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Lane MacDonald is the Chief Investment Officer of SCS Financial, a registered investment adviser and OCIO platform with approximately $46 billion in assets under management. Lane was a U.S. Olympic hockey player and Hobey Baker award winner as the best player in college hockey in the late '80s, but his aspirations of following in his father's footsteps and playing in the NHL were derailed shortly thereafter by injuries. In the decades since, he spent a dozen years in private equity and the last eighteen as an allocator at institutions ranging from the Harvard endowment to the family office for the owners of Fidelity, and now SCS. Our conversation traces Lane's path from the rink to investing, and from dealmaker to allocator, examining what separates great investors from good ones. We discuss the importance of domain expertise, sector selection, alignment, and identification of a durable edge and structural alpha in increasingly efficient markets. We close with Lane's outlook on private markets and the lessons from hockey, endowments, and family offices that inform the team-oriented platform at SCS. Learn more about our Strategic Investments: Old Well Labs. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Today's guest is Richard Bernstein, Chief Investment Officer of Richard Bernstein Advisors, which he founded in 2009. He was previously the Chief Investment Strategist at Merrill Lynch. In today's episode, Richard argues that the market is defined by rampant speculation and extreme narrowness. He explains why he's bullish on both dividend-paying and international stocks and believes crypto is the first global investment bubble. To close, he warns that corporate credit is priced for perfection, inflation risks aren't gone, and diversification is the best defense in a bubble-prone market. (0:00) Starts (1:20) Richard on market narrowness & speculation (6:21) The Earnings Expectations Life Cycle (12:33) Non-US stocks are undervalued (18:38) Small cap trends and long-term investment themes (24:14) American Industrialization Renaissance (27:10) Corporate credit risk (33:42) Is the Fed independent? (36:38) Is crypto the first global investment bubble? (41:11) The importance of financial history (46:07) Richard's most memorable investment ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Sponsor: Join Alpha Architect's LIVE webinar Feb 3rd to learn if a 351 Exchange may fit your clients' needs. Before the webinar, visit Alpha Architect's 351 Education Center for use cases, tools, FAQs, upcoming launches, and more. ----- Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at Feedback@TheMebFaberShow.com ----- Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. ----- Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! -----Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick is the CEO of The Rohatyn Group, a global emerging markets and real assets investment firm he founded in 2002 that manages $7 billion across public and private markets. Nick previously spent two decades leading JP Morgan's emerging markets business across multiple cycles and served on the bank's Executive Committee. He also served as the founding chair of the Emerging Market Traders Association and later as chair of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association. Nick's worldview is also shaped by his international family history of doing well while doing good. His grandfather, Clarence Streit, was a longtime New York Times foreign correspondent, and his father, Felix Rohatyn, was one of the most influential financiers of his generation. Our conversation traces Nick's path from his international upbringing to capital markets innovation at JP Morgan and the founding of TRG. We discuss his multi-asset class, horizontal investment approach to emerging markets, problems of emerging market benchmarks, necessity of diversification in surviving volatile cycles, importance of currency management, and value of creating scale through acquisitions. We close with Nick's views on the opportunity ahead and his ambition to build a leading global, multi-asset class emerging markets firm. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
What if financial planning were approached the same way engineers design aircraft, medical treatments, or complex systems—with clearly defined objectives, constraints, and rigorous trade-off analysis? In this episode, Benjamin Felix is joined by Braden Warwick for a deep dive into what it means to engineer financial outcomes. Drawing on Braden's background as a PhD-trained mechanical engineer and his work building financial planning software at PWL Capital, the conversation reframes financial planning as a design problem rather than a speculative exercise. They explore the critical distinction between a financial plan and a financial projection, why uncertainty does not invalidate good planning, and how professional communication under uncertainty can build trust with clients—especially those from technical backgrounds. The discussion highlights the importance of goals-based planning, sensitivity analysis, and explicitly quantifying trade-offs when clients have multiple competing objectives. Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:04) Introduction to Episode 393 and the return of Braden Warwick (0:02:50) Braden's role at PWL and his experience deploying Conquest Planning software (0:05:46) The tension between low industry entry barriers and professional standards in financial planning (0:07:54) Braden's background in mechanical engineering and academia 0:09:33) Financial plans vs. financial projections: why uncertainty doesn't make a plan "wrong" (0:12:59) Lessons from medicine and engineering on communicating decisions under uncertainty (0:15:15) An engineering framework for financial planning: objectives first, then solutions (0:18:42) Why surface-level goals like "minimize tax" or "maximize returns" often miss what really matters (0:21:19) Evaluating plans against goals using projections, scenario analysis, and sensitivity analysis (0:24:28) Why sensitivity analysis helps planners focus on what actually drives outcomes (0:29:27) Handling multiple competing goals using trade-off analysis and Pareto frontiers (0:36:46) Practical ways planners can present trade-offs without complex math (0:39:25) Case study setup: professional financial planning with corporate clients (0:40:20) Salary vs. dividends for business owners when optimizing for legacy goals (0:44:26) Why financial planning software outputs can be misleading without context (0:48:23) The importance of understanding how planning software calculates key metrics (0:50:22) Using PWL's free retirement tool to analyze CPP and OAS timing decisions (0:53:44) Approximating Monte Carlo outcomes using standard error of the mean (0:56:16) Linking "bad" and "terrible" outcomes to plan success probabilities (0:58:44) How CPP and OAS deferral affects sustainable spending and downside protection (1:02:46) What makes PWL's CPP calculator different from typical break-even tools (1:05:15) Why wage inflation assumptions materially affect CPP deferral decisions (1:07:46) Closing framework: goals, constraints, sensitivity analysis, and quantified trade-offs (1:09:36) Financial planning as an emerging discipline rooted in engineering-style thinking Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
You don't have time to sift through endless financial content. That's why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. Sign up for my newsletter. ----- Ever wondered where your retirement plan's "probability of success" really comes from? In this episode, Peter pulls back the curtain on the assumptions inside Monte Carlo analysis—and explains why Plancorp anchors its projections to long-term base rates instead of short-term forecasts. Listen now and learn: ► The three numbers that quietly drive most Monte Carlo projections ► The four common ways advisors choose capital market assumptions—and why they differ ► Why "more sophisticated" assumptions can sometimes create more error, not less ► How to think about your plan's probability of success without getting lost in the math Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com) Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.
