The Rational Reminder Podcast

Today we welcome James Choi, Professor of Finance at the Yale School of Management, to the show to share some of his insight into what he has dubbed practical finance. James has focused his research on behavioural finance, behavioural economics, household finance, capital markets, health economics, and sociology, and is turning this expertise into pragmatic knowledge marketed towards ordinary people. This reframing and reconfiguration of the theory for all people and the decisions they make, could not be more in line with what we are trying to do here at Rational Reminder, and this conversation with James was packed with so many surprising and informative responses to relatable questions. We ask James about index funds, the benefits of advisors, optimal equity, diversification, and much more. We also spend a little bit of time exploring the individual reasons that people have for their decisions, with James expanding on the disconnect between people's philosophy and their actions. Further topics include the role and impact of education, renting versus buying, and the formulation of his concept of practical finance, so make sure to join us and catch it all. Key Points From This Episode: The failure of economic theory to explain everyday financial decisions. (0:03:03) A little about James' course on personal finance at Yale. (0:06:29) Economic theory and popular personal finance advice on optimal savings and consumption. (0:12:06) Looking at economic theory and popular personal finance's suggestions about optimal equity allocations for households. (0:19:33) The kinds of personal aversions people have towards their finances. (0:27:07) The impact that James' survey research has had on his perspectives on equity. (0:29:42) Practical application of economic theory to household decisions. (0:32:29) Increased awareness of the benefits of index funds. (0:42:59) James shares a few famous economists' investment strategies. (0:44:11) Some thoughts on approaches to and avoidance of diversification. (0:45:48) Differentiating between mistakes and unique behaviours we cannot justify. (0:52:26) The efficacy of education, financial advice, and personal experience in improving investment decisions. (0:55:44) Liquid and illiquid assets and renting versus buying property. (1:02:26) James talks about his excitement around his current work in practical finance. (1:07:50) How James defines success at this point in his life. (1:09:52) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-260-prof-james-choi-practical-finance-discussion-thread/24227 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore James Choi — https://faculty.som.yale.edu/jameschoi/ 'Behavioral Household Finance' — https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/behavioral_household_finance_a3b33098-e0c7-40e0-bf2f-fa4ceb6e6d06.pdf 'Finance for the Rest of Us' — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-j-choi-finance_finance-for-the-rest-of-us-activity-6997910789097414656-5epq/?originalSubdomain=ba 'Popular Personal Financial Advice versus the Professors' — https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.36.4.167 'Millionaires Speak: What Drives Their Personal Investment Decisions?' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w27969 'What Matters to Individual Investors? Evidence from the Horse's Mouth' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jofi.12895 'Are Empowerment and Education Enough? Underdiversification in 401(k) Plans' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/3805120 'Why Does the Law of One Price Fail? An Experiment on Index Mutual Funds' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w12261 '$100 Bills on the Sidewalk: Suboptimal Investment in 401(k) Plans' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w11554

Join us as we present a compilation of segments on expected returns and the dynamics that shape investment outcomes. We deep dive into the world of financial predictions and gain a comprehensive understanding of how expected returns influence your financial decision-making. We also go back to the episode with Dr. Brian Portnoy where we delved into his book, The Geometry of Wealth. Lastly, joining our conversation is our colleague Matt Gour who discusses The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath. We discuss how extraordinary moments have the power to shape our lives and the pivotal importance of crafting unforgettable experiences. Tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: What Pressor Fama had to say about expected returns. (0:03:35) Looking at returns through a historical lens with Professor Goetzmann. (0:08:23) Professor Cederburg explains the usefulness of historical data. (0:11:38) Hear Professor Cochrane's perspective on expected returns. (0:15:19) Professor Cornell shares his contrasting view on historical returns. (0:23:41) We recap our discussion with Professor French about uncertainty. (0:34:23) Breaking down the conventional viewpoint of uncertainty with Professor Pastor. (0:38:34) A brief overview of our approach to estimating expected returns. (0:44:03) Highlights from our conversation with Dr. Brian Portnoy about his book. (0:47:56) Matt Gour joins us for our weekly book review of The Power of Moments. (0:51:15) He shares an impactful moment from his childhood. (0:54:04) We unpack a main takeaway from the book: the peak-end rule. (0:56:23) The four elements needed to create a defining moment. (0:57:51) Learn about the different types of defining moments. (1:01:02) How to be deliberate about creating powerful moments. (1:01:02) Main takeaways from the book. (1:04:55) The aftershow, planned meetups, upcoming projects, and more. (1:07:15) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-259-comprehensive-overview-estimating-expected-returns-discussion-thread/24077 Book From Today's Episode: The Geometry of Wealth: How to shape a life of money and meaning — https://amzn.to/46qpjl5 The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact — https://amzn.to/3pmYJJb Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Nick Maggiulli on Instagram — https://instagram.com/nickmaggiulli Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore 'Financial Planning Assumptions for Market-Cap Weighted and Factor Tilted Portfolios – Methodology Guide' — https://www.pwlcapital.com/resources/financial-planning-assumptions-for-market-cap-weighted-and-factor-tilted-portfolios-methodology-guide/ Episode 38: Feelings in the Decision Making Process — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/38 Episode 92: Dr. Moira Somers and Dave Goetsch — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/92 Episode 100: Professor Kenneth French — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/100 Episode 102: Dr. Brian Portnoy — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/102 Episode 124: Professor Lubos Pastor — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/124 Episode 151: Professor Brad Cornell — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/151 Episode 169: Professor John Cochrane — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/169 Episode 189: Regret (and How to Read More w/ Neil Pasricha) — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/189 Episode 200: Professor Eugene Fama — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/200 Episode 224: Professor Scott Cederburg — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/224 Episode 248: Professor William Goetzmann — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/248

Behavioural finance provides a realistic and comprehensive framework for understanding financial markets and decision-making. Incorporating insights from psychology, it enhances our understanding of investor behaviour, market dynamics, and risk management, leading to more effective investment strategies and improved financial outcomes. In this episode, Professor Meir Statman, a renowned expert in finance and behavioural finance, takes us on a captivating journey through the intriguing world of maximizing well-being through finance. Professor Statman is a distinguished financial expert and a leading authority in the field of behavioural finance. His groundbreaking research has shaped the understanding of investor behaviour and its impact on financial decision-making. Through his academic contributions and practical insights, Professor Statman has become a trusted guide in navigating the complex intersection of finance and human behaviour. In our conversation, he unravels the secrets of maximizing well-being through finance and the intricacies of the field. We explore the captivating world of behavioural finance and its connection to efficient markets, the distinction between normal and rational investors, the allure of lottery-like assets, and the downsides of consuming dividends. We unpack the aversion to realizing losses and the debate between dollar-cost averaging and lump-sum investing. We delve into the rising popularity of alternative investment strategies, the influence of status on rational investor behaviour, the role of financial advisors, and much more. Tune in for this enlightening conversation that will not only reshape your understanding of finance but human behaviour too. Key Points From This Episode: Defining what behavioural finance is and how it relates to efficient markets. (0:04:37) How traditional financial economists responded to Professor Statman's early behavioural work and the current state of behavioural finance research. (0:06:12) The various generations of behavioural finance and how they differ. (0:08:51) Differences between a normal investor and a rational one. (0:13:10) What investors really want and why normal investors like lottery-like assets. (0:15:48) Reasons normal investors have a preference for cash dividends. (0:20:17) Downsides of consuming dividends and not capital. (0:22:09) Unpacking why normal investors are averse to realizing losses. (0:25:40) Dollar-cost averaging versus lump sum investing. (0:27:57) The popularity of alternative investment strategies to normal investors. (0:31:13) Insights about the difference between an error and what a person wants. (0:34:49) The influence of status on rational investor behaviour and whether financial advisors should cater for elevating status. (0:36:37) Currency hedging, regret, the value of financial literacy, and the distinction between behavioural portfolio theory and traditional mean-variance portfolio theory. (0:40:50) Applying the market's portfolio theory to behavioural portfolio theory. (0:49:36) Exploring theories through a CAPM lens and behavioural theory's interpretation of return premiums from factors like size and value. (0:50:51) The role of financial advisors in correcting behavioural errors of clients. (1:00:16) Professor Statman's definition of success. (1:09:25) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-258-prof-meir-statman-financial-decisions-for-normal-people-discussion-thread/23934 Book From Today's Episode: Behavioral Finance: The Second Generation — https://amzn.to/3qR7AmM Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Prof. Meir Statman on Twitter — https://twitter.com/meirstatman Prof. Meir Statman — https://www.scu.edu/business/finance/faculty/statman/ 'Behavioral Efficient Markets' — http://doi.org/10.3905/jpm.2018.44.3.076 'What Is Behavioral Finance?' — https://www.cfainstitute.org/-/media/documents/book/rf-publication/2019/behavioral-finance-the-second-generation.pdf 'Behavioral Finance: The Second Generation' — https://www.cfainstitute.org/-/media/documents/book/rf-publication/2019/behavioral-finance-the-second-generation.pdf What Investors Really Want — http://doi.org/10.2469/faj.v66.n2.5 Explaining investor preference for cash dividends — http://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405x(84)90025-4 The Disposition to Sell Winners Too Early and Ride Losers Too Long: Theory and Evidence — https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1985.tb05002.x A Behavioral Framework for Dollar-Cost Averagi

What are your guiding philosophies on work and life? And how do they influence your daily decisions and the trajectory of your career? If these questions feel somewhat daunting, and you aren't sure how to answer them, then this episode is a great place to start! Joining us today is Giorgio Ugazio, a self-described content creator, startup founder, and father. Giorgio is a software engineer by training, with a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence and robotics, and spent over seven years working at Google. He is the founder of Retire In Progress, a blog where he shares his thoughts on life, work, achieving financial independence, and retiring early. The platform has amassed a dedicated following thanks to Giorgio's many unique insights on life, design, and living intentionally. In today's conversation, we talk with Giorgio about the underpinnings of his philosophies, the excellent book Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life, and how his interpretation of it clarified his perspectives on life and work. We discuss the key tenets in Designing Your Life along with how you can use its many tools and exercises to determine your current position, assess your value, and define your compass. Giorgio goes on to share the thinking behind his foundational beliefs, like why you shouldn't play the status game, before reflecting on who he believes would benefit most from reading Designing Your Life. To hear all of Giorgio's fascinating insights and how to incrementally build your model of life, be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: A quick recap and review of episode 100 with Professor Ken French. (0:02:57) Introducing Giorgio Ugazio, aka Mr. RIP, his website, Retire Your Life, and how you can access his extensive notes on the book Designing Your Life online. (0:05:16) An overview of Designing Your Life, guidance on how to classify problems, and a breakdown of what it means to prototype solutions. (0:08:49) Insight into the tools, exercises, and processes that the book offers: how it helps you determine where you are, assess your value, and define your compass. (0:13:05) How to do the Odyssey Planning exercises. (0:16:22) The four key areas covered in the book, why Giorgio added the categories learning, money, and creativity, and how he incorporates lessons from the book into his life. (0:18:18) Determining your views on life and work, and how the two interact. (0:21:54) The Pomodoro technique: what it is, and how to use it. (0:23:12) Giorgio's perspective on work: why we do it, the purpose it serves, and the criteria he uses to assess his position. (0:25:11) What you learn when you take money out of the equation, why you should ignore the status game, and the importance of finding ways to enjoy your life. (0:29:46) Giorgio's view on life, the philosophers that inspire him, and his guidelines for what he thinks a good life should be. (0:36:41) Some of the misalignments between Giorgio's ideal life and his actual life. (0:42:29) How life and work both drive and complement one another. (0:44:16) Giorgio's advice on applying lessons from Designing Life and who he thinks will benefit most from reading it. (0:48:51) Our thoughts on the movie Air, some of the wonderful reviews we've been getting from listeners, and news about upcoming meetups. (0:51:26) Book From Today's Episode: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life — https://amzn.to/3N5Xp57 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Giorgio Ugazio on Twiter — https://twitter.com/retireinprogres Giorgio Ugazio — http://retireinprogress.com Giorgio's Notes on Designing Your Life — mr.rip/dyl Episode 100: Prof. Kenneth French: Expect the Unexpected — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/100

How does the connection we have with our future self impact the decisions we make today? And what active steps can we take to improve our connection with our future selves? Today on the show we welcome back Hal Hershfield, whose new book Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today delves into the science of our relationship with our future selves and what we can do to change it for the better. In our conversation with Hal, we discuss the concept of the self, how we change over time, and why so many of us feel disconnected from our future selves. He describes the research surrounding these subjects and their findings, including how the brain scans they performed demonstrate that we mostly see our future selves as strangers, and why this is caused, at least in part, by the fact that our future selves don't technically exist yet. We also discuss the interventions that have been shown to improve our relationship with our future selves, like viewing age-progressed images or exchanging letters with our future selves, and why everyone responds to these interventions differently. Having a strong connection with your future self has many benefits. It means you're more likely to make decisions that will serve you later in life, like saving for retirement, eating healthily, and exercising regularly. But Hal also warns that we risk losing sight of the present and what truly matters when we focus solely on the future. To hear all of Hal's knowledgeable insights on this topic and what he wants to explore next, be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: Defining the self and how our identity shifts depending on age, context, and the people we surround ourselves with. (0:04:08) An overview of Hal's research and what it reveals about how most people connect (or don't connect) to their future selves. (0:08:29) How empathy can influence our connection to our future selves. (0:11:36) Insights into why we tend to think of our future self the same way we think about strangers or acquaintances. (0:14:19) Our level of connection to our future self and how it affects wealth accumulation and financial well-being. (0:17:53) The definition of 'present bias' and 'hyperbolic discounting' and the role they play in decisions about the future. (0:19:28) The end-of-history illusion and the impact it has on our decisions. (0:23:02) How viewing age-progressed images of yourself can help you build a connection with your future self. (0:26:35) The research Hal is conducting with MIT Media Lab using an AI chatbot called Future You. (0:29:35) © 2023 Rational Reminder Podcast 1 RRP 256 Show Notes Dan Pink's work on the power of regret and how it overlaps with Hal's research and findings. (0:31:59) The findings on being presented with age-progressed images of ourselves and how they impact our decision-making and relationship with our future selves. (0:35:20) How writing to your future self can improve your decisions. (0:40:16) The problems that arise when we become too focused on improving life for our future self and how to find harmony between the present and future. (0:44:03) The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our collective relationship with the future. (0:48:10) Learn about the live episode we'll be recording at the upcoming Future Proof conference with Hal as our guest. (0:51:24) Links From Today's Episode: Hal Hershfield — https://www.halhershfield.com/ Hal Hershfield on Twitter — https://twitter.com/HalHershfield Hal Hershfield on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/hal-hershfield-a2b91510/ Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today — https://www.halhershfield.com/ yourfutureself Episode 141: Hal Hershfield: The Psychology of Long-term Decision Making — https:// rationalreminder.ca/podcast/141 The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward — https://www.amazon.com/ Power-Regret-Looking-Backward-Forward/ Episode 246: Daniel H. Pink: How to Use Regret — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/246 Future Proof Festival — https://futureproof.advisorcircle.com/ Brian Knutson — https://profiles.stanford.edu/brian-knutson Dan Martell — https://www.danmartell.com/ Derek Parfit — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Derek-Parfit Daniel Gilbert — http://www.danielgilbert.com/ ING — https://www.ing.com/Home.htm Merrill Lynch — https://www.ml.com/ Shlomo Benartzi — http://www.shlomobenartzi.com/ Stephen Shu — https://steveshuconsulting.com/ Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder- podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — [email protected] Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https:/

Structured products can offer unique investment opportunities and customization but also come with risks and complexities. It is vital to thoroughly understand the product's structure, risks, and potential returns before investing. In this episode, we delve into the value of structured products and recap a past episode about the philosophy of money before continuing our focus on reading and finance by diving into the book, Just Keep Buying by Nick Maggiulli. Nick is a highly regarded author known for his insightful and engaging works on finance and investing. With a passion for demystifying complex financial concepts, Nick has earned a reputation for his ability to present information in a clear and accessible manner. His ability to blend storytelling with data-driven insights made his articles immensely popular among readers of all backgrounds. We discuss the pros and cons of financial products, why investors prefer them, the dark side of structured products, and what investors need to avoid. We recap a past episode with Barry Ritholtz about the philosophy of money and the main takeaways from our conversation with him. Then, we delve into Just Keep Buying and the invaluable lessons and uncover hidden gems it offers readers before speaking to Nick about savings and investing. We discuss the best strategies for investing, how to spend your money comfortably, why you should never wait for the markets to dip, and much more. To learn everything about structured products and valuable insights about saving and investing, tune in now. Key Points From This Episode: • Learn about structured products and what they offer investors. (0:03:12) • Why structured products can be a problem for investors. (0:07:00) • We discuss whether the pricing of structured financial products is fair. (0:12:05) • How financial institutions use complexity to exploit uninformed investors. (0:14:51) • Outline of key findings from research conducted on structured financial products. (0:17:47) • The behavioural aspect of structured products and why investors prefer them. (0:22:20) • A recap of the main takeaways from our interview with Barry Ritholtz. (0:26:10) • This week's book review of Just Keep Buying. (0:28:54) • Nick explains the difference between saving and investing. (0:32:54) • A comparison of just keep buying and dollar cost averaging strategies. (0:35:21) • Whether people should wait for a dip in the market before investing. (0:37:23) • Why you do not need as much savings as you think you need. (0:39:04) • What the biggest lie is regarding personal finance. (0:42:29) • Find out how to spend your money guilt-free. (0:44:13) • He unpacks what comes after the just keep buying strategy, and how to be comfortable spending more in retirement. (0:46:48) • Financial advice that Nick has for listeners. (0:51:03) • The aftershow: upcoming guests, feedback about the show, and more. (0:53:59) Links From Today's Episode: Nick Maggiulli — https://ofdollarsanddata.com/ Nick Maggiulli on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasmaggiulli/ Nick Maggiulli on Twitter — https://twitter.com/dollarsanddata Just Keep Buying — https://www.amazon.com/Just-Keep-Buying-Proven-wealth/ Episode 57: Barry Ritholtz — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/57 Episode 248: Professor William Goetzmann — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/248 Episode 253: Professor Paul Calluzzo — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/253 Episode 126: Dr. Brian Portnoy and Josh Brown — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/126 'The dark side of financial innovation' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ 'Catering to Investors Through Security Design' — https://academic.oup.com/qje/article- abstract/132/3/1469/3057435 'Engineering lemons' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0304405X21001653 'Ex-post Structured Product Returns' — https://www.pm-research.com/content/iijinvest/24/2/45 Ritholtz Wealth Management — https://ritholtzwealth.com/ Animal Spirits Podcast — https://animalspiritspod.libsyn.com/ Masters in Business Podcast — https://www.bloomberg.com/podcasts/series/master-in- business Die With Zero — https://www.amazon.com/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765 Superfans — https://www.amazon.com/Superfans-Stand-Tribe-Successful-Business/dp/ 1949709469 Storyworthy — https://www.amazon.com/Storyworthy-Engage-Persuade-through-Storytelling/ dp/1608685489 Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder- podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — [email protected] Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com

