The Wall Street Skinny

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In this episode, we’re joined by Alicia Levine, Head of Investment Strategy at BNY Wealth, for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s driving markets right now — and what investors should actually do about it. We start by breaking down the real difference between wealth management vs. asset management, then zoom out to the biggest macro theme of the moment: policy volatility across the U.S., Japan, and beyond. Alicia explains why inflation is structurally higher post-COVID, how shifts in Japan’s rates can ripple through global bonds and FX, and why markets react to the rate of change in policy rather than the headlines themselves. We also dig into why gold is surging (and whether or not you can actually monetize “Grandma’s silver”), what’s happening in healthcare stocks, and why equities can still be a strong inflation hedge when growth holds up. Finally, Alicia shares a powerful reminder on long-term investing you won't want to miss, plus practical career and money advice for younger listeners (including the “anti-DoorDash trade”).
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Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

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This week on He Said, She Said, CNBC Fast Money stars, Guy Adami and Dan Nathan together with Kristen and Jen from The Wall Street Skinny dive into one of the most overlooked market shocks of the year: a massive, seven standard deviation move in the Japanese bond market. Jen breaks down why the long-assumed era of low inflation and easy monetary policy in Japan may be ending—and what that means for global markets. From failed bond auctions to yield curve dislocations, this is a masterclass in sovereign debt and fiscal risk with insights that apply far beyond Japan.
The group also debates Netflix’s all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and why shareholders seem so uneasy about it. Kristen explains the counterintuitive math behind why switching from a stock deal to an all-cash offer actually hurts Netflix’s earnings per share, why Wall Street hates uncertainty, and why shareholders have reason to be skeptical M&A won't destroy shareholder value. After all the same Warner Brothers was the target of the catastrophic 2000s AOL-Time Warner merger that is the poster child for M&A gone bad?
Finally, the gang touches on gold, silver shortages, and the deeper themes driving flight to hard assets. From gold coins in safes to astrology readings in St. John, it’s a whirlwind of macro, M&A, and mayhem—with plenty of jokes (and Dutch oven references) along the way.
Shop our Self Paced Courses:
Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HERE
Fixed Income Sales & Trading HERE
Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

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We are BACK with one of the most dense, finance-forward, darkly entertaining episodes of Industry YET. With a title that evokes the theme of "belongings", this episode is all about who belongs in which rooms, who belongs to whom when it comes to control, and what are our characters willing to sacrifice to ultimately get what they want.

We see Eric and Harper's short-only hedge fund struggling to get enough investor buy-in to get off the ground. As Jim Dycker prepares to publish his allegations about Tender’s murky payments business, the episode leans hard into the real risks of short-selling; being right doesn’t matter unless you have timing, proof, and a story the market believes. We unpack the real history of infamous shorts gone awry with the Ackman/Icahn battle over Herbalife in a mini-history lesson you won't want to miss.

But just as much as Harper wants money coming through the doors, she struggles to open up to Eric and Kwabena, both of whom seek closeness on a personal AND professional level. Will Harper ever be able to actually let anyone in? Perhaps Sweetpea, with her mutual love of ethically questionable investigations, is her only true soulmate.

Meanwhile, Tender seeks to acquire an Austrian bank in order to backdoor a European banking license, and the C-suite is forced to confront a bad actor with fascist sympathies. Yasmin takes control of Henry, pushing him to weaponize his trauma, managing regulators through political and media pressure, and inserting herself into rooms where she clearly doesn’t “belong.” In Vienna, what looks like a merger charm offensive veers into something darker, both for the company and Yasmin & Henry's marriage. 
This is where the title’s meaning lands with a punch. In the world of Industry, money, morals, and people themselves have become possessions that can be claimed, traded, and taken away.
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Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

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Netflix just announced it plans to revise its Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition offer to an all-cash deal — but why? Wasn’t the bidding war already over? And why did Netflix stock drop after the announcement?
In this episode, Kristen breaks down the latest twist in the Netflix–Warner Bros.–Paramount saga. Paramount is now suing Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming the Netflix offer is vague and potentially undervalued. Meanwhile, Netflix’s original $27.75/share offer, which included a mix of cash and stock, is losing value as Netflix’s stock price drops. The equity portion had a collar to protect WBD shareholders — but with the stock trading below the floor, the effective deal price has lost over $0.50 per share.
We explain:
Why Netflix is switching to all-cash
How the mechanics of collars and exchange ratios affect deal value
Why Wall Street didn’t love the all-cash revision, even though it sounds shareholder-friendly
The math behind how stock vs. debt financing impacts EPS and acquisition cost
What to expect next (spoiler: Paramount could still raise its bid)
This is a real-world case study in M&A strategy, capital structure, and valuation. Stick around for the full breakdown.
Shop our Self Paced Courses:
Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HERE
Fixed Income Sales & Trading HERE
Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

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Lucy Baldwin, the Global Head of Research at Citigroup, is leading one of the most consequential shifts in how institutional research is done today. In this episode, we unpack how the sell-side research role is being completely redefined, moving beyond spreadsheets and earnings models to incorporate AI, storytelling, and differentiated data sets. Lucy explains why today's best analysts are as much creators and communicators as they are forecasters, and why research that can’t break through the noise is effectively worthless.
We also dig into how Citi is expanding its coverage beyond public equities to include private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX—companies too large and important to ignore, even if they aren’t public. Lucy shares what that research looks like, how Citi is navigating regulatory and disclosure constraints, and why institutional clients are hungry for guidance in the growing universe of private markets. This isn’t research as we knew it 10 years ago—and Lucy gives us a front-row seat to the transformation.
Finally, we discuss how the perception of research on Wall Street is changing. Once viewed as a role that would pigeon hole you in terms of exit opportunities, research is now a launchpad for careers across the buy side, corporates, and private capital. Lucy shares how Citi is rethinking talent development, how AI is helping expand coverage capacity, and why the future belongs to analysts who can combine analytical rigor with creativity, conviction, and clarity of voice.
Shop our Self Paced Courses:
Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HERE
Fixed Income Sales & Trading HERE
Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.