This week is a special episode. Only David Senra could get me to be on the other side of the mic. Because I don't plan on being interviewed often, I wanted to share this conversation, which I so enjoyed, with our audience. It went in a very different direction than I expected. We barely talk about investing or interviewing. Instead, we talk about finding an organizing principle for life, undiscovered talent, and the idea that “the reward for good work is more work.” We also discuss the principles that guide how I think about building Invest Like the Best, Colossus, and Positive Sum. This conversation was originally recorded and released on David Senra, and I wanted to share on the Invest Like The Best feed as well. Please go follow what he's doing, there's no one like David. Enjoy! For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Visit vanta.com/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by Rogo. Rogo is an AI-powered platform that automates accounts payable workflows, enabling finance teams to process invoices faster and with greater accuracy. Learn more at Rogo.ai/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. Visit WorkOS.com to transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit ridgelineapps.com. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:26) Intro (00:05:14) The Joy of Championing Undiscovered Talent (00:07:33) How One Tweet Changed David's Life (00:10:16) The Upanishads Passage That Shaped Patrick's Worldview (00:15:32) Growth Without Goals (00:17:24) Why Media and Investing Are the Same Thing (00:33:05) The Search for True Understanding (00:35:36) The Daniel Ek Dinner That Launched David's Podcast (00:39:02) Making Your Own Recipe From the Ingredients of Great Lives (00:43:46) The Privilege of a Lifetime Is Being Who You Are (00:52:06) Bruce Springsteen (00:57:23) Clean Fuel vs Dirty Fuel: The Source of Your Ambition (01:01:43) The Unfair Advantage of Podcasting (01:04:12) Relationships Run the World (01:11:10) The Origin Story of Invest Like the Best (01:12:45) Building Colossus: Why Start a Magazine in 2025 (01:18:42) People Are More Interested in People Than Anything Else (01:22:12) Hiring Through Output (01:26:23) Learn, Build, Share, Repeat (01:30:01) The Daisy Chain: How Reading Books Led to Everything (01:33:15) Red on the Color Wheel: Sam Hinkie's Observation (01:40:17) Finding Your Superpower and Becoming More Yourself (01:45:06) Repetition Doesn't Spoil the Prayer: Teaching as Leadership (01:48:11) Life's Work: A Lifelong Quest to Build Something for Others (01:52:00) The Ten Roles Game and What Matters Most (01:59:12) Husband, Father, Grandfather (02:01:52) The Kindest Thing
Willy Walker joins Onward to share how he scaled a small, local mortgage shop into a national real estate finance platform—what he got right, what he'd do differently, and the leadership lessons he learned the hard way. We talk about the pivotal decisions that unlocked Walker & Dunlop's growth, how to lead through a crisis (2008 and COVID), what it really means to be a public-company CEO, and why he's cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.—For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast.Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund's offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Augustus Doricko is Founder and CEO at Rainmaker, a company using cloud seeding, drones, and radar to increase rain and snow as water scarcity and drought intensify across the West. In this episode of Inevitable, the conversation focuses on why cloud seeding—often misunderstood as science fiction or geoengineering—has existed for decades and why it has only recently become possible to prove it actually works.The discussion centers on the industry's core constraint: attribution. For years, operators couldn't measure whether precipitation would have occurred anyway. Doricko explains how advances in dual-polarization radar and targeted flight paths now make it possible to identify human-caused snowfall, unlocking a path to scale.Doricko also walks through Rainmaker's vertically integrated approach, from weather-resistant drones and proprietary radar to software and validation systems, and why the company focuses on snowpack as a bankable water source. The episode also addresses public scrutiny, regulatory bans, and what it takes to build water infrastructure in a category that's easy to misunderstand but increasingly necessary.Episode recorded on Dec 16, 2025 (Published on Jan 20, 2026)In this episode, we cover: [1:53] Cloud seeding vs geoengineering [3:27] How cloud seeding works and its history[9:14] When and how it became commercially deployable [15:28] Advantages of using drones vs manned aircraft [18:34] The limits of today's validation methods [24:54] Why Rainmaker focuses on snowpack first [27:34] Rainmaker's go to market[29:34] Acquiring legacy operators to scale faster[32:40] Why Rainmaker sells services, not water[38:25] State bans, politics, and public backlash[40:39] Chemtrails and Texas flood controversies[47:15] The future of cloud seeding in the US and abroad Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
Hans Swildens is a partner and Head of Industry Ventures at Goldman Sachs. Industry Ventures is one of the pioneers in the secondary market for venture capital, managing several billion in assets across LP stakes, direct secondaries, and primary fund investments. In October of 2025, Goldman Sachs announced they were acquiring Industry Ventures in a deal worth over $900 million dollars. In this episode of World of DaaS, Hans and Auren discuss:The evolution of secondaries from distressed deals to 70% of VC exits Why Goldman Sachs paid almost $1 billion to acquire Industry Ventures How Industry Ventures uses data from 700+ fund LP positions as a competitive edge The future of venture fund structures and permanent capital vehiclesYou can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Hans Swildens on X at @hansswildens.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Scott Wilson is the CIO at Washington University of St. Louis, where he oversees a $10 billion endowment. Scott joined Wash U three years ago from Grinnell College, where he learned a completely different style of endowment investing than is practiced by others.Our conversation covers Scott's upbringing, early Wall Street career in equity research and derivatives across New York, London and Tokyo, and his leap to Grinnell. We then turn to his applying the Grinnell model at Wash U, transitioning an endowment model portfolio to a concentrated book. We touch on hedge funds and frontier markets and turn to the process of underwriting individual ideas and managers in the context of a concentrated endowment portfolio.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium MembershipEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
David Li is the CTO at Washington University Investment Management Company, where he's led a lean, data‑driven build of the endowment's tech stack. David's path runs from Harvard Management Company to independent consulting to WashU, bringing a builder's mindset to the role.For those not familiar with WashU's concentrated, co-invest heavy approach, Ted sat down with CIO Scott Wilson a while back, and that conversation is replayed in the feed.David shares how a modular architecture with Snowflake at the center gives his team cleaner data, faster changes, and less technical debt; and how clear governance and practical security can make for efficient workflows.We also get into AI adoption in the endowment world - where to use “walled gardens,” and how to spot tools that look great in demos but fall down on data quality. For emerging and seasoned institutions, David shares concrete advice on buy‑versus‑build, vendor selection, and running pilots that surface issues early, plus how to set expectations and give business owners real responsibility so technology actually matches how investors see their portfolios.Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium MembershipEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode brings us to the apex of the wealth channel. We sat down in Goldman Sachs' HQ at 200 West with Sara Naison-Tarajano, a Partner and Global Head of Private Wealth Management Capital Markets and Global Head of Goldman Sachs Apex Family Office Coverage. Sara is also responsible for the One Goldman Sachs Family Office initiative in the Americas.Sara has been at Goldman Sachs for over 26 years, where she's worked in a number of roles across the firm, equipping her with a multi-disciplinary background that is brought to bear in her current role leading a global platform that delivers multi-asset investing, financing, and direct investment opportunities to some of the world's largest family offices. Goldman Sachs Apex Family Office Coverage now serves more than 600 family offices across the globe.Sara and I had a fascinating discussion about the growing intersection between private markets and private wealth and what some of the wealth channel's largest investors find interesting and differentiated in private markets. We covered:How Sara expected to spend one year at Goldman and it turned into 26 years at the firm.How her background in derivatives structuring in public markets has helped her approach private markets – and what investors in private markets can learn from being exposed to public markets.Why Sara decided to create Goldman Sachs Apex to build a dedicated group to help large family offices invest directly into private markets.How Apex is related to Goldman's “One Goldman Sachs” initiative.How the power of the platform helps to differentiate Goldman's wealth management business.What lessons the wealth channel can learn from how the UHNW and billionaire family office segment approaches private markets.Takeaways from the Goldman Sachs Family Office Insights Report.How the wealth channel can engage the next generation clients and how private markets play a role in reaching the next gen.Thanks Sara for coming on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on private markets and working with the wealth channel.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: 26 Years at Goldman Sachs00:59 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast01:05 Meet Sara Naison-Tarajano03:07 Sara's Career Path04:51 Intellectual Curiosity in Finance05:29 The Role of Derivatives06:59 Transition to Wealth Management07:51 Goldman's Culture of Creativity08:48 The Birth of Apex09:12 Why Apex?10:48 Serving Family Offices11:25 The Apex Model12:46 Early Days of Apex14:09 Family Offices and Direct Deals16:12 The Growing Role of Family Offices19:56 Misconceptions About Family Offices23:26 Engaging the Next Generation34:29 Liquidity in Private Markets34:41 Decline in Public Companies34:52 Access to Capital in Private Markets35:14 Emerging Trends in Private Markets35:36 Focus on Secondaries36:02 Family Offices and Secondaries38:19 Goldman's Secondary Market38:56 Goldman's Acquisition of Industry Ventures39:55 Family Offices' Investment Strategies40:14 US vs Global Family Offices40:38 Private Markets and Inflation42:42 Advice for Wealth Channel Investors43:02 Illiquidity Premium in Private Markets43:56 Importance of Vintaging44:28 Evergreen Funds vs Drawdown Funds47:22 International Family Offices49:27 Geopolitical Concerns and Investments52:55 Mega Trends in Investing54:15 Infrastructure and AI56:16 Simple Wealth Management Strategies58:57 Private Credit and Fixed Income01:00:48 Risks in Private Markets01:02:22 Future of Apex and Wealth ManagementEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
ETFs were once almost synonymous with low-cost, sensible investing. But that era is changing fast. In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson introduce and unpack the concept of "ETF slop"—the explosion of complex, high-fee, behaviorally engineered ETFs that are designed to attract assets rather than improve investor outcomes. The trio traces how ETFs evolved from simple index-building tools into wrappers for increasingly speculative strategies. They discuss how the ETF "halo effect" can mislead investors into equating structure with quality, and why innovation in financial products often benefits manufacturers more than end investors. From thematic hype to downside "protection" that isn't what it seems, the episode offers a clear framework for thinking critically about modern ETF offerings. Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:04) Introduction to the Rational Reminder Podcast and the hosts. (0:00:39) Ben introduces the idea of "ETF slop" and why ETFs are no longer synonymous with sensible investing. (2:20) More actively managed ETFs now exist than index-tracking ETFs in the U.S. (3:30) ETFs increasingly engineered to attract assets rather than improve investor outcomes. (4:04) Record ETF launches in 2025: over 1,000 in the U.S. and 300+ in Canada. (6:43) Average management fees on newly launched ETFs rival traditional active mutual funds. (7:47) The ETF "halo effect" and why structure is mistaken for quality. (10:31) What an ETF actually is—and why it's just a wrapper for a strategy. (11:13) The first ETF was launched in Canada and still exists today. (14:40) ETFs as tools for speculation versus long-term investing. (17:08) Evidence that simpler allocation funds reduce harmful investor behavior. (20:35) Why too much product choice can make good investing harder. (21:40) Four categories of ETF slop introduced: thematic, buffer, covered call, and single-stock ETFs. (22:16) Why thematic ETFs appeal to optimism and extrapolation bias. (24:04) Evidence that most thematic ETFs underperform after launch. (26:25) Morningstar data: almost no thematic ETFs outperform over long horizons. (28:55) Why exciting narratives don't translate into superior returns. (31:25) Buffer ETFs explained: capped upside with partial downside protection. (34:31) Research showing high fees, high costs, and inconsistent protection. (38:16) Why simple stock/bond mixes dominate buffer ETFs even in drawdowns. (42:53) Covered calls: high income today, lower total returns tomorrow. (45:48) Why covered call ETFs systematically underperform their underlying assets. (47:38) Income needs can be met more efficiently without covered calls. (48:19) The cult-like following driven by double-digit yield marketing. (49:57) Single-stock ETFs as the "sloppiest" form of ETF slop. (53:44) Leveraged and inverse ETFs magnify volatility and complexity. (56:20) Research showing massive underperformance versus simple benchmarks. (58:56) Why these products resemble speculation more than investing. (1:03:35) Complexity in investment products is strongly linked to poor outcomes. (1:05:48) John Bogle's warning: beware of new and "hot" investment products. (1:06:48) Why ETFs are powerful tools—but only when used correctly. Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Ben Wilson on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wilson/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Get an inside look at what's shaping my thinking. Bi-weekly, I share the top 5 investing and financial planning articles I'm reading—straight to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter. ----- Liz Ann Sonders, Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab, joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually matters for long-term investors heading into 2026. We get past the headline forecasts and into how a seasoned strategist interprets markets in real time—without falling into the traps that trip up most investors. Listen now and learn: ► Why "forecasts" can be useful even when you're not making price targets—and how to use them the right way ► A clearer way to think about what really drove market returns in 2025 (and what many investors missed) ► What to pay attention to with the Fed in 2026, and what's mostly just noise ► A grounded framework for thinking about the U.S. dollar, national debt, and the long-term investor's edge Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions. (03:00) Why Schwab Won't Do Year-End Targets (08:23) How Liz Ann Builds an Outlook: cycles, quadrants, and "better or worse" vs. "good or bad" (13:33) 2025's Biggest Investor Lesson (16:48) The Magnificent Seven Misconception: contribution ≠ performance (21:05) The 2026 Outlook (26:09) The Federal Reserve, Rate Cuts, and a New Fed Chair: why the "C" in FOMC matters (31:39) The US Dollar and Reserve Currency Fears: "there's no replacement for it" (35:19) US National Debt: not a default story, but a long-term "wet blanket on growth" (43:02) Long-Term Investing vs. Gambling: owning vs. hoping, and why "get in/get out" isn't a strategy (47:22) How Liz Ann Sonders Invests Her Own Money (50:16) What's Different Now: post-COVID sentiment, the retail trader, and why psychology got harder (52:55) Where to Find Liz Ann's Research Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com) Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.
