Paul and Chris interview M1 Finance's CEO, Brian Barnes, and ask several listener questions. This is the follow-up to their previous M1 Finance 2024 update podcast and YouTube video.   They start by asking Brian how and why he created the company. That's followed by a wide-ranging conversation that includes some interesting surprises, like Chris's realization that using M1's target-date pies instead of traditional target-date funds can result in some real tax efficiency. Here's the topic...

Paul mentions his upcoming presentation to the ⁠⁠L.A. Chapter of AAII⁠⁠ on November 16, 2024    10:30 to noon. Chris Pedersen and Daryl Bahls join Paul to answer your questions.  Paul opens the podcast with a brief introduction of the team and notes how thankful he is for their commitment to helping others. Paul mentions the huge moves small cap value funds made on November 6.  He follows that with a comparison of the 5 year returns of AVUV and  3 Vanguard small cap value funds (VBR, VIOV...

On November 16, 2024 Paul will speak to the L.A. Chapter of AAII via a Zoom presentation.  Here is the link:   2 Funds to Own Forever, and How to Invest in Small Caps In this podcast Paul addresses 4 major considerations when selecting a small cap value ETF.  His discussion compares the returns, along with 4 major factors, for AVUV, VBR, VB,, VIOV, DFSVX and DFSV. Is gold worthy of a place in our portfolios?  Probably not but Paul talks about his gold position and why bonds are likely a lot...

Watch the video here.Paul Merriman, a former wealth manager turned financial educator, joins us to share investing wisdom that could reshape how you think about your money. We kick things off talking about portfolio diversification. Paul suggests a simple four-fund strategy that includes large cap, small cap, and value stocks. He says this mix has historically beaten the S&P 500 with lower risk. We then dive into international investing. Paul explains that while adding international...

The Marriage Kids and Money Podcast is dedicated to helping you do just that. Each week, Andy Hill interviews personal finance experts, millionaire parents and financially independent couples to find out how they achieved their success. He then takes that information and breaks it down into digestible takeaways that will help you win with money. With over 400 episodes and counting, Marriage Kids and Money has been awarded “Best Family Finance Content” by Plutus two years in a row and...

Investors need to get past marketing and sales pitches to know what they're getting when they invest.  Morningstar is a great place to get that depth. Paul and Chris describe how they each use the free Morningstar tools to evaluate mutual fund and ETF characteristics, such as: * Expense ratios * Liquidity and bid/ask spreads * Geographic focus * Value and size tilts * Financial characteristics * Factor exposures * Number of holdings * Tax efficiency and* Charted historical...

Paul updates his list of reasons to use index funds plus comparing the handful of Vanguard Small Cap Value ETFs (VTWV, SLYV, VBR AND VIOV) with the newer Avantis and DFA small cap value ETFs.  He also makes the case that AVUS and DFAU total market funds are likely to produce better returns than VTSAX, VTI, VOO AND VFINX. He also discusses the 15 year returns of 6 each large cap growth, large cap value, small cap blend, small cap growth and small cap value indexes.  The lessons from these...

Chris & Paul walk through the changes to The Merriman Financial Education Foundation’s relationship with M1 Finance, including affiliate commissions, a new emphasis on accurate messaging, and improved pre-made portfolio shortcuts (M1 calls them Pies). The new Pies now include all of our Sound Investing equity portfolios, taxable and tax-deferred fixed-income portfolios, and 5-year increments of the Merriman Aggressive Target-Date Glide Path allocations.  Chris shows how easy it is to mix...

In preparation for his presentation at the Bogleheads Conference Paul reread John Bogle’s “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing” He has been recommending the book since 2007 but in 2017 Wiley published the updated and revised edition.  There is some terrific new material in the revised edition.Paul focuses on several topics from the book including Bogel’s statement that index funds are the only “honest” funds.  Paul discusses the reasons actively managed funds can’t afford to tell the...

I had an amazing conversation with David Baughier on the Forget About Money podcast! We discussed my 12 One-Million Dollar Ideas for building wealth, the power of starting early, and why index funds are a game-changer for long-term investing. We also covered the importance of diversification, the benefits of small-cap value stocks, and why sticking with a buy-and-hold strategy beats trying to time the market. Whether you're new to investing or looking to refine your retirement plan,...

Paul starts the podcast with a discussion of his ⁠special presentation⁠ to the graduating nurses from the College of Nursing at Texas A&M. This presentation was part of a Life Transitions Series. He discusses how he might be able to do a similar presentation for other groups of graduating college students, as well as  groups of investors who are trying to get the most from their company 401k. The second topic is regarding a new set of tables that should help investors figure out...

Paul starts the podcast talking about the upcoming Boglehead Conference (Sept.27-29) in Minneapolis.  The following link lists the speakers and topics.  https://boglecenter.net/2024conference/ Q1:  Should I invest $300,000 inheritance all at once or dollar cost average? 02:23 Q2:  If SCV is such a great asset class why do the companies all have such low P/E ratios? 8:06 Q3:  Given that our Roth IRAs have unlimited investment options how should we approach investing in our Roth accounts...

