Alternative Investments Chat

Invessio's Erica Lanier and Erin Akers
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Welcome to Alternative Investments Chat—where hosts and listeners dig into industry news, innovative ideas, and alternative investing trends together. Every episode is a discussion: sometimes we uncover what’s shaping the market, sometimes we learn from expert guests. This is the space to explore new approaches, weigh fresh perspectives, and grow smarter—by asking questions and sharing insights as a community. Whether you’re an investing pro or an industry novice, join us as we make the complex approachable for everyone. Brought to you by Invessio.

  1. 2D AGO

    Beyond the Hype: Where Innovation Capital Is Really Moving in 2026

    Innovation in 2026 is about far more than chatbots, crypto headlines, or the latest “hot” stock. In this episode of Alternative Investments Chat, Erica and Erin unpack the Q2 landscape and where institutional capital is quietly flowing, and why those trends matter for both entrepreneurs and investors. From the rise of agentic AI and the data centers powering it, to defense and the emerging space and satellite infrastructure economy, they walk through how technology, energy, and geopolitics are converging to reshape portfolios in real time. Listen to Learn: What agentic AI is, and why the real opportunity sits in infrastructure like chips, data centers, power, and high‑speed networks. How grids, pipelines, and AI generation are becoming core cash‑flow assets in an increasingly electric, AI‑driven world. Why geo‑patriation, nearshoring, reshoring, and friendshoring are driving multi‑year investment in supply chains, manufacturing, and industrial infrastructure. How defense and autonomy themes like drones, sensors, robotics, and software‑enabled systems are redefining modern defense spending. Why space and satellite infrastructure are shifting from sci‑fi to a real multi‑sector opportunity tied to connectivity, data, and cloud services. This episode is ideal for investors curious about where “alternative” is becoming mainstream, founders building in AI, infrastructure, or defense‑adjacent sectors, and anyone rethinking how to position their portfolio for the next wave of innovation‑led growth. Tune in to understand not just the narratives, but the capital flows behind them—and how to approach these themes with both curiosity and discipline. And be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more insights into the private sector! Alternative Investments Chat socials: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat TikTok: @altinvestmentschat

    27 min

  2. MAY 5

    International Equities Explained: Risk, Opportunity, and Global Growth

    What if the biggest equity opportunities of this decade aren’t in the United States at all? In this episode of Alternative Investments Chat, Erin and Erica take their ongoing equities journey global with a deep dive into international stocks—what they are, why they matter, and how they might fit into a diversified portfolio in 2026. From developed markets like Japan, the UK, and Western Europe to fast-growing emerging economies such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and parts of Southeast Asia, they’ll explore how investing across borders can open the door to new sectors, currencies, policy environments, and consumer trends. Listen to Learn: How developed vs. emerging markets differWhy diversification across countries and currencies can help smooth uneven global cyclesHow currency movements can boost or drag returns when converting back to dollarsHow Japan, Europe, and emerging markets like India illustrate different international equity stories in 2026Practical ways to gain international exposure using index funds, mutual funds, and ETFsThis episode is ideal for equity investors, globally curious beginners, and anyone who feels over‑concentrated in US stocks. Tune in to learn how international equities can act like a seatbelt in your long‑term strategy, adding diversification, spreading risk, and helping you participate in emerging global markets. Be sure to follow, subscribe and turn on notifications to catch the latest insights into the private sector! Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    21 min