My guests today are Tom Digan and Greg Stewart. Tom is the co-founder of Ladder, and Greg is its CEO. Ladder was my first angel investment. What followed over the next seven years is one of the most unlikely and dramatic business stories I've been a part of. Today, Ladder is the number one grossing fitness app in the App Store, approaching $100M in ARR with more than 300,000 paying members. But the path from near death to dominance involved debt collectors, leadership changes, and a full reset during the pandemic. Tom and Greg built Ladder by being relentlessly empirical about their customers, ruthless about prioritization, raising money wherever they could, and doing whatever it took when most founders would have quit. We cover the messy early years when survival meant negotiating creditors, how they found PMF by reading thousands of app store reviews, and how they built a TikTok growth engine with no performance marketing experience. They share their long-term vision for becoming the category winner for health and fitness and the impact of AI and GLP-1s on their business. This is a conversation about how hard it really is to build something valuable, told by two people who lived through all of it. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Visit vanta.com/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by Rogo. Rogo is an AI-powered platform that automates accounts payable workflows, enabling finance teams to process invoices faster and with greater accuracy. Learn more at Rogo.ai/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. Visit WorkOS.com to transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit ridgelineapps.com. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:26) Episode Intro (00:05:45) Ladder: The #1 Fitness App (00:09:28) The Messy, Early Years (00:14:47) Sponsors (00:16:20) The Darkest Point (00:18:17) Why Greg Joined Ladder (00:19:45) The Turning Point: Ladder 2.0 (00:21:57) The Key to Negotiating with Creditors (00:23:16) Fundraising Challenges and Strategies (00:25:50) Developing Ladder Teams (00:31:31) Listen to Your Customers (00:32:57) Launching Nutrition (00:38:53) Sponsors (00:39:31) Don't Listen to Investors on Product Feedback (00:40:18) The Cave Process (00:43:13) Crossing the Chasm (00:43:53) How to Crack TikTok (00:51:10) The Content Frontier (00:52:07) Controlled Bets at Scale (00:54:19) Why you should Build a B2C Company (00:57:37) The Impact of AI and GLP-1s (01:02:32) Sponsors (01:02:53) Staying Focused on the Core Product (01:05:00) Building the System of Record for Health and Fitness (01:09:45) What It's Like Talking to Investors Now (01:12:32) The Kindest Thing
Philip Johnston is co-founder and CEO of Starcloud, a company building data centers in space to solve AI's power crisis. Starcloud has already launched the first NVIDIA H100 GPU into orbit and is partnering with cloud providers like Crusoe to scale orbital computing infrastructure.As AI demand accelerates, data centers are running into a new bottleneck: access to reliable, affordable power. Grid congestion, interconnection delays, and cooling requirements are slowing the deployment of new AI data centers, even as compute demand continues to surge. Traditional data centers face 5-10 year lead times for new power projects due to permitting, interconnection queues, and grid capacity constraints.In this episode, Philip explains why Starcloud is building data centers in orbit, where continuous solar power is available and heat can be rejected directly into the vacuum of space. He walks through Starcloud's first on-orbit GPU deployment, the realities of cooling and radiation in space, and how orbital data centers could relieve pressure on terrestrial power systems as AI infrastructure scales.Episode recorded on Dec 11, 2025 (Published on Jan 13, 2026)In this episode, we cover: [04:59] What Starcloud's orbital data centers look like (and how they differ from terrestrial facilities)[06:37] How SpaceX Starship's reusable launch vehicles change space economics[10:45] The $500/kg breakeven point for space-based solar vs. Earth [14:15] Why space solar panels produce 8x more energy than ground-based arrays [21:19] Thermal management: Cooling NVIDIA GPUs in a vacuum using radiators [25:57] Edge computing in orbit: Real-time inference on satellite imagery [29:22] The Crusoe partnership: Selling power-as-a-service in space [31:21] Starcloud's business model: Power, cooling, and connectivity [34:18] Addressing critics: What could prevent orbital data centers from workingKey Takeaways:Starcloud launched the first NVIDIA H100 GPU into orbit in November 2024 Space solar produces 8x more energy per square meter than terrestrial solar Breakeven launch cost for orbital data centers: $500/kg Current customers: DOD and commercial Earth observation satellites needing real-time inference Target: 10 gigawatts of orbital computing capacity by early 2030s Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode brings infrastructure investing to life — literally.We sat down in and walked through one of Stonepeak's data center assets with Managing Director and CEO of SP+ INFRA, Cyrus Gentry.Cyrus has played an integral role in Stonepeak's rapid ascent as a firm and the growth of its wealth solutions business, Stonepeak+, joining early in the firm's history and helping the firm grow to approximately $80B in AUM.Cyrus brings a private equity perspective to infrastructure investing. Prior to Stonepeak, he held investing roles at BC Partners and Advent International. He also serves as one of the Church Commissioners for the Church of England, who hold responsibility for managing the Church's £11.1B permanent endowment fund.Cyrus and I had a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion about infrastructure investing and why and how it can fit within a wealth client's portfolio. We covered:How Cyrus' background in private equity investing has transferred over to investing in infrastructure.The opportunity and risks of data center investing.The risk of overbuilding in data centers.Why location matters for data centers.What makes interconnection data centers attractive data center assets.How Cyrus and Stonepeak have built their wealth solutions business and how they've endeavored to be different in how they've built out the business.How Stonepeak's wealth business is a reflection of the firm's DNA.Thanks Cyrus for coming on the show to share your expertise, wisdom, and passion for infrastructure investing and working with the wealth channel.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast02:04 Introducing Cyrus Gentry and Stonepeak00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message03:25 Cyrus's Journey from Private Equity to Infrastructure04:56 Understanding Infrastructure Investing06:10 The Importance of Moats in Infrastructure06:57 Differences Between Private Equity and Infrastructure07:38 Stonepeak's Growth and Strategy09:06 Specialization in Infrastructure Investment09:54 Balancing Long-Term Horizons with Industry Changes11:15 The Role of Data Centers in Modern Life14:43 Investment Perspectives on Connectivity15:55 Challenges in Infrastructure Investing17:10 Executing Value Creation Plans19:06 Structured Capital in Infrastructure Deals21:17 Trends and Scale in Infrastructure Investment22:43 Patience and Discipline in Investment23:34 Global Expansion and Strategy Diversification24:09 Collaborative Approach with Corporates24:42 Capital and Problem Solving25:02 Building Stonepeak Wealth Solutions25:30 Infrastructure Asset Class Benefits25:47 Strategic Planning and Vision26:05 Creation of Stonepeak-Plus26:15 Early Discussions on Wealth Business27:32 Team Dynamics and Entrepreneurial DNA27:59 Understanding the Wealth Market28:56 Educating Investors on Infrastructure29:50 Allocating Infrastructure in Portfolios30:07 Global Perspectives on Infrastructure32:18 Learning from Institutional Investors33:19 Common Questions from Wealth Channel34:02 Mega Trends and Investment Strategies34:46 Core, Core Plus, and Value Add Assets36:12 AI and Data Centers40:20 Power and Energy in Data Centers42:34 Local and Global Investment Strategies44:12 Geopolitical Risks and Infrastructure46:36 Lessons Learned and Future OutlookEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive and Research Director of the Stanford Research Initiative on Long-Term Investing. Over the last two decades, Ashby has worked closely with some of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds and pension funds on governance, organizational design, technology, and investment strategy. He is also a co-founder of KDX Management, a venture capital firm focused on investech, a co-founder of several startups in the space, and a repeat past guest on the show. His first and most recent appearances are replayed in the feed. Our conversation explores the increasingly popular Total Portfolio Approach, Ashby's perspective on the role of AI and data in the investment office of the future, including his work with Hoopit AI, a very cool relationship intelligence platform, and examples of innovation at Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the New Mexico State Investment Council. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive and Research Director of the Stanford University Global Projects Center. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford, a Senior Advisor to the Chief Investment Officer of the University of California, and the co-founder of Long Game. Ashby advises sovereign wealth funds and large pension funds, and is involved with a bunch of fin tech companies, all of which attempt to create innovative solutions to fixing the financial future for individuals, pensions and countries in the years ahead. Our conversation starts with Ashby's early work experience and path through academia, and flows into an exploration of next generation, lower cost approaches to active management for large asset owners. We touch on investing in public equity, private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds using examples from the Canadian and Australian pensions, New Zealand Super Fund, and University of California endowment. Lastly, we discuss Long Game, an innovative company seeking to improve personal savings in the U.S. Ashby is a passion-driven, creative thinker who rightfully has the ear of some of the most important pools of capital in the world. His ideas will change the way you think about allocating capital. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive & Research Director of the Stanford Research Initiative on Long-Term Investing. Ashby has studied and advised the largest asset owners in the world for more than twenty years with a particular interest in how to improve outcomes for their beneficiaries and the world. Ash also serves as the Head of Research at Addepar, a fintech company that helps investors make smarter decisions. He has twice appeared on the show – as the 29th guest back in 2017 and again two years ago – and those conversations are replayed in the feed. Our conversation starts with a recent paper Ashby published called Investor Identity: The Ultimate Driver of Returns. We discuss the descriptors of identity and enabling factors that determine each investor's fingerprint. From there, we dive into technology as an enabler and how technological innovation can improve returns. We then turn to ESG investing and another of Ashby's recent papers, Submergence = Drawdown + Recovery, that discusses the importance of considering the combined drawdown and recovery period in making investment decisions. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Glenn Hubbard is Dean Emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. He served as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003 and was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury. He has served on the boards of BlackRock, ADP, MetLife, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.In this episode of World of DaaS, Glenn and Auren discuss:Why consumer sentiment contradicts economic indicatorsThe Fed's impossible dilemma on rate cutsSmarter tariff policy and growthWhy most MBA programs are ROI negativeLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Glenn Hubbard on LinkedIn.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Financial planning is built on assumptions — about markets, inflation, longevity, human behaviour, and even the questions clients bring into the room. In this episode, Ben and Braden welcome a diverse panel that originally came together at the FP Canada Conference to explore how those assumptions influence planning outcomes in practice. Joining them are Adam Chapman, a retirement-focused planner who helps clients turn their money into memories; Joe Nunes, an actuary with decades of pension and longevity experience; and Aaron Theilade, Director of Continuing Education at FP Canada. Together, the panel unpacks how to make assumptions credible, how to stress-test them, how to navigate client bias, and how planners can blend math with humanity to create better client outcomes. Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:04) Why this episode: recreating a conference panel on planning assumptions. (0:01:03) Braden on the panel's value for planners and DIY investors. (0:02:32) Meet the guests: Adam, Joe, Aaron, and Braden. (0:06:04) Assumptions matter: directional accuracy > prediction. (0:07:47) Actuarial view: start with inflation, bond yields, and risk capacity. (0:09:38) Engineering mindset: plan for expected and unexpected outcomes. (0:13:21) Client pushback: longevity surprises and hidden assumptions. (0:16:59) Asset allocation: strategic, goal-based, informed by behaviour. (0:20:57) Software limits: life is too variable for perfect modeling. (0:22:01) Behaviour gap: retirees spend less over time despite inflation. (0:25:18) Software guides; planners interpret and humanize outputs. (0:28:48) Use assumptions based on the specific question (e.g., withdrawals). (0:30:31) Always ask: "Why are we modeling this?" (0:34:15) Handling bias: reframe assumptions to reveal inconsistencies. (0:38:19) Assumptions evolve: returns, spending, and research all change. (0:42:38) Longevity beliefs: explore "why," not just the data. (0:50:38) Core truth: every plan is wrong — planning is iterative. (0:52:20) When to update: depends on age, goals, and material changes. (0:57:23) PWL approach: twice-yearly updates + adjustments during extremes. (1:00:03) Tips: focus on behaviour, communication, goals, and integration. (1:10:02) Success: relationships, impact, freedom, and sharing knowledge. Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Today we're breaking down Databricks, a $130B private company that helps companies collect, store, and process very large amounts of data, and then use that data to run analytics and train machine learning models. Databricks sits in the middle of modern data systems, connecting raw data pipelines to the tools teams use to analyze information and build AI. If you've worked on large-scale data or AI projects, there's a good chance Databricks was part of the stack, often operating behind the scenes. My guest is Alan Tu, portfolio manager and analyst at WCM Investment Management, which invested in Databricks in late 2024. Alan explains what Databricks actually does for customers, why it remains one of the least understood large private software companies, and how its academic origins and founding team shaped its evolution from an early data-engineering product into a broad commercial platform. We also discuss common misconceptions about the business, how Databricks fits into the modern AI stack, what has changed since the last time we covered the company, and how its scale, product strategy, and capital position differentiate it from competitors. Note: This conversation was recorded on December 10, 2025, so all numbers are reflective of what was publicly available on that date. Please enjoy this breakdown of Databricks. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. —- This episode is brought to you by Portrait Analytics - your centralized resource for AI-powered idea generation, thesis monitoring, and personalized report building. Built by buy-side investors, for investment professionals. We work in the background, helping surface stock ideas and thesis signposts to help you monetize every insight. In short, we help you understand the story behind the stock chart, and get to "go, or no-go" 10x faster than before. Sign-up for a free trial today at portraitresearch.com — Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:02:34) Introducing Databricks and Guest Alan Tu (00:03:22) Understanding Databricks' Core Functionality (00:09:15) The Founding Story of Databricks (00:23:54) Databricks' Evolution and Product Expansion (00:30:06) Databricks vs. Snowflake: Market Competition (00:35:36) Databricks' Strategic Vision and Market Impact (00:38:14) The Rise of Big Data and Databricks' Core Value (00:39:27) Understanding Databricks Through a Credit Card Fraud Use Case (00:44:35) Databricks' Role in AI and Machine Learning (00:51:12) The Competitive Landscape and Cloud Partnerships (00:54:54) Financial Dynamics and Pricing Strategies (01:09:37) The Future of Databricks: Risks and Long-Term Vision (01:12:54) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
You don't have time to sift through endless financial content. That's why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. Sign up for my newsletter. ----- In this Talking Shop episode, I sit down with Rubin Miller for an unscripted conversation about why market forecasts fail, how advisors actually set return assumptions, and where investors most often misunderstand risk. We move freely from prediction season and capital market assumptions to investor behavior, bonds, and cash—focusing less on what markets will do next and more on how to build a plan you can stick with when narratives get loud. Listen and learn: ► Why short-term market predictions distract from what really drives long-term outcomes ► How ranges and probabilities lead to better financial plans than point forecasts ► What most investors get wrong about bonds, cash, and "playing it safe" ► Why the biggest investing mistakes come from narratives, not numbers Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions. [02:00] – Market Forecasting and "Prediction Season": Why One-Year Outlooks Mislead [03:10] – Financial Planning Return Assumptions: Using Ranges and Probabilities (Not Point Estimates) [06:41] – Portfolio Construction Basics: Stocks Are Stocks, Bonds Are Tools [15:56] – Setting Investor Expectations: What Forecasts Can and Can't Do [21:01] – Behavioral Finance in Real Time: Volatility vs the Narrative Investors Fear [23:45] – Market Timing Bias: "I Knew This Would Happen" and Why It's Dangerous [29:39] – Risk Management: Probability vs Magnitude (How Investors Blow Up a Good Plan) [32:21] – Bond Strategy: Building a Portfolio You Can Stick With (Not the Highest Return) [38:30] – Cash Management: Ultra-Short Bond Funds, HYSAs, and the 2022 Hangover Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com) Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.
