Sosnoff / Ratigan - Truth or Skepticism from tastylive

Are Noncompete Clauses Fair? | Truth or Skepticism

The FTC recently ruled noncompete agreements can no longer be used for employees making less than $151K in non-senior leadership roles. On this week's episode, Tom and Dylan debate noncompete agreements and if they should be used. Is there a case for companies using them after making an investment in an individual? Or does a noncompete just trap people in a job they don't want? Tune into this week's episode and hear Tom and Dylan's respective takes as well as discuss why fewer and fewer comp...

We Created tasty So You Don't Have To Watch Them

We're unique. Or maybe special is a better way of putting it. Unconventional. We take the other side of what the general public thinks, says or does. It's not just about trading, it's a way of approaching life. Does it offer any advantages? We aren't really sure but it works for us and it's gotten us this far. On this week's episode, Dylan challenges Tom's philosophical approach to trading and life. Also, frankendogs. 

Financial Media Is One Big Conspiracy Theory | Truth or Skepticism

Was it a single shooter that killed Kennedy or were there more? What about the moon landing? Conspiracy theories have and always will exist. Improvements in technology mean even the most insane and destructive ideas can reach a wide audience and generate profits. Alex Jones is the poster child for that type of exploitation. At the same time, technology is what allows us to quickly disprove those types of people. On this week's episode, Tom and Dylan discuss conspiracy theories and how they p...

Are You Be Too Rich?

If Patrick Mahomes were told the most money he could make playing football is $1 million, would he quit? If a net worth limit were imposed, what would be the repercussions? There's an argument to be made that the pursuit of money has diminishing returns. It doesn't lead to greater happiness. It does create wealth inequality and inflation. A new socioeconomic theory is emerging that some sort of net worth limitation may improve society. Does the idea have merit? Tune in to hear Tom and Dylan ...

Big Tech Has Gone Too Far... Here Is Why

Last week, news was made when a quadriplegic man with a chip implanted in his brain allowed him to manipulate the chess pieces on a computer game. Moving the pieces on a chessboard are one thing, but the implications go far beyond games. The potential for what these chips can do is virtually unlimited. That may seem fantastic in some instances, but what are the implications? What kind of personal control would be sacrificed? Tune in this week as Tom and Dylan debate the future of human chipp...

Fuel for the Optimistic Fire?

'The Front Page of the Internet' and the potential strengths and drawbacks involved in Reddit's upcoming IPO. On this week's episode, Tom and Dylan debate being bullish on the 'the best social media app, pound-for-pound' and if it's justified bringing new players to the table.

Degree Or Debt | Is College Worth It?

For many college graduates, they enter the workforce and are unable to land a job related to their field of study. The jobs they end up with often pay less. Starting out earning less than their potential sets them on a lifetime path of under-earning relative to their potential. In many instances, these graduates are also saddled with student debt. It's fair to ask if the cost of a college degree is actually worth it. Tom and Dylan debate the value and necessity of a college degree on this we...

Apocalypse How

You have to take risk to make progress or be successful. One of the unique aspects of success in the business community is the reliance it creates. Companies like Facebook, Google and X are incredibly successful in the social media space. The bring a utility billions of people are using. The flip side to that is, if any one of those companies is hacked or goes down for some reason, the repercussions are exponential. It's single point of failure risk. Is that just a function of how success wo...

You'll Never Be As Good a Trader as Nancy Pelosi

When politicians buy options or stock and those trades are profitable, it's natural to wonder if they are trading on non-public information and gaining an unfair advantage. Sure, there's an argument to be made legislators should trade so they understand markets. But if trading and understanding leads to the appearance of impropriety and a corrupt government, is it worth it? Tune into this week's episode to hear Tom and Dylan hash it out.  

The Financial Media Money Pit, Explained

There is no place in life where being passive leads to success. Finance is no different. However, there are plenty of people out there who will tell you different. Who will tell you it's too hard. Who will tell you financial media is going to hurt your finances. The truth is a little different because at a minimum, financial media generates engagement. It leads to discussion and hopefully, further learning. Tom and Dylan discuss the role of financial media on this week's episode.

