UPThinking Finance™

Oil is a global commodity. When President Nixon took the United States off the Gold Standard, it created difficulty with global commodities. At that time, the major oil producers around the world agreed that oil would be priced in dollars globally (which led to the term “Petro-dollar”). When you link something to a currency, it can be inflationary or deflationary. We prefer the dollar to be strong, which makes the stuff we buy more affordable. Right now, the dollar is strong, but we aren’t seeing deflation. We are in an environment that isn’t following the “rules” of economic textbooks. So in this episode of Upthinking Finance™, Chris Pusak—a Client Portfolio Manager at Cushing Asset Management—helps dissect the energy sector. We talk about both the local and global impact of oil production and distribution, why fracking won’t end, and weigh in on the various political and economic factors. Don’t miss this episode! ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [4:39] Learn more about Cushing Asset Management [7:31] Why the energy sector plays a huge role in the economy [11:11] Dissecting the influence and impact of OPEC [13:16] The two common types of drilling for oil [17:46] How the green movement will impact the future of energy [25:36] Why the price of natural gas is immensely volatile [27:32] The political impact on the rising price of gas [32:13] Where is the energy industry headed? The two common types of drilling for oil At some point, Chris points out that the world will start to run out of oil. We may completely deplete oil from the planet. The Saudis do conventional drilling and draw from a pool from an underground oil reserve (it’s like sucking the oil out with a straw). The US mainly engages in hydraulic fracturing. Oil drilling was a risky business before this technique was developed. With hydraulic fracturing, you put the drill bit down two miles (10,000 feet) and then turn it sideways and drill out two miles. This allows you to “sweep” the area so you never miss. With hydraulic fracturing, you get the most production from a fractured well in the first 2–3 years, and then production declines quickly. Because of the way these wells work, you consistently have to drill new wells to keep production levels steady. It’s expensive and requires a lot of capital upfront. Oil companies are motivated to drill to maximize profits and that’s the simple reality. How the green movement will impact the future of energy There is a transition taking place. However, the problem is that the green movement is trying to flip the switch too quickly. Many countries can’t meet the demand for green energy. Chris points out that only 3% of power today is generated from non-carbon fossil fuel sources. Because of this, banning fracking is impractical. Globally, oil is mainly a transportation fuel. Chris believes that there will be a day when oil is unimportant to the world. But Chris isn’t sure that will happen during our lifetimes. The case for fracking: natural gas Natural gas has greater longevity. Why? Because when you drill for natural gas, you get a dry gas (methane), which is converted to electricity. The US has reduced its carbon footprint by reducing power generation from coal to methane. Methane now contributes to 40% of power generation in the US. Wet gasses that are drilled include butane, propane, and methane. Butane is common in lighters. Propane is used as a source for heating and cooking. Methane gas is one of the main ingredients in plastics. Chris emphasizes that “If you ban fracking…you would send the price of all energy into the hypersphere, creating massive inflation and a global depression—as if we were living in 1875.” Recently, because of the pandemic and energy policies in Europe, the price of natural gas has skyrocketed from $2 to $60–$70 in Europe. It’s $9 for 1 million BTUs in the US. Where is the oil industry headed? What is the influence of OPEC and the IEA on the energy industry? Listen to the whole episode to learn more about what impacts the pricing of oil & gas and how it impacts you. Chris Pusak is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial or Capital Investment Advisers. The opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial. Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC. The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered o ================================= CONNECT WITH CHRIS PUSAK Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjpusakcima/ ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

Over 20% of Exxon Mobil stock is owned by Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street. That means they have 20% of the voting rights. Starbucks is largely held by Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street. Why is this important? These companies are some of the largest advocates for the World Economic Forum (WEF) which forces compliance with the objectives and philosophy of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG). It’s clearly not in our imagination that these companies control the stock of several publicly traded companies and can influence how they run their business. What do we make of this? How do we stand a chance? Today’s guest believes that the WEF is losing the battle. Tom Luongo is a Former Research Chemist, Amateur Dairy Goat Farmer, Anarcho-Libertarian and Obstreperous Austrian Economist whose work can be found on sites like Zerohedge, Lewrockwell.com, Bitcoin Magazine and Newsmax Media. He’s also the owner and publisher of the Gold, Goats, and Guns Newsletter and podcast. Tom shares why he believes the WEF—who he not so affectionately refers to as the “Davos” crowd—will not win the war in this episode of Upthinking Finance™. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… 00:00 - Don't miss this episode of Upthinking Finance! 7:51 - Who is the “enemy?” Who are we fighting against? 10:50 - Why the Davos crowd is losing the battle 21:07 - Why the world has underestimated Russia 30:54 - The US Commercial Banking System holds the power 33:26 - Why the Brits have always tried to control the US government 38:03 - What should people pay attention to? Where are things headed? 45:24 - Why we can’t be afraid to seek the truth and speak our minds ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED The Not So Great Reset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtaFK3suqQ0 The Screwtape Letters: https://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652934 ZeroHedge: https://www.zerohedge.com/ ================================= CONNECT WITH TOM LUONGO Check out Tom’s Website: https://tomluongo.me/ Sign up for Tom’s Newsletter: https://tomluongo.me/category/newsletter/ Check out Tom’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gold-goats-n-guns-podcast/id1435023391 Follow Tom on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TFL1728 ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

