The Rational Reminder Podcast

Today we are joined by a friend, hero, and a legend in the field fact based investing. Larry Swedroe is here to discuss his latest book, some of the timeless concepts he has been espousing for many years, and to give out a few golden nuggets of advice for your finances and retirement. Larry is so generous with his time and wisdom and we chat about a ton of chapters from his book, Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement, and he picks out a few ideas to focus on here in this quick discussion. Larry shares the biggest mistake he has noticed in retirement planning, lifestyle considerations moving into the final stages of life, estate transfer, underperforming stocks, and more! We draw on Larry's wealth of experience to get some perspective on more current trends in the industry such as the fixation on costs of advisors and we finish off hearing from Larry about how he defines success as he nears the end of his professional career. For all this and more, be sure to join us for an extra special episode! Key Points From This Episode: The four horsemen of the retirement apocalypse. [0:03:03.4] Larry's pick for the biggest mistake made in retirement planning. [0:06:32.9] Non-financial considerations for those heading into retirement. [0:09:22.7] Day to day preparations for finding meaning in the retirement years. [0:13:04.5] Why it is important to expose yourself to independent risk factors. [0:15:34.6] Understanding the reasons for never actually avoiding factors. [0:26:53.9] How to avoid losing assets during the transfer of an estate. [0:29:16.4] Taking underperformance into account when considering your investments. [0:32:58.3] Looking at the financial industry's shift in focus towards costs. [0:37:06.1] Larry's own definition of success moving into the end of his career and retirement. [0:41:55.1] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to The Rational Reminder Podcast! Today we are riding solo with no guests and just going over some recent developments, in-house news, and gearing up for some more great shows in the pipeline. We have had so many amazing guests recently, talking on a number of specific topics, so we thought we would take this opportunity to clean the mailbox, as it were, and set the table for the next few weeks. During the episode we cover the new partnership between RBC and iShares and what this means going forward and we also look at the state of ETFs and how much they have grown in the last few years. We talk about the impetus to go to cash that many investors and advisors seem to be considering and also discuss global diversification and how this is the truest representation of a belief in capitalism. We talk data, advertising, tax and the supposed market monopolies that the biggest companies in the world have right now. For all this and more, be sure to join us! Key Points From This Episode: We are hiring! [0:01:40.0] The new alliance between RBC and iShares. [0:02:23.3] The growth for ETF in comparison with mutual funds. [0:05:31.9] Does it make sense for long term investors to go to cash? [0:06:14.7] Globally diversified investments in international markets. [0:08:30.2] Are we living in a winner takes all market right now? [0:14:36.4] How data has overtaken oil as the most valuable resource. [0:20:54.2] CPPIB's controversial advertising strategies. [0:23:50.6] A few quick tax updates. [0:26:30.6] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Today on the podcast we are very excited to welcome Brad Steiman who is the Canadian Head of Financial Advisor Services for Dimensional! This is an episode we literally cannot wait to share with our listeners as it is jam packed with really useful information, history, and inside scoops on Dimensional and what has helped them get to where they are today. As huge fans and associates of DFA this is the type of conversation we have been hoping to have for quite some time and hope you are as excited as we are. In our discussion, we cover Brad's early career and how he became involved and employed by Dimensional. From there, Brad gives us some great insight into the important early events that shaped his and the companies trajectories as well as laying out the vital characters in DFA's story. We also get into some of the ideas and the ethos that underpins the work done at the company, particularly around research, findings and implementation. For all of this and host of other interesting subjects be sure to join us for this episode! Key Points From This Episode: Brad's initial attraction to working at Dimensional. [0:01:45.5] The college years and the following epiphanies. [0:02:37.9] Why Brad did not look at his early paychecks at Dimensional. [0:06:29.3] How David Booth preempted the evidence-based approach. [0:08:53.1] Dimensional's continual approach to new research and data mining. [0:14:55.5] The criteria Dimensional apply when assessing findings. [0:17:26.9] Brad