There are many different objective functions you can use when building optimal portfolios. The majority of these approaches define risk from the perspective of variability or bad outcomes, but positive returns could be viewed as "risky" for those that don't experience them, which is another way of saying that people experience regret (or FOMO, for our trendier listeners). Today, we are joined by David Blanchett, a return guest and the Managing Director and Head of Retirement Research for PGIM DC Solutions, the global investment management arm of Prudential Financial. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Wealth Management at The American College of Financial Services and a Research Fellow for the Alliance for Lifetime Income. David returns to the podcast for an articulate discussion about regret in portfolio construction, what drives it, and how financial advisors can cater to it. We then delve into how David is redefining optimal retirement income strategies, looking at retirement tools, retirement planning, compensation models in the industry, risk exposures, and portfolios. We also get a high-level overview of some of the fascinating work that David has done on home-country bias, plus so much more. For highly technical content presented in an accessible and practical way by one of the brightest minds in retirement planning, be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: • Differences between risk aversion and regret aversion. (0:03:57) • The distinctly human element that drives "investment FOMO." (0:06:34) • Insight into how David models regret in his research. (0:09:06) • The asset pricing implications of approaching portfolio optimization this way. (0:12:11) • Tips for deciding on what the regret benchmark should be. (0:13:19) • How a portfolio optimization routine based on regret affects asset allocation. (0:14:08) • Ways that the effect of optimizing over regret changes depending on risk aversion. (0:16:55) • Other asset characteristics that might drive optimal allocation to regret assets. (0:18:04) • Why moving away from self-direction is the best thing to happen to 401(k) plans. (0:20:53) • How financial advisors should cater to investors interested in speculative assets. (0:24:00) • Unpacking some of the social and story-driven sources of regret. (0:29:03) • Downsides to modelling retirement liability as a static inflation-adjusted amount. (0:32:00) • Why it's important to understand the composition of retiree spending and saving. (0:33:57) • David's research into dynamic spending rules for retirement planning. (0:42:06) • Some of the key pitfalls of existing financial planning tools and solutions. (0:44:38) • Ways that safe withdrawal rates change when you incorporate dynamic spending. (0:51:10) • How advisor channel affects passive fund choice and how clients should respond. (0:57:56) • Insight into David's research on foreign revenue and home-country bias. (1:02:27) Links From Today's Episode: David Blanchett — https://www.davidmblanchett.com/ David Blanchett on Twitter — https://twitter.com/davidmblanchett David Blanchett on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-blanchett-b0b0aa2/ © 2023 Rational Reminder Podcast 2 RRP 254 Show Notes PGIM — https://www.pgim.com/ E137: David Blanchett: Researching Retirement — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/137 'Regret and Optimal Portfolio Allocations' — https://www.pm-research.com/content/iijpormgmt/ early/2023/02/01/jpm20231464 'Keep Keeping Your Distance: An Updated Look at 401(k) Participant Behaviors During the COVID-19 Crisis' — https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1032011/keep-keeping-your- distance-an-updated-look-at-401k-participant-behaviors-during-the-covid-19-crisis 'Save more with less: The impact of employer defaults and match rates on retirement saving' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cfp2.1152 'Redefining the Optimal Retirement Income Strategy' — https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/ 10.1080/0015198X.2022.2129947 'Focusing on Both Sides of the Balance Sheet: The Benefit of Liability Optimization' — https:// web.p.ebscohost.com/abstract 'The Problems with Monte Carlo are in Your Mind' — https://www.advisorperspectives.com/ articles/2023/04/24/the-problems-with-monte-carlo-are-in-your-mind 'Does Advisor Channel Influence Passive Fund Choice?' — https:// www.financialplanningassociation.org/learning/publications/journal/APR22-does-advisor- channel-influence-passive-fund-choice-OPEN 'Foreign Revenue: A New World of Risk Exposures' — https://www.pm-research.com/content/ iijpormgmt/47/6/175 Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder- podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — [email protected] Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benja

We have two guests joining us for this episode of the Rational Reminder podcast. First up, we have Paul Calluzzo, who is the Assistant Professor of Finance and Toller Family Fellow of Finance in the Smith School of Business at Queen's University in Kingston. Paul joins us today to discuss the findings in his paper, 'Complex Instruments Have Increased Risk and Reduced Performance at Mutual Funds'. He explains the motivation for the paper, the research it expands upon, and the types of complex instrument allowances it investigates. We discuss reverse causality and find out how complex instrument allowance is related to fund performance and risk, respectively, before hearing Paul's investment advice. For the second half of the show, we are joined by the author of Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of BlackBerry, Sean Silcoff to discuss the BlackBerry revolution and its subsequent decline, and the film adaptation of the book. Tune in for our guests' insights into best practices for investors and business leaders alike. Key Points From This Episode: • Housekeeping: check out our CE courses and reach out for financial advice. (0:02:25) • An introduction to Paul Calluzzo and our conversation with him about the impact of complex financial instruments on mutual funds. (0:05:20) • The motivation for the paper, 'Complex Instruments Have Increased Risk and Reduced Performance at Mutual Funds', the research it expands upon, and the types of complex instrument allowances it investigates. (0:07:50) • Reverse causality relating to complex instruments and mutual funds, and the mechanisms that could potentially harm investors in funds using complex instruments. (0:12:37) • How the performance of funds was evaluated in the paper and how the usage of complex instruments evolved throughout the sample. (0:18:12) • How complex instrument allowance is related to fund performance and risk. (0:23:06) • The asymmetry of return patterns in up and down markets. (0:26:11) • Paul's investment advice, in the context of the paper's findings. (0:33:05) • Why complex products are growing despite their poor performance and how research can reach the market. (0:37:05) • A quick recap of episode 39 with Rob Carrick. (0:40:48) • Our brief review of Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of BlackBerry by Sean Silcoff and Jacquie McNish. (0:41:49) • Sean Silcoff breaks down the BlackBerry revolution and its subsequent demise. (0:44:53) • Insight into the film adaptation of the book and what makes it such a compelling story. (1:04:51) • What business leaders and investors can take away from the BlackBerry story. (1:08:09) • Our after-show roundup! (1:15:12) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-253-complex-financial-instruments-with-prof-paul-calluzzo-plus-sean-silcoff-on-losing-the-signal-discussion-thread/23482 Book From Today's Episode: Losing The Signal: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of BlackBerry Kindle Edition — https://amzn.to/3OaA5Wa Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Paul Calluzzo — https://smith.queensu.ca/faculty_and_research/faculty_list/calluzzo-paul.php Sean Silcoff on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-silcoff-777b0912 Sean Silcoff on Twitter — https://twitter.com/SeanSilcoff 'Complex Instruments Have Increased Risk and Reduced Performance at Mutual Funds' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2938146

Understanding market efficiency is an important part of investment decision-making. It can help investors to identify the most appropriate investment strategies and develop realistic expectations for their returns. In this episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast, we sit down with Professor Burton Malkiel, the renowned economist, and author of the classic investing book A Random Walk Down Wall Street. Professor Malkiel is a distinguished figure in the world of economics and academia. He holds the prestigious title of Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of Economics Emeritus and Senior Economist at Princeton, where he has made significant contributions to the field over the years. In our conversation, we discuss Professor Malkiel's views on the stock market, the efficient market hypothesis, how behavioural finance relates to investing, and why index funds should be at the core of every portfolio. Throughout the episode, Professor Malkiel shares his insights on a wide range of topics related to personal finance and investing, including the benefits of index funds, the dangers of active stock picking, the impact of fees and taxes on investment returns, factor investing, and expensive asset classes. He also discusses research on socially responsible investing and how investors can incorporate ethical considerations into their portfolios without sacrificing performance. In this episode, listeners will gain a better understanding of the vital principles of investing and how to apply them to achieve their financial goals. Whether you're a novice investor or an experienced pro, this episode offers valuable insights and advice from one of the most respected economists in the field, Professor Malkiel. Key Points From This Episode: Professor Malkiel explains the efficient market hypothesis and what the term "efficient market" means. (0:03:42) What the media tends to get wrong about the concept of market efficiency and the mathematical theory behind a random walk market. (0:07:04) We discuss investing in index funds rather than actively managed strategies. (0:09:44) How his book, Random Walk, was received by professionals and academics in the industry (0:13:08) Hear about the inspiration behind the concept covered in his book, and how his investment advice has changed over the last 50 years. (0:19:18) Why index funds have become widely accepted, and the difference between investing and speculating. (0:23:38) He unpacks why past market bubbles are vital for managers to understand and shares some wise words for those who want to participate in market speculation investing. (0:28:21) How the existence and persistence of bubbles throughout history relate to markets being efficient. (0:32:10) Find out how the multiple, non-diversifiable risks in today's financial markets impact the advice in his book, and learn about factor investing. (0:35:42) He shares advice and insights for people looking to invest in cheaper funds and his perspective on trending investment strategies. (0:37:55) Learn how the general findings from behavioural finance influence his advice on investing in index funds. (0:41:33) We explore the value of risk parity strategies and the problem with backtests, and he shares his view on expensive asset classes. (0:44:09) What impact super-low bond yields had on the return of bonds, and whether you should focus on the value or yield. (0:54:16) The importance of saving as opposed to an optimal investment strategy to investor outcomes. (0:57:56) Insights into investing according to your desired outcomes and whether Professor Malkiel thinks it is better to rent or own a home. (1:03:55) We discuss inflation and possible future trends and the role of financial planners and investment advisors. (1:10:29) Hear his concerns regarding the growth of index fund assets. (1:14:52) Details about his book writing journey and his definition of success. (1:18:46) Links From Today's Episode: Burt Malkiel — https://jrc.princeton.edu/people/burton-g-malkiel Wealthfront — https://www.wealthfront.com/ Theravance Biopharma — https://www.theravance.com/ Genmab A/S — https://www.genmab.com/ Rebalance IRA — https://www.rebalance360.com/ A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Best Investment Guide That Money Can Buy — https://amzn.to/3BgepQz Princeton University — https://www.princeton.edu/ The Yale School of Management — https://som.yale.edu/ Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.com/corporate-portal/ Trillions — https://www.amazon.com/Trillions-Renegades-Invented-Changed-Finance/dp/ 0593087682 S&P Dow Jones Indices — https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/ S&P Dow Jones Indices SPIVA — https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/research-insights/spiva/ Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder- podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/

We all have different levels of risk tolerance. But how is that risk measured for complex investment strategies like covered calls? And how can you be sure it's an accurate reflection of reality? For the first portion of today's episode, we provide a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about covered calls and why there is no perfect model for assessing risk-adjusted returns. We examine how incorrect measures of risk can make covered calls seem more attractive, what investors need to know about covered calls, and the fees, costs, and taxes you should be considering with these types of strategies. Next, we are joined by lifelong friends and colleagues Jonathan Hollow and Robin Powell to discuss their new book How to Fund the Life You Want: What everyone needs to know about savings, pensions and investments. They describe how their shared passion for financial education motivated them to write their book, before explaining how readers can best use the accompanying workbook to identify and reach their financial goals. Robin and Jonathan then go on to share their advice on day-to-day money management, finding a trustworthy advisor, and why it's never too early to teach your child about money. Tune in for a detailed breakdown of covered calls and how to make informed decisions about your investments and finances! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to the concept of covered calls. (0:02:41) The definition of covered calls, how risk can be measured incorrectly to make covered call strategies look more attractive, and why risk can never be destroyed. (0:04:22) A breakdown of the assets involved in covered calls and why their yields can be misleading. (0:07:00) Why there is no perfect model for assessing risk-adjusted returns and what can be learned from looking at investors through a behavioural lens. (0:16:19) An overview of why fees, costs, and taxes are major considerations for these types of strategies. (0:20:15) Introducing Robin Powell, Jonathan Hollow and their new book How to Fund the Life You Want. (0:25:08) Jonathan and Robin's long friendship, their shared interest in financial education, why they saw a need for their book, and how readers can get the most out of their workbook. (0:30:45) Insight into the six rules that Robin and Jonathan outline in their book and the eight keywords that they set up for managing money day to day. (0:35:07) Advice on how to keep up with finance news, including what you should pay attention to and what you can ignore. (0:40:37) The importance of a day-to-day savings habit and suggestions on what kids should be taught about money. (0:43:20) Advice on how to find a first-rate advisor based on your needs and what questions you need to be asking of them. (0:49:54) How your financial advisor should act as your financial bodyguard and complement your weaknesses. (0:56:02) Ben and Cameron share news about their next podcast appearances, Rational Reminder education courses for financial advisors, and upcoming meetups. (0:57:43) Learn about the webinars that Ben and Cameron have been hosting and how you can sign up. (01:03:00) Links From Today's Episode: Robin Powell on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinpowell/ Jonathan Hollow on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhollow/ How to Fund the Life You Want: What everyone needs to know about savings, pensions and investments — https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1399404601/ Covered Calls — https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/coveredcall.asp Episode 27: Robin Powell: Evidence Based Investing: Changing the Minds of Advisors and Investors — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/27 Patrick Boyle on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/c/PatrickBoyleOnFinance Sharpe Ratio — https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sharperatio.asp Sortino Ratio — https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sortinoratio.asp S&P 500 — https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/#overview Episode 167: Prof. Hersh Shefrin: Fear, Hope, and the Psychology of Investing — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/167 'Behavioral Aspects of the Design and Marketing of Financial Products' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/3665864 Episode 171: Prof. Campbell R. Harvey: The Past and Future of Finance — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/171 'Portfolio Performance Manipulation and Manipulation-Proof Performance Measures' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=302815 Adviser 2.0 — https://www.advicereinvented.com/ Sensible Investing — https://sensibleinvesting.tv/ Financial Times — https://www.ft.com/ Rob Carrick — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/rob-carrick/ The Globe and Mail — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/ The Money and Meaning Show — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-money-and-meaning-show/id1449894787 The Most Hated F Word — https://themosthatedfword.com/ New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada — https://www.newselfregulatoryorganizationofcanada.ca/ FP Canada — https://www.fpcanada.ca/ Rational Reminder Co

Navigating the world of finance and investing is undeniably complicated, sometimes unnecessarily so. And all too often the people who end up making the most costly financial mistakes are those who can least afford to do so. But what exactly needs to change in order for more people to make wise and well-informed financial decisions? And how do we go about implementing those changes? Joining us today to help us unpack this topic and the many decisions involved in the world of investing is John Y. Campbell, a British-American economist, professor of economics at Harvard, and founding partner at Arrowstreet Capital, a systematic asset management firm based in Boston. John has published over a hundred of articles on a range of topics including fixed income, equality valuation, portfolio choices, and household finance, all of which we explore in today's expansive conversation. We kick things off by discussing utility theory, why it's so important to the study of finance, and what it can teach us about risk aversion, before delving into portfolio structure, asset allocation, and hedging. John also expands on the study of household finance, the mistakes that households typically make, why household behaviour tends to differ from theoretical predictions, and how to bring theory and behaviour into alignment. We wrap things up by discussing how financial literacy, education, and regulation can improve outcomes for households before hearing John's advice on selecting an optimal mortgage contract along with an overview of the type of risk that mortgage contracts expose you to. Today's episode is jam-packed with information and insights from a profoundly knowledgeable figure in academia. Key Points From This Episode: • An overview of asset pricing theory; unpacking the utility function in finance, what it teaches us about being risk averse, and how it is used to determine the value we place on any amount of money. (0:04:01) • The implications of using the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) for portfolio choice. (0:13:58) • The difference between arbitrage pricing theory and the Intertemporal Capital Asset Pricing Model (ICAPM). (0:18:15) • How predictability in stock returns affects portfolio advice for long-term investors and why John prefers the cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio. (0:23:40) • Why a long-term inflation index bond is the ideal risk-free asset for a long-term investor, and how portfolio advice, concerning bonds, changes when inflation index bonds are not available. (0:28:32) • The impact that labour income should have on optimal portfolio choice and the relationship between human capital and financial assets as you age. (0:35:31) • Learn about John's 2004 paper entitled 'Bad Beta, Good Beta' and how intertemporal asset pricing explains differences in returns between value and growth stocks. (0:38:33) • The benefits and drawbacks of value investing: why historically they do well on average, but extremely poorly over certain periods. (0:41:12) • A breakdown of stochastic volatility and how it affects portfolio choice for long-term investors. (0:47:16) • How long-term equity investors should approach foreign currency hedging in their portfolios, and how fixed-income investors should deal with foreign currency exposure. (0:50:07) • The study of household finance, what it aims to answer, and the major challenges in this area of study. (0:53:54) • An overview of the mistakes that households typically make, how costly they can be, and why household behaviour tends to differ from theoretical predictions. (0:59:57) • Suggestions on how household behaviour and theoretical predictions can be brought into alignment and the methods that have the most potential to improve outcomes for households. (01:04:47) • What households should take into account when selecting an optimal mortgage contract and the different types of risk that mortgage contracts expose people to.[01:10:18] • How John's definition of success has shifted over the years, the joy of academia, and why he is especially grateful for the opportunity to connect with students on their educational journey. (01:16:04) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-250-prof-john-y-campbell-financial-decisions-for-long-term-investors-discussion-thread/23202 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore John Y. Campbell — https://scholar.harvard.edu/campbell/home 'Who Should Buy Long-Term Bonds' — https://www.nber.org/system/fi

