# Glossary Source: https://aquavisadvisors.com/glossary Updated: 2026-10-20 Publisher: AquaVis Advisors LLC **The *Glossary*** The terms AquaVis coined, or uses in a specific sense — each defined in the words of the piece that introduced it, with a link to read more. ## Pillars of Power Technology, Energy, and Money. The confluence of *leadership* in the three pillars creates Power. Energy is the basis of any system; Technology seeks to make Energy more abundant/efficient; Money stores Energy across Time. They are interconnected pillars with each *reinforcing* the others. Source: [Pillars of Power](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/pillars-of-power) ## Pillars of Power Portfolio The foundational framework ‘doubles’ as a naturally balanced portfolio. Its absolute *simplest* expression is an equal-weighted Technology (XLK), Energy (XLE), and Money (GLD) portfolio — re-balanced at the extremes. Cascade and Confluence are its two applications. Source: [The Pillars of Power Portfolio](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-pillars-of-power-portfolio) ## Application Layer How to use the Pillars of Power Framework as a portfolio structure. The Pillars of Power *work* — as *both* a Framework to understand the World, *and* a Portfolio structure to harness your Money. Source: [The Application Layer](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-application-layer) ## Cascade Systematic Liquidity. Focused on mapping the flows of Money (Liquidity) within the financial system — this systematic strategy maps the liquidity cycle and selects the fastest horse (i.e., the asset with the highest potential return) at each point, targeting absolute, long-term returns. Source: [AquaVis Products](https://aquavisadvisors.com/products) ## Confluence Balanced Pillars of Power. A discretionary strategy with a systematic overlay that naturally balances exposure across the three self-reinforcing pillars — finding ideas that sit at the Confluence of multiple cycles, at the bottom of multiple filters, and at the intersection of the Venn Diagram. The various process ‘streams’ all *flow* together, hence the name. Source: [The Pillars of Power Portfolio](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-pillars-of-power-portfolio) ## Interconnected Flywheels The frameworks at the heart of AquaVis are *not* separate. They are *all* interconnected. Each one is a self-reinforcing loop on its own. Together, they compose a larger, deeply interdependent flywheel — a flywheel within a flywheel, *interconnected flywheels all the way down*. Source: [Interconnected Flywheels All the Way Down](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/interconnected-flywheels-all-the) ## Foundational Mindset Those in power chose the self/short-term end of the continuum — a mindset shift *away* from collective, abundance, and long-term, *toward* selfish, scarcity, short-termism: the three S’s that underlie the mindset and Policy of the subsequent decades. By shifting the underlying mindset back toward collective, abundance, and long-term, those now rising in power have the opportunity to build a better future. Source: [The System Series: Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part II)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions-706) ## Dialectics Complementary opposites — like Yin and Yang, Dark and Light — distinct yet interdependent forces that create a *complete* picture of reality through contrast and interaction. For balance and progress, you *need* both yin *and* yang, dark *and* light, chaos *and* order. Source: [PoP: The Multi-Decade Quiet War & The System Phase Transition (Part I)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/pop-the-multi-decade-quiet-war-and) ## Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny Leaders inherit ‘initial’ Demographics — the size of the Labor Force, the number of retirees, and so on. Decisions *today* around Demographic policies (i.e., family formation, legal immigration) influence the Demographics of the *future*. And the Demographics of the future help determine your (collective) Destiny. Source: [The System Series: Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part I)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions) ## Three Duties of Power The duties of those in Power: Shepherd the System — checking to see if it is still serving its intended purpose. Strengthen the Pillars of Power — to maintain control of the System. Invest in the Productive Labor Force via thoughtful Policy (Decisions) — to both enhance current productivity and build the future (Demographics). Source: [The Three Duties of Power](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-three-duties-of-power) ## Power & Pendulums The issue with the System’s self-perpetuating flywheel is it exacerbates issues for the majority and pushes pendulums to extremes — notably the Labor vs. Capital divide at the *foundation* of the System. But now the pendulum has swung too far — the ‘loopholes’ have been exploited, the System is imbalanced and no longer serving the majority. We need Re-Balancing. Source: [The System Series: Power & Pendulums (Part I)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-power-and-pendulums) ## Financialization