and Dimensional's philosophy when it comes to stock momentum. [0:20:41.1] The implementation strategy at Dimensional. [0:25:51.1] ETFs versus mutual funds and Dimensional's decision in this battle. [0:28:05.1] Dimensional's unique approach to working with the advisor community. [0:30:51.5] Three of Brad's favorite stories from his time at the company. [0:32:49.6] Brad's science based approach to happiness! [0:37:34.1] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In this episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast we welcome Robin Powell. Robin is a journalist and content creator who has dedicated the more recent part of his career to helping spread the word on research backed investing and turning the tide on the history of investment advice. For Robin, this all came about from an assignment he was working on and the feeling of shock he experienced when he discovered the wealth of information that is available to investors but how it is shielded by the majority of investment advisors. Robin explains these experiences and why we still see this in today's marketplace. He chats to us about the films he has produced on the subject and the great characters and thought leaders with whom he has met. Robin is kind enough to open up about his thoughts on the future of investing, regulation and his hopes for the spread of this information. For all this and more, be sure to join us! Key Points From This Episode: Some of Robin's background and previous work experience. [0:01:40.6] Why Robin started spreading the evidence based investment message . [0:02:38.9] The experience of speaking with industry leaders to make a documentary film. [0:04:07.7] The impact of this and the subsequent films Robin has produced. [0:05:44.0] Robin's perspective on the Canadian financial industry. [0:06:57.8] The impact of the change of rules for financial advisors in the UK. [0:09:21.6] The effect of RDR and claims about reduced access to advice. [0:12:24.2] Difficulties in sharing information and changing people's minds. [0:15:06.0] The role of the press in this dynamic and whether it can change [0:16:52.2] Robin's favorite interviews and encounters over the years. [0:18:07.4] Looking to the future of the financial industry. [0:19:53.5] Considering the role of the human financial advisor with the rise of robo-advisors. [0:21:40.1] Robin's own measure of success in his work [0:22:59.9] Regulation in the pursuit of changing the approach of advisors. [0:24:28.9] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome to this holiday edition of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Today on the show we have a special treat for you. A little while back, Cameron made an incredible connection with our guest, David Goetsch. David is a writer and the Co-Executive Producer of the Big Bang Theory. David himself subscribes to our investment philosophy and he is passionate enough about it that he speaks about it at conferences every now and then. He is truly a fascinating guy and the impact that this investment philosophy had on him is unreal. Inside this episode David shares with us how he used to a be a self-described worrier who worried about every little thing in his life. But once he had his eyes opened up to this philosophy, it changed him forever. He now embraces uncertainty, he embraces risk, he is not worried about his portfolio at all, and it has given him a great amount of peace in his life. For an incredible conversation with an absolutely changed man, stay tuned to hear it all! Key Points From This Episode: How David's financial advisor changed his entire life. [0:02:46.3] What it means to become a transformed investor. [0:08:32.1] The greatest impact that David's philosophy had on his life. [0:10:19.7] David's relationship with his financial advisor; meetings, and guidance. [0:14:03.6] How to think about the fees you pay your financial advisor. [0:16:11.1] David's miscalculation of risk in his life; moving to Hollywood. [0:22:36.0] The journey of David's career as writer in Hollywood. [0:27:17.3] Schedule and writing process of the Big Bang Theory. [0:34:23.1] How David defines success and happiness in his own life. [0:37:43.0] The story of when David got check 1 of 104 from Big Bang Theory. [0:39:51.8] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

