Kotor, 2023 · Balkan Tech Fund
Markets with Jack · Courses
Macro intelligence, taught at the table.
A new four-week course each month on markets, geopolitics, and risk. Taught in Boulder by Jack Phillips, former naval intelligence officer.
Reserve a seat
Kotor, 2023 · Balkan Tech FundHow it works · A new course each month
Four weeks. One subject. One table.
Each month Jack teaches one subject over four weekly classes, in person. Take one course or follow the whole year. The first is Geopolitics and Markets, a private series for members of our host club in Boulder and their guests.
- Format
- Four weekly classes
- Each class
- 90 minutes
- Seats
- 17, around one table
- Where
- A private club in Boulder
- Open to
- Club members and their invited guests only
- First course
- Geopolitics and Markets
- Starts
- Week of November 2
- Price
- $300 for the course
- Every session taught by Jack Phillips
- Maps, charts, and a reading packet for each module
- Address and parking details sent with your confirmation
Club members and their invited guests only. Enroll by Monday, October 26: the course runs with a minimum of 5 participants, and if fewer have enrolled by then, everyone gets a full refund. Full refund if the confirmed schedule doesn't suit you, or up to 7 days before the first class. After that, your payment becomes a credit toward a future course.
The courses
Eight courses, three subjects
Each course stands alone and runs four weeks. Take them in any order.
Geopolitics
How the world moves markets
- 1Geopolitics and Markets First courseHow global events move energy, currencies, rates, and equities
Markets
How money and capital work
- 2Capital MarketsEquities, fixed income, real estate, commodities, and private markets
- 3The Capital StackHow investments are structured, and who gets paid first
- 4MoneyFrom barter to debt to the yield curve
- 5How Banks WorkRegulation, capital, and why banks fail
Risk and new markets
How to think about uncertainty
- 6Risk ManagementKelly, optionality, and sizing, taught with historical cases
- 7Prediction MarketsHistory, how they work, what they are used for, and their risks
- 8CryptoMajor chains and DeFi: how they work and where the risks are
All courses are educational and use general or historical examples, never individual portfolios. Nothing taught is a recommendation to buy or sell any security, token, or contract.
From the Asset Class Seminar Series Jack co-taught in Boulder in 2026.
Average quality rating, ten-person seminar cohort
Average likelihood to recommend, same cohort
“Great introductory course for those curious about the markets and wanting to improve their understanding of market dynamics.”
“The series gave me a baseline understanding that allowed me to feel comfortable talking about financial matters as well as springboard for learning more.”
“For someone who has been invested a long time and works in private equity I was concerned how much value I could get from this course. It greatly exceed[ed] my expectations.”
“I knew almost nothing about Capital Markets before I attended this series. I was quite intimidated to join, but am so happy that I did.”
From the 2026 Asset Class Seminar Series in Boulder, co-taught with Sara Zervos. Quoted with each participant's permission.
Your instructor
Taught by Jack Phillips
Jack served ten years on active duty and two in the Naval Reserve as an intelligence officer. He led the Iraqi Security Forces team at U.S. Central Command and served as Executive Assistant to the JIOC Commander at U.S. Cyber Command. His financial intelligence analysis was briefed to President Obama by the U.S. Treasury Department.
He has been involved in digital assets since 2011, has made 25 investments across 17 companies in diverse sectors, and writes Markets with Jack, a monthly macro intelligence briefing. He founded Hengecat Research in Boulder in 2022.
- Service
- U.S. Navy intelligence officer. Lieutenant Commander (O-4), Naval Reserve.
- Assignments
- USCENTCOM · USCYBERCOM · USSTRATCOM (Reserve) · Carrier Air Wing 11
- Education
- B.S. Computer Science, Bucknell University, magna cum laude. Graduate coursework in machine learning through Stanford.
- Writing
- Markets with Jack and the monthly Market Compass
Read Jack's full biography“Exceptional briefer, with a knack for knowing when the short answer was sufficient or when dazzling with detail was necessary.”
Markets with Jack · Monthly
The Market Compass, in the room
Jack has written a chart-heavy monthly market note since 2024, covering inflation, the economy, liquidity, the Fed, geopolitics and commodities, crypto, and equities. The courses teach the framework behind it.
Read the Market Compass
Kotor, 2023 · Balkan Tech FundReserve
Hold a seat at the table.
Geopolitics and Markets is a private series for members of our host club in Boulder and their invited guests. If that's you, reserve and pay below.
Geopolitics and Markets · $300 · 17 seats
Club members and their invited guests only. At checkout you'll confirm whether you're a member or a guest, and if a guest, which member invited you. Payments from anyone else are refunded in full.
Four 90-minute classes over four weeks, in person in Boulder, starting the week of November 2. Enroll by Monday, October 26. The exact day and time will be emailed to everyone who has paid, within a few days.
Pay $300 and reserveSecure checkout by Stripe. The course runs with a minimum of 5 participants. If fewer have enrolled by Monday, October 26, it won't run and everyone gets a full refund. If the confirmed day and time don't work for you, you get a full refund. Otherwise, full refund up to 7 days before the first class; after that, a credit toward a future course. Address and parking details come with your confirmation.
Questions, or hear about future courses