Pastor Rodney Nichols learned at a young age that he was musically talented and was asked to direct the Pastor’s choir. But he knew God had a greater plan for him. In June of 2000, he accepted his calling to be a preacher. He became the Pastor of True Faith Holiness Church for four years. After he met his wife in 2008 and graduated from Bible College, they planted the Garden of Praise Christian Fellowship, where they serve today. Their mission statement is to “extend, equip, and deploy.” They extend the hand of God to the lost, equip those who are seeking with the teachings of God’s infallible word, and deploy those who they’ve equipped to build the kingdom of God on earth. Pastor Rodney’s motto is “If God is in control, then we won’t be out of control.” In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we talk about Pastor Rodney’s church, his ministry, “Midnight Soldiers,” and following God’s calling on his life. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [5:46] How you can feel God’s call on your life [7:22] Forming Garden of Praise Christian Fellowship [16:14] The mission and vision of Midnight Soldiers [18:33] The power of small churches to make a difference [24:29] What’s next for Garden of Praise Christian Fellowship ================================ CONNECT WITH PASTOR RODNEY NICHOLS The Garden of Praise Christian Fellowship: http://www.gopcffamily.com/ Pastor Rodney Nichols on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rodney-nichols-6464a340/ Midnight Soldier Evangelism Outreach Ministry: http://www.gopcffamily.com/midnight-soldier.html ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

How do you make financial decisions as a couple? In church environments, there tends to be the idea that one partner gets to decide how to spend the money and takes control of finances. While there may be a primary point person, it is a partnership. Couples should make decisions together. My wife has an exceptional eye for property and is skilled at negotiating. She defers to me with retirement planning. That’s the spirit of finances in marriage: you find each other’s strengths. Today’s guests are a young couple, Nick and Kelsey Burns. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we have a conversation about navigating finances as a young couple. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [5:42] Navigating job changes and finances in their early marriage [11:48] Laying the groundwork for the future of their finances [15:16] How Nick and Kelsey chose to switch gears [18:44] How culture influenced their decision-making process [23:28] What changed the trajectory of their lives? [27:29] The “What does our rich life look like?” discussion [31:11] The common thread/unified vision ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED I Will Teach You to Be Rich: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/ ================================= CONNECT WITH NICK AND KELSEY Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickburns_coaching/ ================================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

When the United States moved off of the gold standard in 1971, it allowed the government to print as much money as it wanted. When gold was the standard, they could only issue as much money as they had gold or assets to back it. It affixed a value. We operate on a fiat money system now, which means the market forces dictate the value of the currency. Those values can be easily manipulated. A day of reckoning will be coming. Today’s guest is an expert on what's been called the “Great Reset.” Professor Michael Rectenwald is the author of 11 books, including titles such as “Thought Criminal,” “Google Archipelago,” and more. He was a professor at New York University for 11 years. He’s a champion of free speech against all forms of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and political correctness. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we discuss what the great reset is and how it’s impacting the globe. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [5:26] What does the term “great reset” mean? [8:53] Are companies abusing their responsibilities to their shareholders? [11:55] Why “Environmental, Social, and Governance” (ESG) initiatives are problematic [16:52] How did we get to a point where we are $30 trillion in debt? [18:54] Why the stakeholder capitalism movement is an actual threat [23:11] Other organizations and institutions that are involved [26:16] When are we going to see a tipping point? Where will things end? [30:45] The impact the great reset will have on the market and society [33:36] What you can do to oppose the stakeholder capitalism movement ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED The US Debt Clock: https://usdebtclock.org/ Principles for Responsible Investment: https://www.unpri.org/ World Economic Forum partners: https://www.weforum.org/partners/ ================================= CONNECT WITH MICHAEL RECTENWALD Michael’s Website: https://www.michaelrectenwald.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rectenwald-the/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheAntiPCProf ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