This week on the podcast we are starting to wrap things up for the year, doing some house keeping and looking back at recent trends in the market. First of all we talk a bit about the podcast going forward and have a few comments on ratings and reviews. We also look at some of the upcoming content you can expect early next year! We chat about the client survey we recently held and what the data from this tells us. From there we move into more general information on the relationship between risk and profitability and try and explain why they are so closely linked. We also get into the market's performance this year and the apparently bad year it has had. This exploration is located in the broader context of historical data and evidence based investing strategies and we try our best to show how a bad year like 2018 is not a reason to be reactive in you investments. For this and more, join us today! Key Points From This Episode: The first critical review of the podcast. [0:01:52.3] Some of the upcoming content for the new year. [0:02:52.0] The recent client survey which we completed. [0:04:56.3] Interesting data that we collected during this survey. [0:07:02] The blog post from Michael James about our chat with Glenn Cooke recently. [0:08:57.8] How is being profitable riskier? [0:12:39.9] Behavioral explanations for factors and market timing. [0:15:10.7] The market this year and how it has dipped. [0:16:13.3] Comparing this year's downturn with 2008. [0:17:38.6] This generation's investors and risk seeking. [0:21:04.7] Understanding standard deviation in this context. [0:22:58.3] The potential impact of social media on markets compared to 2008. [0:26:02.4] The human bias towards action when in danger. [0:27:12.8] Don't leave your seat to get a hot dog! [0:29:04.2] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to The Rational Reminder Podcast. Today, Benjamin is getting the factor fill off his chest. We are diving into a range of topics and we are talking about other factors or how far you can push the evidence. This is the first time in a while that we've really dug into factors. We cover other interesting topics like increasing CPP benefits, we talk about our regulatory bodies and the debate going on there, as well as the big news around Vanguard. It's a fun debate and a good conversation. So, keep listening to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: How CPP is expanding in 2019. [0:01:48.0] Advocis putting the business interest of financial advisers before clients. [0:05:0] The rumor circulating about Vanguard. [0:10:22.0] A none story - How asset owners are falling out of love with index funds. [0:13:00] Why the rich aren't happy, why more money does not make people happier. [0:15:44.0] Factors of a way to beat the market and why factors work. [0:17:38.0] Factor regression on portfolios. [0:22:46.0] Long versus short stock picking. [0:27:43.0] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to The Rational Reminder Podcast. Today we are joined by Glenn Cooke. Glenn is a fixture on the personal finance Canada sub-Reddit and spent many years as the President of Lifeinsurancecanada.com, which is an online platform for insurance information. Today, Glenn is the President of Insurance Squared where he works with market research departments at life insurance companies and shows life insurance agents how to generate leads online and sell non-face to face. Glenn has a very matter of fact, rational approach to insurance and that's what we talk to him about in today's episode. He shares with us about the mistakes he commonly sees in insurance, especially the fact that most people way under buy the amount of life insurance that they truly need. Glenn also describes permanent insurance, what it is, when it makes sense and what situations it is best suited for. We hear about when it's important to use investments versus not and as long as consumers stick to those basic rules, it's hard to go astray. So for an incredible interview, keep listening to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: Over the phone and online - why that approach worked so well for Glen. [0:02:24.0] Understanding field underwriting. [0:03:17.0] Why some people are hesitant buying insurance online and prefer in person. [0:06:27.0] Most common questions people are asking when buying insurance. [0:07:27.0] Mistakes people are making when buying life insurance. [0:07:56.0] Justifying how much you need. [0:09:31.0] How disability insurance ties in very closely to life insurance. [0:10:34.0] Settling for group disability insurance through your employer. [0:13:23.0] What is permanent life insurance and where would it make sense. [0:15:25.0] Two general categories of permanent insurance. [0:19:30.0] Glen's views on critical illness insurance. [0:21:0] Three ways you can use life insurance. [0:25:46.0] Ways you can get money out of your insurance policy. [0:28:08.0] Glen's observation about financial literary in Canada. [0:32:05.0] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In this bonus episode we briefly talk about the yield curve, and why it's probably not going to hurt you. With special guest Robert Little, Wealth Management Analyst at PWL Capital. For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to The Rational Reminder Podcast. Today we are joined by Daniel Weinand. Daniel is the cofounder of Shopify, which is a company based in Ottawa that has had enormous success, not just in Ottawa or Canada, but all over the world in the last few years as a public company. Shopify is a great commerce platform that