Did We Just Replace Tom With an AI?

Artificial intelligence is improving at a pace we can no longer really control. It's evolution on steroids. Today, there are companies that can use publicly available information to replicate your thoughts. Want to have dinner with John Kennedy? No problem. Want to know what Abraham Lincoln thinks about the state of our politics? Just ask. But what about when replications are used to manipulate? This week, Tom and Dylan discuss the future of AI and if it's a positive development or a threat.

Adam Neuman: The Smartest Failed Entrepreneur?

Elon Musk Is In For a $56 BILLION Reckoning

Tom Sosnoff and Dylan Ratigan dissect Elon Musk's recent legal tussle, in which he sought a hefty share compensation from the Tesla board, a request promptly dismissed by a discerning judge. Despite their typical pro-innovator stance, Tom and Dylan agree with the judicial decision. Delve into this episode of Truth or Skepticism to unravel their compelling rationale.

Bitcoin ETF: The Ugly Truth for Retail Traders

There's a perception out there that individual self-directed investors need to be protected from themselves. Take the recent bitcoin ETFs. Mainstream media is saying individual investors got left holding the bag. But did they? The truth is investors have been long bitcoin for year and used the ETF launches to take profits. Also this week, are regulations simply a derivative of bull and bear markets? Calls for more regulations always come in bear markets. In bull markets, no one wants more r...

Did Elon Musk Just Blackmail Tesla Investors?

If you invest in a company because you believe in the founder, are you investing in a company or are you investing in the person? Take it a step further. Imagine that founder comes back and says they have another business idea and want more money or else they'll develop the new business on the side. Is that blackmail or is it a fair ask? That's the current situation with Tesla and Elon Musk. Elon is asking for a new compensation package, otherwise he's going to develop some of his other busi...

Time to Short $META... For Ethics?

Is social media really a threat or is it just a scapegoat? Each generation thinks the next generation is being dumbed down by media consumption. Social media is the most recent battlefield. There is evidence that social media is addictive and has the ability to affect decision making as a result of curated feeds. On this week's episode Tom argues social media is no more a threat than television. Dylan has a different take. This and more on this week's Truth or Skepticism.

Are Story Stocks in For a Correction?

We all like a good story. There's nothing wrong with that. However, when we trust the story at the expense of the facts, we have a problem. Markets are the ultimate deciders. The information available in a liquid marketplace ultimately gets parsed down, resulting in prices reflective of true value. Outside of the market; however, facts have become disputable. When that happens, it becomes hard to value anything. Check out this week's episode to hear Tom and Dylan discuss the role of facts in...

Finance Insiders: The Market Is Overhyping AI. Look At This Instead.

Employment is Hitting a New Paradigm

Does the Housing Market Need an Overhaul?

Finance's Most Powerful are About to Be Outsmarted

Buffett, Munger and Bogel Don't Have as Much Edge As You Think

We're in the midst of a transformative era of personal finance. Whether it's sports betting, crypto, or equity and futures markets, self-directed retail investors are more engaged than ever. Members of the old guard, like Charlie Munger, are passing away after decades long careers that allowed them to achieve guru-like status. The question becomes, who steps into the spotlight once occupied by the Charlie Munger's and Jack Bogel's of the world? Or should the question we ask be, does anyone n...

Tom Sosnoff Explains The Biggest Risk to Fintech

How to Predict The Future

Is Your Social Media Data The Most Precious Commodity?

Insider's View: Finance is Shifting (here's how to prepare)

In a recent Bloomberg column, a startling revelation emerged: Financial institutions now generate a staggering 90% of their new revenue from asset price increases, rather than from attracting fresh clients. The truth is becoming clear – most financial institutions are heavily reliant on the significant 10% of their clients for a whopping 90% of their revenue. Join us this week on "Truth or Skepticism" for an exclusive inside look into how the finance industry is undergoing a profound trans...

You're Thinking About This Market Completely Wrong

Why are bonds down so much this year when stocks are up? If they’re both looking at the same world, you would think they would trade similarly. On this week’s episode, Dylan asks Tom to explain the discrepancy. Tune in to hear Tom’s explanation and why he thinks Dylan is a victim of the types of questions old men ask.

