Icons and Ideas with Peter Mallouk

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins Peter Mallouk to discuss leadership, global politics, China, Russia, NATO, 9/11, artificial intelligence and the future of world power. On this episode of Icons and Ideas, Condoleezza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State and current Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, shares how growing up during the Civil Rights Movement shaped her leadership philosophy and reflects on the high-pressure decisions made during 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan and the evolving Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conversation also explores globalization, China’s rise, artificial intelligence, democracy and the future of international relations in a rapidly changing world. What You Will Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s childhood in segregated Birmingham shaped her leadership mindset ✅ The behind-the-scenes decisions made during the first hours of 9/11 ✅ Why China, Russia, NATO and global power dynamics are rapidly changing ✅ How globalization, AI, and populism are reshaping the future economy and workforce This episode is brought to you by BlackRock. What if your portfolio could do more than invest for returns — what if it could help you keep more of what you earn? BlackRock’s Aperio tax-managed solutions are designed to help do just that. Learn more.   Timestamps 00:00 Secretary Condoleezza Rice on growing up in segregated Birmingham 02:20 Faith, family, education and overcoming adversity 03:38 Inside the first moments of the 9/11 attacks 07:48 Lessons learned from 9/11 and Homeland Security 09:20 Secretary Condoleezza Rice reflects on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction 12:18 Vladimir Putin, NATO and the Russia-Ukraine conflict 17:13 Trump, Putin and the Russia-Ukraine War: Condoleezza Rice on global conflict, NATO tensions and why Putin refuses to back down 19:14 National security, intelligence and understanding global threats 21:05 Leadership as a Black woman in government and diplomacy 26:50 Israel, Palestine and the challenges of peace negotiations 27:25 China, globalization and the future of world power 35:20 Globalization, populism and the changing world order 39:54 Artificial intelligence, jobs and the future workforce 40:10 President George W. Bush and leadership during crisis   Key Takeaways 💎 Secretary Condoleezza Rice believes leadership starts with resilience, personal responsibility and refusing to see yourself as limited by circumstances. 💎 The aftermath of 9/11 fundamentally changed America’s national security infrastructure, intelligence coordination and global strategy.  💎 China’s rise, Russia’s aggression and the breakdown of globalization are reshaping international politics and economic systems.  💎 Rice believes the future of leadership will require balancing military strength, innovation, diplomacy and global cooperation.     This episode includes a paid advertisement purchased by a sponsor for placement on a Creative Planning podcast. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning.   About the Guest Condoleezza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State and current Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, is a political scientist, diplomat, professor and author who previously served as both United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under President George W. Bush. With decades of experience in foreign policy, global security, democracy and international relations, she remains one of the most influential voices in global leadership and world affairs. Connect with Condoleezza Rice LinkedIn: Condoleezza Rice on LinkedInCondoleezza Rice at Hoover Institution  Instagram: @condoleezzarice Condoleezza Rice on Facebook Resources & Links Sponsored By: This episode is brought to you by BlackRock. What if your portfolio could do more than invest for returns — what if it could help you keep more of what you earn? BlackRock’s Aperio tax-managed solutions are designed to help do just that. Learn more. Connect with Peter Mallouk • X (Twitter): @PeterMallouk  • LinkedIn: Peter Mallouk on LinkedIn  • Instagram: @peter_mallouk  • Facebook: Official Peter Mallouk Follow Creative Planning • X (Twitter): @CPIWealth  • Creative Planning on LinkedIn  • Instagram: @creativeplanning_llc • Creative Planning Facebook Page Browse More Icons and Ideas Episodes • Watch the Full Icons and Ideas Playlist • Official Website: Icons and Ideas Podcast Check Out Peter’s Other Podcasts • Watch Signal or Noise on YouTube • Listen to Down The Middle on Spotify

