The Blunt Dollar

Ignacio Ramirez Moreno, CFA
  • 4.3 (3)
  • Investing
  • Weekly

Finance doesn’t have to be boring or sugarcoated. It’s time for a show that tells it like it is. The Blunt Dollar is where real conversations meet real finance, hosted by Ignacio Ramírez Moreno, a fixed-income advisor, CFA charterholder, and LinkedIn content creator who isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. Each episode brings candid, thought-provoking discussions with investors, traders, analysts, and market thinkers who cut through the noise and get to the truth behind money, markets, and investing.  Whether it’s exposing the myths of the financial world, exploring the hidden forces shaping markets, or breaking down the latest trends in a way that actually makes sense, The Blunt Dollar delivers raw insights, straight talk, and a touch of humor. New episodes drop every other week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  Want to hear a story that needs to be told? Reach out to thebluntdollar@outlook.com, and let’s make it happen.

  1. 3d ago

    Mark Higgins: Why Every Bubble Feels Different

    “This time is different.” Four words investors love to say. And four words that financial history keeps proving wrong. In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Mark Higgins, CFA, CFP, investment advisor and author of Investing in U.S. Financial History, to explore what more than 230 years of financial history can teach us about today's markets. From the speculative manias of the 1800s to the dotcom bubble, the Great Financial Crisis and today's private markets boom, Mark has spent years studying the patterns that investors keep overlooking. And his conclusions are particularly relevant today. We discuss why financial bubbles keep repeating, how central banks misread inflation, whether private markets are approaching the end of a multidecade cycle, and why America's growing debt burden may be one of the biggest challenges ahead. In this conversation, we cover: 📚 Why 230 years of financial history reveal patterns that modern investors consistently underestimate. 🫧 How speculative bubbles form, why intelligent investors get caught in them, and the warning signs of a speculative supply chain. 🏦 Why Mark believes the Federal Reserve made critical mistakes on inflation and what the 1970s can teach policymakers today. 💰 Why private equity and private credit may be approaching the end of a decades-long investment cycle, and the hidden risks of bringing illiquid investments to retail investors. 🇺🇸 How America's fiscal position has changed since Alexander Hamilton and why rising debt and persistent deficits could threaten its long-term prosperity. One of my favorite takeaways? Financial history doesn't eliminate uncertainty. But it helps us recognize risks that might otherwise look completely unprecedented. And as Mark reminds us, being comfortable with uncertainty and being wrong is one of the most valuable skills anyone working in finance can develop. If you're interested in financial history, market bubbles, private markets, monetary policy, or simply becoming a better investor, this one's for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  2. Oct 27

    Eric Barthe: Why the Best Finance Candidates Don’t Know All the Answers

    What does it actually take to go from understanding derivatives in a classroom to being ready for a real trading floor? In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Eric Barth, founder of the Derivatives Bootcamp and the Institute of Derivatives. Eric brings more than two decades of experience across exotic derivatives, structured products, financial engineering, consulting, and education, including time at Goldman Sachs, BCG, and Leonteq. We talk about the gap between academic finance and what banks actually expect from candidates, why memorizing hundreds of interview questions is not the answer, and the handful of core concepts Eric believes every aspiring markets professional needs to understand deeply. We also get into the world of structured products, from autocallables and option pricing to dispersion, payoff design, and the risks investors often overlook when chasing attractive coupons. 🎓 Why knowing a few financial “monuments” deeply can be more valuable than knowing hundreds of concepts superficially 🧠 What Eric learned on the exotic derivatives desk at Goldman Sachs about judgment, common sense and making decisions under pressure 💼 Why interview cramming fails and what top banks are actually looking for when hiring young talent 📈 How structured products really work, including autocallables, coupons, downside risk and the relationship between option pricing and hedging ⚙️ The “art of the payoff,” dispersion strategies and why understanding the journey of a structured product matters just as much as understanding its promised return If you like derivatives, structured products and practical insights into building a career in markets, this one’s for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  3. Oct 20

    Richard Stott: Why Great Investors Say “No” More Than They Say “Yes”

