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ARTICLES


When Private Equity Knocks at the Public Gate, Who’s Watching the Door?
by Gene James McAward We’re witnessing a subtle but critical shift in financial markets: the once-exclusive world of private equity (PE) is now being packaged for the masses. For decades, PE was a velvet-rope club— reserved for institutions and ultra-wealthy investors willing to stomach illiquidity and opacity in exchange for the promise of higher returns. Now the gate is swinging open. Liquidity-starved firms and friendly regulators are rewriting the rules, and in doing so,
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Nov 3, 2025


The Holy Grail of Investing: The Confluence of price, preparedness, and powder.
3 things must occur simultaneously to create a buying opportunity when investing:
1 - The price of the asset drops at or below a fair value
2 - You are prepared through research to understand that fair value and when it has done so
3 - You have the $ (dry powder) to take advantage of the opportunity
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Apr 20, 2025


An Excursion Into Inversion
Inversion theory, as a mental model, means looking at a situation or goal from the reverse angle. For instance, rather than asking, “How...
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Jan 3, 2025


The Endless Flywheel
My job is to reel. Every day, for as many hours as I can muster. "Reel, reel, reel." I can hear Bonefish Patrick shouting from his...
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Dec 30, 2024


The Delta Between Perception and Reality, and How We Should Act
We analyze our surroundings, then form a perception. From that perception, we determine a course of action. Our perception is often...
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Dec 28, 2024


Focal Bias: Why We Think Everything Is “Unprecedented”
I’ve noticed a recurring pattern in how we interpret events—whether it’s the weather, the economy, or even cultural shifts. We often call...
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Dec 21, 2024


Time for $$ - Breaking the Catch 22 through the 3 Forms of Leverage in Today's Society.
Trading your time for $$ is the least efficient form of leverage available to you. There is a limited supply of time and often a...
2nd Order Thinking - Gene James McAward
Dec 6, 2024
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