In this episode of Icons and Ideas, Peter Mallouk talks with Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson about the current forces reshaping investing and asset management.   Johnson shares her journey from working summer jobs in the firm’s mail room to leading a $1.7 trillion global investment firm. She discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, why access to private markets is expanding beyond institutions, and what investors should understand about private equity and private credit.   They also explore leadership lessons from decades in financial services, how firms evaluate acquisitions, and why culture and collaboration matter when building successful teams.   This episode includes a paid advertisement purchased by a sponsor for placement on a Creative Planning podcast. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning.   (00:47) Jenny Johnson’s path from the mail room to CEO of Franklin Templeton (03:00) Career lessons from working across operations, technology and multiple parts of the business (05:47) AI, workplace change and why companies struggle to adopt new technology (08:58) Why private markets have grown so quickly and what’s driving the shift (13:11) Expanding access to private markets and what it could mean for investors (16:53) Private credit risks and what investors should understand (21:30) Enterprise software, AI disruption and the future of major platforms (24:04) AI, blockchain and tokenization: the next wave of financial innovation (26:09) How leaders evaluate when to acquire and when to build organically (28:43) The “3 C’s” Jenny looks for in acquisitions: client focus, collaboration and continuous improvement (32:52) Creating opportunities for women in leadership roles (35:59) What success looks like for Franklin Templeton in the next decade (36:45) The challenges and benefits of being a public-facing CEO and representing a global firm RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here. Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle

What’s really changing in investing — and what’s just hype? Peter Mallouk sits down with Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster to talk through the trends that matter most right now: the rise of convenience as a competitive advantage, what prediction markets actually tell us (and what they don’t), Schwab’s evolving view on digital assets, and whether AI will make financial advice faster and more personal or just harder to trust. They also dig into why the human side of planning still wins when the stakes are high and the decisions are emotional. It’s a candid look at how one of the industry’s biggest players is thinking about your money. (00:00) Schwab’s client-first approach and what it means for everyday investors (02:16) The big shifts Rick thinks will shape investors’ decisions (04:13) Prediction markets: useful signals vs. sports gambling (08:21) Digital assets: speculation, crypto and what clients are asking for (11:08) Wurster explains fee increases for its advisor referral program (15:55) Why Schwab disrupts itself and how “convenience” is changing the industry (18:03) Blockchain and stablecoins: what might actually be useful (21:34) AI and financial advice: what may get faster and more personal (and what won’t) (26:43) What Schwab is building next and why it matters for your money (27:54) Staying calm and rational as things change RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here. Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle

Join Creative Planning President and CEO Peter Mallouk and Vista Equity Partners Founder, Chairman and CEO Robert Smith for a conversation on AI in enterprise software and what it means for investors. They explore how AI agents are reshaping SaaS business models, why mission-critical systems must be highly accurate and how enterprise AI is shifting value from seat-based pricing to measurable outcomes. They also discuss durable value creation, market volatility and how long-term investors can stay focused when headlines move faster than fundamentals. (00:00) Introduction (01:24) How early exposure to tech shaped Robert’s edge (02:44) Lessons from Wall Street that still apply today (03:50) Why enterprise software can be a durable investment (04:29) “No finish line” — the mindset behind continuous improvement (06:21) Davos takeaways that matter for markets (07:03) Using AI without giving away enterprise value (09:06) Enterprise software, explained in plain English (an insurance example) (10:51) When “mostly right” can cost you money (12:16) What investors are getting wrong about AI and subscription software (14:00) From seats to agents: what this shift means for growth and pricing (16:34) Why some software is so hard to replace (19:03) The skills that still pay off as AI reshapes services (22:40) A better way to trust your gut: test, learn, repeat (24:56) Building teams that keep up with constant change (27:00) Discipline and excellence — the advantage that compounds (28:53) Where innovation is happening now (and how to keep up) (31:43) The messy middle: what change looks like before it works (36:25) Why no sector stays safe forever — and what to do instead (39:16) The Morehouse moment — and a mindset you can use now   RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here. Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle

Join Peter Mallouk and Tony Robbins for powerful strategies on emotional mastery, wealth building, and future-proofing your career. Discover why your emotional state controls your story, how to recognize and create patterns that drive success, and what questions to ask yourself that will transform your quality of life — no matter what's happening in the world around you. (00:03) Tony Robbins: why his work resonates and how it can impact your life (02:06) What “holistic” wealth planning means (03:25) Tony’s origin story: instability, family stress and learning emotional control (04:28) Emotional fitness, the need for challenges and what modern comfort costs us (06:07) A lesson on ego and receiving help when you need it (08:04) A simple three-step framework: focus, meaning and action (09:34) How to scale giving, from small local acts to global giving (12:15) Getting unstuck: separating your past from your future (13:28) Stress, scarcity and how gratitude and giving impact our lives (16:53) The lie people tell themselves: “I’ve tried everything” and reframing adversity (20:18) Money is emotional: what people really want (freedom, security and choice) (23:15) Investing principles: asymmetric risk, diversification and private equity (31:48) How to think clearly about markets: mentors, mental models and macro risk (36:52) How to create change: manage emotions, change your story and develop a strategy (44:25) AI disruption and how to recognize patterns in life (54:45) Living in a “beautiful state” and asking ourselves the right questions (1:03:30) Stanford research results and the Time to Rise Summit invitation (Jan. 29-31) RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here. Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle

In this episode, Peter Mallouk sits down with Shawn Achor to explore what truly makes a happier, more meaningful life. They discuss why pursuing happiness isn’t selfish, how “happiness anxiety” holds many people back and why social connection is the strongest predictor of long-term well-being. They also touch on how money and success fit into a happy life. Through research, stories and practical habits, Shawn and Peter share ways to build more joy, gratitude and meaning in everyday life. (00:04) Introduction (00:20) From Divinity school to happiness research (06:07) How happiness anxiety robs us and others of joy (09:16) How extremes of optimism and pessimism lead to decision paralysis (10:34) Why social support and connection are key to happiness (13:27) How small happiness habits can reduce loneliness (16:03) How to practice gratitude and build social connections (22:39) Why practicing gratitude improves happiness (31:01) How lack of social connections increase depression (37:47) What we get wrong about happiness (42:55) Why comparison is the thief of joy (52:44) How small habits change systems RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here: Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle

Peter sits down with economist, author and Wharton School professor Jeremy Siegel for a candid conversation on the economic forces impacting Americans today. Siegel’s rigorous research and data-driven insights have long been influential in shaping investment strategies, explaining market behavior and understanding the impact of inflation on investment returns. When Siegel talks, investors pay attention. 00:00 Introduction 04:02 Why Jeremy argues stocks are the most stable asset class in the long term 07:40 What bonds can be good hedges against 09:16 The market, COVID-19 and the government’s response 15:00 Why more than one-third of Americans are priced out of the housing market 15:40 How deficit spending impacts the American economy 21:10 Siegel’s take on the biggest threats to the American economy 26:27 Trump’s tariffs and their impact on the economy 34:53 Cryptocurrency and how it could change the U.S. payment system 38:55 The shift toward private markets and equity 40:17 Siegel’s take on what makes Americans exceptional   RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Retired four-star General David Petraeus, Partner, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute and Chairman of KKR Middle East, joins Peter Mallouk for a powerful conversation on today’s shifting global landscape. From the war in Ukraine to the rise of AI-driven warfare, Petraeus offers rare insight into where power is moving — and why it matters for investors. Together, they unpack how leadership, strategy and adaptability are redefining global stability and opportunity.

Apollo CEO Marc Rowan sits down with Peter Mallouk to discuss private credit's rise, market convergence and leading a global investment giant. Their conversation goes beyond finance, revealing the personal passions and perspectives that shape Marc’s approach to building one of the world’s largest private investment firms. At Creative Planning, we believe in looking at the full picture. That’s why these discussions — spanning the markets, leadership and life — matter.

Larry Fink sits down with Peter Mallouk at BlackRock’s Hudson Yards headquarters to recount his path from Southern California to Wall Street and how a $100M loss shaped BlackRock’s risk-first culture. He reflects on the mindset that separates owners from lenders, why optimism outperforms over time and how America’s “messiness” fuels innovation. The conversation weaves from deficits and private capital to crypto, AI and the enduring premium of human connection — all before turning to Fink’s legacy and vision for a firm built to last.