supports over 600,000 different stores worldwide. It is an incredible success story, and the best way that we can describe the conversation was that it was very intense. Everything from the way Daniel thinks about things to what he's been able to achieve comes down to his intensity, and you can actually see the wheels turning in his head while he speaks. So for an incredible interview, keep listening to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: How Daniel chose Canada and got involved in Shopify. [0:02:13.0] Decisions that were transformational for the company. [0:04:21.0] Daniel's transition into retirement from Shopify. [0:06:07.0] The role of happiness and self-fulfillment. [0:10:18.0] The beauty of poker — a game of incomplete information. [0:11:19.0] Creating a company culture. [0:19:16.0] The impact financial security has on productivity and engagement for employees. [0:25:04.0] How Daniel defines success. [0:26:25.0] Why Daniel chose to work with PWL. [0:29:41.0] The impact of money in Daniel's life. [0:33:50] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to The Rational Reminder Podcast. Today's episode is focused on the question of investing in real estate. It is still a common conundrum for investors and even those who may not consider themselves active investors, whether to buy or to rent a property. As you may imagine it is not a very simple issue and the answer does require some serious thought and calculation. But our hosts do their best to lay out some of the most important concerns and factors in trying to find the answer. Before getting into the meat of the episode however, we also look at some general recent news from the money world including developments from Investor's Group, the market's downturn and the low year we have all had as well as thinking about Canadian small cap stocks. For all this and more, be sure to tune in! Read Robb Engen's take on this episode on the Boomer & Echo blog. Key Points From This Episode: The changes Investor's Group have made to their pricing. [0:01:27.4] The recent downturns in the market. [0:03:04.8] Evolving perspectives and long term measurements on your returns. [0:05:00.2] Looking at the performance of Canadian small cap stocks. [0:09:55.2] Beginning to weigh the costs of owning versus renting real estate. [0:11:13.3] Dropping opportunity costs and changes in income over time. [0:16:15.8] Adjusting your view to your total unrecoverable costs. [0:16:46.4] The biggest advantage of home ownership. [0:18:26.8] Some points from Larry Swedroe that we can all adhere to. [0:20:38.2] Keeping track of your decisions and why you made them. [0:25:41.8] And much more!

Welcome to The Rational Reminder Podcast. On today's episode we are going to roll out our new format for the show. We ended off our previous show format with a series of interviews, and today we are ready to jump into something new! Of course, we definitely don't plan on doing that perfectly today because we do have a couple of things that we want to talk about before we make it official. The meat of the episode will be focused on discussing the cost of financial advice. Should you pay for it, how should you pay for it, and how much should you pay for it? On top of that, we are going to be discussing the performance of the markets, controlling the things you do have control over, being a DIY investor, and how to strategically choose where you get your investment advice from. It's genuine and it's out there, so keep listening to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: Performance of the markets - should you invest. [0:03:25.0] Having control over your asset allocation. [0:05:0] The use of robo advisors. [0:07:21.0] What should we be paying for advisors. [0:10:40.0] Service delivery - is the outcome positive for the client and the advisor. [0:13:49.0] How we use a tier fee structure at PWL. [0:16:17.0] Benjamin shares about the event he went to last week. [0:17:03.0] Who should you be getting your advice from - does licensed matter. [0:21:14.0] Being a DIY investor. [0:23:34.0] The key takeaway. [0:28:21.0] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to another episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Our guest today is Shane Parrish. Shane runs the Farnam Street Blog, which has to be one of the most valuable collections of information that exists on the Internet. Farnam Street's stated intention is mastering the best of what other people have already figured out and the site gets over a million visitors. The content is unbelievable in terms of improving yourself, thinking better, and learning better. Shane interviewed Ray Dalio not long ago and over time he's spoken with some pretty serious people in his podcast, The Knowledge Project Podcast. This episode is a very peaceful, thoughtful, interesting conversation that we know listeners will love. Shane's just got so much information in his head that we all can get a ton of value