Markets Without Spin

Franz Amussen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Investing

Markets Without Spin explores the incentives that drive markets, governments, corporations, and investor behavior. Hosted by Franz Amussen, the show examines why things happen—not simply what happened. Through historical examples, market analysis, and long-form conversations, each episode follows the incentives, follows the money, and follows the behavior beneath the headlines.

  1. 10h ago

    Episode 12: When Profits Aren't Profits: The Accounting Game Behind GAAP Earnings

    What does it really mean when a company says it "earned" $500 million? GAAP gives investors a common language for measuring corporate performance. But GAAP earnings aren't the same thing as cash—and the accounting choices, estimates and assumptions behind those earnings can have a profound effect on what investors see. In this episode of Markets Without Spin, we examine how accounting can make a company's economics look better or worse than they really are. We look at: Accrual accounting and the difference between earnings and cash Depreciation and useful-life assumptions FIFO vs. LIFO inventory accounting Revenue recognition Fair-value and mark-to-market accounting Management incentives and executive compensation Enron and the danger of turning future profits into today's earnings Arthur Andersen and the collapse of Enron Planet Labs and the opposite problem: when today's investment looks like today's expense Goodwill and acquisitions Why the cash flow statement may tell you more than the headline earnings number The central lesson is simple: Don't distrust GAAP. Understand it. Don't just ask, "What did the company earn?" Ask: How did it earn it? Where's the cash? What assumptions went into the number? What is management incentivized to do? And what is the company actually building with the money? Because companies don't spend earnings. They spend cash. Markets Without Spin explores the forces, incentives and financial mechanics that shape markets—and what investors should know before accepting the conventional story.

  2. Aug 25

    Episode 11: When Great Stories Become Bad Investments

    History's greatest investment bubbles reveal timeless lessons about valuation, cash flow, incentives, and speculation. This episode examines the South Sea Bubble, Railway Mania, and why revolutionary technology doesn't always make for a great investment.

  3. Aug 18

    Episode 10: Show Me the Incentives

    Episode 10 – Show Me the Incentives In this episode of Markets Without Spin, Franz Amussen traces the structural transformation of the American economy — not through ideology, but through incentives. Beginning with President Nixon's closure of the gold window in 1971, Franz explains how monetary expansion, inflation, regulatory accumulation, globalization, and financialization reshaped American production, ownership, and middle-class stability over decades. This episode explores: Why inflation is not neutral How Paul Volcker restored monetary credibility Why many factories never reopened after the early 1980s The incentive gap between U.S. and emerging markets The long-term hollowing of industrial communities Regulatory friction and its cumulative effects Financialization and capital concentration Why structural change rarely feels dramatic while it's happening This is not a political episode. It is an examination of cause and effect. If you want to understand how the American economy transformed — and why — start with incentives.

    Episode 10: Show Me the Incentives

  4. Aug 11

    Episode 9: The Myth of Safety

    The Myth of Safety In this episode, we examine what "safe" really means in modern finance. We often assume that money in the bank is secure. That brokerage accounts are protected. That money market funds are cash equivalents. History tells a more complicated story. This episode explores: The 2013 Cyprus bail-in and frozen deposit accounts Capital controls and withdrawal limits inside the European Union The 2008 "breaking the buck" moment at the Reserve Primary Fund How the commercial paper market nearly froze payroll across America The structural build-up to the 2008 financial crisis The incentives behind mortgage securitization and leverage expansion Moral hazard and the stabilization of major institutions through TARP A personal experience during the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank Why some uninsured depositors were rescued — and others were not Brokerage firm failures and the risk of losing access even when assets are legally segregated What it actually means to be an unsecured creditor of a bank How FDIC insurance works — and what it doesn't guarantee The role of the Treasury and Federal Reserve as ultimate backstops Why nominal protection is not the same as protection of purchasing power Practical steps toward antifragility in a layered financial system This episode sets the foundation for Episode 10, where we examine the gold window, inflation, and the structural shift in the monetary system. If you found value in this discussion, please subscribe and share.

    Episode 9: The Myth of Safety

  5. Aug 4

    Episode 8: Inside the Pipes: Dark Pools, Payment for Order Flow & Who Really Sets Price

    In Episode 8 of Markets Without Spin, Franz Amussen pulls back the curtain on the invisible plumbing of modern markets. When you click "buy" or "sell," where does your order actually go? It may never reach the public exchange. This episode breaks down: Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) Internalization Dark pools High-frequency trading and latency arbitrage Conditional liquidity The 2010 Flash Crash March 2020's liquidity shock Why stop-loss orders can behave unpredictably in stressed markets How leverage interacts with volatility Franz revisits lessons from: The 2010 Flash Crash The March 2020 COVID liquidity event A personal story involving short volatility exposure and margin liquidation Referencing Flash Boys by Michael Lewis, this episode explains how modern market structure fragments price discovery — and why liquidity can disappear when it's needed most. Key Takeaways Commission-free trading isn't free — it's monetized differently. A significant portion of retail flow never hits public exchanges. High-frequency traders provide liquidity — but only conditionally. In volatility spikes, liquidity providers step back. Liquidity risk can be more dangerous than fundamental risk. Structure determines survival during market stress.