Our focus for this episode is the real utility of financial advisors, and Ben shares a host of research and findings about the supposed and actual value that advisors can offer investors. This segment continues our exploration of investment basics, a fundamental theme for this show and our work at PWL Capital. One of the biggest and clearest lessons that becomes apparent through this discussion is the need for financial literacy independent of advice and so-called expertise from the outside. With that said, we do find time to share some of the positives investors can accrue from dealing with a trustworthy advisor and the conditions necessary for this. Later in the episode, our colleague Lukas Fleck joins us to share his review of The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday and some of his own reading habits and tips. We finish the episode with lighter content about hot sauces, TV shows, and Ben's latest home improvement. Key Points From This Episode: • Introducing today's question about the usefulness of financial advisors. (0:03:35) • Common financial mistakes made by households. (0:11:13) • Some of the research and findings grounding today's discussion. (0:18:13) • Investing and self-control; what we can learn from data about smokers. (0:22:49) • Looking at some of the potential benefits of hiring an advisor for investors. (0:28:40) • A quick review of Episode 43 with Dave Butler from 2019. (0:34:07) • Today's book review of The Obstacle Is the Way, with Lukas Fleck, and some of the biggest takeaways. (0:36:43) • A look at Lukas' reading habits, favourite recent books, and his increased focus on getting through books. (0:44:59) • Advice for starting a book club and Lukas' reading hacks. (0:50:49) • The after-show; Ben tells us about his basketball hoop, last week's episode of Succession, and the hot sauce debate. (0:54:44) • Upcoming events, audience reviews, and future guests on the podcast. (0:58:31) Ad mentioned by Ben: Video: https://www.reddit.com/user/AMF_Quebec/comments/11rzoc9/les_risques_de_fraude_avec_les_cryptos_sont_bien/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_content=1&utm_term=15 Text: https://lautorite.qc.ca/en/general-public/investments/crypto?utm_campaign=crypto-phase2-1017340&utm_content=image-amf_crypto2023_1x1_6sec_02_fr-fr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-249-what-are-financial-advisors-measurably-useful-for-discussion-thread/23120 Books From Today's Episode: The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph — https://amzn.to/3MXh1dl The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money — https://amzn.to/3UM8KLb Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World — https://amzn.to/3AuSXqZ Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers — https://amzn.to/41HXnWK Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Lukas Fleck — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/lukas-fleck/ 'Restoring Rational Choice: The Challenge of Consumer Financial Regulation' — https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.p20161127 'Financial literacy and financial resilience: Evidence from around the world' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fima.12283 'Strategic price complexity in retail financial markets' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X08002092 'Shrouded Attributes, Consumer Myopia, and Information Suppression in Competitive Markets' — https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/121/2/505/1884013?redirectedFrom=fulltext 'The Role of Time Preferences and Exponential-Growth Bias in Retirement Savings' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w21482 'Contract Design and Self-Control: Theory and Evidence' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/25098689 'Restoring Rational Choice: The Challenge of Consumer Financial Regulation' — https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.p20161127 'Why Does the Law of One Price Fail? An Experiment on Index Mutual Funds' — https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/4686775/Laibson_OnePriceFail.pdf 'Failure to refinance' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X16301507 'Down or Out: Assessing the Welfare Costs of Household Investment Mistakes' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/524204 'Financial literacy and stock market participation' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X11000717 'Attention Induced Trading and Returns: Evidence from Robinhood Users

How the financial system works and how we interact with it has grown in complex ways and is a fascinating but nuanced topic. To guide us through the history of the economy is Professor William Goetzmann, who is an expert in finance, economics and art history, and whose research has been featured in top publications. As a highly respected scholar, he's authored numerous books on topics such as real estate and behavioural finance. It is fair to say Professor Goetzmann's work has left a significant impact on both academia and the world. In our conversation, we dive into financial market history and explore more than just broad market returns. We unpack the fascinating phenomenon of economic bubbles and booms, and how they have evolved and shaped the financial system. He also shares crucial insights from the past and advice for investors looking to leverage the market. And to wrap things up, Professor Goetzmann shares his views on money after digging deep into its historical roots. Tune in to unlock the secrets of the past and gain valuable insights for the future as we journey through the fascinating world of economic history. Tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: • Why is it important to collect and examine long-term historical returns data, and how useful the findings can be for today's market. (0:03:21) • The furthest back in time that Professor William Goetzmann has looked at equity returns and how much of an issue survivorship bias is in long-term historical data. (0:05:44) • Reasons for the United States market trends concerning equity risk premiums and his approach to forecasting long-term returns of both stocks and bonds. (0:11:02) • Whether current discount rates are better for estimating future returns than long-term historical returns. (0:17:08) • How the markets of today compare to the markets of the 1900s, and whether investor behaviour has changed. (0:18:42) • Learn how global finance changed after the First World War and how likely a global financial meltdown is. (0:23:35) • What to consider when investing internationally and whether Canadian investors should be biased towards their home country. (0:28:23) • Hear Professor Goetzmann's definition of an asset price bubble and his approach to studying economic bubbles and booms. (0:32:44) • Overview of the economic bubble and boom trends and crucial advice he has for investors regarding a market run-up. (0:36:18) • An explanation for negative bubble behaviour and how well market crashes align with investor expectations. (0:41:46) • The role of media in influencing investor behaviour, and whether long-term investors should ignore news from the financial media. (0:47:35) • What Professor Goetzmann has learned from studying bubble dynamics, and his advice for investing in transformative technologies. (0:52:50) • Professor Goetzmann's book Money Changes Everything, his definition of money, and if money pre-dates trusted authorities. (0:57:47) • The role of money in finance and a brief outline of how finance played a role in the development of modern civilization. (1:02:13) • Professor Goetzmann's definition of success. (1:06:08) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-248-prof-william-goetzmann-learning-from-financial-market-history-discussion-thread/23010 Book From Today's Episode: Money Changes Everything: How Finance Made Civilization Possible — https://amzn.to/3KqOYzX Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Prof. William Goetzmann on Twitter — https://twitter.com/wgoetzmann Prof. William Goetzmann — https://som.yale.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/william-n-goetzmann 'History and the Equity Risk Premium' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=702341 'The present value relation over six centuries: The case of the Bazacle company' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X18302836?via%3Dihub 'A Century of Global Stock Markets' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=225683 'Will History Rhyme?' — https://jpm.pm-research.com/content/30/5/34 'New evidence on the first financial bubble' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X12002541 'Bubble Investing: Learning from History' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w21693#:~:text=History%20is%20important%20to%20the,sample%20size%20for%20inference%20small. 'Negative bubbles: What happens after a crash' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eufm.12164 'Crash Beliefs From Investor S

There's been a lot of interest in the topic of bank runs lately, and in today's episode, we take a look at the most relevant research to help us better understand why they happen and how they can be avoided. Our conversation unpacks the 2022 Nobel prize-winning work of Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig and examines the three primary risks that banks need to navigate to avoid a bank run related crisis. We discuss the immense value that banks provide and how they keep the economy moving, before reflecting on how their most valuable services are inexorably tied to the risk of bank runs. You'll also learn about the role of the media in triggering a bank run, and how the problems that arise with bank runs can be addressed through a combination of deposit insurance, bank regulation, and a diverse customer base — all of which are designed to keep depositors from panicking simultaneously. We also revisit a past conversation with Jonathan Clements, before catching up with him in real time to discuss his new book My Money Journey: How 30 People Found Financial Freedom - and You Can Too. Tune in for an in-depth look at bank runs, the value of writing your money story, and a timely reminder that when you're making a deposit, you're actually lending money to the bank. Key Points From This Episode: • An introduction to the topic of bank runs including an overview of the Nobel prize-winning work done on the subject in 2022. (0:02:12) • The three primary risks you need to manage as a bank in order to be a successful business. (0:07:28) • Why liquidity, illiquidity, and duration risk can pose a problem, even for healthy banks. (0:12:47) • How news stories can create unwarranted panic and cause a bank run, even if a bank isn't experiencing problems. (0:16:02) • The multiple equilibria of banks as outlined in the Diamond and Dybvig paper. (0:16:31) • How deposit insurance can function as a solution, at least in part, to bank runs. (0:19:34) • What the Diamond and Dybvig paper teaches us about the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) bank run. (0:21:35) • The difference between households and banks, and the lessons households can learn from the narrative around bank runs. (0:22:59) • A quick recap of our conversation with Jonathan Clements and a review of his new book My Money Journey: How 30 People Found Financial Freedom - and You Can Too. (0:27:16) • We welcome Jonathan Clements back onto the show to discuss his new book and why he wrote it. (0:32:00) • What readers can expect to learn from Jonathan's book, like the impact parents have on your financial beliefs, and what inspires people to reassess their finances. (0:34:31) • The impact of early habits on our finances. (0:38:36) • Jonathan's insights into the financial service industry, its complexity, and how our risk tolerance can shift over time. (0:40:19) • Why regret in financial decision-making is virtually unavoidable and the value of writing your money story. (0:44:22) • Past and upcoming meetups, feedback from our listeners, and a reminder of our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge. (0:47:42) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-247-bank-runs-plus-jonathan-clements-on-my-money-journey-episode-discussion/22878 Book From Today's Episode: My Money Journey: How 30 people found financial freedom - and you can too — https://amzn.to/439D5Hw Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Jonathan Clements on Twitter — https://twitter.com/clementsmoney Jonathan Clements on LinkedIn —https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanclements Jonathan Clements on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/ClementsMoney Jonathan Clements — http://HumbleDollar.com Episode 55: Jonathan Clements — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/55 'Bank Runs, Deposit Insurance, and Liquidity' — https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/261155 'Liquidity Risk, Liquidity Creation, and Financial Fragility: A Theory of Banking' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/319552 'Why didn't Canada have a banking crisis in 2008 (or in 1930, or 1907, or . . .)' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/43910017 'Long-Horizon Losses in Stocks, Bonds, and Bills: Evidence from a Broad Sample of Developed Markets' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3964908

Human beings are undeniably complex, and what motivates us can often be a mystery, even to ourselves. So, how do we go about gathering and analyzing the data that will help us answer the most fundamental questions about our lives and our purpose? The answers may lie in an unexpectedly rich source of knowledge, our regrets. While regret is likely to have a decidedly negative connotation for most of us, it is also extremely powerful and can teach us a great deal about ourselves and what we value. It is an emotion that is present in all of us, and social scientists (like anthropologists and sociologists) have been fascinated by the subject for decades. Today on the show, we are joined by one such expert, Daniel Pink, author of the book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. In our conversation, Daniel shares details about the research he conducted for his book, how he determined the four main categories of regret, and what we can learn from our regrets by confronting them head-on. We also discuss Daniel's 2011 New York Times Bestselling title, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, and what he thinks about working from home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daniel is an exceptional storyteller and is highly knowledgeable on the subjects of regret, motivation, and the important role they play in our lives. To learn more about the many facets of regret and how it can help you thrive, be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: ● Understanding regret as an emotion, why it differs from disappointment, and how regret can help us make better decisions. (0:03:00) ● The four main types of regret (foundation, boldness, moral, and connections) and the methodology Daniel used to determine them. (0:07:30) ● The role that outcomes play when it comes to boldness regrets. (0:13:09) ● Why Daniel believes connection regret is so common, and what regret reveals about our values. (0:14:13) ● The World Regret Survey that Daniel conducted as a systematic survey of regret, and his findings that regrets of inaction tend to stay with us much longer. (0:17:14) ● What people can learn from past financial decisions that they regret and the challenge of addressing foundation regrets. (0:20:42) ● The surprising benefits of regrets and how to learn from them. (0:21:31) ● How regret anticipation can be used to help people save for retirement. (0:22:46) ● Daniel's system for addressing feelings of regret, why it's important to confront them rather than wallow in them, and the importance of being kind to yourself. (0:24:01) ● The overwhelming amount of decisions we make in our lives, when to choose the best versus something that is good enough, and how to optimize future regret. (0:27:56) ● An overview of the many complex factors that motivate people, intrinsic and external motivators, and how Daniel's research on regret affected his perspective on motivation. (0:31:16) ● Daniel's thoughts on working from home when considering autonomy, mastery, purpose, and motivation. (0:37:17) ● The motivational model that Daniel sets out in his book Drive and some of the common misconceptions he has observed in reporting on his book. (0:39:33) ● Why people are purpose maximizers, not profit maximizers, and how this should impact the leadership of a company. (0:41:26) ● Daniel's response to the question "How do you define success in your life?" and why he doesn't think about the word 'success' very much. (0:47:08) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-246-daniel-h-pink-how-to-use-regret-episode-discussion/22775 Books From Today's Episode: The Power of Regret — https://amzn.to/42HArID Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us — https://amzn.to/40jDpl7 To Sell Is Human — https://amzn.to/3K9M2ci Free Agent Nation — https://amzn.to/40knovb Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Daniel H. Pink on Twitter — https://twitter.com/danielpink Daniel H. Pink — https://www.danpink.com/

Goal-setting is essential for personal and professional growth, helping individuals clarify their priorities, stay focused, and achieve success. We are pleased to welcome guests Samantha Lamas and Danielle Labotka to help us unpack the topic of goal-setting and how it relates to finance. Samantha Lamas is a Senior Behavioural Researcher at Morningstar and a recipient of the Montgomery-Warschauer Award for her research in financial planning. Her work centres on investor engagement and the factors that influence an individual's decisions when it comes to investing and managing their finances. As a Behavioral Scientist at Morningstar, Danielle Labotka examines the impact of various cognitive and linguistic factors on investors' financial decisions. Her research involves studying investors' behaviours, preferences, and attitudes in both everyday and financial planning situations. In our conversation with Samantha and Danielle, we gain insights into financial behaviour and decision-making, the biggest barriers to goal-setting, what deeper goals are, and how to focus on them. Then, we speak to Mark McGrath, who is licensed in insurance, holds several professional designations, including a Chartered Investment Manager and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and has more than a decade of experience in the industry. Mark tells us the emotional story about his dad, what motivated him to share his experience, and why you need to start thinking about retirement now. Finally, we review a past episode with Dennis Moseley Williams, a book from Will Storr, and go through feedback from the Rational Reminder community. Tune in now! Content Warning: Some of the discussion in this episode is about suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts about self-harm, help is available. In Canada: 1.833.456.4566 or at https://suicideprevention.ca/resources/ Key Points From This Episode: • How we became acquainted with the Morningstar team and background about our guests. (0:02:29) • An outline of the common obstacles faced in identifying the correct goals, and how it impacts financial advisors. (0:06:08) • Danielle explains the approach used to analyze qualitative data and how the results compared to the Rational Reminder findings. (0:09:07) • How the goals identified changed as respondents progressed through the survey, and insights gained from the process. (0:11:23) • The main takeaway from the analysis of how people should approach goal-setting and how financial advisors can leverage the research findings. (0:17:53) • Outline of current gaps and what is the next step for behavioural research. (0:20:59) • Find out what compelled Mark to share the tweet about his dad and he takes us through the story. (0:23:00) • How the experience regarding his dad has influenced his work as a financial advisor. (0:40:50) • Mark shares how the experience has impacted his approach to life. (0:42:25) • A final takeaway message that Mark has for listeners. (0:44:23) • Highlights and key takeaways from a past episode with Dennis Moseley Williams. (0:45:52) • This week's book review of The Status Game, and why it is a must-read. (0:48:44) • Research findings concerning macro socio-economic status and work ethic. (0:54:03) • We discuss interesting news and events, riskless assets, the advantages of Twitter, and the latest reviews for the show. (0:57:05) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-245-deeper-goals-and-retiring-with-purpose-discussion-thread/22660 Book From Today's Episode: The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It — https://amzn.to/40vVLix Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Samantha Lamas on Twitter — https://twitter.com/SamanthaLamas4 Mark McGrath on Twitter — https://twitter.com/MarkMcGrathCFP Samantha Lamas on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/slamas/ Mark McGrath on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmcgrathcfp/ 'Mining for Goals' — http://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/8b5abbe8-0bf5-4321-9a4a-e04a82a11597.pdf

When it comes to the world of investing, there are many options available to consumers. The range of financial products available can be overwhelming and confusing. Additionally, investing is not only about the rate of return but also about what you are investing for and why. To help us unpack this complicated subject is Charles Ellis, a highly respected investment consultant and founder of Greenwich Associates, a strategy firm focused on financial institutions. He is also a famous author and has written several books on the topic of finance and investment, such as Winning the Loser's Game which provides readers with insights into making the best financial decisions in an increasingly unpredictable market. In our conversation, we discuss why indexing is the better investment option, how the investment space has changed over time, tailoring your investment decisions to suit your needs and desires, and why looking at the bigger financial picture is essential. We also delve into why investors can be their own worst enemies, what advisors and investors should avoid, the theme of his book Inside Vanguard, various investment strategies, and much more. Tune in and hear insights on indexing, wise investing, and how to win the ultimate game from industry legend Charles Ellis! Key Points From This Episode: • Charles explains what he means by 'a loser's game' and provides examples. (0:03:51) • How the perception of active management has changed since publishing Winning the Loser's Game. (0:08:00) • He unpacks how the market and market competition has changed since 1975. (0:10:33) • Whether the sentiment towards active management has become too negative. (0:17:24) • Discover why Charles thinks indexing is the best and preferred investment option. (0:19:22) • His opinion on low-cost systematic strategies that seek higher expected returns in the market by owning riskier stocks. (0:24:55) • Why investors and advisors should avoid trying to time or beat the market. (0:27:19) • The value and importance of a well-defined investment policy statement. (0:33:34) • Find out how investors can protect themselves from themselves. (0:34:58) • An underappreciated approach that investors can take to be more successful. (0:36:26) • Hear whether fee differentials between index and active strategies are understood well. (0:37:17) • Charles shares how his mindset has changed over the course of his career. (0:41:47) • Find out if institutions and endowments respect low-cost index investing. (0:42:42) • What he thinks about bringing exotic asset classes to retail investors. (0:44:45) • Reasons why investment management should be considered a full-time profession. (0:46:50) • The biggest opportunities he sees in future for investment management. (0:49:20) • Hear about the difference between price discovery and value discovery. (0:50:09) • Discover why Vanguard has been so successful as a company. (0:53:27) • The theme of his book, Inside Vanguard, and if it relates to other businesses. (0:58:17) • Lessons he has learned regarding personal motivation and productivity. (1:00:28) • Charles tells us his definition of success. (1:03:35) • An outtake from the episode: the role of luck. (1:05:21) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-244-the-losers-game-episode-discussion/22558 Books From Today's Episode: Winning the Loser's Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing — https://amzn.to/3FrNKmt Inside Vanguard — https://amzn.to/3TlwrcG What It Takes: Seven Secrets of Success from the World's Greatest Professional Firms — https://amzn.to/3Thgm7z Capital: The Story of Long-Term Investment Excellence — https://amzn.to/3FpiHb5 Figuring It Out: Sixty Years of Answering Investors' Most Important Questions — https://amzn.to/3LknZZ8 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore

