In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, Jack and Matt dive into some of the most controversial takes we've heard on Excess Returns in 2024. From Aswath Damodaran's spicy thoughts on the Berkshire annual meeting (spoiler: he's not a fan) to Cem Karsan's mind-bending perspective on options being the "dog" rather than the "tail," we're breaking down six of the hottest takes from 2024. We explore everything from Meb Faber challenging the sacred cow of dividend investing to...

In this episode, we look at the biggest lessons we have learned from Cullen Roche, one of our most frequent and insightful guests. We cover: "All Duration Investing" - Cullen's framework for matching investments to specific time horizons The Fed as Chuck Norris - Why the threat of Fed action can be more powerful than the action itself QE vs Fiscal Stimulus - Understanding why QE wasn't inflationary, but COVID stimulus was International Diversification - Making the case for looking beyond...

In this episode, we sit down for a deep dive into lessons from value investor Tobias Carlisle, exploring several key insights from our conversations with him over the years. In this Halloween-themed episode (complete with plenty of Reese's cups), we break down Toby's perspectives on what makes an ideal business, the critical importance of survival in investing, portfolio concentration vs diversification, and whether today's tech giants can maintain their dominance. We cover how See's Candy...

In this episode, we dive into our conversations with Meb Faber, analyzing some of his most interesting takes on investing and wealth management. We explore several clips from our interviews where Meb shares perspectives that often challenge conventional wisdom, including his thoughts on dividend investing, trend following, and the Federal Reserve. We discuss: - The limitations of dividend-focused investing strategies - Asset allocation insights from the Talmud - A different perspective on...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dive deep into the insights we've gained from our conversations with investing legend Rob Arnott. We explore Rob's unique perspectives on identifying market bubbles, the challenges facing value investors in today's market, and how the rise of passive investing is reshaping market dynamics. We break down Rob's thoughts on the power of narratives in investing, challenge common assumptions about interest rates and value/growth...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of trend following with legendary trader Jerry Parker. We explore key insights from our previous interviews with Jerry on Excess Returns, discussing his experiences as one of the original Turtle Traders and how his approach has evolved over time. We cover several important topics, including: - The challenges of sticking to a trading system, even when you're trained to follow it. - Jerry's goals for his portfolio and how they've shifted from...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dig into the biggest lessons we learned from investing legend Guy Spier. Drawing from our extensive interview with Guy, we explore key insights that can benefit investors at all levels. We discuss: - The importance of learning from mistakes early in your career - Aligning your inner and outer self for authenticity and success - The power of learning in public and putting yourself out there - Defining and expanding your circle of...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dive deep into the investing wisdom of Chris Davis, exploring eight valuable lessons from our interview with this renowned investor. We break down Chris's insights on behavioral finance, the power of inversion in decision-making, the challenges of holding winning positions, and the pitfalls of blindly imitating successful strategies. We discuss Chris's unique perspective on sector concentration and risk, his thoughts on the...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dive deep into the investing wisdom of Michael Mauboussin, one of the most respected thinkers in finance. We revisit our interview with Michael and distill 10 key lessons that are still incredibly relevant for investors today. We explore crucial concepts like: The difference between investing and speculating Understanding expectations investing Why fundamentals still matter, even in today's market The paradox of skill in...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dive deep into the world of quality and low volatility factors in investing. We explore how these factors work, their academic foundations, and their practical applications in portfolio construction. We discuss the definitions of quality and low volatility, examining how they're measured and why they can be valuable additions to investment strategies. We also look at the behavioral aspects that make these factors effective,...

In this episode, we dive into key lessons from our recent Excess Returns interview with valuation expert Aswath Damodaran. We unpack Damodaran's insights on: Why dogma in investing can be dangerous The evolving landscape of active vs passive investing Challenges facing factor investing The critical role of storytelling in valuation How AI and 'personal bots' might reshape investing careers Focusing on wealth preservation and growth over get-rich-quick schemes We offer our own perspectives...

In this episode, we tackle a question that is on many investor's minds: Is value investing dead? We explore various arguments for and against value investing's continued relevance in today's market. We discuss: The impact of low interest rates and Fed policy on value investing Whether too many investors have adopted value strategies How narrative-driven markets affect value investing The challenges value faces in a tech-dominated market The role of big data and its effect on traditional...