Paul starts with a general discussion of the decision to trust recent returns or make investment based on longer term returns.  He uses AVUV and ARKK as two investments you could have made in September 2019.  In the discussion he references a video where arkk creator and fund manager predicts future arkk returns.  Q: #1:  Why should future results look like the past? 16:15 Q: #2  We are in mid 50s and we think we have more money than we will need in retirement.  Is there a rule of thumb for...

1.  My husband and I are moving to Fidelity to set up your Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio.  How do we make the change from our holdings to your portfolio?  Do I have to sell all of my holdings?  Plus we want to find an hourly advisor  to help.  Can you make a recommendation? 1:45   2. I have $1million in a money market fund.  Do you think it is time to start reducing the cash position and moving to short term bonds or equity ETFS? 8:45   3.  Are target date funds the same as all in one...

1. What is the best glide path (asset allocation) for a 58 year old pre-retiree and then in retirement? This is the link for Chris Pedersen’s 2 Funds for Life glide path. 2:50 2. I don’t need all of my RMD (required minimum distribution). How should I invest the excess? Here is the link to the video on "My 12 Favorite Vanguard Funds for Retirees” and the link to all of the Fine Tuning Tables. 11:19 3. My wife has easily onset demential. It’s costs $200,000 a year. How should a family...

On July 25, 2024 Paul and Chris made a presentation to the Puget Sound AAII.  Paul spoke to the latest research on small cap value and Chris spoke to the latest research on his 2 Funds for Life Portfolio.  Following the presentation  they answered questions from the guests. Q:  What advice do you give on conversion of regular IRAs to Roth IRAs?Q:  What investments do you recommend to offset large losses in the equity markets?Q:  Why do you recommend AVUS over VOO, or other S&P 500...

In this podcast Paul discusses an article by Truth Teller Ben Carlson (The Biggest Winners in the Stock Market), regarding a study by Dr. Hendrik Bessenbinder (Which U.S. Stocks Generated the Highest Long-Term Returns ) This study is an update from an earlier study from Bessenbinder that Paul has recommended many times.Paul also discusses an article by Truth Teller John Rekanthaler,  "When Rebalancing Creates Higher Returns—and When It Doesn’t” This article adds to THE discussion of the...

Paul, Daryl, and Chris are together again to discuss what they each think are the best single charts or graphs to help people understand investing and make good decisions. Paul starts by asking Chris and Daryl how much we can rely on the past to predict the future. Paul follows that with a deep dive into his choice for the most important chart -- the quilt chart. Daryl follows up with his choice -- a discussion of the tell-tale chart.Chris finishes with his choice: a discussion of the 2...

One of the most challenging aspects of being a 100% do-it-yourself investor (DYI) is dealing with the emotions of wanting to make major changes in a portfolio due to what may easily be seen as catastrophic news. The DYI doesn’t have a professional to help them think through the difficult times like the 2008 meltdown, the October 19, 1987 22% one day decline or currently, the upcoming election results. Paul believes one of the best sources of professional support a DYI could have is George...

Paul starts the podcast discussing the upcoming (July 13, 2024) presentation for AAII Puget Sound Chapter (9-10:30).  Chris Pedersen and Paul will present, “2 Investment Decisions Guaranteed to Change Your Financial Future. ”Here is a link for more information and to sign up for this presentation.  Here is the link to sign up.Today’s podcast is a discussion of the latest research from Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation.  Paul believes these new...

Join Paul as he is interviewed by Ed Fulbright, CPA and host of Mastering Your Money on WNCU 90.7 FM in Durham, N.C. How do Grandparents decide to help with education or retirement or legacy building of their grandchildren? You often recommend small cap value as the primary investment vehicle for creating legacy for your grand children.  Why did you select this investment?  You recommend a low cost strategy for $365 per year.  Can you tell our listeners about how this works?  You also...

The following questions were generated during a presentation Paul made to the Orange County and New York City AAII Chapters. 1. How do we go about finding someone (money manager) who follows your portfolio recommendations? Plus what is a reasonable fee to pay for advisory services? In the answer I do mention David Sterman. link:⁠https://huguenotfinancialplanning.com/⁠and two videos by Rob Berger: ⁠5 Hidden Costs of Fee-Only Advisors⁠ and⁠ 5 Key Questions to Ask Your Investment...

On June 8, 2024 Paul gave a 2 hour presentation to the Seattle Chapter of Choose FI.  The topics covered the 8 biggest investment decisions, plus a new piece on putting aside money for a newborn to 21 year old.  Here is the video link. This podcast covers 10 unanswered questions from the presentation, plus 5 additional topics that guests listed as most important topics of the meeting. Q&A: 1. How to find the best 3 year fixed annuity.  https://www.stantheannuityman.com/ 2.  How to...

Mavis Tsai is a friend I have known for decades. Our paths crossed as I was teaching one of my free 3 or 6 hours workshop.  In January she asked me to participate in her 5-day online event entitled,  "Confluence of Hearts: A Global Summit on True Self, Brave Connections, and a Love-Led World”  In the description of the event she noted: "Together, we will explore cutting-edge insights on reconnecting with our true selves and our fellow humans, dismantling antiquated societal structures,...