Debt can play an essential role in financial planning in several ways, such as financing large purchases, building credit, managing cash flow, and leveraging investments. However, it's important to remember that taking on too much debt can also have negative consequences that could impact your financial future. Therefore, it's vital to carefully consider your options and ensure that any debt you take on is manageable and aligns with your overall financial goals. In this episode, we talk about the essential aspects of debt and the role of debt in financial planning, and we unpack the two major forms of debt. Learn about debt in financial planning, consumption smoothing, the mindset and psychology behind debt, the risk that comes with debt, how credit cards impact how people interact with their money, integrated financial planning, and important aspects of mortgages. We also review a past episode with guest Dan Solin and the book, The Five Most Important Questions, which provides readers with a tool for self-assessment and transformation concerning productivity in the workplace. Key Points From This Episode: • The role of debt in financial planning and the distinction between good and bad debt. (0:08:16) • A brief overview of mortgages, credit cards, and their associated risks. (0:11:31) • Consequences of borrowing money at a high-interest rate, and how financial literacy impacts effective debt management. (0:13:20) • The psychological aspects related to debt and consumer spending. (0:16:10) • Outlining the psychological interactions of established debt on mental well-being. (0:18:15) • Credit cards, what they offer, and their psychological effect on paying. (0:22:10) • Costs associated with not using a credit card. (0:28:45) • Why mortgage debt is considered good debt for the borrower and the different facets of mortgages to consider. (0:32:48) • The difference between fixed and adjustable mortgage rates and which is better. (0:37:25) • Highlights and key takeaways from a past episode with Dan Solin. (0:46:06) • A review of the book, The Five Most Important Questions and why we recommend it. (0:47:47) • How the questions from the book relate to household decision-making. (0:51:18) • A testament to Dan Wheeler and his contribution to the field of finance. (0:52:55) • Recent interviews with Ben, upcoming guests, other interesting financial content, and our book recommendations. (0:56:33) • A 23 in 23 book challenge update, feedback on the show, and upcoming meetups. (01:01:35) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-243-the-role-of-debt-in-financial-planning-discussion-thread/22433 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Extra References: The role of debt 'Life Cycle, Individual Thrift, and the Wealth of Nations' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/1813352 'Diversification Across Time' — https://jpm.pm-research.com/content/39/2/73 'Debt literacy, financial experiences, and over indebtedness' — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282436829_Debt_Literacy_Financial_Experiences_and_Over_Indebtedness 'Restoring Rational Choice: The Challenge of Consumer Financial Regulation' — https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/campbell/files/elylecturejan182016.pdf 'Attitudes towards Debt and Debt Behavior' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sjoe.12419 'Expenditure Cascades' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1690612 'Consumer debt and satisfaction in life' — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341564180_Consumer_debt_and_satisfaction_in_life 'Good credit, bad credit: The differential role of the sources of debt in life satisfaction' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joca.12388 'Debt and Overindebtedness: Psychological Evidence and its Policy Implications' — https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sipr.12074 'Winning the Battle but Losing the War: The Psychology of Debt Management' — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249644425_Winning_the_Battle_But_Losing_the_War_The_Psychology_of_Debt_Management 'Reducing debt improves psychological functioning and changes decision-making in the poor' —https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332472709_Reducing_debt_improves_psychological_functioning_and_changes_decision-making_in_the_poor Credit cards

The intersection between economics and psychology makes the subject of personal finance complex. To help us elucidate this topic is personal finance reporter at the Globe and Mail and the author of the bestselling book "Money Like You Mean It, Personal Finance Tactics for the Real World.", Erica Alini. Her journey into finance journalism began when she started working for the Wall Street Journal immediately after the financial crisis of 2007/08. Since then, Erica has become an accomplished writer and journalist, having worked for many respected organizations. She is also the author of a best-selling book, Money Like You Mean It, which provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the economic forces that shape financial struggles and how to overcome them. In this conversation, we talk to Erica about the importance of knowing yourself and your debt, the money bucket system, and the definition of financial abuse. We also discuss the various types of debt traps people should avoid, the dangers of micropayments, and what to be aware of when looking for a mortgage, as well as advice for finding a reliable mortgage broker, the avalanche versus the snowball model, and much more. Tune in to discover how to take back control of your finances and avoid the burden of debt with personal finance expert, Erica Alini. Key Points From This Episode: • Why Erica thinks Canadians have so much household debt. (0:02:24) • Strategies that people can implement to avoid the debt trap. (0:04:58) • Erica's opinion on budgeting as a tool to manage spending. (0:08:34) • How the 'bucketing model' changes for a couple as opposed to an individual. (0:12:10) • How couples with different incomes should share expenses. (0:14:17) • Signs of an unhealthy financial relationship between partners. (0:17:06) • The amount of money an emergency fund should have. (0:21:17) • What consumers should know about the different debt products available. (0:24:08) • Discover the downside of taking a mortgage with the lowest interest rate. (0:33:55) • Whether or not an independent mortgage broker is better than a bank. (0:38:05) • Important insights about credit scores. (0:39:51) • Whether people should rent or buy property. (0:45:13) • How the traditional sense of a good job with sufficient income has changed. (0:50:34) • Erica's approach to explaining the risk of investing in stocks. (0:56:46) • Insights about the math of a financial decision versus the psychology. (0:58:25) • How Erica defines success in her life. (1:00:29) Extra: Questions to ask a mortgage broker: 1. What kind of penalty will you have to pay for breaking your contract? 2. Is the cap on your lump-sum payments 10 percent or 20 percent of your mortgage balance? 3. Will you be able to make lump-sum payments any time or just once a year? 4. Can you double your payments? Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-242-erica-alini-personal-finance-tactics-for-the-real-world-discussion-thread/22326 Book From Today's Episode: Money Like You Mean It — https://www.dundurn.com/books_/t22117/a9781459748675-money-like-you-mean-it Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Erica Alini on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ealini

Today we are spending most of the episode going further into the basic concepts that ground good financial practices and the personal finance topics that are often taken for granted. The three main areas we unpack in this episode are the cost of living, savings capacity, and emergency funds, and though these can be viewed as basic ideas, there are always areas of the simplest variety that deserve more attention. Listeners can also expect to hear a little more about what our role as financial advisors constitutes on a daily basis, as we respond to an audience member's question about how to conceptualize the profession. We welcome Dr. Wendall Mascarenhas back to the show for a brief cameo in which he shares his reading habits and approach with us, which contrasts with some of the opinions often expressed by other guests, so make sure to stay tuned in for that. We also find time for a quick recap of an old episode we had with Rick Ferri and a book review of Rethink Lead Generation by Tom Shapiro. Key Points From This Episode: • Discussing the cost of living and why an accurate picture of your expenses is so important. (0:04:08) • Working out your saving capacity and when and how to save. (0:21:32) • General advice for emergency funds and further considerations for households. (0:32:51) • Recapping our episode with Rick Ferri on his index investing philosophy and the lasting impact of John Bogle. (0:40:21) • This week's book review of Rethink Lead Generation by Tom Shapiro. (0:42:26) • Dr. Wendall Mascarenhas talks about his reading habits and his prioritization of reading for pleasure. (0:49:23) • A few favourite book recommendations from Dr. Wendall Mascarenhas. (0:58:12) • Current debates around ChatGPT and the sources of its information. (1:06:18) • Information about upcoming meetups for the Rational Reminder community. (1:09:38) • Further explorations on our recent goals survey and the input we received from Morningstar. (1:11:00) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Dr. Wendall Mascarenhas — https://www.fcos.ca/meet-dr-mascarenhas/ Teeth & Titanium Podcast — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teeth-titanium/id1514989809 Extra References: Savings capacity 'Popular Personal Financial Advice versus the Professors' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w30395 'The Life-Cycle Model Implies That Most Young People Should Not Save for Retirement' — https://www.aei.org/research-products/journal-publication/the-life-cycle-model-implies-that-most-young-people-should-not-save-for-retirement/ 'Exponential-Growth Bias and Lifecycle Consumption' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/43965317 'Save More Tomorrow™: Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Employee Saving' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/380085 Emergency fund 'What Matters to Individual Investors? Evidence from the Horse's Mouth' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jofi.12895 'Millionaires Speak: What Drives Their Personal Investment Decisions?' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w27969 'Emergency savings for low-income consumers' — https://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/focus/pdfs/foc301c.pdf 'Emergency Saving and Household Hardship' — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269468202_Emergency_Saving_and_Household_Hardship 'Savings Policy and Decisionmaking in Low-Income Households' — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289069441_Savings_Policy_and_Decisionmaking_in_Low-Income_Households 'Insufficient Funds: Savings, Assets, Credit, and Banking Among Low-Income Households' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7758/9781610445887 'Financially Fragile Households: Evidence and Implications' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w17072 'One in four Canadians are unable to cover an unexpected expense of $500' —https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230213/dq230213b-eng.htm 'Who Should Buy Long-Term Bonds?' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/2677900 'Mental accounting matters' — https://people.bath.ac.uk/mnsrf/Teaching%202011/Thaler-99.pdf 'The Bucket Approach for Retirement: A Suboptimal Behavioral Trick?' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3274499 'Should Households Establish Emergency Funds' —https://www.proquest.com/openview/042e8ea8f8e3986ec6c93e5cfca265c0/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38873 'Is an All Cash Emergency Fund Strategy Appropriate for All Investors?' — https://www.financial

The decisions we make may be further out of our control than we'd like to imagine. Today we are joined by Professor Eric J. Johnson to discuss choice architecture and its role in financial decision-making. Eric is a decision science expert and the author of the book, The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters. In this episode, we learn about the various factors that impact not only decision-making but the effort required to make a decision. Eric shares his philosophy on free will and shares advice for making important decisions and guiding clients to find the right choice as a financial advisor. Tune in to discover how to minimize the influence of the choice architect and take charge of your decisions! Key Points From This Episode: • Introducing Professor Eric J. Johnson and this week's topic: financial decision-making. (0:00:26) • The hidden partner that accompanies us when we make decisions. (0:03:42) • How design choices impact our decisions. (0:04:54) • The plausible path: what it is and how we choose it. (0:06:00) • Advice for making important decisions. (0:08:21) • The impact of recent events on decision-making. (0:10:33) • How to be your own choice architect. (0:12:15) • Factors impacting the effort required to make a decision. (0:13:22) • The impact of default choices and what influences them. (0:16:09) • How choice architecture can help people find the right choice. (0:20:17) • The influence of sorting on what people choose. (0:25:18) • How the order of options being presented and the way they're described impact decisions. (0:26:54) • How exponential growth bias influences long-term decisions and how financial advisors can help clients understand the impact. (0:31:45) • The effectiveness of Netflix as a choice engine, the role choice engines play in educating users, and the value of just-in-time education. (0:35:04) • The impact of social media on people's attention and intentions. (0:40:08) • Eric shares his philosophy on free will and the factors impacting our choices. (0:42:55) • How to minimize the influence of the choice architect. (0:44:16) • What financial advisors can do to be most useful to their clients. (0:46:00) • How Eric defines success in his life. (0:50:12) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-240-prof-eric-j-johnson-choice-architecture-and-financial-decisions-discussion-thread/22037 Book From Today's Episode: The Elements of Choice — https://theelementsofchoice.com/ Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Prof. Eric J. Johnson on Twitter — https://twitter.com/profericjohnson

The concept of financial math is another foundational element of investing and good economic decision-making, and today we are carrying on the recent string of shows dealing with these kinds of fundamental aspects. First, we have a look at the central idea of the time value of money, and how this plays into many areas of our finances, such as retirement planning, spending, investing, and so on. From there, the conversation goes on to cover exponential functions, the tradeoffs between saving and spending, and regrets. Today's 60-second episode recap is of the great conversation we had with David Blitzer back on Episode 54, and we also do a quick book review of the potentially life-changing How to Live on 24 Hours a Day. We finish off this punchy episode with some news from the community and some thoughts on the ways in which competition and repetition can improve a skill. Key Points From This Episode: • Introducing the time value of money, as well as the concepts of compounding and discounting. (0:03:07) • Applying financial math in different ways to varied questions. (0:11:34) • Lessons from Cameron's first business selling worms. (0:18:15) • The challenges and biases associated with exponential functions. (0:20:27) • Spending and saving; illuminating the reality of the tradeoffs. (0:27:26) • The biggest problems of foundational regrets. (0:35:40) • Looking back on the episode with David Blitzer on indexing. (0:42:33) • Reviewing the 1908 book, How to Live on 24 Hours a Day. (0:44:25) • TV shows, podcast reviews, updates from the community and more. (0:49:05) • Incentives and leaderboards; unpacking the impacts of practice and competition. (0:56:43) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-239-the-math-of-financial-planning-discussion-thread/21899 Book From Today's Episode: How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day — https://amzn.to/3JLyDaz Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore

A large portion of what we talk about on this show boils down to decision-making, and today we have our focus squarely on the fundamentals of this process. Professor Ralph Keeney joins us to discuss some of the simplest and most profound elements of decisions, and why we so often miss these aspects. Ralph is a true expert on decision analysis, and his systematic process for decision-making, as laid out in his new book, Give Yourself a Nudge, has truly life-altering potential for anyone looking to improve their future. The book and this conversation are jam-packed with insightful and understandable ideas and examples, including clarifying objectives, the vital role of our values, generating alternatives, and a comparison between decision problems and decision opportunities. Ralph lays out a great way to get started on the path to better decisions, so make sure to join us to hear it all. Key Points From This Episode: The focus of Ralph's research and how he articulates the importance of our conscious decisions. (0:03:48) The shortcomings of the trial and error approach that many of us naturally employ. (0:10:46) First steps towards being a better decision-maker; using personal decisions for practice. (0:13:08) Ralph explains his conception and use of the idea of 'nudges'. (0:14:30) A better awareness of the often-neglected front end of decision-making. (0:17:38) An explanation of Ralph's value-focused decision-making process. (0:22:25) Mistakes made around retirement decisions. (0:30:30) Why clarifying your personal decision values can be so difficult. (0:32:15) The process of translating values into objectives. (0:36:11) Ralph's important question around the different possible situations in the future. (0:41:49) Simple processes and common pitfalls for generating alternatives. (0:43:19) Exploring decisions that require third-party permission or commitment. (0:47:59) Differentiating between decision problems and decision opportunities. (0:52:27) The most important concepts for embodying value-focussed decision-making. (0:57:44) The role of financial advisors in aiding their clients to make good decisions. (1:03:28) Application of these ideas toward living a good life. (1:07:46) Ralph's simple definition of success in his own life. (1:10:53) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-238-prof-ralph-keeney-decision-analysis-and-value-focused-thinking-discussion-thread/21795 Books From Today's Episode: Give Yourself a Nudge — https://amzn.to/3WKMwZx Smart Choices — https://amzn.to/3Ho0vP6 Value-Focused Thinking — https://amzn.to/3HgC7yH Decisions with Multiple Objectives — https://amzn.to/3DywYRH Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Prof. Ralph Keeney — https://ralphkeeney.com/

Identifying your personal values is the foundation for making future decisions. In this episode, we discuss the profound ways in which personal values impact financial decision-making and share concrete steps to identify both your strategic and means objectives. Ben candidly shares his own objectives and expands on the other considerations involved in making major decisions. We then jump to the less abstract topic of 2022 returns, providing a thorough overview of the tilts and their consequences, followed by a brief summary of an early episode with Shane Parrish. In the latter half of this episode, we are joined by Zoobean co-founder and CEO Felix Lloyd to talk about Beanstack, the tech platform for reading, and Readwise co-founder Daniel Doyon. We also tackle the slightly left-field topic of marketing from a behavioural science standpoint through the lens of Nancy Harhut's tellingly-titled book, Using Behavioral Science in Marketing. Tune in for upcoming developments in the Rational Reminder community, and to discover how to make financial decisions that align with who you are and who you want to become! Key Points From This Episode: How personal values impact financial decision-making. (0:00:25) How to identify your life's values and objectives. (0:07:21) The significance of means objectives and strategic objectives, and how to identify them. (0:16:25) Ben's strategic life objectives and means objectives. (0:18:27) Other considerations when making major decisions. (0:19:14) An overview of 2022 returns. (0:22:43) A summary of episode 19 with Shane Parrish. (0:28:59) A brief interview with Zoobean co-founder and CEO Felix Lloyd to talk about Beanstack, the tech platform for reading. (0:31:15) Cameron's review of Using Behavioral Science in Marketing by Nancy Harhut. (0:43:09) What sells (from a behavioural science standpoint). (0:47:15) A brief interview with Readwise co-founder Daniel Doyon. (0:52:52) Summaries of recent Freakonomics, 10% Happier, and Capital Allocators (1:04:05) Developments in the Rational Reminder community. (1:05:30) Upcoming podcast guests and recent podcast reviews. (1:10:25) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-237-who-are-you-and-who-do-you-want-to-be-discussion-thread/21665 Book From Today's Episode: Using Behavioral Science in Marketing — https://amzn.to/3wuDnJO Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Daniel Doyon on Twitter — https://twitter.com/deadly_onion Felix Lloyd on Twitter — https://twitter.com/fblloyd Felix Lloyd on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/fblloyd/ Beanstack — https://www.beanstack.com/ Zoobean on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/zoobean Readwise — https://readwise.io/

Our guest today, Harold Gellar, is a lawyer who helps clients dealing with fraud and negligence perpetrated by financial advisors, and is a passionate advocate for investors and their rights. Tuning in you'll hear details of some of the most common issues Harold has come across in his work, along with his practical advice for financial advisors and investors. We discuss the importance of clear communication between advisors and their clients, the concept of KYC (Know Your Client), and simple steps investors can take to ensure that their advice is properly understood by their clients. Harold goes on to provide an outline of factors that could make individuals vulnerable to negligent financial advice (such as marital problems or a sudden health crisis) and how to gain perspective in extreme situations. We also discuss the key differences between salespeople and financial advisors, the type of credentials investors should be looking for, and how regulation needs to be modernized in Canada for investors to be properly protected. Harold has been in this industry for a long time and is immensely knowledgeable on the subject of fraud and negligent investment advice. Key Points From This Episode: An overview of Harold's practice and how he helps clients get their money back. (0:03:22) The difference between salespeople and financial advisors and the vulnerability of investors. (0:05:40) Practical advice for investors to ensure their financial advisor is doing due diligence and the concept of KYP (Know Your Product). (0:10:46) The concept of KYC (Know Your Client) and how to be sure your financial advisor understands you as a client. (0:15:32) The type of individuals who are particularly vulnerable to negligent financial advice, and why we can all be vulnerable in certain situations. (0:18:33) The role of the trusted contact person in Canada specifically, and how to know when to take the advice of your financial advisor. (0:25:13) Harold's thoughts on what is causing Canada's slow adoption of low-cost index funds. (0:32:27) How financial advisors earn money and why we need an updated regulatory system. (0:34:21) Harold's approach to crypto and why he classifies it as a speculative asset. (0:41:50) Examples of negligence when the investment made was too conservative and why clear communication between client and advisor is crucial. (0:44:20) The worst insurance products that Harold has come across. (0:46:10) What financial advisors should be doing to make sure that their advice is properly understood by their clients. (0:49:23) What investors can do to make sure that they understand what the advisor is saying to them. (0:51:16) Ontario's recent implementation of title regulation for financial planners and advisors and some of its key flaws. (0:52:16) The credentials that investors should expect from their financial advisors. (0:55:34) The value of good advice when it comes to financial planning and investment, and what motivates Harold to be such a strong investor advocate. (0:56:56) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-236-harold-geller-i-sue-financial-advisors-discussion-thread/21500 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Harold on Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-geller-25094033/ Geller Law — http://gellerlaw.ca 'The Misguided Beliefs of Financial Advisors' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jofi.12995 'Retail Financial Advice: Does One Size Fit All?' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jofi.12514

