FinanZe

Logan Lin

The FinanZe Podcast, a podcast focused on educating Gen Z about finance and investing. I’m your host, Logan Lin. In this podcast I talk with the most distinguished and renowned CEOs, private equity investors, venture capitalists, investment bankers, and hedge fund managers on Wall Street. Welcome and let's start learning together!

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Episodes

Episode 17: Leadership in the Business World with Former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman
Feb 27 2022
Episode 17: Leadership in the Business World with Former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode,  we are joined by Mr. Paul Polman.  Business leader, campaigner, Co-Author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take”, recently published October 2021.  I loved the book so please go check it out on Amazon here: Net Positive Book on Amazon. To learn more about Mr. Polman and what he is trying to accomplish regarding ESG please check out his website here: Net Positive Website.Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality. A leading proponent that business should be a force for good, Paul has been described by the Financial Times as “a standout CEO of the past decade”. Being named Investor Magazine CEO of the Year 3 years in a row from 2010 to 2012, as well as being named European Business Leader of the year by The Wall Street Journal.As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), he demonstrated that a long-term, multi-stakeholder model goes hand-in-hand with excellent financial performance. Paul was a member of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel which developed the Sustainable Development Goals and which he continues to champion, working with global organizations and across industry to advance the 2030 development agenda.Paul’s new book, “Net Positive”, is a call to arms to courageous business leaders, setting out how to build net positive companies which profit by fixing the world’s problems rather than creating them. He Chairs IMAGINE, a social venture dedicated to systems change, and Saïd Business School, and he is Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact as well as a B Team Leader. Paul isHonorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, which he led for two years.In part 2 of today’s discussion we hit on topics such as  what it takes to be successful in the corporate world, what makes a great ceo, how people are at the heart of business, and what Paul thinks are a leaders most important attributes. Mr. Polman is a once in a lifetime CEO… please enjoy this episode. This one was my favorite podcast and I hope you guys enjoy.To learn more about our podcast, follow us on Instagram @The_Finanze_podcast to receive updates on new episodes and our podcast’s future, or subscribe to our youtube channel at The FinanZe Podcast. To receive updates about our podcast episodes, join our emailing list at the.finanZe.podcast@gmail.com. Enjoy the episode!Support the Show.
Episode 16: Net Positive & ESG Business with Former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman
Jan 21 2022
Episode 16: Net Positive & ESG Business with Former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode,  we are joined by Mr. Paul Polman.  Business leader, campaigner, Co-Author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take”, recently published October 2021.  I loved the book so please go check it out on Amazon here: Net Positive Book on Amazon. To learn more about Mr. Polman and what he is trying to accomplish regarding ESG please check out his website here: Net Positive Website. Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality. A leading proponent that business should be a force for good, Paul has been described by the Financial Times as “a standout CEO of the past decade”. Being named Investor Magazine CEO of the Year 3 years in a row from 2010 to 2012, as well as being named European Business Leader of the year by The Wall Street Journal. As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), he demonstrated that a long-term, multi-stakeholder model goes hand-in-hand with excellent financial performance. Paul was a member of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel which developed the Sustainable Development Goals and which he continues to champion, working with global organizations and across industry to advance the 2030 development agenda. Paul’s new book, “Net Positive”, is a call to arms to courageous business leaders, setting out how to build net positive companies which profit by fixing the world’s problems rather than creating them. He Chairs IMAGINE, a social venture dedicated to systems change, and Saïd Business School, and he is Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact as well as a B Team Leader. Paul isHonorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, which he led for two years.In part 1 of today’s discussion we hit on topics such as  the consumer goods industry, private labeling, how a consumer goods company buys a new brand, how he turned Unilever into a more ESG company, the most important points of his Book: Net Positive, the greatest challenge when it came to turning the company into a more net positive business, the idea of being driven and motivated, and role of consumer goods companies.Mr. Polman is a once in a lifetime CEO… please enjoy this episode. This one was my favorite podcast and I hope you guys enjoy. To learn more about our podcast, follow us on Instagram @The_Finanze_podcast to receive updates on new episodes and our podcast’s future, or subscribe to our youtube channel at The FinanZe Podcast. To receive updates about our podcast episodes, join our emailing list at the.finanZe.podcast@gmail.com. Enjoy the episode!Support the Show.