  6. Jul 28

    Episode 7: The Anatomy of a Market Illusion: Why Smart People Believe Bad Stories

    Following Episode 6's breakdown of Bonneville Pacific, Episode 7 examines why investors fall for compelling narratives — and how market illusions form, grow, and collapse. Topics Covered Why smart people believe bad stories The three elements of every market illusion The false narrative of stock buybacks Bonneville Pacific and familiarity risk Utah's penny-stock boom The unverifiable modular nuclear pitch Why government endorsement ≠ due diligence Personal angel investing psychology Practical rules to avoid narrative traps

    Episode 7: The Anatomy of a Market Illusion: Why Smart People Believe Bad Stories

  7. Jul 21

    Episode 6: Corporate Boards, Corporate Governance & Shareholder Risk — The Illusion of Oversight

    Episode 6: Corporate Boards, Corporate Governance & Shareholder Risk — The Illusion of Oversight Do corporate boards really protect shareholders—or do they simply create the appearance of accountability? In this episode of Markets Without Spin, Franz Amussen examines one of the most persistent assumptions in investing: that corporate boards provide effective oversight of management. Drawing on firsthand experience with the collapse of Bonneville Pacific, along with lessons from Enron and other corporate failures, Franz explains why many boards struggle to challenge management, identify risks, or prevent costly mistakes. Rather than focusing on corporate governance as presented in annual reports, this episode explores the incentives, information gaps, and structural weaknesses that often prevent boards from serving as truly independent watchdogs. In this episode you'll learn: Why corporate boards often fail to protect shareholders How information asymmetry limits board oversight What the Bonneville Pacific collapse revealed about prestigious boards Why Enron remains a landmark example of governance failure How executive compensation can influence board independence Why directors often face few consequences after major failures What effective corporate governance would require The indicators investors should watch instead of relying on board prestige Whether you're an investor, board member, financial professional, or business owner, this episode offers a practical framework for evaluating companies beyond polished governance reports and impressive résumés. Next Episode: Why corporate forecasts so often miss reality—and how investors can recognize when forecasts are driven more by incentives than by objective analysis. If you enjoy Markets Without Spin, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with someone who wants to better understand the incentives and structures that shape today's markets. Follow Franz Amussen on LinkedIn for additional commentary and future episodes.

    Episode 6: Corporate Boards, Corporate Governance & Shareholder Risk — The Illusion of Oversight

  8. Jul 14

    Episode 5: Passive Investing, Money Printing & Stock Buybacks — The Liquidity Mirage

    Episode 5: Passive Investing, Money Printing & Stock Buybacks — The Liquidity Mirage Why did the stock market rise so dramatically for more than a decade? Was it simply stronger companies—or did powerful structural forces reshape markets? In this episode of Markets Without Spin, Franz Amussen examines how passive investing, unprecedented monetary expansion, and corporate stock buybacks combined to create one of the strongest and longest-running bull markets in history. He explains why these forces reinforced one another, why market liquidity may not be as deep as it appears, and what could happen as demographics, higher interest rates, and slowing money creation begin to change the investment landscape. In this episode you'll learn: How passive investing changed the behavior of financial markets Why 401(k) plans, target-date funds, and index funds created a powerful "Passive Bid" How money creation and monetary policy influenced asset prices Why corporate stock buybacks amplified rising stock prices The relationship between buybacks, executive incentives, and market valuations Why ETF liquidity can weaken during periods of market stress How retiring Baby Boomers may affect long-term investment flows Why future market cycles may differ significantly from the last fifteen years Whether you're an investor, financial professional, or simply interested in how modern markets function, this episode provides a framework for understanding the structural forces that have driven markets—and why those forces may be changing. Next Episode: We continue examining the incentives and structural changes reshaping today's financial markets. If you enjoy Markets Without Spin, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with someone who wants to better understand today's markets. Follow Franz Amussen on LinkedIn for additional commentary and future episodes.

    Episode 5: Passive Investing, Money Printing & Stock Buybacks — The Liquidity Mirage
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About

Markets Without Spin explores the incentives that drive markets, governments, corporations, and investor behavior. Hosted by Franz Amussen, the show examines why things happen—not simply what happened. Through historical examples, market analysis, and long-form conversations, each episode follows the incentives, follows the money, and follows the behavior beneath the headlines.

Information

  • Creator
    Franz Amussen
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Spydermount LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Markets Without Spin