In their monthly publication the Lara-Murphy Report, Carlos and Bob have each started a series investigating the history of certain groups operating behind the scenes to influence social and political trends. Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest: Information on the Lara-Murphy Report. Bob's college essay on the origins of the US public school system. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

In the wake of the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve has engaged in unprecedented actions, pumping $2.5 trillion into the financial system in just two months. Many readers ask: Does this make IBC a bad idea? After all, it relies on a dollar-denominated asset (life insurance). Bob and Carlos discuss the economic outlook and this particular issue. Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest: Carlos and Bob’s September 2016 presentation, “How to Weather the Coming Financial...

Carlos and Bob critically assess the Fed's $1.5 trillion repo operations, allegedly designed to stem market panic over the coronavirus. Bob observes that even Walter Bagehot's famous dictum said central banks should lend freely *at a high rate of discount*. Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest: Carlos and Bob's September 2016 presentation, "How to Weather the Coming Financial Storms." The documentary This Is Nelson Nash. Bob’s new series for the Mises...

Carlos and Bob end their hiatus and return to the airwaves, fresh from the 2020 IBC Think Tank in Birmingham. They summarize the talks they gave at the event, including some exciting news about the Nelson Nash Institute's forthcoming project. Mentioned in this episode: The CBO's 2019 Long Term Budget Outlook. The documentary This Is Nelson Nash. Bob's new series for the Mises Institute, Understanding Money Mechanics. Carlos and Bob's book, How Privatized Banking Really...

Bob and Carlos discuss the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act's impact--especially because of the boost in the standard deduction--on incentives to make charitable contributions. Then they discuss Beto O'Rourke's pledge to remove the tax exempt status of churches and other organizations that don't endorse gay marriage. Mentioned in this episode: AEI's Alex Brill's report on how the 2017 tax reform will reduce the incentives for charitable giving. GivingUSA's report on charitable giving in...

As the U.S. authorities once again pivot to begin another round of cheap credit, Carlos and Bob reflect on the deception--both deliberate and unwitting--involved. Part of the problem is that younger investors haven't lived through a crash, but even the old timers are caught flat-footed if they think past crashes were an "act of God." This is why it's so important to learn Austrian economics. Mentioned in this episode: Carlos and Bob's video, "How to Weather the Coming Financial...

Bob and Carlos return from their summer hiatus to bring listeners up to speed. Carlos had a medical issue that occurred in June, which he explains in the episode. After describing what happened, Carlos ties his experience to the broader condition of medical care in the United States: it's top-notch, but very expensive. Mentioned in this episode: Bob's post on the inverted yield curve. How to subscribe to the Lara-Murphy Report. The audio production for this episode was provided...

While this was an interview Murphy conducted on his own podcast, it is relevant to Lara-Murphy Show listeners. Keith Smith is an anesthesiologist and founder of the Oklahoma Surgery Center and the Free Market Medical Association. His group is doing for health care what the Nelson Nash Institute is doing for the financial sector. Mentioned in this episode: The Bob Murphy Show, ep 37 (with links to items discussed in the episode). The Surgery Center of Oklahoma. The audio...

Bob asks Carlos to elaborate on the changing estate tax laws and how that could affect long-term planning, even with the excellent tax advantages of IBC. Mentioned in this episode: The IBC Practitioner Finder. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob asks Carlos to discuss his April 2019 article for the Lara-Murphy Report. Carlos explains how "shadow banking" has become the dominant source of mortgage lending in the United States. He explains this trend and its implications for real estate investors. Mentioned in this episode: The business owner seminar in Nashville, TN on May 10, 2019. Sample issues and subscription details for the Lara-Murphy Report. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Carlos and Bob finish their 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, they discuss Carlos' typical approach to helping a business in distress. They also discuss Carlos' research on the Dodd-Frank Act and whether the revisions under the Trump Administration affect Carlos' warnings about a "bail-in" during the next...

Carlos and Bob continue with their 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, Bob explains the significance of the inverted yield curve, and ties it to standard Austrian business cycle theory. Carlos explains why the business owner would typically want to own an IBC policy in his or her own name, rather than being owned by...

Carlos and Bob begin a 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, Bob and Carlos discuss the Fed's recent guidance on its bond roll off schedule. They also explain entrepreneurship in the Austrian vision (with reference to Bob's recent interview of Peter Klein), and Carlos relays statistics on business ownership in the...

Carlos and Bob discuss the economic outlook for 2019, from the perspective of Austrian business cycle theory. The yield curve is close to inverting, and if it continues we should expect a recession by the end of 2019 or, failing that, almost certainly in 2020. There are two types of Fed tightening during this recovery, namely interest rate hikes and a rolloff of the Fed's bonds. Powell can't indefinitely postpone the bond rolloff because as interest rates rise, the Fed is paying ever more...

Carlos and Bob discuss the Fed's actions with interest rates and its balance sheet, and how they are behind the recent stock market volatility. They also use media reports to get inside the minds of Bernanke, Yellen, and Powell. Mentioned in this episode: “How to Weather the Coming Financial Storms.” (Carlos and Bob video.) Bob's pushback against the WSJ letter calling for a carbon tax. Graph of federal funds rate versus Fed's total assets. Market Watch article on Yellen...