Episode 15: Investment Management with Billionaire Investor Ken Fisher
Dec 25 2021
Episode 15: Investment Management with Billionaire Investor Ken Fisher
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, we have self-made billionaire Ken Fisher, an esteemed author, CEO, and financial columnist. With Mr. Fisher, we discuss current economic and market conditions, money management, the true meaning behind diversification in a portfolio, key metrics when deciding when to buy a stock, Biden’s new infrastructure plan, how his Father Phillip Fisher (famed growth investing pioneer) shaped him into the person he is today, and Mr. Fisher's experience as an author and businessman. Most notably, Ken Fisher was the CEO and founder of Fisher Investments, an investment and financial advisor for people across the globe; he is now currently executive chairman of the firm. As of today, the firm manages close to $200 billion in assets and is the largest regulated investment advisor firm. Mr. Fisher is also on the Forbes 400  list of richest Americans and as of 2021 is worth $4.3 billion. In 2010, he was named to Investment Advisor magazine's "30 for 30" list of the 30 most influential people in the investment advisorybusiness over the last 30 years. He authored the "Portfolio Strategy" column in Forbes magazine. Fisher helped readers with financial and investment decisions through writing as well as through his business. "Portfolio Strategy" is the longest continuously running columnist in Forbes magazine's history, running for thirty-two and a half years. Fisher has also been featured in a number of other magazines across the globe as a columnist, featuring in prominent magazines such as Taiwan's Business Weekly, Chosun Mint in South Korea, elEconomista in Spain, De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, and Handelszeitung in Switzerland.     Further than finance and investing, Mr. Fisher has been devoted to research as a pioneer of many research studies. Most recently in "Cognitive Basics in Market Forecasts" Mr. Fisher studies behavioral finance alongside Dr. Meir Statman of Santa Clara University. Mr. Fisher is the innovator of investment theory, the idea of a price being determined by solely supply and demand.     To learn more about our podcast follow us on Instagram @The_finanze_podcast to receive updates on new episodes and our podcast's future, or subscribe to our youtube channel at The FinanZe Podcast. To receive updates about our podcast episodes join our emailing list at the.FinanZe.podcast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed our episodes and learned from them we would appreciate it if you gave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help the growth of our podcast to help other individuals. Enjoy the episode!     Support the Show.
Episode 14: Contrarian Investing with Billionaire Co-Founder of The Quantum Fund Jim Rogers
Oct 1 2021
Episode 14: Contrarian Investing with Billionaire Co-Founder of The Quantum Fund Jim Rogers
Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, we have Jim Rogers, billionaire co-founder of The Quantum Fund and Soros Fund Management. Mr. Rogers is known by many in the finance world as one of the greatest investors of all time. From 1973 to 1980, the Quantum Fund portfolio gained 4,200% while the S&P advanced only about 47%.  He is also accredited as the creator of the Rogers International Commodities Index (RCI) and co-founder of Soros Fund Management. In addition, Rogers is a holder of three Guinness World Records and is much more than just an investor and businessman. Rogers speaks about "The Millennium Adventure," where he takes part in a journey spanning over 3-years in a unique Millennium Mercedes-Benz car, giving Jim Rogers and his wife, Paige Parker, a new way to discover the world. Rogers passes through 116 countries, more than 245,000 kilometers of land on six continents, finally ending in Iceland at the beginning of 1999.  Another topic covered this episode was Rogers' Quantum Group of Funds. Out of London, New York, Curacao, and the Cayman Islands, the Quantum Group of Funds helped investors build long-term wealth and create more diversification within their investment portfolios. Helping others meet their financial goals, the company works as a private family fund for the Soros family and retail investors. Finally, Rogers talks about the Soros Fund Management, a former hedge fund, which has been impactful in the world of business for many years. The fund initially began as an investment firm and hedge fund, but now works as a private family office. Even today, Soros Fund Management is involved in the financial and business world by owning and investing in holdings and cryptocurrencies. Outside of business Jim Rogers created "The Rogers Foundation," a foundation in Nevada dedicated to providing art and education to young children. The foundation has donated more than $90 million to programs to support its goals. Enjoy!Support the Show.
