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Lead-Lag Live

Lead-Lag Live

By: Michael A. Gayed CFA
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About this listen

Welcome to the Lead-Lag Live podcast, where we bring you live unscripted conversations with thought leaders in the world of finance, economics, and investing. Hosted by Melanie Schaffer each episode dives deep into the minds of industry experts to discuss current market trends, investment strategies, and the global economic landscape.

In this exciting series, you'll have the rare opportunity to join Melanie Schaffer as she connects with prominent thought leaders for captivating discussions in real-time. The Lead-Lag Live podcast aims to provide valuable insights, analysis, and actionable advice for investors and financial professionals alike.

As a dedicated listener, you can expect to hear from renowned financial experts, best-selling authors, and market strategists as they share their wealth of knowledge and experience. With a focus on topical issues and their potential impact on financial markets, these live unscripted conversations will ensure that you stay informed and ahead of the curve.

Subscribe to the Lead-Lag Live podcast and follow @leadlagmedia on X to stay updated on upcoming live conversations and to gain exclusive access to a treasure trove of financial wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and brightest minds in the business.

Join us on this journey as we explore the complex world of finance and investments, one live unscripted conversation at a time. Be sure to like, comment, and share the Lead-Lag Live podcast with your network to help others discover these invaluable insights.

Stay tuned for the latest episode of the Lead-Lag Live podcast, and remember to turn on notifications so you never miss a live conversation with your favorite thought leaders. Happy listening!

© 2026 Lead-Lag Publishing, LLC
Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Equity Isn’t Ownership: Kaitlyn Walsh on Stock Options, Tax Traps, and the Mistakes Employees Regret
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Kaitlyn Walsh, Wealth Advisor and Equity Analyst, to break down what employees actually own when they receive stock options and why misunderstanding equity compensation can lead to costly mistakes.

    From incentive stock options and vesting schedules to fair market value, AMT exposure, and record-keeping errors, Walsh explains the decisions that matter most before, during, and after an equity grant and why timing, taxes, and planning can make or break outcomes.

    In this episode:
    – Why stock options are not the same as owning shares
    – How strike price and fair market value really work
    – The biggest vesting and exercise mistakes employees make
    – When stock options can trigger unexpected tax bills
    – Why poor record keeping can cost real money years later

    Lead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.

    #StockOptions #Equity #PersonalFinance #WealthPlanning #TaxPlanning #FinancialEducation #Investing #Money

    Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!
    Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEs
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V

    Support the show

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    15 mins
  • Inside Xtrackers XAIX: Why Most AI ETFs Get It Wrong and How XAIX Does It Better
    Jan 21 2026

    Artificial intelligence is driving one of the largest capital spending cycles in market history, yet most AI investment strategies focus on surface level exposure rather than true innovation. In this Lead-Lag Deep Dive, Melanie Schaeffer sits down with Aram Babikian of Xtrackers to examine how AI investing is evolving and why research intensity and patent activity may matter more than headlines.

    The discussion breaks down the structure behind XAIX, an AI focused ETF designed around companies that are actively building, protecting, and monetizing innovation. Babikian explains how patent filings and R and D spending act as forward looking signals, why unexpected companies like major banks appear in AI portfolios, and how this approach differs from more crowded thematic strategies.

    They also explore how XAIX fits alongside broader technology exposure, the tradeoffs between concentration and diversification, and how advisors think about incorporating AI into portfolios amid volatility, regulation, and rapid technological change.

    In this episode:
    Why AI investing is not the same as buying tech stocks
    How patent activity and R and D spending identify true innovators
    Why non tech companies can be major AI beneficiaries
    How XAIX differs from broader thematic AI exposure
    How investors think about sizing AI allocations responsibly

    Lead-Lag Deep Dive is a weekly series that breaks down the forces reshaping global markets. Each episode goes beneath the surface of one critical theme, examining how strategies are built, where risks hide, and what matters most for investors across cycles and asset sizes. Subscribe for research-driven insight beyond the noise.

    #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ThematicInvesting #ETFS #PortfolioStrategy #Finance #MacroTrends

    Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!
    Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEs
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • Global Rotation Underway: Hervé Van Caloen on Japan’s Revival, Semiconductors, and Defense Spending
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Hervé Van Caloen**, Owner and Portfolio Manager at **Mercator Investment Management, to break down why global markets outside the United States are entering a powerful new phase of leadership.

    From Japan’s aggressive stimulus and corporate reform push to structural dominance in semiconductors, defense technology, space, and energy infrastructure, Van Caloen explains how capital is rotating toward regions and industries aligned with long-term geopolitical and economic realities.

    In this episode:
    – Why Japan’s stock market continues to hit record highs
    – How semiconductors have become global oligopolies with pricing power
    – Why defense and space spending are entering a multi-year upcycle
    – How infrastructure and electricity demand are driven by AI growth
    – Why global diversification may matter more as U.S. valuations stretch

    Lead-Lag Live brings you inside conversations with the financial thinkers who shape markets. Subscribe for interviews that go deeper than the noise.



    Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!
    Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEs
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
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