We explore what strategy and systems are and how we craft and change them. We consider how investment strategies and financial systems have changed over the decades and why this matters to your financial decisions. Sponsors LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn Jobs Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium...

In the 500th episode of Money for the Rest of Us, we focus on the S&P 500 Index. How has the index changed, and why have U.S. stocks performed so well? Will U.S. stocks only return 3% in the next decade, as Goldman Sachs predicts. We also discuss major themes covered on Money for the Rest of Us over 500 episodes and what are our plans for the future. Thanks for being a part of Money for the Rest of Us over the past decade. Sponsors NetSuite - Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine...

We explore eight things that contribute to a healthy, growing economy and where Cuba and Argentina have fallen short. Topics covered include:Why Cuba continues to have rolling energy blackoutsWhy economic sanctions frequently don't workHow Argentina's President Millei is taking a "chainsaw" to the nation's economyWhy emerging markets will need to change their export-oriented growth trajectoryWhat are the risks to the long-term health of the U.S. economy Sponsors Monarch Money – Get an...

In episode 498, David shares how his investing has changed over the past ten years and lessons you can apply to your portfolio.Document Your JourneyKeep ExperimentingBe Willing to Adopt New Asset ClassesBe Very PatientTrade Less, Focus On Long-term DriversMonetary DiversificationDon't Focus on Relative PerformanceIgnore the NoiseTake Your TimeThere Is No Right Way to Invest Sponsors NetSuite  Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free...

Why 401k and other defined contribution schemes are flawed, leading to a generation of workers unprepared for retirement. What are the solutions to fix the mess. TopicsWhy 401k and other defined contributions haven't worked, despite their popularityWhy defined benefit pension plans declinedWhy 401k plans are treated like emergency fundsHow to combine the best of 401k and defined benefit pension plans Sponsors LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn...

Why we need distinct risk buckets: balancing our natural loss aversion with the allure of opportunities that offer the potential for massive upside. Topics covered include:What is modern portfolio theory, and what are some of its flawsWhy so many people have gotten wealthy by being undiversifiedHow to balance personal risk, market risk, and aspirational riskHow prospect theory explains our attraction to positively skewed opportunitiesWhy most people won't get wealthy unless they take some...

This week on the podcast, we share excerpts from Plus episode 484 on ETF size and the impact of QE, as well as Plus episode 493 on stock market inelasticity. You can learn more about Money for the Rest of Us Plus here. Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

What does the Federal Reserve's policy rate cut mean for our portfolios? Will interest rates keep falling? What changes should we make? Topics include:What determines interest rates, and where are those drivers currentlyWhat is the best estimate of bond returnsHow duration works and why it changesWhat are some current fixed income investment options Sponsors LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn Jobs Monarch Money – Get an extended 30-day free trial Our...

How do home equity investments, income share agreements, and music royalties work, and how can you participate? Topics covered include:How a home equity investment differs from a home mortgageWhat is the cost of home equity investmentsHow funding education through income share agreements has changedWhy artists sell royalties to their workHow individuals can invest in music royalties Sponsors NetSuite  Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get...

What caused the 40% price increase in houses and rents, and what are governments doing to try to fix the problem. Topics covered include:Why 50% of the global population is frustrated with the lack of affordable housingHow the housing collapse as part of the Great Financial Crisis contributed to today's affordability crisisHow central bank QE programs have magnified the housing crisisHow restrictive zoning and short-term rentals contribute to the housing crisisWhat governments are doing to...

In this episode, we explore the concept of optionality—how small, strategic decisions can lead to outsized rewards with limited downside risk. From ancient philosophy to modern financial strategies, discover how recognizing and seizing options can unlock opportunities in both life and investing. Topics covered include:How call and put options workThe difference between American and European style options and why it mattersWhy options are positively skewedExamples of using optionality in...

In Episode 491, we explore the five layers of investing, including which assets fit into each layer, and give examples of advertisements targeting each layer. The five layers are:1. Short-term trading2. Longer-term speculations3. Individual securities4. Diversified portfolios focused on underlying drivers and factors5. Maximum diversification with few changes and just a few holdings Episode Sponsors Monarch Money – Get an extended 30-day free trial LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post...

How do buyouts, venture capital, and growth equity work? Has private equity outperformed the stock market, and can individual investors pursue these investment strategies? Topics covered include:How are private equity funds structured, and what are the feesHow is private equity performance measured, and how has it performedWhy does private equity have such a large dispersion of returns compared to the public stock marketWhat is private equity dry powder, and why is there much of itWhat are...