Episode 13: The Big Short with Billionaire Investor John Paulson
Aug 21 2021
Episode 13: The Big Short with Billionaire Investor John Paulson
Send us a Text Message.GTOAT- The Greatest Trade of All Time. On today’s episode we have one of the best if not the best hedge fund manager of all time, John A. Paulson. And today we reveal how he pulled off his Big Short during the 2008 financial crisis. Paulson leads Paulson & Co., a New York-based investment management firm he founded in 1994 and turned his hedge fund into a family office in 2020. He has been called "one of the most prominent names in high finance" and "a man who made one of the biggest fortunes in Wall Street history."Paulson executed the greatest trade of all time, making $20 Billion off one trade. He was the 100th richest person in the world in 2016 with a net worth of $9.7 Billion. In 2010, he set another hedge fund record by making $5 billion in one year. He was one of the first people to predict The Great Recession in 2004. Mr. Paulson has only done 5 public interviews in his career. This is the ONLY PUBLIC interview about his Big Short. Paulson is also known for his philanthropy. He donated $400 million to Harvard University back in 2015 (largest donation in school history), and around $2.5 Billion to other charitable causes. Such as  Between 2009 and 2011 Paulson made several charitable donations, including $15 million to the Center for Responsible Lending, $20 million to New York University Stern School of Business (auditorium now named after Paulson), $5 million to the Southampton Hospital on Long Island, $15 million to build a children's hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and £2.5 million to the London School of Economics for the John A. Paulson Chair in European Political Economy. In October 2012, Paulson donated $100 million to the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that maintains New York City's Central Park. And he has put half of his wealth into the Paulson Foundation. Today we will talk about how he got into finance, the basics of hedge funds, merger arbitrage, long/short strategy, how he predicated the fall of the mortgage market, his Big Short, his advice for everyone in the world, how he executed his trade, CDOs, credit default swaps, mortgage backed securities, assets under management used to make his Big Short, risk/return trade off, why he made the trade during a prosperous housing market, his UK and US Stock shorts, his philanthropy career, and more.Follow the podcast on Instagram @The_finanze_podcast for live updates on new episodes. You can check out our Youtube Channel at The FinanZe Podcast.Join our email list by emailing us at the.FinanZe.podcast@gmail.comIf you enjoy listening to our episodes and are learning then we’d be extremely grateful if you gave us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts.Enjoy the episode with one of the greats.Support the Show.