My guest today is Reed Hastings, the co-founder and former longtime CEO of Netflix. Netflix is an example of two ideas that everyone talks about, but are extremely hard to do in practice. The first is finding a simple idea and taking it extraordinarily seriously. Reed talks about how even the DVD business was nothing more than a stepping stone toward streaming, which they envisioned from the company's inception in 1997. The second is talent density, and what it actually takes to set and sustain an exceptionally high bar over decades as a company grows. We talk about how those ideas shaped Netflix's culture and strategy, what Reed learned from mistakes like Qwikster, and why Netflix treated content like a venture portfolio. We also discuss Reed's work today. He shares how he's thinking about AI, what he's learned from serving on the boards of Microsoft, Meta, Anthropic, and Bloomberg, and what excites him about Powder Mountain, the ski resort he acquired after Netflix. Please enjoy my conversation with Reed Hastings. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Visit vanta.com/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by Rogo. Rogo is an AI-powered platform that automates accounts payable workflows, enabling finance teams to process invoices faster and with greater accuracy. Learn more at Rogo.ai/invest. ----- This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. Visit WorkOS.com to transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit ridgelineapps.com. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps (00:00:00) Sponsors (00:03:33) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:29) Intro (00:05:43) Sponsors (00:07:16) The Concept of Talent Density (00:11:19) Evaluating Talent (00:13:47) Managing on the Edge of Chaos (00:14:51) Why Netflix Gave Large Severance Packages (00:16:37) The Keeper's Test (00:17:07) The Qwikster Mistake (00:19:15) The Informed Captain (00:20:39) How to Come Up with Good Ideas (00:22:32) Transitioning to Streaming (00:23:05) Being on the Board of Facebook, Microsoft, Anthropic & Bloomberg (00:26:25) The Role of a Board Member (00:29:37) Sponsors (00:30:15) Why Netflix Had Open Compensation (00:32:04) Netflix's Content Strategy (00:37:52) Competing with YouTube and Traditional TV (00:39:23) Creating Hit Content (00:40:02) Impact of AI on Netflix (00:41:24) Innovations in Show Formats (00:43:23) Sponsors (00:43:44) Netflix's Technology Backbone (00:45:29) Expanding into Gaming (00:46:06) Lessons from Failed Projects (00:47:30) Financial Strategy and Capital Allocation (00:50:27) Stepping Down as CEO (00:50:52) Powder Mountain (00:56:08) Focus on Education and AI (00:59:00) Risks and Benefits of AI (01:00:56) The Kindest Thing (01:02:56) Sponsors
Mathew Passy, co-founder of SuiteRecording and Conntap, two innovative ventures helping professionals and creators share their voices and grow their presence both online and in person.Through SuiteRecording, a full-service content studio in South Jersey, and Conntap, an NFC-based microcasting system, Mathew empowers businesses and creators to connect their audiences effortlessly and promote their work in real-world interactions.Now, Mathew's journey from running The Podcast Consultant - a successful production agency serving financial professionals - to building two new ventures demonstrates the resilience and creativity it takes to keep evolving in the fast-moving world of content creation.And while balancing entrepreneurship with family life, twin parenthood, and the roller coaster of building something new, he continues to chase the freedom that first drew him into business ownership.Here's where to find more:conntap.comsuiterecording.comrescuemypodcast.comfacebook.com/mathewpassylinkedin.com/in/mathewpassy________________________________________________Welcome to The Unforget Yourself Show where we use the power of woo and the proof of science to help you identify your blind spots, and get over your own bullshit so that you can do the fucking thing you ACTUALLY want to do!We're Mark and Katie, the founders of Unforget Yourself and the creators of the Unforget Yourself System and on this podcast, we're here to share REAL conversations about what goes on inside the heart and minds of those brave and crazy enough to start their own business. From the accidental entrepreneur to the laser-focused CEO, we find out how they got to where they are today, not by hearing the go-to story of their success, but talking about how we all have our own BS to deal with and it's through facing ourselves that we find a way to do the fucking thing.Along the way, we hope to show you that YOU are the most important asset in your business (and your life - duh!). Being a business owner is tough! With vulnerability and humor, we get to the real story behind their success and show you that you're not alone._____________________Find all our links to all the things like the socials, how to work with us and how to apply to be on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/unforgetyourself
Kurt Terrani is CEO of Standard Nuclear, a company focused on a part of nuclear energy that gets far less attention than reactor designs but can become the true bottleneck: fuel.In this episode, Kurt provides a nuclear fuels 101, walking through the front end of the fuel cycle from uranium processing and enrichment to fabrication. He explains in plain terms what makes TRISO fuel different, why it appears so frequently in next-generation reactor designs, and how fuel performance shapes reactor economics, safety, and scalability.The conversation also unpacks Standard Nuclear's origin story, which emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring of UltraSafe Nuclear, and explores a future where reactor-agnostic fuel suppliers replace vertically integrated fuel strategies to unlock faster deployment across advanced nuclear technologies.Episode recorded on Dec 4, 2025 (Published on Jan 6, 2026)In this episode, we cover: [1:53] An overview of Standard Nuclear[3:26] Nuclear's history in Oak Ridge, TN[6:07] The nuclear fuel cycle [8:35] US involvement and ownership in this cycle[10:17] TRISO fuel or coated particle fuel[17:56] Why enrichment access constrains deployment [21:43] Government's role bridging fuel supply gaps[24:03] Why reactor companies try vertical integration[26:26] Standard Nuclear's origin story [28:51] Why fuel must become a commodity[33:42] The case for standardizing TRISO specs[39:20] Challenges of building a fuels company Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
Omar Tawakol is the CEO and founder of Rembrand, an AI-powered virtual product placement company. He founded BlueKai, a data management platform acquired by Oracle for $400M+ in 2014, and Voicera, an AI meeting assistant acquired by Cisco in 2019. He currently serves on the board of The Trade Desk and as a General Partner at super{set}.In this episode of World of DaaS, Omar and Auren discuss:Why virtual billboards work better than 3D product placementHow AI eliminates two-year product placement negotiationsWhy virtual placement grew 10x faster internationally than in the USThe mistakes repeat founders make at scaleLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Omar Tawakol on X at @otawakol.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Bill Krueger is the CTO at Yale's Investment Office. Bill's unconventional path spans defense contracting, tech consulting, and a 13-year run at Bridgewater Associates before landing at Yale.Bill shares how to operate in a radically transparent culture, tighten feedback loops between decisions and outcomes, and managing the messy realities of growth, bureaucracy, and leadership. Those experiences shaped Bill's views on trust, talent, and where technology truly differentiates.We turn to Bill's move to the LP side at Yale where his mandate is to modernize and innovate. He explains his approach to enhancing infrastructure while partnering with key stakeholders; why he favors deep vendor partnerships over a large in-house tech team, and his views on taking a pragmatic approach to AI and the limits of traditional data lake thinking in an allocator context.For GPs and LPs, Bill offers actionable advice on avoiding the speed-versus-quality trap, staying close to the work as a practitioner, and designing tech and data foundations that can scale over time.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium MembershipEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode takes us inside the world of wealth from the perspective of one of the industry's largest alternative asset managers that has made the wealth channel core to its firm's DNA from the beginning.We sat down with Sean Connor, Senior Managing Director and the President & CEO of Global Private Wealth at Blue Owl Capital, a firm with almost $300B in AUM. Sean highlighted a number of key insights for navigating and working with the wealth channel as he shared lessons learned from building a successful private wealth business at a large alternative asset manager.Sean is responsible for bringing the breadth of the Blue Owl investment platform to the global private wealth market. He's at the forefront of Blue Owl's private wealth initiatives globally and oversees fund formation, product structure innovation, capital raising, and client servicing. He also oversees business development, marketing, and operations for Private Wealth at the firm. Prior to his current role, Sean was one of the first employees at Owl Rock (now the Direct Lending division of Blue Owl) and was responsible for building out the private wealth business.Prior to joining Blue Owl and Owl Rock, Sean served as a Managing Director of CION Investment Management for over 10 years. Sean was a member of CION's Investment Committee and was responsible for all aspects of CION's business including originating, underwriting, and negotiating corporate finance transactions globally. In 2020, Sean was recognized by Private Debt Investor as one of the industry's Rising Stars.Sean and I had a fascinating conversation about what it's like to work with the wealth channel. We discussed:The biggest drivers of AUM growth for Blue Owl and how the wealth channel has been a major part of the firm's story of scale.Lessons learned from growing and scaling a private wealth business in the US and internationally.The differences between the wealth channel a few years ago and the wealth channel today.What the wealth channel wants and needs from its alternative asset manager partners.Why Blue Owl focuses on investing in megatrends, like AI, digital infrastructure, and private credit.The opportunity in the 401(k) and retirement channels.Thanks Sean for coming back on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on private markets and private wealth.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus, our Sponsor01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast and Episode Overview02:10 Guest Introduction: Sean Connor04:07 Growth Drivers for Blue Owl04:45 Diversification and Market Strategy05:17 Focus on Private Credit and Real Assets06:54 Brand Essence and Market Leadership11:25 Client Education and The Nest14:21 Implementation Challenges in Wealth Channel17:56 Customization in Wealth Management19:20 Product Structuring and Client Needs23:41 International Expansion and Market Strategy26:23 Building Brand Internationally28:01 Maintaining Entrepreneurial Culture28:42 Challenges and Success in Scaling30:38 Future Growth Areas in Wealth Business30:42 Evolution of the Wealth Business31:08 Expanding Product Strategies31:37 Growth Opportunities in the US Market32:23 Global Expansion and Execution33:01 Retirement Market Potential34:10 Bringing Parity to Retirement Ecosystem35:19 Challenges and Opportunities in Retirement35:39 Regulatory Changes and Education36:38 Long-Term Investment Strategies39:03 Private Credit and Direct Lending40:47 Market Structure and Underwriting43:47 Competition and Market Share45:54 Private Companies and Direct Lending47:56 Digital Infrastructure and AI50:18 AI Bubble Concerns51:46 Risk Management in Digital Infrastructure55:11 Focus on Downside Protection56:12 Future Investment Strategies57:23 Excitement for the Future59:13 Closing RemarksEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.
