Episodi

  • Beyond the Résumé: Building Your Trade Compliance Brand with Kyle Grobler
    Oct 22 2026

    Host: Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles Guest(s): Kyle Grobler Published: October 22, 2026 Length: ~ 37 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center

    Summary

    Being good at trade compliance and being known for that expertise are not the same thing. In this episode of Simply Trade, Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles welcome Kyle Grobler for a candid conversation about personal branding, professional visibility, and showing up—even when posting feels uncomfortable.

    Kyle explains why he committed to sharing his experience on LinkedIn for six months, with one simple goal: help one other person. What followed included new connections, speaking opportunities, and offers for jobs he never applied for. But this is not a conversation about chasing viral posts. It is about making your knowledge useful to others and building relationships through consistent contribution.

    The discussion moves from practical profile improvements and meaningful engagement to the human side of professional credibility: admitting mistakes, telling relatable stories, and letting people see the person behind the job title. Lalo shares his own discomfort with being visible, while Andy connects the conversation to sincere leadership and learning from frontline employees.

    For trade, customs, and logistics professionals wondering whether they have anything worth sharing, this episode offers a different starting point: your everyday experience may be exactly what someone else needs. You do not have to wait until you feel ready—or until the new year—to begin.

    Main Topic / Discussion

    Kyle’s central message is that a personal brand grows through contribution, not just self-promotion. He discusses building a LinkedIn profile that explains the problems you solve, sharing lessons from your work, and engaging thoughtfully with other people’s content.

    The conversation also goes beyond social media. Lalo and Andy explore how professional visibility connects to workplace credibility, communicating trade’s value, and building relationships with colleagues at every level. From acknowledging mistakes to listening to frontline employees, the emphasis stays on consistency, sincerity, and community—not perfection or popularity.

    Key Takeaways

    • Make your expertise easy to understand. Use your LinkedIn photo, banner, headline, and About section to communicate who you help, the problems you solve, and what you have accomplished.

    • Share the lesson, not just the success. Experiences, mistakes, and what you learned along the way can offer another trade professional a useful starting point.

    • Contribute more than you ask for. Thoughtful comments, meaningful responses, and genuine conversations build relationships beyond your own posts.

    • Choose consistency over perfection. Keep showing up even when engagement is modest. Kyle’s focus is helping someone—not measuring every post against viral numbers.

    Resources & Mentions

    • Global Training Center • Connect with Kyle Grobler on LinkedIn

    Credits

    Host: Lalo Solorzano Andy Shiles

    Guest(s): Kyle Grobler - LinkedIn

    Producer: Lalo Solorzano

    📢 Subscribe & Follow

    Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter.

    🎧 Listen on:

    • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube

    💬 Connect with us:

    • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community

    Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks!

    Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com

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    36 min
  • [NCBFAA] Your Voice in Washington: NCBFAA Advocacy in Action
    Oct 21 2026
    Host: Lori Mullins Guest(s): Leah Ellis and Dave Corn Published: October 21, 2026 Length: Approximately 33 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center Summary What happens when a trade policy decision reaches the people responsible for making it work? In this special Simply Trade collaboration with the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), host Lori Mullins sits down with Legislative Committee Chair Leah Ellis and Co-Chair Dave Corn to connect the daily realities of trade with the conversations taking place on Capitol Hill. Coming out of NCBFAA’s 2026 Government Affairs Conference, Leah and Dave explain why advocacy is a year-round effort—and why firsthand experience matters when lawmakers are weighing changes. The discussion explores the push for more advance notice before tariff changes, the downstream effects on drawback and the broader duty life cycle, and the challenge of strengthening customs enforcement without making legitimate trade harder to facilitate. At the center of the conversation is a practical question: Who is best positioned to explain what happens at the entry desk, inside a brokerage operation, or when an importer faces an unexpected change? Leah and Dave make the case that you do not need a government affairs title to contribute. You need real examples, a willingness to speak up, and the commitment to keep the conversation going after the meeting ends. Main Topic / Discussion This episode goes behind the scenes of NCBFAA’s legislative advocacy, showing how members’ operational experiences help inform the association’s conversations with lawmakers. Lori, Leah, and Dave discuss NCBFAA’s request for at least 30 days’ advance notice of tariff changes, the importance of considering the entire duty life cycle, and the balance between customs enforcement and trade facilitation. Their enforcement discussion includes a verified importer-of-record registry and the position that CBP should determine importer eligibility using government information unavailable to brokers. They also explain what happens after the Capitol Hill meetings: sharing concrete examples, answering staffers’ questions, maintaining local relationships, and following up throughout the year. Key Takeaways • Tariff notice is an operational issue. NCBFAA’s request for at least 30 days of advance notice is about giving brokers, importers, software providers, and CBP time to prepare for implementation. • The duty life cycle does not end at entry. Dave explains why drawback, corrections, reconciliation, refunds, and recordkeeping need a place in tariff-policy conversations. • Effective enforcement needs clear responsibilities. The guests support appropriate broker due diligence while arguing that CBP should determine importer eligibility using information brokers cannot access. • Advocacy requires participation and persistence. Bring real-world examples, get involved through committees and local associations, and follow up with congressional offices after the conference. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • NCBFAA Legislative Committee and Committee Directory NCBFAA • How to Get Involved in an NCBFAA Committee NCBFAA Credits Host: Lori Mullins Guest(s): Leah Ellis - LinkedIn Dave Corn - LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter. 🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube 💬 Connect with us: • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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    32 min
  • [TIPS] 90 Days Until 2027: Who Owns Your Customer? The BIS Affiliates Rule
    Oct 20 2026
    Host: Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Josh Rodman, Schulz Trade Law Published: October 20, 2026 Length: Approximately 18 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center Summary You checked your customer’s name against a restricted-party list. But do you know who owns that company? In Episode 3 of 90 Days Until 2027, Lalo Solorzano welcomes Josh Rodman of Schulz Trade Law to discuss the BIS affiliates rule and what exporters can do to prepare. Recorded while the rule was suspended, the conversation looks beyond the name on the invoice to ownership structures, potential licensing requirements, and risks that can exist even when a subsidiary is legally separate from its parent. Josh brings the issue to life through a client’s proposed sale of approximately $250,000 in electrical power equipment to a Chinese-owned subsidiary in Jamaica. The example leads to a critical question: what happens when a deal is signed before a rule takes effect, but the goods ship afterward? Lalo and Josh also explore the limitations of relying on screening tools alone, the importance of understanding different restricted-party lists, and why uncertainty about implementation is not a reason to postpone preparation. This week’s tip is to start investigating the ownership of your overseas counterparties now. Understanding those relationships can help your team identify questions that need attention before a transaction reaches the shipping stage. Main Topic / Discussion Knowing your customer’s name is not the same as understanding its ownership. Josh explains how the BIS affiliates rule would extend restrictions to certain unlisted companies based on ownership of 50% or more, including aggregated ownership. His Jamaica example illustrates why a subsidiary’s separate legal identity and location do not answer every export-compliance question. The discussion also covers export timing, the uncertainty surrounding any future temporary general license, and the possibility that a subsidiary could serve as a route for goods to reach a restricted parent. Josh recommends investigating ownership now and reviewing the distinctions among the Entity List, Military End-User List, and SDN List. Rule-status clarification — checked October 20, 2026: The published BIS suspension notice runs through November 9, 2026, with reinstatement scheduled for November 10, 2026, absent further action. The possible extension discussed in the recording should not be treated as an announced