US Political Risks and Domestic Instability 17:53 India's Growth and Investment Potential 24:20 Gold as a Strategic Asset and Trade 29:33 Private Markets and Current Valuations, Access and Risks 35:23 Private Equity and IPO Strategies 40:46 Market Mispricing and Geopolitical Risks 44:14 Long-term Trends and AI Innovation 47:59 Trend or Fad
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Space, AI, and Private Equity Trends
Jun 900:53:20Tap to summarizeAI 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.
Transcribe →20 Years of GDX: How VanEck Changed the ETF Industry
May 2600:43:35Tap to summarizeExplore 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.
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This Mining CEO Is Not a Gold Bug. But He Is Bullish.
May 1200:47:51Tap to summarizeExplore 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 on Gold Mining 32:38 Leveraging Technology for Efficiency 42:05 Trend or Fad?
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The Tax Changes Nobody Is Talking About
Apr 2800:38:12Tap to summarizeExplore 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 Integrating Estate and Tax Planning 27:17 The Future of Tax Policy 31:46 Investment Trends and Insights 34:24 Trend or Fad?
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How AI is Shaping Next-Gen Manufacturing
Apr 1300:50:48Tap to summarizeExplore 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 the Age of AI 31:16 The Human Role in Autonomous Manufacturing 35:47 AI's Impact on Supply Chains and Scarcity 44:23 Trend or Fad?
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EM Debt Strengthens Amid U.S. Fiscal Uncertainty
Mar 1000:19:21Tap to summarizeExplore U.S. fiscal uncertainty, tariff shifts, Fed changes, and why stronger emerging market fundamentals may offer diversification despite tighter spreads.
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The Human Role in Modern Financial Advice
Feb 2400:46:21Tap to summarizeExplore 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 23:08 The Future of Human Connection in Wealth Management 31:36 The Ripple Effect of Financial Support 32:31 The Need for Financial Professionals 42:24 Trend or Fad?
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Bitcoin's Next Move: Volatility, Cycles & Signals
Feb 1100:11:58Tap to summarizeExplore 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.
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