“True wealth is the ability to spend your time the way you want to. That is the ultimate resource.” – Chris Weatherman It’s important to prepare for retirement so that outside factors won’t impact whether or not you have the retirement you’ve dreamt of. Financial independence and self-reliance are important. But according to Chris Weatherman, it’s also important to prepare your life for the unexpected. Chris—known as the “Angery American”—is the author of a series called “The Survivalists,” consisting of 11 books (two of which landed on the bestseller list of USA Today). Chris has been a “prepper” since the 1990s, teaching primitive skills and modern survival tactics. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we dispel some myths about “preppers,” talk about why it’s important, and share some tips and strategies to help you get started. Don’t miss this unique episode! ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [4:38] Chris dispels the myths surrounding “preppers” [6:51] Why the average person avoids thinking about these issues [10:22] If you’ve never thought about prepping, where do you start? [16:25] Why you always need to plan for the unexpected [19:40] Can swimming pools be a good investment? [22:18] Where does community fit into preparation? [24:17] The inspiration behind Chris’s book series [30:42] Chris’s outlook on the future in the United States [35:07] Stay aware of what’s happening in the world ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED BBerkey Filters: https://www.berkeyfilters.com/ Grayl: https://grayl.com/ Silcox Key: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Wand-Company-Silcox-Key/dp/B003GEJ4EU ================================= CONNECT WITH CHRIS WEATHERMAN Chris’s Angery American website: https://angeryamerican.com/ Chris’s book, Going Home: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMBMRYQ Watch Angery American on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqjUDE78SgYFPm-6hjDPGw Friend on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngeryAmerican Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeryamerican/?hl=en ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

Chris Pelczynski is a seasoned creative director, designer, and illustrator who spent most of his career in leadership at ESPN. Since starting his career as a graphic designer in the 1990s, he’s worked for companies of all sizes. His most notable roles were working with ESPN where he led the creative process for some of the world’s largest broadcast brands, such as Monday Night Football, Sports Center, and Baseball Tonight. He’s won two sports Emmy’s and 9 Promax awards. But after 17 years at ESPN, Chris decided to walk away from corporate life to launch Krispy Kreative. He now serves a wide variety of clients, including those in the broadcast world, film, music, finance, food service, and sports. He’s also the creative force behind our branding at Capital Investment Advisors and did the graphic design work for this podcast. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, Chris shares the challenges and joys of moving from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [5:17] Chris’s experience at ESPN [12:18] Why Chris ultimately left ESPN [16:04] Chris’s transition to Krispy Kreative [25:13] Learning how to run a business [36:36] When Chris knew things were going to work ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED ESPN: https://www.espn.com/ ================================= CONNECT WITH CHRIS PELCZYNSKI Krispy Kreative: https://www.krispykreative.com/design Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.krispykreative.com/design ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

Gina DiMaggio has always loved color. From the moment she could pick up a crayon, she drew rainbows. She was also drawn to black and white images because they were full of contrast. She learned to associate color with the contrast in the images and used them to illuminate the light. What’s born is truly striking vibrant images—and a thriving business born out of a passion for color. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™, we discuss what it’s like to be an artist and run a business. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… [0:58] How Gina transitioned from nursing to art [5:14] Why she named her business the “Color of Ashes” [8:21] Gina’s unique use of color in her artwork [11:58] How Gina chooses to value her work [19:02] How Color of Ashes has gained traction [22:16] The challenges Gina has faced [24:56] Gina shares the meaning behind “Black Sheep” [28:02] How “The Waiting” reflects Gina’s transformation [30:31] Gina’s custom painting of a beautiful black lab “Ingrim” [32:30] The beautiful piece that we commissioned from Gina [34:50] Learn about Gina’s band “Gina and the Wildfire ================================= CONNECT WITH GUEST NAME Purchase Gina’s art at Color of Ashes: https://www.colorofashes.com/ Follow Color of Ashes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorofashes/ Gina and the Wildfire: https://www.ginaandthewildfire.com/ ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