Today's episode continues our ongoing mini-series covering organizations that have proven to be great training grounds of talent. There may be none larger and quieter than Capital Group, the $3.2 trillion global asset manager whose 650-person investment team and 9,400 associates have historically experienced a fraction of the turnover of industry norms. My guest is Mike Gitlin, the CEO of Capital Group, known for its long-term philosophy, private ownership, and multi-manager investment system. Founded in 1931 by Johnathan Bell Lovelace, Capital Group is one of the industry's largest and most enduring active managers. Mike joined the firm as a lateral hire in 2015, after more than two decades across the buy side, sell side, hedge funds, and global markets. Our exploration of Capital Group covers Mike's path through the investment industry, Capital's approach to recruiting and training talent, ownership model, client-centric focus, Capital System investment model, organization of a large, global team, and new product development. We close with Capital Group's five-year strategic plan as it approaches the firm's hundred-year anniversary in 2031. I've been fascinated by Capital for most of my life, as it was the professional home for my uncle, the late Jim Rothenberg, for his entire 45 year career. It is a privilege for me to share this conversation with memories of Uncle Jim in mind. Learn more about our Strategic Investments: Old Well Labs, Thema, and Ascension Data. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
My guest today is Cullen Roche, Chief Investment Officer at Orcam Financial Group and Discipline Funds. His latest book is Your Perfect Portfolio: The ultimate guide to using the world's most powerful investing strategies. In today's episode, Cullen walks through the principles of portfolio construction. He emphasizes the importance of viewing investments as a means of savings rather than a quick path to wealth. Cullen explores the significance of time horizons in investment decisions, why real returns are what matter, and the origins of the 60/40 portfolio. (0:00) Starts (1:38) Principles of portfolio construction (6:12) Real vs nominal returns (11:01) Asset allocation and time horizon considerations (26:59) Evaluating the role of government bonds in portfolios (30:21) Origins of the 60/40 portfolio (37:44) The forward cap portfolio (46:49) The concept of duration in investing (56:23) Disciplined Funds (1:02:39) Asset liability matching (1:03:15) Factors influencing investor behavior ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok ----- Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at Feedback@TheMebFaberShow.com ----- Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. ----- Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's move past the tired “Is AI a bubble?” debate and ask the bigger question: What happens after the buildout—when trillions of dollars of AI data centers translate into real economic output. Co-hosts Ben Miller and Cardiff Garcia frame AI as a new kind of factory—massive capex producing tokens that can be converted into real white-collar work. Then Ben grounds it with concrete Fundrise examples—AI handling a large share of customer support, strengthening cybersecurity workflows, reshaping marketing/copywriting, and boosting engineering productivity—before zooming out to the macro implications: faster growth, disinflationary pressure, shifting labor vs. capital dynamics, and the possibility of lower rates if productivity wins out. They also wrestle with the messy part—how adoption, politics, and policy could determine whether AI becomes a broad-based win, a lopsided win-lose, or a stagnation-inducing backlash—and close on practical ideas for adaptation, especially for younger workers. — For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund's offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
In this first episode of 2026, we sit down for a deep dive into one of the hottest concerns coming from clients and listeners lately: Is the U.S. stock market dangerously concentrated—and are we in an AI bubble? Ben, Dan, and Ben unpack the data, the history, and the psychology behind today's valuations, drawing lessons from past episodes of market euphoria such as Nortel in Canada, the dot-com boom, and Japan's 1989 peak. They explain why high market valuations—not concentration—pose the bigger challenge, how bubbles historically fuel real economic innovation while hurting investors, and why diversification continues to offer the only reliable protection against unknowable futures. Along the way, they revisit examples of how value stocks, small-cap value, and global diversification have fared across different market regimes. Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:40) What RR is about: evidence-based insights, synthesis episodes, expert interviews, and long-form inquiry — not debates. (0:04:20) Why listeners value RR: transparency, friendly inquiry, returning to topics over time, and the hosts' dynamic. (0:09:25) Rising concern: clients asking whether U.S. market concentration and an AI bubble mean it's time to exit stocks. (0:11:10) Advisors echo similar worries: U.S. politics, all-time highs, and emotional decision-making. (0:14:20) Today's data point: Top seven U.S. stocks = 36% of S&P 500; 32% of the total U.S. market — highest on record. (0:16:10) Why people fear concentration: a decline in the Magnificent Seven could meaningfully drag down the index. (0:17:30) Canada's cautionary tale: Nortel once hit 36% of the TSX — collapsed to zero — but the market recovered by 2005. (0:21:20) Bubbles through history: canals, railways, fiber optics, dot-coms — innovation funded by speculation. (0:25:30) Dot-com parallels: huge ideas, low cost of capital, lots of failures — but lasting infrastructure remained. (0:28:40) AI dominance: Since ChatGPT, AI-linked companies drove 75% of S&P returns, 80% of earnings growth, 90% of capex. (0:31:15) Reminder: No bubble calls — just context. High prices don't equal an inevitable crash. (0:33:10) Concentration vs. valuation: concentration shows weak links to future returns; valuations matter far more. (0:35:05) Market timing trap: U.S. valuations were high in 2021 — selling then would have been disastrous. (0:36:40) The U.S. lost decade: 2000–2010 returns were flat; in CAD, recovery didn't happen until 2013. (0:38:55) Value stocks held up: U.S. value and small-cap value delivered positive returns while broad indexes stagnated. (0:41:00) Recency bias reminder: Canadians once avoided U.S. stocks entirely after a decade of underperformance. (0:44:05) Japan 1989: World's largest market crashes — still not recovered in real terms 36 years later. (0:47:10) Global diversification wins: A 40% Japan-weighted global portfolio still performed fine thanks to U.S. growth. (0:49:00) Cross-country data: Many markets are far more concentrated than the U.S. — still delivered solid returns. (0:52:30) Valuation evidence: Higher CAPE = lower future returns — economically strong pattern across countries. (0:55:40) Core lesson: Diversification + discipline. You will always hold winners and losers — that's the point. (0:57:55) Practical ways to lower concentration risk: global equity funds, small caps, and Canada's 10% cap rule. (1:00:30) Why active managers don't help: only ~30–47% outperform depending on concentration trend. (1:03:25) Final takeaway: high valuations may imply lower returns, but prediction is impossible — stay diversified. (1:05:15) After-show review: Addressing a one-star critique ("Fartcoin Designer") with humour and community context. Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
You don't have time to sift through endless financial content. That's why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. Sign up for my newsletter. ----- In this Talking Shop episode, I sit down with Ashby Daniels for an unscripted, behind-the-scenes conversation about investing, markets, and the behavioral mistakes that quietly derail long-term results. We move freely—from why simplicity keeps winning, to how investors misread risk, to what actually matters when markets feel noisy—without a single hot take in sight. If you've ever wondered how two investment professionals talk when there's no agenda and no sales pitch, this is it. Listen now and learn: ► Why "beating the game" in investing rarely looks like working harder or knowing more ► How narratives—not numbers—drive most investor mistakes during market downturns ► What gets misunderstood about bonds, diversification, and "playing it safe" ► How experienced investors think differently about wealth, risk, and time Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions. [04:15] – Nick Murray's Lasting Influence on Long-Term Investing and Market Thinking [05:45] – Why Investing Education Should Be Short, Simple, and Actionable [08:00] – Challenging Conventional Market Wisdom: Why Time Beats Tactics [09:45] – The Dave & Buster's Investing Lesson: How to "Beat the Game" [15:30] – Everybody Ought to Be Rich: The Power of Long-Term Stock Market Returns [18:30] – The Market Portfolio Explained: Stocks, Bonds, and Investor Distractions [21:15] – Market Corrections and Bear Markets: Why Trees Don't Grow to the Sky [24:30] – All-Stock Portfolios and Risk: When Equities Make Sense [29:45] – Investor Panic Isn't About Volatility—It's About Stories and Expectations [32:45] – Bond Investing, "Safety," and the Hidden Risk to Purchasing Power [35:45] – Private Equity, Gold, and Crypto: What Investors Get Wrong [41:30] – The $100 Million Thought Experiment: Getting Wealthy vs Staying Wealthy [46:00] – Why Timeless Investing Principles Still Win Over Time Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com) Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.