from. So, be sure to keep listening to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: What mental models are and why they're important. [0:02:07.0] Top list of mental models for making investing decisions. [0:03:39.0] The most harmful biases to investors. [0:04:44.0] Importance of process when making investment decisions. [0:07:51.0] Why Shane uses decision journals. [0:09:11.0] Being willing to look stupid. [0:12:36.0] How intuition and skills go together in investing. [0:14:16.0] Public markets versus private markets. [0:16:19.0] Avoiding negative outcomes and having positive outcomes. [0:20:41.0] Understanding uncertainty and risk. [0:24:35.0] Defining happiness for himself. [0:33:15.0] Lessons Shane learned about parenting. [0:36:28.0] Book that Shane loves to read. [0:43:55.0] . [0:25:50.0] And much more! For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Welcome back to another episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Our guest today is a great friend and associate, Mark Sutcliffe! Mark is a well know media personality, community worker, philanthropist, business person, and investor. He also happens to be a great speaker and listener, which probably has something to do with him hosting his own radio show. Today we are extremely excited to be able able to interview him and pick his brain on all things rational, financial, and beyond. We chat about what makes Mark tick, his passions, his motivations, and what keeps him going. From there we dive into the financial industry and hear first-hand about Mark's own learning curve and how he currently views investing. We then turn to the subject of Ottawa and look specifically at Mark's work in and commitment to the city. A strong theme that arises in this episode is Mark's view of his own good fortune and we finish off our interview with a meditation on the success he has experienced and some of his ambitions for the future. For all this and much more, be sure to listen in! Key Points From This Episode: Mark's passion and what keeps him motivated. [0:03:21.9] A typical day in the life of Mark and how he gets through all this work. [0:04:34.3] Mark's forays into and experiences with investing. [0:06:44.2] The gripes that Mark has with certain areas of the financial industry. [0:09:45.7] Mark's TED Talk and the role of luck in his life. [0:13:01.3] Long term financial planning and how this links to the rest of Mark's life. [0:17:17.4] A big picture perspective and how this helps investors through volatility. [0:21:28.6] The media's role in public perception and culture around the markets. [0:23:07.2] Mark's current thoughts on the Ottawa business scene. [0:24:48.5] The long standing association between Mark and PWL. [0:27:06.7] The trend towards index investing in Canada and its growing popularity. [0:29:00.9] Mark's reflections on his successes and ambitions for the future. [0:31:19.2] And much more! Learn more and subscribe to the show at pwlcapital.com

Welcome to the Rational Reminder Podcast everybody! Today on the show we welcome a good friend and someone who has had a massive influence on our lives and work. Bestselling investment author, Dan Solin, joins us on the podcast today. Dan has been a staunch advocate for evidence based investing for a long time now and although this approach is still far from dominant, it has grown immensely in the years he has been active. His focus on smart, client-centered investing has set the standard for a certain portion of advisors in the US and Canada, notably the ones hosting this show! In our conversation, we chat about Dan's history and the foundations of his professional philosophy. We get into some of his work as a lawyer and how this influenced his overall career trajectory. Interestingly, we spend some time on the topics of happiness and kindness and their integral importance to financial success for any investor. For an inspiring and thoughtful conversation with a true industry leader, be sure to tune in! Key Points From This Episode: An overview of Dan's career and his investing philosophy. [0:03:05.9] Dan's training as a lawyer and how this influenced his evidence based approach. [0:05:45.0] The case that prompted Dan to a proactive strategy for fairness. [0:06:45.1] Dan's on air disagreement with CNBC's Jim Cramer. [0:08:52.6] Looking at the culture of active fund management in Canada. [0:10:59.1] The time Dan spent on the concept of happiness in his latest book. [0:14:45.5] Building trust with clients through genuine interest. [0:15:56.8] Looking at the difference experiences of introverts and extroverts. [0:18:32.0] The critical importance of empathy in all aspects of life. [0:19:40.7] The full extent of what a wealth advisor should do. [0:21:06.9] Perspective and care as two primary directives for advisors. [0:23:45.4] The retirement-focussed project Dan is currently working on [0:26:05.8] Dan's own journey and struggles around happiness. [0:28:43.6] And much more! Learn more and subscribe to the show at pwlcapital.com

