The Market That Bites Back | Victoria Greene on Surviving the Badger Market
The Market That Bites Back | Victoria Greene on Surviving the Badger Market  
Podcast: Excess Returns
Published On: Mon Feb 02 2026
Description: In this episode of Excess Returns, we sit down with Victoria Greene of G Squared Private Wealth for a wide-ranging conversation on markets, macro risk, portfolio construction, and how investors should think about 2026 and beyond. Victoria brings a pragmatic, risk-aware framework to investing, blending top-down macro analysis with bottom-up fundamentals, technicals, and a strong focus on cash flow, diversification, and policy risk. We cover everything from the rise of what she calls a badger market, to AI capex, market concentration, inflation risk, and why policy error, not valuation, is what historically ends bull markets.Main topics covered• Why valuation is a poor market timing tool and what actually ends bull markets• The concept of a badger market and how investors should mentally prepare for volatility• Cash flow never lies and how Victoria evaluates business quality• Diversification in 2026 and why international, commodities, and value matter more now• Risks and opportunities in the labor market, AI-driven disruption, and productivity• The K-shaped economy and what it means for consumers and corporate earnings• 60/40 portfolios, alternatives, and where commodities fit today• AI investing from infrastructure to software and cybersecurity• Yield curve dynamics, inflation risk, and portfolio positioning• Active vs passive investing in a concentrated market• How policy decisions and election dynamics influence marketsTimestamps00:00 Intro and why valuation does not kill bull markets01:40 Investment philosophy and macro first portfolio construction06:00 Cash flow never lies explained07:40 Diversification beyond US large caps10:00 Market expectations and big tech earnings risk11:00 What is a badger market12:40 Is the 60 40 portfolio dead15:00 Why Victoria remains constructive on markets18:00 Politics, sentiment, and market noise21:00 Policy error vs valuation as the real risk26:40 The K-shaped economy and consumer health31:10 Hard data vs soft data disconnect34:10 Labor market risks and data reliability36:40 Yield curve steepening and inflation risk41:40 Portfolio positioning in a higher inflation world43:00 How to invest in AI beyond the Mag 747:20 Where we are in the AI cycle49:30 Active management challenges and opportunities53:00 Valuation, planning, and long-term return expectations