As we kick off the new year, we wanted to look back at our biggest areas of learning from last year. So this episode serves as a great companion piece to our year-end recap from a couple of weeks ago, but the focus here is on the personal impact that specific guests, ideas, and topics had on each of our lives. We cover ICAPM thinking, the nature of money, financial literacy, setting financial goals, the history of index funds, and more. For the second half of the show, we are joined by the amazing Shaun Tomson, former world surfing champion, author, and renowned speaker. Shaun is here to talk a bit about his latest book, co-authored with Noah benShea, entitled The Surfer and the Sage. We get to hear about Shaun's belief in the power of words, the specific conditions that can enforce this power, the lessons he has taken from a life in the ocean, and how the tragedy of losing his son influenced his life's trajectory. Join us to catch it all. Key Points From This Episode: Differentiating between the CAPM and ICAPM theories. (0:08:02) Long-run risks in stocks and bonds; demystifying safety claims. (0:14:46) Further illumination on the concept of money and how to think about it. (0:24:27) Learnings around the empirical side of financial literacy. (0:31:00) Improved setting of financial goals and common mistakes that many of us make. (0:32:24) Filling in the gaps in an understanding of the history of index funds. (0:35:57) A one-minute recap of our episode with Allison Schrager from last year. (0:37:47) A quick review of Shaun Tomson's book, The Surfer and the Sage. (0:39:38) Shaun explains the significance of the wave as a metaphor. (0:43:28) The tragic passing of Shaun's son in 2006 and how this redirected his life's purpose. (0:45:10) Shaun explains his CODE method for transformation. (0:49:35) The significance of the structure of the book and the motivation behind it. (0:56:38) Unpacking the importance of purpose when making financial decisions. (0:59:40) Shaun's tactical recommendations; resilience, hope, optimism, and discipline. (1:05:44) Upcoming book recommendations for our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge. (1:19:22) Participate in our 23 in 23 Reading Challenge: 23 in 23 Reading Challenge — https://rationalreminder.ca/23in23 23 in 23 Reading Challenge on Beanstalk — https://pwlcapital.beanstack.org/ Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-235-top-learnings-from-2022-plus-23-in-23-special-guest-shaun-tomson-discussion-thread/21332 Books From Today's Episode: The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves — https://amzn.to/3GytVJV The Code: The of Power of "I Will" — https://amzn.to/3ZEMUvg Surfer's Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life — https://amzn.to/3VZIcFb Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Shaun Tomson on Twitter — https://twitter.com/shauntomson Shaun Tomson on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/shauntomson/ Shaun Tomson on Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-tomson-42a57213/ Shaun Tomson — https://shauntomson.com/ Shaun Tomson's I Will Form — https://buzzy.buzz/kiosk/3676e3c13ae389a80dd5774d 'The Code Method for Families' — https://shauntomson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CODE-METHOD-FOR-FAMILIES.pdf 'The Surfer and the Sage: Trailer' — https://www.dropbox.com/s/wn0q3r0gf006tl6/TrailerUSETHISONE.mp4?dl=0 'Generating Objectives: Can Decision Makers Articulate What They Want?' — https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.1070.0754?journalCode=mnsc 'Eyes on the Prize: The Preference to Invest Resources in Goals Over Means' — https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/documents/areas/fac/marketing/Shaddy/investing_goals.pdf 'Counteracting obstacles with optimistic predictions' — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20121310/ 'Immediate Rewards Predict Adherence to Long-Term Goals' — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0146167216676480 'Stocks for the Long Run? Sometimes Yes. Sometimes No.' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3805927

Few people have impacted the way the world works, and today, we have the privilege of speaking to one of them. Professor Robert C. Merton is the Distinguished Professor of Finance at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management and Professor Emeritus at Harvard University. He has a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT and is currently the Resident Scientist at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Professor Merton was awarded the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1997 for his work establishing a new method to determine the value of derivatives. He also created the Intertemporal Capital Asset Pricing Model (ICAPM), a popular tool to help advisors make informed financial decisions and understand market trends. In our incredible conversation, we cover portfolio theory, moving from Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to the Intertemporal Capital Asset Pricing Model (ICAPM), and how financial models work. We also discuss the difference between the value of your capital and the value of the cash flow that can come from that capital, why size can't be a factor, what aspects to consider when calculating the worth of an account, and the definition of market efficiency. We also delve into retirement, how to safely invest for it, what pitfalls to avoid, and how retirement funds may change over time. He also shares his opinion about some popular financial advise and what the roles of financial advisors should be. For all this and more, tune in to hear from the man behind the model and Nobel laureate, Professor Robert C. Merton! Key Points From This Episode: We start with Professor Merton describing the concept of market efficiency. (0:04:28) He explains the basics of his ICAPM asset pricing model. (0:09:10) How portfolio theory changes when moving from single-period to multi-period. (0:10:46) Hear a practical example of expected returns changing over time. (0:14:15) Why ICAPM is dependent on the sensitivities to risk of an individual investor. (0:22:52) Find out how to determine if the correct proxy has been identified for a risk. (0:25:34) Learn how home country bias fits into portfolio choice from an ICAPM hedging perspective. (0:31:54) The definition of a risk-free asset and how it changes with time. (0:33:24) What influence the time horizon should have on the mix between stocks and bonds in an investor's portfolio. (0:35:33) His opinion about young investors using leverage to make investments. (0:41:50) What people should be doing to get more accessibility to leverage. (0:47:39) Professor Merton tells us who should focus on value stocks and growth stocks. (0:51:34) Discover what makes retirement income a difficult problem to solve and tips to ensure your retirement. (0:56:47) We discuss using Monte Carlo simulations to estimate how much people can spend in retirement. (1:09:04) He provides insight into how to get more from your retirement investment. (1:13:04) Whether nominal annuities are considered low-risk assets for retirees. (1:16:48) An overview of the impact mathematical models have had on the finance sector. (1:20:12) Areas of finance practice that are lagging behind the financial models. (1:27:35) Hear what popular financial advice Professor Merton thinks is misguided. (1:33:22) Ways his work on option pricing has impacted society. (1:41:26) The role he sees for financial advisors. (1:45:42) Why he decided to join Dimensional Fund Advisors. (1:48:54) Professor Merton unpacks the definition of product design. (1:52:14) Stay listening for the extended discussion. (1:57:24) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-234-prof-robert-c-merton-icapm-retirement-and-models-in-finance-discussion-thread/20748 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Prof. Robert C. Merton — https://robertcmerton.com/

It has been an amazing year for the podcast. We have had some incredible guests during 2022 who have provided us and listeners with insights and thought-provoking ideas about the world of finance. We covered a lot of ground and to wrap up the year we decided to recap some of our favourite moments for listeners. In this episode, we highlight the many themes covered during this year, such as the basics of investing, stocks and bonds, how to make wise investment decisions, gender inequality, asset management, index funds, market trends, and portfolio management. We also highlight some of the indirectly topics indirectly related to finance such as the value of happiness, enjoying the pursuit of happiness, the importance of goal setting, and much more. Join us as we reflect on some of our best moments from the year and provide an overview of the many vital lessons we have learned in this final episode of the year for the Rational Reminder podcast. Key Points From This Episode: Mac McQuown explains how the data revolution changed the game of investing. (0:09:05) Robin Wigglesworth and tracking the performance of portfolios in the 60s. (0:12:56) Professor Fama shares what it is like to see the impact of his academic work on the practice of asset management. (0:16:02) Gus Sauter tells us about the role the University of Chicago played in the index fund revolution. (0:18:41) Professor Fama unpacks what it means for a market to be efficient. (0:20:52) Gerard O'Reilly and the differences in the types of market strategies available. (0:24:27) Professor Betermier shares his research from multiple papers concerning tendencies towards growth and value stocks. (0:28:50) Eduardo Repetto tells us whether having a portfolio consisting of 100% small-cap value stocks makes sense. (0:36:06) Professor Koijen explains whether index funds distort market prices and make markets less efficient. (0:40:30) Professors Berk and van Binsbergen discuss if it is possible to find skilled fund managers before they are absorbed by their fund. (0:43:44) Professor Cederburg explains how data sets can be upwardly biased and why you need to be aware of it when looking at data. (0:48:15) Bill Janeway describes the three-player game regarding investments. (0:50:51) Professor Phalippou compares the performance of private equity relative to public equities. (0:53:42) Antti Ilmanen tells us how investors can stick with an investment strategy during times of low performance. (0:59:10) Professor List tells us how often people should check their investment portfolios. (1:01:56) Leonard Mlodinow explains how the rational mind and the emotional mind are intertwined. (1:04:56) Professor Edmans's Grow the Pie and making the world a better place. (1:07:27) Rebecca Walker outlines the effect learning about money has on people. (1:11:15) Colleen Ammerman describes the current state of women in the workplace. (1:13:21) Find out why the pursuit of a goal should be enjoyable with Professor Fishbach. (1:15:40) Andrew Hallam talks about life satisfaction after middle age and how to get there sooner. (1:20:28) Jay van Bavel details the effect of group identity on goal setting. (1:23:08) Professor Frank unpacks the relationship between the consumption of luxury goods and happiness. (1:26:55) Professor Bohns provides insight into why people are under-confident in their social lives. (1:31:01) Professor Fama reveals how many hours a day the brain can handle deep work. (1:34:24) Cassie Holmes and why happiness is a good thing from a scientific perspective. (1:35:30) Colonel Chris Hadfield shares the lesson he learned as an astronaut that he applies to his everyday life. (1:38:52) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-233-a-year-in-review-discussion-thread/20856 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Episode 182: John 'Mac' McQuown — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/182 Episode 184: Robin Wigglesworth — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/184 Episode 186: Andrew Hallam — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/186 Episode 188: Professor Fishbach — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/188 Episode 192: Professor Edmans — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/192 Episode 194: Bill Janeway — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/194 Episode 196: Professor Betermier — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/196 Episode 198: Gerard O'Reilly — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/198 Episode 200: Professor Eugene Fama — https://rationalreminder.ca/podca

Gaining financial literacy is critical if you want to thrive in today's society. And yet, only about a third of the global population can be described as being financially literate. Joining us today to unpack the concept of financial literacy and its impact is Dr. Annamaria Lusardi, Professor of Economics and Accountancy at George Washington University. Dr. Lusardi has taught Economics for over 20 years, and her passion for financial literacy is reflected in everything she does. Her career has been instrumental in furthering the cause of increased global financial literacy, from being the Founder and Academic Director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, to serving as the co-chair of the G53 Financial Literacy and Personal Finance Research Network. In our conversation, Dr. Lusardi breaks down the definition of financial literacy, how it's measured by leading experts across the world, along with some of the key differences we see between people in richer and poorer countries. She explains why financial advice isn't a replacement for financial literacy and provides guidance on what we should be doing to educate various population groups. We also discuss how global trends have created an increased need for financial literacy as an essential skill, especially for young people, and why greater global financial literacy is beneficial to everyone, including governments and wealthier individuals. Tune in as we delve into the many facets of financial literacy and the important role it plays in our collective health, happiness, and success! Key Points From This Episode: Lusardi defines the concept of financial literacy and the importance of being able to apply it as a skill. (0:04:30) How experts measure financial literacy and some of the key challenges involved. (0:07:55) The global survey that was conducted on financial literacy in 2014 and its dismal findings. (0:11:44) The areas of financial literacy that people struggle with most and why the need for financial literacy has increased over time. (0:15:26) The costs and benefits of gaining financial literacy and the concept of optimal financial knowledge. (0:22:42) An overview of the type of person who should be investing in financial literacy and why. (0:27:46) How the strength of your government's social safety net affects financial literacy rates. (0:30:15) The extent to which financial literacy affects stock market participation and wealth accumulation. (0:31:18) Some of the common mistakes that those with low levels of financial literacy tend to make. (0:35:10) Why financial literacy's end goal should be geared towards happiness and living a good life. (0:39:24) The impact that financial advice and financial advisors have on economic outcomes. (0:43:18) How financial literacy varies across demographic groups and some of the factors that account for disparities in financial literacy. (0:45:42) How financial education programs can yield positive results and where this education should take place for it to be optimal. (0:52:13) What listeners can do to increase financial literacy for those around them and why there is no alternative to good financial knowledge. (0:58:55) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Dr. Annamaria Lusardi — https://www.annamarialusardi.com/ 'Financial literacy and financial resilience: Evidence from around the world' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fima.12283 'The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence' — https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/economic-importance-financial-literacy-theory-evidence.pdf 'Optimal Financial Knowledge and Wealth Inequality' — https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/690950 'Financial literacy and stock market participation' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X11000717 'Employee Financial Literacy and Retirement Plan Behavior: A Case Study' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ecin.12389 'Skating on thin ice: New evidence on financial fragility' — https://www.dnb.nl/media/uxldldkl/working-paper-no-670_tcm47.pdf 'Stereotypes in financial literacy: Evidence from PISA' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0929119920302753?via%3Dihub 'Fearless Woman: Financial Literacy and Stock Market Participation' — https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Fearless-Woman-Research-Final.pdf?x53868 'How Financially Literate Are Women? An Overview and New Insights' — http

Today is our final episode featuring just the two of us before our annual wrap-up show, and we thought we would use this opportunity to cover some important foundational aspects of rational investing. Ben goes over some of the most fundamental concepts about market prices, risk, and actual returns before answering five common questions that relate to this level of information. From investing in an employer's stock to predicting the future and real estate comparisons, these five touch-points are always worth returning to, and should even interest the more experienced of our listeners. For the second half of the show, we offer a quick book review of The Culture Playbook by Daniel Coyle, and have a brief and illuminating conversation with Professor Amer Kaissi about his book, Humbitious, and some of his thoughts on the part that reading plays in rich and progressive life. Press play to catch all this and more on the Rational Reminder Podcast. Key Points From This Episode: Picking up a thread from our discussion on the 2% Rule. (0:06:05) Getting to grips with investing basics. (0:10:45) How market prices work in response to traders' actions and risk. (0:17:59) The main determinants of actual returns and starting points for your portfolio. (0:23:15) Unknowable futures and the eternal doom and gloom predictions. (0:35:43) Assessing the value of owning an employer's stock. (0:38:21) Holding stock picks in Tax-Free Savings Accounts. (0:42:07) How to prepare a portfolio when a recession is predicted. (0:43:49) Comparing investments in real estate with the stock market. (0:45:14) Weighing the value of building and emergency fund. (0:47:11) A thirty-second recap of our episode with Cliff Asness. (0:50:06) Today's book review focussing on the lesson from The Culture Playbook by Daniel Coyle. (0:51:48) Professor Kaissi shares a quick summary of his book, Humbitious. (0:58:40) The potential to develop characteristics and the role that reading plays. (0:59:38) Professor Kaissi talks about his reading habits. (1:02:12) Application of ideas from books and how Professor Kaissi captures and organizes information in his own reading. (1:05:15) A few of Professor Kaissi's favourite book recommendations and how to increase your reading habit. (1:08:52) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-231-investing-basics-and-common-questions-plus-reading-habits-w-amer-kaissi-discussion-thread/20716 Books From Today's Episode: Humbitious: The Power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership — https://amzn.to/3WjHjry Mindset — https://amzn.to/3Wzl7Kr Quiet — https://amzn.to/3htlN4X The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — https://amzn.to/3YmKqRv The SPEED of Trust — https://amzn.to/3UWCljq Top Five Regrets of the Dying — https://amzn.to/3uQcUWf The Assertiveness Workbook — https://amzn.to/3VVDVUf How to Raise Your Self Esteem — https://amzn.to/3BDM33p Ego Is the Enemy — https://amzn.to/3BAyCkZ Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Amer Kaissi on Twitter — https://twitter.com/amerkaissi10 Amer Kaissi on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-kaissi-ph-d-38258919/ Amer Kaissi — http://www.amerkaissi.com 'The Value of Goals-Based Financial Planning' — https://www.financialplanningassociation.org/article/journal/JUN15-value-goals-based-financial-planning 'Excessive Extrapolation and the Allocation of 401(k) Accounts to Company Stock' — http://independent401kadvisors.com/library_articles/ExcessiveExtrapolation.pdf 'The Agony of Ecstasy: The risks and rewards of a concentrated stock position' — https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/content/dam/jpm-wm-aem/global/pb/en/insights/eye-on-the-market/agony-ecstasy-2021.pdf 'The financial resilience and financial well-being of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic' — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2021008-eng.htm

The world is a highly competitive place, and becoming successful requires hard work, dedication, and luck. This is the view of today's guest, Professor Robert Frank, who helps us unravel the nuance of conspicuous consumption trends and the role of luck in gaining financial success. Professor Frank is the emeritus Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management at Cornell University and holds an MA in statistics and a Ph.D. in Economics from UC Berkeley. He is also a prolific author, having written 12 books, financial textbooks, and many peer-reviewed articles in journals such as the American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Journal of Political Economy. He is passionate about how policy can help drive positive consumer behaviour, reduce inequality, and increase individual happiness. His work has also focused on the role of luck in achieving financial success which he covers in his book Success and Luck. In this episode, we unpack how individuals can improve societal collective action, the role of policy in driving those changes, and how luck interplays with success. We discuss economic and financial relativism, the dangers of conspicuous consumption, how expenditure cascades occur, and what influences consumption trends in society. We also dive into the topic of luck, whether wealthy people are happier, what behavioural changes are needed to create a better society, and more. Key Points From This Episode: Professor Frank describes the difference between departures from rational choice with regret and without regret. (0:04:34) Whether he classifies his work as behavioural economics. (0:07:38) An explanation of economic and financial relativism. (0:10:50) The role of economic and financial relativism in consumption trends. (0:12:44) Find out what constitutes a positional good. (0:16:56) How the consumption of positional goods affects psychological well-being. (0:19:32) Why people choose to engage in consumption arms races. (0:21:52) The relationship between the consumption of luxury goods and happiness. (0:24:45) What people can do to recognize and avoid negative consumption behaviours. (0:26:31) How the spending of the super-rich impacts the spending habits of the typical consumer. (0:27:38) Ways in which social media influencers have affected consumption. (0:30:32) We learn about the link between consumption and inequality. (0:32:40) How well differences in human capital explain differences in income. (0:35:04) Professor Frank explains how likely it is that the most skilled person gets the best outcome in a competitive market. (0:38:13) Professor Frank shares how they measure luck. (0:41:20) The influence luck has on achieving a successful outcome. (0:42:09) Find out if luck influences consumption trends and inequality. (0:44:03) A thought experiment concerning the wealthy and higher taxes. (0:46:56) We discuss whether winner-take-all markets are a good thing for society. (0:50:22) How people should behave differently to help drive positive change. (0:53:06) Advice for people to stay motivated and work hard. (0:57:19) What Professor Frank thinks about working a job you hate for more money. (0:58:59) He provides insight for people who work jobs they hate. (0:59:59) His approach on the subject of luck and meritocracy with young kids. (1:00:47) We discuss the idolization of financially successful people. (1:03:36) How successful individuals should behave differently in an economy where luck plays such an important role. (1:05:38) The response of successful people to Success and Luck. (1:08:15) Steps people can take to positively affect those around them. (1:09:29) Discover what Professor Frank's position is on policy. (1:14:20) We hear how Professor Frank defines success in his life. (1:18:33) Links From Today's Episode: Professsor Robert Frank on Twitter — https://twitter.com/econnaturalist Cornell University — https://www.cornell.edu/ Success and Luck — https://www.amazon.com/Success-Luck-Good-Fortune/ Luxury Fever — https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Fever/ Principles of Economics — https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Economics/ The Winner-Take-All Society — https://www.amazon.com/Winner-Take-All-Society/ American Economic Review — https://www.aeaweb.org/journals/aer Econometrica — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14680262 Journal of Political Economy — https://www.jstor.org/journal/jpoliecon Project Sunroof — https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/ Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/?hl=en Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/cameron-passmor