  3. APR 21

    Preferred Stock Equities: Where Stability Meets Ownership

    In this episode of Alternative Investments Chat, Erin and Erica crack open the often-overlooked world of preferred shares—that hybrid zone where equity ownership meets bond-like income. Blending humor, real examples, and accessible analogies (yes, even Prius jokes), they unpack what makes preferred stock such a unique fixture between stability and upside...at least when you’re working the math right. Listen to Learn: What preferred shares are and how they sit between common stock and bonds in both structure and payout priority. The major types of preferred stock, including cumulative vs. non-cumulative, callable, participating, and convertible, and how each works in practice. How dividend rates are set, what “par value” means, and how credit quality, interest rates, and market demand shape income variability. Ways to buy preferred stock, from brokerage platforms to private placements, plus what to watch for around liquidity and accessibility. After listening, you’ll understand why preferred shares are designed to be reliable, not thrilling, and how they may provide steadier cash flow and defensive ballast alongside your common stocks and other alternatives. Whether you’re an entrepreneur thinking about capital structure or an investor craving insight into the private sector, this conversation will help you see where preferred stock might belong on your portfolio. Tune in, follow, and subscribe to Alternative Investments Chat for more deep dives that crack open the world beyond traditional markets! Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    22 min

  4. APR 7

    Dividend-Paying Stocks: The Equity That Pays You to Wait

    In this episode of Alternative Investments Chat, Erin and Erica break down the fundamentals of common shares; what they are, how ownership actually works, and why even a small stake can represent real participation in a company’s success. From opening a brokerage account to understanding ticker symbols, voting rights, and dividends, they make the process of buying and holding stock clear and relatable. Tracing the journey from the Dutch East India Company to today’s markets, this episode highlights how common shares balance opportunity with volatility, reminding listeners that patience and thoughtful investing remain timeless advantages. Tune in, follow, and subscribe to Alternative Investments Chat for more deep dives that crack open the world beyond traditional markets! Listen to Learn: · What common shares are, and how they give you partial ownership and voting rights · How to open and fund a brokerage account and place your first stock trade online · Why companies issue stock, what an IPO is, and how the Dutch East India Company helped shape modern markets · The key benefits of common shares: growth potential, liquidity, aligned incentives, and limited liability · The major risks: volatility, dilution, last-in-line payout priority, and emotional decision-making Perfect for anyone nervous to ask “basic” questions about stocks, this episode makes common shares clear, approachable, and encouraging. Tune in, follow, and subscribe to Alternative Investments Chat for more deep dives that crack open the world beyond traditional markets! Alternative Investments Chat socials: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat TikTok: @altinvestmentschat Parent company socials: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    25 min

  5. MAR 24

    Common Shares Explained: The Equity that Built the Market

    Dividend stocks might not grab headlines like crypto or high tech, but for the patient investor, they can be a quiet workhorse building long-term wealth. In this episode, Erica and Erin break down how dividend-paying equities work, how they relate to everyday common shares, and why some of the world’s most established companies have paid them for over a century. They explain how owning common shares in dividend-paying companies can generate income without constantly trading or timing the market, turning basic stock ownership into steady cashflow. From understanding key dividend dates to harnessing the power of reinvestment and compounding, they explore how these common share assets can anchor a portfolio. In a market where many investors are shifting from pure growth to income-focused strategies in 2026, our hosts spotlight real-world examples like consumer staples, utilities, and even special dividend payers. They’ll also discuss how younger investors are finally waking up to the appeal of getting paid while they wait. Listen to Learn: What dividend-paying stocks are, and how they differ from traditional growth-focused equitiesHow the dividend calendar works for common shares and why they matter for payoutsHow dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) and compounding can turn cash from common shares into more ownership and larger future payoutsThe key benefits and risks of dividend investing, including yield traps, cuts, and inflation risk This episode is for long-term investors, retirees, income-focused savers, and anyone curious about using common shares to build cash flow instead of the next hot stock. Tune in to learn whether dividend-paying common shares deserve a place in your strategy, and how sophisticated investors tend to use them. Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    25 min