Today, I am replaying my conversation with Nick Kokonas, one of my favorites from the show. Nick is the co-founder of 3 of the best restaurants and bars in America - Alinea, Next, and The Aviary as well as the co-founder and CEO of Tock, a comprehensive booking system for restaurants. He majored in philosophy before becoming a derivatives trader and is now one of the most well-known names in the hospitality industry. In this conversation, Nick shares his experience of bringing a business mindset to the restaurant industry. I'll remember it for why it's so important for a business to really know what it's selling and then actually sell it. Nick also pulls back the curtain on why restaurants and even book publishers can be great businesses if you do them the right way. I felt like this conversation could have gone on for hours and I hope you enjoy it. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at Alpha-Sense.com/Invest and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (03:58) Intro to Nick Kokonas (4:36) – Why it's so important to own something (6:09) – Make decisions that have outcomes (8:34) – His interest in the restaurant business (10:28) – Why restaurants are so tough (13:39) – How their business mindset changed their running of the restaurant (16:09) – Words they would avoid in the restaurant (17:53) – Asking the right questions in the restaurant business (22:14) – Importance in taking the right risks (23:36) – Coming up with innovative strategies for ticketing, selling meals ahead of time, and dynamic pricing (31:42) – Can dynamic pricing be extended to other businesses (32:54) – Origin of Tock (37:51) – Early days of Tock and identifying the right customers/challenges (43:07) – Importance of the first customer (45:56) – The typical restaurant business model (50:57) – Lessons from Tock and the importance of knowing what you're selling (55:21) – Lessons from publishing (57:18) – Other aspects of business that people know but do nothing about (1:01:53) – Their response to Covid and lessons learned (1:09:17) – The real impact to the food delivery companies (1:10:58) – How businesses communicate their end processes to their customers (1:15:41) – The Kindest Thing
This episode is a rebroadcast of Auren's appearance on the We the Builders podcast. We The Builders: https://twitter.com/WeThe_BuildersHost Suffiyan Malik: https://twitter.com/suffiyanmalikkSubstack: https://wethebuilders.us---------------------------------------------------This week I sat down with Auren Hoffman founder, builder, prolific investor, and one of the most connected people in Silicon Valley.Today's episode features Auren Hoffman founder of LiveRamp ($RAMP), Flex Capital, Dialog, Safegraph and NQB8. This is one of the most interesting conversations I have had on the show so far and probably the best.He grew LiveRamp to a $300m exit, has invested in 180+ companies through Flex Capital, a seed stage fund, is chair of Safegraph ($370m data company backed by Sapphire Ventures, Peter Thiel, Ridge Ventures) and is host of World of DaaS, a podcast and community for data nerds.Auren is thinking of and validating new ideas on almost a weekly cadence. He continues to start new companies through NQB8 which includes a few successful spin outs. He also has a great blog post on it if you are interested in exploring different type of spinouts and how you should think about them as a startup.-------------------------------Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and We The Builders on X at WeThe_Builders. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
We're counting down the top 5 episodes of 2025. Coming in at #3 is Tim Sullivan. Tim joined the Yale Investments Office in 1986, a year after David Swensen arrived, and retired this year. In his 39 years in the saddle, he led Yale's private equity investing, which was the biggest return driver in the biggest success story over the last four decades. He shares four decades worth of wisdom and insights in our conversation. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
We're counting down the top 5 episodes of 2025. At #2 is Ian Charles from Arctos Partners. Before founding Arctos alongside Doc O'Connor to dominate the sports investing sector, Ian spent his career creating liquidity solutions in private markets. Arctos' second strategy goes back to his roots, providing solutions for GPs. In all of his work, Ian is intensively research and data-driven, and he brings that to bear to describe the current state of private market businesses. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
We're counting down the top 5 episodes of 2025. Coming in at #1 is the legend, Howard Marks from Oaktree. I waited a while to have Howard on the show to capture a moment where one of his Memos particularly caught my eye. That happened when he wrote 'Gimme Credit' earlier this year. We dive into his thoughts on the implications of the growth of private credit for investors. With that, I hope you sprint to the finish line of this year with all the gusto in your soul, and come out on the other side of the ball drop with renewed excitement, aspirations, and energy for the year ahead. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Today's guest is Jack Ablin, CIO at Cresset Asset Management, which manages over $70 billion AUM. Jack was RIA Intel's “CIO of the Year” for 2022 and was previously the CIO at BMO for 17 years. In today's episode, Jack walks through the ins and outs of investing in founder-led companies and what has led them to historically outperform. He also explains his approach to asset allocation, which structures portfolios based on time horizons rather than traditional asset classes. Finally, he offers an outlook for equities and fixed income next year, discusses private market opportunities, and looks at the future of Cresset Asset Management. (0:00) Starts (1:51) Overview of Cresset Asset Management (6:40) Founder-led companies: Advantages and portfolio impact (19:52) Fixed income and private market investment strategies (26:32) Future prospects in Opportunity Zones and equities (31:15) Currency considerations and foreign investment opportunities (37:01) Jack's most memorable investment ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok ----- Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at Feedback@TheMebFaberShow.com ----- Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. ----- Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Karl Hughes is an agency acquisition entrepreneur, business builder, and advocate for thoughtful leadership in the digital services sector. Best known for scaling Draft.dev to seven figures and then acquiring and growing agencies such as Podcast Consultant, Karl specializes in buying, improving, and uniting niche service companies to unlock their potential. Drawing on years of hands-on entrepreneurship, personal coaching, and navigating rapid industry shifts, Karl empowers business owners with actionable strategies for growth, resilience, and financial clarity, whether they're scaling for the first time or preparing for acquisition. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Karl Hughes joins Robert Plank to share his journey from building content agencies from the ground up to orchestrating successful business acquisitions. Karl breaks down how the pandemic changed agency work, what it really takes to buy and scale small companies, the realities of leadership, and why mental stability is crucial for entrepreneurs. Listeners will learn about the hidden challenges behind running multimillion-dollar agencies, the importance of financial literacy, and the lifelong work of separating personal self-worth from business performance. Karl also offers practical advice on thriving through setbacks, building support networks, and the essential need to embrace discomfort for growth. Quotes: “How do I get my own mental health, my own stability, regardless of the ups and downs of the business... That's my life's work, really.” “The hard part is when either market externalities change and the business needs to change, or you lose a key team member... There's no substitute for rolling your sleeves up and doing hard work.” “Consistency just sticking with it even through the ups and downs and making yourself uncomfortable when you get stuck, those are the key skills.” Resources: Connect with Karl Hughes on LinkedIn Discover Karl Hughes' strategies for agency growth and acquisitions.