Flywheel Policies, passive, and share repurchases create a self-reinforcing fund flows feedback loop. Corporates used (artificially) low and *falling* interest rates to lever up, and used that debt primarily to repurchase shares — raising Capital to buy Capital, rather than putting it to Productive use. Source: [Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part III) - Corporates](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions-b41) ## Concentration Cascade Concentration flowing downstream from the last ~25 years of Policy Decisions — into who owns the market, who controls it, and what it is made of. A select few passive managers are now the largest shareholders in almost all (~90%) of the companies in the market. The Concentration Cascade, all the way down. Source: [Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part III) - Stock Market Ownership & Control](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions-178) ## Diversification Illusion Most index funds (S&P 500, Nasdaq, etc.) are concentrated bets on ~10 companies — *not* the ‘marketed’ diversified baskets of hundreds of companies. In fact, they are concentrated bets on the AI Infrastructure cycle in the US, which is *highly* dependent upon a single chokepoint: TSMC in Taiwan. Source: [Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part III) - Stock Market Composition](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions-451) ## Society Fractal The many downstream self-similar outputs (*fractals*) that we see manifesting today — from wealth inequality to stock market concentration. These short-termism fractals are *everywhere* — once you see it from the foundational Decisions perspective, you start to see how it permeates *all* of society. Source: [Demographics, Decisions, & Destiny (Part III) - Society](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-system-series-demographics-decisions-89e) ## Quiet War Adversaries systematically analyzed, infiltrated, and exploited the old System — subverting the System *itself* and re-directing its Power flows to empower themselves at the *expense* of the original architect (the US). Source: [PoP: The Multi-Decade Quiet War & The System Phase Transition (Part I)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/pop-the-multi-decade-quiet-war-and) ## Peaceful Re-Balancing The US reduces its *over*-Consumption (pendulum swings toward Production), and China reduces its *over*-Production (pendulum swings toward Consumption). The US and China are the two players in the old System most out-of-balance — increased Balance between the Two would help Balance the overall System. Source: [Insight: How to Peacefully Re-Balance the World](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/insight-how-to-peacefully-re-balance) ## The Multi-Year Mar-a-Lago Accord First laid out privately in early 2025 as a *hypo*-thesis — a map of what was *likely* to come. A complete revamp of the Money Pillar — from financial infrastructure (i.e., blockchain) to the instruments that ride on top (i.e., Stablecoins) — all as part of the New System. The most sweeping change since Bretton Woods. The US wants to expand the USD Network (quantity), while lowering the relative price of the USD. Source: [The Multi-Year Mar-a-Lago Accord (Prelude)](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-multi-year-mar-a-lago-accord) ## New Spheres Three interdependent Frontiers, all critical to the emerging New System. Look *down* — the un-explored depths of the Ocean. Look *up* — the vast expanse of Space. Look *north* — the thawing ice expanding the Arctic opportunity. The hegemon who controls these Spheres will control the System. Source: [The New Spheres](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-new-spheres) ## Tracks, Then Trains A Technological Revolution lays the tracks (Phase 1, Infrastructure), *then* runs the trains (Phase 2, Applications). You need to finance the ‘tracks’ *first*, so the ‘trains’ eventually have something to run on — thus why the Money often ‘runs’ ahead. The financial bubble can pop while the Revolution continues. Source: [Insight: Tracks, Then Trains](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/tracks-then-trains) ## Order Your Mind, Direct Your Attention, Harness Your Money The framework creates ‘structure’ for the *flow* — from organization, to direction, to action. Order Your Mind builds the lens; Direct Your Attention controls the flow; Harness Your Money commands the reserve. When your internal clarity, active flowing energy, and stored capital are aligned, you stop *re*-acting to the world’s design and start building your own — Shape Your Future. Source: [The Pillars of Power Portfolio](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-pillars-of-power-portfolio) ## The 6 A’s Flywheel An even ‘simpler’ way to visualize the energy flow: Awareness (see the world the way it is), Attention (focus your flowing energy), Agency (recognize your power), Action (move intentionally), Accountability (own the result), and Actualization (shape the future). Source: [The Pillars of Power Portfolio](https://aquavis.substack.com/p/the-pillars-of-power-portfolio)