In Episode 16 of the Rational Reminder Podcast we talked about the following: How bad was last week's market volatility? Should you make changes to your portfolio in this market? Are people better at predicting when markets are volatile? How the market prices securities The economy vs. the stock market When do bear markets typically occur? Will passive investing exacerbate the next correction? Do index funds affect price discovery? The power of capitalism Index reconstitution Risk over the long-term Quant investing does not always pass robustness tests 50% of business is marketing Devil's in the HML details Dimensional has thought of everything The charts that we talked about: For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 15 of the Rational Reminder Podcast we recapped our time at the Dimensional Fund Advisors advanced conference. We recapped the following: Eugene Fama The history of the University of Chicago and Dimensional Connecting economics with academia Behavioral finance is a branch of efficient markets (according to Fama) Crunching data for the first time Starting the first index fund – before Vanguard Volatility lessons Black swans Do you need a tstat of 3 in today's world? We referenced this paper https://www.cfapubs.org/doi/pdf/10.2469/faj.v74.n3.6 For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 14 of the Rational Reminder podcast we were joined by Martin Parizeau, a retired banking executive with extensive knowledge of Canadian consumer debt, and a PWL client. We discussed the following: The start of the ETF boom When proponents of active management realize they should index Cutting wasteful expenses without sacrificing happiness Pulling off a successful downsizing Housing is not an investment The real cost of owning a home Defining the ideal lifestyle Digging into Canadian consumer debt levels The real debt to income ratio for debtors in Canada Is mortgage debt always "good" debt? The rising cost of debt and its effect on the economy Credit card rates are justified Choosing the right credit card Never pay an annual fee on a credit card The boom-bust lending cycle Bankers saw the financial crisis coming, but had to keep going Focusing on the things that you can control Ottawa Citizen article from Sunday, March 3, 2002 mentioned in this podcast. For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 13 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Getting into the DFA advanced conference Cancelling whole life insurance When permanent insurance makes sense Unaffordable housing in Canada Housing bubbles? Bridging the gap with a HELOC Undervalued financial advice Money does not buy happiness Defining a lifestyle Walking to work Active funds are still underperforming Missing out on the best stocks The Stories we talked about: HOUSING TRENDS AND AFFORDABILITY UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index It's officially normal to have a big, fat balance on your line of credit Stock Pickers Struggle to Beat Index Funds Once Again For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 12 of the Rational Reminder podcast we were joined by Doug McKenzie, an executive at a large US financial institution, and a PWL client. We discussed the following: Attacking a retirement goal Managing expenses before retirement Toronto real estate in a retirement plan Living (and working through) the financial crisis The Investor's Group Dividend Fund Income investing Robo advisors Using prepaid credit cards for budgeting CCP vs. CPM vs. DFA Running regressions Data sources Come From Away The value of knowledge and advice For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 11 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Are DIY investors responsible for their actions? Starting a blog Switching from stock picking to index funds Managing behaviour The 4-minute portfolio When does it make sense to optimize? Index fund rebuttals Fee-only vs. fee-based advice Choosing a conflict of interest Robb's biggest beef with Canadian financial services Trusting the bank VGRO vs. robo advisors One-fund retirement portfolios We were joined by Robb Engen, author of the Boomer and Echo blog. For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 10 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Grass fed beef The benefits of independence The Ontario government wants to keep the deferred sales charge (DSC) DSC back in the day The old financial advice model DIY investors are responsible for their decisions 1/3 of people say money is their biggest stressor Locus of control A better way to invest responsibly The stories that we talked about: Investment industry stunned as Ontario opposes proposed ban on mutual fund early-withdrawal fees Ontario's Ford government is shamefully backing the investment industry over investors Advocis Welcomes Statement from Minister Fedeli Controversial commissions: DIY investors fight back against trailer fees How We Really Feel About Money, in a Few Simple Graphs Busting the RI performance myth Responsible/ESG investing For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 9 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Being a poor grad student Budgeting Stuff does not make you happy Mental overhead is a real cost The Globe's Financial Facelift disaster Rob Arnott's slam of Dimensional Are people afraid of stocks? The 10-year anniversary of Lehman's fall Stories from the financial crisis Volatility in dollars vs. percentage points Automated rebalancing My uncle told me to buy weed stocks What does a rational investor worry about? The stories we talked about: Great savers, not so great at investing Psychic Trauma How the Financial Crisis Still Affects Investors The chart we talked about: For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 8 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Fidelity's 0% MER index funds are already at $1 billion When costs are 0%, how do you pick a fund? Indexing is not a passive investment strategy Index construction and product implementation > low fees A three factor regression on the Manulife Multifactor ETFs Indexing is still a tiny part of the market Not all factors belong in a portfolio Dividend investing shouldn't be so controversial Dividends are not a spending rule Financial experts don't sound like experts to non-experts Sell everything! The stories we talked about: Fidelity Zero-Fee Funds Lure About $1 Billion in First Month Infographic: Three myths related to indexing What Does it Mean to be a Financial Expert? The charts we talked about: Image Source: Vanguard For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 7 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Ottawa home prices The longest bull market in history What goes up does not have to come down All time highs are normal and should be expected Is the market overvalued? Even the CAPE only explains 40% of future return differences Should you dollar cost average or invest in a lump sum? Your better off in the market than trying to time the market Was WEED an obvious buy at $2.00? There are still plenty of public companies to invest in Small cap returns need to be taken in context Bad behaviour is not always easy to spot The stories we talked about: The longest bull run in history comes with a jumbo-sized asterisk All time highs are normal What if investing right before a market crash isn't that bad? Is Now the Best Time to Invest? With Constellation Deal, Canopy Has the Chance to Be Google of Pot The Stock Market Is Shrinking. That's a Problem for Everyone. The charts we talked about: Image source: Dimensional Fund Advisors Image source: Ben Felix, PWL Capital For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 6 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! Wealthsimple's new no-commission trading platform Do individual stocks ever play a role in a financial plan? Can behavioural coaching be scaled? Being aware of conflicts of interest Wealth and happiness are not always connected If you buy an R8, you'll want a McLaren next Retiring does not mean doing nothing How do you retire without a financial plan? The 4% rule is false! If you want to retire early Asset location is hard to do, and might not add value The stories we talked about: Wealthsimple CEO Katchen says he would 'certainly' consider IPO The best of Carrick on Money: Who wants to retire really early, anyway? Asset Location Asset Location Gets REALLY Complex "Optimal" Asset Location, Applied For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 5 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Checking your credit Optimizing your credit score Investing vs. paying off your mortgage Asset allocation Reframing mortgage debt Are we in a tech bubble? The rise in the US market is backed by fundamentals How the largest Canadian pension funds invest Skewness in VC returns It's still really hard to beat index funds The stories we talked about: Mortgage debt and asset allocation Fed Up Andrew Coyne: Canada Pension Plan's active management strategy is a crock Tiny Wisconsin College Using Index Funds Trounces Endowment Rivals The charts we talked about: Source: Raymond Kerzhéro, PWL Capital Source: Raymond Kerzhéro, PWL Capital Source: Raymond Kerzhéro, PWL Capital Source: Correlation Ventures For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