The Truth About the "Risk Free" Path | Truth or Skepticism

The most common reason we hear about people being passive investors is fear of risk. Risk of the unknown. However, we’ve dedicated our professional careers demonstrating outlier risk rarely happens and even when it does hit, markets absorb and recover almost immediately. War. Pandemic. Markets have a resiliency that’s a function of their efficiency. The only real threat anymore is size. Sizing inappropriately isn’t risk, it’s a self-inflected wound. Tune into this week’s episode as Tom and D...

Tom Can’t Get Enough of Taylor & Travis

An Economic and Political Tipping Point

Mea Culpa

Scan a handful of newspaper headlines and you might thing the world is worse off than it’s ever been. Now look at a chart of the stock market over the last 9 months and you’ll have a different takeaway. On this week’s episode Tom admits to being “public” and wrong about what the market truly reflects. Also, in light of the strikes in the auto industry, is the private sector actually more efficient than government? 

The Wolves of Wall Street

If you have a set of unique talents, there’s no better time to look for a job or ask for better compensation than at a time when the labor pool is nearly empty. Unemployment is well below 4% and the number of people seeking jobs is small. Should we really be surprised labor unions are threatening to strike or already striking? Also, what’s driving the DOJ’s pursuit of Google? Is it because they really feel they have a case or is it just a stickup? All this and more on this week’s episode.

Whose Way? Huawei

We’re seeing governments intervening in markets on multiple continents. In China, state employees have been banned from using foreign mobile phones. In Europe, the EU enacted new regulations with hopes of spurring competition. Are these moves out of desperation or just low hanging fruit for regulators looking to say they’re fighting for the little guy? Tom and Dylan discuss this and more on this week’s episode.  

How Much Can Wells Fargo Get Away With?

 If financial institutions had a three strike rule, Wells Fargo would have been out a long time ago. The bank is back in the news this week after being fined yet again. Financial reprimands haven’t worked thus far. The question becomes, when do regulators threaten to shut down the bank? On this week’s podcast, Tom and Dylan take a look at the situation with Wells Fargo, the impact of just a handful of stocks on the broader market and what the price of bitcoin might imply.

Skin In The Game

The housing crises of 2008 was in large part caused by mortgage lenders approving loans to people they knew couldn’t afford them. The lenders then turned around and sold those mortgages to investors in the form of securities. Lenders made money underwriting and money selling securities. But when borrowers defaulted, lenders faced no risk. They had no skin in the game. On this week’s episode, Tom and Dylan discuss the necessity of having skin in the game and how that creates accountability.  

One And Done

There’s a financial graveyard of fund managers who made a right call on the market which paid off huge. Maybe it was the housing crisis. Maybe it was the dot com bubble. When it comes to finance, rock star status can be attained with just one right call. It doesn’t matter if the last right call you made was the 1987 crash. Do it once and suddenly, you’re assumed “to know.” In truth, no one knows anything. Markets are random. But we want to believe someone knows so we can turn our money over ...

The Lie At The Center of Tom Sosnoff | Truth or Skepticism

A basic tasty tenant is to put time on your side. Trade small, give yourself time to be right, and recognize that markets are random. Dylan Ratigan wants to understand an irony in that sentiment. Tom has taken big and seemingly risky shots. Is there a flaw in tasty's core tenants? Tom gives some nuance on this week's episode of Truth or Skepticism.

Efficient Markets And AI

Not since the advent of the internet have people been so excited about a technological development as they are with artificial intelligence (AI). If you buy the hype, AI is the panacea for all our woes. War, inflation, politics, you name it, AI is being hailed as the antidote. To be fair, there are places where AI probably will improve our lives. But those places are where inefficiencies exist. In efficient spaces, like equity markets, can AI make a difference? Tune into this week’s episode ...

Greedy Bastards vs. Zen Opportunists

On today’s episode, we’re talking about capitalism and its tradeoffs. Opportunity brings liquidity but it also attracts grifters. Is there a better alternative or are grifters simply a byproduct that can’t be avoided? Also, new legislation is being proposed that would prohibit legislators from owning or trading in stock. Whether or not that makes sense or is just an optics play is open to debate. Tune into this week’s episode for all this and more.