This week, we release one of David's favorite episodes from six years ago, Episode 203: Is Investing More Like Poker or Chess. Topics covered include:What is the difference between chess and poker.Why we need to separate the decision process from the outcome.How to improve the quality of our investment decisions.What are are wu-wei and qi and what role do they play in better decision making. Sponsors Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Betterment - the automated investing and...

In episode 489, we examine three factors that contributed to this week's big stock market declines, analyze whether a recession is imminent, and review David's recent portfolio changes. Topics covered include:The benefits of looking at market and economic trends monthlyHow bad was the recent U.S. employment report and what is the Sahm RuleWhat are leading economic indicators saying about recession riskWhy the Federal Reserve will be lowering its policy rate, leading to lower cash yieldsWhy...

What is the investment case for Ethereum, and what are the risks? A straightforward review of what ether and Ethereum are, how they work, and what it will take for the Ethereum blockchain to be successful. Topics covered include:Who launched Ethereum ETFs and what are the feesHow Ethereum differs from BitcoinExamples of applications built on the Ethereum blockchain including NFTs, stablecoins, DAOs, and tokenized real-world assetsHow Ethereum has evolved to lower fees, reduce supply, cut its...

What we can monitor and do now in preparation for a 2030s depression, which may or may not arrive. Topics covered include:Why ITR Economics has been predicting a 2030s depression for over a decade.What are the early warning signs we can monitor for increasing risk of economic and financial turmoilWhat are U.S. and global population predictions by the Congressional Budget Office and the United NationsWhat is the status of Social Security and what would it take to make it more sustainableWhat...

Gambling in the stock market is increasing, with most traders losing money while generating billions of dollars per year for brokerages and wholesalers. Will all this trading lead to big market swoons? Topics covered include:Why sports gambling has grown so muchHow gambling in the stock market is measured, and how prevalent is itWhy most traders lose money but continue to trade anywayHow uninformed traders improve market liquidity and encourage trading by informed tradingWhy being an asset...

Buffer ETFs protect against the downside while capping the upside. We examine them closely to see if they are worth it. Topics covered include:How buffer ETFs are structured and some current examplesHow buffer ETFs have performed over the past five yearsWhat are the risks of buffer ETFsHow loss aversion and narrow framing contribute to the popularity of buffer ETFsAre buffer ETFs worth it and what are some alternative strategies that could be used...

Seven ways to increase the odds of living long into your retirement years (if you choose to retire). Sponsors Monarch Money – Get an extended 30-day free trial Lifetime Money for the Rest of Us Plus membership Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus Show Notes Podcast Stats: How many podcasts are there?—Listen Notes Quality Over Quantity Is A Growth Strategy by Steven Goldstein—Amplifi Media Slow Productivity by Cal Newport—Penguin Random House Why our...

Millions of fintech app users have lost access to their cash. In this episode, we explain why this happened and show you how to protect yourself when placing cash with traditional banks, neobanks, and fintech platforms. Topics covered include:The mass chaos in the fintech space spawned by the bankruptcy of Synapse Financial TechnologiesWhat are FBO accounts, and why they are so troublesomeWhat is the difference between a traditional bank, a neo bank, and a non-bankWhat to look for and...

How a few high-impact successes drive up overall average outcomes in investing, business, and creative projects. How to harness positive skewness using a barbell approach. Learn when to mitigate risks and when to embrace them. Topics covered include:What is positive skewness and how does it manifest in investing, business and creative endeavorsHow power laws and the 80/20 rule workWhy we shouldn't beat ourselves up if we aren't incredibly successfulWhen should we reduce positive skewness and...

Why are homeowners seeing home insurance premiums increases of up to 70%, as David has? What can you do if your insurer drops you, you get a huge premium increase, or you can no longer afford coverage? Topics covered include:What are the primary drivers of home insurance price increasesWhy these increases don't show up in the U.S. consumer price indexHow the reinsurance market works and why reinsurers are passing on 50% premium increases to property and casualty insurers.What percentage of...

Why stock, ETF, and bond trades are optimized to settle in less than a day, allowing investors quicker access to their cash and securities. What are the benefits and costs of optimization in the relentless drive for cheaper, faster, and more profitable.Why countries are moving to T+1 settlement from T+2 for security tradesWhat will it take for securHow BlackRock and Franklin have launched Treasury funds that are tokenized and trade on the Etherium networkHow optimization works and what are...