Traditionally, people saving for retirement and financial advisors relied on the 4% rule when calculating how much to save for retirement and the associated income those savings would provide after retirement. What if you found out it does not work? Is there another option? Today, we offer you an alternative approach, which is the 2% rule for retirement spending. Before we delve into today's main topic, we update listeners on the recent London meet-up, what to expect on upcoming shows, and who our special guest is to kick off the first episode of 2023. Then, we discuss today's main topic and learn what the 2% rule is, how it compares to the 4% rule, and whether the safe percentage for retirement is actually higher. We unpack retirement spending through the lens of several empirical papers, historical data, and market comparisons. We also find out why the US market has always been able to bounce back from uncertainty and whether there is empirical data to support the 4% rule. We also talk about the many financial challenges and opportunities that young people face, the biggest mistake people make regarding retirement, the value of financial literacy, book reviews, and more! Key Points From This Episode: An update on the 22 in 22 Reading Challenge. (0:05:21) Outline of today's content and the main topic: the 2% rule for retirement spending. (0:06:27) An overview of the "2% rule", the motivation behind it, and how it was formulated. (0:08:17) We discuss if the safe withdrawal rate for retirement savings is higher than 4%. (0:13:31) The inspiration for the higher average realized rate of return on investment theory. (0:19:59) Whether the past returns on US stocks will repeat in the future. (0:21:54) Why the US stock market has been historically exceptional and resilient, and how other markets compare. (0:23:44) The biggest limitation of the seminal work which helped established the 4% rule. (0:28:38) How data gaps were dealt with in the paper by Scott Rieckens and results are discussed. (0:33:16) Other aspects to consider regarding the research on retirement funds. (0:38:35) The challenges and opportunities that young people face today. (0:42:24) How financial literacy impacts investment opportunities, returns, and overall happiness. (0:46:59) What are the potential solutions and reasons to be optimistic regarding the current financial market. (0:47:48) Our usual episode review under a minute: episode 30 with Larry Swedroe. (0:52:31) This week's book review and choice architecture. (0:54:35) We discuss the reviews and feedback received on a previous episode. (1:02:32) Hear an update about our idea regarding CE credits and reviews about the show. (1:06:01) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-229-the-2-rule-for-retirement-spending-discussion-thread/20473 Book From Today's Episode: The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters — https://amzn.to/3VvxZR8 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore 'Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data' — https://retailinvestor.org/pdf/Bengen1.pdf 'Retirement Savings: Choosing a Withdrawal Rate That Is Sustainable' — https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carl-Hubbard/publication/265279441/ 'Global stock markets in the twentieth century' — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ 'Is The United States A Lucky Survivor: A Hierarchical Bayesian Approach' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3689958 'The Safe Withdrawal Rate' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4227132 'The equity premium: A puzzle' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304393285900613 'Long-Horizon Losses in Stocks, Bonds, and Bills' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3964908 'Financial System Review 2022' — https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2022/06/financial-system-review-2022/#:~:text=The%20tightening%20of%20monetary%20policy,remain%20two%20key%20interconnected%20vulnerabilities. 'The financial resilience and financial well-being of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic' — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2021008-eng.htm 'Hopefulness is declining across Canada' — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220517/dq220517d-eng.htm 'Global Investor Experience Study: Fees and Expenses' — https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt4eb669caa7dc65b2/blt60e320775385837a/62431900eed9f60f2de8ad55/GIE_2022.pdf 'Financial Literacy Around the World' — https://gflec.org/wp-co

In this episode, we are joined by the CIO of Avantis Investors, Eduardo Repetto, to have an in-depth conversation about his philosophy and approach to many of the central concepts that are important to our listeners. Eduardo weighs in on asset pricing factor investing, premiums, and also shares some of his perspectives on what makes Avantis different from its competitors. Eduardo's wealth of experience and technical know-how make this very practical exploration, complete with some inventive and demonstrative analogies. Despite the high-level concepts discussed, our guest's ability to communicate these in an accessible manner also helped maintain a level of approachability throughout. Toward the end of the episode, we get to hear a little about Eduardo's Ph.D. in aeronautics and some of the surprising overlaps he sees between his two fields of interest. Key Points From This Episode: Eduardo's approach to communicating what Avantis can offer their clients. (0:02:57) Advantages of the ETF structure for managing portfolios. (0:05:07) Advice for investors for quantitatively assessing the expected return advantage of a factor-tilted portfolio. (0:10:26) Practical approaches for individual investors when assessing a factor tilt in portfolios. (0:13:54) Eduardo unpacks the idea of trust in relation to the premium. (0:20:45) When does a completely small-cap value portfolio make sense? (0:27:23) Avantis' method for targeting value and profitability. (0:31:03) The weighting of different metrics that Avantis uses when building portfolios. (0:34:43) Eduardo unpacks cash profitability versus operating profitability. (0:36:53) The approach at Avantis to sector weights. (0:39:56) Understanding adjusted book value when pricing a company. (0:43:53) Eduardo describes the premium for the Goodwill adjustment. (0:50:02) How Avantis views pursuing credit premium in fixed income investments. (0:51:32) Determining the size of factors tilts on particular products. (0:57:05) Reasons that there are no emerging market small cap value strategies. (0:59:48) Comparing the research behind inflation-focused equity strategy to a more general value profitability premium. (1:06:03) Avantis' strategy for staying on the cutting edge of the latest research. (1:10:34) Conversations between Avantis and American Century Investments about different investment philosophies. (1:18:22) Eduardo shares his opinion about Avantis' competitive advantage. (1:19:56) Where Avantis and Eduardo are aiming their energy in the near future, and the succession plan for the company. (1:23:11) Some surprising similarities between aeronautics and asset management. (1:27:21) Eduardo talks about his personal definition of success. (1:31:31) Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Eduardo Repetto — https://www.avantisinvestors.com/content/avantis/en/about-us/our-team/eduardo-repetto.html Avantis Investors — https://www.avantisinvestors.com/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/?hl=en Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/cameron-passmore/ Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/

In today's episode, we pull relevant quotes from past guests (namely John Cochrane, Gene Fama, and Jonathan Berk) to extricate who should own market cap funds. We look at the variable risks of value stocks and factor investing and hear counter-views on owning the market. We also delve into the hot topic of tax loss selling, with an overview of a recent Financial Analyst Journal paper on loss harvesting outcomes, sorted by investor profiles. This episode will get you up to date on the biggest finance news of the week, from crypto collapses to Amazon's catapulting gains and losses. Tune in to hear all of this and more, including a recap of our conversation with Dave Goetsch and our Financial Literacy Month book reviews. Key Points From This Episode: A neat way to keep track of the value of your purchases over time. (0:00:33) The results of the Rational Reminder financial literacy survey. (0:02:44) An overview of this episode's topics. (0:05:45) Who should invest in market cap-weighted index funds. (0:07:28) How to determine whether you're different from the average investor. (0:16:13) Gene Fama's take on the possibility of identifying state factors. (0:22:13) The variable risks of value stocks. (0:23:25) What drives people to increase their value tilts over time. (0:25:11) The risks of factor investing, and trading in general. (0:28:26) Jonathan Berk's take on owning the market. (0:31:53) A summary of who should invest in total market index funds. (0:33:20) The big crypto news of the week! (0:38:21) Other significant market news. (0:42:17) An overview of a recent Financial Analyst Journal paper on loss harvesting outcomes, sorted by investor profiles. (0:44:59) Our book reviews for Financial Literacy Month. (0:55:15) A recap of our conversation with Dave Goetsch. (1:01:47) A few of our listeners' reviews. (1:02:50) Participate in our RR CE Credits Survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xVA-B3TS3UeuUte5Yx-hRi0Vpj3fzvhNpOTm6eRMYJ5UN0tOM1A5MFdPQzJFT1hZOTJLN1pHRVFYSS4u Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-227-who-should-invest-in-cap-weighted-index-funds-discussion-thread/20230 Books From Today's Episode: The Geometry of Wealth: How to shape a life of money and meaning — https://amzn.to/3Od9J3N Retirement Income for Life: Getting More without Saving More — https://amzn.to/3GpkHRN We're Talking Millions!: 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement — https://amzn.to/3UI3uaE Common Sense on Mutual Funds — https://amzn.to/3AjUsIM The Investment Answer: Learn to Manage Your Money and Protect Your Financial Future — https://amzn.to/3UWeSPM Money Like You Mean It: Personal Finance Tactics for the Real World — https://amzn.to/3g9bT7Q Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore 'An Intertemporal Capital Asset Pricing Model' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/1913811 'Risk and Return of Value Stocks' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=112553 'The Value Premium' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=351060 'A Consumption-Based Explanation of Expected Stock Returns' — https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1146&context=fnce_papers 'Who Are the Value and Growth Investors?' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2426823 'Is There a Replication Crisis in Finance?' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3774514 'Amazon Becomes World's First Public Company to Lose $1 Trillion in Market Value' — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/amazon-hits-unwelcome-milestone-with-1-trillion-in-value-lost?leadSource=uverify%20wall

In this episode, we speak to renowned Canadian figure Colonel Chris Hadfield. For those who don't know, Chris is a heavily decorated astronaut, engineer, and pilot, and has received many awards, such as the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. Colonel Hadfield became a worldwide sensation with his video of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" which was viewed by over 75 million people. He aims to make space more accessible and continues to share the wonders of outer space and science with as many people as possible. Besides his phenomenal professional background, he is also known for his music which he writes and plays on earth and in space! He is also the author of several books, namely An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, You Are Here, and a children's book, The Darkest Dark. Although Colonel Hadfield has a very different background from previous guests, his 35-year career has afforded him many lessons that apply to life, which he shares in our conversation with him. We learn the importance of goals and why reaching your goals should not define your happiness. Hear ways to overcome fear when facing uncertainty, the value of competence, and why enjoying the road to success is more important than success itself. Find out why sweating the small is essential to success, whether Colonel Hadfield suffers from imposter syndrome, and where true happiness comes from. Tune in and discover the secret to success and happiness in this one-of-a-kind conversation with special guest, Colonel Chris Hadfield! Key Points From This Episode: What motivated Commander Hadfield to take pictures onboard the International Space Station. (0:04:10) He briefly explains the amount of effort that went into taking pictures for his book You Are Here. (0:05:14) What lessons Commander Hadfield learned as an astronaut that he applies to life. (0:06:34) How to keep motivated to achieve your goals with the knowledge that you probably won't achieve them. (0:08:41) Why his goal was becoming an astronaut and not to be an astronaut. (0:11:05) Whether there is a time to reconsider or quit a goal that you have set for yourself. (0:12:46) The best way to prepare for situations with uncertain outcomes. (0:14:51) How to prepare for situations that you cannot prepare or practice for. (0:18:18) Ways to mitigate fear when dealing with risk and uncertainty. (0:20:55) Learn if building competence is different for different people. (0:23:48) Hear the benefits of negative thinking and sweating the small stuff. (0:25:33) Commander Hadfield explains how to prepare for novel situations. (0:29:07) He shares where he thinks life satisfaction comes from. (0:31:49) Find out if Commander Hadfield ever suffers from imposter syndrome. (0:34:14) What life lessons he hopes to impart to his grandchildren. (0:36:09) How Commander Hadfield defines success in his life. (0:38:04) We highlight the main takeaways from our conversation with Commander Hadfield. (0:41:14) Links From Today's Episode: Commander Chris Hadfield — https://chrishadfield.ca/ Commander Chris Hadfield on Twitter — https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/ Commander Chris Hadfield on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/colchrishadfield/ Commander Chris Hadfield on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield Commander Chris Hadfield on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hadfield/ Commander Chris Hadfield on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisHadfieldAstronaut/featured A Space Oddity — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo You Are Here — https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Here-Photographs-International/dp/0316379646 An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth — https://www.amazon.com/Astronauts-Guide-Life-Earth-Determination/ The Darkest Dark — https://www.amazon.com/The-Darkest-Dark/

Are index funds a menace to the market? Are pension funds still a wise way to secure your financial future? In this episode, we discuss index funds, the state-sponsored pension plan in Canada, and much more. First, we unpack the nuances of index funds and take a look at the impact that active and passive investors have on the market. We discuss current index fund trends, when to switch from a passive to an active investor, and the dreaded index fund tipping point. To help us understand pension funds, we also chat with Jordan Tarasoff, a financial planner at PWL Capital, about the recent controversy regarding state pension schemes in Canada, and he provides us with some valuable insights into the government's upcoming plan. We switch up our usual book review to celebrate Financial Literacy Month and share five recommended books that will help you improve your understanding of finance. We also try something new by giving listeners a condensed overview of a previous episode with one of our favourite guests, Scott Rieckens. Finally, we go through some of the feedback and comments we've received from the growing Rational Reminder community about the show and our recent financial goals survey. Key Points From This Episode: What to look forward to in next week's episode. (0:05:08) Hear about a special promotion to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. (0:05:43) Introducing today's topic and what to expect in the episode. (0:05:56) Worries and biggest critiques of index funds. (0:08:23) Current trends regarding index funds in relation to the market. (0:09:40) When investors should switch from passive to active. (0:12:45) Some good news about the index fund tipping point. (0:15:46) What investors should be aware of when actively investing. (0:16:32) How informed and misinformed managers contribute to the index fund tipping point. (0:19:38) Who the investors and managers are that change to passive investment. (0:20:52) How switching from active to passive investing affects the value of the market. (0:25:38) Unpacking the concept of markets being 'inelastic' as a result of index funds. (0:28:52) Whether passive investing undermines price efficiency concerning index funds. (0:30:03) What would cause the index tipping point to occur. (0:31:40) A brief background on today's guest, Jordan Tarasoff. (0:35:00) Details about the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and how it works. (0:35:28) Jordan outlines the benefits of deferring a pension plan claim. (0:36:28) Recent changes that make deferring your pension plan non-beneficial. (0:38:20) What age group the recent pension plan changes impact the most. (0:42:14) Why the Consumer Price Index (CPI) can't be used to predict wage growth. (0:43:53) How Jordan is approaching his clients' pensions regarding the new changes. (0:45:10) Review of our top five books for increasing financial literacy. (0:48:57) Our new segment: summarizing a past episode in sixty seconds. (0:56:57) We 'talk cents' about financial values and spending. (0:58:49) Recent reviews and feedback received about the podcast and goals survey. (1:02:40) Links From Today's Episode: Jordan Tarasoff — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/jordan-tarasoff/ Scott Rieckens — http://www.scottrieckens.com/ Efficient Frontier — http://efficientfrontier.com/ef/0adhoc/2books.htm Episode 95: Scott Rieckens (Playing with FIRE): Finding Financial Education, Perspective, and Freedom — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/95 Episode 99: Andrew Hallam (Millionaire Teacher): How to be Wealthy (and Happy) — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/99 Episode 108: Dr. William Bernstein: Praying for a Bear Market — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/108 Episode 128: Morgan Housel: The Psychology of Money — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/128 Episode 159: Bill Schultheis: Build Wealth and Get on With Your Life — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/159 Episode 186: Andrew Hallam: Balancing Money, Relationships, Health, and Purpose — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/186 Episode 191: Emerging Markets: Diversifying Asset or a Reverse Lottery? (plus Reading Habits w/ Morgan Housel) — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/191 Episode 212: Prof. Ralph Koijen: Demand System Asset Pricing & Inelastic Markets — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/212 Episode 124: Prof. Lubos Pastor: Equilibrium Models vs. Intuition — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/124 Episode 220: Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen: The Arithmetic of Active Management, Revisited — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/220 'On the Size of the Active Management Industry' — https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/667987 'Disagreement, tastes, and asset prices' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X06001954 'Measuring skill in the mutual fund industry' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X15000628 'Which Investors Matter for Equity Valuations and Expected Returns?' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3378340 Balance: How

Are stocks and bonds good in the long game? What are the best long-term investment options? In this episode, we speak to Professor Scott Cederburg about the nuance surrounding the stock market, bonds, and other investment types in the long term. He has a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Iowa and is currently the Associate Professor of Finance at Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on the long-horizon performance of a range of asset classes and investment types and has published in high-ranking academic journals, making him the perfect person to speak to about the subject. We discuss the topic through the lens of several papers he has written on stocks, bonds, retirement savings, and return predictability. In our conversation, we unravel the nuance of the returns on long-term stocks and bonds, hear details about his research design, and learn how unanticipated events can affect the market. He also provides insight into the different biases surrounding long-term investments, the block bootstrap approach, reasons why the block bootstrap approach is needed, and why bonds and bills may not be the long-term investment you were hoping for. We also discuss the best options for investors regarding pre-tax and post-tax accounts and the differences between high-beta and low-beta portfolios. He also shares some basic steps for investors to help them protect their investments. Join us as we dig into the past to uncover the financial future with Professor Scott Cederburg. Key Points From This Episode: We begin with Professor Cederburg describing his research design for his work investigating long-term returns on stocks and bonds. (0:04:20) Hear examples of how unanticipated events lead to impacts on stocks and bonds. (0:08:08) What the overall trend in the data was from his research on stocks and bonds. (0:11:05) Why considering different biases is essential for financial decision-making. (0:11:45) How the historical experience in the US stock and bond markets compare to other developed markets. (0:12:45) Details about the data he collected regarding domestic stocks and investors. (0:13:55) Learn how probable it is that domestic stocks will deliver losses in the long term. (0:16:41) Outline of the factors which tend to cause long-term stock losses. (0:17:36) What potential losses are in the long-term for international stocks. (0:18:58) How likely stocks will deliver catastrophic losses as opposed to traditional forms of loss. (0:22:15) Find out how much the probability of loss decreases with longer horizons. (0:23:59) The contribution of currency and domestic inflation to the trends in the data. (0:24:52) We compare how well international stocks hedge against long-term real losses in domestic stocks. (0:25:25) He shares how he thinks investors should approach the home country bias. (0:26:34) A rundown of the expropriations that exist in Professor Cederburg's data. (0:27:34) We talk about long-term stocks and their implications on asset allocations. (0:28:48) How wide the distribution of long-run stock payoffs are. (0:29:28) Discover how likely bonds and bills are to real losses over a long period. (0:30:16) Breakdown of what the distribution looks like for bond returns. (0:31:52) Whether bonds act as a hedge against poor stock returns. (0:33:24) Common economic conditions that explain the poor long-term returns for stocks and bonds. (0:34:58) Ways in which the results can be used to make predictions for the economic future. (0:38:36) Professor Cederburg tells us if stocks are safe or risky in the long term. (0:40:23) He unpacks mean reversion in the full-time series compared to the block bootstrap approach. (0:41:27) Why emerging markets were not considered in the study. (0:43:55) Advice for investors given the findings of his study. (0:45:00) We discuss the applicability of the findings within a contemporary market setting. (0:47:04) Which variables need to be considered when deciding between a pre-tax or post-tax savings account. (0:49:19) Factors that make a pre-tax and post-tax account valuable. (0:50:41) Hear the investment type most exposed to future tax schedule uncertainty. (0:54:50) Whether using a post-tax account can build resilience to tax uncertainty. (0:56:29) Simple rules for listeners to help them optimize the location of their savings. (0:59:08) How the simple rules compare to the optimization analysis performed for the research paper. (1:01:40) Risk-adjusted performance for high beta and low beta portfolios. (1:03:02) We learn what the implications are for someone investing in low-beta assets. (1:05:58) Professor Cederburg shares his definition of success. (1:09:17) Links From Today's Episode: Global Financial Data — https://globalfinancialdata.com/ 'Stocks for the long run? Evidence from a broad sample of developed markets' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ 'Tax Uncertainty and Retirement Savings Diversification' — https://www.sciencedire