change. Check for subsequent BIS updates before relying on these dates. Federal Register Scope clarification: The episode refers broadly to the SDN List. For the BIS affiliates rule specifically, the published text identifies SDN designations under the programs listed in EAR § 744.8(a)(1), rather than every SDN designation. Federal Register Key Takeaways • Look beyond the customer’s name. Josh recommends examining ownership layers and percentages—not assuming a name-only screening result resolves the affiliates-rule question. • Signing a contract does not settle export eligibility. Josh explains why the date of export matters and why any applicable temporary general license would need to be evaluated separately. • A suspended rule does not eliminate other risks. The conversation highlights diversion concerns when an otherwise separate subsidiary could help an Entity List parent obtain goods. • Understand what each list actually restricts. Josh encourages exporters to review the Entity List, Military End-User List, and SDN List rather than treating them as interchangeable—or assuming every listing prohibits every kind of business. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • Josh Rodman — LinkedIn • Josh Rodman — Schulz Trade Law • BIS Affiliates Rule — Published Rule and Scope • BIS — One-Year Suspension of the Affiliates Rule • OFAC — 50 Percent Rule FAQs Follow Simply Trade for updates on companion resources and the planned 90 Days Until 2027 playbook. This episode provides general educational information and is not legal advice. Verify the requirements applicable to your transaction. Credits Host: Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Josh Rodman - LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter. 🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube 💬 Connect with us: • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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    19 min
  • Pete & Cindy: Tariffs & Truths—No Spin: Live from VMA26
    Oct 16 2026
    Host: Pete Mento and Cindy Allen Guest(s): N/A Published: October 16, 2026 Length: ~43 min. Presented by: Global Training Center Summary Recorded live at VMA26 in Norfolk, Pete Mento and Cindy Allen bring the Pete and Cindy Show to the conference stage for a candid, no-spin conversation about tariffs, refunds, enforcement, and what importers should do next. They unpack Sections 301, 232, 122, and 338 as tools of leverage, revenue, national security, and industrial policy—and question whether the current tariff strategy is producing the promised reshoring results. VMA26 brought shipping, port, logistics, and trade leaders together under the theme “Anchored: Grounded in Strategy. Ready for What’s Next.” Va Maritime The discussion turns practical as Pete and Cindy examine IEEPA refunds following the Supreme Court’s 2026 ruling, ACH setup, liquidation risk, and the need to involve trade counsel before money is left on the table. Then comes the warning: CBP, DOJ, BIS, and other agencies are using better data, deeper supply-chain visibility, and faster analytics in an increasingly enforcement-first environment. Supreme Court They also explore CBP’s advanced-data proposals, including foreign export documentation and supplier information that could reshape procurement, contracts, forwarding, and entry processes. Their advice is direct: engage suppliers now, strengthen cooperation clauses, evaluate service providers for compliance—not just price—and invest in people, systems, and lawful duty-mitigation tools. The line that captures the entire session: hope is not a strategy. Federal Register This Week in Trade • The IEEPA tariff ruling and the ongoing duty-refund process • Sections 301, 232, 122, and 338 as tools of leverage, revenue, and national security • CBP’s proposed heightened import disclosures and foreign export-document requirements • Expanding compliance expectations for importers, brokers, forwarders, and carriers Main Topic / Discussion This live discussion connects tariff policy directly to operational execution. Pete and Cindy argue that tariffs, refunds, data collection, supply-chain relationships, and enforcement can no longer be managed as separate issues. Tariffs as leverage The hosts examine how different tariff authorities are being used to influence negotiations, protect strategic industries, raise revenue, encourage domestic production, and reshape trade relationships with China, Canada, Mexico, and other partners. Refunds and lawful mitigation Pete and Cindy discuss the IEEPA refund process and the importance of reviewing affected entries, ACH information, liquidation status, and available legal options. They also highlight drawback, first sale, reconciliation, and foreign-trade zones as strategies companies should evaluate with qualified advisers. Enforcement powered by data The conversation explores how ACE data, supply-chain mapping, anomaly detection, and interagency coordination are increasing the government’s ability to identify discrepancies. The hosts warn that companies should expect faster, more targeted enforcement across both imports and exports. Advanced data and shared responsibility CBP’s ANPRM raises questions about foreign export declarations, invoices, classifications, values, certificates of origin, business identifiers, and earlier filing. Pete and Cindy explain why these proposals could affect procurement, supplier contracts, freight forwarding, carrier operations, and customs entry processes—not only the trade compliance department. The public comment period ends December 1, 2026. Federal Register Key Takeaways • Hope is not a strategy. Importers should model tariff exposure, prepare for continued enforcement, and build plans that do not depend on duties simply disappearing. • Review potentially eligible IEEPA entries, confirm ACH refund information, monitor liquidation status, and involve trade counsel when administrative or judicial action may be necessary. • Begin supplier outreach now. Determine who holds foreign export records, add government-cooperation and data-sharing language to contracts, and consider commenting on CBP’s ANPRM before December 1, 2026. • Evaluate brokers, forwarders, and carriers for their compliance programs, escalation procedures, recordkeeping, and willingness to challenge questionable instructions—not solely their rates and service levels. The importer of record remains ultimately responsible. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • VMA26 International Trade Symposium • Supreme Court Opinion — Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump • CBP — IEEPA Duty Refunds • Federal Register — Heightened Import Disclosures for Supply Chain Visibility • White House — Strengthening Customs Enforcement Fact Sheet Credits Host: Pete Mento Cindy Allen Guest(s): N/A Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that ...