In this special year-end episode, Ben and Cameron turn the spotlight inward for a behind-the-scenes look at the Rational Reminder podcast. They're joined by the extended team that keeps the show running—from compliance to editing to marketing—to reflect on a landmark year in the podcast's evolution. We hear from Multimedia Specialist Matt Gambino, Compliance Reviewer Ross Brayton, long-time Marketing Lead Angelica Montagano, and others who share their roles, personal stories, and what the show means to them. Ben and Cameron also discuss the podcast's growth trajectory, the impact of joining OneDigital, standout market events from 2025, and what's ahead for 2026. It's a thoughtful, personal, and often funny conversation that celebrates community, nerdiness, and meaningful work. Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:00) Behind the scenes: Why the entire Rational Reminder team joined the mic for this special episode. (0:01:40) Meet the production crew: From video editing to compliance and marketing. (0:02:54) From 767 to 334,000: How the podcast grew since August 2018. (0:04:40) YouTube's rising role: Now 33% of all podcast consumption. (0:07:24) AMA evolution: How listener Q&As became a regular series in 2025. (0:08:45) Bringing in PWL advisors: Sharing real-world financial planning experience on the pod. (0:10:05) 12,500 members: Rational Reminder Community continues to thrive. (0:11:30) OneDigital acquisition reflections—one year later, no pressure to cut costs or change values. (0:14:23) Compliance-free growth: Maintaining service levels while scaling the firm. (0:15:06) Market surprise of 2025: Canadian small caps up 35%+ year-to-date. (0:16:55) Real estate rewind: National average home prices down 20% since 2022 peak. (0:19:24) Rent declines too: Down 7% YoY in Toronto, 4.4% in Vancouver. (0:20:39) Looking back: A wild year of unexpected returns and market resilience. (0:21:00) A different kind of year-end episode: No highlight reel—just team storytelling. (0:23:53) [Matt Gambino] The editor speaks: Role evolution, creative direction, and 200+ episodes later. (0:28:42) YouTube growth: From 11,000 to 46,000 subs under Matt's watch. (0:32:55) Matt on money: What 4 years editing the pod taught him about finance and happiness. (0:36:54) Defining success: Matt's answer after years of listening to the show. (38:40) [Ross Brayton] Compliance from the inside: What Ross listens for, and why disclaimers got longer. (0:43:05) Ross on investing: From Warren Buffett books to podcast fact-checker. (0:46:11) Planning life after financial independence: Ross poses a thoughtful challenge. (0:47:41) [Angelica Montagano] The original marketer: How the podcast started in a hallway. (0:50:14) Early tech struggles: Mono recordings, brick recorders, and lots of duct tape. (0:51:53) COVID's silver lining: Why lockdowns accelerated the pod's evolution. (0:54:20) Launching the RR Community: From 100-member goal to 12,500+ and counting. (0:55:49) Podcast = Brand: How RR became central to PWL's identity and communication. (0:57:26) What's next: Angelica's dreams for live events and even a coffee table book. (0:59:10) Angelica on investing: From ex-banker cynicism to believer in behavior and psychology. (1:00:38) Favorite moment: Hearing real stories of how listeners' lives have been changed. (1:01:36) Defining success: Impact, confidence, and financial empowerment. Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Get updates for my new book: https://Theperfectportfoliobook.com ----- Most people think "risk" means volatility. In this episode, I define risk the way long-term investors actually experience it: the risk of failing to fund your life. Then we turn that definition into a practical plan–choosing a stock/bond mix you can live with, deciding what goes in each sleeve, and rebalancing with rules instead of gut feel. Listen now and learn: ► A clearer way to think about risk before you pick an allocation ► The two-part test that determines your stock/bond mix ► How cash fits (and where it doesn't) when you're building a long-term portfolio ► A simple rebalancing approach you can follow without overthinking it Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com) Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.
Ric Elias - The Art of Living Well - [Invest Like The Best, CLASSICS] Welcome to this classic episode. Classics are my favorite episodes from the past 10 years, published once a month. These are N of 1 conversations with N of 1 people. Ric Elias is the CEO and co-founder of Red Ventures, which has a portfolio of fast-growing digital businesses like Lonely Planet, The Points Guy, Bankrate, and large investments in a variety of other businesses across industries. He began the business in 2000 and has grown it to now a global company with thousands of employees. Ric walks us through the early struggles that have led to what is now a flourishing investing platform, but mostly this episode is a masterclass on cultural values and philosophies that transcend mere financial gain. We discuss the difference between living good and well, the power of forgiveness, and compounding more than just your capital. Ric's story is one of resilience, humility, and grace. His story about being in the front row of the plane that Captain Sully landed in the Hudson is singular and very moving. Please enjoy my conversation with Ric Elias. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. With a single API, developers can implement essential enterprise capabilities that typically require months of engineering work. By handling the complex infrastructure of enterprise features, WorkOS allows developers to focus on their core product while meeting the security and compliance requirements of Fortune 500 companies. Visit WorkOS to Transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @joincolossus ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:02:00) Meet Ric Elias (00:02:49) Chasing the Big Dream (00:05:38) Understanding Red Ventures: Origin and Evolution (00:10:25) Operational Success and Company Culture (00:25:30) Reflections on Money and Personal Well-being (00:28:49) The Difference between Good and Well (00:32:55) The Hudson River Plane Crash Experience (00:42:37) Reconnecting with Puerto Rico and Reviving the Basketball Team (00:45:07) Underdogs to Champions (00:48:09) How to Build Trust and Culture (00:52:29) Reflections on Leadership (00:56:12) The Role of Confidence and Courage (00:59:38) The Value of Family and Friendships (01:01:57) The Pursuit of Purpose Over Profit (01:06:52) Recruitment and Company Culture (01:10:07) Reflecting on Success (01:14:33) The Importance of Pace and Speed (01:16:23) Other Business Philosophies (01:23:17) The Kindest Thing
We're counting down the top 5 episodes of 2025. At #4, it's Alex Sacerdote from Whale Rock Capital. Alex is a passionate TMT investor who describes how he finds companies ascending their S-curve of adoption. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
We're counting down the top 5 episodes of 2025. Coming in at #5, is Adrian Meli from Eagle Capital. It's a fun, nuanced exploration of applying the most sophisticated tools of hedge fund investing to long only public equities. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
For this year's annual review, our CEO Hank and I cover investment trends across private and public markets and top-of-mind issues for allocators. We then discuss highlights of the podcast and our efforts to improve discoverability of great episodes, outstanding asset management fintech products, and Capital Allocators University. With the Year in Review, we also kick off our countdown of the most popular episodes of 2025. We'll drop two this week and the top three next week. Wishing you a relaxing, enjoyable, and very happy holiday! Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Today's guest is David McWilliams, an economist, podcast host and author. David worked at the Central Bank of Ireland, UBS and BNP Paribas and is the founder of the Kilkenomics Festival, a unique blend of economics and stand-up comedy. His book is called The History of Money: A Story of Humanity, which is my favorite book from 2025. In today's episode, David walks through the evolution of money over the last 5,000 years. He explains why money is a foundational social technology that is central to every aspect of our civilization, from the political to the artistic. He delves into historical anecdotes—from clay tablets in Mesopotamia to Gutenberg's printing press to Martin Luther's disruptive influence on the church. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes that economists need to do a better job helping people understand money and its role in navigating modern economic principles. (0:00) Starts (1:26) David explains the Kilkenomics Festival (3:41) David McWilliams on "Money, The History of Money, A Story of Humanity" (9:55) Evolution and trust in money throughout history (26:28) Impact of the Gutenberg printing press and Martin Luther (36:42) Historical perspectives on speculation and losing money (43:18) Future of economics, storytelling, and equity culture differences (49:18) Educating youth on finance and investing ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Sponsor: Learn more about Alpha Architect and important information about the fund: funds.alphaarchitect.com/aaua Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok ----- Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at Feedback@TheMebFaberShow.com ----- Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. ----- Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). ----- Ad Disclaimer: This information does not constitute advice or a recommendation or offer to sell or a solicitation to deal in any security or financial product. Certain information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources and such information has not been independently verified by The Idea Farm. No representation, warranty, or undertaking, expressed or implied, is given to the accuracy or completeness of such information by The Idea Farm or any other person. While such sources are believed to be reliable, The Idea Farm does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. The Idea Farm does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein as of any future date. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My guest today is Henry Ellenbogen, founder and Managing Partner of Durable Capital Partners. Henry built his reputation at T. Rowe Price, where he led the New Horizons Fund and turned it into one of the best-performing small-cap growth portfolios in the country. In 2019, he left to start Durable. His philosophy is grounded in a simple belief that great investing is about understanding people and change. Henry has spent his career studying the rare 1% of companies that drive nearly all long-term returns . Durable's edge comes from being able to tell the difference between a company that is failing and one that is transforming. Henry often talks about “Act II” teams – founders who take the lessons from their first company and apply them to a new frontier. Durable itself is his Act II. In our latest Colossus profile, Managing Editor Dom Cooke traces Henry's story and specifically how he became one of the most influential investors of the 21st century, having learned from founders like Jeff Bezos and John Malone in the early part of his career. I always hear the same thing from founders who've met Henry: “he understood my business faster than anyone”. The thing that sticks with me from our conversation and Dom's profile is just how much he loves investing. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. ----- This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at Alpha-Sense.com/Invest and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:00) Meet Henry Ellenbogen (00:05:29) Origin of Henry's Investment Philosophy (00:08:12) Identifying the 1% of Great Companies (00:12:53) Patterns of Successful Compounders (00:20:34) Act Two Entrepreneurs and Teams (00:25:43) Building Durable Capital: Henry's Act Two (00:30:11) Dollar Cost Averaging Up Strategy (00:35:02) Market Structure and Agency Problems (00:38:26) Impact of Quant Funds and Short-Term Capital (00:42:21) AI as Transformative Change (00:45:30) How Affirm Uses AI (00:48:23) Amazon's Cost Curve Advantage (00:51:48) Leadership Through Change (00:56:54) Robotics and Physical Kaizen (01:01:29) Favorite Types of Competitive Advantages (01:05:25) Investment Memo Structure (01:09:21) 2022 CEO Tour on Market Transition (01:19:18) Hiring and Developing Talent (01:24:09) Making Colleagues Better (01:27:56) Being Intellectually Honest in Investing (01:29:11) Lessons from Success (01:33:04) Case for Going Public (01:36:32) Netflix Transition Example (01:41:29) Two Types of Greatness (01:45:42) The Kindest Thing