    In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Richard Stott, Chief Investment Officer at Connectum Capital Management, to discuss why successful investing is often much less exciting than people think. Richard shares how disciplined systems, long-term thinking, and evidence-based investing have shaped his philosophy, and why ignoring market noise is often one of the hardest but most valuable skills an investor can develop. We explore the difference between reacting to headlines and following a repeatable investment process, the role of fiduciary duty in wealth management, and why understanding human behavior matters just as much as understanding financial markets.  Richard also reflects on the lessons he has drawn from history, including World War II, and how those lessons continue to influence the way he thinks about investing today. 📈 Why long-term discipline consistently beats reacting to market headlines 🧩 How Connectum builds investment decisions using evidence, structure, and repeatable processes ⚖️ Why transparency, simplicity, and low costs are essential ingredients of successful portfolios 📚 The investing lessons Richard has taken from history, World War II, and decades of market experience 🚀 Advice for the next generation of finance professionals on combining technology with genuine human relationships If you like long-term investing, behavioral finance, and thoughtful conversations about building better investment processes, this one's for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  4. Oct 13

    Patrick Armstrong: The Biggest Portfolio Mistake Almost Everyone Makes

    In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Patrick Armstrong, Chief Investment Officer at Plurimi Wealth, to discuss what evidence-based investing really looks like in practice, how machine learning is already transforming portfolio management, and why investor psychology often matters more than market forecasts. Patrick shares the lessons he's learned from managing real client portfolios, explains how Plurimi AI was born from his own investing mistakes, and offers a refreshingly honest perspective on where human judgment still fits in an increasingly AI-driven world. We explore how to build robust investment processes, why over-diversification can quietly destroy returns, and what separates successful investors from those constantly reacting to market noise. 🤖 How Patrick built an AI-powered investment process and why machine learning became part of his portfolio construction framework 📊 Why over-diversification can reduce returns and how to think differently about building investment portfolios 🧠 The role of behavioral finance and why investor psychology remains one of the biggest drivers of long-term outcomes 📈 How evidence-based investing helps remove emotion from decision-making while still leaving room for human judgment 🚀 Career advice for the next generation of finance professionals and why curiosity and technology will become the ultimate competitive advantages If you like investing, artificial intelligence, and practical conversations about building better portfolios, this one's for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  5. Oct 6

    Alan Dune: The Biggest Portfolio Mistake Even Professionals Make

    In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Alan Dunne, founder of Archive Capital Advisors and co-host of Top Traders Unplugged, to explore what it really means to build portfolios that can survive changing market regimes. Alan shares the lessons he's learned after decades as a trader, allocator, and portfolio construction expert, challenging many of the assumptions investors make about diversification, risk, and long-term investing. We dive into why many portfolios only appear diversified, why the relationship between stocks and bonds may have fundamentally changed, and why investors should think beyond traditional asset allocation models.  Alan also explains why volatility is not the same as risk, how trend following can improve portfolio resilience, and what today's macro environment could mean for investors over the coming decade. 📈 Why most diversified portfolios are not as diversified as they seem 🌍 How regime changes are reshaping investing and why the old playbook may no longer work 🛡️ The difference between volatility and real investment risk and why it matters 📊 Why trend following, macro strategies, and alternative investments deserve more attention 🚀 Career lessons for aspiring investors and what truly separates great candidates in today's finance industry If you like portfolio construction, macro investing, and honest conversations about long-term wealth building, this one's for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  6. Sep 29

    Jai Jacob: From Jazz Guitar to Wall Street’s Front Lines

    In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Jai Jacob, veteran investment strategist and former leader at Rockefeller Asset Management and Lazard Asset Management, for a fascinating conversation on career reinvention, risk management, quantitative investing, and the future of finance. Jai shares his unconventional journey from pursuing a career as a professional jazz musician in New York to becoming a respected voice in portfolio construction and multi-asset investing. Along the way, we explore lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, the evolution of quantitative investing, the growing importance of personalization in wealth management, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the investment profession. 🎸 From aspiring musician to investment strategist and the surprising path that led Jai into finance 📉 What it was really like managing risk during the Global Financial Crisis and the lessons that still matter today 📊 Why taking too little risk can be just as dangerous as taking too much risk in investing and business 🤝 How quantitative and fundamental investors can work together and why the future belongs to firms that combine both approaches 🤖 The impact of AI on investing, portfolio management, and the skills young professionals need to thrive in the decades ahead If you like investing, portfolio management, artificial intelligence, and career development, this one's for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  7. Sep 22