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    43 min
  • Customs Enforcement Has Changed. Has Your Compliance Strategy?
    Oct 15 2026
    Host: Andy Shiles Guest(s): Grant Sernick, Third Wave Published: October 15, 2026 Length: Approximately 37 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center Summary Trade compliance cannot stay in the back office when the risks reach the boardroom. In this episode of Simply Trade, Andy Shiles welcomes back Grant Sernick of Third Wave for a candid conversation about customs enforcement, increasingly complex entries, and the disconnect between compliance teams and senior leadership. Drawing on his experience and industry discussions, Grant shares why he believes importers need to rethink how they manage trade risk. Together, he and Andy explore the limits of manual entry reviews, the challenges of Chapter 99 tariff provisions, and why knowing the finished product may not be enough to understand the compliance risks across its supply chain. But this is not just a conversation about what can go wrong. The discussion turns to what companies can do: communicate risk clearly to executives, strengthen the data behind their filings, and use automated verification to help specialists focus on discrepancies that need their judgment. Grant also explains Third Wave’s approach to comparing expected entries with broker-filed data. For importers, trade professionals, and business leaders, this episode offers a practical starting point for a bigger question: does your company’s approach to trade compliance reflect the business risk you are actually managing? Main Topic / Discussion Andy and Grant examine why trade compliance deserves attention beyond the department responsible for customs paperwork. Grant describes an enforcement environment that he believes demands stronger oversight—not only of individual entries, but also of the materials, suppliers, and production processes behind imported goods. The conversation connects those concerns to executive decision-making, financial controls, and staffing. Andy challenges leaders to ask where their companies are vulnerable, while Grant explains how automated entry verification can help identify discrepancies between expected entries and broker submissions. Their emphasis is on using technology to direct professional expertise where it is needed, rather than relying on manual review alone. Key Takeaways • Make trade risk an executive conversation. Andy and Grant emphasize that leadership needs to understand the exposure before it can make informed decisions about resources, controls, and strategy. • Look beyond the finished product. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding raw materials, components, suppliers, and the parties involved throughout the supply chain. • Verify filings rather than assuming they are correct. Grant explains why comparing expected entries against broker-filed data can help identify both duty overpayments and underpayments. • Use automation to support expert judgment. The goal discussed is broader entry coverage and earlier discrepancy detection, allowing compliance professionals to focus on the issues that require their attention. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • Grant Sernick on LinkedIn — Connect with Grant and follow his trade commentary. • Third Wave / 3rdwave — The company discussed in the episode. • 3rdwave Entry Verification — Product information for the entry-verification capability discussed by Grant. 3rdwave.co Credits Host: Andy Shiles Guest(s): Grant Sernick - LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter. 🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube 💬 Connect with us: • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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    37 min
  • [ICPA] Mexico 2026: Where Trade Compliance Meets Community
    Oct 15 2026
    Host: Victoria Schneider Guest(s): Brenda Cordova and Alyson Hachey Published: October 12, 2026 Length: 8 min. Presented by: Global Training Center Summary Keeping up with trade compliance takes more than knowing the rules. It also helps to know people who understand the challenges. In this special Simply Trade–ICPA collaboration, host Victoria Schneider welcomes Brenda Cordova and Alyson Hachey for a preview of the first-ever ICPA Mexico Conference. They share how conversations at MIC’s previous Mexico event helped spark the collaboration, with MIC becoming a founding partner, and what they hope this new gathering will mean for the trade compliance community. With English- and Spanish-language tracks and options to attend in person or virtually, the conference opens more ways to participate. Victoria highlights the USMCA joint review as one of the planned topics, while Brenda and Alyson emphasize the value of learning from professionals with different perspectives and experiences. But education is only part of the story. The guests also reflect on the friendships, shared experiences, and sense of belonging that keep them connected to ICPA. From professional learning to the excitement of experiencing Mexico City after Día de los Muertos, this episode offers a welcoming look at an event built around knowledge and connection—and a reminder that navigating trade does not have to be a solo effort. Main Topic / Discussion Victoria, Brenda, and Alyson preview the inaugural ICPA Mexico Conference, scheduled for November 3–5, 2026, at the Marquis Reforma Hotel in Mexico City. ICPA The discussion covers the collaboration behind the event, its focus on customs and trade education, and the opportunity to participate in English or Spanish, in person or virtually. The USMCA joint review is highlighted as a