Episode 12: The Entrepreneurial Spirit with Billionaire Investor Chris Larsen
Jul 22 2021
Episode 12: The Entrepreneurial Spirit with Billionaire Investor Chris Larsen
Send us a Text Message.CHAPTER MARKERS:0:09- Introduction1:35- Chris Larsen's Origin Story4:35- The Story of E-loan.8:40- Chris Larsen's greatest challenge starting E-loan.11:25- His advice for all future & present entrepreneurs and What makes a great entrepreneur16:52- The Overview & Creation of Ripple and XRP.20:45- How Chris Larsen got into cryptocurrency.22:15: Chris Larsen’s opinion on Bitcoin and its energy usage23:24- What makes XRP so valuable?24:30- What is a cryptocurrency?25:00- When is something a currency and when is it a security?25:55- Store of Value in a cryptocurrency 26:50- The Concept of Fungibility 29:45- Is All Fiat Virtual?30:50- Paying Taxes with Cryptocurrency31:30- The Idea of Value & Price of a Cryptocurrency.33:12- The main differences & use cases between cryptocurrencies.34:50- The Cryptocurrency World is Tribal 37:35- How cryptocurrency transactions work on XRP Ledger & in General.40:40- How blockchains work using clean & bad energy45:40- What to know before entering the cryptocurrency world.46:10- Is XRP really decentralized?48:20- Chris’s views on Dogecoin and Elon Musk’s recent dip in Bitcoin.50:35- How to start investing in the cryptocurrency world.53:47- OutroOn today’s episode we have Chris Larsen, a successful angel investor, and entrepreneur who has founded numerous Bay Area startups. Today we will hear about his origin story and his thoughts on recent cryptocurrency trends. He is best known for being one of the co-founders, Former CEO, and current Executive Chairman of Ripple, a global blockchain software company that is used widely around the world. Larsen received praise, as he was able to create seamless financial transactions through blockchain payments with people on a global scale. Chris was the richest person in cryptocurrency until early this year and ranked #319 on the Forbes 400 list with a peak net worth of $4.6 Billion. Chris helped create one of if not the largest real-time gross settlement, currency exchange, and remittance networks in the world called Ripple. His company Ripple Labs specializes in the digital asset XRP, helping facilitate value transfer around the world. XRP has grown 30,000% from 2017 to 2018, surpassing crypto giants like Ethereum, and became the 2nd largest digital currency by market capitalization in the world. He is also responsible for the creation of E-loan in the 1990s, one of the first online mortgage lending services in the United States. E-Loan became the first company to freely provide consumers' FICO credit scores. He continued to run the growing company until it was bought out in 2005. A year later, he founded Prosper Marketplace. Its focus was to create a more personalized peer-to-peer lending service, which connected people on a global scale. He has made his mark as one of the most influential CEOs in the blockchain world. Gaining the respect of his peers, he has shown time and time again his deep understanding and success with cryptocurrency. Mr. Larsen has changed the world for the better, and I hope you all learn something new from this brilliant man. If you are loving the show please go ahead and follow us on your favorite podcast app., and leave us a review on apple podcasts. You can get in touch with us by email at Support the Show.
Episode 11: The Heart of Business with Former CEO of Best Buy Hubert Joly
Jun 29 2021
Episode 11: The Heart of Business with Former CEO of Best Buy Hubert Joly
Send us a Text Message.CHAPTER MARKERS:0:00- Introduction 1:30- How Hubert Got Started in Business 2:52- Why He left Carlson for Best Buy? 5:27- The REVIVAL of Best Buy10:03- Why Businesses NEED People13:09- Challenges & Accomplishments of Best Buy16:40- How to be a Great Leader17:45- Principles to Follow for Success22:47- How to Find YOUR Meaning and Purpose25:51- Why Passion Leads to Happiness and Success29:44- 4 Elements to Find Meaning in a Job34:11- Aiming for Perfection → FAILURE35:55- Advice for all Leaders41:04- What Drives Hubert Joly?Hubert Joly is the Former CEO of Best Buy, often credited for saving Best Buy from bankruptcy.  In the 2010s he took on Jeff Bezos and Amazon, trying to defeat them in the retail industry. He's widely considered as one of the best CEO's of all time, being ranked the 10'th best CEO in 2018 by the Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and Forbes. He's also the former CEO and chairman of Carlson Companies, a privately owned international conglomerate in the hotel, restaurant, and travel industries. Carlson Companies employs over 175,000 people in over 160 countries worldwide. He was elected a Global leader for tomorrow by the World Economic Forum and received the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest decoration in France for civil merit.Hubert has been praised by the CEOs of Amazon, Adobe, Burberry, Nike, Kohl’s, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Thrive Global, AXA, Ulta Beauty, Zoox, TIAA, KKR, Ralph Lauren, Vanguard Group, Ford Motors, Pepsi, IBM, and the McKinsey Group. In addition, Hubert Joly has been featured in such publications as Fortune, CBS News, Inc., CNN Business, and CNBC.Hubert also serves on the board of directors for Johnson & Johnson and Ralph Lauren. In addition, he's currently a professor/lecturer at Harvard Business School.  He just recently released his new book "The Heart of Business" which is now a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Seller.Support the Show.