We recently created and conducted a very interesting survey based on financial goals, and today, we get to share some of the data we collected and the answers that were given to the questions. Although there are some definite limitations to our expertise as surveyors and data collectors, the findings are most definitely illuminating, surprising, and useful. Listeners will get to hear a bit about the process of building the survey as well as some of the raw numbers and data before we get into the list of goals that were submitted, collated, and ranked. We also share some of the ways that these were split across demographics such as age and gender. Apart from this focus on the survey, we share some thoughts on Eat the Rich, Coin, and The Next Millionaire Next Door, and finish off the show with some very impactful letters from listeners that we have received recently. Key Points From This Episode: Thoughts on the new Netflix show, Eat the Rich, and the story of GameStop. (0:01:58) What to expect on the podcast in November during Canadian Financial Literacy Month. (0:05:17) Reflections on the new film, Coin, and the founding of Coinbase. (0:08:08) Introducing the results from our recent survey on goals. (0:11:23) The process of building the survey and the questions we included. (0:18:22) A look over the basic data of the survey. (0:22:27) Popular objectives from the survey and how these were split across different demographics. (0:23:17) The answers that were given in relation to each specific question. (0:28:02) Developing best practices for goal setting for an advisor environment. (0:30:17) Limitations to our expertise in designing this survey and analyzing the data. (0:32:43) Running through the complete list of goals in order. (0:34:29) Introducing this week's book discussion on The Next Millionaire Next Door. (0:39:46) Standout findings from the research that was conducted for the book. (0:44:00) Utilization of an 'expected net worth test' in the book. (0:49:50) A look at some of the listener messages we have received lately. (0:52:29) Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/episode-223-a-financial-goals-master-list-n-310-discussion-thread/19742 Books From Today's Episode: The Next Millionaire Next Door — https://www.amazon.com/Next-Millionaire-Door-Enduring-Strategies/dp/1493035355 Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Financial Goals Summary - https://www.pwlcapital.com/resources/goals-survey-summary/ 'Generating Objectives' — https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/707941 Tom McHugh YouTube Video — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbaAkJHvCIw 'Generating Objectives' — https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/707941 Tom McHugh YouTube Video —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbaAkJHvCIw

There is more and more research on the determinants and results of happiness in human life, and on the show today we get to do an amazing deep dive on this subject with social psychologist, and author of Happier Hour, Cassie Holmes. Cassie is currently running a course at UCLA Anderson School of Management called 'Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design', and her book draws directly from the content of this course. In our chat, Cassie shares some definitive data on what actually influences our happiness in significant ways, how to invest and allocate your available time, approaches to offsetting hedonic adaptation, and the vital importance of relationships and exercise. Our guest also talks about popular misconceptions and cultural perceptions about success, and why assessing your values and purpose can make achieving more happiness much more realistic. It is here that we find Cassie's main thesis; that through reflection and tracking we can determine more accurately how to use our time in the different parts of our lives and increase our day-to-day happiness, so make sure to join us for this episode of the Rational Reminder. Key Points From This Episode: The science behind the important benefits of happiness. (0:02:17) Current research into the measurement of happiness. (0:04:27) Cassie talks about the roots of the course she teaches on happiness. (0:07:02) Misconceptions about what makes us happy and the lasting power of notions of success. (0:10:25) The cultural roots of our perceptions of happiness. (0:14:58) Determinants of happiness; Cassie shares the biggest factors in our emotional landscape. (0:20:16) Working towards a goal, time tracking, and entering flow states. (0:25:28) Happiness as a decision and as a disposition; how much control do we have? (0:30:26) How comparison undermines and robs us of happiness. (0:37:01) Cassie unpacks how to understand the role of relationships in our lives. (0:38:30) A story from Cassie illustrating the links between discretionary time and happiness. (0:43:35) Amounts of discretionary time to allocate to yourself each day. (0:49:39) The worst ways to use time and the activities that enhance feelings of loneliness. (0:52:02) Cassie's advice on how to avoid time poverty and what to refuse. (0:55:53) The dangers of an over-emphasis on productivity and urgency. (0:58:21) Aligning your values and purpose in the professional sphere of your life. (1:01:38) How the remote landscape and work-from-home model has impacted happiness. (1:03:03) Going over the exercises and assignments that Cassie finds to be most impactful for her students. (1:06:36) Cassie's definition of success and its relation to her clearly defined purpose. (1:11:33)

Of course, you want to protect your family and your savings from unforeseen consequences, but is life insurance the best option? Can life insurance be an investment rather than a cost? In today's episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast, we take a look at everything life insurance and dig into some hard-hitting research on the subject. We break down the various insurance products available and unravel the nuances regarding returns, dividends, and the associated fees. We discuss why there is so much confusion regarding returns and associated risk, how your contribution can affect your returns, and why you may not get the payout you expected. We also delve into what makes each insurance product different from the next, whether predictions on insurance policy returns are possible, and how insurance compares to other asset classes. If you're looking for insight into the potential tax benefits of life insurance and a breakdown of the different scenarios where life insurance is needed, this is the episode for you! Key Points From This Episode: The main topic of the episode: permanent life insurance. (0:04:29) Defining insurance and how it is typically structured. (0:04:44) 'Term life insurance' and how it works. (0:05:41) A brief outline of the differences between term insurance and permanent insurance. (0:07:37) Details about term life insurance and the benefits to the policyholder. (0:09:37) Another type of life insurance: universal life insurance. (0:11:05) How investments within a life insurance policy are designed. (0:13:20) An interesting insight Ben came across while researching insurance. (0:14:38) Non-participating whole life insurance and the associated cash value. (0:16:00) A breakdown of participating life insurance and what makes it different. (0:18:42) The basis for performance and premiums on participating insurance. (0:21:43) Whether or not it's possible to predict returns from insurance products. (0:25:25) Reasons for the obscurity surrounding insurance products and expected returns. (0:25:49) The policy illustration software that many insurance companies use. (0:29:35) Insight into post-tax returns of permanent insurance on death. (0:35:23) An overview of when you would need life insurance. (0:40:58) The long-term expected death benefits compared to other assets. (0:43:03) Insight into the commission incentive associated with insurance policies. (0:45:47) Highlights of a recent presentation that Ben gave at an IAFP conference. (0:46:53) Feedback received about the Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen episode. (0:49:01) A summary of recent news about rate changes and developments at Vanguard. (0:56:23) This week's review of The Art of Gathering, about meeting more effectively. (01:00:55) An honourable mention of another book, Your Investment Philosophy. (1:06:22)

Do you feel like you have a good grasp of financial markets? Think again! In this episode, we take a plunge into the world of financial markets with experts Jules van Binsbergen and Jonathan Berk. Jules is a Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Jonathan is a Professor of Finance at Stanford Graduate School of Business. They also host a popular podcast called Else Equal, which explores the science and strategy of making better financial decisions, and have written several academic papers that challenge the status quo. In our conversation, we discuss their research on the relationship between manager skill and fund performance, the best ways to measure performance, and reasons why benefits are in favour of the managers. We also explore the dogma surrounding mutual funds, the differences between active and passive management, and how to measure efficient capital markets. Listeners will also hear perspectives that challenge their understanding of capital markets and viewpoints that completely disagree with previous guests. Although we have covered this topic before in previous episodes, this conversation will fundamentally change the way you view financial markets and how to think about them. Key Points From This Episode: What information fund performance contains about manager skill. (0:04:04) Reasons why manager skill and performance are unrelated. (0:04:59) We learn how manager skills should be measured. (0:06:57) How to choose the appropriate benchmark to measure value added. (0:09:26) Find out if you can use factor-mimicking portfolios to measure risk-adjusted returns. (0:12:05) Whether funds that directly target risk factors can be used as an investable benchmark. (0:16:35) What the skill of active managers are when skill is measured as value-added. (0:20:52) The proportion of value-added between security selection and market timing. (0:23:20) Discussion about how persistence manifests when it is measured by value-added. (0:25:43) Find out if investors should analyze mutual fund companies as opposed to managers. (0:32:36) Discover why research has focused on individual security pricing and not on evaluating manager skill. (0:34:25) We unpack the reasons why it's a zero net alpha as opposed to a negative net alpha in equilibrium. (0:38:19) We delve into why the research took so long to apply rational expectations to fund investors as with the stock market. (0:42:46) An explanation of how equilibrium zero net alpha fits into Bill Sharpe's arithmetic of active management. (0:48:16) Who benefits from the high amount of skill available within the sector. (0:51:11) Whether the increase in millionaires around the world drives inequality. (0:56:12) Hear if it is possible to identify skilled fund managers before the benefits of their skills are absorbed by fund size. (01:01:41) The implications on efficient market hypothesis for the stock market. (01:05:36) Advice for investors, considering that the benefits of skill are in favour of managers. (01:08:37) Details about their research on how multi-factor asset pricing models are not representative of risk. (01:12:45) We end the show by learning how our guests define success in their lives. (01:19:08) Links From Today's Episode: Jules van Binsbergen — https://sites.google.com/view/jules-van-binsbergen/ Jules van Binsbergen on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-van-binsbergen-a7b21a2/ Jules van Binsbergen on Google Scholar — https://scholar.google.com/citations/ Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/ Jonathan Berk — https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/jonathan-b-berk Jonathan Berk on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-berk-07874a3b/ Jonathan Berk on Google Scholar — https://scholar.google.com/citations/ Stanford Graduate School of Business — https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ Else Equal: Making Better Decisions — https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/all-else-equal-making-better-decisions Passive in Name Only — https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage/ The Emperor of All Maladies — https://www.amazon.com/Emperor-All-Maladies-Biography-Cancer/dp/1439170916 Unsettled — https://www.amazon.com/Unsettled-Climate-Science-Doesnt-Matters/dp/1950665798 'Episode 200 with Prof. Eugene Fama' — https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yYXRpb25hbHJlbWluZGVyLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz/episode/MzA2MjM2OTctOTc5Yy00MDU4LWE3YzMtYTdmMGU4NGQ0Y2Jj?sa=X&ved=0CAIQuIEEahgKEwjI27ng_rH6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQsQQ Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/?hl=en Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.l

Critics of blockchain often say that it is nothing more than a database, but today's guest, Ari Juels, has a different opinion. His technical expertise (he is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell Tech), combined with his ability to understand both sides of a divisive topic like this one, make for a very insightful conversation about Bitcoin, NFTs, and smart contracts. We talk about the reasons for the valid skepticism that surrounds blockchain technology, the various reasons that Ari believes that it is a powerful, useful tool, despite its downfalls, pyramid schemes, decentralized exchanges and more! Key Points From This Episode: The significance of the Bitcoin innovation to Ari's field of study. (0:03:40) What piqued Ari's initial interest in digital currency. (0:04:46) Ari explains the difference between permission and permissionless blockchains. (0:06:27) Comparing a permission blockchain with a distributed-append-only database with authorized contributors. (0:08:34) A number of reasons why permissionless blockchains have been so widely embraced (despite Ari's initial prediction to the contrary). (0:12:24) Fraud in the cryptocurrency space; Ari shares his thoughts. (0:14:28) The benefits of the cultural phenomenon of NFTs. (0:19:25) Examples of NFT-related issues that still need to be addressed. (0:26:04) How smart contracts can be used by criminals to their advantage. (0:30:09) Why smart contracts are well suited for compliance. (0:32:02) An example of a smart contract pyramid scheme. (0:35:48) Some of the pros and cons of the inflexibility of smart contracts. (0:41:09) What flash loans are and what they can be used for. (0:46:11) Understanding the value of oracle systems. (0:50:04) How the Candid system that Ari's group developed helps to mitigate the problem of lost Bitcoin keys. (0:57:04) Ari explains the advantages and disadvantages of a decentralized exchange. (01:01:19) How the blockchain has improved code writing. (01:07:57) The importance of balancing privacy and accountability in DeFi systems. (01:09:38) Ari's thoughts about the future potential of blockchain technology. (01:14:03) The biggest concerns that Ari has about the blockchain space. (01:15:24) Why skepticism about blockchain technology is valid. (01:17:31) The facet of the blockchain space that Ari is most excited about. (01:19:51) Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Ari Juels on Twitter — https://twitter.com/AriJuels Ari Juels — https://www.arijuels.com/ The Ring of Gyges: Using Smart Contracts for Crime — http://www.arijuels.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Gyges.pdf NFTs for Art and Collectables: Primer and Outlook — https://www.arijuels.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NFTs__Primer_and_Outlook.pdf 'Huge mess of theft and fraud:' artists sound alarm as NFT crime proliferates — https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/jan/29/huge-mess-of-theft-artists-sound-alarm-theft-nfts-proliferates Incomplete Contracts and Control — https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/06/hart-lecture.pdf Chainlink 2.0: Next Steps in the Evolution of Decentralized Oracle Networks — https://research.chain.link/whitepaper-v2.pdf?_ga=2.99068702.124468793.1661870135-1990502175.1661870135 Flash Boys 2.0: Frontrunning, Transaction Reordering, and Consensus Instability in Decentralized Exchanges — https://arxiv.org/pdf/1904.05234.pdf Themis: Fast, Strong Order-Fairness in Byzantine Consensus — https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/1465.pdf Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency: The Energy Impacts of Blockchains — https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Witness%20Testimony_Juels_OI_2022.01.20.pdf The Seven Grand Challenges — https://www.initc3.org/projects.html

The type of assets which usually come to mind when considering investments are stocks, bonds, or cash, but what are the alternatives? And what kind of returns do alternative asset classes offer? In today's episode, we delve into the returns which can be expected from alternative asset classes such as private equity, venture capital, angel investing, private credit, hedge funds, direct real estate, and cryptocurrencies. Hear an in-depth analysis based on empirical studies and the expertise of your hosts, Ben and Cameron, to discover whether there is any merit to alternative asset classes as investments. We unpack the extra layer of complexity associated with predicting returns on alternative assets, how to approach calculating returns, and why the associated fees are an essential consideration. We also hear details about an interesting conference Cameron recently attended and briefly recap cryptocurrencies as an investment. You'll also hear our conversation with our 22 in 22 reading challenge guest David Senra about his reading habits, the books that most inspire him, and his advice for people who want to read more. Key Points From This Episode: Outline of today's main topic: expected returns for alternative asset classes. (0:01:51) Why predicting returns of alternative asset classes has an extra layer of complexity. (0:03:18) How to approach estimating the returns of private equity, specifically buyouts. (0:05:04) We unpack historical data regarding the returns of private equity. (0:07:35) Calculating the returns on venture capital and reasons to be cautious about it as an asset class. (0:16:35) The distribution of returns from venture capital based on the market numbers. (0:20:09) Learn what angel investing is and its associated returns. (0:20:54) What returns on angel investing are most dependent on and why. (0:22:21) The different types and the associated returns. (0:25:23) Hear about the fees associated with private credit. (0:27:42) We unravel the concept of hedge funds, the associated fees, and expected returns. (0:29:29) A limiting factor on hedge funds: capacity constraints. (0:33:38) The takeaway regarding private real estate investments. (0:36:25) How private real estate is valued as an asset class. (0:37:48) Cryptocurrencies and the returns to be expected. (0:39:34) We discuss some of the key takeaways from today's main topic. (0:43:30) We follow up on a previous topic we covered: financial literacy. (0:45:10) Find out about an interesting conference that Cameron recently attended. (0:48:46) Hear about the recent reviews we have received about the podcast. (0:57:58) We introduce our 22 and 22 reading challenge guest, David Senra. (01:00:15) Where David's passion for reading about founders originates from. (01:02:25) David shares details about his reading habits. (01:05:57) His approach to finding founders that he wants to read about. (01:08:49) David's approach to note taking while reading a book. (01:11:07) We learn about the stories that have impacted David the most. (01:13:53) He explains the benefits of reading a book for a second time. (01:17:11) Books about founders that he thinks everyone should read. (01:19:20) David's observation of the role of luck in a founder's success story. (01:23:19) Advice he has for people who want to read more. (01:29:33) Links From Today's Episode: AQR Capital Management — https://www.aqr.com/ BlackRock Asset Management — https://www.blackrock.com Bank of America — https://www.bankofamerica.com/ 'The risk and return of venture capital' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304405X04001564 'Performance of Private Credit Funds: A First Look' — https://jai.pm-research.com/content/21/2/31.short 'Do Hedge Funds Hedge?' — https://jpm.pm-research.com/content/28/1/6.short 'The Performance of Hedge Fund Performance Fees' — https://www.nber.org/papers/w27454 'Higher risk, lower returns: What hedge fund investors really earn' — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304405X1100016X 'Another Look at Private Real Estate Returns by Strategy' — https://jpm.pm-research.com/content/45/7/95/tab-pdf-trialist 'The Characteristics and Portfolio Behavior of Bitcoin Investors: Evidence from Indirect Cryptocurrency Investments' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3501549 'Beliefs and the Disposition Effect' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3516567 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy: The Power of Personal Experiences in Risk Taking' — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2506627 S&P Global FinLit Survey — https://gflec.org/initiatives/sp-global-finlit-survey/ Future Proof Conference — https://futureproof.advisorcircle.com/ Invest Like the Best Podcast — https://investlikethebest.libsyn.com/ David Senra on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-senra-278843236/ David Senra on Twitter — https://twitter.com/FoundersPodcast?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor David Senra on Facebook — https

