My guest today is Ben Claremon; we connected a while ago and have had many deep conversations about work, life, investing, and more. Not long ago, I was a guest on his wonderful podcast - The Compounders Podcast, where I talked about my career, work, investment style, and my firm - Blue Infinitas Capital — scroll down and look up this episode in the Talking Billions feed or on Ben’s channel. I’ve been eager to turn the tables on Ben, have him on the show, and ask him more about his unique journey, fascinating investment philosophy, and wide-ranging curiosity about the world of money, wealth, and investing. Ben Claremon has worked in both private and public equity, with the majority of his career spent as an analyst and portfolio manager at Cove Street Capital, a long-only, public investing firm in Los Angeles. During his career, Ben has developed an expertise in corporate governance, especially within small and microcap companies. https://devonshirepartners.co/ https://compounders.podbean.com/ In today’s discussion, we explore how listening is crucial in investing, providing deeper insights and guiding better decisions. We delve into how early experiences and upbringing can spark curiosity, mold one’s relationship with money, and define investment philosophies. Ben reflects on how enduring challenging times, like the financial crisis, can cultivate risk aversion and a strong focus on downside protection. Our conversation highlights that building a thriving investment firm demands a client-centric approach, a commitment to partnerships, and a deep focus on relationships. We uncover how success often lies in tackling what others consider too difficult or unworthy, as Devonshire Investors commit to aligning with like-minded partners. Ben emphasizes his firm's refusal to engage with excessively transactional or extractive companies or partners. We discuss the potential to build a premium brand in the microcap space by offering capital solutions to overlooked businesses. In today’s episode, we explore the enduring value of handshake deals and trust in the investment landscape. Stay tuned until the end, when Ben shares his thoughts on quality deals. It’s a wonderful conversation, I especially enjoyed Ben’s memories of spending time with his grandfather and learning about the ins and outs of business… Without further ado, please help me welcome — Ben Claremon. Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies.  Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.  Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation.  Past performance is not indicative of future performance.