Episode 136

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Published on:

28th Apr 2023

Credit Doesn't Matter, Sam Zell is Downgrading Work from Home and the Repo Man

Many critics have blasted new rules from the Biden administration that will force good-credit homebuyers to subsidize the costs of buyers with poor credit. One former Obama housing official is calling out the "unprecedented" move, arguing this is "not the way" to bring in more home buyers. New rules from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will allow consumers with lower credit ratings and less money for a down payment to qualify for better mortgage rates than they otherwise would have. In turn, the costs are expected to be passed on the those with good credit. The rules are set to go into effect May 1.

In this episode of The Higher Standard, Chris and Saied examine this news and determine the effect it will have on the economy as a whole.


They discuss comments from tech investor Chamath Palihapitiya, who said two years ago that bitcoin had replaced gold and predicted the digital currency would climb to $200,000, who is now saying that "Crypto is dead in America," blaming its demise largely on regulators, who have gotten much more aggressive in their pursuit of bad actors in the industry.


Chris and Saied look at reports that Bed Bath and Beyond has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after it failed in several last-ditch efforts to raise enough money to keep the company alive. It had been warning of a potential bankruptcy since early January, when it issued a “going concern” notice that it may not have the cash to cover expenses after a dismal holiday season.


They also offer some thoughts on real estate magnate Sam Zell's assertion that "Remote work is a bunch of bullshit," speaking at a luncheon at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate as part of its annual REIT Symposium.


Join Chris and Saied for this fascinating and informative conversation.


Enjoy!



What You’ll Learn in this Show:

  • What is Moody's and why do its ratings matter?
  • Why working from home is here to stay, but it's not for everyone.
  • Why Google CEO’s compensation package includes $6 million for personal security.
  • Why Coinbase's CEO Brian Armstrong says his company is preparing for a years-long court battle with the commission.
  • And so much more...



Resources:

"Former Obama housing chief slams Biden’s ‘unprecedented’ mortgage plan: ‘Not the way to do it’" (Fox Business)

"Frank's Charlie Javice moved millions from JPMorgan to Signature months before the bank collapsed" (Bloomberg Business)

"More US consumers are falling behind on payments" (Yahoo! Finance)

"Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet lead earnings rush: What to know this week" (Yahoo! Finance)

"‘Crypto is dead in America,’ says longtime bitcoin bull Chamath Palihapitiya" (CNBC)

"Meta has started its latest round of layoffs, focusing on technical employees" (CNBC)

"Google’s 80-acre San Jose mega-campus is on hold as company reckons with economic slowdown" (CNBC)

"BuzzFeed News Is Shutting Down, and Vice World News Could Be Next" (The Wall Street Journal)

"Bed Bath & Beyond Files for Bankruptcy" (The Wall Street)

"First Republic Lost $100 Billion in Deposits in Banking Panic" (The Wall Street Journal)

"The Labor Market Might Be Bending; It Isn’t Breaking" (The Wall Street Journal)

"Moody’s Downgrades 11 Regional Banks, Including Zions, U.S. Bank, Western Alliance" (The Wall Street Journal)

"The Repo Man Returns as More Americans Fall Behind on Car Payments" (Bloomberg)

"Remote work is ‘bull***t’ and the ‘office situation will change,’ says real estate billionaire Sam Zell: ‘People need to be together’" (Fortune)

“US existing-home prices fall nearly 1% in March, the biggest drop in a decade” (MarketWatch)

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About the Podcast

The Higher Standard
This isn’t a different standard, it’s the higher standard.
Welcome to the Higher Standard Podcast, where we give you ultra-premium, unfiltered truth when it comes to building your wealth and curating the lifestyle of your dreams. Your hosts; Chris Naghibi and Saied Omar here to help you distill the immense amount of information and disinformation out there on the interwebs and give you the opportunity to choose a higher standard for yourself. Sit back, relax your mind and get ready for a different kind of podcast where we elevate your baseline with crispy high-resolution audio. This isn't a different standard. It's the higher standard.

About your host

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Christopher Naghibi

Christopher M. Naghibi is the host and founder of The Higher Standard podcast — a rapidly growing media platform delivering unfiltered financial literacy, real-world entrepreneurship lessons and economic commentary for the modern era.

After nearly two decades in banking, including his most recent role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Foundation Bank (NYSE: FFWM), Christopher stepped away from corporate life to build a brand rooted in truth, transparency, and modern money insights. While at First Foundation, he had executive oversight of credit, product development, depository services, retail banking, loan servicing, and commercial operations. His leadership helped scale the bank’s presence in multiple national markets from $0 to over $13 billion.

Christopher is a licensed attorney, real estate broker, and general building contractor (Class B), and he brings a rare blend of legal, operational and real estate expertise to everything he does. His early career spanned diverse lending platforms, including multifamily, commercial, private banking, and middle market lending — holding key roles at Impac Commercial Capital Corporation, U.S. Financial Services & Residential Realty, and First Fidelity Funding.

In addition to his media work, Christopher is the CEO of Black Crown Inc. and Black Crown Law APC, which oversee his private holdings and legal affairs.

He holds a Juris Doctorate from Trinity Law School, an MBA from American Heritage University, and two bachelor degrees. He is also a graduate of the Yale School of Management’s Global Executive Leadership Program.

A published author and sought-after speaker (unless it’s his son’s birthday), Christopher continues to advocate for financial empowerment. He’s worked pro bono with families in need, helped craft affordable housing programs through Habitat for Humanity, and was a founding board member of She Built This City — helping spark interest in construction and trades for women of all ages.