Episode 10: Economic Policy with Former Chairman of The Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush Glenn Hubbard
Apr 22 2021
Episode 10: Economic Policy with Former Chairman of The Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush Glenn Hubbard
Send us a Text Message.On today’s episode I talk to Glenn Hubbard.Mr. Hubbard is widely considered as one of the greatest economists in the world.  He was also The Former Chairman of The Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Hubbard was The Dean at Columbia University’s School of Business from 2004 to 2019. From 1991 to 1993, he was The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Tax Policy to The US Treasury under President George H. W. Bush.  Lastly, he was the Former Chairman of the Economic Club of New York. He is the current Chairman of the Board at MetLife.  Mr. Hubbard is also a Board Member at KKR Fin Corp, as well as a Director of BlackRock fixed income funds.  Mr. Hubbard is the author of a number of economic and socioeconomic texts, with a focus on conservative fiscal policy and taxation. In 2009, he wrote and published The Aid Trap with economist William Duggan Columbia University Press, criticizing the aid system provided by NGOs in western countries as preventing internal growth in poorer nations. In 2013, he published Balance with former intelligence officer and economist Tim Kane.Mr. Hubbard was Mitt Romney’s Go-to economist during the 2012 election against Barack Obama; meaning he would have been either Fed Chair or Secretary Treasury if Mr. Romney won.In this episode we talk about his professional career, his challenges as Chair of CEA during the dot.com bubble burst and 911 recession, his greatest accomplishments as Chair of CEA, Biden’s American Jobs and Infrastructure Plan, inflation problems, economic recovery, Bush tax cuts of 2001, Trump tax cuts of 2017, bankruptcy, a company’s capital structure/recapitalization, short-term liquidity, how interest rates affect equities, and valuation of a company going IPO. Chapter Markers:0:08-0:59, Introduction of Glenn Hubbard 1:00-43:38, The Talk43:38- 45:31, Key Takeways from the episode Support the Show.
Episode 9: Timing The Market with Billionaire Investor Leon Cooperman
Mar 5 2021
Episode 9: Timing The Market with Billionaire Investor Leon Cooperman
Send us a Text Message.Wall Street Legend, Renowned Investor, and Philanthropist.  On today’s episode will be with billionaire investor Leon Cooperman. Who is considered by many in the finance world as one of the greatest investors of all time. A self made billionaire who reached a peak net worth of $3.3  billion back in 2020, and is now worth $2.5 billion. This is due to his philanthropic givings in the past year, and a half.  Directly after graduating from Columbia, Cooperman joined Goldman Sachs. He spent his first 22 years at Goldman in the Investment Research Department as partner-in-charge, co-chairman of the Investment Policy Committee and chairman of the Stock Selection Committee. In 1989, he became chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and was chief investment officer of the equity product line including managing the GS Capital Growth Fund, an open-end mutual fund, for one and one-half years.While at Goldman Sachs, for nine consecutive years, Cooperman was voted the number one portfolio strategist in the Institutional Investor"All-America Research Team" survey.After leaving Goldman Sachs, he organized a private investment partnership, Omega Advisors, Inc. Cooperman retired in 2016 and converted Omega to a family office. Mr. Cooperman averaged 12.4% returns every year, until his retirement. Lastly, Mr. Cooperman plans to donate all his money by the time of his passing. This episode is backed by Market Games.  The rise of automation is driving the need for students to build higher-order thinking skills that go beyond the textbook. The value of simply being book smart has declined, and the efficacy of textbooks in preparing students for the real world has also naturally declined. Just as businesses are adapting to changes in these uncertain times, the time has come for education to adapt to the market’s new demand for skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills.Market Games is an ed-tech startup that’s gamifying the textbook experience to help business educators drive down the costs of course materials and scale their students' success. We build active and collaborative digital tools that make learning more engaging, effective, and affordable for the new generation of learners.Learn more at https://www.marketgames.io/Support the Show.