In this episode, we speak to Chris DeRose, software developer and former co-host of the Bitcoin Uncensored podcast, about both the downsides and upsides of cryptocurrencies and the associated technologies. We took the time to dive deep into the subject with Chris and learned about some of the common misconceptions about blockchain technology, the value of cryptocurrencies to society, ways in which the crypto space has evolved, using economic theories to understand financial systems, the definition of money, what he thinks about the associated technologies, the role blockchain technology can have in society and why cryptocurrencies will not replace the dollar. Key Points From This Episode: The motivation behind Chris's decision to get involved with Bitcoin in 2010. (0:00:48) How the Bitcoin community has evolved since Chris got involved in 2010. (0:03:00) Some of the common misconceptions associated with blockchain technology. (0:06:03) Whether new technologies pushing back against regulations is common. (0:08:08) Ways in which Chris's perception of crypto has changed since he discovered it. (0:09:53) Chris explains what his definition of money is. (0:11:19) Find out what Bitcoin actually is, if it is not money. (0:14:39) Aspects of the current financial system that Bitcoin improves on. (0:16:42) A discussion around the recent controversy regarding Canadian trucker convoys. (0:17:54) Some of the problems anonymity associated with cryptocurrencies causes. (0:20:33) Why not being able to verify transactions is a problem for privacy coins. (0:21:18) A discussion about the US monetary system and the US dollar. (0:24:12) Chris discusses the reliance on economic theories to understand the economy. (0:30:59) What he thinks about crypto markets through the lens of market efficiency. (0:32:26) Whether crypto markets can be manipulated or not. (0:33:49) Why Chris thinks Bitcoin will not make traditional regulations around payments obsolete. (0:35:32) Another discussion regarding the economy through a theoretical lens. (0:39:15) Reasons why Chris thinks cryptocurrencies have value. (0:40:32) Chris explains what fungible value is. (0:45:49) Why Bitcoin is regarded as digital gold. (0:49:25) How possible it is for Bitcoin to replace the dollar. (0:50:46) Chris tells us if he thinks Bitcoin and Ethereum are (0:53:39) Why Chris thinks there is a mythical aspect to the economy. (1:00:49) We find out if Chris thinks blockchains are immutable. (1:02:29) Immutability: find out if this is a good aspect of cryptocurrencies. (1:03:37) An explanation of consensus and if proof of work alternatives offer solutions. (1:04:33) Reasons why he thinks Vitalik Buterin is a charlatan. (1:09:22) Chris tells us if Vitalik's claims are living-up to the expectations. (1:12:41) The role that blockchains can play regarding international money transfers. (1:15:22) Outline of how ransomware could be beneficial to society. (1:16:20) How possible is it to see nation-states existing only on the blockchain. (1:17:43) Learn what value private blockchains offer. (1:18:37) What are the most promising crypto products/technologies in Chris's opinion. (1:19:49) The technical aspects of NFTs are explained. (1:21:23) Find out what his opinion on DAOs is. (1:24:20) Examples of the best application of smart contracts that Chris has seen. (1:25:13) Whether cryptocurrencies and public blockchains are revolutionary technology. (1:27:38) What role cryptocurrencies can play in reducing wealth inequality. (1:28:35) Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Chris DeRose — http://www.chrisderose.com

The gender pay gap is still a persistent problem in today's society, reflecting the overall state of gender inequality. It is full of complexity and comprises different facets, making it hard to understand the overall situation. We have covered the topic before, but in this episode, we go into a whole new level of detail. To help us unpack the nuance of this essential topic is Colleen Ammerman, Director of the Gender Initiative at Harvard Business School. She is also the author of Glass Half-Broken, providing readers with hard evidence and detailed analysis of the different drivers of gender inequality in the workplace. We cover the basics of gender inequality, such as how it currently exists, how it manifests in the workplace, and the subtle and less obvious ways it occurs. We also find out whether men are generally aware of the problem, the obstacles that prevent men from taking action, and the power men have to initiate positive change within organizations. Colleen also untangles the intricacies of the topic, explaining why gender equality is still a pervasive problem, how gender inequality extends to promotions, how management explains away the issue, how gender equality is also beneficial for men, and the influence of perceived gender roles in career decisions. Tune in and learn about the intricacies of gender inequality, as well as the possible solutions, with Colleen Ammerman! Key Points From This Episode: We start by finding out what the current situation is for women in the workplace. (0:03:22) How to quantify gender inequality symptoms in the workplace. (0:04:12) Whether there are similar effects of gender inequality for men of colour. (0:05:03) Why people might still deny that there is a problem concerning gender inequality. (0:05:35) An outline of the career obstacles that uniquely affect women. (0:07:18) Find out if men are aware that women have additional barriers to overcome. (0:12:03) Reasons why women may leave the workplace before retaining a leadership role. (0:14:05) Colleen explains how we know from the data that women have less interest in higher-paying technical jobs. (0:16:14) Learn if the adjusted gender pay gap data diminish the findings of using unadjusted gender pay gap data. (0:18:47) Ways in which the gender pay gap extends to promotions and compensation. (0:20:34) Colleen tells us why it is important for society to strive for more women in leadership positions. (0:21:26) The general response from men to workplace diversity initiatives. (0:22:07) What men should be doing in the workplace to help reduce inequalities that exist. (0:26:25) The ways corporate directors explain the underrepresentation of women and people of colour on boards. (0:29:15) Why we don't see more men taking action to combat gender inequality issues. (0:31:05) She explains what homophily is and its role in workplace diversity. (0:33:13) How the language in job descriptions determines who applies for the position. (0:37:04) Whether there is evidence to support the notion that women prefer a growth-mindset environment to a fixed-mindset environment. (0:40:00) What men, who are not in leadership positions, can do to overcome gender inequality problems in the workplace. (0:43:02) What companies need to be aware of regarding hybrid and remote-work models. (0:47:14) The steps men can take to overcome gender inequality outside of the workplace. (0:50:29) We learn what managers can do to attract more diverse candidates. (0:52:52) Whether there is data on the effect that gender has on hiring decisions. (0:54:22) How gender norms or biases affect employee evaluation. (0:56:01) Actions that women can take to advance their careers in an unequal environment. (0:59:53) Colleen explains the issues of negotiations for men and women. (01:04:03) The role parents can play to combat the issues of gender parity. (01:05:13) We end the episode by learning how Colleen defines success in her life. (01:06:03) Book From Today's Episode: Glass Half-Broken: Shattering the Barriers That Still Hold Women Back at Work — https://amzn.to/3xbp2CG Links From Today's Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/cameron-passmore/ Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Colleen Ammerman on Twitter — https://twitter.com/colleenammerman Colleen Ammerman on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenammerman/

Today, we speak to Vili Lehdonvirta, Professor of Economics, Sociology, and Digital Social Research at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford. Professor Lehdonvirta is a social scientist whose research focuses on ways digital technologies are reshaping the organization of economies, including their associated social effects. He is also the author of two books, Cloud Empires and Virtual Economies, which provide readers with an in-depth look into the power that crypto platforms hold and a well-rounded characterization of digital markets. In this episode, we talk about the ideological underpinnings of crypto and the role of governance in making cryptocurrencies possible. We discuss the role of states in scaling markets, how states and platform companies differ, the impacts of smart contracts on governance issues, and how control and power are centralized within crypto markets, as well as the social implications of blockchain technology. Listeners will also learn about past controversies within the crypto space, why people are still needed within crypto, and the blockchain paradox, plus more! Key Points From This Episode: We start by learning about John Perry Barlow's vision for cyberspace. [0:05:06] Find out about the role that states play in markets. [0:07:03] How markets function at scale if the state is not involved. [0:07:55] Professor Lehdonvirta's view on whether governance may precede markets. [0:08:59] The role massive platform companies play in today's economy. [0:09:44] Ways in which states and platform companies differ. [0:10:42] Why he thinks public blockchain technology has garnered so much attention. [0:11:27] An explanation of the influence John Perry Barlow's vision had on cryptocurrencies. [0:13:04] Learn what a Kleroterion is and the role it played in Athenian democracy. [0:14:01] Professor Lehdonvirta shares what it means to 'trust in the code.' [0:17:05] An outline of the new properties smart contracts created. [0:18:59] Social and economic implications of unstoppable censorship-resistant contracts. [0:21:08] A brief rundown of how impactful smart contracts have been. [0:22:27] How the trustless and unstoppable claims of cryptocurrencies and DAOs were affected by the DAO story. [0:24:20] Whether the Bitcoin block-size conflict affected the perception of crypto as a trustless system. [0:28:17] We find out the current size of the Bitcoin development team. [0:31:05] Other examples of human discretion affecting the direction of Bitcoin. [0:31:46] Professor Lehdonvirta explains the strategies used to preserve trustlessness after the human interventions took place. [0:35:16] Details about an important strategy: the appeal to technical expertise. [0:38:53] Find out if the ability to fork blockchain networks restores trustless claims of crypto. [0:39:42] Whether users of a blockchain network, who are not miners, can influence crypto markets. [0:45:02] Professor Lehdonvirta's opinion on who has the most control over cryptocurrency networks. [0:49:35] Hear what aspect of Athenian democracy Nakamoto failed to replicate. [0:54:26] We learn what the blockchain paradox is (also known as the governance paradox). [0:56:50] Find out if Professor Lehdonvirta thinks technology changes the fundamental aspects which shape how societies are organized. [01:00:11] Find out if blockchain has eliminated the need for nation-states. [01:02:11] What cryptocurrencies have accomplished since their inception. [01:03:40]

What impact does financial literacy have on decision-making and financial outcomes? How is financial literacy tested? In this episode, we help listeners understand why financial literacy is vital in terms of financial well-being. Learn the definition of financial literacy, how financial literacy relates to economic outcomes, the differences between people who are financially literate and those that are not, and the contribution of financial knowledge to human capital. We discuss the topic through the perspective of several papers that will challenge how you think about financial literacy and the questions to ask yourself to test your financial understanding. Then, we talk about this week's book review regarding the effects of technology on communication and the various distractions associated with a traditional work environment. We also go through the various reviews received about the show and what we have planned for the Rational Reminder community. Key Points From This Episode: Breakdown of changes made to the format of current and future episodes. [0:01:49] Introduction to today's topic: expected returns of financial literacy. [0:07:34] Learn the definition of financial literacy. [0:09:36] The predictive power of financial literacy concerning financial outcomes. [0:10:27] What financially literate people are better at and how it increases human capital. [0:11:34] The cost of financial ignorance to the individual. [0:13:06] Overview of an interesting paper concerning active investing. [0:14:43] A dangerous observation within the financial literacy research [0:16:34] Find out how financial literacy is measured. [0:20:10] Whether it is safer to put your money into one business or to invest. [0:21:23] An important aspect of financial literacy is discussed: inflation. [0:22:34] Why numeracy is also a fundamental aspect of financial literacy. [0:24:25] We go through the topic of compound interest in relation to financial literacy. [0:24:57] Hear what the global distribution of financial literacy is. [0:27:04] How to approach the financial literacy problem from a policy perspective. [0:27:59] We review the book, Reclaiming Conversation, and discuss communication problems technology causes. [0:35:08] Examples of the different distractions associated with office spaces. [0:41:55] Reasons why meetings should be thought out with clear objectives. [0:44:45] Ways in which your phone can distract you from deep work. [0:46:36] Steps that social media companies could take to reduce screen time. [0:51:12] We go through recent reviews and suggestions received about the show. [0:52:22]

Welcome to our limited edition crypto series. In this episode, we welcome back Professor John Cochrane, who was a guest on the Rational Reminder series, to talk everything money. Professor Cochrane has immense experience on the topic and is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, as well as Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. He is also a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, and was a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is also the author of several books and writes a popular blog called The Grumpy Economist. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the concept of money. We learn what numeraire is, how a numeraire is defined, and explore some of the intricacies of money. We also discuss and unpack the differences between fiscal theory and monetary theory, along with other ideas regarding the value of money. We then delve into how all this relates to cryptocurrencies, what future he sees for crypto, and much more. Tuning into this episode, listeners will challenge their thinking about the economy and how economic relations work. Key Points From This Episode: Professor John Cochrane explains to us the short version of fiscal theory. [0:04:35] Find out the definition of numeraire and how it is determined within an economy. [0:05:21] Learn whether government backing is required to define a numeraire. [0:07:05] What Professor John Cochrane thinks is the primary function of money. [0:08:55] Whether money needs to be a medium of exchange that stores value. [0:09:45] He explains why money is valuable according to fiscal theory. [0:11:22] The role of taxes in adding to the value of money according to fiscal theory. [0:12:59] How fiscal theory's explanation for why money is valuable differs from the monetarist explanation. [0:13:33] Find out whether the term 'fiat' is still a good adjective to describe money in a fiscal world. [0:17:24] We learn if 'fiat' is an appropriate term to describe money according to the monetarist view. [0:19:10] What the government debt valuation equations suggest about the stability of the price level. [0:20:21] An outline of what happens when discount rates become volatile. [0:23:29] Ways in which sticky prices affect the stability of the price level. [0:27:24] Whether the supply of money is still a useful perspective today. [0:31:01] Why monetarism theory has gained so much traction. [0:33:51] He unpacks the purpose of monetarism theory. [0:35:21] How fiscal and monetary actions set expected and unexpected inflation regarding fiscal theory. [0:37:10] The level of fiscal and monetary coordination required for price stability. [0:39:58] Whether the level of coordination needed is realistic considering the independence of the central bank. [0:42:10] Ways in which monetary policy debt sales and fiscal policy debt sales differ. [0:45:02] What effect the size of the central bank's balance sheet has on the price level. [0:49:52] Repercussions of inside money issued by private banks on the price level. [0:53:06] Statistical tests available that can be used to prove fiscal theory. [0:58:55] Find out why COVID-related effects on the economy lead to inflation. [1:04:17] Breakdown of the fiscal explanation for the US inflation of the 1970s. [1:11:24] Reasons why inflation targets have been successful in some countries and not in others. [1:16:14] A discussion about whether we have always lived in a fiscal-based economy. [1:19:24] Whether citizens should behave differently living in a fiscal world. [1:27:51] How the value of the dollar will be affected if more people buy cryptocurrencies. [1:28:49] Professor John Cochrane shares if he thinks anonymous digital cash is a good thing. [1:30:51] We discuss what the future has in store with regard to fiscal theory. [1:39:31]

The indexing revolution is something that underpins all of our work here at the Rational Reminder and is a subject we reference in different ways in almost all of our episodes. Today we have a special exploration of this history, as we welcome Gus Sauter, the former long-time CIO of Vanguard, to talk about his incredible history at the firm, the role he played in the rise of the company, and its huge role in reforming the investing landscape. We also hear from our guest about his experience of working on numerous investing committees since he retired about a decade ago. One of the most notable things about this conversation is Gus' ability to weigh both sides of the arguments about active management, and he does a great job of balancing what he sees as the potential positives of this way of doing things. This is all strengthen by the way he presents these ideas as a powerful mix of stories, evidence, and the research he himself has conducted. To all our listeners, be sure to listen right to the end of the episode, as after the official conversation ends, Gus shared a few more thoughts on Jack Bogle and ETFs as a bonus. Key Points From This Episode: (0:03:49) Looking back at the part that indexing played at Vanguard when Gus started at the company. (0:04:20) The rise of indexing in the subsequent years and the pivotal moments in this process. (0:06:28) Initial ways that indexing was denigrated by Vanguard's competition. (0:08:36) How the narrative changed around indexing when its utility became undeniable. (0:09:10) The role of the University of Chicago in the growth of indexing early on. (0:11:11) Changes in the active management space over the last few decades. (0:12:04) Considering the role of an active manager in today's climate. (0:14:43) Gus' opinion on balancing the strengths of indexing and active management. (0:20:48) Differences between traditional active management and factor investing, and Gus' preferences. (0:29:09) A look at Vanguard's recent forays into factor-based funds. (0:31:00) Recounting Jack Bogle's thoughts on active management at different points. (0:32:27) Evaluating active managers; weighing the processes and their maintenance. (0:35:09) Vanguard's relative low fees and how this impacted their success. (0:36:35) How Vanguard went about selecting investment managers. (0:38:44) Gus talks about the structure of Vanguard; what it meant to be a truly mutual company. (0:41:19) Thoughts on home country bias and global diversification in light of countries like Canada. (0:45:07) Approaches to private equity; Gus' recommendations for the average investor. (0:48:30) Access to private markets and the prohibitive effect of high fees. (0:51:25) Accounting for the recent large flows towards private equity and the current institutional philosophy around it. (0:54:10) Gus talks about the important questions he asks when joining a new investment committee. (0:56:30) Comments on hedge funds and liquid assets, and their decreased returns. (0:59:50) The psychological benefits of holding a single fund. (1:02:44) Gus comments on how direct indexing might figure into the future. (1:09:20) The education of investors; Gus talks about where he believes Vanguard's biggest success lies. (1:11:48) Reflection on the impact of introducing the implementation of ETFs at Vanguard. (1:12:56) Areas that still excite Gus about investing; the good and bad sides of increased opportunity. (1:14:48) Gus' definition of success and his gratitude for finding a home at Vanguard. (1:17:07) Bonus content: Gus talks about Jack Bogle's relationships with ETFs.

Welcome to another episode from our limited edition crypto series. The previous guests we have spoken to about crypto generally have experience in economics, finance, or technology. In this episode, we have a look at crypto through a legal lens with Professor William Magnuson, an Associate Professor of Law at Texas A&M University School of Law. He is also the author of Blockchain Democracy, which provides readers with a guide into the world of blockchain and Bitcoin, and highlights the reasons for their growing popularity. In our conversation, we delve into everything law and order within the crypto world as Professor Magnuson explains the causes of crime, the jurisdiction of crypto, the impact of decentralized cryptocurrency on the legal system, and how to overcome the legal challenges surrounding crypto. We also talk about the underlying ideology of crypto, the origins of cypherpunks, the people who are being negatively affected by, mechanisms to enforce regulations, and much more. Tune in to learn more about crypto and blockchain through the lens of the law with Professor Magnuson! Key Points From This Episode: A brief overview of the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. [0:02:48] Find out which of the two political philosophies is closer to reality. [0:04:55] What it means for political or economic systems to be decentralized. [0:05:26] An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of a decentralized system. [0:07:36] Causes of a decentralized system to become centralized. [0:09:54] Where power in an initially decentralized system tends to centralize. [0:11:38] The systems that democracies use to maintain a desired level of decentralization. [0:12:33] How close the underlying political philosophy of Bitcoin falls to the philosophies of Locke and Hobbes. [0:13:34] We learn about the origins of cypherpunks and the associated ideology. [0:14:55] Whether the current state of our world resembles the dystopian future that the cypherpunks imagined. [0:16:41] Why digital cash was so important to cypherpunks and why early attempts failed. [0:17:36] The relationship between anonymity and crime is explained. [0:20:16] What role crime has played in the development and proliferation of cryptocurrencies. [0:22:48] Why comparing cryptocurrency to cash as a similar mechanism for crime is incorrect. [0:25:53] Professor Magnuson explains how social norms affect criminal behaviour. [0:27:48] He outlines the norms seen empirically within the blockchain communities. [0:30:12] Challenges in applying existing laws and regulations to cryptocurrencies. [0:33:04] Where cryptocurrencies fall under current regulatory and legal interpretations. [0:37:44] Whether cryptocurrencies are a regulation problem or a law problem. [0:39:43] How to enforce regulations and laws for cryptocurrencies. [0:40:44] He tells us if public blockchains jeopardize the existing legal system and democracy. [0:43:17] The costs of lightly regulated or unregulated markets in terms of capital allocation. [0:47:11] Who is bearing the cost of unregulated markets. [0:51:09] Hear what he thinks blockchain's greatest accomplishments are so far. [0:51:36] We end the show by hearing whether professor Magnuson thinks it is a revolutionary technology. [0:53:07]