  6. MAR 10

    Undeveloped But Not Overlooked: Raw Land as an Alternative Investment 

    Raw land may look empty, but for the right investor, it can be full of opportunity. In this episode, Erica and Erin break down one of the oldest yet most overlooked forms of real estate investing: undeveloped land. From rural acreage and farmland to desert parcels and city-edge expansion zones, raw land can offer low entry costs, long-term appreciation potential, and fewer day-to-day management headaches than developed properties. But it also comes with unique risks, including zoning restrictions, environmental considerations, financing hurdles, and illiquidity. Listen to Learn: What raw land investing is and how it differs from developed real estateHow urban expansion and economic growth can drive long-term land appreciationReal-world examples of large-scale land ownership by billionairesHow leasing farmland or energy rights can create cash flow from undeveloped propertyHow fractional ownership platforms are opening access to large-scale land deals This episode is ideal for long-term investors, real estate enthusiasts, and anyone exploring real estate based alternative assets. Tune in to learn more about raw land as an alternative investment and whether this “blank canvas” asset belongs in your long-term strategy. Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    18 min

  7. MAR 3

    Real Estate After 2008: How the Crash Changed Investing Forever 

    The Great Recession wasn’t just a housing crash, it was a financial chain reaction that reshaped how investors, lenders, and policymakers think about risk, leverage, and real estate forever. In this episode, Erica and Erin unpack how subprime lending, mortgage-backed securities, and complex financial products collided to trigger one of the most severe economic downturns in modern history, and what today’s investors can learn from it. Listen to Learn: How subprime mortgages, adjustable rates, and weak lending standards fueled the housing bubbleWhat mortgage-backed securities, CDOs, and credit default swaps did to the financial systemWhy defaults triggered a global market freeze and historic job and wealth lossesHow government intervention, stimulus, and Dodd-Frank reshaped banking and consumer protectionWhat investors learned about leverage, risk, cash flow, and market psychology after 2008 This conversation is especially valuable for real estate investors, market watchers, and anyone building a long-term portfolio who wants to understand how past crises influence today’s rules, protections, and opportunities. Tune in to the podcast to learn more about how the 2008 financial crisis transformed real estate investing, financial regulation, and long-term investor strategy. Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    23 min

  8. FEB 24

    The Buyer’s Market Explained: More Homes, More Leverage

    A buyer’s market doesn’t make headlines, but it can build real wealth. In this episode, Erica and Erin break down what a buyer’s market looks like and why it may be one of the most overlooked opportunities in real estate. While seller’s markets often dominate headlines with bidding wars and soaring prices, buyer’s markets quietly shift the balance of power. More inventory, longer listing times, and increased negotiation leverage can create meaningful advantages for disciplined buyers and long-term investors. Together, Erica and Erin explore the economic forces, behavioral shifts, and market signals that define buyer-friendly conditions, along with what this environment means for acquisitions, exits, and portfolio strategy in today’s evolving housing landscape. Listen to Learn The key indicators: inventory levels, days on market, and price reductionsHow rising interest rates, migration trends, and affordability shape housing cyclesWhy negotiation power returns to buyers, and how that changes deal structureWhat buyer’s markets mean for investors, REITs, and long-term portfolio strategyWhy today’s environment may represent a healthy reset rather than a housing crash This episode is especially valuable for first-time homebuyers, real estate investors, and anyone trying to understand where the housing market may be heading next. Tune in to the podcast to learn more about buyer’s markets, real estate cycles, and how smart investors position themselves when leverage shifts. Alternative Investments Chat socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @alternativeinvestmentschat     LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alternativeinvestmentschat     TikTok: @altinvestmentschat         Parent company socials:     Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @invessio      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/invessio/

    19 min
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About

Welcome to Alternative Investments Chat—where hosts and listeners dig into industry news, innovative ideas, and alternative investing trends together. Every episode is a discussion: sometimes we uncover what’s shaping the market, sometimes we learn from expert guests. This is the space to explore new approaches, weigh fresh perspectives, and grow smarter—by asking questions and sharing insights as a community. Whether you’re an investing pro or an industry novice, join us as we make the complex approachable for everyone. Brought to you by Invessio.

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