Episode 7: Mastering Market Cycles With Billionaire Investor Howard Marks
Dec 21 2020
Episode 7: Mastering Market Cycles With Billionaire Investor Howard Marks
Send us a Text Message.Howard Marks is the Co-Founder/Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital. His company is the largest investor in distressed securities worldwide. His company manages over $124 billion dollars in assets. Howard Marks is widely considered as one of the greatest investors in the world. Mr. Marks is called, “The master of the market cycle”. In 2020, with a net worth of $2.1 billion, Marks was ranked No. 391 on the Forbes 400 rankings of the wealthiest Americans. During the financial crisis of 2007–08, Oaktree raised $11 billion, the largest distressed debt fund in history, to buy distressed assets, which "paid off richly for his investors". Howard is famous for his memos which which detail his investment strategies and insight into the economy and are posted publicly on the Oaktree website. Howard is also a bestselling author. He has written two books: The Most Important Thing and Mastering the Market Cycle. According to Warren Buffet, “When I see memos from Howard Marks in my mail, they're the first thing I open and read. I always learn something, and that goes double for his book." Ray Dalio says, “Howard Mark’s book Mastering the Market Cycle is a must read for all”. Charlie Munger states, “Howard’s books tell us how to learn from history, and thus allows us to get a better idea of what the future holds. According to Seth Klarman, “The Most Important Thing, Howard Marks insightful investment philosophy and time-tested approach, is a must read for every investor”Howard Marks received his bachelors from The Wharton School at UPenn and his masters at UChicago Booth.We will talk about basic topics like how Howard came up with the idea of his memos, distressed debt securities, and COVID-19 financial markets. Support the Show.
Episode 5: Behavioral Investing, Cash Flow, and Financial Reporting With The Dean at Cornell University’s School of Business Mark W. Nelson
Oct 15 2020
Episode 5: Behavioral Investing, Cash Flow, and Financial Reporting With The Dean at Cornell University’s School of Business Mark W. Nelson
Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the 5th episode of the podcast. I am joined by a very very special guest, Mark W. Nelson, The Dean at Cornell University’s School of Business.Mark W. Nelson is the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean and Professor of Accounting at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business. He received his BBA degree from Iowa State University and his MA and PhD degrees from The Ohio State University.Dean Nelson is responsible for Johnson’s three residential MBA programs, four Executive MBA programs, and two MPS programs. In that role, he oversees the research and teaching of Johnson’s faculty and the activities of Johnson’s staff in both Ithaca and New York City, as well as partnerships with Queens University, Tsinghua University, Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Tech. Dean Nelson also serves on the leadership team of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and has responsibilities relevant to the overall activities of the College as well as to various research centers and institutes.Dean Nelson’s teaching has focused on intermediate financial accounting and financial reporting, as well as judgment and decision making in accounting. He has received ten teaching awards at Cornell and Ohio State, including the American Accounting Association’s inaugural Cook Prize for graduate teaching excellence. He is a coauthor (with Spiceland and Thomas) of Intermediate Accounting.Dean Nelson’s research examines psychological and economic factors that influence how people make decisions with financial information; interpret and apply accounting, auditing, and tax regulations; and trade in financial markets. His research has been published widely in accounting and psychology, and has been acknowledged with the AAA's Notable Contribution to Accounting Literature Award, the AAA’s Wildman Medal, AJPT’s inaugural Best Paper Award, and the Johnson School's Faculty Research Award.Dean Nelson’s external service includes three terms as an editor of the Accounting Review and four years on the FASB’s Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council.Support the Show.