Yes, AI Will Make You Rich. But Not How You Think.

Everyone seems convinced Artificial Intelligence (AI) is coming for their job. But maybe it’s a case of fear being overpriced. AI will have its place but it will also have its limitations. The role of AI; a win for Ripple and crypto; and a Paul Bunion reference. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear Tom and Dylan on all this and more.

It's The (Digital Asset) Economy, Stupid!

Trickle-down economics has been at the center of Republican economic theory since the term was coined back in the early 1980s. It’s predicated on less government involvement. Democrats are promoting what they’re calling Bidenomics, an economic system with a greater role for government programs. It's like a broken record. On this week's episode Tom and Dylan argue why the future of economics is tied to digital assets but no one is talking about it... yet.

Hide the Pickle

If you watch markets long enough, you’ll see how they adapt in near instant time. The occasional black swan event may catch markets off-guard, but things like sanctions over microchips are of no consequence because the market’s already adapted. It makes for great discussion but little economic impact. Also, why Elon owns the electric vehicle market. All this and more on this week’s episode.

LSD Has Gone Corporate

Do psychedelics generate alpha? There’s a growing number of CEOs acknowledging the benefits of micro dosing because it helps them to become more creative. What does this mean for corporate America? Tune in to hear Tom and Dylan discuss the idea of micro dosing and also, why markets so easily brushed off a potential coup in Russia.

The Everything Company and Aggregation of Power

There was a time when consumers went to different places for different needs. Companies aimed to do one thing and do it well. But in the past decade, that’s changed. Apple, the computer maker, is now a cell phone provider and bank as well. Amazon, the book reseller, is now a pharmacy, grocery store and more. It’s the rise of the everything company. On this week’s episode, Tom and Dylan discuss this evolution and whether or not an aggregation of power is good or bad.

Tim Cook Would Like $100 Billion Back

This week, Tom and Dylan fearlessly question the latest craze in virtual reality headsets, daring to challenge the very foundations laid by tech behemoths like Apple. Are these companies out of touch with what consumers really want? Regardless of if they are, where's the trading opportunity behind Apple's latest device?

Who's Worse? Madoff vs Holmes vs SBF

In this captivating episode of "Truth or Skepticism," hosts Tom Sosnoff and Dylan Ratigan tackle the nature of fraud, examining infamous cases involving Elizabeth Holmes, SBF, and Bernie Madoff. We kick off by dissecting the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, who deceived investors and the public with her grandiose claims about groundbreaking medical technology. Shifting gears, the discussion delves into fraud perpetrated by institutional investors. Is it possible...

Manufactured Risk

This country has a number of legitimate issue in need of addressing. The debt ceiling isn’t one. It’s an annual manufactured story that politicians rely on to get some quality TV time. To not solve the issue would be a self-inflicted wound that doesn’t need inflicting. On this week’s episode, Tom and Dylan cover the downside risk being created where no risk needs to exist and more.  

Where Do You Get The Best Leaders?

There is a reason corporations are more efficient than politicians. A good CEO knows they doesn’t know everything. They seek out the best of the best as they assemble teams and trust those teams to execute on a vision. In politics, embedded politicians face no consequence for being wrong and they tend to believe they know more than everyone else. Tom and Dylan discuss leadership, what an effective leader looks like and more on this week’s episode.

Mandatory Retirement

At what age do most people stop innovating? Maybe it’s time we identify a point at which innovators become a headwind if we want to progress economically, academically, and politically. Too many companies are led by people who are more focused on maintaining the status quo. Is there a way to change that? Tune in and check out what Dylan and Tom have to say. 

Banking Failures and Consolidation

The reasons regional banks are failing aren’t anyone’s fault but their own. Unless it’s because of someone else. Who is to blame here? Clearly, there was mismanagement. But was there also a political decision made to take advantage of mismanagement in an effort to consolidate the banking system? On this week’s episode, Tom and Dylan discuss who is to blame for the banking crisis and more.