When people make small mistakes and deviations with their retirement portfolio, we can work through it. But there’s a BIG mistake that people make that not only destroys their financial future but also makes a generational impact. In this episode of Upthinking Finance™ I’ll share some stories about mistakes I’ve observed over the years. What’s the common thread? The role of emotion. Listen now to learn how to avoid these big mistakes. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… Why you don’t want your investments over-concentrated [2:47] Avoid excessive concentrations of stock from an employer [9:07] The role of fear in challenging markets [14:25] Why you can’t sell when you’re facing your deepest fears [19:07] Prepare by diversifying and building an actively managed investment plan [24:12] ================================= Why you don’t want your investments over-concentrated Over-concentration typically occurs because clients either work for companies and get compensated with stock options OR inherit stock from someone who passed away. I met an individual in 2006 who had inherited some stock from a parent. We were just emerging from the tech bubble. This individual’s portfolio included well over 12,000 shares of Bank of America stock, valued at around $650,000. It also paid a dividend of over $30,000 a year. So there were financial reasons to want to keep the stock but the sentimental value was strong. Anything that holds sentimental value is a tough hurdle for a financial advisor to overcome—and likely why I didn’t succeed in this situation. I recommended divesting a majority of the stock and only keeping a couple of hundred shares. Why? Because it was 60% of his net worth—a large chunk. The plan was to reinvest and diversify his portfolio to reduce his concentration risk and bump up his income. But this individual held fast to his emotional connection and chose not to diversify. Two years later, the value of the stock dropped 90%. The $650,000 value tanked to $60,000. Even worse, the dividend per share dropped from $2.52 a share to $0.04. His $30,000 income became $500 a year. Every positive that existed vanished. 13 years later, the value of this stock isn’t back to where it was. It’s hard to insert logic into emotional situations. If you find yourself in this situation, you have to detach yourself from the sentiment. The role of fear in challenging markets I learned that you need logic to offset fear. The logical anchor in a financial situation is a plan. You need a plan that is constantly and regularly reviewed. If an anchor isn’t in place, once the wind shifts, the ship is blown off course—and may even sink. The Great Recession wasn’t just a recession. Financial Institutions were going under. The Dow Jones had peaked at over 14,000 in 2007. But over the next year-and-a-half, it dropped down to under 6,600. As financial institutions began to go bankrupt, people panicked. The media headlines only served to exasperate the fear. These are just a few of the headlines: “Lehman Collapse Sends Shockwaves Around the World” – The New York Times? “Mounting Fears Shake World Markets as Banking Giants Rush to Raise Capital” – Wall Street Journal “Panic Grips Credit Markets” – Financial Times None of this inspires anyone to stay the course, right? It inspires people to react. In this episode, I share stories of both success and failure. I share how you can prepare for the worst and avoid the big mistakes that many people make. Learn more by giving it a listen! Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC. The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state. ================================ RESOURCES MENTIONED Wall Street Journal: The Secret to Braving a Wild Market: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-to-braving-a-wild-market-11647015689 Movie: The Big Short: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Short-Christian-Bale/dp/B01995O5OS ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com

In my role as a CFP, I’ve been introduced to some awesome people and organizations across the country and the world. Today’s guest, Pastor Chris Hoke, is one of those people. Chris is the co-founder of Underground Ministries, which serves to mobilize faith communities and businesses in the Pacific Northwest by connecting them to men and women being released from prison. This movement takes faith organizations and connects them with an individual that’s being released from prison. It helps them build a network outside of the prison system, which can help them overcome the significant barriers to reentry into society. It brings churches back to the primary purpose: to serve as places of healing and personal resurrection. In this episode of Upthinking Finance, Chris shares how he became a gang pastor, the challenges Underground Ministries faces, and how to approach charitable giving through a new lens. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… How Chris got involved working in the prison system [4:35] God is in the resurrection business—not the disposal business [8:44] Balancing the administrative side of a non-profit with the mission [13:38] How to approach charitable giving with a different lens [16:53] The challenges of Underground Ministries’ One Parish || One Prisoner [23:13] Overcoming the fear of working with the incarcerated [27:52] Jesus had a mission and never backed down from it—why can’t we? [37:24] Invest in what you want to see heal the world [41:04] Where to learn more about Underground Ministries [44:07] ================================= CONNECT WITH CHRIS HOKE Read Chris’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Wanted-Spiritual-Pursuit-Through-Outlaws/dp/0062321366 Learn more about the One Parish One Prisoner program: https://oneparishoneprisoner.org/ Check out Chris’s Underground Ministries: https://undergroundministries.org/ Follow Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisHoker ============================= CONNECT WITH EMERSON: Website: www.CIAdvisers.com CSecurities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC. The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

Welcome to Upthinking Finance! Here's your host: Emerson Fersch. Website: www.ciadvisers.com