    James Halse: Why Japanese Companies Hoard Cash

    In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Jamie Halse, founder, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Senjin Capital, to explore Japanese small caps and an investment approach that goes beyond simply buying cheap stocks. From studying law in New Zealand to spending more than a decade at Platinum Asset Management, Jamie shares the journey that led him to launch his own firm. We discuss why he sees compelling opportunities in overlooked Japanese companies, how he identifies the value hidden on their balance sheets, and why unlocking it takes more than patience.  In this conversation, we cover: 🇯🇵 Why Jamie distinguishes the opportunity in Japanese small caps from the broader market, and how he responds to the argument that Japan is a permanent value trap. 🔎 How Senjin researches hidden assets, tests business durability, and considers what a potential acquirer might pay before committing capital. 🏛️ What separates meaningful corporate governance reform from surface level changes, and why smaller companies are at a different stage of that journey. 🤝 What constructive activism looks like in practice, from private conversations and financial education to proposals on pricing, operations, capital allocation, and growth. ⏳ How Jamie approaches liquidity and exit risk when change takes years, plus his advice for aspiring investors on reading source documents, learning from mistakes, and thinking from first principles. If you like deep value investing, Japanese equities, and honest conversations about what it takes to drive change inside a business, this one’s for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

  8. Sep 15

    Robert Thorén: Why the Best Quants Need More Than Math and Code

    What happens when you combine mathematics, engineering, and finance for nearly three decades? In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, I sit down with Robert Thorén, partner at Algorithmica Research, quant engineer, entrepreneur, and someone who was building what we now call robo-advisory before the industry even had a name for it. Robert’s journey into quantitative finance started in the 1990s, when quants were far from mainstream and financial technology looked very different from what it does today. Since then, he has built businesses, quantitative infrastructure and industrial-scale systems used for pricing, risk management and trading. We talk about everything from launching a finance startup during the dot com era to what separates great quants from great mathematicians, and why the AI revolution might actually make strong engineering fundamentals more valuable, not less. 🧮 Why mathematics and engineering fundamentals still matter in an era dominated by AI 🚀 What it was like building a financial technology company during the dot-com boom and winning clients through cold calling ⚙️ How industrial-scale quant infrastructure works behind the scenes when financial institutions are dealing with millions of positions 🤖 How AI is transforming software development, coding and productivity, and why Robert believes the role of engineers will evolve rather than disappear 🎯 Why the next generation of quants needs to combine mathematics, computer science and a genuine curiosity for financial markets If you like quant finance, technology and conversations about where AI is taking the financial industry, this one’s for you. Oh, and if you haven't already... subscribe to The Blunt Dollar for more raw and honest finance conversations. New episodes drop every other week! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And last, but not least, don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignacio-ramirez-moreno-cfa/ Enjoy the episode! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.

See All (90)

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Finance doesn’t have to be boring or sugarcoated. It’s time for a show that tells it like it is. The Blunt Dollar is where real conversations meet real finance, hosted by Ignacio Ramírez Moreno, a fixed-income advisor, CFA charterholder, and LinkedIn content creator who isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. Each episode brings candid, thought-provoking discussions with investors, traders, analysts, and market thinkers who cut through the noise and get to the truth behind money, markets, and investing.  Whether it’s exposing the myths of the financial world, exploring the hidden forces shaping markets, or breaking down the latest trends in a way that actually makes sense, The Blunt Dollar delivers raw insights, straight talk, and a touch of humor. New episodes drop every other week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  Want to hear a story that needs to be told? Reach out to thebluntdollar@outlook.com, and let’s make it happen.

Information

  • Creator
    Ignacio Ramirez Moreno, CFA
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Blunt Dollar
  • Show Website
    The Blunt Dollar

You Might Also Like