After a successful launch, the podcast will live on! Thanks for the support and feedback. In Episode 4 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: The longest bull market in history? Are we repeating the tech bubble? Why it still makes sense to hold bonds Rebalancing isn't always easy The Lost Decade, sort of Is tax-loss selling worth it? Horizons' marketing mistake One decision funds Index fund fees are finally at 0% Sec lending is the future of index fund revenue Charley Ellis on the history of active management There are less willing losers today than there were in the past The paradox of skill Active managers underperform consistently Daniel Kahneman does not believe active management works If you think you have intuition about stocks, you're wrong Corporate DB pension plans are not risk-free The stories we talked about: This bull market could become the longest in history this month Tax-Loss Harvesting: Should Investors Believe the Hype? Horizons ETFs Launching 0% Management Fee ETF Portfolio Solutions Free Fidelity Funds Stoke Price War in Bid to Catch Index Giants ETFs still gathering assets, but inflows slow as investors favor lower-cost funds CHARLEY ELLIS – INDEXING AND ITS ALTERNATIVES (EP.62) Then, and now Kahneman's Insights: Beyond Thinking Fast and Slow 'It's going to be hard': Sears pension payments cut by 30% this week The charts we talked about: Source: PWL Capital Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 3 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: Should you lease or buy your vehicle? How are the new mortgage stress tests affecting Canadian real estate? Home ownership is not required to build wealth, with a little discipline Amazon's size is not unprecedented Successfully investing in growth stocks is really hard Consolidation in the Canadian asset management industry Independence benefits wealth management clients Are backend loads on mutual funds still a thing? Fund companies pushing anti-evidence Financial advice is about more than just the portfolio We are still waiting for lower stock valuations, high inflation, and high interest rates If you're not worried, you don't have a high expected return Are we living in exceptionally uncertain times? Small cap and value returns comes from rebalancing The stories we talked about: Report on the Housing and Mortgage Market in Canada Federal policies suppressing housing activity, creating a negative shift in sentiment for homebuyers, according to latest consumer report Amazon's eating the world – and the stock market Is Amazon Changing the World, and the Stock Market? The Most Valuable Companies of All-Time TD Bank becomes Canada's biggest money manager with $792-million deal to buy Greystone Managed Investments Banning Embedded Commissions Would Not Have Fixed Financial Advice in Canada Transforming Practices in the Wealth Business: A preliminary assessment of the June 2018 CSA reforms to the client-advisor relationship Not So Predictable In these uncertain times The charts we talked about: Source: Financial Market History: Reflections on the Past for Investors Today, CFA Institute Source: Visual Capitalist For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In our first ever episode of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: The purpose of the podcast How we invest DFA Factor investing Our worst investment ever Tripling our money in JDS Hedge funds still can't beat the market CSA won't deploy a statutory best interest standard The cheapest financial advice may not be the best Is a financial advisor worth it? Cost vs. complexity The stories we talked about: Dave Butler Discusses Finance and Basketball Hedge Funds Should Be Thriving Right Now. They Aren't. 2017 NACUBO-COMMONFUND STUDY OF ENDOWMENTS It just became clear we'll never see an investment industry where clients must come first Why hiring an adviser who's offering low fees could be a terrible move for your finances Podcast 18: Boots on the Ground with Rob Carrick Millennial looking to start investing asks: Should I go with Wealthsimple? For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

In Episode 2 of the Rational Reminder podcast we discussed the following: The underperformance of value stocks Are we in a Winner Take All market? Facebook's crash Global value performance Canadian value premium at ~+5.5% Rebalancing into the pain Factor diversification Having a philosophy and sticking with it Index fund flows are slowing down in the US Canadian active funds are still dominating passive ETFs Markets are still efficient Deciding to be an index investor takes work Fewer highly skilled active managers make markets more efficient Canadians might need to buy real estate to retire Doctors were sold out by MD Management Should you listen to the yield curve? Michael Batnick's chart crimes DFA's weights vs. the S&P 500 weights The stories we talked about: Don't cry over underperforming US value stocks O'Shaughnessy Quarterly Investor Letter Q2 2018 Index Funds Are Going to Be Just Fine The growth of index investing has not made markets less efficient People Aren't Dumb. The World Is Hard. Many doctors feel "betrayed" by sale of MD Financial Management Earth to investment advisers: You're blowing it with millennials Arguing With the Yield Curve Robot vs. human: When you should invest with robo advisors The charts we talked about: Image source: Michael Batnick For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com