We ask all our guests on Excess Returns one closing question: If you could teach one lesson to the average investor, what would it be? In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we compile and discuss the most impactful answers we have received to it. We break down valuable insights on investing and financial planning from experts like Michael Mauboussin, Rick Ferri, Bob Elliott, Andy Constan, Ben Inker, Meb Faber, and more. We cover a range of crucial topics,...

In this episode, we explore common misconceptions about factor investing. We discuss why factors aren't less risky than the market, the challenges of diversification, and why adding more factors isn't always beneficial. We emphasize the importance of long-term perspectives when evaluating factor performance and the need for strategies to evolve with changing markets. We also touch on the emotional aspects of factor investing, the differences between academic studies and real-world...

In this episode, we dive into recent market volatility and its implications for investors. We examine several intriguing charts highlighting unusual market behavior, including significant VIX spikes and their historical context. We discuss the importance of understanding market mechanics while maintaining a long-term perspective. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize key lessons for navigating turbulent markets: the value of education over ignorance, the danger of making impulsive...

In this episode, we dive into lessons long-term investors can learn from our interview with Jack Schwager, author of the Market Wizards series. Drawing on Schwager's insights, we explore ten key takeaways that can benefit long-term investors, including why trading is not for everyone, the importance of learning from failure, and how to pivot strategies when markets change. We discuss Schwager's observations on risk management, the challenges of systematic trading, and the psychological...

In this episode, we dive deep into momentum investing, bringing you insights from some of the smartest investors we know. We explore the fundamentals of momentum, breaking down its types and examining the academic research that supports its effectiveness. We discuss why momentum works, looking at behavioral explanations and comparing it to other investment factors. We also share ways to enhance momentum strategies, such as focusing on consistency and combining it with other factors like value...

In this episode, we dive deep into practical alternatives to the traditional 60/40 portfolio. We explore various approaches like the Permanent Portfolio, risk parity and return stacking and take a detailed look at how we build alternative portfolios for our clients. We also examine Nomadic Samuel's innovative work on building diversified portfolios using new ETF products. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the importance of having a systematic process, understanding the risks and...

In this episode, we dive into the key takeaways from our recent interview with Mike Green of Simplify. We explore several important lessons, including the need to be open-minded about new ideas in investing, the potential unintended consequences of passive investing, and the importance of looking beyond market aggregates. We discuss how these concepts apply to the average investor and what they mean in practical terms for portfolio management. We also touch on the double-edged nature of...

In this episode, we take a look back at the first half of 2024 and examine some surprising trends in the economy and markets. We discuss how inflation has remained stickier than many expected, but wage growth has actually outpaced inflation for many workers. We analyze the extreme concentration of returns in the stock market, with a small number of large tech companies driving most of the gains while many stocks have declined. We also explore some unexpected developments in housing, bonds,...

In this episode, we dive into the key lessons from our recent conversation with Rick Ferri on the Excess Returns podcast. We explore Rick's approach to simple, low-cost investing and discuss how his insights apply to various investment strategies, including factor investing. We cover topics such as favoring simplicity, the enduring relevance of the 60/40 portfolio, the importance of fees, and looking to history for guidance. Throughout the discussion, we relate Rick's ideas to our own...

In this episode, we explore the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals, discussing its origins, applications, and limitations. We delve into the importance of considering individual circumstances, market conditions, and the ability to adjust withdrawal rates over time. We also discuss the challenges of unsustainable withdrawal rates and the balance between sustaining one's lifestyle and leaving money to heirs. Throughout the conversation, we stress the importance of financial planning that goes...

In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the world of backtesting investment strategies. We discuss the importance of approaching backtests with a healthy dose of skepticism, as it's easy to create a backtest that looks impressive but may not hold up in the real world. We explore various questions to ask when evaluating a backtest, such as whether it accounts for human emotions, has a sound economic reasoning behind it, covers a sufficiently long time period, and includes periods of...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we dive into Corey Hoffstein's insightful list of "15 Ideas, Frameworks and Lessons from 15 Years." We explore several key concepts, such as the transformation of risk, the necessity of pain to achieve premiums, and the philosophical limits of diversification. Through a mix of investing and real-life examples, we discuss how these ideas can be applied to both portfolio management and personal decision-making. Join us as we break down...