#390 Ted Oakley: "It's Not a Normal Market" — A Generational Bear Could Cut Stocks 40%

In this episode, Ted Oakley, founder and managing partner of Oxbow Advisors with 49 years in the business, returns to discuss his latest letter, "Stick to Your Principles," and why he believes today's market is anything but normal. He warns that 10-12 companies now make up half the S&P 500, speculation via leveraged ETFs is in the billions, and stocks are roughly three standard deviations above the norm — a setup he says could eventually correct 40% or more in a generational bear market. Oakley explains why investor complacency is the biggest mistake he sees, with three-quarters of all financial assets in stocks and Americans over 70 owning a third of the market. He shares where he's finding value now — energy names like Northern Oil & Gas, Kimbell Royalty, and Antero, plus beaten-down gold miners like Agnico Eagle — and recounts the hard lesson he learned chasing hot oil stocks in the late 1970s. His biggest worry: unsustainable government debt. His surprising source of optimism: a severe downturn, which he views as the buying opportunity of a generation.Thank you to our sponsor Monetary Metals. Learn more at https://www.monetary-metals.com/julia/Links:Oxbow Advisors: https://oxbowadvisors.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OxbowAdvisorsX: https://x.com/Oxbow_AdvisorsBook: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Generation-Wealth-What-Want/dp/1966629168Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: Ted Oakley of Oxbow Advisors returns0:53 – Semiconductors dominating the market; 10-12 companies are half the S&P2:10 – "The Gambler": leveraged ETFs and speculation in the billions3:16 – How leveraged ETFs amplify volatility4:25 – A market high that "sticks for a while" coming in the next 6-12 months5:41 – Risk/reward has flipped: 6-8% upside vs. 25% downside6:38 – A generational bear market could mean a 40-45% correction8:04 – Investor complacency: 75% of financial assets in stocks, an all-time high9:26 – Oxbow's positioning: ~60/40 stocks and short-term treasuries11:04 – The bond market: a possible trade in long-dated treasuries, but not worth the risk12:19 – Cooler CPI and why inflation could fall further on oil prices13:36 – What oil industry insiders are saying about drilling and cash flows14:54 – Everyone's bearish on oil — Ted sees $100+ within 18 months16:26 – What Ted's buying: Northern Oil & Gas, Kimbell Royalty, Antero, NESR19:22 – Gold miners cheap after 35-40% correction; Agnico Eagle is Oxbow's top holding21:09 – Momentum players washing out of gold sets up the next move22:45 – "Stick to Your Principles": valuation discipline and why pros abandon it24:16 – Ted's own lesson: getting burned in the late-'70s oil boom26:00 – The Intel example: sold in '99, took 26 years to hit a new high27:50 – Why hot IPOs disappoint (SpaceX down 30% from IPO)29:27 – The boomer risk: over-70s own a third of all stocks32:04 – Biggest risk: unsustainable government debt and interest costs33:33 – Why Ted is optimistic about a downturn: liquidity to buy the sale