1144: Harley Bassman

Thrive in Business

Feb 10

“The Convexity Maven”

What if the real threat to our economy isn’t in tomorrow’s headlines—but in the unstoppable march of demographics and a hidden wave of “financial eminent domain”?

On this episode of Thrive LouD, host Lou Diamond sits down with his former mentor, Wall Street legend and the original “Convexity Maven” himself, Harley Bassman, for a riveting, honest conversation that will change how you see global markets, monetary policy, and even your own mortgage.

In this candid interview, Harley Bassman unpacks how decades of government policy, economic cycles, and simple human nature keep repeating themselves—no matter how much we hope things will be different this time. From the impending strain of an aging Baby Boomer generation to why gold’s recent rise signals more than market speculation, Harley shares his unfiltered perspective on where our financial system is heading and what might make it unravel.

Key episode highlights include:

The real drivers behind persistent deficits and why both political parties are “just going to print money”—with staggering consequences (05:00)
Why Harley believes that market timing is a “terrible idea” and instead urges listeners to focus on 30,000-foot, long-horizon trends (04:17)
An exclusive breakdown of Harley’s innovative take on mortgage portability, and why your ultra-low-rate mortgage might soon be treated like a financial asset you can literally take with you (10:00)
The surprising ways good intentions in public policy often trigger unexpected market distortions—from rent control to historic Fed moves (09:05)
Behind the scenes of inventing legendary financial instruments, why the MOVE Index was created, and what it really means to stand “on the shoulders of giants” (07:06)
Harley’s personal reflections on the scariest economic crisis of his career, and the lasting damage the COVID era did to public trust (19:43)
Plus, a speed round of personal favorites, career advice, and why you should “go on vacation with your kids—you’re dead a lot longer than you think” (16:11)

Whether you’re a market veteran or a curious listener, get ready for an episode brimming with hard-won wisdom, sharp humor, and truths the financial news never tells you.

Timestamped Episode Overview: