Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- Milken Institute41 min
Investing in Economic Mobility: Building a Path to Opportunity | Global Conference 2026
Michael Milken, Ted Cruz, Brad Gerstner, Kevin Hassett
The "Invest America Act" mandates the automatic creation of direct-ownership investment accounts for millions of children, a program championed by Senator Ted Cruz and economists like Kevin Hassett as a vehicle for "Opportunity Conservatism" rather than government redistribution. Supported by massive private philanthropy from figures such as the Dells and Ray Dalio, the initiative allows tax-free annual contributions up to $5,000 with projected account values reaching $700,000 by age 35. By targeting the bottom of the income distribution, the White House aims to cultivate a nationwide constituency of young investors while driving a political shift toward expanding personal capital ownership beyond current eligibility thresholds.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Bold Proposals for Protecting the Free-Enterprise System while Closing the Wealth Gap | GC 2024
Michael Milken, John Hope Bryant, Brad Gerstner, Teresa Ghilarducci
At a May 2024 Milken Institute panel moderated by Michael Milken, experts including Stephen Mnuchin, Brad, John Hope Bryant, and Theresa outlined a consensus strategy to protect the free enterprise system by replacing wealth taxes with universal financial literacy and private capital access. The discussion detailed specific legislative and corporate initiatives such as the Retirement Savings for American Act and the "Invest America" proposal, which aim to automatically enroll millions of workers in retirement accounts and establish seed accounts for newborns to counteract economic inequality. Proponents argue these structural reforms, alongside private equity expansion, are essential to prevent national decline and ensure that the impending intergenerational wealth transfer builds lasting capital rather than dependency.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Proposals for Protecting the Free-Enterprise System while Closing the Wealth Gap | Global Conference
Michael Milken, John Hope Bryant, Brad Gerstner, Teresa Ghilarducci, Steven T. Mnuchin
On May 8, 2024, the Milken Institute convened a panel featuring Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, investor Brad Jacobs, and advocate John Hope Bryant to propose structural reforms that reconcile free enterprise with closing the wealth gap. The group outlined specific legislative and private-sector solutions, including the "Invest America Birth Account" to seed universal child savings and the Retirement Savings for Americans Act to automatically enroll workers in retirement plans. These initiatives aim to mitigate retirement insecurity and promote financial literacy by 2026, leveraging contributions from high-net-worth donors and private equity firms while avoiding wealth taxes that could stifle innovation.