conference topic, while the conversation’s central message is about bringing professionals together to learn, exchange experiences, and build relationships that extend beyond the conference. Key Takeaways • A conversation can grow into something bigger. The conference collaboration began with discussions at MIC’s previous Mexico event about supporting the trade compliance community. • Different perspectives strengthen professional learning. The guests emphasize hearing from customs and trade experts who bring practical experience to the challenges facing importers, exporters, and other professionals. • There is more than one way to participate. Victoria highlights English and Spanish tracks, along with in-person and virtual attendance options. • The connections matter beyond the agenda. Peer relationships can become sources of support, shared knowledge, and lasting friendship, whether someone is new to trade compliance or a longtime practitioner. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • ICPA Mexico Conference — Event Details and Registration • International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Credits Host: Victoria Schneider Guest(s): Brenda Cordova - LinkedIn Alyson Hachey - LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter. 🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube 💬 Connect with us: • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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    8 min
  • [Cindy’s Version] Trade Compliance Meets Zero Trust
    Oct 9 2026
    Host: Cindy Allen Guest(s): N/A Published: October 9, 2026 Length: ~19 min. Presented by: Global Training Center Summary At a customs compliance conference, Cindy Allen heard a trade-fraud task force speaker describe a move toward a “zero-trust” enforcement environment. In this episode, she unpacks what that message could mean for importers: more data-driven scrutiny, more detailed questions, and a greater need to substantiate what appears on an entry. Using Taylor Swift’s “No Body, No Crime” as this week’s theme, Cindy explores the role of ACE data, AI-assisted supply-chain mapping, and interagency collaboration in the enforcement approach described by the speaker. Her central question is practical: can your business support its country-of-origin determinations, classifications, and manufacturing claims when customs asks for evidence? She also walks through the week’s tariff-refund developments, including CAPE 3 questions and a reported class-action designation, before turning to country-of-origin scrutiny and proposed changes for informal mail entries. Additional updates touch on global overcapacity, USMCA uncertainty, and the relationship between tariffs and consumer-goods inflation. For importers, brokers, and compliance teams, the episode connects policy headlines to the daily work of maintaining records, understanding suppliers, and responding thoughtfully to government requests. Cindy’s message: being confident in your compliance is not the same as being prepared to demonstrate it. This Week in Trade • Tariff refunds and litigation: Cindy discusses CAPE 3 filing questions, protest-related guidance, and a reported class-action designation. She highlights unresolved participation details, potential benefits for smaller importers, and the possibility of a government appeal. • Country of origin and overcapacity: Cindy reviews U.S. Trade Representative comments on manufacturing and origin determinations, increasingly detailed customs questionnaires, and G20 efforts to address overcapacity. • Proposed informal mail-entry changes: The Entry Type 13 discussion covers broker appointments, tighter data deadlines, proposed changes to the $250 trade-remedy threshold for informal entries, and final deliver-to-party information. • USMCA and tariff impacts: Cindy flags questions about USMCA’s future and discusses a report linking tariffs to consumer-goods inflation. Main Topic / Discussion Cindy’s main discussion centers on the “zero-trust” enforcement environment described by a trade-fraud task force speaker at an ACI customs compliance and trade-enforcement conference. She examines how ACE data, AI-assisted mapping, and cooperation across agencies can connect parties, products, and filing patterns. Her example: two importers use the same supplier for the same product but declare different tariff numbers. Cindy explains why that difference can attract scrutiny and how detailed CBP Forms 28 and 29 may help officials build a fuller picture of the goods, manufacturing processes, and parties involved. The practical question running through the discussion is whether a company can produce the evidence behind its trade decisions—not simply state that it is compliant. Key Takeaways • Be prepared to substantiate your declarations. Cindy challenges importers to consider whether their records support the classifications, origin determinations, and manufacturing information on which they rely. • Understand both the entities and the goods. Cindy distinguishes the supply chain—the entities moving goods—from the value chain—the goods moving among those entities. • Take detailed customs communications seriously. Cindy urges importers receiving extensive Forms 28 and 29 to seek experienced assistance and consult customs counsel when preparing responses. • Separate developments from final outcomes. Refund procedures, possible appeals, and proposed mail-entry changes involve unresolved questions. Cindy emphasizes understanding the details before deciding what a development means for your business. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • Cindy Allen on LinkedIn • Trade Force Multiplier: Cindy’s trade consultancy, introduced in the episode. • Song reference: Taylor Swift, “No Body, No Crime,” from evermore. • Referenced processes and tools: CAPE 3, the Court of International Trade, ACE data, CBP Forms 28 and 29, and proposed Entry Type 13 mail procedures. Credits Host: Cindy Allen Guest(s): N/A Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter. 🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube 💬 Connect with us: • Simply Trade • Global Training Center • Trade Geeks Community Don't forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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    19 min